Beltane incoming 1st May & how to celebrate (Ep 63)

What happens when you step away from the noise… and into the woods?

In this episode we explore the powerful impact of reconnecting with nature and why it’s becoming essential in today’s fast-paced, tech-heavy world.

We share how spending more time outdoors is transforming our health, creativity, and business, and introduce the ancient practice of living in tune with the seasons through the Wheel of the Year. With Beltane approaching, we dive into its meaning, energy, and how you can celebrate this potent time of fire, fertility, and new life.

This episode is your invitation to slow down, reconnect, and remember what truly nourishes you.

What you’ll learn:
• Why your body is naturally drawn to nature (and how to listen to it)
• The effects of constant technology and how to rebalance
• What the Wheel of the Year is and how it supports seasonal living
• The meaning of Beltane and how to celebrate it in your own way
• Simple rituals to reconnect with your energy, creativity, and joy

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or in need of a reset, this episode will bring you back to centre.

Book our woodland event on 1st May here: https://womenshealth.holistichealthcollective.co.uk/Beltane

Check out retreats on our website: https://www.holistichealthcollective.co.uk/retreats/

If you would like our free moon download to get the list of the 12 astrological signs and how they impact your body parts and emotions, grab that here: https://holistichealthc.kartra.com/page/moondownload

If you are looking to balance your hormones naturally, then try our free 5 day hormone balance challenge, back to balance. Register here: https://holistichealthc.kartra.com/page/Backtohormonebalance

We are on socials at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holistichealthcollectiveuk 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holistichealthcacaouk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holistichealthcollectiveuk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holistichealthcacaouk/

Website:

https://www.holistichealthcollective.co.uk

Where you can find out more about of women's health retreats, our healthy products. our online health membership for peri-menopausal women, online courses and our in person events.

Our Women's health membership when you can join liv...

Transcript

0:00

Yes. Welcome to the Holistic Health Sisters podcast of Wellness and Real Life Sisters Hannah Carr and Sarah King from the Holistic Health Collective. In this podcast, we're going to be sharing our passion for, of course, holistic health, but also spirituality, healings, hormone, plant medicine, seasonal living, our love of nature, and our love of community. So we are gonna invite you to take a pause and take a nice deep breath. And join us on a path of healing, of self-discovery and self-love, and of stepping into the brilliance of who you really are. This is a podcast for the seekers out there. Those of you who know there's more to life than just surviving or going through the motions, and you want more, more health, wealth, happiness, love, compassion, connection, trust, surrender, and more faith, and you want that for others too. So we can make this world a better place for us all to go and grab a cup of ceremonial grade CAO and join us as we explore what moves through us, that which is divinely led, so we can all move from fear to walls, more faith. Thank you so much for being here with us today. So welcome to this week's episode with me, Hannah Car and Sarah King. And we are coming from the Woodlands today. We're actually recording this in our car before we leave each other. That's the first time we've ever done that before, isn't it? Yeah. It's normally on Zoom or in person On Zoom. We have been having more of our, what was online meetings before in person because. The woods are just healing, aren't they? Sarah? We know from our studies how healing nature is, as in the things that the trees emit, being around the birds song. Also, the spectrum of light and how that heals as well. So we've known it and we try and squeeze it into our day, but now we're actually really prioritizing it and we're changing the way that our business works. We've always held our retreats in beautiful locations and spent time in nature, but now we are really doing the 80 20 rule where it's like. As much 80% outside, or wrapped up looking out onto a beautiful view in nature because it really serves us and it helps with our creativity, our physical health. It helps us to be closer, connected to nature. And this is what we teach about anyway. And we're gonna talk about the eightfold wheel of the year, aren't we? Absolutely. And just, picking up on what you said there, so like, yes, we've learned about it, but. We don't need to learn about it to feel the difference. And I think especially where we are in the world now, of the amount of technology that's around us, the amount of wifi that's around us constantly, I mean, it feels almost impossible to get off your phone because every single thing that you need is on there. I've just gotta walk into the woods to feel the difference. Instantly in my body now, and I didn't use to feel that difference quite as much as I do now. So I can feel that my body's really, really craving it. Although we did make a bit of a mistake today, we've left a little bit earlier than what we probably would've because whilst it looks sunny and bright out, it's actually quite chilly. So we really wanna encourage you to spend more time outside in nature if you can. But do take a backpack with some extra layers because it might, it might fool you into. Quite how cold and chilly it can be. However, in the sun. It was absolutely beautiful, wasn't it? It's so beautiful. We're in Perry Woods, which here, near Faversham in Kent. And this is actually specifically sharing this location because we are going to be, we're having a kind of a secret woodland dance here. Ooh, whoa. To celebrate Beltane. B-E-L-T-A-N, which is one of the points on the turning of the wheel of the year. So we've been coming to this spot for a while and there's an ancient woodland here and there's a clearing, and you can overlook the Kent downs from this clearing, and you get the sunset at this spot. So not only is surrounded by woodland, but your eyes can also look out across of view. It just happens to be a good space to move around and dance and. We've had a dance today, haven't we? We did. All the blue bells are out and in season at the moment here in the uk and we were just commenting on that symphony of yeah, blooming flowers and the significance and the symbology of that. To a woman's lifecycle as well. And so many flowers are cultivated and they plant the bulbs and everything else. But I love it when you go into the woodlands and it's like, well, no one planted these. They're just there, aren't they? And they just, they find a way. They pop up and, oh, that blue color is just such a delight to the eyes. So yeah, we're gonna talk about the eight foot fold wheel of the year, and we was just chatting, realizing we've not actually ever recorded a podcast explaining. This seasonal way of living. So we are gonna create that. So keep an eye out for that in the future. But there's basically four main points on the wheel of the year. Actually, let's start with, we'll just mention them quickly, so there's four solar. Points, which are Yeah, the equinoxes. Yeah, the two equinoxes and then, the two solstice as well. But then between those points, they're the halfway points between the two. So we've just had the spring equinox, as you'll know. That was in March. And then before we've got the summer solstice in June, we've got the halfway point in between. Sarah mentioned the name of it already, Beltane, and it's just really beautiful for the mind, the body, and the soul to mark all of these points with a little celebration. So you're gonna tell us a little bit about Beltane, aren't you? Yeah. Cross quarter festivals. They make much more sense for me from hopping. Straight from spring into summer. Actually, there's, there is a feeling of like a little space in between. And Beltane is, Celtic or Pagan Festival. It's a fire festival and the solstice, connected to the light, and then you've got these ones which are connected to the land and usually harvesting. So this one is really connected to fire, fertility and passion. And it comes in Taurus season. It marks the peak of spring, so the halfway point between spring equinox and summer solstice. And like we said, it's a time when Earth is really starting to burst more with life and energy. This Saba is often associated with Sacred Union, both in the form of divine balance and personal relationships. Traditionally, it was a festival of fire dancing, revelry, embracing the full power of creation and desire. So you may have those may poles or those may Queens villages, village dances. We've got it in a village near us. Actually. They still do it every single year and is. Oh, it's beautiful. And do you know people who don't celebrate, they don't have different celebrations throughout the year. A year can become very long and monotonous. Mm-hmm. There's not things to look forward to. So this really breaks the year up and it connects you back to the seasons and back to the land. Exactly, and it would've been a time when I said it's connected to the land and farming, and it would've been a time that cattle would've, been moved and perhaps fires would've been lit and that would've smoked off and killed any parasites and insects. But also that fire is symbology for our passions and our desires. And it would've been a time, perhaps the younger people, the village would've began to, as I've been saying, get jiggy with each other. You know, it's a little bit warmer. There's not too much, to do with sewing of crops and things like, there might be at different points on the year, and it might have been a time. To connect in that way. So it's connected to fertility and vitality, that sacred union purification with the fire and protection. And also creativity, passion, and playfulness. So the question is, how could you tune into this? So we normally say on the day of these cross quarter festivals, or the main ones is to set some time aside. So pop that in your diary now, the 1st of May or that weekend or as much around that portal as you can, and. Celebrate in a way that feels authentic for you, but will offer some suggestions as well. So if you have an altar, you might wish to do some alter work and just change up some flowers or give it a little spring clean, or change some of the images or add different elements that are. Seasonal from nature. Yeah. If you was with us on one of our last events, we made Bridget's cross. So it might be time to take that off now. You might actually store it for another year or gift it back to the earth and bring in some elements of beltane and flowers are, or flower crowns are a beautiful thing to make this time of year, aren't they Perfect. So you may wish to go out in the community and, go to a May festival, it is a bank holiday as well. So we have May day at this time. So hopefully you've got a little bit more space in your diary connecting with that flame. So you might wish to start a new candle off and like that. And imagine jumping the Beltane fire, asking what you're releasing and what you're calling. It can be a really great one for dancing. So Hannah and I have actually designed a really fun event that we are looking forward to, which encompasses bringing together community dancing, watching the sunset, and jumping the Beltane fire all out in nature. Yeah, so that's gonna be online if you want the information for that space. The event's not gonna be online, but the information will be. Yeah. So we'll be here in the Woodlands, not far from Faversham in Kent, and that will be on the Friday evening. So save that in your diary and come and join. And we'll be drinking ceremony or cacao. We'll probably be bringing our instruments and our healing tools so that when we are in circle, we can just create a really high vibration. But just by being you just bringing yourself, that's medicine enough, isn't it? Just to be in nature in that way. But it's actually a relief, isn't it? When you realize that's enough, you are enough. Yeah. You don't need to be, you know. Putting on all the bells and whistles. Nice. You don't need a new outfit for this unless you really desire one. Just need some layers. Yeah. We're looking really sort of, glamorous here with long skirts, but with thick thermal socks and leggings and walking boots on Yeah, exactly. Backpacks. Yeah. So, come as you are. As with all our, as with all of our events, you are welcome. And what I do know, and you know, and we all know is however you are when you arrive, you generally tend to shift into much higher frequencies naturally when you are, we are moving the body with music and we are gonna do it in a nature friendly way. So we're not just gonna be blasting out tunes, we are gonna be having a silent disco. So the only essential thing really is to bring a set of earphones. And your charged mobile phone and a charged phone. Exactly. Yeah, so we're really looking forward to that event and what's just going through my mind at the moment for anyone who's not local and can't make that. If you are a member of Cacao Club. Which is our monthly subscription to get an a cacao at the best possible price. We actually send out an online cacao ceremony at every cross quarter festival. So one was sent out for the 1st of February before. And the next one will be coming out ready for the 1st of May. So you'll receive it a few days early. So you can sit down the night before if you wanted to, if you can't actually do it on the Friday. But try and do it on the Friday if you can. So members of Cacao Club as usual, that will come out on email with your link to your free online membership to access that. Oh, and the beautiful guidebook with all of the history of the Yeah, we poured hours into the guidebook journaling prompts and symbology, so yeah. Yeah, don't miss that one out. We've got a few other events to share about as well, haven't we? Yeah, absolutely. So there's the portal of the eighth of the eighth, which is a really high frequency portal 'cause you're working with Sirius energy and also energy of Leo, which is energy of the heart space. So that's Lionsgate. And, we'll be back in a, yet in an outstanding area of natural beauty in Kent. I think that that's probably already about half booked from previous guests. Yeah. So if you are interested, we'll, um. Just reach out to us, just pop a comment in or drop us an email. Drop us an email is the best way. I'm just thinking that's actually got a, um, the views of Rolling Hills as well. So we've got a bit of a theme with these locations. Uninterrupted views. Yeah, so it's nice 'cause you've feel all cozy and contained in the Yale or like the little woodland clearing, but also expansive with those views that your eyes can just go and explore. Feast on. Feast on. Yeah. You've got a couple of events, summer solstice in Italy. I think we have one space left, and this is for you, hikers and swimmers. And I've just, booked, A special guest to join us to help us celebrate summer solstice. So this is a local practitioner who's gonna be, well, it's a surprise, so I'm not gonna share it all. Yeah, and actually Sarah, I'd say wanna be hikers and swimmers as well, because it might be that people have been like in the throes of motherhood or deep in their career and like they aspire. To maybe be like that, but they haven't had the time or the opportunity to do it yet. But maybe their soul is like calling them like, I want that freedom and I wanna. Use my body while I'm on holiday. I dunno about anyone else. But, as a mom we've had lots of, all inclusive holidays, which are nice 'cause you get a rest. But I also find them incredibly boring, not very cultural and very restricting. Not to sound ungrateful, but that's, it's just like a soul yearning, you know? And I know that you get that with your travel. You have that soul yearning for that feeling of freedom. Mm-hmm. And so I'd say like wannabe freedom seekers as well. Mm. And there's, equal amounts of rest and play. So it is not all just go, go, go. But one of the main highlights is going on a boat trip to see the five towns of the Chiqui terra in. L in Italy, and also getting to swim and snorkel in protected waters as well. So I think Hannah and I were just like, the way that the water feels, you just can't really describe it. So clean and fresh and clear and warm. One of my favorite days of the whole of last year. Get on that boat. Mm. It was. Magic, pure magic. The birds who come down and tick like the bread out of your hands. Oh, they do the tricks with feeding the, the seagulls and yeah. So that's fun. And the fish and the snorkeling. Yeah. There's one space, one of you's gonna like. Yeah, I think it feels like living your best life, but it doesn't have to be done with like alcohol and unhealthy eating. I mean, do that if you want to, but our best life these days includes like looking after our bodies, our minds, and our souls. Mm-hmm. And we get to, we get to live that life and get to do it in the best places. And what I'd also say, the yoga is there to support your body to feel open and vibrant. It's not like, oh, how am I gonna cope with yoga and hiking in one day? It's one supports the other. Supports the other. So yeah, if you're worried about your capacity, if you've had previous sort of holidays where you feel exhausted, then this is really curated to help you feel. More energetic and relaxed at the same time. I felt like that before Peru because I thought I was gonna have to do a lot of walking. And so I'd just done a bit of training before I actually joined a women's walking group on a Saturday morning, and it helped me create some like healthy habits and build up my confidence in myself before I went. So I think that was beneficial for me too. Break my shoes in and know what to need to carry and yeah. And just get a little bit healthier before my trip as well. So that, that, that was kind of benefit to me then. Yeah, that's good feedback. Glastonbury and then Glastonbury calls. I think we're all different kinds of light workers, right? And sometimes we go through different phases in our lifetime as well, but sometimes just by. Bring in your presence to a certain energetic spot on the land you are bringing healing to that space. So this is a two day journey. It's a non-residential retreat, but it, the place that we're having the retreat is actually, you can stay on the land there if you wish to, or you can just get a little cottage nearby or, a hotel and come along. And yeah, this is about. Anchoring the light into the land. And that really means your body as well as the earth, the energetic lay lines in Glastonbury that cross over and balance the masculine and feminine energies and really amplify the unity and the beauty of that divine pairing. So there's going to be a focus on, a plant-based feast. And healing with the land and also learning herbs that support women's life cycles. And this phase of ultimate Equinox when it is,, kind of going into the crone season in, into holding grief and processing grief. And that is meant to be done in community and not alone. Mm-hmm. I feel like we have lots of activations there when we're there on those lands as well. We have just so much fun and healing through joy. Oh my gosh, I love that you've never been before Glastonbury. I've shared this so many times before, but it's just worth repeating again that I got there and I was like, well, normally, sometimes a High Street has one spiritual shop. How did the whole High Street do it? And there's people walking around with like no shoes on, like bare feet and everyone's kind of in their hippie clothes. When we've been there at the summer solstice, everyone's like, happy Solstice. It's like, happy Christmas, but happy Solstice. And it's just such a high vibration. Mm-hmm. All the crystals. All the drums, the health food shop, like even just the High Street is fantastic to go to, isn't it? Mm-hmm. Yeah. Goddess Rooms the Abbey, it's very, what's the word? Alternative? It's alternative and it's nice to see what's possible. I think. When we're thinking about new Earth and what we want to be creating. Mm-hmm. Glastonbury is actually like a great example of how things can be different. Absolutely. So practically it's for you if you kind of wanna put your phone down for the weekend and you, we all know that we feel better when we are kind of like. Less in our head and more in our body or more with nature. And there are apple orchards and donkeys on the property and there's a fire pit as well. So we're gonna be working with the elements. And yeah, I think there's about four spaces left. That's a little bit about our events then. So do save the date for Belte and first of all, to, get onto the land. Have a little celebration of your own, but we would love to see you in person. It's really important to us to build community, to bring like-minded people together, to remind people to celebrate these turnings of the will, to use natural elements like the fire, to use the gifts from the gods, like cacao. And to hang out together. We would love to see you and keep an eye out and an ear out for this Eightfold Wheel of the Year podcast. That will be coming soon, but it is on our website actually, I think we've got a blog about it. Mm. If you are someone who likes to read and listen, go and check our blog out. We've got lots of helpful information. Oh, we wrote that blog for years, didn't we? Runs the podcast now. Now we're podcasters used to be the blog. So, yeah, go and check it out on our website, holistic health collective.co.uk. And thank you so much for listening this week. We'd love to hear from you actually. If you've got any pictures of you out in nature, you out in the woods, how you celebrate Beltane, what kind of meals you perhaps make, like send them to us. We are on Instagram at Holistic Health Collective uk, or drop us an email. We'd love to hear from you. Yes, and lots of our community send pictures of their altar at this time and it's always so joyful for us to see. So thank you for listening, and we'll see you on next week's episode. Bye. Thank you a million times, Ava, for joining us on this podcast episode. You can support the show by giving us a follow on any podcast platform you're listening to this on. If you already follow us, then thank you so much and maybe share this episode. If you think of someone, someone comes to mind where you think they'd really benefit from listening to this. This is one way that we like to spread the love with our friends, is sharing podcasts or playlist. So let them know that we are thinking about them. So just send it on to them with a few words about why they might enjoy it. And if you'd like to check out any of our in-person events or retreats or our online offerings, head over to our website, www.holistichealthcollective.co.uk. We'll see you in the next episode.