- Roseanna Rivera
Happiness and Abundance on Beltane: Filling Oatmeal Breakfast Recipe
Blessed Beltane everyone! Spring is finally in full swing and once again Earth is flourishing with greenery and flowers. As a Spring baby and a fire sign, this is the time of year when I feel most alive. Personally, I am more drawn to the sun. I favor early mornings just as the sun starts to rise and creeps through my blinds. I find myself feeling lighter and experiencing more happiness and joy as the trees start to blossom and the days grow longer. So naturally, Beltane is one of my favorite Wiccan holidays.
Beltane (May Day) is all about celebrating the flourishing nature all around us, enjoying the outdoors with the people you most care about, feasting on baked goods like bread or oatmeal cookies, and admiring the union between the sun and the Earth. There are an infinite amount of ways to celebrate Beltane, including some traditional practices that are seen across many cultures like the May Pole and bonfires. The tone and energy that surrounds this day is nothing but pure joyous vibes-- revolving around love, sexuality, fertility, happiness and abundance!
The weather in NYC is so wonderful this time of year, and although my seasonal allergies are slowly trying to kill me, I make the effort to get some fresh air and enjoy the sunshine and the outdoors. Seeing as I feel more in tune with the sun, a holiday that celebrates the fullness and ferocity of the God is something that I feel especially drawn to. I don't necessarily worship one God when I reference God or the sun. To me, the sun represents the God, all masculine energies, and all of the Gods that ever were and ever will be. The moon represents the Goddess, all feminine energies, and all the Goddesses that ever were and ever will be. While this perspective isn't 100% unique to me, it is how I've come to understand and see the world and build a spiritual relationship with the Earth.
This Beltane, I chose to make some sun water. I filled a clear glass bottle with some filtered water, and placed it under the sun to charge for several hours. I use sun water for a variety of things like watering plants and incorporating it into my spellwork. As I set the bottle outside I thanked the sun for illuminating the Earth and set the intention for charging the water into a powerful tonic that brings life and vigor to whatever I choose to use it on.
I spent time outside enjoying the fresh warm breeze and admired the flowers that are starting to bloom in my backyard. We also have a bird feeder to feed the multitude of sparrows and doves that grace our yard everyday. Part of the reason I love waking up early is to hear the coo of the mourning doves right outside my window. It is one of the most beautiful sounds that reminds me that nature is alive and well all around me.
As a thank you and a little offering to the birds that visit us, I placed some raw rolled oats in their feeder. Oats hold a special place in Beltane lore and tradition. They are associated with luck, abundance and happiness and were traditionally eaten as oatmeal cakes. I hope the birds enjoy the oats. They bring me happiness everyday, and so I thought I'd do something nice for them on this day.
If you love cooking and incorporating tradition into your celebrations like I do, then you'll enjoy getting creative in the kitchen this time of year. While you can find traditional recipes for oatmeal cakes, you could simply bake oatmeal breads, oatmeal cookies, or just plain oatmeal! Oatmeal is one of my favorite breakfast options, and this year I wanted to keep things simple. I decided to make a nice filling bowl of oatmeal for myself today as a nod to Beltane and a symbol of my own growth, abundance, and happiness that blossoms this time of year as well.
There are a million ways to make your oatmeal not boring, so I wanted to share one of my favorite ways to make oatmeal. It's a super simple recipe that includes many pantry staples and whatever fruit you enjoy most on top of your oats!
Oatmeal for Happiness and Luck
2 servings | 15 minutes
Ingredients:
* 1 c. old fashioned oats
* 2 c. unsweetened nondairy milk (I prefer almond)
* 1 tsp. sugar free maple syrup
* 1/2 - 1 tsp. cinnamon
* 1 tbs. ground golden flax seed
* 1 pinch of salt
Top with you favorite fruit (I chose banana), a hefty drizzle of peanut butter, sliced almonds, and a drizzle of maple syrup!
Directions:
Place a small pot over medium heat. Add the milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, flax seed, and salt. Whisk it all together until the cinnamon is well incorporated.
While you're whisking it together, you can set the intention for the oats to bring you happiness and luck, and ask that the cinnamon brings it to you quickly.
Let it come to a strong simmer, then add in the oats. Stir it well and let it cook for several minutes, stirring every so often, until it reaches your desired thickness. I like to turn the heat off just before it reaches my desired consistency, that way it thickens a bit more in the bowl while I add my toppings.
Top with a spoonful of peanut butter while the oatmeal is still hot so it gets all nice and melty, a handful of sliced almonds, sliced banana, and a drizzle of maple syrup!
Enjoy and be well.
☆ Roseanna ☆