May is here, and with a force that’s casting a loving/lusting spell upon all creatures with a pulse. As spring rises to its full peak, birds are doing their mating dances, squirrels are fornicating on the branches of trees, and butterflies and bees are sprinkling the pollen from one flower to the next, creating an airborne orgy of the procreation process.

Our ancient predecessors were well aware of this magical time of year; hence, the many bacchanalian celebrations that were once so prevalent at this time when days grow long and warm. Our bodies are filled with the desires of the flesh, craving the voluptuous gluttony of food and sex; to indulge, to be filled and satisfied, to relish the earth’s abundance, and to savor the taste of our lovers. It is definitely the season for decadence. If you really think about it, in nature, the fuel for lust and fertility is omnipresent.

Most ancient cultures that followed the wheel of the sun, reveled in the glory of spring. When so much of life was centered on procreation, and was lived to secure human existence, the sensuality of this sublime time of year was not to be wasted. It was celebrated with exuberance and excess. One such celebration was Beltane, the Celtic version of the spring rite.

Beltane marks the beginning of the month of May, celebrating this entire month of beautiful, warm weather, the abundance of produce, and the inherent sex drive of our bodies. It is a festival of the earth’s most fertile time of the year, celebrating the union of creation, between the male and female aspects of nature. It is a feast of flowers, the flowering of life, of wine, of dancing, of everything glorious and pleasurable in life. In essence, it is a celebration of the pure pleasure of being alive—the concept itself serving as an aphrodisiac. Beltane marks the joining of the goddess and god as the creative forces of life during the climax of spring.

In older times, throughout the Celtic world, Beltane was one of the most significant holidays of the year. There is not an exact date, as Celtic traditions followed lunar months. It is generally held on April 30, into May 1; however, the closest full moon to these dates is the customary time. The festivities began at sundown when enormous bonfires, or balefires were lit. As a ritual for good luck and fertility, people would jump through the fires naked. Because wine is a symbol of fertility, a symbol of both the goddess and god, and because it is a potent aphrodisiac, it was consumed in massive quantities.

Enthusiastic drunkenness was a very important aspect of ancient celebrations of sex, most notably because it loosens the chains of inhibitions. Music was loud as people danced with abandon. As homage to the goddess, women bedecked themselves with flowers. They perfumed their erogenous zones with the sacred, and hedonistically intoxicating scents of jasmine, gardenia, rose, and neroli. It was typical for lusty teenagers to spend the night with their lovers in the forests. Babies conceived from Beltane lovemaking were considered to be blessed by the goddess and god.

The festivities continued into the next morning, giving a new meaning to the term “morning wood.” The maypole, a specific tree cut and removed of its leaves and branches, representing the universal cock, was erected in a central area. Some villages even had permanent maypoles in their village greens as perennial fertility blessings. The maypole is decorated with colorful ribbons, perhaps representing streams of life-giving semen. Then, it is danced around by all partygoers, honoring the god and goddess.

Though these traditions are mostly relegated to history, they are worth reviving. Although they have ancient cultural roots, their deeper roots lie within nature and instinct. Whether in a group environment—as a party or an orgy or as an intimate day and night of love and sex between two lovers—Beltane is an immensely joyous and sensual time to celebrate. It’s virtually an entire holiday dedicated to sex; an entire holiday reserved for celebrating the sacredness of sex and the power of creation.

How can one celebrate Beltane, one may ask? May boasts some of the most gorgeous weather of the year. It is the perfect time to plan a mini-vacation, or a weekend retreat, somewhere that enjoying nature would be optimal—even your own home will do. Making love in nature was one way the ancient Celtic peoples celebrated Beltane, and I encourage reenacting it to anyone, as long as you can find the ability to stay out of view of the public. It would surely be no fun to get arrested during a holiday! Feeling soft breezes caressing your bare skin is incredibly sensual as every nerve in your body is ignited from arousal.

Hearing your lover’s moans against the sounds of nature is also a very powerful aphrodisiac. Making love in your garden is a great way to celebrate without having to go very far. I can’t describe the wonder of making love amidst a natural setting; there is just something so right about it. Seeing my lover in his natural element, surrounded by trees, gazing up at him and seeing blue sky, is an incredible turn-on. I envy the creatures who have the privilege to freely fornicate wherever they so choose for that very reason. Should the weather turn out wet for your Beltane rendezvous, and you are gifted with rain showers, take advantage of it nonetheless. Make love indoors with the windows open, if possible. The sounds, smell, sight, and the breezes from storms are all very great aphrodisiacs. Regardless of what the circumstances, simplicity and creativity will go a long way.

To make your Beltane celebration complete, you are going to need some fuel other than lust. I suggest a menu of light, yet energy-inducing foods that will tantalize visually as well as orally. Traditionally, all of the following delicacies were enjoyed during Beltane for both their aphrodisiac and seasonal properties. Strawberries are now in abundance, ripe and fragrant. The beautiful red fruits are reminiscent of nipples. Cherries, long equipped with plenty of sexual innuendoes, are also of the essence. Plump and fleshy, when you wrap your lips around a perfect little cherry, and proceed to sink your teeth in and allow their juices to flow. Allow these gorgeous treats into your love games, how delicious they must taste when licked off your lucky lover. Almonds and yogurt are both aphrodisiacs and serve as very healthy quick snacks, providing energy and protein. A green salad for lunch or dinner will restore and leave you with the energy for more fun.

Herbs, as well as other deep green leaves, paired with a nice fat avocado, red onion, tomatoes, and topped with some luscious, precooked shellfish, such as grilled scallops and/or crab, would make for a beautiful-looking and exceptionally tasty salad. Try to avoid overprocessed bottled salad dressings; they may cause you to feel weighed down, and put a damper on serious sex. Instead, opt for simple vinaigrettes or simply a good dousing of olive oil and a sprinkle of black pepper and garlic powder.

All foods should be generally light, to leave lovers feeling limber enough for many rounds of sex. They should be very fresh, to revive after energies have left you spent. They should be intense with flavor and enticing. Most of all, they should require very little effort. The focus should be on your partner(s), not exhausting yourselves in the kitchen.

As spring takes complete hold of us, sensuously grasping our imaginations and loins, I hope it leaves you in the mood for your own kind of sexy celebrating. Springtime is meant for the carnal indulgence of all our senses, and to feast on the energies of love and lust. Whether you make a distinct holiday of Beltane, or simply observe the ripeness of the season itself for physical pleasure, there is no better time of year than right now to be in touch with the sensuality of nature.