Beltane-eve oak tree –
sign of the Witches’ Sabbat,
Black-and-white Warbler
Beltane, originally a Gaelic spring holiday named for the month of May, has become associated with neo-paganism, including Wicca, which designates it as one of the eight witches’ Sabbats. As spring migrants, warblers signify the season, as do ancient pagan festivals like Beltane.
The color and design of the Black-and-white Warbler’s feathers seem occult; the precise lines look rune-like as if presenting an esoteric message in a forgotten language. A Black-and-white Warbler’s behavior is striking: it runs around on trunks and big branches searching for bugs in the bark, seldom, if ever, does it land in the leaves and small branches.
I can see this warbler as a familiar spirit in an animated artwork portraying a witch, moving about the witch's body and arms, like a living, moving, piece of jewelry, maybe eating the occasional louse.
