Beltana Spellsinger came into awareness of her magickal “self” during a poignant experience at one of her first major Earth-Centered Spirituality festivals in Wisconsin, in 1996. After leaping over a bonfire and injuring her foot, she connected with a brilliant young Shaman named Skye who helped her in the healing process of body and soul. It was a journey she will never forget. Full of mystery and Otherworldly guides, who surrounded her in that place and that time to help save and redirect her… it set her upon a new path.
In that moment, she discovered that her magical and musical name was “Beltana,” representing her day of birth on Beltane, the Celtic day of celebration of spring and renewal. Honoring her Scottish family heritage, she accepted the name as her own. Three years later, while recording her first musical album with a trio of bards called SONA, in Texas, her producer gifted her with her last name, “Spellsinger.” Bel (nickname) uses this name in Her circles, when performing music, or doing Her work for the Earth. She worked with SONA for a decade, traveling all over the country sharing original songs that she had written with her talented band mates; “Papa Joe ” and “Little Joe” Credit. Her next experience with music in this realm was with an all-female group called BellaWyck, sharing the stage with her sister, Kittin, and her soul-sisters Jennie Starr and Boom Boom Valhalla, who only stayed together for a short, but significant time.
Spellsinger is now the sole name of her artistic persona. She still writes, and travels to this day, among the artists by whom she is ever inspired. She performs solo at times, or with a makeshift group of fellow bohemian bards, depending on time, space and circumstance, whenever possible. She feels that she is more of a singer/songwriter than a full-time musician, who has been influenced by the spirits that surround and guide her. Along with the Otherworldly creatures that interact with her, and the passions and people that she has known in her life, she creates music as she goes, and only when inspired. To her, music is a “way of life,” a necessity for her soul, and a gift from her muse, rather than a “job” or a profession.
To Beltana, music is a therapeutic and much-needed balm to her spirit.
Bel moved to her forever home, Wolvenwold, in the southern Missouri Ozarks in 1998. This is the sacred land that she calls her place of tranquility, where she resides with her daughter, Béla,and her sister, Kittin. She writes when the Muse speaks to her, and shares her voice when asked. She feels that her Path in life is to help others. Bel also has a podcast and video show coming soon, focusing on sharing music and stories from her beloved musical community, and her activism and advocacy for LGBTQ, Reproductive, and Humanitarian Rights. She deems this new journey the “Blue Spark,” and her journey along the Dirt Road Bardic Path… is to be announced further as the project manifests via her official website throughout 2023.
MT: Hi Beltana! Thanks for joining us to talk about you, your upcoming projects, and The Red Album. Can you tell us a little about you and how you relate to the Pagan Community?
BS: Sure! First, I wanted to say thank you for the opportunity to allow us to share with the Metaphysical Times! I go by Beltana Spellsinger, though most people just call me Bel. I was born on Beltane, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and moved to Missouri when I was three, with my family. I’m a mamma, a musician, and an advocate for humanitarian causes. I live at our family farm in the southern MO Ozarks, and have lived here for half of my life. Our mother named our land Wolvenwold, for the Wolf spirits that live here, in the World among the Fey. For many years, we hosted festivals and events here on our property. I have traveled far and wide, performing music, sharing workshops, and spending time with my chosen and blood family. I’ve been a member of the community since the early 90’s. My main concern is being as present as possible in our work to help protect the Environment.
MT: What do you know and love most about Paganism?
BS: For me, it’s all about community. I have experienced being a part of the most loving, accepting, inclusive family one could be blessed to have. My path is personal to me, and I don’t follow any one traditional religion or “system.” My connection with the spiritual realm has come from a combination of learning from a wide variety of the World’s spiritual paths, a strengthening within that connection to family met along the way, and simply surrounding myself with good people, who share the desire to help the planet and Her people.
MT: If you could do anything to fix the world’s problems, what would it be?
BS: If there were, indeed, a way to “fix the world’s problems,” a question that eludes me… I would very much like to know the answer. In my time on this earth, I just continue to do what I can to help others, and contribute what I am able, to a vision of acceptance, harmony, and inclusiveness. To be more specific, I am on a personal mission to see that people are treated fairly, with dignity and respect, no matter who they are and where they come from. I am involved in doing this as an activist, a musician, and a person, and I try my best to surround myself with those who are also doing these same things.
MT: We hear you are participating in or hosting events. Can you tell us a little about them?
BS: This year, my focus will largely be closer to home, where I will be recording new music, and working in the studio on my new online show, “The Blue Spark.” I’ll be talking with a wide variety of people, doing interviews with musicians, other activists, podcasters, representatives from activist organizations, and lots of networking with those who are working toward a better humanity, and a healthier Environment, for all.
MT: Are there any events coming up that you will be involved in and want to tell us about?
BS: As it is still early in the season, I’ll know more about my musical/travel plans for the summer soon, and folks can always find out more about where I’ll be, and what I’ll be doing, on my website, WWW.BeltanaSpsellsinger.Com. I do plan to venture south, to Tennessee, Arkansas, and around the Midwest, a bit, this year.
I’d love for people to tune into The Blue Spark, that’s where it will all be coming together for me this year. It’s a brand new thing, at the moment of writing this, but there will be a whole lot happening here, this spring! https://www.youtube.com/@the-blue-spark
I’ll also be a contributing member of a larger, rural radio streaming internet show, details TBA very soon! Please stay tuned!
MT: We hear you’ve got a new album out/tour coming up/gig happening. Want to tell us about it? What’s it called and is there a story behind the name?
BS: The latest musical project that I’m a part of, is The Red Album. It is a cause near and dear to my heart. In coming together with the nineteen artists that are contributing to the project, we will be raising funds for Reproductive Rights, and LGBTQ+ Rights. I’ve written and recorded a song named “Scarlett,” representing all of the women, men and children that this recent “
overturning of Roe Vs. Wade” injustice has wrought. I have a daughter, a sister, a mother, and I am a daughter, a sister and a mother, so this affects my family, my friends, and our society, as a whole. This is just one step in a wave of change that will happen this year. As far as other musical projects go… I’ll be doing a lot of work in the studio with my family this summer, and I hope to have a new album out by Fall!
MT: Can people get it online and where?
BS: People will be able to read more about The Red Album, support individual artist’s tracks, and support the cause, in general, from you here at Metaphysical Times and/or by going here: https://pagansong.com/the-red-album/
MT: What can people expect when they visit?
BS: The page is great, it is full of links that will direct you to the artist’s pages, a description of The Red Album and what it is all about, how it came into being, why we are doing what we are doing, the recipients for the fundraiser, and bios of the individual artists! There will also be teasers of the songs to come, links to our interviews and podcasts, and so much more. It’s a movement, in the works, that is growing rapidly!!!
MT: Where can people find you online?
BS: People can find me, my music, and my upcoming gigs and plans, at my official website, here: www.beltanaspellsinger.com, on my brand new video podcast/show, “The Blue Spark,” here: https://www.youtube.com/@the-blue-spark, and at my artist Facebook page, here: https://www.facebook.com/bspellsinger
MT: Any special shout outs or gratitude you want to get out before we wrap this up?
BS: I want to thank my family, mostly, for being supportive, for putting up with my wild ambition and insanity… and to all of the folks in the Pagan community for your support and love. A huge thank you to all of the people who have come together to put together The Red Album… for helping to make the world a better place.
MT: Thanks for taking the time out of your schedule to speak with us. It is much appreciated. We wish you all the best.
BS: Thank you so much, we appreciate you, as well, and we are grateful for all that you are doing to get the word out about The Red Album!
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