Telling the Bees

Telling the Bees: A Timeless Tradition of Love, Loss, and Living Magic

Across the old villages of Europe—particularly in England, Ireland, Wales, and parts of Germany—there lingers a tender, haunting custom known as Telling the Bees. It’s a practice woven from folklore, superstition, and deep reverence for the natural world. And although it may sound like a quaint relic of the past, its heart still beats strongly today, especially among those who feel the quiet pulse of the unseen.

What Is “Telling the Bees”?

At its core, Telling the Bees is the act of informing a beehive of important family events—especially deaths, but also marriages, births, and major changes in the household. Traditionally, the beekeeper (or a family member) would approach the hive, gently tap on it, and speak aloud:

• “Your master has died.”
• “A child has been born.”
• “There will be a wedding.”
• “We are moving to a new home.”

Sometimes a black ribbon was draped over the hive after a death. Sometimes a slice of wedding cake was left nearby after a marriage. The bees were treated not as livestock, but as members of the family, deserving of respect and inclusion.

Why Tell the Bees at All?

Folklore tells us that bees are sensitive creatures—emotionally attuned, spiritually porous, and deeply connected to the rhythms of human life. To ignore them during times of upheaval was believed to bring misfortune. In some stories, bees who were not told of a death would:

• stop producing honey
• swarm away
• fall ill
• or even die

But beneath the superstition lies something more profound: a recognition that grief and joy ripple through the natural world, and that humans are not separate from the creatures who share their land.

A Bridge Between Worlds

Bees have long been seen as messengers between realms. In Celtic lore, they carry whispers between the living and the dead. In Greek mythology, they are linked to the soul itself. Their hives hum with a kind of order that feels ancient, intelligent, and sacred.

To tell the bees is to acknowledge that:

• life is communal
• death is a shared passage
• and communication is a form of care

It’s a ritual that softens the edges of loss and celebrates the interconnectedness of all beings.

The Ritual in Practice

While customs vary, the essence remains the same. A traditional Telling of the Bees might look like this:

1. Approach the hive calmly, often at dawn or dusk.
2. Tap gently on the hive to announce your presence.
3. Speak the news aloud, clearly and respectfully.
4. Offer something symbolic—a ribbon, a flower, a piece of cake, or simply your breath on the breeze.
5. Thank the bees for listening.

It’s simple, but powerful. A moment of stillness. A moment of connection.

Why This Tradition Still Matters

In a world that often feels rushed and disconnected, Telling the Bees invites us to slow down and honour the transitions that shape our lives. It reminds us that:

• grief deserves ritual
• joy deserves witness
• and nature deserves our voice

For modern practitioners of magic, spirituality, or simply mindful living, this tradition becomes a way to anchor emotion, honour ancestors, and weave intention into the natural world.

A Living Tradition for Modern Mystics

You don’t need to keep bees to embrace the spirit of this custom. You can:

• whisper your news to the garden
• speak to the wind
• tell the flowers blooming on your windowsill
• or simply light a candle and imagine the bees listening

It’s the act of acknowledging the sacredness of change that matters.

The Bees Are Listening

Telling the Bees is more than folklore—it’s a love letter to the world around us. A reminder that we are held in a web of life far greater than ourselves. And that even the smallest creatures deserve to be included in our stories.

In the end, it’s not really about superstition.
It’s about tenderness.
It’s about presence.
It’s about remembering that nothing in nature is ever truly separate.