Beltain - another ritual that didn't go off as planned
Wiccan Beltain 2021
(Scroll to the bottom for commentary)
At some point during the day clean the ashes from the fire
pit, explaining, it was traditional to douse all the fires in the house and
clean out the hearth. In many households, this might be the only day of the
year the fire was allowed to go out completely. Flames from the Beltain
bonfires were then taken home to relight the fires in each family hearth.
Set up and tie the ribbons to the “stick” and get it ready
for the dance
Light the fire in the fire pits the following wood will be
used:
Birch - was signified as the first tree/Birth tree of the
forest and is considered sacred
Willow - The Willow tree is associated with
the Moon, Water, the Goddess, and all that is feminine. The Willow will teach
us about our feminine aspects.
Oak - oak being sacred to Zeus, Jupiter,
Dagda, Perun and Thor Burning some will help us contact with the spirit world.
·
Using a mirror or a magnifying glass
·
Using a lighter if we can’t get it lit with the
glass
Gather by gate, make offering to Outdwellers
by Balthazar:
Mighty spirits, dark or light,
You who care not for our way,
Outdwellers! We know your
might,
Your forbearance we'll repay!
Holy ground where you can play
We do now establish here.
Have some fun and don't dismay,
Stick around and have a beer!
Each person will be given an item that is used in ritual, a
bag of herbs* and then will process into the sacred space with the item.
Give pre rit briefing: ???
Set your phasers to stun!
Do some Druid Fu, to ground everyone
Cast
circle
Point athame at the ground in the North or West and move
slowly in a clock wise motion
Cleanse
the salt/water/incense
Place the point of the athame in the salt/water/incense and
say: I cast out all the impurities and uncleanliness of the spirits of the
world in the name of the God and Goddess
Cleanse
the space
Take incense
and caldron walk clockwise: By air and fire I cleans this space let
noting bane enter or leave
Take salt
water and walk clockwise: By earth and water I cleans this space let
noting bane enter or leave
Cut a hole
to get out
Cleanse
each other with incense and caldron and salt and water give challenge to anyone
wanting to enter the circle: It is better to rush upon this blade than enter
with fear in your heart, how do you enter? In perfect Love and perfect Trust
Call the
quarters:
North:
Powers of the north, Spirit of
cold and ice, of the earth, sovereignty, old wisdom and growing things
We ask that you attend our rite
and grant us your blessings.
Hail and Welcome!
East:
Powers of the east, Spirit of winds, dust devils, tornados and life sustaining
air.
We ask that you attend our rite
and grant us your blessings.
Hail and Welcome!
South:
I call upon the South and
the Fire that lives in Fire,
the quick tongue of the
balefire
that cleanses with its blazing
light.
Join us in our ritual Please;
hail and well met!
All reply: Hail and well met!
West:
Powers of the west, Spirit of
rain, rivers and oceans, thirst quencher
We ask that you attend our rite
and grant us your blessings.
Hail and Welcome!
Statement
of intent
We are here to celebrate the festival of Beltain and the
first of summer, in times of old cattle would be driven between the bael fires
to be purified and protected prior to being driven to the summer pastures.
This festival is also about human fertility, would often include
courting: for example, young men and women collecting blossoms in the woods and
lighting fires in the evening and doing what young people do. These rituals
would often lead to marriages later in the year.
This celebration is all about new life, fire, fertility,
passion and rebirth and welcoming in the summer
Invite
the goddess and god
Goddess:
Let us welcome the Great Mother she who of old was also
called among men Brigid, Freya, Aphrodite, Artemis, Rhianna, Hera and by many
other names we ask that you attend and rejoice in this rite! Hail and Well Met!
God:
Let us welcome the Great Father he who of old was also
called among men Bel, Pan, Herne, Bacchus, Cenunnos, Greenman and by many other
names we ask that you attend and rejoice in this rite! Hail and Well Met!
Spell
craft
Dancing between the Baelfires and the MayPole Dance, also
lighting provided candle off the sacred fire so that attendees can rekindle
their hearth fires with the sacred Beltain fire.
Calling/honoring of the fire
Caller for the South: Caller
applies a lighter to the bonfire at each compass point, deosil in sequence:
At South: The sacred
fire of Beltane has been kindled
All reply: So mote it burn!
At West: Which purifies
all that its light touches
All reply: So mote it burn!
At North: And protects
us from all harm
All reply: So mote it burn!
At East: Throughout the
wheel of the year.
All reply: So mote it burn!
Dancing
Caller for the South leads group
in line dance around the fire
Passing between the Fires to the
MayPole
Each person who wishes to
participate picks up a ribbon half go deosil half go widdershins and weave in
and about between each other, until the pole is bound.
Caller for the South brings the
Dance to an end by leading the group.
Great
rite
We have honored the turning of the cycle in similar
custom to our ancestors…
As the Athame is to the god the chalice is to goddess and
conjoined they become one
Piacular
offering
God and goddess, shining ones, noble ancestors and nature
spirits if we have for any reason offended you, due to ignorance or faulty
memory we ask you take this offering as recompence and know that our hears and
our intent is pure.
Cakes and
ale
Hold the
chalice aloft: Mighty god and goddess we ask that your pour down your
blessings into this chalice so that our lives may be blessed with love, magic
and bounty and that we may grow closer to you and each other as we drink of
your essence:
After the cakes and ale are blessed the cake or ale is
passed to someone: May you never hunger/thirst
Response: Thou art god/ess
Give
thanks to goddess and god
God of the hunt, goddess of the hearth; we thank you for
your presence in our rite today, stay if you will, but go if you must. Hail and
farewell
Dismiss the quarters
North:
Spirit of earth, we thank you
for your presence in our rite today, stay if you will, but go if you must. Hail
and farewell
East:
Spirit of air, we thank you for
your presence in our rite today, stay if you will, but go if you must. Hail and
farewell
South:
I give thanks to the South and
the Fire that lives in Fire,
the cleansing light of the
balefire.
Stay if you will, go if you
must;
hail and farewell!
All reply: Hail and farewell!
West:
Spirit of water, we thank you
for your presence in our rite today, stay if you will, but go if you must. Hail
and farewell
Open
circle
Move to the North or West point your Athame at the ground
and move slowing in an anti-clockwise direction: The circle is open yet
unbroken, merry we meet merry we part, marry we meet again!
Ghosti
and Frith! Long live the traditions!
The end
Leave/pour offerings/libations
*Bags contain Herbs: Each person will take one before
entering the door into our sacred circle.
Frankincense - It is used to offering protection of
our soul and spirit.
Rose – is being used to call Aphrodite the Goddess of
Love and beauty
Rosemary – Placed into the fire for protection all
year and I will have 2 pieces placed on my gate to leave all negative energies
outside of the enclosure of the my property.
Mugwort – because Beltane is the next time the veil
between both worlds are thin. (Samhian is the other one) it will help each of
us reach through the veil to be able to connect with the other side.
Anise & Peppermint – To symbolize the activity of
the air during this time of the year and it helps us move on into summer into a
positive manner.
Orange Peels – this is so we can give thanks to the
sun and allow the growing power of the sun shine on each of us.
