Ritual Outline
The altar is set up, food islaid and the fire prepared. Incense may be lit, music played and introductionsmade. The circle is laid out using the nearby natural resources, whether it bestones, twigs, leaves, etc.
THE GUARDIANS
Here we ask the guardianspirits of the place and time their permission to work our ritual in their area-
Hail Guardian Spirits of thisplace! We come here in peace and with clear intent. We come here to celebrateBeltane. We ask, with respect, that you accept our presence. Hail GuardianSpirits of this place!
THE CALL FOR PEACE
We will now make the call forpeace.
May there be peace in theNorth! May there be peace in the South! May there be peace in the West! Maythere be peace in the East!
(Each call for peace to be madeby the person who will be calling the quarter. May there be peace in the North!May there be peace in the South! May there be peace in the West! May there bepeace in the East! If done in this order, the call for peace will flow alongthe lines of the pre-Christian equal armed cross, also recognised by the NativeAmericans for their medicine wheels).
We who are gathered here, wecall for peace in this land. We call for peace in our hearts and minds andtowards our fellow beings.
THE CIRCLE CASTING
Sacred Ones, spirit of the oakthat stands before us, spirits of the heath that surround us, dryads and devas,all you who have heard our intention, we ask with respect that you encircle usknow, branch reaching branch, leaf touching leaf, roots beneath our feetentangling, that our Circle may be strong, a nemeton of inspiration, reverenceand learning, in the name of the Gods whose power we both breathe, we ask thatthis be so.
(A moment is given to allow thedevas and dryads to form the circle)
We give our energy to thiscircle, mingling and communing with those of the spirits of nature to create asanctuary of peace.
(Energy is pushed out from theparticipants to mix and strengthen the circle The ritual leader gathers theenergy and fills in any gaps or weaknesses in the circle).
Let all here draw their mindsinto the presence of their bodies, that thoughts may be melded with flesh,blood and bones, that the spirits of those gathered may be blended in onepurpose, one voice and one sacred space. Soul to soul, we weave our circle,spirit to spirit, that none may enter this sacred space but those who come intune with our intention and in peace. Soul to soul, spirit to spirit, we askthat this may be so.
CONSECRATION
Pour water into the Well,saying:
"By the Goddesses ofWaters
By the Gods of Waters
By the Powers Under the Earth
I give thanks for the Waters ofthe Well.
Let this vessel be as theTriple Well of Blessing in this Sacred Grove."
Light the Incense, saying:
"I kindle this Fire
To be a symbol of Magic
To be a symbol of Claiming
To be a symbol of Inspiration
To welcome the Gods and Spiritsto this Sacred Grove."
Consecrate the circle withwater and incense.
CALLING THE QUARTERS
I call upon the Spirit ofthe North, the Earth Mother, the Great Bear, to be with us in our sacred rite.
I call upon the Spirit of theEast, the Skyfather, the Great Eagle, to be with us in our sacred rite.
I call upon the Spirit of theSouth, the Firebrother, the Great Dragon, to be with us in our sacred rite.
I call upon the Spirit of theWest, the Rainsister, the Great Whale, to be with us in our sacred rite.
THE SPIRITS OF PLACE
We call to the spirits ofplace, to those of Land, Sea and Sky, to those of the three worlds to be withus in our sacred rite.
CALLING THE ANCESTORS
We call to the ancestors ofbody, mind and spirit to be with us in our sacred rite. To our ancestors whosetears and blood, joy and happiness have been felt upon this land, whose songscourse through our blood, and whose spirit lives on through our celebrations,we call to you to be with us in our sacred rite.
INVOCATION of the Goddess andGod is made.
I call upon my lady of thestars and moon
To the Bringer of dreams andtwilight
I call upon my lady of the loom
The Weaver of fates in thenight
I call upon the Lady of theLake
The Singer of the Evensong
I call upon the maiden motherand Crone
The Goddess alive and strong
I call upon the Lord of the Sun
The Rider in the sky
I call upon the Lord of theWinds
To the Eagle as he flies
I call upon the King Stag
To the son, lover and sacrifice
I call upon the Lord of theWildwood
The God laughing, free and wise
THE DECLARATION
We are gathered here tocelebrate Spring, the abundance and fertility of nature that surrounds us. Thefires of passion burn strong in the spring sunshine, and all nature turns tothoughts of love. We celebrate the greening of the leaves, the mating calls ofbirds, the birthing of wild animals, and the union of the Goddess and God.
THE RITUAL ACT
One takes the athame in her righthand, and the chalice in her left, and holds them in front of her. See them asthe Earthly vessels of deity:
We greet the time of unions andgive honour to the Lord and the Lady for Their fruitfulness
Tonight/today, we witness themarriage of my Goddess and God.
May Their union be fertile andproductive
Bev slowly lowers the athameblade into the chalice and symbolises the union of the deities:
As They are one, They becomeone.
As They become one, They areone.
And we are also one with Them.
Mother goddess, Queen of thenight and of the Earth;
O Father God, King of the dayand of the forest,
We celebrate Your union asnature rejoices in a riotous
blaze of colour and life.Accept our gift, Mother Goddess
and Father god, in honour ofYour union.
From Your mating shall springfourth life anew;
a profusion of living creaturesshall cover the lands,
and the winds will blow pureand sweet.
Ancient Ones, we celebrate withYou!
The group to now offer a songas a gift
The Maypole dance
Each person ties their ribbonto the top of the staff. When all are ready, they weave in and out of eachother around the staff, bringing the ribbons together, symbolising the union ofall things.
THE FEAST
The food and drink is blessed.
May the Goddess and God and thespirits of this land bless this food and be thanked for their sustenance.
The ale/mead/wine/juice isblessed.
Goddess, bountiful EarthMother, bless this and suffuse it with your love.
The bread is blessed.
God, powerful Sky Father, blessthis and may it lend strength to us.
The drink is held high abovethe head. Thanks be to the land! The cup is then passed to the next person, whothe toasts and passes the cup to the next person. When all have drunk the firstperson takes the cup and pours a measure onto the ground or lake. Thanks be tothe Goddess!
The bread is held out before.Thanks be to the land! The bread is then broken and passed in similar fashion.A measure of bread is then laid out. Thanks be to the God!
Everyone raises their hands tothe sky and says - Free the spirit, free the land! (Say this three times).
The food comes out and everyoneis invited to celebrate!
Poetry, artwork and musicshould then be shared round the circle by those who have been inspired by thismoon and this festival.
When the feasting is done,honour and respect are paid to the Goddess and God, the spirits of land, seaand sky, the ancestors, the four quarters (those who called the quarters nowbid them hail and farewell in much the same manner as they were called), thespirits of the heath and of the oak and to each other. The circle is thenclosed-
We now return the energy thatwe have spent in creating this circle back to our bodies and souls and the landwhich sustains us, in peace and with the blessings of the God and Goddess. (Amoment is taken to release the personal power put into the circle.)
THE CLOSING
May the Spirits of this Placehave been nourished as much as their presence has nourished us. GuardianSpirit, we give you thanks. This celebration ends in peace as it began. May theblessings we have received go with us all as we depart this place, to nourish,strengthen and sustain us until we meet again. So may it be!
The rite has ended!
