From The Real Witches' Book of Spells and Rituals
by Kate West
This Ritual combines elements of the traditions of the Bel fires and of the chase of the Stag Lord. The chanting and dancing take place in the early part of the Ritual, rather than before it starts. Clapping and chanting are encouraged but it is best not to have any drumming as this will impede the chase. Similarly, the Rite of Wine and Cakes takes place within the body of the Ritual, rather than just after it.
You Will Need:
- 2 fires. If you can work outside then you can have small fires in cauldrons or similar; if you are indoors then you need two short, fat candles, one red and one green, on safe holders.
- A candle for every person present, red for the women and green for the men.
Sabbat Introduction
"Welcome. This is the festival of Beltane, the
Great festival of fire and fertility. Now is the time when the Goddess sheds
the robes of Maiden and takes on those of the Mother. Now the God stands at
her side, and rules as her Consort, and their marriage is for the fertility
of all the land.
In the past the young stag Lord, chosen at birth, would run with the deer,
challenge and be challenged, and if he won through would win the maiden.
Thus was the Great Rite celebrated to bring fertility to all.
This is the festival of the Fire God Bel, known also as Belenos, Beli-Mawr,
Belinus, and by other names from times and places far away. In times past
the old hearth fires would be extinguished and a new flame sparked from the
embers. Two fires would be lit on a high point where they could be seen by
all. Livestock would be driven between them and the people would leap them
to purify, strengthen and bring fertility to all.
This is a time of great joy, a time to love, sing, dance and make merry, for
the Old Ones lead us in the dance of life. Blessed Be."
Sabbat Ritual
The High Priestess lights the two fires from the Altar candle saying:
“In days past, we would have lit our fires in the center of our village community, and so I light these in the center of the community of our Circle. May they purify and strengthen, inspire and bring forth fertility, even as the fires of old. Blessed be.”
Everyone should start Circle dancing around the outside of the two fires, starting slowly and building up pace and volume. They should not hold hands.
One of the chants we use for this is:
Cernunnos, horned one,
Cernunnos King of the Sun,
Herne the Hunted and Hunter,
Stag Lord of the Earth.
After the Circle dancing has been going on for a while the High Priestess taps one of the Coveners on the shoulder. He or she then breaks from the Circle, and picks a group member of the opposite gender. The “hunter” will chase the other person in and out of the dancers and finally between the two fires, where the “quarry” is “caught” and given a kiss. That Covener then selects someone else to chase, catch and kiss. This goes on until everyone has been chased between the fires, including the High Priestess.
People should be very careful passing between the fires, holding long skirts or robes safely away from the flames! Energetic types can even jump the flames if they wish.
After everyone has been between, or over, the flames, there is usually a short pause while everyone gets their breath back!
The High Priestess and High Priest now start the Rite of Wine and Cakes, but instead of passing the Chalice and plate around the circle, they will walk around the Circle together with the High Priest offering to the women and the High Priestess to the men.
The High Priestess and High Priest now take the red and green candles from the Altar. She will give a green one to each male, and he will give a red one to each female, and they each say:
“Take this symbol of the fires of life and fertility, take it home and burn it in the names of the Mother Goddess and of the Father God. May it bring light and heat, life and fertility into your lives, and into the lives of those around you. Blessed be.”
Sabbat Blessing
The High Priestess says:
“I call upon the Goddess and the God. Mother and Father of us all, bring your blessings upon each of us. May these candles take the light and heat of the Bel fire into our homes and our lives. May we too bring light and warmth into the world around us. Even as the God hunted his Goddess, he is now in turn caught by her. The Maiden is Mother now, and the god takes his rightful place by her side. And so the Wheel turns and life goes ever onward. Blessed Be.”
We like to continue the theme into the feasting, with
the Queen and King being waited upon and the Jester continuing to set tasks
for the other Coveners. This includes the tasks of clearing away!