Beltaine Ritual

Inspired by The Wiccan Book of Ceremonies and Rituals by Patricia Telesco.

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Preparations

You Will Need:

• Symbol of Winter (a white sachet filled with winter spices is good)
• 3 ribbons bound together at one end (choose colors that correspond with what you wish to weave into your life)
• A slice of buttered bread (some type of grain bread is best)
• Brazier of fire
• A small oil lamp
• A large pillar candle on the altar to represent the hearthfire

 

Decorate the altar with a green cloth to honor the Goddess in Her Earth Mother aspect Sprinkle marigold flowers over the top of the altar. Have a bowl filled with thyme, oak leaves, ash leaves, and pieces of straw (you will use these to mark the perimeter of the circle). Secure the ribbons to the altar so they can be easily braided later during the ritual. The symbol of winter will be placed to one side of the altar, and on the opposite end should sit a bowl of water and another container to pour the water into.

Cast the Circle

Take up the Athamé and facing East, the direction of the Rising Sun, take a moment to center yourself and begin to cast the Circle. Visualize a white light coming from the tip of the athamé and with arms straight out, turn the blade point out, slowly turning clockwise the light following you.

When you return to the East bring the athamé back to you and say:

“As above, so below.”

As you say this, visualize the light going above you and below you forming a perfect sphere.

Call the Quarters

East

"Children of the Air, fairies all, hearken unto this Beltaine call!
Bring winds of freshness, breezes of beauty,
and the breath of magick with your presence to this Sacred Circle."

South

"Children of the Fire, fairies all, hearken unto this Beltaine call!
Bring sparks of passion, embers of energy,
and flames of magick with your presence to this Sacred Circle."

West

"Children of the Water, fairies all, hearken unto this Beltaine call!
Bring mists of insight, drops of fertility,
and waves of magick with your presence to this Sacred Circle."

North

"Children of the Earth, fairies all, hearken unto this Beltaine call!
Bring loam of growth, soils of enrichment,
and roots of magick with your presence to this Sacred Circle."

Center/Spirit

"Creatures of Spirit, fairies all, hearken unto this Beltaine call!
Bring the glimmer of wishes, the light of hop,
and the luminescence of magick with your presence to this Sacred Circle."

Invoke the Lord and Lady

Invoke the Goddess

"Great Goddess, Lady of the Greening Earth, I call to You!
You who are above all the Beauty of the Earth,
the White Moon amongst the stars,
the Laughing Goddess of Joy, Life and Fertility.
I ask that You join me on this Beltaine Eve,
to celebrate the return of fertility to the Land.
Bless me with your presence in this Sacred Circle."

Invoke the God

"Great Lord of the Sun, God of the Forest and Wild Places,
I call to You! You who are the spirit of all things wild and free,
the Horned Lord of the Greenwood.
I ask that You join me n this Beltaine Eve, to celebrate the return of fertility to the Land. Bless me with your presence in this Sacred Circle."

Meditation

Take the piece of the buttered bread and break it in half, break off a smaller piece and eat it. Put one half of the bread in the brazier with the fire and the other half on the altar, saying:

"I offer the sustenance of life to the spirits of the land.
Come to me and teach me of your ways, of herblore, of divination,
and of Nature's lessons."

Meditate for several minutes on the lessons that Nature has to offer you, and of the meaning of fertility and springtime to you. When you are finished, continue with the ritual.

Main Ritual

Stand before the altar and pour the bowl of water into the other bowl slowly, envision the winter snows melting and flowing as you chant:

"The snows have melted and given way to new life.
I welcome the Water, the nourishing rains, and the Fire of the sun."

Place the empty bowl back onto the altar and pick up the winter sachet and place it in the brazier of fire. Allow it to burn completely and raise your hands to the ribbons in them up to the sky. Chant:

"Hail, Fertile Fire; hail the Sun God!
Burn away the old within me, and banish the darkness with your illuminating rays.
Look upon these ribbons three, and bless them.
As my hands braid them together, let the magick of ____,___ , and ___ ( fill in three attributes you wish to integrate into your life) be woven into my heart."

Focus purposefully on the three things you named, repeating each aloud as you pick up the strand that represents it. Each crossing of the ribbons increases the magick and binds it securely there. In the future, when you have great need of any of these attributes, loose one section of the braid to release the magick within. When the ribbon is completed, tie it off so it doesn't unravel, and then leave it on the altar.

Begin dancing clockwise around the fire. There are no special movements to this waltz; simply dance the dance of life. Let it pour out from deep within you. Begin slowly, while chanting:

"The Fire in me, the magick is free!"

Let the dance grow naturally faster, then quiet again.

Stand before the altar and place the oil lamp in the center of the circle, leaving plenty of space on the side facing away from the altar. Leap over the lamp to bring fertility to any endeavor.

Once across the flames, light the large pillar candle on the altar, saying:

"Fires of the Sun, to my home... to my heart!"

Beltaine Activity

Choose one of the Activities from the Beltaine activities page, or from the Beltaine rituals main page.

Farewell to the God and Goddess

Farewell the Goddess

Invoke the God

"Great Lord of the Sun, God of the Forest and Wild Places,
thank You for attending this rite of celebration.
Thank You for blessing me with your presence in this Sacred Circle."  

Releasing the Quarters

North

"Spirits of Earth, of stones and the sand,
thank you for your helping hands.
Return safely now to your home in ground,
for 'tis true in Nature, magick abounds."

West

"Spirits of Water, of dew drops, ye Fey,
 thank you for your presence today.
Return safely now to your home in the sea
but leave firm your lesson, the magick is me!"  

South

"Spirits of Flame, of passion and Fire,
thank you for empowering my heart's desire.
Return safely now to your home in the hearth.
Merry meet, and merry part."

East

"Spirits of Air, of whimsy and play,
thank you for this Beltaine day.
Return safely now to home home in the winds,
so the magick can begin."

Center/Spirit

"Creatures of Spirit, of unity and power,
thank you for your presence this hour.
Return safely now to your home in the light
and guide my magick on its flight."

Release the Circle

Take down the Circle in whatever manner is appropriate and most comfortable for you.

This rite is ended.