Di
d my 2nd ever Beltane Rite yesterday. I did this one a bit different then last year – last year I held it at dawn, this year mid-morning, I did not make a “present” but rather dedicated a household “guardian” and burned wood symbolizing the bale fire. It rained here almost all night, so I did this in the screen pouch it was just too wet on the patio. Below is the ritual I used this year:
Set up your altar as desired, and face it to the North, covering it with a white or dark green altar cloth. For this ceremony, decorate the altar with seasonal flowers of any color of the rainbow spectrum (silk are acceptable), along with whatever else feels right. In addition to your usual tools and props, upon the altar should be:
- White or Dark Green Altar Cloth
- Symbol or Statue to represent your Household Guardian
- Small Cauldron with a Dark Green Candle inside
- A Bell
- Wood Chips from Birch, Oak, Rowan (Ash), Willow, Hawthorne, Hazel, Apple, Vine and Fir (to burn in the cauldron)(Note: it is not absolutely necessary to get all of these different woods, but do the best you can.)
- Athame (for Great Rite Ceremony)
- Chalice (for Great Rite Ceremony)
- Household guardian figure
- Anointing Oil
- Incense – Any of the following either alone or mixed together:
- Lilac, Jasmine, Frankincense, Myrrh, Dragon’s Blood, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Sage, Strawberry, Orange Peel, and Rose Petals
When all is set up, take a shower or bath for purification and don your Ritual Robe or other Ritual attire. Be sure to wear your Magickal jewelry, if you have any. Place a Red candle in the Northern point of the circle. Place a Green candle in the Southern point of the circle. Place a Yellow candle in the Eastern point of the circle. Place a Blue candle in the Western point of the circle. Sit quietly and meditate for a little while – to ground and center. When you feel ready to begin, play some quiet peaceful music for the Ritual.
Now take the bowl of salt, and walking clockwise around the circle, sprinkle a little as you walk, saying:
“ With Salt I purify this circle, may no harm enter within.”
When you have finished, replace the salt on the Altar.
Take the bowl of water and sprinkle a little as you walk the circle saying
“ With Water I purify this circle, may no harm enter within.”
When you have finished, replace the water on the altar.
Take the censer and walk the circle saying”
“ With Air and Fire I purify this circle, may no harm enter within.”
Take your Athame , and walk around the circle, in a clockwise direction, imagining white light streaming out from the Athame to create a circle of fire. As you walk around a second time, imagine the fire growing higher and higher, spreading out under the ground as well. As you walk around for the third and final time, imagine the fire closing up over the top of you, and joining up under the ground to create a sphere. When you have finished, stand in the centre of the circle with arms up and say:
“I cast this magick circle, that it be a boundary between this world, and that of the Spirit realm. As above, So below, the circle is cast!”
Call the Quarters, saying the following:
“Hail, O Spirit of the East, Element of Air, represented by the Rising Sun and the Flying Hawk: I bid thee attend this sacred circle of perfect love and perfect trust, as we observe and honor the romantic season of Beltane.” Light the East Quarter candle.
“Hail, O Spirit of the South, Element of Fire, represented by the Noonday Sun and the Rutting Stag: I bid thee attend this sacred circle of perfect love and perfect trust, as we observe and honor the romantic season of Beltane.” Light the South Quarter candle.
“Hail, O Spirit of the West, Element of Water, represented by the Setting Sun and the Leaping Salmon: I bid thee attend this sacred circle of perfect love and perfect trust, as we observe and honor the romantic season of Beltane.” Light the West Quarter candle.
“Hail, O Spirit of the North, Element of Earth, represented by the Midnight Sun and the Standing Bear: I bid thee attend this sacred circle of perfect love and perfect trust, as we observe and honor the romantic season of Beltane.” Light the North Quarter candle.
Invoke Deity: “Blessed Lady, Blessed Lord, spark and nurturer of the fire of all life, I honor Thee in body, mind, and spirit.” Light the Silver & Gold Candles. Now say:
“Blessed be this day of Beltane,
Wedding day of the Goddess and the God.
Holy day of Sacred Marriage,
Holy night of Sacred Union.
The fertile Goddess of Summer walks through the land
With the Great Horned God of the Forest,
And the dark time of Winter is behind me.
Ring the bell seven times, then continue, saying:
“The animals breed and the plants pollinate,
As the May Queen and Green Man
bestow Their blessings upon the Earth
and Earth’s creatures.
I, (magickal name) who am Their child,
rejoice with Them and ask that
Their happy union become the example
for all humanity to live in love and harmony.”
Light the candle in the cauldron and say:
“The dark days are cleared away
so that the May Day can now begin!”
Ring bell three times
Drop the wood chips one by one into the flame in the cauldron, state the properties of each, as follows… (be careful, and use a small cauldron that can be covered with a snuffer or lid in case things get out of hand — you don’t need to use a lot of chips, just a little for the symbology). Say:
“I burn thee Birch to honor the Goddess;
and now add thee Oak to honor the God.
Thou Rowan I add for a magickal life;
and add thee Willow to celebrate death.
Thou Hawthorne I burn for fairies near me;
thou Hazel I burn for wisdom you bring.
I add thee good Apple to bring me love;
and thou Vine whose fruit is the symbol of joy.
Fir you are added as the symbol of rebirth;
your sweet scent reminds me of my immortality.
My blessings I give to all of thee,
and thy blessings I call from thee upon me.
So as I will, So Mote It Be!”
At this point, you will perform the Great Rite (symbolicallyTake your athame in your right hand, and your chalice in your left, and hold them in front of you. See them as the Earthly vessels of deity. Now say these words:
“I greet the time of unions and give honor to
the Lord and the Lady for Their fruitfulness!
Tonight (today) I witness the marriage of my Goddess and God.
May Their union be fertile and productive!”
Slowly lower the athame blade into the chalice and feel the union of the deities. Say:
“As They are one, They become one.
As They become one, They are one.
And I am also one with Them.”
Raise the athame and chalice, still united, to your forehead to honor this union of the three of you. Place them back upon the altar. Now dance or at least march around the altar, beginning in the North, and moving deosil. Pause to greet each Elemetal quarter with outstretched arms. Move back in front of the altar when you are finished. Now pick up the symbol of your house Guardian, concentrate on these words, as you say aloud:
“Lovely Lady and Great Horned Lord,
I present to You the Guardian of this house
which is my home.
I have invited this Special Spirit into my home as my
protector and helper in all things.
I honor this Spirit in this symbol of its being.
Great Ones, bless this Guardian of this Home.
And to Your blessings, I add my thanks.
Blessed be!”
You should now lightly anoint the Guardian symbol or statue with some appropriate oil. If the symbol is such that it cannot be oiled, at least swing the smoking incenseli burner around it.
When you have finished, you can now hold the simple feast, of wine and cookies Don’t forget to leave some as an offering to the Goddess and God which you should pour/crumble into the ground, to give back to Mother Earth.
Bless your food and drink offering by reciting the following:
“O Gracious Mother, I thank You so
For the food and beverage that You bestow
For Your protection and Your love
That flows to me from the stars above
I offer You thanks, love, and mirth
As I eat your bounty from the Earth”
Eat and drink what you want of the food offering.
When you are ready to end the circle, stand before the Goddess candle and say:
“Farewell O’ loving Goddess, I thank you for your assistance and protection, Both within this circle, and in my life.
I now bid you farewell, may you go in peace and love. Blessed be.”
Blow or pinch out her candle.
Repeat for the God candle.
“Farewell O’ loving God, I thank you for your assistance and protection, Both within this circle, and in my life.
I now bid you farewell, may you go in peace and love. Blessed be.”
Return to the Eastern candle, say:
“Farewell Guardian of the Watchtower of the East, I thank you for your assistance within this circle.
I bid you now farewell, may you go in peace and love. Blessed be.”
Blow/pinch out the Eastern candle.
“Farewell Guardian of the Watchtower of the South, I thank you for your assistance within this circle.
I bid you now farewell, may you go in peace and love. Blessed be.”
Blow out the Southern Candle
“Farewell Guardian of the Watchtower of the West, I thank you for your assistance within this circle.
I bid you now farewell, may you go in peace and love. Blessed be.”
Blow out the Western Candle
“Farewell Guardian of the Watchtower of the North, I thank you for your assistance within this circle.
I bid you now farewell, may you go in peace and love. Blessed be.”
Blow out the Northern Candle
When you have said farewell to the Northern Guardian, walk clockwise around the circle, imagining the white fire that created the circle retracting back into your Athame/Wand/finger. Walk around doing this 3 times, and when you have returned to the northern point again, put down the Athame/Wand and say:
“May the circle be open, but unbroken”
The ritual is now ended. It is done!
My Journey into Becomming Wiccan 