Beltane 2016 Lore & Ritual

By Rev. Thomas D.- First of May! First of May! The Blossom lay upon the Thorn this day! The Great Wheel Turns once more! Beltane kicks off the merry ole month of May, and has a long and fascinating history. This fire festival is celebrated on April 30th - May 1 with bonfires, Maypoles, dancing, and lots of good old fashioned sexual energy. The Celts honored the fertility of the gods with gifts and offerings. Cattle and other livestock were driven through the smoke of the bale-fires, and blessed with health and fertility for the coming year. In Ireland, the fires of Tara were the first ones lit every year at Beltane, and all other fires were lit with a flame from Tara.

The Green Man Emerges -

A number of pre-Christian figures are associated with the month of May, and subsequently Beltane. The entity known as the Green Man, strongly related to Cernunnos, is often found in the legends and lore of the British Isles, and is a masculine face covered in leaves and shrubbery. In some parts of England, a Green Man is carried through town in a wicker cage as the townsfolk welcome the beginning of summer. Impressions of the Green Man’s face can be found in the ornamentation of many of Europe’s older cathedrals, despite local bishops forbidding stonemasons from including such pagan imagery.

Ancient Symbols, Modern Rites -

Today's Pagans celebrate Beltane much like their ancestors did. A Beltane ritual usually involves lots of fertility symbols, including the Maypole dance. The Maypole is a tall pole decorated with flowers and hanging ribbons, which are woven into intricate pattern by a group of dancers. Weaving in and out, the ribbons are eventually knotted together by the time the dancers reach the end.

In some Wiccan traditions, Beltane is a day in which the May Queen and the Queen of Winter battle one another for supremacy. In this rite, borrowed from practices on the Isle of Man, each queen has a band of supporters. On the morning of May 1, the two companies battle it out, ultimately trying to win victory for their queen. If the May Queen is captured by her enemies, she must be ransomed before her followers can get her back.

There are some who believe Beltane is a time for the faeries the appearance of flowers around this time of year heralds the beginning of summer and shows us that the fae are hard at work. In early folklore, to enter the realm of faeries is a dangerous step and yet the more helpful deeds of the fae should always be acknowledged and appreciated. If you believe in faeries, Beltane is a good time to leave out food and other treats for them in your garden or yard.

For many contemporary Pagans, Beltane is a time for planting and sowing of seeds again, the fertility theme appears. The buds and flowers of early May bring to mind the endless cycle of birth, growth, death and rebirth that we see in the earth. Certain trees are associated with May Day, such as the Ash, Oak and Hawthorn. In Norse legend, the god Odin hung from an Ash tree for nine days, and it later became known as the World Tree, Yggdrasil.

If you've been wanting to bring abundance and fertility of any sort into your life -- whether you're looking to conceive a child, enjoy fruitfulness in your career or creative endeavors, or just see your garden bloom Beltane is the perfect time for magical workings related to any type of prosperity.

Inviting the Fae on Beltane -

Fruits, flowers and baskets as decoration for your altar and around home. Baskets decorated with ribbons and filled with citrus fruits and Springtime flowers left at your front door will guide the Fae to you, as well as strewn flowers inside and out side your door, especially on your "Welcome" mat. Making citrus potpourri , fresh fruit drinks and sweets made from fruit. Gathering Springtime wildflowers, and Oak leaves to make wreaths for the head. Don't forget to leave an offering of sweet May wine or honey milk for the Fae by your front door.

The Sacred Marriage -

As above, so below: people associate Beltane with love and sexuality because it’s considered the time when the God and the Goddess come together in sacred marriage. The God may appear as Dagda, Cernunnos, or The Green Man. The Goddess may appear as Brigid, Cerrdiwen, or Danu. Sometimes their human representatives are chosen by lot, other times planned. People often dress up, including a masquerade and procession as part of the festivities.

This theme is especially appropriate for covens led by a High Priest and High Priestess who are married. Sometimes it is performed by a couple who are about to get married. They serve as human vessels for the God and the Goddess, in a symbolic (or in private, sometimes literal) performance of their divine union.

Courtship and Romance -

Beltane was a time when young, single people could meet, flirt, and discover potential mates. Games of physical prowess and mental acuity allowed people to show off in front of others. Gifts of sweets and flowers were popular favors. Women would rise early to wash their faces in May morning dew for beauty.

A large Pagan community might benefit from hosting a singles event for Beltane. What better opportunity to meet other Pagans who are open to new relationships? Include icebreaker games, high-action contests, low-action contests, a dance, and some quiet interludes. Performances of love songs, love poems, and scenes from romantic plays are popular. It may be prudent to provide a basket of condoms in case of need. Sweet (rose, jasmine, ylang ylang) or sexy (musk, patchouli) incenses or oils are ideal.

Colors -

Green represents life, the growing plants, and the God; a bright primary green rather than a paler spring green. This is often combined with rich yellow or gold to stand for the sun. Red corresponds to the element of Fire.

Flowers -

Pick whichever flowers are currently blooming in your area. The most traditional is hawthorn, sometimes called “the Blossoming May.” Other good choices include bluebell, cowslip, daisy, lilac, marigold, pansy, primrose, rose, violet, and sweet woodruff. Edible flowers are especially nice.

Incense -

Beltane scents are wild and sensual. Lilac, rose, and passion flower are popular floral fragrances. Edible-smelling incenses such as cinnamon or vanilla are also good. Earthy ones include oakmoss and patchouli.

Herbs of Beltane -

Agrimony, St Johns Wort, Frankincense, Hawthorn, Ivy, Marigold, Meadowsweet, Orchid Root, Rose, Rowan, Woodruff, Elder flowers, Primroses, Rose petals.

Nine Sacred Woods of Beltane -

Alder Ash Birch Hawthorn Hazel Holly Oak Rowan Willow

Music -

Beltane instruments include horns, drums, bells, and bagpipes. Morris dancing is a major part of many Beltane celebrations.

Altar Tools -

Masculine symbols such as the athame and wand are prominent in Beltane rituals. If inclement weather prevents outdoor worship, candles or a brazier may substitute for a bonfire.

May Pole - The most famous aspect of Beltane is the May Pole, a tall post with ribbons fastened to the top. Dancers hold onto the ribbons as they circle the post in opposite directions, weaving the ribbons together. Often a crown of flowers is set atop the pole, descending as the ribbons are woven tight.

May Baskets - Historically, boys and men would rise early on May Day to gather baskets of flowers and sometimes sweets for the girls and women of their village. Every female is supposed to get a basket. This is a nice tradition for large groups or households.

Invitation to the Goddess and God -

Evocation of Brigid -

Brigid, three-faced Goddess of Fire, we call upon you to come to us this Beltane. You are the fire in the head of the bards, the heat of the forge for the smiths, the cleansing flame of the healers. Join us in our ritual now; hail and well met!

All reply: Hail and well met!

Evocation of Cernunnos -

Cernunnos, horned God of the Forest, we call upon you to come to us this Beltane. You are the stag of seven tines whose antlers provide protection against all predators, the guardian of trees and wild things. Join us in our ritual now; hail and well met!

All reply: Hail and well met!

Statement of intent: HP explains the intent of the ritual, to seek purification by fire, and protection from its more harmful aspects.

Lighting of the Bonfire

Caller for the South: Starting at South, Caller applies a lighter to the bonfire at each compass point, deosil in sequence:

At South: I light the sacred fire of Beltane

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 to raise power: Caller for the South leads group in line dance around the fire and the meadow to the beat of a single drummer.

Passing through the Fire Caller for the South brings the Dance to an end by leading the group (for the first and only time) through a row of paired torches, possibly leaping over a small, contained balefire in the process. Each member internalizes their own prayer or intent regarding purification and/or protection, as seems appropriate for themselves.

Departure of the God and Goddess -

Devocation of Cernunnos -

Cernunnos, horned God of the Forest, stag of seven tines who guards the wilderness from all dangers within and without, we thank you for joining our Beltane celebration. Stay if you will, go if you must; hail and farewell!

All reply: Hail and farewell!

Devocation of Brigid -

Brigid, three-faced Goddess of Fire, who aids bards and smiths and healers with the flames of purification, we thank you for joining our Beltane celebration. Stay if you will, go if you must; hail and farewell!

All reply: Hail and farewell!

Close circle as you normally would

In closing I want to say that there are many different ways of observing our Sabbats and Honoring and working with our respective Gods and Goddesses. Do your research and see what works best for you. I also want to encourage you to celebrate and honor our heritage with those you love and our younger generations they are our future in more ways than one Brothers and Sisters. We are a great and caring people us Pagans and by keeping the old ways alive we ourselves nurture the future of our Mother Earth, our children and Paganism! So Mote it Be! Beltane Blessings to you all!

Thank you for reading! We hope that you found this lesson informative, as always you can contact us here or on FB @ facebook.com/triplemoonministries if you have any questions or comments. Text is by Rev. Thomas and from Triple Moons Divinwolff Tradition 1st Degree Course with some background credit going to: Phyllis Curott HPS - Witchcrafting Images Via google.com Copyright©2016 Triple Moon Ministries All rights reserved