Beltane 2006

This year's Beltane was enormous fun! There was much joy and laughter to complement the work of our Rite.

Mark was the Orator, Jon made his debut as the Sacrificer, Nora was the Seer, Arlene the Bard and Dennis the
Warrior. Andrea was the Sanctifier.

We continued in our traditions of the Dance of the Nature Spirits and the Dance of the Maypole, where Stephen
and Tish were chosen to be the May King and May Queen.

For the Story this year we did a play of the tale of Bel and how he mated with Domnu to beget the Fomorians,
and with Danu to beget the Tuatha de Danaan. In the play, the story is told to the boy by Oghma, the Scribe of the Gods. Mark wrote the play last year.

Click on any photo below to see a larger version.
Photos by David Foster (Gannd).

Gathering for Procession	The Procession	Offering to the Outdwellers	Stephen and Kirk start the Story of Bel & Danu	Play - Ben as Bel
Play - Leah as Domnu "mates" with Bel	Play - Andrea as Danu "mates" with Bel	Play - Oghma shows the boy the 4 Cities of Danu in the Big Dipper	Nora as Seer grounds the Folk	"Let the Sea not rise we pray, may all ill be turned away!"
"Sacred Well, flow within us!"	"Sacred Fire, burn within us!"	"Sacred Tree, grow within us!"	"Lord Manannan, we've called thrice, please accept our sacrifice!"	Mark opens the Gates.
Dance of the Nature Spirits	More Nature Spirits Dance.	Robert makes a Praise Offering.	A colorful dance Praise Offering!	Andy makes his Praise Offering.
Andrea makes her Praise Offering.	Final Sacrifice	Nora takes the Omen.	The men try to plant the Maypole.	The women defend the space.
The men finally get the pole in the hole.	The May King and May Queen!	Dance of the Maypole begins!	Organized mayhem.	The ribbons are getting a bit short here...
Yikes! Now they're REALLY short!	"Now the Rite has ended, may the Kindreds bless us!"