BELTANE RITUAL 2002
PRE-RITUAL PREPARATION
To hallow the Sacred Grove, the Celebrants light the Fire, bless the Tree, and prepare the Well or Offering Shaft/Bowl.
The following items are needed for the rite: Small Wand, chalice, well, a branch or sage sprig for aspersing, a censer with two charcoals and incense, a sage smudge stick, a bell, an offering bowl or cauldron, offerings (fragrant oil in a bowl with a ladle; corn meal in a small bowl; silver coins; ale in a 3 small bowls; bread in a small bowl; herbs, flowers and stones in a small bowl; a bowl of flower blossoms; a wreath decorated with flowers, apple juice), two cauldrons placed on either side of the east entrance with unlit fires prepared inside, Divination tools.
Before the Ritual, Druid 1 gives the briefing. The Bard teaches the Pagans any new songs. The Seer then leads the Pagans in taking a moment to center.
***** PROCESSION *****
The Bard or
other musician creates a shamanic drumbeat and leads the Pagans in song as
they process to the Sacred Grove.
The Bard leads the Pagans in singing:
Come We Now As A People
Come we now as a
people, to gather at the Sacred Well,
Come we now as a people, to gather in the warmth and the light of the Flame.
(Repeat three times or until Procession is ended)
***** OPENING PRAYERS *****
Druid 1
rings bell 9 times.
Druid 1 says:
We have come here to stand as one to honor the Shining Ones and to welcome
the summer!
Druid 2 says:
We come together on this sacred day
to celebrate the feast of Beltane,
To call in the summertime,
To win from chaos a peaceful time
in which to gain our harvest.
Pagans:
Biodh se! (bee shay) So be it!
Druid 1:
We revere the nature spirits, our ancestors, and the Gods and Goddesses of
our tribe and of this place. Through the magic of the sacred fire, the holy
well, and the great tree, we offer our rites.
Druid 2:
Let us now reverence the earth who is our mother, our home, and indeed the
substance of our very bodies.
Pagans kneel
and kiss the earth.
Druid 1 speaks:
Beloved mother of all, from whose starry womb the green earth springs; you
are the bearer of all life. Accept our offering, and bless and uphold this
rite.
Druid 2 offers corn meal to the World Tree Offering bowl.
The Bard invokes the Awen, saying:
Power of inspiration, attend to us.
Voice of the fire of wisdom,
Voice of the well of inspiration,
Come into our hearts' shrine.
Make us aware of every good or ill.
O Brigit, guide our rite in the way of truth.
I call you to make our hearts clear within us,
Power of inspiration in this holy place,
Power of inspiration at this holy time.
Pagans:
Biodh se!
***** AFFIRMING THE WORLD ORDER *****
Seer leads a brief grounding and centering, helping the Pagans to connect their individual souls with the Two Powers. The Earth Current or Underworld Power carries the dark, mixed elements from which all forms arise. The Sky Current, or Starry Power is the ordering pattern that crystallizes forms out of the Underworld potential. Together these powers manifest the Middle World.
***** FIRE, WELL, AND TREE *****
Offerings are made
to the Sacred Center.
Druid 1 goes to the well and fills a small bowl with water. He offers
Silver to the water in the bowl, with these words:
Sacred waters that flow and swirl beneath all being, accept our offering.
Let us know the elder depths within ourselves the source of all, the well
of elder wisdom.
Should any here wish to offer to the well, please feel free to do so as the
water comes to you.
Druid 2 carries the Well Offering Bowl around the circle so that
all may offer silver to the well. When he is finished, he dumps the contents
of the bowl back into the well.
Pagans:
Sacred well, flow within us!
Bard offers oil to the Fire, with these words:
Sacred fire that consumes and transforms, true and holy light of the Shining
Ones, accept our offering. Sacrificed and sacrificer, let holy flame warm
our spirits and our lives.
Pagans:
Sacred fire, burn within us!
Druid 2 draws water from the Well while Seer lights a smudge
stick from the Fire.
Seer censes and Druid 2 sprinkles the Tree, with these words:
Sacred pillar, boundary of all worlds, stand at the center of the sky, stand
at the center of the sea, stand at the center of the land on which we dwell.
Let us be deepened in your depths, Raised to your heights, Strengthened in
your strength.
Pagans:
Sacred tree, grow within us!
Seer gives smudge stick to Druid 1 and takes ale to south entrance.
***** PURIFICATION *****
Seer makes
an offering of ale to the Outdwellers, at the south of the Grove, saying:
This place I name, this land I do claim, while me and my own are upon it.
Outsiders!
You who chose not to assist in our stated purpose, whose voice will not harmonize
with the tune we play this day; Your function we honor. Your purpose we respect
- for you are among the many faces of the great mystery. But as a gift calls
for a gift, we offer and pray, asking only this:
Till the bell is rung, and the rite is done, let there be peace between us!
Seer makes an offering of ale to the Outdwellers. As he returns
to the circle, Druid 2 meets him at the entrance and asperses him,
saying:
Druid 2:
We purify you from the Outsiders' influence.
We cut you off from them,
That you might return to the people.
Druid 1 uses smudge stick to cense while Druid 2 asperses
the Pagans.
Meanwhile, Bard leads the Pagans in singing:
The Portal Song
(Chorus)
By Fire and by Water,
between the Earth and Sky
We stand like the World Tree, rooted deep, crowned high.
(Verse)
Come we now to the
Well, the eye and the mouth of Earth
Come we now to the Well, and silver we bring
Come we now to the Well, the waters of rebirth
Come we now to the Well, together we sing
(Repeat Chorus)
We will kindle a fire, bless all and with harm to none
We will kindle a fire, and offerings pour
We will kindle a fire, a light 'neath the Moon and Sun
We will kindle a fire, our spirits will soar
(Repeat Chorus)
Gather we at the tree, the root and the crown of all
Gather we at the Tree, below and above
Gather we at the tree, together we make our call
Gather we at the Tree, in wisdom and love
(Repeat Chorus)
***** THE STATEMENT
OF PURPOSE *****
AND PRECEDENT
Druid 1
says:
Welcome to the offering rite of Beltane, the Hinge of Summer, the Day of Blessings.
Seer says:
Now the earth grows green again in fact, warmed by the power of the Sun and
the Waters' cool strength.
Bard says:
In elder days, the folk left their work and went into the fields and the greenwood.
They roved among the blossoms and made love to one another to celebrate the
Power of Life.
Druid 2 says:
As our ancestors did, so we do now. We are come into the Grove to worship
as they did, to offer to the Ancestors; to offer to the Nature Spirits in
all their diversity; and to offer to our beloved Shining Ones.
Druid 1
says:
Now let us open the Ways Between…..
***** OPENING THE GATES *****
AT THE SACRED CENTER
Druid 1:
Sacred is this land to us, sacred is all land to us, and it is the world in
which we walk. We are supported and sustained by the land, valleys, fields,
hills, spires of peaks, depths of forest and desert down to the shores holding
the before the waves.
Seer says:
Waves of the Sea, touches of the Otherworld endlessly dancing to rise and
recede at our shores. Across the waves the ancestors rest and the sea gives
and claims as it will, all the while pushed by the breath of the skies.
Bard says:
Skies above, the very world of the Gods of our people, with shining eye, sweeping
winds and blessings raining down. The secret of lives written in mysteries
of star and cloud.
Druid 2 says:
We are here in the Sacred Center of the worlds of land, sea and sky. Here
the Gates Between the Worlds may be opened. Through the gates of Fire, Well
and Sacred Tree we send love, worship and offerings to the Powers and They
send us blessings in return.
Seer makes an offering to Manannan, saying:
Manannan, Lord of the Gates, Lord of Wisdom, open the ways for us. We walk
in your holy ways; we walk the Sacred Road. Share your magic with us; ward
us as we walk in safety. Manannan mac Lir, accept our sacrifice.
Seer makes an offering of oil to the Fire.
Druid 1 then opens the Gates, saying:
Now, Shining Ones, join your magic with ours and let the fire open as a gate.
Druid 1 makes an opening triskele over the Fire.
Druid 1 says:
Let the well open as a gate.
Druid 1 makes an opening triskele over the Well.
Druid 1 says:
Let the tree be the crossroads of all worlds. Open as a road to our voices
and to the spirits.
Druid 1
makes an opening triskele before the Tree. He turns and faces the center of
the Circle.
Druid 1 says:
Let the gates be open!
Pagans:
Let the gates be open!
***** GROUP VIBRATION CHANT *****
Druid 2
leads the Pagans in the Group Vibration Chant. A steady heartbeat drum rhythm
is established and Druid 2 guides the Pagans to begin resonating from
the abdomen upward into the throat, simultaneously upraising arms and hands
towards the sky. Once the "vibe" is right, Druid 2 leads
the pagans into the following chant for a few minutes:
Power in and Power out;
Power flying all about!
Open Gates will tell the tale,
We shall see beyond the veil !
***** KINDRED OFFERINGS *****
The Druid, Seer and Bard, or other appointed Pagans, make proper offerings to each of the Kindreds, standing at the fire.
ANCESTORS
Seer speaks:
We children of the earth call out to the Ancient Ones. Hear us, our ancestors,
our kindred, our mighty dead.
To all those whose bones lie in this land, we offer you welcome.
To all our grandmothers and grandfathers, our own beloved dead, blood-kin and heart-kin; ancient tribes of our blood, we offer you welcome.
Come to our fire,
spirits; meet us at the boundary. Guide and ward us as we walk the elder ways.
Ancestors, accept our sacrifice.
Seer makes an offering of bread and ale to the World Tree Offering
Bowl.
NATURE SPIRITS
Bard speaks:
The children of earth call out to the Noble Ones, the spirits of this land.
Hear us, companions and teachers.
To all our allies, kindreds of stone and stream, kindreds of the growing green, kindreds of fur and feather and scale, all who walk or fly or swim or crawl, we offer you welcome.
So, Noble Ones, we call to you as our allies, in the joy of life upon earth, to join in our magic. Come to our fire, spirits; meet us at the boundary. Guide and ward us as we walk the elder ways. Land-spirits, accept our sacrifice.
Bard makes an offering of herbs, flowers and/or trinkets scattered around the Nemeton's edge or hung on the World Tree.
DEITIES
Druid 2
speaks:
The children of the earth call out to the Shining Ones. Hear us, eldest and
brightest.
To all the Shining Ones, first children of the mother, we offer you welcome.
To the gods and goddesses of this place, ancient and powerful, known to us or unknown; we offer you welcome.
To all the deities of those here gathered, you whom we worship, patrons and matrons, we offer you welcome.
So, Shining Ones, we call to you as our elders, in reverence and love, to join in our magic. Come to our fire, shining ones; meet us at the boundary. Guide and ward us as we walk the elder ways. Deities, accept our sacrifice.
Druid 2 makes an offering of scented oil to the fire.
***** KEY OFFERINGS *****
Honoring The Patrons
The Druid or
other appointed leader may honor the Patrons of the High Holy Day of Beltane:
the Goddess, Blodeuwedd and the God, Llew Llaw Gyffes.
Druid 1 Invokes the Goddess:
The Invocation of Blodeuwedd
Goddess of flowers,
Goddess of beauty and new love,
Rise from your forest bed and inflame the hearts of men.
Math and Gwydion made you
From flowers of oak, broom and meadowsweet,
That the God Llew might have a bride.
Come to us now as You came to Him so long ago,
In beauty, and lust, and youthfulness.
Druid 1
offers flowers to the fire.
Druid 1 says:
O Blodeuwedd, Flower Face,
Accept our sacrifice!
Pagans speak
in unison:
Accept our sacrifice!
Druid 2
rings the bell three times.
The Bard invokes Llew Llaw Gyffes:
The Invocation of Llew
O Llew of the Steady
Hand, O Falcon of May,
Whose mother would not give a name, but by trickery;
A wife for You was made
By Your father Gwydion and uncle Math.
She is here now! Made of flowers from the forest fair.
Come to us, O great archer,
Join us as we welcome You here.
Your Lady Awaits!
The Bard makes an offering of oil to the fire.
Bard says:
Bright One, Llew Llaw Gyffes,
Accept our sacrifice!
Pagans speak
in unison:
Accept our sacrifice!
Druid 1 rings the bell three times.
Druid 2
calls for the Dance of the Maypole, saying:
Today is the time of coming together, when the people in olden days would
dance around the Beltane fires and join their bodies in the darkness.
Now let us dance the May Pole to celebrate the joining of our Gods Llew and
Blodeuwedd, and the fertility of our minds, peoples, animals and crops.
During the dance,
Bard leads the pagans in singing:
The Padstow May Song
Unite and unite,
now let us unite,
For summer is a-come in today;
And whither we are going, we all will unite,
In the merry morning of May.
(Repeat until Dance is done)
The Celebrants re-center the Pagans and Druid 1 leads an attunement to all the spirits that have been called, recalling the Two Currents.
***** PATRON INVOCATIONS
*****
AND PRAISE OFFERINGS
Druid 2 invites each Pagan to name their personal Patrons, if any.
Druid 1 says:
Welcome to the Ancestors, the Gods and Goddesses, and the Nature Spirits!
To all of you who have gathered at our fire, we pray you join us in worshipping
the patrons of this place, attending this holy rite, here in our sacred grove.
Druid 2 now
offers oil to the fire, saying:
Spirits of this place, accept our offerings!
Druid 1 then passes a flowered wreath around the Pagans, announcing that as the wreath passes, those who wish may make a praise offering of any kind to the Kindreds.
***** SACRIFICE AND OMEN *****
The Celebrants
prepare the final offerings.
Druid 1 says:
We have given of our love and our wealth to our patron deities. Now let our
voices arise on the fire, let our voices sound in the well, let our words
pass the boundary to the Otherworlds. Shining Ones, we give you our love,
our respect, our devotion as we pray to you.
Pagans:
Shining Ones, accept our sacrifice.
Druid 1
offers the decorated wreath to the Fire.
Bard leads the Pagans in singing:
Hail All The Gods
Hail all the Gods,
Hail all the Goddesses
Hail all the holy ones we've brought together
Powers of the sky, Powers of the sacred earth
Powers of the underworld we've brought together
Hail all the Gods, Hail all the Goddesses
Hail all the Gods and Goddesses
(Repeat)
Druid 2
says:
Having prayed to the powers, let us open to them, asking what blessings they
offer us in return.
The omen is taken. Seer interprets the omen, leading all in contemplation of the things they would ask of the Powers, especially as suggested by the omen.
Pagans meditate on their own needs, those of loved ones, and the community. In this moment each person's own desires may be strongly imagined, held in mind and heart, with harm to none, for the good of all.
***** BLESSINGS *****
The Return Flow
Druid 1
pours wine, ale, mead or apple juice into one chalice or horn. Druid 2 fills
another chalice or horn with water from the Well.
Both are elevated.
Druid 1
speaks:
We draw blessing from the cauldron of blessing. We pour the ale of inspiration.
Behold the holy cup of magic, the outpouring of blessing from the mighty ones.
When we share the drink of the Shining Ones, we drink in wisdom, love and
strength.
Druid 2
speaks:
Hear us, Shining Ones; hallow these waters! We, your children, rejoice in
your gift. Bless our lives with love, magic and bounty as we drink these sacred
waters. Behold the waters of life!
Pagans:
Behold the waters of life!
The chalices are
passed and all drink from one or the other while the
Bard leads the Pagans in singing:
Pour The Waters
Pour the waters, raise the cup
Drink your share of wisdom deep
Strength and love now fill us up
As the elder ways we keep
(Repeat until all have drunk from the cup)
***** CLOSING THE GATES *****
Druid 1
says:
The Mighty Ones have blessed us. With joy in our hearts let us carry the magic
from our sacred grove into our lives and work. Each time we offer to the powers
they become stronger and more aware of our needs and our worship.
Druid 2 takes a burning stick from the Fire and lights the two cauldrons placed on either side of the east entrance to the Circle.
Druid 2
says, as he lights each fire in each cauldron:
The fires of Beltane are the fires of purification.
Druid 1
says:
As we leave the nemeton, we pass between two fires.
May they burn away in us the accumulated detritus of winter.
We leave the season of inside;
We enter the outside.
So now as we prepare to depart let us give thanks to those who have aided
us. Blodeuwedd and Llew Llaw Gyffes, we thank you!
Pagans:
We thank you!
Druid 2:
Gods and Goddesses of elder days, Spirits of this land, and Ancestors, our
kindred, we thank you!
Pagans:
We thank you!
Druid 1
gives any unused offerings to the earth with these words:
Mother of all, to you we return all we leave unused. Uphold us in the world
as you have in our rite. We thank you!
Pagans:
We thank you!
The Celebrants stand in the center.
Bard says:
Gatekeeper, warder of the ways, for your presence and power, your guiding
and guarding we say, we thank you.
Pagans:
We thank you!
Druid 1
makes a closing sign over the hallows with a staff, saying:
Now we end what we began. Let the fire be flame, let the well be water; let
all be as it was before. Let the magic gates between the worlds be closed.
Pagans:
Let the gates be closed!
Druid 1:
Walk with wisdom, children of the Earth. The rite is ended!
Pagans:
Biodh se!
Druid 2
then rings the bell nine times.
The Bard leads a chant as the Pagans process out of the Grove, between
the two fires:
Walk With Wisdom
Walk with wisdom, from this hallowed
place
Walk not in sorrow, our roots shall 'ere embrace
May strength be your brother, and honor be your kin
And luck be your lover until we meet again
(Repeat three times or until Recession is ended)
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