Beltane Ritual - Page 4

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Dancing around the Maypole:  Turn up the music, King and Queen lead us to the Maypole going around the circle first, then to the pole and wait for dance instructions. After the dance, King & Queen lead the group back to the circle.  

Opening the Circle: (person whom cast the circle says this)

Thus I release the East and West, Thanks to them from Host to Guest.

Thus I release the South and North, with "Blessed Be" I send them fourth!

The Circle's open, dance we so, Out and homeward we shall go.

Earth and Water, Air and Fire, Celebrated our desire.

Winter's cold is gone away, Now it is the Day of May.

By Fin and Feather, Leaf and Tree, Our circle's done, and Blessed Be!

(now draw an imaginary pentagram in the air)

All: Blessed Be! (all stand for the calls)

Spirit: (same person whom read it before)

We are changed, now we are green and blooming. We thank you for empowering our rite, Blessed Be.

North: (same person whom read it before)

We are nourished and strengthened, thank you for supporting our rite. Blessed Be.

West: (same person whom read it before)

We are encouraged and inspired. Thank you for flowing through our rite. Blessed Be.

East: (same person whom read it before)

We are enlightened and uplifted. Thank you for soaring through our rite. Blessed Be.

HPriest: We are grateful for our holy circle and the joy of our celebration. Blessed Be!

Closing:  (everybody join hands)

HPriestess: Our circle is now undone, but never broken. May life thrive, now and always!

ALL: Merry meet and merry part and merry meet again! Blessed Be!

Shared Feasting, Poems and Stories - celebrate

Shared from: Liquid Moon CUUPS

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Beltane Ritual - Page 3

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(Need one person to read "Charge of the goddess & one person to read Charge of the God").   

Charge of the Goddess: (preferably middle aged woman plays this part) (holding his hand of -charge of the God)

I who am the beauty of the green earth, and the white moon among the stars,

The mystery of the deep waters, the desire of the human heart.

I call upon your soul to arise and come to me,

For I am the soul of nature that gives life to the universe.

Know the Mystery, therefore;

If you find not what you seek within, you shall never find it without.

For I have been with you from the beginning, and I am that which you will find at the end

of your desire.

Charge of the God: (preferably middle aged man plays this part)(still holding her hand)

I who am the Lord of the Hunt and the power of light: sun among the clouds and the secret of the flame

I call upon your bodies to arise and come unto me.

For I am the flesh of the earth and all its beings.

You are my children and I am your Father

On swift night wings it is I who lay you at the Mother's feet to be reborn

These are part of the mysteries found within yourself.

Within me, alll beginnings have endings, and all endings have beginnings.

(now take charge of the Goddess and God sit down on the thrones)

Crowning the King and Queen of the May: ( The stang (large branch) with two wreaths (crowns) is between the thrones)

 High Priestess: (takes female's crown and holds it and says)

"At this time of the year it is customary to crown the Queen and King of the May".

High Priest: (takes male's crown and holds it and says)

"To celebrate the union of the Goddess and Her Consort, the joining of earth and sun and the endowment of summer".

High Priestess: " It marks the reawakening of the Earth's fertility in its fullest to bring about new live on earth". (place Goddess crown on her head)(Goddess is the same person whom did Charge of the Goddess). "I crown you the queen of May".

All: Blessed Be!

High Priest: (place leaf crown on God's head) (God is the same person whom did the Charge of the God). "I crown you king of the May."

All: Blessed Be!

*Enactment: Inanna and Dumuzi (God & Goddess do this) (God moves to stand just outside the circle, Goddess stands in front of her throne)

(Couple plays flirtatious with each other through out enactment)

Narrator: (any body)

Inanna, Queen of Heaven impatiently awaits her bridegroom Dumuzi.

What you hear and see now, Let the singer weave into song.

Let it flow from ear to mouth, Let it pass from old to young.

Inanna speaks:

My furrow, my field, is full of eagerness like the young moon. My untilled land lies fallow.

As for me, Ianna, Who will plow my furrow? Who will plow my wet ground?

For me, the young woman, Who will station the ox there? Who will plow my furrow?

Dumuzi  (enters into circle) Replies:

Great Lady, the king will plow your furrow. I Dumuzi the king will plow your furrow. 

For your field will pour out plants, your field will pour out grain. I will plow you high field.

Narrator: 

At the king's lap stood the rising cedar. Plants grew high by their side. Gardens flourished luxuriantly.

Inanna: He has sprouted, he has burgeoned, He is lettuce planted by the water, 

He is the one my womb loves best. My well-stocked garden of the plain,

My barley growing high, my apple tree which bears fruit up to its crown. 

He is the one my womb loves best. His hand is honey, his lips are honey.

He sweetens me always. He is the choice of my heart.

Dumuzi:

Inanna, I would go with you to my garden, I would go with you to my orchard.

I would go with you to my apple tree. There I would plant the sweet, hooney covered seed.

Oh my Queen of Heaven and Earth, May I long enjoy the sweetness of your holy loins.

Blessed be my Lady

Narrator: 

He put his hand in her hand, He put his hand to her heart. 

Sweet is the sleep of hand to hand, sweeter still the sleep of heart to heart.

(Holding hands the couple takes their seats)

Beltane Chant: All:

The fires of Beltane kindle the night reflecting the Green Man's glance,

His Queen of May, Delights us with her spiral dance.

"Follow me to the source of all" said he, "I am eternal fire"

Come with me to the source of all, said she, I am your hearts desire.

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Beltane Ritual - Page 2

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Casting the Circle: Each direction speaks, and all respond:  

(somebody seals each direction with an invoking pentagram after each call to the East, South, West, North and Spirit)

East: (individual call)

 All: We call to East, to Powers of Air, of Mind and Intellect - we know your breath of soft breezes and wild winds, we know you are always present, please join us now. Blessed be.

South: (individual call)

 All: We call to South, to Powers of Fire, of Vision and Energy - we sense your gentle warmth, your fierce heat, and your spark of Life. We know yo always light our way, please join us now. Blessed Be.

West: (individual call)

All: We call to West, to Powers of Water, of Flow and Daring - we feel your ripples on our feet, your awesome waterfalls, your flow of creativity and abandon. We know you always flow forth, please join us now. Blessed Be.

North: (individual call)

All: We call to North, to Powers of Earth and Stability - we feel you beneath our feet, your grounding energy. We know you always sustain us, please join us now. Blessed Be.

( now the person sealing each direction) Moves to the East and says:

The circle is cast, we are between the worlds.

Spirit: (individual call)

All: We call to Center, to Powers of Spirit and Change - we seek your still center and your whirling world. We know you always help us in our changes, please join us now. Blessed Be.

Circle Blessing - All: 

Come we forth, withe the Spiral Dance

Within the Lady's radianceb

To celebrate the Year renewed

and praise the Powers with gratitude.

Earth and Water, Fire and Air

We invoke the Goddess there!

This night we are Between the Worlds

to celebrate the year unfurled!

Earth and Water, Fire and Sky

we invoke the God on high

This night we are Between the Worlds

to celebrate the year unfurled!

Setting the Circle: (The HP says this)

So I cast and consecrate

This Circle of the small and great:

By Fin and Feather, Leaf and Tree,

By Rock and Earth, by Land and Sea,

By Fire and Water, Earth and Air,

By the Lord, and Lady Fair!

By Love and Joy and Workk and Play,

All things harmful cast away !

By llightening's flash and rains's soft fall,

By the Power that made us all:

By the Power that blesses Thee,

The Circle is cast, so

Blessed be!

Meditation (any one can read this, continue music)

"And the day came, when the risk to remain tight in the bud, was more painfull than the risk it took to blossom" by Anais Nin

(Short Pause for meditation)

High Priestess:

As this sacred holiday we each have the opportunity to reflect on what is ripe to blossom and unfurl in the rich, warm soil of our souls. We can choose to stay tight in the bud or we can choose to bravely begin exploring, pushing and opening toward the warm light of spring. The choice is really ours so there is no judgment around our own ability to blossom. It is important to recognize that most of us, all the time, are in various stages of blossoming. This compassionate approach to opening is how we might approach a delicate new wildflower in the woods. Patiently we wait, through days of sun and cold, only to go out one day and see that our favorite flower is in full bloom. We offer gratitude and appreciation, but we could not have forced this unfolding. There is a mystery to divine timing, and we can only assist things through self-inquiry, patience and faith in others and ourselves.

High Priest:

The time of the bud holds such beauty and promise, but at some point, the bud heeds and inner impluse to reveal more of what is inside. It is a marvel, that despite adverse conditions, such as a cold spell or heavy rain, they will lift their heads and bravely open. One feels this same awe and appreciation when a loved one demonstrates ofurage and takes the risk to reveal more of their authentic selves. This might come in the form of others not understanding. This can mean showing a part of themselves that is wanting to be seen, to come out into the light of day with a new hobby, passion or pursuit. What flowers teach, and as Anais Nin points out, there is inherent risk in the blossoming. The flower can't go back into the bud once it has opened. It is undefended and unprotected, yet for that short time that it is blooming, it offers as a gift, its outrageous beauty, sweetness, and intoxication. Invite the blossoms of spring to inspire you to open up to more of who you are. And, if you are anything like the courageous little flower, you might just find that it's worth the risk.... How will you choose to blossom this spring? What, for you, is worth the risk?

(A short pause for people to think about the question-no answers needed)

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Beltane Ritual - Page 1

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Needed Items:  

• Beltane Alter (don't forget a lighter for the candles)
• Sage or Purifying Spritz
• Fire Pit
• Music (for background - no vocals)
• Actor's/actress's
• Queen & King crowns. Female's make of flowers and Male's is made with leafs
• Just so you know: There are several pages to this ritual.

Purification: All gather in the entry to be smudged or spritz. (keep the 2 separate in case somebody is allergic - 2 lines.

Opening Music: Loud enough to meditate to. Turn down when people are talking.

Welcome and call to celebration: Welcome! We are here at Beltane to celebrate and nurture the fruitfulness of the Earth. We light a symbolc Needfire, just as our ancestors did. We join in the exuberance of spring.

Beltane Poem: (to be read by  anybody)(have somebody else light the Bel-Fire).

 Beltane fires burning bright as I lie with my hearts delight.
The lady smiles upon the hay as we dance, and branches sway.

See as the bird mounts the sky, into the fields with my lover and I.
Heat of the sun causes shoots to rise, the height of spring within me lies.

Raise the maypole, let me dance! Around the flowered shaft
with ribbons i will weave my chances for Imbolc's blessed child.

The Beltanes fires brightly burn as the wheel will take its turn.
Life begins, life anew, a planted seed is hope for you.
Merry mate and lusty lass, rolling in the high born, grass.
Sing and dance under the moon and gather flowers for bridal June.

(bel-fire should already be lit)

All say: 
So strike the fire and let it rise,  Beltane flames 'neath Spring-night skies!
Ancient customs we now renew, 'Tween dusky dark and evening dew!
Fire with warmth of Summer shine, invoking Gods from Older Times.
For fertile crops with Sun-fed rays, gardens of plenty and golden days!

Welcome continued:
 We cast off our winter cautions as sheep shed their wool, as foxes forgo their solitude, and as trees leaf. Now as birds make new nest, as new fields lie warming in the sun, we gather to celebrate our own new season, our new plantings in the great emerging of the Earth. We welcome you to our Beltane Ritual.

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