Grimoires

Preparation
Assemble materials
Set the altar (working color candle: green)

Introduction
Tonight we will celebrate Beltane. Beltane means the fires of Bel. Bel was a Celtic god of life and death. He was also a god of light. It was traditional to jump over the Beltane fire as a means of purification and as a sign of continuing strength. It was also traditional to honor an oak tree. At this time of the year, the trees have opened their buds and the leaves have sprung to life. To celebrate the strength and life of the tree and the earth, the oak tree was decorated and honored. This practice became known as marking the May pole. Beltane was the original earth day and people celebrated the continued strength of our Mother the Earth.

Beltane is the height of Spring and in the cyclic myth of the God and Goddess, this is when the Lord and Lady join together in sacred union and consummate. This is the season of fertility. Many animals must mate and begin the process of conceiving new young now so that there is time to raise their young before Winter returns. As pagans, we do not shy away from this truth. We are not embarrassed by the pleasures and spirituality of sexuality. We honor it. Like any great gift, it can be misused but we do not believe that making it taboo is the answer to ending poor judgment. Indeed, we believe that by elevating this joyous act to its original spiritual high standing, we can begin to celebrate it and honor it. Sexuality is part of the great cycles of life, death, and rebirth all of which are to be honored.

At Imbolc, we initiated new projects and beginnings. You were asked to dare to dream what you want to bring into your life. At Ostara, you were asked to find ways in which to manifest your dreams in the physical realm. At Beltane, we seek closure to these projects. This is the deadline for completing these manifestations. The sun is rising to its greatest strength seen at Litha. With its rising light and strength, we seek to bring something strong and positive into our lives and endeavor to complete these projects so that at Litha, we can celebrate. This season (May Day) also celebrates workers and we shall take this time to honor the work we have done in our lives. These are the things which we seek to celebrate at Beltane.

If you wish to take part in this ceremony, please gather around the altar in a circle and come close enough to take hands. Please introduce yourself by offering a blessing to all, stating your title (if you have one,) your public or ritual name, and your place of origin. After each introduction, we will welcome and honor you.
For example, I would say: “Bright Blessings to you all. I am [ritual title and name] of [location].”
And you would respond: “Greetings [title and name]. We welcome and honor you.”
(Begin introductions, deosil. When done:)
Welcome one and all to this celebration of Beltane. Please now take a large step backwards as I prepare our ritual circle.

State Intention
I will now state our intention and then light the working candle.
We gather together here to celebrate the sabbat of Beltane.
This is our intent. (light working candle)

Banish and Purify
I will now banish and purify this space.
If any ill intent here be, by these sounds I banish thee
Banish old energy, ring bell at altar quarters, widdershins)
By Air and Fire, sanctify
(Place athame in fire, draw point at circle quarters, deosil)
By Water and Earth, purify
(Place water in chalice, put dipping stone in water and draw circle, deosil)
Through the blessings of the Goddess and the God, we claim this space sacred.
(Place tip of athame into chalice)

Cast the Circle
I will now go around the circle and ask if each of you wish to be part of this rite. If you do not wish to be part of the circle, feel free to watch from just outside. You are welcome either way. When asked, how do you come to this circle, the traditional response is, in perfect love and in perfect trust, but you may respond however your heart desires. After responding, step forward into the circle.

(Go around the circle of people clockwise and ask:)
Do you wish to be part of this circle?
How do you come to this circle?
Welcome to this circle of love and trust. Blessed Be
I invite you to take this wand and offer your energies and blessings to the circle.
(pass wand around circle)

Ground and Center
We will now ground and center. If you wish to participate, please close your eyes. Take a moment to ground yourself with Mother Earth and Father Sky. Center yourself. Clear your mind and focus your thoughts and energies on this circle. Put away all mundane concerns and allow this time to be a gift to yourself. See your energy reaching deep into the earth. See your energy rising into the starry heavens. If you wish, you may take this time to connect with your personal deities. We will use a soft humming sound to center ourselves. Begin now and continue until you hear the ringing of the bell.

Set the Four Quadrants
We will now create a sacred space within this magickal circle by calling on the four directions and the three deities. Then, we will fill this space with our energy.
(May chant “Welcome Spirits”)

Guardians of the East, element of Air, realm of the mind, direction of the rising sun and new beginnings, let us honor our mother, the Earth and find ways to keep the air clean and breathable for all her creatures. Hail and Welcome. Blessed Be!

Guardians of the South, element of Fire, realm of the heart, direction of the noonday sun and fortitude, let us honor the fires of Bel. Let us seek strength and purity in your flames. Hail and welcome. Blessed Be!

Guardians of the West, element of Water, realm of the soul, direction of the setting sun and endings, let us honor the waters of our mother, the Earth and find ways to keep the waters clean and drinkable for all her creatures. Hail and welcome. Blessed Be!

Guardians of the North, element of Earth, realm of the physical, direction of the dark of night and renewal, let us honor all the physical manifestations of our mother the earth and find ways to keep the earth strong and healthy for all her creatures. Hail and welcome. Blessed Be!

Call the Deities
We will now honor the deities through the following litanies. If you wish to join in, please respond by saying “come to us” after each line:

O great Goddess, {come to us.}
Mother of us all, {come to us.}
Blessed Mother of the Earth, {come to us.}
She, whose face shines in the silver moon, {come to us.}
She, who wraps us in her arms of love, {come to us.}
Like a flower that opens its petals to the air, {come to us.}
Like the water that flows through deep forests, {come to us.}
Join us now, O sweet Lady, {come to us.}
O Goddess of the Moon, great feminine one,
bless this sacred circle and all work within it done. [light candle]

O Great God, {come to us.}
Father of us all, {come to us.}
Blessed Father of the sky, {come to us.}
He, whose face shines in the golden sun, {come to us.}
He, who fills us with sacred light, {come to us.}
Like the warm breeze that fills us, {come to us.}
Like the fire that warms and protects us, {come to us.}
Join us now, O great Lord, {come to us.}
O God of the Sun, great masculine one,
bless this sacred circle and all work within it done. [light candle]

For the next litany, please respond with the words “Let us be present.”
O sacred Child, {let us be present.}
Mystery of all, {let us be present.}
Great miracle of creation, {let us be present.}
You, whose face shines in the starlit heavens, {let us be present.}
You, who gives us the strength of life, {let us be present.}
Like the silence that stills us, {let us be present.}
Like the center of the wheel, {let us be present.}
With you, O great force of the universe, {let us be present.}
O Child of the Stars, great mysterious one,
bless this sacred circle and all work within it done. [light candle.]

Raise Energy
We will now fill this circle with our energies of love and sharing. To raise energy, I will ask that you take hands and begin chanting together. Allow this sound to stir the energy deep within you. Bring that loving energy to the circle. Let your inner self be free and open for you are safe here. We will end at the sound of the bell. Let us begin.
(May use “Within This Ring Of Power”)

Close the Circle
And now we all this circle enclose. Within its bonds let no troubles dispose.
With love and trust shall we hold fast. For now, at last, the circle is cast.” [ring bell]
(May sing “We Are A Circle”)

Ritual
As I mentioned in the introduction, this is the time in the cycle of the waxing sun to find ways of ending those projects to bring peace and joy into your life or the lives of others. If you have not completed those projects. Think of ways now in which you can do so before Litha is upon us. If you have not taken part in this process up till now, consider a small short project that you can complete in the next few weeks which will bring joy to you or others. I will light the Beltane fire. If you wish to take part in this activity, come forth and let your hands pass over the fire to honor and purify the work you have done or are about to do. If you wish, you may share what it is that you have done or what it is that you wish to complete in the coming weeks so that we may join in aiding and honoring you in your work.

[do activity, when done:]
We offer up these works and gifts to the earth and to one and all. For the joy and good of one and all, so mote it be.

The second part of our ritual tonight will be to honor a tree as a symbol of all earth. In a moment, we will exit our circle and circle the oak tree marked with a green ribbon. If you wish to take part in this part of the ritual, then starting on my left, we will go around the circle. Please take a handful of tobacco to honor and bless this tree and symbol of the earth. Say a blessing either silently or aloud and offer the tobacco to the tree. Please also take a colored ribbon. Offer your way of honoring and protecting the earth either silently or aloud and then tie your ribbon to the tree.
[do activity, when done:]

We will now bless our work by singing, dancing, drumming and sending our energy to the earth for healing and for continuing the cycles of life.

Sharing
Before we close this ritual, we will take a few moments to let you share your thoughts and feelings about this ritual or about anything you wish to express.
[allow participants to openly speak and share their experiences or other concerns.]

Completion
Now we will end this ritual.
Now this circle we undo, for the magick rite is through
Let this work befall for the good of one and all. So Mote It Be

Release Deities
O Child of the Stars, great mysterious one, with you our work here has now been done.
If you have come to bless this rite, we thank you now for your bright light.
O God of the Sun, great masculine one, with you our work here has now been done.
If you have come to bless this rite, we thank you now for your bright light.

O Goddess of the Moon, great feminine one, with you our work here has now been done.
If you have come to bless this rite, we thank you now for your bright light.
Release Quadrants
Guardians of the West depart, to your watery realm impart.
Bless all here gathered in true mind and heart. Hail and Farewell. Blessed Be!
Guardians of the South depart, to your fiery realm impart.
Bless all here gathered in true mind and heart. Hail and Farewell. Blessed Be!
Guardians of the East depart, to your airy realm impart.
Bless all here gathered in true mind and heart. Hail and Farewell. Blessed Be!
Guardians of the North depart, to your earthly realm impart.
Bless all here gathered in true mind and heart. Hail and Farewell. Blessed Be!

Ground
Before we bring this ritual to a close, I invite each of you to take a moment to ground your energy. You may do this by silently concentrating on returning your energy to the earth. Take a few minutes to touch the earth and let your energies return to her. One of the best ways to do this, however, is to give warm hugs to all who have participated here after the circle is open. (Ground)
One of the best ways to do this, however, is to give warm hugs to all who have participated here after the circle is open. (Ground)

Open the Circle
Let these blessings we bestow like a seed, take root and grow.
For the circle now is open but let these bonds remain unbroken.
So Mote It Be (ring bell)

Bow [place hands together]
From Mind [touch forehead] and Heart [touch center of chest]
and Body [cross hands across chest] and Soul [drop hands open in front of you],
let is now in love and peace grow.
And from the Spirit from which we all came, [bow]
Merry Meet, Merry Part and Merry Meet again! Blessed Be!
Cakes and Ale

NEEDS:
green working candle altar
altar cloth altar tools
deity candles quadrant candles
“cakes and ale” incense
cauldron colored ribbons
tobacco drum
torches torch fuel

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