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Wiccan, Witch, Wicca and Pagan Pagan Calendar for ritual times and instructions. Ritual and Spell Working, Love, Magic, Money, Witchcraft Spells. |
Celebrating Beltane
Before beginning your ritual, read this page. It will provide you with a method of casting a circle and consecrating your sacred
space. It will also list the different items you need for your altar and how to end the ritual with the cakes and wine ceremony.
Being a solitary, these recommendations for celebrating Sabbats have been altered to suit me and my immediate family. I have written these pages as much
for myself as for you so that I have a quick reference when planning my Sabbats. But, these are only recommendations. You
can add or subtract from them to create your own unique and special way of giving thanks and celebrating the turning of the wheel.
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Beltane falls on April 30. This was the traditional time of erecting the maypole and dancing around it to
celebrate the Goddess and fertility. This holiday was devoted to sensual pleasures and probably a lot of "fertilizing" was done because
the young men and women would be out most of the night, enjoying themselves and collecting things to decorate with for the festivities. It is
not surprising that this activity was scorned by the conservative religious groups.
Decorate your altar, table and home with things that would symbolize a lush bounty: cakes, meats, breads and fruits. Use enough candles and
incense to ensure a festive atmosphere. If you can be outside, a smudge pot of sage or other incense herbs would be appropriate. Otherwise,
just the traditional types of incense will suffice.
Cast your circle and welcome your Deities. Ring your bell or chimes 7 times to cleanse and charge the atmosphere. Give thanks to the Deities
for providing the things necessary for the crops to grow and again, for the turning of the wheel.
Here might be a good place to read Rudyard Kipling's poem:
Oh, do not tell the priests of our rites
For they would call it sin;
But we will be in the woods all night
A conjuring Summer in.
And I bring you good news,
By word of mouth,
For women, cattle, and corn;
Now is the Sun come up from the South
With oak and ash and thorn.
You can at this point take up your incense and walk to each person in the circle and as you wave the incense toward them say something like,
"May the Goddess (Mother Earth, Gaia, etc.) bless you with long life, love and fertility". Return the incense to the altar and thank the Deities
for your blessings.
End your ritual with the cakes and wine ceremony. Let this be a joyous festival, indulging yourself with food, drink, music, laughter and being thankful
for your friends and family. .
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