- Erect your own May Pole using a Christmas tree stand and a large pole. Decorate with multi-colored ribbons.
- Hang Prayer ribbons on trees and bushes on your property.
- Sew ribbons onto a white handkerchief, then empower each ribbon with a different goal or wish. Keep the kerchief safe until the wishes are granted.
- Collect morning dew for magickal use as holy water.
- Hang a branch of Rowan tied with red thread above your doors for protection.
- Add spells of self-esteem and self-love to your ritual.
- Bless your garden or the nearest feild.
- Beltane is done when the sun is 'earthy', fixed in the sign of Taurus. Any magick done now will last (and work hard) a long time. This is an excellent time of the year for prosperity work, adding stability to your lifestyle, and making those repairs around the home.
Shannon's Solitary Beltaine Ritual (derived from Silver RavenWolf's May Day Ritual in Solitary Witch & A Solitary Ritual for One from Rae Beth's 'The Wiccan Path')
Preparation:
Prior to this rite you should have made ready a wooden wand. This should be a branch from an Oak or Hazel tree. Remember, do not take the wood from a living tree! The wood can be cut into the rough shape of a phallus in which case it should be of the appropriate size and shape. On the other hand, a simple branch, peeled of its bark, and about 13 inches long and half an inch thick is also acceptable. Place the wand upon your alter within the Circle. Prepare a dish of earth and place it upon the alter beside the wand, a bowl of water, a candle and I use incense round out the representations of the elements should also be placed on the south side of your altar.
Supplies:
A broom not made of metal(leaning against the side of your altar). Altar and setup (a representation of the elements - earth, air, fire, water & illuminator candles). Tools such as an athame or wand. Candles or otehr representations positioned at the 4 quarters (east, south, west, north - use a compass for accuracy) - colors are your choice. Additional supplies will depend on the amount of time you have and any personal spells you want to perform. Your communion vessels, any seasonal items and your Book of Shadows.
THE RITUAL:
Step One: Take the broom and sweep the entire area with a broom working in east to west strokes. (banishing negativity) Cleanse the area by walking each element around your soon-to-be circle in a clock-wise direction saying:"Element of (name element). In the name of (deity), I cast out all unclean energies, real or imagined. May this area be blessed in the name of (deity), and be filled with the energies of love, joy and truth."
Step Two: Altar blessing & Empowerment: Pass each of the representations of the elements over your altar 3 times in a clockwise direction. {visualize that you are stirring up positive energies into action and blocking out negativity} Once the third pass is complete place the incense on the east side, candle on the south side, bowl of water ion the west side, and earth (or salt) on the north side of your altar. Dab a scented oil on each corner as well, then dab the center of the altar saying:
"I bless and consecrate thee, O sacred altar, in the name of Spirit (or your deity). May you repel negative energy and collect positive enery from this day forward until the end of time. So mote it be."
Draw an equal armed cross in the air over the altar. Tap the altar 4 time, one for each direction and say:
"As above, so below. This altar is sealed. So mote it be!"
--Note if you have previously blessed and consecrated your altar..pass the representative of each element over the altar intoning a personal blessing, then tap the altar 5 times -- one for each element and once for Spirit.
Step Three: Light your illuminator candles on your altar.
Step Four: Cast Your Magick Circle - walk the circle in a clockwise direction (anywhere from 1 to 3 rotations).Saying the following Sabbat Circlecasting:
*start by standing in front of your altar and say:
"tides of the season, ebb and flow"
(tap altar once - state the name of the Holiday energy to be invoked)
"From spring's first light to autumn's glow"
(Hold hands over the altar.)
"Doesil around from birth to death"
(begin in the north and begin making yuor rounds around circle)
"Legends, myths and love connect."
(you should be back at the notrh)
"Solar fire, sun's bright burning"
(Lift red fire candle from the altar and look skyward)
"Purify the Great Wheel turning"
(return candle to altar)
"Winds of the North to carry the flame"
(Begin walking north to east)
"The mists of eons, call thy name. Beltaine."
"East and South, the West inspire"
(pause as you state each of the directions)
"Enjoy the spirals even higher!"
(back at the north)
"The circle rises and marks rebirth"
(Begin the third pass of the circle)
"As seasons change and kiss the earth."
(back at the north)
"From seed and plough to harvest home."
(Hold hands over the altar again.)
"To starry vault and standing stone."
(At north point to the sky.)
"This Sabbat circle, thrice around."
(visualize the bubble sealing as your circle)
"I seal thee now from sky to ground!"
(bring your arm down and stomp your foot.)
Step Five: Light each of the quarter candles, calling the quarters. {remember to visualize an opening in your bubble for the quarters to enter}
"Winds of Beltaine's Fire(direction), attend, acknowledge, and proclaim!"
(once back at the altar raise arms,
"Winds of Beltaine's Fire Spirit, fill this circle with thy love and protection!"
Step Six: Charge of the Goddess. Ground and center yourself again in front of your altar. Raise your arms to the heavens in the traditional Goddess pose.
"Listen to the words of the Great Mother, who was of old, called against men, Artemis, Astarte, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Diana, Arionhod, Bride, and by many other names...."
"At mine Altar, the youths of Lacedemon in Sparta made due sacrifice. Whenever ye have need of anything, once in the month and better it be when the Moon is Full, then shall ye assemble in some secret place and adore the Spirit of Me, who am Queen of all the Witcheries. THere shall ye assemble, who are feign to learn all the sorceies who hav not as yet won my depest secrets. To these will I teach that which is yet unknown. And ye shall be free from all slavery and as a sign that ye be really free, ye shall sing, feast, and make music, all in my presence. For mine is the escasy of the Spirit and mine is also the joy on earth. For m Law is love unto all beings. Keep pure your highest ideals, strive ever towards them. Let none stopyou or turn you aside. For mine is teh secret that opens upon the door of youth and mine is the Cup and the Wine of Life and the Cauldron of Cerridwen, which is the Holy Grain of Immortality. I am the Gracious Goddess who gives the gift of joy unto the heart of man upon the earth. I give the knowledge of the Spirit Eternal, and beyond death I give peace and freedom and reunion with those that have gone before. Nor do I demand aught or sacrifice, for behold I am the Mother of all things, and my love is poured out upon the earth."
Step Seven: Beltaine Invocation - light a small candle say:
" I light this candle to the Sun"
(hold the candle up to the east)
"Out of the east the sun wells and whitens, the darknesstrembles into light, and the stars are extinguished like the lamps of a human city. THe whitness brightens into silver, the silver warms into gold, the gold kindles into pure and living fire, and the face of the east is covered with teh elemental scarlet. The day draws its first breath, steady and chill and for leagues around, the woods and valleys sigh and shiver. From every side the shadows will leap from their ambush and fall prone. The day of prosperity has come! This I give thee, O Sacred Fire, so that I and my family shall be spared from evil."
Place the candle in the cauldron.Walk around the cauldron three times, then chant the following invocation:
"Beltane! I dance with delight on Beltane's night. All senses freeing, I dance for being. The flower and the flame of love's own riteshall blossom. Sunembrace Earth, bright."
note: This is the Beltane fire, our modern substitute for the hilltop bonfires of our ancestors. The Bel fire is an invocation to the Sun God to bring blessing and protection for the coming year. This is sacred fire with healing and purifying properties. As you light the candle, be aware of its power and significance.
Step Eight: Blessings & Wishes:
Earth - Now take up a dish of earth. Bless it in the name of the Goddess. Lay your hands upon it and say:
"I bless, consecrate, and set apart this earth, in the name of the Triple Goddess. May this be sacred earth, set apart for magic. For earth is of the Goddess, being her sacred body."
Remember that the Goddess is not only of the Moon, but of the Earth and of the farthest stars. She is the Triple Goddess of the Circle of Rebirth, the Mother of All Life. Decorate the dish of earth with flowers.
Wands - take a wooden wand and oil it with vegetable oil.
" I bless it in the name of the Lord of the Day, the youthful, ardent one, the Lord of Life, the God of the greenwood."
Pass it swiftly through the candle flame, the Bel fire, so that it becomes magically imbued, 'charged', with power. Place the wand upon the dish of earth, saying as you hold it there:
"As the wand is to the earth,so the male is to the femaleand the Sun to our blossoming world.Joined, they bring happiness. May the God of Life give ___ {something you want, for example, peace on Earth} May the Goddess bring it forth!"
Sit quietly for a while, and picture the blossoming of what you have desired in life. The spells and invocations of all of us, all working on themes like these, must eventually bear fruit, because life is on the side of peace. Leave the earth and wand upon the alter.
Step Nine: Spiraling Peacefully. Walk deosil three times around the circle, then spiral into the center. Go evenly, with grace, meditatively. Sit beside the candle flame (bale fire), allowing yourself to feel peaceful. Gaze into the flame. The next part is different depending on whether you are man or woman.
*For a Woman: visualize a red rosebud in your womb. Always your womb is the source of your creative power, whether you are pregnant with a child, an idea, a work of art or an intention. Close your eyes and picture the light from the candle streaming into your womb so that the rosebud blooms, unfolds. Hold the image for a while, feeling the silkiness, smelling the scent, the freshness, seeing the color of the fully open rose within you. Feel the strength and power of your own fully blossomed capabilities. Say:
"I am woman,strong to conceive and to create,to give birth and to tend.As I am daughter of the Goddess,and blessed by the God, may I ___"
{here name what you wish to bring forth in life. For example bring healing to others or write my book whatever matters to you} **Do not perform the petal opening visualization if you are pregnant - your body may treat the petal as the cervex and try to open.
Feel the strength and creative force within your womb, the center of your being. See the power being channeled, flowing into the desire you have just voiced. Open your eyes. Always, the rose is within you.
*For a Man: Visualize a bright flame. This burns within your sexual center, a point at the base of the stomach, just above the pubic hairline. It is your own male strength and energy which may rise through your body to be released as giving, fertilizing power, in any form, or may be the potency which impregnates, creating a physical child. It is the force which blesses and bestows, a healing and creative energy, like the shining Sun. Visualize also that you are sitting in a garden and that a rose tree is in front of you, the roses in bud. Say:
"I am man,and in my passion is beauty,in my warmth is life.As I am son of the Goddess,and blessed by the God,I offer my strength and vitality to ____ "
{name the area of life, the place, activity, or committment you choose}
Visualize the light streaming from you to a rose upon the tree causing it to unfold, to blossom. Your flame is lowered by this effort. Much has gone out of you, the flame sinks down. Wait and watch, until a pink light streams from the rose towards your body. At its touch, just above the pubic hairline the flame resurges. It burns highter and stronger than before. Open your eyes. The flame is always within you.
Step Ten: Perform any spells or additional rituals / meditations you would like.
Step Eleven: Take Communion - Hold hands over cup {visualize the energy of the sun feeding the vine growing into a berry, etc} and say:
"From the sun to the vine from the vine to the berry from the berry tot eh wine this brew is blessed in the sacred names of our Lord and Lady. So mote it be."
Lower the athame into the cup and say:
"As the rod is to the God so the chalice is to the Goddess and together they are one!"
{Visualize divine energy pulsating from the blade into the cup, and the entire cup filling up with white light.}
Take a drink from the cup visualizing the divine energy entering your body and pushing out any negativity. When finished (do not drink all) say:
"May you never thirst."
Next hold your hands over the cakes and say:
"From the moon to the stalk from the stalk to the grain from the grain to the bread this bread is blessed in the sacred names of our Lord and Lady. So mote it be!"
Take a bite of the cake (or eat almost all of it), when finished say:
"May you never hunger."
**After ritual is complete pour remaining libations outside.
Step Twelve: Perform offering to the gods. This is the fire offering:
"Upon the wings of fiery flame I give this offering in Goddess' name."
Step Thirteen: Thank and release the quarters (begin in the west if you started in the north and move winddershins-counterclockwise).
"Winds of the Spirit of Beltane's Fire, blessings upon you. I release thee upon thy way till next we meet again! Winds of the Beltane's West, blessings upon you! I release thee upon thy way till next we meet again!" (repeat for the South, East & North)
Step Fourteen: Release the magick circle (1 rotation counter clockwise)
"O Great Circle of Sabbat Art, attend me no more this day but be released into (usually your athane, rod or wand)."
Step Fifteen: Seal the altar energies by tapping once on the altar and extinguishing illuminator candles.
Step Sixteen: Clean up and offer libations bowl out of doors
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