BELTANE RITE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ There should be a table set up with a white tablecloth outside the circle. Everyone should bring some food or drink--light, sweet cakes or all natural juices. All food should preferably be all-natural or home-baked. Flowers are festooned everywhere, even in the hair of the Grove or Coven members. Everyone can either go naked or wear a light- colored, spring-like robe. Earth jewelry can be worn. In the circle, the incense should be a sweet-flower scent such as jasmine or strawberry. Cheery music should be played, of whatever style suits the Grove or Coven members. The East candle should be white, the South pink, the West light blue, and the North light green. There should be an extra large circle with a Maypole in the center, and everyone should bring a ribbon of whatever color pleases them and an instrument that only takes one hand to play. The ribbons are to be attached to the top of the pole, and long enough to allow for dancing. In the South, far enough away to allow for dancing, a fire should be laid but not lit. Tarot cards, crystal balls, psychic games, and other related things are fun to have after the actual rite is over. When eveyone is in readyness, the High Priestess stands and says: "FRIENDS, I NOW BID YOU TO JOIN HANDS AND CREATE WITH OUR BODIES THE SACRED CIRCLE, FOR THIS IS A SEASON OF LOVE, LIGHT, AND JOY, WORTHY TO BE CELEBRATED AS IN TIMES FAR ANCIENT BEFORE OUR DIETIES AND IN THEIR HONOR." Everyone joins hands and does the group breath. When everyone is grounded and relaxed, everyone is peacful inside, the Guardian of the East says: "PLACE THIS LIGHT AT THE EDGE OF OUR FESTIVAL SO THE LORD AND LADY MIGHT BE WITH US." the one chosen as the Guardian of the East lights the candle and says: "SPIRITS OF THE EAST, SPIRITS OF DAWN, OF THE AIR, BLOW CLEAN AND CLEAR, SWEEP FREE THROUGH THE SKIES AND BE WITH US HERE." Then everyone says: "BLESSED BE." Eveyone except the Guardian of the South says: "PLACE THIS LIGHT AT THE EDGE OF OUR FESTIVAL SO THE LORD AND LADY MIGHT BE WITH US." The Guardian of the South lights the candle and says: "SPIRITS OF THE SOUTH, SPIRITS OF THE NOONDAY SUN, OF FIRE, GIVE WARMTH, COMFORT, AND BRIGHTNESS, AND BE WITH US HERE." Everyone says: "BLESSED BE." Everyone except the Guardian of the West says: "PLACE THIS LIGHT AT THE EDGE OF OUR FESTIVAL SO THE LORD AND LADY MIGHT BE WITH US." The Guardian says after lighting the candle: "SPIRITS OF THE WEST, SPIRITS OF DUSK, OF WATER, OF OCEANS, LAKES AND STREAMS, WASH BRIGHT, FRESH, AND CLEAR, AND BE WITH US HERE." Everyone says: "BLESSED BE." Then everyone except the Guardian of the North says: "PLACE THIS LIGHT AT THE EDGE OF OUR FESTIVAL SO THE LORD AND LADY MIGHT BE WITH US." The Guardian lights the candle and says: "SPIRITS OF THE NORTH, SPIRITS OF MIDNIGHT, OF EARTH, NEW AND GREEN, BRING FORTH LIFE AND BEAUTY, AND BE WITH US HERE." Everyone says: "BLESSED BE." The High priestess then invokes the Goddess, remembering that at this time of year She is the maiden, and when she is done, everyone says: "BLESSED BE." The High Priest then invokes the God, remembering that He is the young laughing god now. When he is done, everyone says: "BLESSED BE." Everyone salutes the Sky and the Earth with their Athames or hands and says: "AS ABOVE, SO BELOW. BLESSED BE." The High Priest then says: "THE RITE IS BEGUN!" Since everyone should still be holding hands, the circle will be unbroken. Each person takes a turn standing in the center of the circle while everyone chants or sings their magical or real names. Each time, when the chanting dies down, all say: "THOU ART GOD/ESS!" A few minutes are taken as people get thier ribbons and begin dancing. Singing, chanting, and playing the instruments is appropriate. One chant goes: "WEAVE, WEAVE, WEAVE, WEAVE, WITCHES WEAVE THE WEB OF LIFE, WEAVE, WEAVE, WEAVE, WEAVE, WITCHES WEAVE THE WEB!" After the Maypole is woven, the bonfire can be lit. People jump over it by turns, cleansing themselves of certain problems. When that dies down, all should gather back into the circle and begin a word-association chant starting with the word "Beltane". Then the psycic games are played and the general mood is happy. When everyone is ready to end the rite, the God is dismissed, then the Goddess, then the North, then the West, then the South, then the East. Time for feasting on the food that everyone brought. PARTY TIME! *See ??????? by Ed Fitch, and The Women's Spirituality Book by Diane ?????