A Beltaine Ritual
May 1, 2010
We will gather early enough in the day to make the hasty pudding, bannocks and caudle and prepare offerings. Nettle soup is also appropriate for this festival.
The Firetender will set up the fire bowls with kindling. Individuals will also prepare items to hang on the Bealtaine Bush and decorate it, Rowan wood with red string to tie the pieces together will also be available for individuals to make and carry with them between the Bealtaine fires.
After the food is prepared we will prepare offering plates for Nodens, Brighid, Lugh and the ancestors. We will also prepare a pitcher of milk and honey for the land spirits. During this time, the firetender will be readying the Bealtaine fires with assistance if needed.
After all is made ready, the individuals will gather around the Bealtaine Fires:
(*Note the following prayer is adapted from prayers found in the Carmina Gadelica)
(The Leader says)
We do bless the fires of Beltaine,
In the presence of the ancestors and heroes of old,
In the presence of Brigid of the loveliest form,
In the presence of Lugh of the myriad charms,
Without malice, without jealousy, without envy,
Without fear, without terror of anything under the sun,
The great Nodens to shield us
And to kindle in us the welcome of them,
To the strangers, to my friends and to my kindred all.
(The firetender responds while tossing a handful of Juniper into each of the fires)
I do raise the fires
As Brigid would.
The blessings of Brigid be,
On the fire, and on the floor,
And on our households all.
All now gather around the Bealtaine Bush. The leader says:
(*Note the following prayer is adapted from one found in the Carmina Gadelica)
VALIANT Lugh of the Long Arm,
Who subdued your enemy Balor,
For the love of your tribe and for the pains of Nuada.
Spread your arms over us, shield us all from all harm,
(all respond) Spread your arms over us, shield us from all harm.
Brighid beloved! Goddess of the Art of Healing
Shield, oh shield us, noble and protective Goddess
And beauteous, keeper of cattle and of ewes,
Safeguard our animals and homes, surround us together,
(all respond) Safeguard our animals and homes, surround us together.
In name of the Deities, and of the Ancestors, and of the Spirits of Our Land,
Through these, through this honorable triad
Encompass ourselves and shield us in your protection
(all respond) Encompass ourselves, shield us in your protection.
O Dieties! O Ancestors! O Spirits of this Land!
Be with us day and night,
On the plain or on the mountain ridge
Be with us and offer blessing on our heads,
(all respond) Be with us and offer protection on our heads.
O Deities! O Ancestors! O Spirits of this Land!
Be with us day and night,
And on the back of the wave as on the mountain side
Our Mother Danu shall be with us with her arm under our head.
(all respond) And on the back of the wave as on the mountain side
Our Mother Danu shall be with us with her arm under our head.
O Deities! O Ancestors! O Spirits of this Land!
Bless these Flames of Beltaine.
And safeguard all those that walk between.
Protect us and bestow good fortune and health upon us.
(all respond) Protect us and bestow good fortune and health upon us.
We all now proceed to the shrine.
(Individuals making offering raises offerings and says in Bold, all respond in italics)
To Brighid
We Honor You!
For the Great Lady of Poetry, Smithcraft and Leechcraft
We offer you our Hospitality!
For the Lady Who Inspires
We ask for Your blessings and protections!
Offerings are placed on shrine.
To Lugh Lamfada
We honor you!
Samildananch
We offer you our hospitality!
The Voice of Thunder
We give thanks for your blessings and protection!
Offerings are placed on shrine.
To Nuada Chief of the Tuatha de Danann
We honor you!
To Nechtain, Guardian of the well from which flows Imbas
We offer you our hospitality!
To Nodens, healer, protector and hunter
We give thanks for your blessings and protection!
Offerings are placed on shrine.
To the Ancestors of our Spirit
We honor you!
To the Ancestors of our Flesh
We remember you!
To those Ancestors who are forgotten to us by name
Be with us, protect us and guide us!
Offerings are placed on shrine.
To our Good Neighbors, the Spirits of this Land
We honor you!
To all Spirits of our Rivers and Creeks
We offer our respect!
To all Spirits of our Fields and Gardens
Be with us and allow our endeavors to flourish!
To all Spirits of Springs, Rocks and Mounds
We honor you!
To all Spirits of tree, bush and thorn
We offer out respect!
To all Spirits of the Green World and its Denizens
Be with us and allow our endeavors to flourish!
To the Deities of our Land
We honor you!
To the Deities of our Rivers and Creeks
We offer our respect!
To the Deities of our Fields and Gardens
Be with us and allow our endeavors to flourish!
The individual making the offerings to the land spirits then pours the milk and honey onto the ground.
At this point all individuals may walk between the Beltaine fires, being very careful not to catch any clothing on fire, and hang their petitions and votives on the bush. Pets may be brought through as well if desired (this can also be done after). After everyone has placed offerings/petitions, the Bealtaine Bush will be placed on the fire – the petitions will be consumed and sent up as smoke to the deities (incense can be included in the decorations if individuals prefer – (we write our petitions on paper and enclose them with some incense in a little cloth packet and tie it with string)
Michael Says:
O Deities! O Ancestors! O Spirits of this Land!
Accept our reverent offerings!
With the burning of this bush may our prayers and wishes be made favorable to you!
While the bush is burning, the Bard will sing an appropriate song.
The Diviner then comes forward and says:
Deities, Ancestors, Spirits of our tribe, do you have any wisdom that you wish to impart to us?
The diviner than casts the oghams or performs some other sort of divination and provides the results to the rest of the tribe.
Individuals now gather around the fire and share in a communal meal. Individuals may toast their own personal deities, ancestors or spirits if they feel moved to do so and invite them to join in the celebration.