Beltaine: Festival of Fertility
Beltaine -The Fires of Bel: An Erotic Ritual for Two (or More)
People for the Celebration of Summer.
by Good Folk
Welcome to our celebration!
Before we begin...
The altar is decorated with various wildflowers: a large vase for the altar, and four
smaller bunches for the four directions, to be placed during the opening of the rite, and
others strewn about.
Three light green candles are on the altar.
A white candle, a bowl of water, and an oak branch represent Fire and Well and Sacred
Tree.
Bannocks and Ale, and the Bride bed are prepared.
Offering bowls and grain offering.
Musk or Lavender oil.
Silver offering.
Participants wear crowns of spring greenery and flowers.
A blanket or mattress or futon pad is arranged in the center of the room. White candles
are placed at the corners of the room, or of the mattress.
All texts are understood to contain the directions “In these or similar words.”
[B and G] represent the two participants in the original rite. Divide roles as appropriate
for your group.
Preparing ourselves for our time with the Gods and Spirits
The Sacred Bath:
Participants draw a warm bath prepared with Lavender bath salts, or scented with a sachet
filled with Vervain,, Mint, Basil, Thyme, Fennel, Lavender, Rosemary, Hyssop, and
Valerian. The bath should be decorated with white candles, and a musky incense used. Wash
each other in the bath, taking time to become relaxed and centered. Then dry each other
with soft towels and anoint each other with Lavender or Musk oil on the souls of the feet,
behind the knees, just above the pubic area (be careful with essential oils here!), on the
breasts, under the chin, and on the forehead. Dress in plain or ceremonial robes, or
simple peasant garb that is easily removed. Each take a burning white taper from the bath
for the procession to the Nemeton. (If there are more people than will fit in the bath,
take turns stepping in and being washed ceremonially.)
The Procession:
All process to the Sacred Grove and travel around it three times deosil. Light the center
green candle on altar from the white tapers, then extinguish the tapers and set them
aside.
Light the altar incense.
Opening Litany
adapted from Celtic Devotional by Caitlin Matthews
[G] I am the calm, I am the quickening!
[B] I am the intoxication and the force!
[G] I am the silence, I am the singer!
[B] I am the stallion galloping to its source!
[G] I am the bright pavillion and the feasting!
[B] I am the wedding couple and the bed!
[G] I am the morning chorus and the heartbeat!
[B] I am the goal to which all paths are led!
Awen Invocation
[G] From the Gods, and from the Spirits of the Earth, and from the
Ancestors, may we have the inspiration of worship and of prayer.
By Fire and Well and Sacred Tree
Earth-Mother now we honor thee;
May we be hallowed one and all
That you may hear us when we call.
The Couple cense each other, with words like:
[B] Pure and hallowed may you be.
[G] So be it.
Earth-Mother and Outdwellers Offerings:
[G] Earth-Mother we honor you and ask your blessing on our rite.
All take a bit of grain and place it in the Offering Bowl, with the same words. At the
conclusion of the Rite, the offering will be taken outside and given to the Earth.
An offering is made to the Outdwellers, and placed outside the Circle.
Attunement:
[G] rings bell 3 times.
[B] As our ancestors once did, so we do today,
and so our children will do in the future. We are here to pay homage to the divine as
manifest in Boinn, Lady of Fertility, and to Bel, Lord of the Sun; to the Gods, to the
Ancestors, and to the Earth Spirits; to the rising light of the year. Now is the time of
fertility, when the flowering plants put forth their blossoms, and Mother Earth is fertile
once again. Life is now awake, and the bees and butterflies travel from flower to flower.
In the meadow come together the sire and the dam. This is the Feast of Beltaine, the Fires
of Bell. As the Sun now burns brightly bringing warmth to Mother Earth, so warmth stirs in
the loins, and the fires of joining burn again in the sexes. In the embrace of lovers new
life is created. So let us join together as one to make our offerings in joy and
reverence.
[G] These are the Fires of Bel. Light has overcome darkness, and
warmth is again upon our Mother Earth! Flowers bloom around us, and fill the air with
their perfumed joy!
She carries the four smaller bunches of flowers to the four corner
candles as she says:
[G] Offer we now these flowers of the Fields of
Boinn, in thanks for the life that is eternal. Thanks we give for the generation of life,
for stamen and ovule, for phalus and vulva, for
seed and egg, for fertility and fecundity, for promise of the future.
The couple goes to each candle and lights it with fire from the
altar, with these words:
[B and/or G] These are the Fires of Bel, this
is the Field of Boinn.
All are seated on the mattress, and there is silence for a moment.
One leads the Four Elelments or other centering meditation, as usual.
Purpose of the Rite, Naming of the God and Goddess of
Beltaine
[G] Beltaine is the time of fertility and warmth, of joining and
conceiving. We make offerings to Boinn, and to Bel.
[G] lights the Candle for Boinn, and makes an offering of oil.
[G] Boinn, Cow-Mother and Goddess of the Moon,
River of Life, grant us this boon:
That power of joining may flow in us soon!
[All] So be it!
[B] lights the Candle for the Bel, and makes an offering of oil.
[B] Greetings, Bel, ancient God of Sun,
Smith and Herald of new life begun:
Join us now, and make us one!
[All] So be it!
Opening the Gates
[B] Let us now open the portals to the
Otherworld, in Tree and Fire and Sacred Well.
Come we now to this sacred grove
in this place between the worlds,
to give honor to Boinn, and Bel.
Offerings make we now, that the portals may be opened.
[G] offers silver into the well, saying:
In the deeps flow the waters of wisdom,
Sacred Well, flow within us.
[B] lights incense from the Center Candle and places in stand,
saying:
I kindle the Sacred Fire in wisdom, love and
power,
Sacred Fire, burn within us.
[G] sprinkles well water on the tree on the altar, saying:
World Tree with roots in the earth, and arms in
the skies,
Sacred Tree, grow within us.
[All] So be it!
Invocation of the Three Kindreds
[B] We welcome now the Three Kindreds to our
Rite:
Ancestors, Earth Spirits, and Gods.
Gods, and Dead, and Spirits all,
Receive our offering, hear our call.
By Fire, and Well, and Sacred Tree,
From Land and Sky, and from the Sea,
Now come, we pray you, to this Grove,
And bring your wisdom, strength, and love!
[G] Ancestors, Old Ones, remember us as we remember you;
Ancient Ones, hear our prayers and accept our offering of love.
Hoof and horn, leaf and stone, aid us as we aid you;
Earth Spirits, hear our prayers, and accept our offering of love.
Gods and Goddesses, Shining Ones, honor us as we honor you;
First-Born of Earth Mother, hear our prayers and accept our offering of love.
All sit and meditate upon the hosts of Spirits they have called. All
speak in their hearts to whichever
spirits present themselves to them.
Offering to the Beltaine Deities, The Joining of Lovers is
the Embodiment of the Divine
[G] The Song of Bel:
Bold and burning, God of Light,
Bel, now bringing Love to sight:
Passion great and Body strong,
Fertile power, living song;
All are manifest in thee,
God of Fire, naked be!
She removes his clothing, and caresses his body.
[B] The Song of Boinn:
Boinn’s Moon upon us shine,
Vigot of life is always thine:
Strength of Cattle, strength of Love,
Strength of Beauty, toward us move;
Migickal thy ways may be,
River Goddess, naked be!
He removes her clothing, and caresses her body.
They take some of the small wildflowers strewn about, and weave them into each
other’s hair, on the head and in the pubic area.
Prayer of Offering
An offering of bannock is made, and cup of ale, with appropriate
words of praise from the heart for Boinn and for Bel.
The Omen
One seeks the Omen through means of choice (rune, ogham, tarot, etc.)
and interprets the Omen.
Receiving and Using the Returned Power
All sit.
[B] Let us now in silence or aloud offer prayer
for our several needs..
Holding hands, participants express needs either silently or aloud,
followed by a period of silent
meditation.
[G] Join we now our hands in communion and
agreement,
Consecrate we now ourselves to one another and to the Goddesses and Gods.
New incense is lighted and pass around the circle, Sunwise, each
censing the other, in token of Divine
Blessing.
The couple join in love-making on the mattress, taking whatever time is needed.
(If there are more than one couple, appropriate actions agreed upon as a group beforehand
now take place.)
Other workings may be done as needed.
At the conclusion of this joining, share in Bannocks and Ale.
[B] Join we now in chant of Communion and
Praise.
[All] I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the Starlit Heaven,
The glorious Sun’s life-giving Ray,
The whiteness of the Moon at Ev’n;
The Flashing of the Lightning free,
The whirling Wind’s tempestuous Shocks,
The stable Earth, the deep salt Sea,
Around the old, eternal Rocks. (from “Patrick’s Breastplate”)
Unwinding and Ending
[B] O Vigorous Bel, Lord of the Sun,
we thank thee for thy bright presence here.
We have been honored to have your Spirit among us.
Farewell, and Blessed Be!
[All] farewell, and Blessed Be!
[G] O luminous Boinn, Lady of the Moon,
we thank thee for thy bright presence here.
We have been honored to have your Spirit among us.
Farewell, and Blessed Be!
[All] Farewell, and Blessed Be!
[G] The Goddess, the God have been honored.
This Rite of Beltaine is done.
Fire and Well and Sacred Tree,
and Gatekeeper of these portals three,
we offer thanks and praise to thee!
With welcome to the waxing Sun,
may gates be closed, and rite be done!
[B] Now our Rite of Beltaine is done.
Blessed peace on everyone,
and may we bring the light of Sun!
They dress.
[B] leads others three times counter-Sunwise around the circle, in a
journey back from the Otherworld.
[G] rings the bell three times. The Rite is done.
Copyright 1998, by Good Folk
Permission to copy is granted if this notice is included
