BELTANE RITUAL

BRINGING IN FERTILITY

Historical accounts of various Beltane activities show that the Celts were working towards ensuring fertility of their lands and oftentimes fertility of their homes. Following Imbolg and Ostara, it wraps up the ‘fertility’ aspect of the Wheel of the Year as we move into Midsummer.

The Beltane Ritual you find below is about bringing fertility to YOURSELF in whatever form you specify. Grow in many venues is extremely important to Pagans and there is no better time to work towards fertility than now.

Basic needs:
Seasonal altar cloth – choose colours or fabrics that speak to you
3 tapers, preferably dripless
3 candlestick holders
A headwreath of flowers
candles and candleholders for corners
items to represent the elements if you wish
smudge stick
libation
offering
salt
water
Incense
Items to ask for blessings during this growth in the sun period – maybe job listings, maybe a project you are working on or just some mental image you will concentrate on

Extras:
Compass and lighter if necessary

BEFORE THE RITUAL:

Set up circle with altar cloth, candles, items to bless and/or focus on, incense & holder libation and offering in the center.

Gather up the headwreath you have. It will be placed in the center of the altar cloth, with ‘growth’ items placed either in it or on it.

Keep smudge stick, salt, water and lighter available for circle casting.

Place candles and items to represent the elements.

RITUAL ITSELF:

Cast circle in your preferred method. I do three passes – one with smudge stick, one with salt and one with water.

Call corners in your preferred method, lighting candle for each as you go.

"Mother and Father, as you come together today
Bringing joy to all that are living.
We stand here with you and honour all blessings
And give thanks for the fertility we are given."

Gather the head wreath in your hands.

"This circle in my hands,
is the circle of all living things.
Covered with flowers and green,
Sprung up from the passing Spring.”

"No beginning and no end,
Use this circle to show me,
How fertility will circle my life.”

Light the incense and candles.

While lighting the three candles, say:

"Sun, Moon and Spirit
Be with us this day.
Balance and life are with us
Spinning the Wheel again."

Gather the items that you wish to ask for blessings of and pass them through the incense for purification. Consecrate the headwreath in the same fashion.

"God and Goddess, please grant growth
To what I lay before you
To give light, beauty and strength
For all to grow anew. "

Gather libation and offering:

"I offer up this draught in honour of day and night
Striving to maintain fertility in my life and hearth.

I offer up this offering in honour of day and night
Striving to maintain fertility in my life and hearth."

Drink and eat, offering to those around you, being sure to leave some for offering after ritual to the nature around you.

To close ritual say:

"As the Wheel of the Year turns
And we begin to make another round
We give heartfelt thanks for what has come
Watching the web of the world be wound."

Release the circle and quarters. Leave libation and offering, if you so choose. Display the headwreath on your altar or some other prominent place – consider hanging it above the altar on the wall or adorning your bed somehow (although don’t tempt the Goddess if you don’t want to become pregnant).

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