Beltane
(All enter the grove, and a chime is rung three times to signal the beginning of the rite)
Today we gather in the new green of a fresh spring, to celebrate the vitality of life and the eternal renewal of the Earth. This May Day we welcome the return of the Bright Half of the year and the lengthening of days. On this day let us give praise to Frey and Freya of the Vanir, and the fruitfulness, lust, and inspiration that they bring to us and this season.
To the Earth, our Mother,
The womb of all Being -
Accept our offering!
All you of the Primal Dark,
Outsiders, Nightmare spirits, banes –
This tithe is yours, this offering yours.
Leave us be, pass by in peace, and trouble us not in our working!
With Silver, the Well is Hallowed!
With Incense, the Fire is Empowered!
With this offering, the World Tree stands!
Heimdall, Watchman of the Gods,
Turn your vigilant gaze to us-
We ask you, open the Gates!
Let the Well open as a gate,
Let the Fire open as a gate,
Let the Tree stand as our Ygdrassil, pillar of all being,
Let the Gates be open, and magic flow between!
We stand at the center of all worlds.
We are connected to all that is sacred.
Take a moment to be still, to center yourself and feel the flows of the Two Powers within you. (Brief Two Powers meditation follows.)
Shining Ones! Shapers of the World,
Hail and welcome to our rite!
Ancestors!
You who came before us and watch over us,
Hail and welcome to our rite!
Indwelling spirits of the land!
Spirits of this place,
Hail and welcome to our rite.
To Frey and Freya –
For the green-gold leaves unfolding,
For the bright bird-call at dawn,
For the glad-shining gold of growing Sun,
For risen sap, and rising life –
Laugh, with lust for the world,
O Elf King, O Brightest Queen!
Raise your voices with ours, in joy-
For the Earth is woken,
And the Green-Gold leaf unfolds.
***
O Freya, brightest of Goddesses,
O Freyr, Shining Elf-king,
We ask you accept our offering on this day.
Flowers, for the joy of a new spring,
Bread and Honey, for the sweetness and fullness of life.
Let our year be fruitful, let our hearts be glad,
And let us not forget the simple pleasures that enrich our days.
Anyone who wishes to make a personal offering may now do so.
Let the energy of our offerings flow through the gates between the worlds, that the Powers might receive them. Let our voices be heard, and let our praise flow between the worlds!
Empower a dish of earth, let people take some, & pick out some seeds to be planted later.
Having prayed to the Powers, let us now see what omen they have to give us. I will draw three runes, that we may know their advice and their will.
How have our offerings been received?
What advice or blessing do the powers have for us?
What further needs to the powers have from us?
With this wine we share in the Gods’ blessing, our gift for the honor we have given.
As you drink, think about what blessing it is you seek in return.
Shining Ones, we thank you for your blessing!
Ancestors, we thank you for your guidance!
Indwelling spirits, we thank you for your presence!
Heimdall, steadfast guardian, we thank you for your presence and for your vigilant gaze.
Take a moment to be still, to ground yourself, as the flows of power ebb and the mundane world once more comes to the fore.
We have come together and have given honor and offering to the Mighty Gods as our ancestors did of old, and as we will do again in days to come. Now let us depart, and carry from this place into our lives the blessing of the powers, the spark of magic and the light of the holy. Our rite is now ended!
