Drummers: Blade & Nonnie
High Priestess:
High Priest:
East:
South:
West:
North: Dan
The Maiden:
The Master:

Preparation

Prepare and physically cleanse the ritual space. Set up the altar. Prepare yourself by cleansing your body and clearing your mind.

Attunement

All sit quietly in the circle and center. After a few minutes Blade and Nonnie lead The Grove in trance drumming.

Aspersing and Casting the Circle

As the drumming continues, HPS walks clockwise around the circle with the wand visualizing the circle forming to enclose the members and the ritual area.

High Priest: The Wheel of the Year turns on and on, bringing us to and from each season. We pause briefly to watch the Wheel turn, as we gather on this blessed evening so that we might celebrate Beltane, the start of the fertile summer season. We come to praise the bountiful Goddess and her God consort who unite today in sacred marriage. We wish to give thanks, and to feel ourselves a part of the relentlessly turning wheel of life, death, and rebirth.

High Priestess: The Circle is cast and we are beyond the bounds of time, where night and day, birth and death, joy and sorrow, meet as one.

Calling the Quarters

East: Lords of Air, we call you forth to help open the portal between our world and yours. Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East, grace our circle with your Presence this night. Great Eagle of the Eastern Skies, Charge this circle and these people with your powers. We summon, stir, and call Thee up!

South: Lords of Fire, we call you forth to help open the portal between our world and yours. Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South, grace our circle with your Presence this night. Red Lion of the Southern Desert, Charge this circle and these people with your powers. We summon, stir, and call Thee up!

West: Lords of Water, we call you forth to help open the portal between our world and yours. Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West, grace our circle with your Presence this night. Sweet Dolphin of the Western Seas, Charge this circle and these people with your powers. We summon, stir, and call Thee up!

North: Lords of Earth, we call you forth to help open the portal between our world and yours. Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North, grace our circle with your Presence this night. Black Wolf of the Northern Forest, Charge this circle and these people with your powers. We summon, stir, and call Thee up!

Lighting the Balefire

HPS: This year our pagan brothers and sisters in Ireland are undertaking a monumental event. It is their intent to relight the ancient balefires uniting all of Ireland in celebration. Tonight we light our Baletane Balefire in honor of their worthy goal.

HP lights the Balefire.

Poem

HP: The following is a poem translated out of the Gaelic by the Dal Riadh Celtic Trust and said to be written by Finn McCool himself:

May, clad in cloth of gold,
Cometh this way;
The fluting of the blackbirds
Heralds the day.

The dust coloured cuckoo
Cries welcome O Queen!
For winter has vanished,
The thickets are green.

Soon the trampling of cattle
where river runs low!
The long hair of the heather,
The canna like snow.

Wild waters are sleeping,
Foam of blossom is here;
Peace, save the panic
In the heart of the deer.

The wild bee is busy,
The ant honey spills,
The wandering kine
Are abroad on the hills.

The harp of the forest
Sounds low, sounds sweet;
Soft bloom on the heights;
On the loch, haze of heat.

The waterfall dreams;
Snipe, corncrakes, drum
By the pool where the talk
Of the rushes is come.

The swallow is swooping;
Song swings from each brae;
Rich harvest of mast falls;
The swamp shimmers gay.

Happy the heart of man,
Eager each maid;
Lovely the forest,
The wild plane, the green glade.

Truly winter is gone,
Come the time of delight,
The summer truce joyous,
May, blossom-white.

In the heart of the meadows
The lapwings are quiet;
A winding stream
Makes drowsy riot.

Race horses, sail, run,
Rejoice and be bold!
See, the shaft of the sun
Makes the water-flag gold.

Loud, clear, the blackcap;
The lark trills his voice
Hail May of delicate colours
tis May-Day - rejoice!

The Great Rite

HPS: Tonight we celebrate the Great Rite.

Maiden comes forward. HPS places chaplet of flowers on Maiden's head saying: Blessed are you among women tonight.

HP: Tonight we celebrate the Great Rite.

Master comes forward. HP places chaplet of flowers on Master's head saying: Blessed are you among men tonight.

Maiden holds chalice with both hands high in the air, saying: Behold, the womb of the Great Mother. The great cosmic egg from which all life flows.

Maiden lowers the chalice, holding it in front of her womb.

Master holds the athame with both hands high in the air, saying: Behold, the phallus of the Father God. The fertilizing principle of the universe.

Master brings the blade down into the chalice.

Master: Blessed be you, my Goddess, my holy bride of heaven and earth. We are united in the ancient rite of the sacred marriage.

maiden: Blessed be you, my God, my holy groom of heaven and earth. We are united in the ancient rite of the sacred marriage.

Master: By this act of love, all life comes to be.

Maiden: By this act of faith, we proclaim our belief in our place on the eternal cycle of life.

Dedicates: Blessed be the Great Rite.
The Lord and Lady reign eternal.
Blessed Be

Together the Maiden and Master replace the tools on the altar without removing the blade from the chalice.

Planting

Maiden passes out cups of soil to each Dedicate saying: Our mind is the field and we are limited only by our own desires.

Master passes out seeds to each Dedicate saying: Let us plant the seeds of thought, ideas, and goals. Each person states a thought, idea, or goal then drops the seeds into soil.

When everyone is finished the Maiden says: We must be sure to care and tend to these needs.

Cakes and Ale

HPS Blesses the cakes/breads/food saying:

This food is the blessing of the Lady and The Lord, given freely to me. As freely as I have received, may I also give food for the body, mind, and spirit to those who seek such of me.

Libations for all. HPS first, then HP, then deosil to rest of group.

Farewell to the God

Master: Lord of the forests, Green Man, You have blessed us with your presence, with your fire, passion, and laughter, We thank you and bid you peace.

Farewell to the Goddess

Maiden says:

Lady of the Moon, Beloved Queen, You have blessed us with your presence, with your grace, love, and beauty. We thank you and bid you peace.

Dismissing the Quarters

East: Lords of Air, we ask you now to close the portal between our worlds. Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East, thank you for your Presence this night. Great Eagle of the Eastern Skies, We thank you for the blessing of your powers. Depart in peace. Our blessings take with you.

South: Lords of Fire, we ask you now to close the portal between our worlds. Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South, thank you for your Presence this night. Red Lion of the Southern Desert, We thank you for the blessing of your powers. Depart in peace. Our blessings take with you.

West: Lords of Water, we ask you now to close the portal between our worlds. Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West, thank you for your Presence this night. Sweet Dolphin of the Western Seas, We thank you for the blessing of your powers. Depart in peace. Our blessings take with you.

North: Lords of Earth, we ask you now to close the portal between our worlds. Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North, thank you for your Presence this night. Black Wolf of the Northern Forest, We thank you for the blessing of your powers. Depart in peace. Our blessings take with you.

Opening the Circle

HPS takes the wand and walks counter clockwise opening the circle.

HP: The circle is open but never broken. Blessed Be