The Pagan Heart Activities and Rituals

May 2005 Issue

Frigga Blot - Sacrifice to Frigga     Activities     Bael-Fire Fun At sundown, light the 2 bael-fires, while asking for protection, purification, fertility and good luck and then and walking about them (3 x deosil). Leaping the individual fires increases fertility in your life - physical, spiritual, emotional and mental. Walking between them brings protection about you and circling them three times draws good luck for the coming year. Break the round of Beltaine bread and offer it about the group. The breaking and consuming symbolises the offering and acceptance of hospitality - all are now one family, bound by the sacred ties of hospitality. As you eat the bread, think about how it nourishes you, how it is a product of the union of sun and earth. Pour out a goblet of Beltaine wine and pass it about the group for all to taste. Then dig in and enjoy! ~ submitted by Catherine M. Beltaine Activities During the day collect flowers (to symbolise the coming summer, and the earth's fertility) and decorate the feasting area with them and "rowan" branches (if none are available, use fresh cut branches decorated with red ribbons - which are both protective and beloved of the fey folk - to create rowan branches). Also tie lengths of coloured ribbon to places where the breeze will catch them. I like to tie small bells to the ends so that as they blow about, they fill the air with tiny chimes. To honour the sun, hang up small suncatchers and crystals - they will bring his energy into your home. ~ submitted by Catherine M. Freyja Blot This month Frigga is not the only goddess celebrated in the Heathen traditions. Earlier in the month Freyja, goddess of the Spring, sex, love, and lust rules. There are many ways to honour Freyja within your life - send flowers to someone you love. Work specifically with the runes Berkana and Uruz, meditating upon them and seeing how they are active within your life. Make love! Freyja is a goddess of love and sexuality. She is also strong and valourous - a goddess worth knowing. ~ submitted by Anne S. Goddess and God bracelets three strands of hemp for each bracelet (long enough to wind around your wrist three times) 3 large beads for each bracelet Fold the threads in half and make a mark Knot one end and start to plait it. After about an inch, knot it again, thread a bead and knot. This first bead represents the maiden or youth. Continue plaiting until you reach half way through the threads. Knot, bead, knot to represent the mother or father. Again, continue plaiting until about 2 inches from the end. Knot, bead, knot to represent the crone or seer. Then plait another inch and knot it off Use the cardboard to write out the title of your book - maybe "My Adventures". You can use nice markers and fancy scissors to make it look good. Glue this on the front cover You can use thinner threads and make a necklace - fold the threads into thirds and mark. The portion that falls inbetween the two marks is where you will knot and bead, equally spaced ~ submitted by Anne S. Leaf Prints Go for a walk and collect some new leaves and grasses - make sure you ask before picking anything Bring them home and wash and dry them (on a teatowel) Mix up some craft paint in saucers while you're waiting, then use a paintbrush to cover one side of the leaves and grasses with a light coat of paint. Press the painted side down on some paper and lift off quickly ~ submitted by Catherine M. May Poles The Maypole, a tall pole smoothed of branches and stood upright (its foot buried in the earth), is a primal symbol of fertility. It is connected to the worlds above and below ours. Whether you believe that it represents a penis, or is the fertile tree of life, it is ultimately about sex. Men and women hold the ends of ribbons fastened to the tip and procede to dance around the pole in intricate patterns until the ribbons are wound from top to base. This dance draws down the sun's energy and channels it into the earth, helping to awaken her. The dancers stand as far away from the pole as their ribbons will allow, in an alternating pattern of male-female-male-female. The men face clockwise, the women anticlockwise, and they dance in the direction they are facing, weaving in and out of each other. Ribbons of colours relevant to the themes of Beltaine are good - the dominant colour is naturally green, and this represents growth, fertility, abundance. White, the colour of May blossoms, is also important for connections with the godhood. From the other spring flowers, we have predominantly shades of pinks (representing birth). Brown is for the earth - her stability and fecundity. Red is from the bael-fires, and is all about energy, strength and protection. Finally, the sun is remembered through yellow - sexuality and joy. If you are fortunate enough to dance about a full-size May Pole, then have a wonderful time! If, however, you don't have that freedom, why not create a miniature one for your home? Anything from a chopstick through to a broomstick will work. Simply secure it so it stands upright, attach a good number of ribbons to the top (I usually work on a multiple of three. For a chopstick I'd use three or six, for a broomstick, nine or twelve. More would be fun, but unmanageable). Make sure the ribbons are about twice the length of your maypole, have everyone take one and start moving about the pole in an over-under fashion. Historically, may poles didn't have ribbons - they were tall poles stripped of branches and secured in the earth. A crown or other decoration was fixed to the top of the pole, and often decorations hung from it. People still danced about them, just without the ribbons. ~ submitted by Callum. Morning Dew Spell A traditional May Day activity is bathing your face in the fresh dew to refresh and beautiful your appearance. To add an extra element to this, lay out a small metal bowl the evening before. Anoint the rim with vanilla and lavendar oil. If your area is very dry add a cup of water to the bowl. The next morning wash your face in the dew or water, visualising the beauty you wish to bring to the fore - let your inner face be cleansed and freshened too. Use your fingertips to do the washing. ~ submitted by Catherine M. Offerings to the Spirits and Fey Folk As with Samhaine, Beltaine (and the three days to either side) is a day of "no time" - the veils between the Earth and the other realms thin to gossamer and the worlds intermingle and unite. Magic flows strongly, unusual events transpire and life gains a certain frisson. Food is especially important - leftovers should not be eaten but rather offered up to the fey folk. After enjoying your Beltaine feast, lay out the leftovers on a plate, pour out a goblet of cider or wine, and leave it out as an offering. Light a small tea light and place it by the food. ~ submitted by Axiom. Runes salt dough - recipe in the January edition food colouring 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon of cream of tartar toothpick varnish Mix up the salt dough, adding a few drops of colouring as you add the water. Knead and then roll it out. Pinch off thumb-sized pieces, and mould them into rectangles. It's okay if they are a little rough looking Use the toothpick to carve one rune into each tile Place on an ungreased tray and bake at 250 degrees for 30 minutes, flip and bake another one & half hours Let cool and sand lightly. If you like, you can paint the runes with a contrasting acrylic paint. Then varnish and let dry ~ submitted by Iphegenia.         Rituals     Restful Sleep Poppets 5 squares of material (10x10 inches) 1 length of ribbon per square (12 inches) 3 tablespoons dried lavendar 3 tablespoons rose petals or buds 3 tablespoons 15 whole cloves 1 tablespoon dried citrus peel Take everything outside into the sunlight. Mix up the dry ingredients in a bowl, and then cup your hands over the herbs. Close your eyes, feel the sun on your body and let it fill you up. Imagine you are a stream, and the sun is water pouring into you. Let the water flow out of your palms into the herbs. When your palms feel warm, say: "Father Sun, may your heat, light, and energy fill these herbs. May they bring light to the path of those who sleep with them." Spoon about 2 tablespoons of herbs into the centre of each square. Gather up the edges and use the ribbon to tie each square into a little herb-filled bag. These are called poppets Leave the poppets where the moonlight can wash over them. Sit with the moonlight on you and close your eyes. Let the moon's energy wash through you and into the herbs. Say: "Sister Moon, may sweet dreams, wisdom, and restful sleep fill these poppets. May they bring wisdom to the minds of those who sleep with them." Your poppets are now finished. Give them to anyone you think would like one. Any leftover herbs will make a nice potpourri mix for your altar. Add 3 drops of lavendar and sandalwood oil and mix once more ~ submitted by Catherine M. Sheela na gig The Sheela is a powerful icon. She brings protection and purification, as well as acting as a gateway between worlds and states of consciousness. Crafting one and placing her in your home will bring her powers to bear within your life. You will need: Air/oven dry modelling clay Toothpick or skewer Small pot of water Crystal to symbolise the purpose of the Sheela List of ogham or other symbols you might like to include Find a good picture of a Sheela that you like (use the links provided on the Festivals page). Start by rolling out a chunk of clay and flattening it out to form a base "stone". Use the toothpick to scratch out a rough shape for your Sheela. Using more clay, shape out a head, torso, and limbs. Wet the base, scratch it up a bit with the toothpick, and place the torso atop the scratched-out form. Use the toothpick to smooth clay from the torso down over the base, joining the two together. Join the head the same way (remembering to join it to the torso too). Situate the arms and legs - bending them as per the traditional Sheela shape. Some have the arms go over the thighs, some beneath. Work out which suits you best, and then attach. Don't worry if they don't look perfectly proportioned. That's not an issue - Sheelas were raw and powerful, not graceful and gentle. Now that the body is constructed, you need to "illustrate" it. Use the toothpick to form facial features - keep them simple. Scratch out some hair, a jaw line and ears. Some Sheelas have breasts. Some have ribs. Some have braids, others just carved waves over the scalp. All have exposed genitals, fingers holding them open - it is important to add this. The vaginal opening is a doorway from life to death to rebirth, and also between the visual world and the unseen. Do not let modern sensibilities destroy the power you can add to your Sheela by crafting her labia. I have added some additional features to my Sheela - a Tibetan quartz situated at her navel, and a series of Ogham sigils. Do as you are inspired to. ~ submitted by: Anne S.

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