Sylver_Flame asked this question on 4/24/2000:
I should have done this a long time ago... but i need help on the Beltane issue... i'm solitary, and don't know of anything i can do to celebrate Beltane... any suggestions?
mothergoddess gave this response on 4/25/2000:
MERRY MEET SYLVER!
OUR RITUALS ARE AS INDIVIDUAL AS WE ARE, BUT THERE ARE SOME BASIC THINGS YOU CAN DO, AND FROM THERE ADD TO THE CEREMONY ANY PERSONAL RITES THAT YOU WISH...
I WILL ASSUME YOU KNOW THE REASON WE CELEBRATE BELTAINE SO YOU CAN LET THAT DETERMINE THE PERSONAL TOUCHES YOU MIGHT ADD...
The Beltane ritual should start before sunrise or in the evening of April 30th. This is to welcome the sun in and to make effective use of the bonfire (if you can do this out of doors). The ritual should finish some time after sunrise.
(Don't forget to purify yourself before...I love to wake up a few hours before sunrise and soak in a warm bath of my favorite bath-salts and pamper myself with lotions and perfumes before I put on my vestments.)
Set up a candle in each of the four cardinal directions. Lay the rest of the tools on the altar cloth or near it. The altar can be on the ground, a table, a rock or a stump. The altar should be in the center or just north of center of the Circle. Light six candles and incense or place a rose in the center of the six candles, start the music and begin the ritual (use any soothing music you like...If you don't have any particular ones...try a new tape or CD of old celtic songs or pan pipe music. I love to listen to them as it makes me feel like I am not in this time and have gone back to those olden days...). You may want to use some apple blossoms and white or lavender candles... these are favorites to use for spring...
Say a blessing and call your corners, draw your circle, as you normally would... below are some suggestions if you do not have any that you use... or are in need of broadening your repetoir...:
"Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence, within you."
My Lady of the Moon, who is called Diana, Artemis, Levanah, Isis and by many other names, I come to you to bring you my love and my devotion. May you grant me the joy of your presence.
At the East:
My Lady, guide my thoughts. Let them lead always closer to you.
At the South:
Gracious Goddess, guide my actions. Let them always help and never harm others or myself.
At the West:
Lovely One, guide my emotions: Let them be healing and touched always by you.
At the North:
Sweet Goddess, let my mind always be fertile and storng, that I may grow always toward you.
Return to the East to complete the circle and say:
Queen of Heaven, I thank you for your presence, both now and always. My love and devotion are yours. Blessed be!
From there you can meditate, or chant, perhaps dance to celebrate your joy... or you may wish to just sit in the circle and think of the stories of Beltaine (or better yet, read of them if you have a book). Enjoy a feast of her gifts yourself. Perhaps you can fix some almond cakes and wine or fruits for this, anything you like...
As a solitary, you focus on your personal connection to the Goddess so anything you feel like adding is ok...
Afterward, when the sun is up, and you are ready to open the circle, thank Her again for all of the blessing you have recieved, and those which you expect to recieve...
When my ceremony is finished... I love to go out side and walk somewhere quiet, before the rush of the day begins, and the rest of the world wakes up...taking in all the sights and sounds and smells of this beautiful earth...or just sit in my garden (backyard, nearby park, or if you are lucky like me to live in a rural area, the woods or a field), and think about how wonderful all this nature really is.
I hope this has been of some help to you... Please let me know if there was/is something more specific you had in mind. And always feel welcome to ask me anything you would like... if I can not give you the answer, I will put you in touch with someone else who may be able to help...
Merry meet again!
Love,
Bethany
The average rating for this answer is 5.