beltane coven ritual
A Joyous Beltane to You
Beltane might be the most celebratory of all the sabbats. Spring is in full-bloom in most places by May 1, with summer right around the corner, and it’s hard not to get swept up in that kind of energy. It’s also traditionally a time for lovers and rendezvous in the now green grass under the moonlight. When I was younger, many of the rituals I conducted focused on the more amorous aspects of Beltane, but as I’ve grown older, I’ve moved away from that model because I don’t think it’s representative of the more inclusive Witchcraft I practice today. (Not everyone is looking for such things on Beltane.)
Today the rites of my coven during Beltane focus on harnessing the growing energy of the earth and building community. At the end of the working, all that energy is then gathered up and sent to where it’s needed most. There are no goddesses or gods drawn down in this ritual, and there is only one small magickal working. The focus is mostly on the joy of the season. In order to link this rite with the Beltane of the ancient past, it does include a ceremonial jump over a candle.
For this ritual you’ll also need some sort of music player and ideally a musical version of the 1906 Rudyard Kipling poem “A Tree Song,” which was set to music in 1970 by Peter Bellamy and renamed “Oak, Ash and Thorn.” The song has been covered numerous times since then, often by Pagan artists. (My favorite version is by the band Coyote Run.) It’s been a part of Witch circles for nearly as long, and can be heard playing in the rites of many Witch covens at Beltane (despite its references to Midsummer).
This rite can be done indoors or out, and while many public groups prefer to hold their Beltane rituals during daylight hours, I think coven rites are always better at night. Instead of the usual incense and salted water, this rite utilizes a besom (broom) and a bowl of water for the cleansing. I like to use rainwater here when I can, but if that’s unavailable in your area, any other sort of water will work just as well.
Ritual Roles
• High Priestess
• High Priest
• Circle caster
• Four quarter callers
Materials Needed
• Usual altar setup
• Music player with the song “Oak, Ash and Thorn” (unless you just want to recite the poem as a group)
• Candle in a solid, stable candleholder; alternatively, two candles for people to walk between
• Besom
• Bowl of rainwater (or any type of water available to you)
The Ritual: A Joyous Beltane to You
The altar should be placed in the center of the circle, with everyone in the coven gathered in a circle around it. When everyone is attentive and focused, the High Priestess should begin the ritual.
Statement of Intent/Purifying
High Priestess: Tonight we celebrate Beltane, the ancient fire festival of the Celts. For the Celts, Beltane was the start of summer and offered a brief respite after planting the grain. It was a time of spellcraft, when magick was used to protect what was planted in the spring and ensure a bountiful harvest in the fall. Tonight we celebrate the fire of Beltane, and we do so with love in our hearts and joy in our souls. So mote it be!
High Priest: I now ask all of you to put your hands together and dust off from them all that does not serve you. Brush away any worries or mundane problems so that we might cast them out of this circle.
After everyone has brushed off any negativity upon them, the High Priest begins sweeping around the circle clockwise, collecting all of the negative energy. It should then be swept out of the circle in either the north or the west (or, if indoors, through whatever door is available). The High Priest may need to make a few circuits around the circle to sweep out all that is undesired. When he’s done, the High Priestess should pick up the bowl of rainwater.
High Priestess: As the rain falls from the sky and refreshes the earth, let it now refresh those of us gathered in this place. May this gift renew and cleanse you as it does the earth.
Walking clockwise, the High Priestess sprinkles water upon the ritual space and all gathered within it. (We usually lightly sprinkle it over the heads of those we’re circling with.) When the High Priestess is done, the High Priest or another member of the coven can sprinkle the water upon the High Priestess.
Circle Casting/Quarter Callers
Beginning in the east and walking clockwise, the circle caster takes up the coven’s sword (or their own athame) and casts the Beltane circle.
Circle Caster: With love and joy I cast this circle. May it serve to safeguard our Beltane rite and bring us ever closer to one another and our Lord and Lady. This circle shall be a bridge between the worlds and an entryway into the realm of spirit. All in this space will be of love, and love is what creates this circle. The circle is cast. So mote it be!
The quarters are called, beginning in the east and proceeding clockwise. Candles can be lit at each of the quarters if desired, and invoking pentagrams may be drawn at the end of each call.
East Quarter Caller: I call to the spirits of the east, spirits of air, knowledge, and freedom. Be with us in our rites and lend your warm breezes to the magick we raise together this night. Hail and be welcome!
South Quarter Caller: I call to the spirits of the south, spirits of fire, enthusiasm, and passion. Be with us in our rites and lend your heat and vitality to the magick we raise together this night. Hail and be welcome!
West Quarter Caller: I call to the spirits of the west, spirits of water, initiation, and emotion. Be with us in our rites and lend your life-creating power to the magick we raise together this night. Hail and be welcome!
North Quarter Caller: I call to the spirits of the north, spirits of earth, stone, and field. Be with us in our rites and lend your steadfastness and energy to the magick we raise together this night. Hail and be welcome!
Calls to the Lord and Lady
Candles can be lit for the Lord and Lady by the coven during these invocations, if so desired.
High Priest: Tonight I call to the Great God in his many forms. I call to him as the waxing sun still growing into his power in the Beltane sky. I call to him as the keeper of the wild places, the god who dwells in the deep forests and resides in the mountains and hills. I call to him as the lord of the green growing places whose fertility renews the earth and turns the Wheel of the Year. Great Lord of the Witches, join us tonight in our rites. Grace our Beltane gathering with your joy, passion, laughter, and love. Hail and be welcome!
High Priestess: I call to the Great Goddess in her many forms. I call to her as the lady of the moon whose energy resonates both within and without us. I call to her as the beauty of the green earth, the fertile mother from which all is born and comes to be. I call to her as the queen of love and earthly delight who inflames our passions and resides within our hearts. She is the protectress, the huntress, and the warrior who guards her folk. Great Lady of the Witches, join us tonight in our rites. Let us feel your love for us and this earth. Touch our rites with your energy and magick. Hail and be welcome!
Oak, Ash, and Thorn (Dance)/Fire Blessing/Energy Release
High Priest: Beltane is a night for dance, joy, and love and to celebrate what it means to be a Witch! To the Celts, Beltane was the start of summer, and so tonight we dance the summer in together as a coven! Tonight we welcome in the warmer days with Oak, Ash, and Thorn!
High Priestess: Together, hand in hand, dancing in this circle, we will all sing the chorus of this very witchy song. For those of you who may have forgotten the words, they are as follows:
“Sing Oak and Ash and Thorn, good sirs
(All of a Midsummer morn!)
Surely we sing no little thing,
In Oak and Ash and Thorn!”
And now to the dance!
As the music begins, everyone in the coven should hold hands and begin dancing clockwise around the circle. The dance should be joyous and most of all fun! If the High Priestess desires, she can make the dance even more fun by yelling “jump!” periodically while everyone is moving around the circle. (The jumping represents plants coming up and out of the earth.) From experience I can tell you that six or seven minutes of dancing is usually enough for most covens. Those who can’t dance should sing or clap along, or make their way to the center of the circle to call out the periodic jumps.
When the dance ends, everyone should be given a few minutes to catch their breath before moving to the next part of the ritual. For the fire blessing, a candle should be set up in the middle of the circle, with enough room for people to jump over it easily and safely. If there are people with mobility issues in the coven, they can choose instead to walk between two candles instead of jumping over the one. We usually have to move our altar a little bit to clear enough room in the center of the circle for this rite.
High Priest: In Beltane celebrations of old, cattle would be prodded to jump over a small fire or run in between two larger ones to protect them from disease and starvation. Since we have no cattle ourselves, we shall jump over our Beltane fire instead!
The High Priestess lights the candle for the rite and sets it in the middle of the circle.
High Priestess: Behold the Beltane flame! The fire of Beltane cleanses and protects and contains within it the power of our Lord and Lady! As you jump over the flame, shout out to the Lord and Lady what you would be shielded from this summer. Now let all jump the Beltane flame and receive the protection of the Lord and Lady for the days ahead!
Everyone should jump (or step) over the candle while stating what they wish to be protected from in the coming months. They might say “let me have safe travels” if they’re going on a long trip, or “no bad grades!” if they’re still in school. There’s no right or wrong, and the gods are almost always aware of our true intentions. People can jump over the flame more than once if they desire. In my coven we all usually jump at least three times.
If someone extinguishes the candle while jumping over it, the High Priestess can choose to “punish” them if she desires. “Punishments” should obviously not be severe, and the punishment can be something silly, like making the guilty party answer a “truth or dare” question/challenge. People should be encouraged to cheer and yell with those doing the jumping and should shout “So mote it be!” after each covener jumps the candle. When the fire rite comes to an end, the High Priestess should pick up the candle and return it to the altar.
High Priestess: These things we’ve asked for in the names of the Lord and the Lady, may they come to pass! And may the light and fire of Beltane keep us all healthy and successful over the long summer days ahead! So mote it be!
Between the previous dancing and all the jumping, there should be a lot of energy in the circle. Instead of just letting that energy drift out into the world, it should be put to good use. That energy can be given to a sick friend or people who need protection. Here I’ve chosen to give it to the earth to help repair some of the damage our species had done to her over the past few centuries.
Everyone in the coven should be instructed to hold hands once more and turn inward toward the circle’s altar. The High Priestess should lead a chant of “To the earth! To the earth!” and while doing so, she should slowly raise her arms up, with everyone in the coven following suit. As arms are raised, the intensity of the chant should increase until it reaches a climax when everyone’s hands are raised over their heads. At this point, the High Priestess should shout “Now!” with everyone then releasing all the energy in the circle and dropping hands.
High Priestess: And what was raised here has been given back to the earth on this merry celebration of the May! Hail Beltane!
Allow a few moments for all the energy to dissipate and everyone to catch their breath before moving on to cakes and ale.
Cakes and Ale/The Great Rite
High Priest: At Beltane we celebrate the quickening of the earth, when earth joins with sky and all is brought back to life. It is the original source of magick, the power that gives birth to universes, galaxies, planets, and those of us here in this circle.
High Priestess: When two forces come together, there is life, love, and renewal. Through the power of the Lord and Lady, worlds are born!
The High Priest picks up the wine-filled chalice and the High Priestess her athame.
High Priestess: Through the power of the Lord and Lady, all that lies between,
High Priest: We celebrate the world’s renewal this Beltane!
The High Priestess places her athame in the chalice.
Both: So mote it be!
High Priestess: As the Lord and Lady have shared the bounty of this world with us, we shall now share it with one another. Drink from this cup and know the mysteries of our Lord and Lady, and may you never thirst!
The cup is passed around the circle, with everyone in the coven drinking from it. As the cup moves around the circle, the High Priest picks up the cakes and presents them to the High Priestess, who blesses them with her athame.
High Priestess: We thank the Lord and Lady for this gift and are grateful for the power and magick that went into their creation. May you never hunger!
Cakes are passed around the circle. A portion of the cakes and ale should be placed in a libation bowl and set aside for the gods and the fey. If the ritual is being conducted outside, this can be done now or at the end of the ritual.
Farewell to the Gods
High Priestess: Gracious Goddess, Great Lady of the Witches, we thank you for being with us in our circle this night. Continue to walk with us as we take the blessings of Beltane forward into our lives. Hail and farewell!
High Priest: Giving God, Great Lord of the Witches, we thank you for being in our circle this night. Shine down upon us from the sky as we make our way through your world in this time of growth. Hail and farewell!
Any candles lit for the Goddess and God are blown out at this time.
Dismissing the Watchtowers/Releasing the Circle
Beginning in the east, dismiss the quarters in the order they were called. If any candles were lit in their honor, they can be blown out at the conclusion of each dismissal. A banishing pentagram can also be drawn at that time as well.
East Quarter Caller: Spirits of the east, spirits of air, knowledge, and freedom, we thank you for joining us in these our rites and infusing our magick with your gifts. Until we meet again in the circle, hail and farewell!
South Quarter Caller: Spirits of the south, spirits of fire, enthusiasm, and passion, we thank you for joining us in these our rites and infusing our magick with your gifts. Until we meet again in the circle, hail and farewell!
West Quarter Caller: Spirits of the west, spirits of water, initiation, and emotion, we thank you for joining us in these our rites and infusing our magick with your gifts. Until we meet again in the circle, hail and farewell!
North Quarter Caller: Spirits of the north, spirits of earth, stone, and field, we thank you for joining us in these our rites and infusing our magick with your gifts. Until we meet again in the circle, hail and farewell!
Starting in the east and moving deosil, the circle caster should release the circle using the coven sword or their athame.
Circle Caster: I cast this circle to be a place of love and joy to safeguard our Beltane rites. It has served us well in that purpose and has brought us ever closer to one another and our Lord and Lady. We have walked between the worlds and looked into the world of spirit. What was created with love has now been released with love. May the emotions felt while in this circle ever reside in your hearts. The circle is now open. So mote it be!
High Priestess: Together we have celebrated this joyous Beltane. The summer stands before us and the Lord and Lady stand ever with us. Until next we meet, merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again!
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