Beltane Sabbat
May 1
Preparing Your Altar
• Altar candles should be dark green.
• Incense may be lilac.
• Circle may be decorated with seasonal flowers.
• Circle candles remain the usual colors for the elementals (green, yellow, red, and blue).
• Cauldron contains a dark green candle; have a dish for the libation.
• Have woodruff on the altar to burn.
• Have wood chips from birch, oak, rowan (ash), willow, hawthorn, hazel, apple, vine, and fir on the altar to burn.
Instructions for the Ceremony
The text is for solitary use but may be thus altered for family or coven participation. The envisionings are suggestions only.
Sweep circle area; lay out circle and altar items; bathe and robe. Light incense and altar candles. Ring bell three times and say:
The circle is about to be cast and I freely stand within to greet my Lady and my Lord.
Take center candle and light each candle of the circle moving north, then east, south, and west, and say:
(N) I call upon light and earth at the north to illuminate and strengthen the circle.
(E) I call upon light and air at the east to illuminate and enliven the circle.
(S) I call upon light and fire at the south to illuminate and warm the circle.
(W) I call upon light and water at the west to illuminate and cleanse the circle.
Take athame in upraised hand, begin circle at north and move around the circle north to east to south to west, and say:
I draw this circle in the presence of the Goddess and the God where they may come and bless their child, (name).
Lower the athame at the north, and as you walk around the circle, envision a blue light shooting out from the point and forming the circle boundary, and say:
This is the boundary of the circle. Only love shall enter and leave.
Return to altar and ring bell three times. Place point of athame in the salt and say:
Salt is life and purifying. I bless this salt to be used in this sacred circle in the names of the Goddess and the God, (names).
Pick up salt bowl and use tip of athame to drop three portions of salt into the water bowl and set salt bowl back in its place. Stir three times with athame and say:
Let the blessed salt purify this water that it may be blessed to use in this sacred circle. In the names of the Goddess and the God, (names), I consecrate and cleanse this water.
Take the salted water bowl in hand and sprinkle water from it as you move deosil around the circle (N-E-S-W-N) and say:
I consecrate this circle in the names of the Goddess and the God, (names). The circle is conjured a circle of power that is purified and sealed. So mote it be!
Return the water bowl to the altar and pick up censer; take it around the circle to cense it; return censer to altar. Take anointing oil, make a Solar Cross ringed by a circle on your forehead, and say:
I, (name) am consecrated in the names of the Goddess and the God, (names), in this their circle.
If working with family members or a Green-focused coven, open a door in the circle with the athame now for all to enter. Use anointing oil to trace a Solar Cross in a circle on their foreheads as each person enters, having said some kind of greeting, such as the Wiccan, “I come in perfect love and perfect trust.” Then close the door with the athame.
Take the wand and hold it aloft with both arms open and upraised at the north of the circle (envision a powerful bull arriving) and say:
I call upon you, Elemental Earth, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I have body and strength, we are kith and kin!
Lower wand and move to the east, raise up wand (see devas, fairies, or an eagle in flight) and say:
I call upon you, Elemental Air, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I breathe and think, we are kith and kin!
Lower wand and move to the south, raise up wand (see a dragon) and say:
I call upon you, Elemental Fire, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I consume life to live, we are kith and kin!
Lower wand and move to west, hold wand aloft (see an undine, a sea serpent, or a dolphin) and say:
I call upon you, Elemental Water, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I feel and my heart beats, we are kith and kin!
Return to altar and use wand to draw the symbol of infinity (an 8 lying on its side) in the air above the altar, the sign of working between the worlds. Set wand on altar and raise up athame in both hands overhead and say:
Hail to the elementals at the four quarters! Welcome Lady and Lord to this rite! I stand between the worlds with love and power all around!
Set down athame and pick up goblet of wine. Pour a little into the cauldron. This is a libation to the Divine in which they are honored by offering to them the first draught, then you take a sip. You may prefer to have a bowl specifically for the libation. Ring bell three times and say:
The Goddess of summer walks through the land with the God of the forest, and the dark time of winter is behind me.
Ring bell seven times and say:
The animals breed and the plants pollinate, as the May Queen and Green Man bestow their blessings upon the earth and earth’s creatures. I, who am their child, (name), rejoice with them and ask that their happy union become the example for all humanity to live in love and harmony.
Light the candle in the cauldron and say:
The dark days are cleared away that the May Day can now begin!
Drop some of the woodruff into the flame and say:
May the light of May fire bring happiness and peace, and may the victory of the King of the Wood come into my life that I may dwell in the joy of the Lady and the Lord. So mote it be!
As you state the properties of each, drop wood chips one by one into the flame (be careful, and it is always good to use a small cauldron that can be covered with a snuffer in case things get out of hand—you don’t need to use a lot of chips, just a little for the symbology):
I burn thee birch to honor the Goddess;
And now add thee oak to honor the God.
Thou rowan I add for a magical life;
And add thee willow to celebrate death.
Thou hawthorne I burn for fairies near me;
Thou hazel I burn for wisdom you bring.
I add thee good apple to bring to me love;
And thou vine whose fruit is symbol of joy.
Fir you are added as the symbol of rebirth;
Your sweet savor reminds me of my immortality.
My blessings I give to all of thee,
and thy blessings I call from thee upon me.
So as I will, so mote it be!
Hold up the goblet in both hands and say:
I greet the time of unions and give honor to the Lord and the Lady for their fruitfulness!
Take a sip from the goblet and set back on the altar.
Note: Do not add libation to the hot cauldron. Use a separate bowl for this.
Cakes and Wine—Ring bell three times. Feet spread and arms upraised, say:
I acknowledge my needs and offer my appreciation to that which sustains me! May I ever remember the blessings of my Lady and my Lord.
Feet together, take up goblet in left hand and athame in right. Slowly lower the point of the athame into the wine and say:
As male joins female for the benefit of both, let the fruits of their union promote life. Let the earth be fruitful and let her wealth be spread throughout all lands.
Lay down the athame and drink from the goblet. Replace the goblet on the altar and pick up the athame. Touch the point of the athame to the cake in the offering dish and say:
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.
Eat the food, finish the wine, and say:
As I enjoy these gifts of the Goddess and the God, (names), may I remember that without them I would have nothing. So mote it be!
When all is finished, hold athame in your power hand level over altar and say:
Lord and Lady, I am blessed by your sharing this time with me, watching and guarding me, and guiding me here and in all things. I came in love and I depart in love.
Raise up athame in a salute and say:
Love is the law and love is the bond. Merry did I meet, merry do I part, and merry will I meet again. Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again! The circle is now cleared. So mote it be!
Kiss the flat of the blade and set the athame on the altar. Take up the snuffer and go to the north quarter, raise up arms and say:
Depart in peace, Elemental Earth. My blessings take with you!
Lower arms and snuff the candle, envision the Elemental Power departing. Go to the east, raise up arms and say:
Depart in peace, Elemental Air. My blessings take with you!
Lower arms and snuff the candle, envision the Elemental Power departing. Go to the south, raise up arms and say:
Depart in peace, Elemental Fire. My blessings take with you!
Lower arms and snuff the candle, envision the Elemental Power departing. Go to the west, raise up arms and say:
Depart in peace, Elemental Water. My blessings take with you!
Lower arms and snuff the candle, envision the Elemental Power departing. Return to altar and set down snuffer. Raise up arms and say:
Beings and powers of the visible and invisible, depart in peace! You aid in my work, whisper in my mind, and bless me from the Otherworld, and there is harmony between us. My blessings take with you. The circle is cleared.
Take up athame, go to the north quarter, point athame down and move widdershins around circle (N-W-S-E-N). Envision the blue light drawing back into the athame and say:
The circle is open yet the circle remains as its magical power is drawn back into me.
When you return to the north having walked the circle, raise up the athame so the blade touches your forehead and envision the blue light swirling around back into you. Return to altar and say:
The ceremony is ended. Blessings have been given and blessings have been received, may the peace of the Goddess and the God remain in my heart. So mote it be!
Set down the athame. Put away all magical tools and clear the altar except for candles or any objects that need to burn out or work for a stated time (such as candle magic). The cauldron or libation bowl contents are poured onto the earth (if not out in the yard, then into a flowerpot containing soil and perhaps a hardy, leafy green plant). Be sure to carefully extinguish the flame in the cauldron.
Traditional foods are those flavored with flowers, such as cookies made with rose extract and custards containing marigold or nasturtium, oatmeal cakes and wine flavored with flower petals of rose or nasturtium, or dandelion wine. Also, fruity wine, spiced pears, and cinnamon bread with raisins, almonds, and almond paste may be used.
Beltane Activities
Here are some Beltane activities that could be included at the Sabbat or during the day:
• Make paper baskets by folding a square piece of decorated paper diagonally and gluing or tying a handle of yarn through punched holes. Then place a few spring flowers inside the basket and place on the front doorknobs of your friends’ and neighbors’ houses.
The kids will especially enjoy this because you have to do it undetected and not let on when people wonder who brought them the May flowers. I learned this as a child from my mother and used to go out early in the morning to place the baskets, but I also know that in some areas, it is a fairly common practice.
A variation we also did was to cut colored construction paper into strips and weave two color strips together to form a square, then proceed as usual. I always preferred yellow and light green.
• Make a wish as you jump over a bonfire (or a campfire—May Day is a fine day to go camping).
• String beads or flowers for a blessing:
May the God and the Goddess and the power of the elementals bless me now and always be with me.
• Make Beltane Bread. Preheat oven to 375 degrees, and combine:
4 cups sifted flour
1⁄2 cup ground almonds
2 cups sugar
1 tube almond paste
1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
5 eggs
When dough is worked to medium soft, shape into flattened balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Cool, ice with white Solar Cross. You could try this as a single loaf. I also like to make an almond biscuit with biscuit mix, almond extract, sugar, cinnamon, and eggs, but in smaller proportions. (A lot of my cooking is unmeasured, which doesn’t help for making recipes.)