PAN Full Moon Ritual - Beltane 2007
by Blayze & Brand

Set-up:
•	Circle is set up with lanterns at the quarters and the altar in the west (where there is flat ground)
•	Maypole is erected in the centre.
•	The shepherds crook holders for the lanterns are decorated with ivy.
•	Candles in glass jars are placed around the circumference of the circle.
•	Rose bower will be held at the North-Eastern point of the circle as the gateway. 
•	Two tall censers will be burning incense at the gateway as a cleansing for everyone as they enter the circle.

Props:
•	Rose bower
•	Bunches of leaves
•	Bunches of red and white flowers
•	Red ribbon
•	White ribbon
•	Silver bowl (for asperging – needs to be able to fit the combined bunches of leaves and flowers)
•	Drums / percussion instruments / bells
•	Painted stones
•	Empty glass jars with sand and tee-lights

Cast:
•	Beltane Priest
•	Beltane Priestess
•	High Priestess
•	Earth Guardian (West)
•	Air Guardian (South)
•	Water Guardian (East)
•	Fire Guardian (North)
•	Water Bearer
•	Censer Bearer
•	May King (to be chosen)
•	May Queen (to be chosen)

The Gateway
Everyone to line up at the bottom of the Hill. They spiral around the hill chanting, drumming, shaking bells and making a lot of noise and merriment. (Those that can't make the spiral climb can wait inside the circle area.

Entrance chant:
“Dance with us upon the hill
and call the summer in
All acts of love and pleasure
Shall we to the circle bring!”

As they arrive at the crest of the hill, they pass under the Rose Bower held by the Beltane Priest and Priestess. Participants also pass between two tall censers of incense. 

Participants move anti-clockwise around the circle, still chanting until everyone is inside. Chant finishes with a shout when the elements are placed upon the altar (see below).

At the end of the line are the Water Bearer and the Incense Bearer. They walk around the outside of the circle censing and asperging. They enter through the gateway and place their items upon the altar.

Beltane Priest and Priestess stand by the gateway until the circle is being cast.

The HPS is the last to stand at the gateway. The Beltane Priest and Priestess move to stand on either side of the circle boundary and walk the circle, carrying the Rose Bower above the participants' heads. The HPS follows, casting the circle as she walks.

When the Beltane Priest and Priestess arrive back at their original position, they make a gateway once more. The HPS walks through it and the Beltane Priest and Priestess lay the bower across the entrance to the circle. The HPS seals it and then announces:

HPS: The circle is cast, so mote it be!

HPS and BP's go to stand by the altar.

HPS then calls the Elemental Guardians to call the Quarters. Guardians come to the centre of the circle and then face outwards in the direction of the their calls. They stay in the centre until all quarters have been called.

Fire: I call upon the flames of light and warmth to witness this rite. Powers of fire, guard us. Hail and Welcome.

Earth: I call upon the stones of the earth to witness this rite. Powers of earth, guard us. Hail and Welcome.

Air: I call upon the winds of the world to witness this rite. Powers of Air guard us. Hail and Welcome.

Water: I call upon the waves of the ocean to witness this rite. Powers of Water guard us. Hail and Welcome.

Beltane Priest and Priestess perform Full Moon invokations

Main ritual:

HPS: It is Beltane. The land has quickened under the Sun's rays whilst the Moon hangs full of power above us.

And so the time has come for us to choose our Bel King and the Queen of the May. 

I ask all of you who wish to be considered for either our King or Queen, to form two circles, men on the inside and women on the outside. You have to be willing to dance the Maypole! For those of you who do not wish to participate in this section, please come and sit in a circle at the centre.

Our Beltane Priest and Priestess will give all of you a bunch of leaves or flowers to hold. 

Beltane Priest and Priestess walk around both circles handing out bunches of flowers and leaves. They also give some to those sitting in the centre. Also give censer and aspergum/bowl to the sitters. They can cense and asperge when the King and Queen are chosen.

HPS: As the choosing dance begins, I ask all of you to chant and lend your power to the dance. 

Women's chant:
By the Ash and Hawthorn Bright
We call the Queen to the sacred rite

Men's chant:
By the Oak and by the Horn
We call the King to the Summer's Dawn

Beltane Priest and Priestess come to centre of the circle. They link arms and begin to spin with their other arms outstretched. Everyone chants, when the chant peaks, the BP's stop and point. Whichever woman and man the BP's are pointing to, will be the May King and Queen. Beltane Priestess chooses the King, Beltane Priest chooses the Queen.

Beltane Priest and Priestess move to the circles and bring the King and Queen to the Centre.

Those sitting in the centre pass the aspergum and censer around to consecrate the King and Queen.

Beltane Priest and Priestess take the aspergum./bowl and censer back to the altar. Those sitting return to the circle.

HPS: I ask you all to form one circle again.

HPS gives the crowns to the BP's who crown their chosen King or Queen.

HPS: The Maiden and Young Stag have been crowned as our King and Queen. In them resides the power of the fertile land, the fertile idea, the fertile future.

But all of us hold the potential of this power within us. And so we gift to the King and Queen our tokens of love and fertility. The flowers and the leaves... Red, white and green.

To the women, I ask that you make an offering to the Queen of the flowers that you hold.

To the men, I ask that you make an offering to the King of the leaves that you hold.

The King and Queen walk around the circle collecting the leaves and flowers.

Beltane Priest and Priestess collect red and white ribbons from the altar.

HPS: The flowers and leaves are gathered, now is the time for the sacred union, the binding of two into one.

King and Queen hold the bunches of leaves and flowers together.

Beltane Priestess wraps the bunch with red ribbon.

Beltane Priestess: By the red of the blood of the mother divine, we weave for the moon and Maiden bind!

Beltane Priest wraps the bunch with white ribbon.

Beltane Priest: By the white of the seed of the father divine, we weave for the sun and Young Stag bind.

Beltane Priest and Priestess: Three in one and one in three, red and white and verdant green!

Whilst the binding occurs, the HPS takes up a bowl of water and brings it the centre. This is given to the Queen. The King is given the bound bunch of leaves and flowers. Together they walk the circle and asperge everyone with the combined energies of the flowers and leaves.  (The bowl contains lavender water, rose water and chammomile water as well as salt)

Once the asperging is complete, the bunch of flowers and leaves are tied to the base of the May Pole.

The water is libated at it's base (carefully).

HPS: The union has been made, let us dance the Maypole in celebration!

King and Queen are asked to choose two people each to dance the pole in the first round. Beltane Priest chooses one and the Beltane Priestess chooses another.

HPS leads the singing.

Drums, bells are distributed or retrieved from where they were left.

Everyone begins to sing “Hail To The Summer” chorus from Spiral Dance's  Weaving The Summer.

Dance the pole and unwind it. Next round of dancers can come forward. Keep dancing and singing until all who wish to have danced.

Cakes and Ale

Cakes and Ale are blessed and the chalice handed to the King and Queen to share. Rest of the drink and cakes are distributed by the Quarters and the Beltane Priest and Priestess.

Close Circle

Quarters are farewelled.

Circle is closed.