Beltane 1998
by Blayze

Props
Maypole
Yoni Gate
Flowers and willow withes	
Brooms	
Cauldron
Spear
Sword
Sheild
Stone
Cup
Wand
Knife	
2 x Cauldrons for balefires		
Altar & tools	
4 Spears for warriors	

Cast	
Narrator	
High Priestess
High Priest	
Queen	
Queen’s Champion, Lord of Holly 
4 Queens Warriors (Earth, Air, Fire & Water)
Consort Errant, Lord of Oak and future King  
King’s Warriors  (Earth, Air, Fire & Water)

All to gather outside in preparation to split into two groups.

Narrator:	Welcome all to the festival of Beltane. This is a time to set aside the darkness of winter and enjoy our lives under the light of the sun. Spring is all around us in harmony of the awakening land, a time of balance and union, a time to celebrate the marriage of the Queen and her King. We come together to witness a marriage in token of the Lord and Lady, a marriage to the Land and a marriage in Truth.

	Let all males go forth to prepare the Pole and to prepare the Consort Errant for the challenges he will undertake this day. Blessings go with you as warriors, bards and priests. Until the ringing of the bell, the women bid you fare thee well.

	Let all women go forth to prepare the Gateway and to prepare the Queen for her wedding and for the challenges issued in Her name. Blessings go with you, warriors, bards and priestesses.

	Let our journeys begin…

Part 1
Women to arrive at main site. Lord of Holly to wait until he is called by the Warriors.

Women to form circle around the altar. HPS to cast circle. 4 Queens Warriors to call quarters

HPS takes the broom and sweeps around the circle, all to follow her around the circle. She then takes the sword and casts circle

HPS:	By the Blade a circle born, between the worlds a boundary formed. By the Powers raised herein, to guard without and hold within. Be this Circle cast!

She takes up the Chalice and blesses the water:

HPS:	I cleanse and consecrate this water to Our Gods and Our Ancestors.

She takes up the Salt:

HPS:	I consecrate this salt to Our Gods and Our Ancestors

She mixes the salt and water and then asperges the Circle.

She takes up the Fire candle:

HPS:	I consecrate this flame to Our Gods and Our Ancestors

She lights the charcoal with the flame.

She puts incense on the charcoal and takes up the Censer:

HPS:	I cleanse and consecrate this incense to Our Gods and Our Ancestors.

She takes the censer around the Circle and returns to Altar.

4 Queens Warriors approach the Altar and each take their weapon.

East / Air / Sword, North / Fire / Spear, West / Water / Cauldron, South / Earth / Sheild

Air Warrior faces East and raises the Sword

Air:	Lord of Air and Guardian of the East . We ask that you attend this circle and witness our rite. We ask thee by thy Sword of Air.

She places the sword back on the Altar.

Fire Warrior faces the North and raises the Spear.

Fire:	Lord of Fire and Guardian of the North. We ask that you attend this circle and witness our rite. We ask thee by thy Spear of Flame.

She places the Spear on the ground in the North.

Water Warrior faces the West and raises the Cauldron.

Water:	Lord of Water and Guardian of the West. We ask that you attend this circle and witness our rite. We ask thee by thy Cauldron of Water

She places the Cauldron on the ground in the West.

Earth Warrior faces the South and raises the Shield.

Earth:	Lord of Earth and Guardian of the South. We ask that you attend this circle and witness our rite. We ask thee by thy Shield of Earth.

She places the Shield on the ground in the South.

All join hands for Central Invokation.

HPS:	Our Lady of the Moon and Stars, Lady of the Earth and Waters, Lady of the Wind and Flame. Threefold Goddess of Maiden Mother and Crone. We do build this place, sacred and apart in thine honour. Descend we pray and fill this place with thy love and thy power this day. So Mote it be.

All:	So mote it be.

HPS:	Welcome to this place made sacred. Come sit by the Altar, bear witness to the blessing of Our Queen and Her Warriors.

Queen stands before the Altar. HPS takes each element pair in turn and blesses her with it.

HPS takes up the Chalice.

HPS:	I consecrate and bless thee with water and earth, that you be made pure of blood and of body.

HPS takes up the Censer:

HPS:	I consecrate and bless thee with air and fire, that you be made pure of mind and of spirit

HPS invokes upon the Queen:

By bud of leaf and bud of flower
By running stream & lovers bower
Goddess of Spring, of Maidens Call
We invoke thee 

By sacred well and sacred flame
By soverign stone and field of grain
Goddess of Spring, Queen of May
We invoke thee

By scent of spring that carries our prayer
By fertile fields and snow white mare
Goddess of Spring of Hawthorns Bloom
We invoke thee

By Greenwood paths & scented leaves
Come ride as Queen, on Summers eve
Descend we pray into thy servant here
Goddess of Spring we invoke thee.

HPS blesses warriors with each elemental pair.

HPS takes up the Chalice.

HPS:	I consecrate and bless thee with water and earth, that you be made pure of blood and of body.

HPS takes up the Censer:

HPS:	I consecrate and bless thee with air and fire, that you be made pure of mind and of spirit

Queen takes up anointing oil and anoints each warrior.

Queen:	Warriors of the Lady, Blessed Ones. I charge you to guard me this day. You are my warriors, my priestesses and my bards. Chosen of the Goddess. Go forth now and bring my champion the Holly Lord that he may be prepared for his battle. 

2 Warriors go to fetch the Lord of Holly. The rest stay to guard the Queen. HPS anoints each woman present

HPS opens the circle as they leave and enter

2 Warriors arrive back with the Lord of Holly.

HPS blesses him

HPS takes up the Chalice.

HPS:	I consecrate and bless thee with water and earth, that you be made pure of blood and of body.

HPS takes up the Censer:

HPS:	I consecrate and bless thee with air and fire, that you be made pure of mind and of spirit

Lord of Holly kneels before the Queen.

Queen:	Lord of Holly, Knight of my Court. Are you still willing to act as my champion, to guard the gateway to my realm…. and do battle with the Challenger, The Lord of Oak… even if it means banishment until Samhain if you lose?

Holly:	I am, my Lady.

Queen anoints Lord of Holly

Queen.	I anoint you as my chosen champion. Accept this token and carry it with you always. 
Let us build our gateway in readiness and adorn ourselves with the flowers of spring, as is fitting on this day.

Warriors & Lord of Holly to oversee building of Yoni gate and others to make chaplets of flowers to wear.

When all is ready, runner is sent to ring the bell and call the men to the ritual area.

Part 2
As the men approach the gate Lord of Holly steps out and issues a challenge to them. Women are lined up on either side of the gate

Holly:	Halt. I am the Lord of Holly and the Keeper of the Gate that leads to the Queen’s realm. Who is it that approaches the gateway?

Oak:	It is I, Lord of Oak and Consort Errant to your Queen. We ask for passage through the gate.

Holly:	That is for My Lady to decide. Only those with her permission may pass through. What say you My Queen?

Queen:	The Lord of Oak may enter if he dares, if he tells me why I should let him enter my realm.

Oak:	(to woo the queen with words etc)

Queen:	(after a suitable period of time) You may enter.

Lord of Holly steps though gate and goes to stand with Queen. The Lord of Oak and the men bring the pole through the gate as the women tease it.

The men move to erect the pole in the centre of the circle Queen's Warriors step forward and start arguing with the men about letting them park that thing there.

Weapons are drawn, insults ensue.

HPS steps forward with a cry.

HPS:	Enough, these men are welcome here, for the moment… as long as they remember that Our Queen rules here. There will be challenges enough for them later. Let us crown the pole and set it ready for dancing. 

She looks at The Lord of Oak and his warriors.

HPS:	Lord of Oak, you and your warriors will present your weapons to our Guardians of the Quarters, that you may dwell here in harmony and safety.  

East / Air / Knife, North / Fire / Wand, West / Water / Chalice, South / Earth / Stone

Oak's Warrior of Air faces East and raises the Knife

Air:	Lord of Air and Guardian of the East  We bring this Knife into your keeping for this day.

He places the knife on the Altar.

Oak's Warrior of Fire faces the North and raises the Wand.

Fire:	Lord of Fire and Guardian of the North. We bring this Wand into your keeping for this day.

He places the Wand on the ground in the North.

Oak's Warrior of Water faces the West and raises the Chalice.

Water:	Lord of Water and Guardian of the West. We bring this Chalice into your keeping for this day. 

He places the Chalice on the ground in the West.

Oak's Warrior of Earth faces the South and raises the Stone.

Earth:	Lord of Earth and Guardian of the South. We bring this Stone into your keeping for this day.

He places the Stone on the ground in the South.

HP standing at altar says:

HP:	Let us fill this place with the power of all those here gathered. Let the Queens women ride their brooms around the circle and the Oak Lords men dance around the pole. Let the drums begin.

Women, riding brooms and sticks (hobby horse style) around the circle deosil. Men dance widdershins around the pole. The circle is now completely cast.

HPS:	Let us form a circle around this grove, that we may hear the challenges called. 

HPS:	Lord of the Oak… who is the Consort Errant of Our Queen… Do you still wish to take the Queen’s hand in marriage?

Oak:	I do

HP:	Three trials will you have to pass to prove yourself worthy to be our King. Approach the Altar to hear your first challenge.

Queen's Fire Warrior:	
	Lord of Oak, your first challenge is to prove yourself as a warrior. You must defeat the Queen’s champion, the Lord of Holly, in battle. Go you now to the centre of the circle and let the battle begin.

Oak Lord and Lord of Holly walk to the centre of the circle and face each other. They fight a ritual battle. If the Oak Lord wins then continue with the next challenge.

2 of the queens Warriors to help remove the Holly Lord to the edge of the circle.

Queen's Water Warrior:	
	Lord of Oak, you have defeated the Queen’s Champion. You have proven yourself worthy as a warrior. Your second challenge is to woo the Queen with words of love, to prove yourself a poet. The Queen will lead you through a chase in this grove, only if she is pleased with your words will you be allowed to get close to her.

The love chase begins. The Queens Warriors can hinder Oak as much as they like and Queen can stop him and demand words whenever the mood takes her.

When Queen is satisfied with his words she will let him approach her. They then walk hand in hand to the altar.

Queen's Earth Warrior:	
	Lord of Oak. You have successfully wooed the Queen and proven yourself a poet. The third challenge is by oath only, but being the third is the most binding challenge of all. Answer me this… are you willing to give your life for the land?

Oak:	Yes I am.

Queen:	By passing the three challenges set you have proven yourself worthy to be crowned as my King and my Husband. 

Queen then kisses Oak and they kneel before the altar to receive their crowns. HP crowns the Queen,. HPS crowns Oak.

HPS:	Hail to the King and Queen… for love fulfils an ancient law… old before the beginning of time… renewing throughout eternity.

King and Queen rise. HP passes the Goddess candle to the Queen which she lights. HPS passes the God candle to King which he lights.

HPS walks deosil around the couple, sweeping with the broom.

HPS:	By the power of the God and Goddess, I hereby sweep away all past hurts. Let all past experiences which have troubled you in love or made trust difficult, be swept away… Release your pasts and go into a bright future together.

HPS take rings and places on pentacle:-

HPS:	May your Union be blessed with the powers of Earth, with the gifts of strength and stability.

HP passes rings through incense:

HP:	May your Union be blessed with the powers of Air, with the gifts of wisdom and understanding.

HP passes rings through flame:
	
HP:	May your Union be blessed with the powers of Fire, with the gifts of passion and creativity.

HPS dips rings in water:-

HPS:	May your Union be blessed with the powers of Water, with the gifts of love and inspiration.

HPS and HP hold rings before the couple.

HPS:	Let these rings symbolise your love, which does honour to the Lady and the Lord…

HP:	… and is in harmony with their ways, which, like a circle, has no beginning and no end.

Couple exchange rings and say Charge of the God and Goddess.

King:	I am the burning flame of inspiration, bringing light and life into the world.

Queen:	I am the burning flame of love which creates life and light in the world.

King:	I am the rushing stream sweeping all before me

Queen:	I am the deepest ocean, taking all within me

King:	I am the swiftest wind that carries the seed

Queen:	I am the gentlest breeze which kisses the land

King:	I am the mighty mountain which caresses the stars

Queen:	I am the smallest leaf which falls in the forest glade

King:	I am He, the Lord of Life and Death, I am the Keeper of the Gates, the Hunter and the Hunted.

Queen:	I am She, Queen of Darkness and Light, Guardian of the Veil and The Mystery of Creation.

King & Queen:	
	Together we stand, and in the power of Our love, shall the wheel turn.

HP & HPS bind the hands of the couple, right hand to right hand

HP:	May the bindings of this handfasting be felt as lightly as the cord… it is a bond of love equally shared, not a chain of servitude.

HPS:	Bound but free, you have chosen to journey together… each supporting the other.

The besom is placed on the ground for the Couple to jump it.

Cakes and Ale
The couple to perform cakes and ale as HPS and HP speak the words.

HP:	As the athame is the male so the cup is to the female and when they are cojoined they bring forth the great blessing.

HPS:	O Queen most secret, bless this food into our bodies, bestowing, health, wealth strength and happiness and that deep joy which is the knowledge of thee.

The Queens warriors take around the Cups. The Kings warriors take around the plates.

HP:	From this day forward and through this Union, shall you our King know the Goddess through the Queen and you our Queen shall know the God through the King.

HPS:	Ye who are present bear witness, that the Oak King and the Queen of the May are joined as one in the sight of the Mighty Ones! So mote it be this day. Blessed Be

All:	Blessed Be.

Light the cauldrons.

HPS’s invokation

Everyone including the couple to run between the fires ridding themselves of insecurities, cleansing relationships etc.

Dance maypole.. couple to dance in first lot and then they are confettied off to the green wood.

Rest to dance the pole and party.

Open the circle.