Beltane 2000 
by Blayze & Foxglove. Invocations by Blayze

Props
4 spears
8 tabards
maypole
starpickets & rope
Altar with anointing oils, incense etc
Bower
2 fire cauldrons
circlets of flowers
tokens from God & Goddess
loving cup

Cast
Queen
4 Warrior Maidens
King
4 Warriors
HPS
HP
Musicians

Pre-ritual
Before the main section of the ritual, Men have empowered the maypole and the King and the loving cup brew and chosen their 4 warriors, Women have empowered the Bower, the Queen, the 4 maidens and made the circlets.

Main Ritual
At the end of the Women’s ritual, the Queen stands near to where the pole will be placed. 2 maidens stand in front of her with crossed spears - this forms the Yoni gate of the Goddess.

Women stand in spiral moving out from the Queen. Another pair of maidens with crossed spears stand at the outside end of the spiral to mark the gateway into the Womens’ realm. All the women carry circlets of flowers that they have made for the maypole. The Bower is decorated and set-up in the North-East of the circle. It is full of cushions and flowers and hangings.

The Men bring the pole to the first gate at the edge of the circle. The four Warriors and the King are at the head of the pole. They are challenged by the Maidens who guard the circle.

Eventually the Maidens uncross their spears and the Men are let through with the pole. The Maidens lead the men through the spiral. Thus the pole is carried through the spiral and as the pole passes each woman, she places her circlet upon it. The men give each woman a drink from the loving cup.

When the Men and the Pole reach the centre of the spiral they are challenged by the two maidens guarding the Queen. 

Maidens will challenge along the lines of …“This is the sacred gateway to the Queen. Her pathway you have walked. Who is it that wishes entrance here? Etc.

The King declares the pole his gift of love and the maidens uncross their spears when the Queen gives them permission. Alone, the King takes the pole through the gateway and plants it before the Queen (he will place it between the star pickets that are already set-up). The Queen acknowledges the gift and the 4 warriors step up to tie the pole in place. They then step back into the spiral. 

When the pole is secure the King and Queen kiss. HPS and HP step forward

HPS:	As the King is joined with the Queen - are you willing to be as God and Goddess for your tribe?

King and Queen answer.

HP:	Are you willing to perform the Land Marriage in token for us all?

King and Queen answer.

The HPS and HP then take the elements from the altar and prepare the King and Queen

HPS takes up chalice and anoints King and Queen

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

HP takes up the Censer and anoints King and Queen:

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

HPS crowns the King and invokes the God upon him.

HP crowns the Queen and invokes the Goddess upon her.

God and Goddess stand on either side of Maypole.

The men spiral out first - last man takes the HPS’s hand who takes the hand of the HP. The HP takes the 1st maiden’s hand who then takes the women’s hands etc and All participants spiral back to the edge of the circle… with the God and Goddess still standing by the pole.

When everyone is settled around the circle, the 4 warriors and 4 maidens walk back to the pole and present the God and Goddess with a ribbon. The warriors and maidens take up a ribbon each as well.

Strike up flutes and drums.

They dance the pole.

When they are finished the Maidens and Warriors escort the God and Goddess to the bower.

The Maidens and Warriors then choose the next 10 people to dance. They anoint each person and bring them to the pole.

The next group dances. When they are finished they are escorted to the bower to receive the blessings of the God and Goddess and a token of Beltane. When they have received the blessing they go back to stand around the circle.

This process continues until all have danced and received a blessing.

After the dancing and blessings have concluded, the God and Goddess emerge from the bower and light one of the fire cauldrons each. They dance between the flames and then disappear into the Greenwood to celebrate the Land Marriage.

HPS calls everyone to the fires to run between the flames . Dance and sing around the fires until the feast.