Beltane 2002
by Blayze

Cast:
High Priestess (HPS)
Quarter callers
Green Man
Earth Mother
Guard 1
Guard 2
Pre-chosen couple

HPS:	Beltane is a time of weaving energies together, the weaving of fertility within ourselves and the Land. And so it is time for you to find within yourselves that fertile spark of an idea, an idea which will grow within you over the summer months….

For this Beltane we will WEAVE IN THE SUMMER!

So find your space within the bush… find a tree that speaks to you and make an offering to it in exchange for leaves, leaves with stems that can be woven into the cloak of the Green Man.

When you have found your bundle of leaves, sit beneath the tree and find that fertile idea within yourself.

When you hear the bell ring return here to begin the next thread of your journey.

All to make their journey of contemplation. Come back with leaves

Ring bell to signal people to return

HPS:	Welcome back from your journey, you have found your idea and so now is the time to gather your energies and bring your idea into this world.

Each of you will undertake a journey to visit the Green Man… listen to what he has to say to you… but the journey to an oracle is not always easy… you may be challenged on the way..

HPS indicates a path marked out in flour on the ground and sends people down it one at a time.

Participants follow the floured path to where the Green Man waits - intercepted by a Guard.

Guard:	Who is it that seeks the path to the Green Man?

Person gives name

Guard:	Have you found your idea?

Have you gathered leaves?

Did you make an offering to the trees?

Are you prepared?

Person affirms

Guard:	Then you may continue.

Person moves into the realm of the Green Man

Green Man to asks them to sit…. To concentrate on their idea…

Then will ask them to pull out an ogham.

Green Man to read the ogham.

Green Man:	Now you may continue on your journey… find the Earth Mother

Person continues down the path until they get to the realm of the Earth Mother - she sits on the ground with a cloak and a crown of flowers laid out on the ground in front of her.  

Earth Mother:	
	What was the tree you received?

Participant replies and the Earth Mother paints that ogham on them.

Earth Mother:Welcome… to enter this realm you will have passed many trials… to find the spark of a fertile idea within… and to bring that idea into this realm with the aid of the Green Man.

You sit before His Cloak… that which covers the land in Summer… for you to make your ideas fertile you must weave them into the cloak…. Weave the summer… weave the summer. Weave the summer.

Participant weaves the leaves they gathered into the rough cloth of the cloak

	Take this ribbon and weave it into the crown...

When weaving done participants move to the circle area and are greeted by the second Guard.

Circle area is already prepared with maypole and boundary laid with feathers and shells and nuts and barley and chilis.

Guard 2:	I see you bear the mark of one who has journeyed with the trees. You are welcome within our space to celebrate the fertility of the Land. Enter freely. 

When you arrive within the circle paint a symbol of your journey upon the pole… you may also paint each other if you so desire…

When all are through HPS proceeds to cast the circle.

HPS:  	I consecrate this space with the powers of Earth & Water (Asperges salt water)
	I consecrate this space with the power of Fire and Air (takes around censer)

HPS:	By the blade a circle borne, between the worlds, a boundary formed, by the power raised herein, to guard without and hold within, be this circle cast.

Air: 	I call upon the winds of the world to witness this rite. Powers of Air guard us… so mote it be.

Fire: 	I call upon the flames of light and warmth to witness this rite. Powers of Fire guard us… so mote it be.

Water:	I call upon the waves of the ocean to witness this rite. Powers of Water guard us… so mote it be.

Earth: 	I call upon the stones of the earth to witness this rite. Powers of the Earth guard us… so mote it be.

HPS: 	This is our sacred space, fit for the consecration of our King and Queen. But just as you have woven your energies into the cloak, so shall we weave our energies together in this space. It is time to dance the weaving of the vine.

All Vine Dance (to music)

HPS:	It is time to call the God and Goddess within our sacred space.

HPS begins a chant of calling.

As chant reaches it’s height… Green Man and Earth Goddess enter the circle.

Earth Mother:We have been with you from the beginning and are that which is found at the end of desire.

Green Man	We are the wild woods, the green and growing things… the fertility of the Land.

Earth Mother: Among you are two who will be your King and Queen, your representatives of our union…

Green Man and Earth Goddess… Spin and dance around the circle…begin to build up the sexual energies and then pull a pre-chosen couple into the circle.

Green Man:	Before we pass the green powers onto you both …you must awaken the land from the last of its slumber….

Earth Mother: Dance in the love chase and we ask all of you here to bear witness to the hunt.

Green Man escorts Man outside the circle of people. 

Green Man:	Let the Chase begin!

The Man chases the Woman around the circle weaving in and out of the rest of the participants trying to catch and woo her.

When the Man finally woos the Woman they are brought to the centre.

Earth Mother: You have awoken the Land ready to be made fertile once more. 

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

King and Queen answer.

Green Man:	Are you willing to perform the Land Marriage in token for all here gathered?

King and Queen answer.

Earth Mother: Then let you both be made ready to receive our energies of the Green World

The Elements then take their items from the altar and prepare the King and Queen

Water & Earth take up chalice and anoints King and Queen

Water & Earth:	We consecrate and bless thee with water and earth, that you be made pure of blood and of body.

Fire and Air  take up the Censer and wafts the incense around the King and Queen:

Fire and Air:	We consecrate and bless thee with air and fire, that you be made pure of mind and of spirit.

Green Man cloaks the King.

Earth Mother crowns the Queen 

Earth Mother: As you have woven your journeys into the cloak and crown, so do you weave your energies into the fertile land, newly awoken… Dance the pole

All to dance the maypole

When everyone has danced. Light the fires.

Green Man:	Let the cloak and crown be given to the Beltane fires that your ideas may be released from their weavings and be given form in the world of summer!

Place cloak and crown within the flame… everyone can say something appropriate if they feel like it.

HPS:	As our King and Queen have become one with the Green World, so shall they journey to the Greenwood and become one with each other.

King and Queen are farewelled from the circle and jump the broom… heading off to the greenwood.

HPS: Happy Beltane!!!!

Participants dance around the fires.

Circle is closed down

Air: 	I thank the winds of the world for witnessing this rite. I thank the Powers of Air for guarding us. Hail and Farewell

Fire: 	I thank the flames of light and warmth for witnessing this rite. I thank the Powers of Fire for guarding us. Hail and Farewell.

Water:	I thank the  waves of the ocean for witnessing this rite. I thank the Powers of Water for guarding us. Hail and Farewell.

Earth: 	I thank the stones of the earth for witnessing this rite. I thank the Powers of Earth for guarding us. Hail and Farewell.

Everyone:	By the earth that is her body, by the air of her sweet breath, by the fire of her bright spirit and by the water which is her blood. May the circle be open but unbroken merry meet merry part and merry meet again. Blessed be!

HPS opens circle.