Beltane 2006 
by Blayze

Maypole is in the centre of the clearing – uncrowned. Altar is in the North -east

The bower is decorated and set up in the South East, Triple Goddess and Green Man will enter from here.

The Fire brazier is in the North (slightly deeper inside the circle) as is a large torch (on the edge). Cauldron in the West. Bowl of Earth in the South, large censer in the East. Quarter Guardians have elemental gifts with them when they enter the circle – air has feather, fire has taper, water has jug of water, earth has seeds.

Circle is cast by HP and HPS together.

Call quarters. Each quarter makes an offering when calling in. i.e. Air places herbs on lit hibachi, Fire lights torch (from Fire candle with a taper), Water pours libation into the cauldron, Earth places seeds on the soil.

When all have finished, they take their items to the altar. 

Central Invocation

Witches Rune

HPS begins to sing the Beltane song (invocation to the triple goddess). As she sings each verse one aspect of the Goddess enters the circle.

Chorus:
Ribbons weave and garlands dance and trees quiver
Flowers leap across the moon to the flames of Beltane night
La la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la-ah

Maiden is wearing white and is crowned with Hawthorn Leaves (she carries a bundle of dried herbs)
Mother is wearing green and is crowned with Oak Leaves (she carries a jug of spirits)
Crone is wearing red and is crowned with Ash Leaves (she carries a flame)

As each aspect enters they dance around the circle

At the end of the dance they finish in a tableau surrounding the brazier.

Maiden:	 I am the Hawthorn Maiden, the white blossom not yet ripened to berry's blood. I am innocence turned to passion and the thorn of desire. I am the stolen glance.

Mother: 	I am the Oak Mother, the green growth of the seasons, the fertility of summer. I am the Maiden who has danced the wheel and given birth to kings. I am the sacred dance.

Crone: 	I am the Ash Crone. I am the reminder that youth and beauty are fleeting. I hold the nine worlds within my branches, I am the magic hidden within the flame.

Maiden: 	Mine is the gift of bud and flower

Maiden places herbs upon the brazier

Mother: 	Mine is the gift of growth and fertility

Mother pours spirits upon the brazier

Crone: 	Mine is gift of flame and prophecy.

Crone lights the brazier

The fire is lit.

Triple Goddess:

By the flame of summer bright
We call to thee
By the red and by the white
We sing to thee
By the green of leaf and bough
of oak and ash and hawthorn crown
By the blood and fertile seed we dance for thee on summer's eve

Green Man of the Wild Wood
Bright of eye and dark of hood

Come O Come with Stang and Drum
With root and branch and silver tongue!

Green Man come!
Green Man come!
Green Man come!

We invoke thee!

Green Man enters the circle. He carries a stang topped with two crowns, one for the Queen and one for the Pole, he also carries a phallic wand decorated with leaves. He walks around the circle speaking, at the end of his speech he leans the stang against the maypole.

Green Man: 
I am he who walks the wild wood
I am the hidden path
The face amongst the leaves

All who lie beneath my cloak are filled with the passion of life set free!
Come maidens all, dance with me and I shall give to you your Queen!

Music is played during the dance. The maidens and the Green Man dance round, the Green Man trapping various maidens under his cloak. The maiden who is under the cloak when the music stops is the Queen.

Green Man:
You have heard the Song of the Wood. 
It's power flows through your veins. 
The Green World rises within you.

He takes up his Stang and crowns the Queen.

The Triple Goddess steps forward and robes, girdles and anoints her. They present her to the Green Man.

The Green Man kisses each aspect of the Goddess in turn. He then kisses the Queen.

Green Man:
With this kiss you are the Queen of the May. 
You are crowned by Oak, Ash and Thorn. 
I give to you my power, hunter and hunted are one within you.

He gives her the phallic wand.

Green Man: 
Dance around the wood and inflame it with desire. 
Let the trees call out to you their delight in your choosing. 
One is fit to be your consort. 
Let him woo you with words, for mine is not the only tongue of silver.

Men to call  out words of wooing as the Queen dances around the clearing. She can poke them with her phallic wand if she wishes. When she chooses she takes the hand of her future consort and pulls him into the circle.

Green Man:	Bring him to me.

Maiden takes future consort to Green Man.

Green Man:
Are you willing to be the consort of our May Queen?
Are you willing to be one with the land?
Are you willing to carry the burden as well as the delight of kingship?
Then I send you into the arms of the Goddess. 
She will prepare you for your queen.

Triple Goddess comes forwards and strips him of his tunic. They anoint and paint him. They crown him. They each kiss him in turn. 

He is brought to kneel before the Queen. She gives him the phallic wand raises him with a kiss.

The Green Man then ties the hands of the Queen and King together.

He gives them the stang which holds the May Wreath.

Green Man: 
You have been crowned, Queen and King. 
You are joined to the land and its power flows through you. 
Now together crown the Maypole, the sovereign tree.

Queen and King crown the pole. 

They are untied.

Green Man:	Now weave in the summer together.

Green Man, Maiden, Mother, Crone, King, Queen and 4 quarters all dance the pole. Others dance the next round and so on until the ribbons are tied up.

Cakes and Ale
Farewell quarters
Close circle
Feast