Ritual in Theory and Practice

Bealteine is the great festival of life. It is the polar opposite of Samhain which is the great festival of death.

Flowers and foliage are very common decorative elements for Bealteine. These may be found in wreaths, headdresses, garlands, and May Baskets, as well as altar decorations. Many colored Spring flowers are often used -other times red and white roses or red roses and white lilies to symbolize the union of God and Goddess.

Polar colors such as red and white, green and red, or blue and yellow are a very common theme, emphasizing the Divine union. Also because of the emphasis on Divine union, the festival is strongly associated with fertility and sensuality, and so symbols which reflect love and merry making are also often an element. The May Pole itself is the ultimate Bealteine fertility symbol, whose symbolism is hard to miss.

Always the emphasis at Bealteine is on color and merriment, because it is the festival of life. So in decorating your ritual space for Bealteine, use things which suggest renewed and abundant life, rejoicing and celebration.

AIR

Begin by clearing and releasing all excess energy, as usual. Release all tensions and anxieties. Just let them flow through and out of your body, like a gentle wave of energy, exiting through the soles of your feet.

Begin by cleansing the Salt: make three tuathal circles above it while visualizing yellow-white light. Imagines the light forcing out all negative or unfocused energy from the Salt. She speaks words to the effect of:

“Behold, I exorcise you, O creature of Earth, casting out from you any impurities which may lie within.”

The Salt is then Blessed: make three deosil circles above it, while visualizing blue-white light. Speaks words to the effect of:

“And I do Bless and Charge you to this work!”

Next cleanse the Water, making three tuathal circles above it while visualizing yellow-white light forcing out all negative energy. Speaks words to the effect of:

“Behold, I exorcise you, O creature of Water, casting out from you any impurities which may lie within.”

Then bless the Water, making three deosil circles above it and visualizing blue-white light. Speaks words to the effect of:

"And I do Bless and Charge you to this work!”

Address the Salt, saying:

“Behold, the Salt is pure!”

Then address the water, saying:

“Behold, the Water is pure!”

Now takes three pinches of salt and add it to the water, saying something like this:

“Purity into purity then, and purity be blessed!”

Taking the mixed Salt and Water walk deosil around the ritual space, asperging the area while doing so. Visualize yellow-white light filling the area and forcing out all negative or unfocused energy. Say something like:

“I cleanse you…. I cleanse you…I cleanse you…”

When finished asperging, return the Salt and Water to the altar.

We will now cast the Circle. For this ritual we will cast the Circle with the Athame or with a ritual Sword. If you do not have an Athame or prefer not to use one the Wand could also be used, or a crystal, or even your finger.

Begin in the East. Take up the Athame and point it outward, visualizing a beam of white light shooting from the Athame’s tip to what will be the outer edge of the Magic Circle. Now begin to walk deosil around the Circle, imagining the beam of light "drawing" a boundary of light around the Circle's edge. As you walk, the imagine the boundary growing brighter and stronger -becoming a wall of white light. As you come back around to the east, completing the Circle, see the boundary become a solid circle of light around the ritual area. make this as strong as you can. As you are doing this you may wish to charge the Circle by saying something like:

From the East, walk deosil around the Circle, imagining a barrier of light being formed by the beam. You may say something like:

“Behold, we do cut apart a place between the realms of humankind and of the Mighty Ones: A Circle of Art to focus and contain the powers we shall raise herein! The Circle is cast! So Mote It Be!”

ALL
”So Mote It Be!”

FIRE

In this ritual we will invoke the Quarters using animal imagery. Using animal Guardians at the Quarters is a very ancient idea and is especially good if you have a Shamanic bent.

Begin in the East. Use a Wand, Sacred Tool of Fire, or if you prefer, your fingers. Raise the Wand, imagining as you do so a column of pure white light arising in the East, at the border of the Circle. See the column as strong and pure and filled with energy. Say something like:

EAST
“I do invoke You, O Golden Eagle of the East! Power of Air! The beating of Your wings raises the winds of inspiration and enlightenment! Share with us Your powers of thought and delineation, that we may have clarity of mind and thought. Join us: be with us: guide and inspire us in this our holy ritual! We bid You Hail and Welcome”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”

Now move to the next Quarter. Again raise the Wand and imagine a column of pure white light arising in the Quarter. Say something like:

SOUTH
“I do invoke You, O Red Dragon of the South! Power of Fire! You breathe forth the flames of passion and manifestation! Share with us Your powers of creativity and courage that our actions may be confident and effective! Join us: be with us: guide and inspire us in this our holy ritual! We bid You Hail and welcome!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”

Now move to the next Quarter. Again raise the Wand and imagine a column of pure white light arising in the Quarter. Say something like:

WEST
“I do invoke You, O Blue Dolphin of the west! Power of Water! From Your blow hole You spout waves of sensitivity and compassion! Share with us Your powers of love and empathy that our emotions may be open and free flowing! Join us: be with us: guide and inspire us in this our holy ritual! We bid You Hail and Welcome!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”

Now move to the next Quarter. Again raise the Wand and imagine a column of pure white light arising in the Quarter. Say something like:

NORTH
“I do invoke You, O Black Bear of the North! Power of Earth! You make Your home in the cave which resonates with wisdom and understanding! Share with us Your powers of focus and integration that we may be steady and well grounded! Join us: be with us: guide us and inspire us in this our holy ritual!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”

Now it is time to invoke Deity. Since Grand Sabbats are Lunar ceremonies, the Goddess will be invoked first. In this case we shall invoke the Goddess not in any particular form, but in Her Archetype as Mother -in this sense as the youthful Mother of all growing things. You will remember from First Degree studies that some Personal forms of this Archetype include Isis, Ishtar, and Cybele.

The Priestess raises her arms to call upon the Goddess. She might say something like:

PRIESTESS
“O Mother Goddess! Giver of Life and Author of Existence! From Your endless bounty You create and sustain the Universe, and us, Your children. Holy Mother, at this time of greatest rejoicing, we call to You and do invoke You! Be with us, we pray. Share with us our happiness and accept our love and thanks for all You bring to us. Divine and Bountiful One, we bid You Hail and Welcome!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”

Now imagine the Goddess entering the Circle -imagine it in any way which makes sense to you –perhaps by imagining the Goddess in human form, or as a shower of glittering light, or as a ball or tower of light appearing in the Circle.

Now let us invoke the God in His archetype as Lover. You will remember from First Degree studies that some Personal forms of this Archetype include Horus, Tammuz, and Attis.

The Priest raises his arms to call upon the God. He might say something like:

PRIEST
“Oh God, we do invoke You in Your form as Lover: Divine Consort and Helpmeet of the Goddess. Lord of Life, God of the Sun and Spirit of the growing things, we invite You to join us in this most holy rite, which honors Your union with the Mother! From Her and for Her You were created: Her Son, Her Brother, and Her Consort. Your union brings fertility and life to the world! O God we bid You Hail and Welcome!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”

Now visualize the God entering the Circle.

Finally, invoke the Ancestors. You might say something like:

“O Mighty Ancestors, Beloved Ones Who have gone before, We invoke You and ask You to join us and to Bless us! Ancestors of the Correllian Tradition, Priestesses and Priests, Mothers and Uncles of the lineage, Spiritual family which aids and supports us –lend us Your inspiration and Your love, Your guidance and Your aid this night, we pray. Beloved Ones, we bid You Hail and Welcome!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”