{"id":1388,"date":"2018-04-23T14:57:41","date_gmt":"2018-04-23T22:57:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/tempest\/?p=1388"},"modified":"2020-04-29T11:11:50","modified_gmt":"2020-04-29T19:11:50","slug":"a-beltane-ritual-for-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/tempest\/2018\/04\/a-beltane-ritual-for-one.html","title":{"rendered":"A Beltane Ritual For One"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"
Photo by Janus Clemmensen on Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

As I\u2019ve mentioned numerous times on this blog, I\u2019m not much of a Sabbat-oriented Witch.\u00a0 I do have feast days that are specific to my practice and background. But I\u2019m rarely tied down to celebrating seasonal changes, particularly not to performing obligations on specific days.\u00a0 Instead, it\u2019s more of a gradual observance of the nature of things.\u00a0 Because that\u2019s what works for me<\/em>.<\/p>\n

That said, the season of Beltane, the lore of Walpurgisnacht and May Day celebrations is a current that runs deep in how I view the shifting of the year.\u00a0 The unfolding promise of Spring found in the seeds of February and March truly starts to push through the earth and makes its place by late April\/early May.\u00a0 The\u00a0 movement is no longer tenuous or tender, but rather it beats its own rhythm strongly. This has been true in every area I\u2019ve lived: New England, the South, Mid-Atlantic, West Coast, and Pacific Northwest.<\/p>\n

Personally, I find this is a good time to slough off the dust and dirt I\u2019ve acquired throughout the Winter (metaphorical and otherwise), rinse, and prepare for growth. While there are clearly signs of procreation and fertility in the air (the trees keep trying to have sex with my car), I\u2019m focusing on what I need to do to spark creative energy in all aspects of my life that need it.<\/p>\n

I know there are other folks out there, feeling that same shift of energy and wondering what to do.\u00a0 So I\u2019m sharing with you a ritual that you might find inspiring.<\/p>\n

What you will need:<\/strong><\/em>
\n-two candles \u2013 ideally one black and one white, but you could also choose complimentary colors (blue and orange, yellow and purple, red and green) + something to light the candles with and of course proper holders for them.
\n-any altar items you\u2019d like
\n-a comfy pillow or chair to sit on.
\n-a space you can walk around in comfortably<\/p>\n

\"\"
Photo by Janus Clemmensen on Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Ritual:<\/b>
\n<\/em>If you\u2019re not going spur of the moment, then the day you plan to do the ritual, try to be conscious about what you eat.\u00a0 Avoid foods that make you feel heavy \u2013 choose a lighter meal comprised of ingredients that represent the season \u2013 fresh things from the garden or wildcrafted, a small meal of celebration that makes you physically and emotionally feel good.<\/p>\n

Before setting up the ritual space, take a short cleansing bath or shower. (You can bring in herbal infusions or salts if you like.)\u00a0 As you wash, focus on (gently) wiping away layers of debris, rinsing away ideas and events that have mired you down.\u00a0 Finish it off with a dash of cold water (shifting the temperature in the shower, or sluicing a cup of cold water over you in the bath).<\/p>\n

After drying off and preparing your body as you normally would for ritual (putting on jewelry, going skyclad, putting on robes, or just comfy clothes), set up your space.\u00a0 If you use an altar, make sure it\u2019s clean and ready to go with any tools or other items you want to put on it.\u00a0 An example might be an arrangement of flowers gathered from your yard, or on a nature walk.\u00a0 In front of the altar (or in the middle of the space if you don\u2019t have an altar), place the pair of candles \u2013 the dark\/black candle on your left and the white\/light candle on the right\u00a0 \u2013 with enough space to walk between and around the candles.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t have to worry about pets\/children\/tipsy candles, you can place them on tiles on the floor.\u00a0 Otherwise you could set them up each on small tray tables or boxes.\u00a0 \u00a0Leaving enough space for you to walk around the candles, set up your pillow or chair facing the candles\/altar.<\/p>\n

If you cast a circle or otherwise welcome the elements, spirits, and\/or ancestors in, now is the time to do this.
\nA simple version you could use: \u201cI welcome Air to bring new breath to invigorate my body. I welcome Fire to ignite my spirit. I welcome Water to change the tide. I welcome Earth to root my goals.\u00a0 May the spirits and ancestors watch over this rite and guide me.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Starting with the candle on your left,\u00a0 \u201cI recognize the beauty of darkness, the powerful embrace of the earth around the seed that takes root.\u00a0 The darkness collects, absorbs, and changes everything so that it may be remade. Out of the past, I emerge renewed.\u201d<\/em> Light the candle.<\/p>\n

Now face the candle on your right, \u201cI recognize the spectrum of light that illuminates and inspires.\u00a0 It stirs the seed within the darkness and calls for it to break free of its shell, take root, and grow towards its full potential. My heart and mind finds the vision of the future.\u201d<\/em> Light the candle.<\/p>\n

Then move counterclockwise around the dark candle, then cross over and circle the light candle clockwise \u2013 and continue for at least 3 cycles \u2013 forming a figure 8 with your travels.\u00a0 If you feel called to walk the path more than 3 cycles, do so.\u00a0 If you\u2019d like to chant as you walk, here\u2019s one: \u201cI am a being of darkness, I am a being of light, I cross these worlds to gain new sight.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Once you\u2019re done, settle onto the pillow or chair, look forward between the candles, and unfocus your eyes softly for a count of 10. Then close them, and take 3 long slow breaths (in and out).\u00a0 If you do trance meditation, this is a good time to do it.\u00a0 Otherwise, you may wish to call upon a deity, spirit, or ancestor to grant you vision of something to help aid your focus, and settle in for the answer.\u00a0 It may not come right there in that moment, so watch your dreams\/keep an eye out for signs shortly after the ritual.<\/p>\n

Once you feel the rite is complete, thank the energies you have gathered, extinguish the candles, and go to bed.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While there are clearly signs of procreation and fertility in the air (the trees keep trying to have sex with my car), I’m focusing on what I need to do to spark creative energy in all aspects of my life that need it.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2676,"featured_media":1394,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[33,32,43,7,4],"class_list":["post-1388","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-modernpractice","tag-beltaine","tag-beltane","tag-ritual","tag-witch","tag-witchcraft"],"yoast_head":"\nA Beltane Ritual For One<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"While there are clearly signs of procreation and fertility in the air (the trees keep trying to have sex with my car), I'm focusing on what I need to do to spark creative energy in all aspects of my life that need it.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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