Beltaine

…If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now

It's just a spring clean for the May Queen…

                                                                  -Led Zeppelin

Beltaine. It is a time of the burgeoning Earth. When all is new again and there is hope for abundance in the future. Looking around, you will see plants coming to life, trees budding with new growth, animals seeking out their mates, and people coming out of their homes to enjoy the awakening Earth in all its splendor. It is a good time for bringing hopes and dreams and aspirations to life.

The ritual we will be performing is an Aspiration  Ritual. It is a nice little charm that will help you to manifest your aspirations and to bring beauty to the earth as well.

The preferred location for this is out of doors in your gardens, but if you do not have a green space a nice little pot for your indoors area or balcony will work just as well. This ritual will be out of doors.

• A small cardboard box (the thinner the better as it will be placed in the ground)
• Flower seeds (whatever your heart desires, I will be using Zinnias)
• Small piece of paper and pencil (to write your wish upon)
• A small representation of your wish (I put in a small Abundance amulet)
• Decorative flowers for your altar
• Incense
• White Candle for the Lady
• Green Candle for the Lord
• Lighter or matches
• Vessel of seeds
• Vessel of soil
• Garden Trowel (This will be your wand today)
• Something to punch holes into the top of the box
• 
  

To the left you can see how the altar is laid out for this ritual. A self-created outdoor altar using a live edge plank and drawn symbols to represent the Lady and the Lord as well as a Pentacle and representations of the Elements. It is sealed to prevent moisture from damaging it and it is portable and reusable for all outdoor ceremonies. Legs will be placed on it in the future but for now just use some loose bricks to keep it off the ground. You will need to be able to kneel in for this setup. If you cannot, find an elevated area in which to setup this altar.

As this is a garden event and there is no room to create a circle, we will begin by clearing out any negative energies.

Light the incense. Pick up your incense wand or censor and walk around your altar and in your garden area, letting the smoke fill the air. While you are walking state:

I cleanse this area of all negative energies.

Continue to chant this as you move about. When you have completed the circuit of your garden, return to your altar and place the incense into its rightful spot on the altar.

On the altar is a representation of each Element. To call the Quarters, place your power hand over the icon for each Element (Air, Fire Water, Earth, and Spirit) and call them to be welcome in your Sacred Space and to protect you while performing this ritual. Or if you have a representation of each Element, hold or focus on it and call the Quarters.

Pick up your garden trowel (wand). It is time to empower it to become a magical tool today. Holding it between both hands, tip to tip, move it through the smoke of the incense and state:

I purify this trowel and make it an instrument of the Lady and Lord. 

State this at least three times and then take the trowel and place both hands upon the handle. 

Plunge the trowel into the Earth slightly above the altar (or into your pot of soil). State:

This is a Sacred Space. Protected by the Elements, as it is above, so below!

The space is cleansed and now protected. It is time to welcome the Lord and Lady into your presence.

First light the candle for the Lady of Spring.

Second light the candle for the Lord of the Green.

Place one hand on the symbol of the Lady and one on the symbol of the Lord. Invite them to join you in your celebration:

Lady of Spring and Lord of the Green

Please join me in the celebration of the awakening Earth.

Without you there would be no joy, no happiness, no fruitful and abundant world.

Enter in to this sacred space and be welcome!

Lift your arms to the sky and concentrate on the Lady and the Lord and welcome them into your heart and into your sacred space. Feel the joy and love of this beautiful couple enter your heart and soul.

The Aspiration box was created from a larger piece of cardboard. I cut it down and formed the box. It is hinged and the top opens to allow you to place the contents within. I decorated it with a few symbols and placed a saying upon it.

• Pick the box up from the altar and open it. 
• Take the vessel of soil and place a layer at the bottom of the box, filling it about one half of the way full. 
• Take the Aspiration that is written on a piece of paper and place it on the layer of soil. 
• Pick up the representation of the wish and place it on top of the paper. Again, I am using an abundance amulet. 
• Take the vessel of seeds and sprinkle on top of the paper and amulet until they are covered. From the vessel of soil fill the box to the top and close. 
• Using the tip of the trowel or another sharp instrument like a pocket knife, poke holes into the top of the wish box to allow for moisture to enter and for the seeds to germinate and grow through the top of it. 

The Aspiration Box is now ready to place in the Earth.

   
Placing the Aspiration Charm