Beltane U.S. 2006
WyldWoods at Westborough, MA (Directions)
May 6, 2006
Ritualist: Thea
Flyer
WES celebrated Beltane at it's first event at WyldWoods. As we gathered deep in the woods, we were greeted by the greenman and carved masks of the ancients.
The maypole, cut in the ritual grove, pierced the wreath, which was secured astride the celebrants varied ribbons. The pole, raised by many hands, was set deep into the earth in the hole opened by our efforts to recieve it.
Thea, our ritualist and numinous guide for the day, led the casting of the circle, hand to hand, and together we called the directions and invoked the God and Goddess with chant and dancing. Each of us taking equal responsibility for making and holding our ritual space.
The twenty foot maypole, now standing proud in the woods, was woven round and round with the hopes and wishes of each of the celebrants. To the rhythm of drumming and the song of the flute we wove. As a diverse community of infants to elders, men to women, friends to strangers, we worked together to help each other manifest our individual and collective dreams.
As the final ribbon was tied, not far off flames arose from the ground. Led by the horned one, we leapt the fire. Whether we leapt singly or in pairs, whether we leapt sedately or in flying cartwheels, we helped free ourselves, and each other, so that we might leap over the constraints that bind us and prevent us from embracing our bliss.
After each of us had leapt the fire, some more than once, ecstatic dancing began. First there was one dancer, lithe and sensuous. Then another, wilder and more vigorous. They danced their separate dances and then they danced together. Soon another dancer joined them; and then another and another until the clearing was filled with movement; the movement of spirit freed, the movement of spirits joined; the dance of a community come together.
Eventually we reformed our circle, round the fire pit and the pole, hand in hand, our work for the day done. We proceeded to open the circle with the strains of the familiar chant.
The rest of the afternoon was full of feasting, friendship, frivolity, feeding each other, talking in groups, and walking into the woods in pairs.
