Beltane, 2004
Preparation
The participant gathers the following offerings (vegetable oil may be substituted if necessary):
Earth Mother	Corn meal	
Fire/well/tree	Incense, silver-colored item (e.g., coin), branch	
Mannanan mac Lir	Apple	
Outdwellers	Beer	
Brighid	Oil or alcohol (e.g., Goldschläger)	
Ancestors	Food/bread	
Nature spirits	Grain	
Gods	Alcohol	
Deity(ies) of the occasion: Bel (Belenus)	Wood, oil, and alcohol (all to burn)	

The participant also fills the Well with fresh water and places the blessing cup and branch next to it. If necessary, s/he places an offering bowl on the altar as well.  He/she then clothes in ritual garb and performs a brief pre-ritual meditation to quiet the mind.
Gathering
Participant gathers at the ritual area and sounds a musical signal (such as a chime) three times, then says:
I am here to honor the gods.
Honoring the Earth Mother
P: Áine Chliar, daughter of Manannan, woman of the hills and land…		(awnyeh cleer)
Great Earth Mother, my life is nursed from your bounty.
You are the food that nourishes me, the wealth that enriches me, even the very ground I walk on.
O bright goddess, all joy and prosperity comes from you, and it is you who sustains me.
Áine, I honor you now to thank you for the bounty you bestow upon me.		(awnyeh)
Participant sings Blossom Lifter (1x):
Earth Mother, Blossom Lifter
Bloom with the wheat,
Bloom with the rye
Bloom with barley
And bloom with all grains
Earth Mother, Blossom Lifter
Bless what I eat,
Bless what I drink,
Bless what I harrow,
And bless what I sow
Earth Mother, Blossom Lifter
With all these things, let me rejoice
I give to you, and you give to me
P makes an offering and says: Earth Mother, accept my sacrifice.
Grounding and Uniting with the Tree Meditation
Participant performs the “Tree Meditation”.
Establishing the Sacred Grove through Fire, Well, and Tree
Sacred Fire
Participant says:
I kindle the sacred fire,
Claiming this land and time for my own.
The shape-fire burns bright,
This is the center of the world,
My Meath, Tara, and Uisnech.					(mathe, soft th; tahrah; ish-nuck)
Let none stand against me,
Let the world turn around me,
Let me have a good fire,
As I call the Kindred forth.
P lights the sacred fire and places incense into it to hallow the space, then says:
I kindle the sacred fire in wisdom, love, and power. Sacred fire, burn within me.
Sacred Well
Participant says:
I silver the sacred well,
From which five rivers of wisdom run,
Salmon swimming, hazel hanging high.
Bubbling brightly Segais, source of the Boyne,					(sheh-gaish, boin)
This is the center of the world.
Let none stand against me,
Let the world turn around me,
Let the well be deep with wisdom,
As I call the Kindred forth.
P silvers the well and pours water from the well to the blessing cup, then says:
In the depths flow the waters of wisdom. Sacred waters, flow within me.
Sacred Tree
The Tender of the Tree says:
I tend the sacred tree,
Towering high, hanging heavy with hazel,
Strength of Taranis, the thunder and wheel,
From Tara to nemeton, star-reaching bile,						(bill-uh)
This is the center of the world.
Let none stand against me,
Let the world turn around me,
Let the tree be tall and strong,
As I call the Kindred forth.
P dresses and censes the bile, then says:
From the depths to the heights spans the world tree. Sacred tree, grow within me.
Opening the Gates Between the Worlds
P prepares an offering for the gatekeeper and says:
P says: Oh Manannan, powerful son of the sea, holder of the magics of the crane bag, I ask that you hear my call. Oh Lord of the Otherworld, bearer of the silvered apple branch, join with me this day, so that you may guide me in my workings. Mist-shrouded rider of the maned waves, accept my offering and open the gates between my realm and yours.
P sings (3x):
Gatekeeper open the portals,
Between the gods and mortals,
Power freely flows,
As my magic grows.
P makes an offering and says: Manannan mac Lir, accept my sacrifice.	(mah-nah’-nahn mak leer)
P: Let the fire open as a gate, let the well open as a gate, let the tree open as a gate between the worlds, and let Manannan walk with me in all ways. Let the gates be open!
Offering to the Outdwellers
P pours a cup for the Outdwellers and takes it out of the ritual space, then says:
You who come from the outer dark,
You who stood against the gods and man,
You who are cold of heart and cruel of mind,
Take this and trouble not my work.
Bardic Inspiration
P calls to Brighid asking for the gift of poetic inspiration:
Bright Brighid, Daughter of the Daghdha, Flame of Inspiration, 		(breezh, dahg’-duh)
Maker of metal, Maker of good health, Maker of song,
With you as my mother I need fear no sickness,
With you as my mother I need fear no dull swords,
With you as my mother I need fear no empty words.
I am triple-blessed, O shining light of the hearth,
and I your child ask you to alight in my heart,
Alight in my head, and alight in my voice,
That I may give praise to the powers with good skill.
P sings (3x):
Birghita, Birghita, goddess of the flame				(bur’-gee-tuh)
Birghita, Birghita, call her by name
Awaken the flame within my being
Awaken the sacred song within my being
P makes an offering and says: Brighid, accept my sacrifice.
Honoring and Inviting the Three Kindreds
Ancestors
P: Great ancestors, you who have come before,
A child of the Earth calls out to you.
You whose blood flows in my veins,
You who I hold close to my heart and thoughts,
You who were heroes of the ancient world, 
I offer you welcome.
Mighty Ones, you who reside in the house of Donn,
I remember you, and will not forget, for it is you who gave me life.
O Ancestors of blood and heart, I call you forth!
P sings Mothers and Fathers of Old (1x):  (Words by Sable)
From far beyond this mortal plane, mothers and fathers of old
I pray that you return again, mothers and fathers of old
To share with me the mysteries and secrets long untold
Of the ancient ways I seek to reclaim, mothers and fathers of old
P makes an offering and says: Ancestors, accept my sacrifice.
Nature Spirits
P: Great nature spirits, you who frolick in the wild world,
A child of the Earth calls out to you.
You who change shapes with the wind,
You who pass between the worlds as I walk through air,
You who for whom day is night, and night is day,
I offer you welcome.
Noble Ones, you who reside in the hills and sidhe mounds of the land,		(shee)
I honor you, for you are the spirits in the earth I live by.
O Spirits of the natural world, I call you forth!
P sings Fur and Feather (1x):  (Words and music by Sable)
Fur and feather and scale and skin,
Different without but the same within.
Many of body but one of soul,
Through all creatures are the gods made whole.
P makes an offering and says: Nature spirits, accept my sacrifice.
Gods and Goddesses
P: Great gods, you who are mightiest in all things,
A child of the Earth calls out to you.
You who are the people of the goddess Danann,					(dah’-nawn)
You who count among you the spear of Lugh,					(loo)
       the sword of Nuadha, and the cauldron of the Dagda ,				(noo’-ah; dahg’-duh)
You who brought the Lia Fal and cast out the Fir Bolg and Fomoire, (lee-uh fahl, feer’-bulug; fo’-moor)
I offer you welcome.
Shining Ones, you who rule this world and the other,
I praise you, for it is you who provide sustenance and guidance in my life.
O Shining ones of magic and might, I call you forth!
P sings Hail All the Gods (1x):  (Words by Paul Maurice, Richard Mac Kelley, Gwynne Green.  Music by Paul Maurice, Sean Miller, Gail Williams)
Hail all the gods,
Hail all the goddesses.
Hail all the holy ones,
We dwell together.
Powers of the sky,
Powers of the sacred earth,
Powers of the underworld,
We dwell together.
Hail all the Gods!
Hail all the Goddesses!
Hail all the Gods...and Goddesses.
P makes an offering and says: Gods and goddesses, accept my sacrifice.
Meditation of Merging the Energies and Re-Centering
(Meditation of merging and re-centering is done.)
Ritual Precedent and Honoring the Spirits of the Occasion
Today I welcome in the first days of summer. I feel the quickening of vibrant life in the natural world around me, and within me as well. In ancient times fires were lit at this festival, bright fires and bonfires which purified cattle and Folk, and celebrated the light days of summer to come. Though I dance no Maypole today, I do welcome in the joy and laughter of Maypole dances today and in days of eld, and revel in the warmth of summer and the enjoyment of the senses. It is now that the Nature Spirits are truly alive, and I give thanks to the Land Spirits that support me, to the Kindreds that guide me, and to my Ancestors who walk with me. Let the Dance of Summer begin today!
Honoring Bel
P: Great god Bel, Lord of Light and Fire,
Guardian of sheep and cattle,
You whose bright gaze lights the sky,
Join us today in this rite.
Let us light fires in your honor,
Give praise to your glory,
And honor to your name.
Great King of Summer, Strong Shining One,
Powerful force of life and creativity,
Shine your brightness upon us,
Bring blessings to our Rite and our Folk,
And bring the light of Summer into our lives.
Great Belenus, Be Welcome!
P offers wood, oil, and alcohol to the Fire, and says: Belenus, accept my sacrifice!
General Praise Offerings to the Kindreds
P: I have called the Kindreds here today and it is right to give them praise: A round for the ancestors, a round for the nature spirits, and a round for the gods.
(Three rounds of praise offerings: Ancestors, Nature Spirits, and Gods.)
P: Shining Ones, Noble Ones, and Mighty Ones, I have given you praise and honor!  A gift calls for a gift, and I pray to you as I offer up these sacrifices.  Accept them, open my heart, and give to me of your blessings.
An Omen for the Blessings is Taken and Shared
Participant quietly chants (1x):  (Words by Sean Miller)
Come druids all, ovates and seers						(oh-vah’-tays)
And let your minds be still.
Earth, sea, and sky will lend no fears,
As the gods reveal their will.
Let every heart sing praise to them,
And all my works be skilled.
Claiming their blessings to the very end,
As the gods reveal their will.
P then takes the omen, interprets it, and records it.
Receiving the Blessings of the Gods and Spirits
P raises the blessing cup high and says:
Shining Ones, Noble Ones, and Mighty Ones, I have praised you and received your blessings. Hallow these waters and give to me of your power and inspiration and vitality. Seo iad uisci na beatha! Behold the waters of life!								(shee ahd ishka nah bah-hah)
P sings (1x):  (by Ian Corrigan)
I pour the waters, raise the cup,
Drink my share of wisdom deep.
Strength and love now fill me up,
As the elder ways I keep.
As the elder ways I keep.
P then drinks a draught from the blessing cup.
Thanking the Kindreds and Spirits
P: I have called upon the Kindreds and they have answered! With joy in my heart I carry their magic into my life and work. Each time I offer to the powers they be come stronger and more aware of my needs and worship. So as I prepare to depart let me give thanks to those who have aided me. 
Bel, Go raibh maith agait! 							(gora mah ahgit, singular)
Brigid, Go raibh maith agait!
Manannan mac Lir, Go raibh maith agait!
Gods and Goddesses, Go raibh maith agaibh 				(gora mah ahgeev, plural)
Nature Spirits, Go raibh maith agaibh!
Ancestors, Go raibh maith agaibh!
Aine, go raibh maith agait.
Closing the Gates and Ending the Rite
P: Now by the keeper of the gates and by my magic I end what I began.
Let the fire be flame,
Let the well be water,
Let all be as it was before.
Let the gates be closed!
I have done as my ancestors have done, and as my children will do, and the Kindreds have answered. I go now, a child of the Earth, in peace and blessings. The ritual is at a close. Biodh Se!	(bee-shay)