Blessed Litha, everyone!

In celebration, I thought I’d offer up some rituals and celebrations you can incorporate into your day! From mundane activities to full-out circle-castin’ ritual, make every step of your day (and life) a magickal one.

The Lesser Sabbats (equinoxes and solstices), of which Litha is one, are a great time to think about changes to be made in your life; as they mark the changing of the seasons, so do they mark periods where we learn what changes we’ve made and what we plan for the future.

Celebrations

Get Back to Nature

Go for a hike and explore the world around you! If you have children, prepare a scavenger hunt where they collect different items from their surroundings (though be sure not to collect live plants out of respect). They might even want to take photos of what they find!

Body Movin’!

Host a drum circle or a Spiral dance, something to get your body moving. It’s a great activity for larger groups, and you can raise of ton of energy this way. Be sure to provide refreshments after such an activity — they tend to be draining, and some lemonade and fresh hummus with pita points do wonders.

Charitable Acts

Let the light of the sun shine through you as you help others. Donate clothes, food, and other necessities to homeless shelters. Do something for charity works. Plan a neighborhood or beach cleanup. Donate your time and efforts to a local children’s hospital. Whatever you do, make sure the intent is to make the world a better place.

Host a BBQ

4 July is right around the corner for those of us in the US, so fire up that barbeque and get grilling! Decorate your home and outdoors with colors of the sun, and feast on lots of summery foods like watermelon, strawberries, and fresh green salads. Organize games like volleyball, Frisbee, and Red Rover to get people — especially kids — outdoors and enjoying the sunlight. Water sports are definitely good, too, with water balloons and super soakers!

Honor the Season

And of course, there are your rituals and prayers to recognize the sun and the gods of the season. Set up your altar with symbols of the season like candles, fruits and vegetables, and appropriate colors. You may also wish to perform one of the rituals detailed below!

Rituals

Journal Ritual

Obviously, I enjoy writing, finding it cathartic and relaxing in this busy world in which we live. Since you all are reading, I’m guessing you like to write, too! I also imagine that many of you, while we would prefer it this way, don’t have easy access to privacy, space, or resources to hold a full-on ritual. It can feel like you’re stuck doing nothing at all to celebrate, and that sucks!

This ritual, called the Journal Ritual, is a great way to escape for just a bit and even afford yourself much-needed privacy: It’s funny, people tend to interrupt prayers, meditation, and reading, but it’s not often someone is interrupted while writing.

So grab your journal! It can be a handwritten journal or your laptop; the intent is what’s important. Find a comfortable spot and get settled. If desired, light a candle or some incense.

Then consider what you want to accomplish during your ritual. Are you celebrating a Sabbat? Looking to offer thanks to Spirit? Perform some bit of magick? Whatever your intent, gather those thoughts, then allow yourself to write what you are thinking.

As the sun sets on this solstice, Litha, I am reminded that the light that shone for the longest this day also shines within my heart. Tonight I honor the gods and goddesses of Litha, those who bless our lives with their own light, love, and gifts of creativity, for everything they have provided me. I also honor the bounty of Mother Earth, which nourishes my body as well as my soul.

Whatever you write, imagine a full ritual playing out on the pages. You may include casting a circle, lighting candles, or even chants if you want. You might find yourself entering a trance-like state as you write (I won’t lie, it’s a pretty cool feeling). When the writing has come to an end, your ritual will have completed, and you may close the book.

Solitary Litha Ritual

Like many of you, I imagine, I’m a solitary practitioner. There are some times when I might join a group for different activities, but much of my worship and reverence is done on my own. To that end, here are some solitary Litha rituals for you to do! You may take, leave, combine, and otherwise incorporate any of the elements in these rituals to create your own.

• Litha Ritual of the Summer Solstice (The Cauldron Pagan Forum)
• My Solitary Litha Ritual (Witchery: Trapped In the Broom Closet)
• Solitary Activities for Litha (College Wicca)
• Solitary Midsummer/Litha/Summer Solstice Ritual (The Wiccan Life)
• Wiccan Litha/Summer Solstice/Midsummer Sabbat Solitary Ritual Guide (The Wiccan Way)

Litha Fire Ritual

This ritual can be held in a group or solitary. If working with a group, assign “roles” and what to say ahead of time. This is best performed outside, but can be done indoors as well!

(Personally, I’ll be doing this ritual myself in a solitary fashion. It’s one of my favorites. )

If your tradition requires casting a circle, consecrating a space, or calling the quarters, do so now. You may want to assign different people to each quarter or to each method of casting.

Begin by preparing wood for a fire, but don’t light it yet. If you can’t have a huge bonfire (which is preferred and oh-so-cool), use a tabletop cauldron or fire-safe pot, and prepare the fire in there instead.

Say:

Today, to celebrate Midsummer, [I/we] honor the Earth itself. [I/we] [am/are] surrounded by tall trees. There is a clear sky above [me/us] and cool dirt beneath [me/us], and [I/we] [am/are] connected to all three. [I/we] light this fire as the Ancients did so long ago.

(Continue [I/we] and so forth as necessary.)

Start your fire, then say:

The Wheel of the Year has turned once more. The light has grown for six short months… until today.

Today is Litha, called Midsummer or Solstice by my ancestors.
A time for celebration.
Tomorrow the light will begin to fade
As the Wheel of the Year
Turns on and ever on.

Turn to the East and say:

From the East comes the wind,
Cool and clear.
It brings new seeds to the garden
Bees to the pollen,
And birds to the trees.

Turn to the South and say:

The sun rises high in the summer sky
And lights our way even into the night.
Today the sun casts three rays:
The light of fire upon the land, the sea, and the heavens.

Turn to the West and say:

From the West, the mist rolls in,
Bringing rain and fog,
The life-giving water without which
We would cease to be.

Finally, turn to the North and say:

Beneath my feet is the Earth,
Soil dark and fertile,
The womb in which life begins
And will later die, then return anew.

After this, build up your fire even more, until you have a good strong blaze going.

If you wish to make an offering to the gods, now would be a good time for it. You may cast your offering into the fire after saying:

Midsummer is a time of rededication
To the gods. The triple goddess watches over me.
She is known by many names:
She is the Morrighan, Brighid, Cerridwen.
She is the washer at the ford,
She is the guardian of the hearth,
She is the one who stirs the cauldron of inspiration.
I give honor to You, O mighty ones,
By all your names, known and unknown.
Bless me with Your wisdom
And give life and abundance to me
As the sun gives life and abundance to the Earth.

I make this offering to you
To show my allegiance,
To show my honor,
To show my dedication
To You.

Conclude your ritual by saying:

Today, at Litha, I celebrate the life
And love of the gods
And of the Earth and Sun.

Take a few moments to reflect on what you have offered and what gifts of the gods means to you. When you are ready, break down your circle, release the quarters, and anything else as your tradition dictates. Allow the fire to burn out on its own.

For today’s Litha In A Week, I’m also setting up a linkup where you can link to your own crafts and Litha goodies! If you want to participate, I’ll have it at the end of this post. Looking forward to your submissions!

Here are some great craft ideas to get your Litha kicked off in a festive and creative way! These crafts, unless otherwise indicated, are great for kids, too, so be sure to get them in on the action.

Sundial

(or a really mini Stonehenge!)

Harness the power of the sun to tell time in your own backyard, and even teach your kids about science while you play! This craft is fascinating on its own, and it adds a new level when you create it yourself. “That’s right, I can tell time in my own backyard… without a watch. What’s your superpower?!”

You will need:

* a pole or straight stick (make it extra fun and go nature-hunting for one!)
* several large stones
* a clock or watch to calibrate your sundial

Method:

1. Find a place in your backyard that gets sun for most of the day, and erect the pole/stick straight up in the earth. (If you don’t have a backyard, erecting the pole/stick in a small pot with clay or dirt will keep it up.)

2. Keep an eye on the clock, and at each hour, place a stone where the shadow falls. It’s ideal to start this in the morning, but no matter when you start, be sure to get the morning hours, too!

3. When all daytime hours are marked, you’re ready to tell time!

If you leave this assembled throughout the year, you’ll notice that the times “shift” as the earth rotates on her axis. Use this as a great way to teach kids about the earth’s movement in the universe, the sun’s impact on the sun, and maybe even mark out times during different times of the year using different colored stones.

Handfasting Basket

For those special people in your life who are celebrating this life event!

When Matt and I married last Samhain, we incorporated a handfasting into the ceremony, wherein our hands were literally tied together in a series of knots to symbolize each vow made to one another.

Most couples preparing for a handfasting prefer to have their ceremony around Litha, as it’s a great time to celebrate love and marriage (see my last post about Juno, one of the goddesses of this Sabbat). This project is wonderful when celebrating a couple’s handfasting, whether it’s the day of or their year-and-a-day celebration!

You will need:

* a basket of any size and type
* fabric to line the inside (choose romantic summer colors like yellow, red, flower patterns, and so forth)
* ribbon (again, in romantic summer colors)
* silk flowers
* florist’s wire
* glue (hot glue gun is probably the best)
* thirteen items as “blessings” to fill the basket (more later!)

Method:

1. Place the basket on a flat surface, and use the fabric to line the inside. You can glue the fabric at certain points to keep it stable, with a bit over the edge as an overhang.

2. Cut a piece of ribbon about three times the length of the basket’s handle, then weave it around the handle, gluing at points to keep it stable. Trim off any excess. You may use more than one ribbon — get creative!

3. Add some small silk flowers to the handle of the basket for additional prettiness. These can be glued on or secured with florist’s wire.

4. Think about the couple being handfast! What do you know about them? How are they as a couple? Are they really traditional, or are they silly? Consider these when choosing what to place in the basket as blessings.

Thirteen Blessings

Fill the basket with things that symbolize their relationship. You want to have thirteen that are meaningful. Small trinkets often work the best so they can hang them up later, but use your imagination and don’t feel limited!

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• A sun, symbolizing the strength and sturdiness of the male partner
• A moon, representing the woman, beautiful and mysterious*
• A cat, to guard the hearth and home
• A dog, to offer loyalty and protection
• An owl, for wisdom
• A star, for the dreams of the future
• A clock, to remind them that time is valuable
• An acorn, for strength and longevity
• A butterfly, for all the summers they will be together
• A car, for the journey they’re about to embark on
• A house, so they have a place to return
• A pinecone, for prosperity and abundance
• A heart, for the love that brought them together

* Of course, for a same-sex couple, it’s entirely appropriate to have two moons or two suns.

5. While filling the basket, send positive thoughts into it and into each item. If you like, this can be turned into a small ritual! Charge the basket by focusing your intent into a simple couplet, such as:

This basket of gifts I give from the heart
with blessings for [name] and [name]‘s handfasting.
With these treasures I offer you joy, and hope,
and happiness and love everlasting.

6. You may also want to include a note with this blessing and/or an explanation of what each item represents. May they always have these thirteen blessings in their relationship!

Litha Fire Incense

Hopefully your herb gardens are in full bloom, and are enjoying the warming rays of the sun! If you have any around, now would be a great time to gather and dry them for this traditional loose incense for Midsummer.

Loose incense is a bit different from cones or sticks, as they are simply dried herbs tossed over hot charcoals to produce a delightful aroma. Since we’re looking for a blend to celebrate Litha’s strength and sun, this will be a very fiery incense, indeed!

You will need:

* 3 parts myrrh
* 1 part apple blossoms
* 1/2 part bay leaves
* 1/2 part cinnamon bark
* 1 part chamomile flowers
* 1 part lavender flowers
* 2 parts mugwort
* 1/2 part rosemary

Method:

1. Add your ingredients to your mixing bowl one at a time. If your ingredients need to be crushed, a mortar and pestle is great for this!

2. As you blend your herbs together, state your intent and, if you desire, charge the incense with an incantation:

Balance of the heavens and earth below,
The power of the sun in this incense grows.
Cinnamon, mugwort, apple and bay,
Fire and water, on this longest day.
Herbs of power, blended by me,
As I will, so it shall be.

Your incense will keep best stored in a tightly-sealed jar, oddly enough kept in a cool, dry place. Use within three months so it stays fresh!

Bird House

Invite little chirping ones to your home with this easy birdhouse idea… made from a gourd!

You will need:

* gourd (these can be grown yourself, but you can also buy them online)
* sandpaper
* paints and paintbrushes (acrylics work really well!)
* drill with bits
* jute or twine for hanging
* matte spray varnish
* birdseed (I imagine that finch seed would work best)

Method:

1. Clean and sand a dried gourd. With the drill, drill two small holes at the top, large enough to thread the jute or twine through. Drill a larger hole to act as a hole for the birds.

2. Using the paints (and your kids’ imaginations!), go to town, decorating with symbols, colors, and smiles for the season. Birds, bees, suns, and other things of nature are fun to add.

3. Allow the paint to dry, then cover with a coat of matte spray varnish. Allow to dry yet again.

4. Thread the jute or twine through the top holes, and tie to create a hanging. Fill with birdseed, and have your kids hang it in a local tree to feed the birdies!

Litha Lavender Dream Pillow

I looove dream pillows. Not only are they incredibly fun to make, they also smell lovely! This can be fun with kids, too, but be sure you’re the one handling the needle and thread.

You will need:

* rectangle of fabric in a color of your choosing (lavender is nice, as is white… but let your intuition guide you!)
* stuffing to fill the pillow
* matching thread and a needle (or, if you’re like my mom, a sewing machine!)
* herbs to fill the pillow (lavender is obviously one, but you can choose other fragrant herbs, too)

Method:

1. Fold the fabric over to create a square, and sew up three of the four edges. You want to leave one to fill your pillow. Turn inside out so the seams are on the inside.

2. Stuff the pillow with the stuffing and herbs, interchanging the two as you go along. Kids will find sprinkling in (and sometimes taking a huge whiff of) the herbs a ton of fun.

3. When finished, sew up the final side. You can also decorate at this point with acrylic paints and anything else to make your pillow your own.

4. Take the pillow to bed with you, either under your own pillow or as something to snuggle and lull you to sleep.

Don’t forget to link up!!

Litha is a time to celebrate both work and leisure, a time for children and for childlike play. (Remember when I told y’all the other day to go run in the sprinklers? Yup, Litha’s all about that feeling!) There are certain customs by region and correspondences associated with Litha, and you’ll notice that they all point to the celebration of the sun’s warming rays and the Earth’s endless bounty.

Customs

England

In some parts of England, if you stay up all night on Midsummer’s Eve in the middle of a stone circle, you can see the Fae. If you intend to try this, be sure to carry a bit of rue in your pocket to keep them at bay, or turn your jacket inside out to confuse them. In modern practices, should you need to escape the Fey (you had your jacket on the right way and didn’t carry rue, didn’t you!), you can take a ley line to lead you to safety.

Rural villagers also built a huge bonfire to “set the watch” and keep evil spirits out of the town. Some farmers would light the bonfire, and villagers would arrive with torches and lanterns lit by these fires and spread the flames around the town. Jumping over one of these fires (provided your backside makes it through without burning!) ensured good luck for the coming year.

Ireland

If you wish for something to happen, residents of Ireland will tell you to “give it to the pebble” by carrying a pebble as you circle a Litha bonfire, whispering your request to the stone. After your third turn around the fire, toss it into the flames. This custom can also be extended to throwing similarly-blessed stones into moving bodies of water.

Wales

Sunwheels, a wheel or big ol’ ball of straw lit on fire and rolled down hills into rivers, were used to celebrate Midsummer in Wales and other areas. Accordingly, if the fire went out before the wheel hit the water, a good crop was guaranteed during the season. Imagine having to dodge one of those suckers!

Modern Wicca

The morning after Litha, when the fires have burned out and the ashes are cold, they could be used as protective amulets by being carried in small pouches or kneaded into soft clay to form a talisman. Some Wiccan traditions believe that the Midsummer ashes will protect you from misfortune. The ashes can also be mixed in with your garden as a natural fertilizer and to guarantee bountiful crops through the summer.

Astrologically speaking, the sun is entering Cancer, a water sign. Midsummer is a time for fire magick, which may seem a little counterintuitive… but no worries, it’s a time for water magick, too! Sacred streams and holy wells are exceptionally powerful sources this time of year, and should be visited just before sunrise on Litha from the wast, with the rising sun. Circle the well or spring three times, walking deosil (sunwise or clockwise), and make offerings of silver coins or pins.

If you’re looking to get rid of problems during Litha, write them on a piece of paper and drop them into a moving body of water at Litha. (It’s best to use ecologically-friendly, biodegradable paper and ink for this purpose, of course. Remember, Mother Earth deserves utmost respect!)

Correspondences

Short List of Customs

• bonfires, needfires, and jumping between two fires
• procesions
• vigils that last all night
• singing, feasting, and celebrating with others
• cutting divining rods, dowsing rods, and wands
• gathering herbs
• handfastings and weddings
• gathering of mistletoe in oak groves (Druid) (for protection)
• women walking naked through gardens to ensure fertility
• honoring the Earth Mother’s fullness, richness, and abundance
• placing garlands of St. John’s wort over doors and windows, and a sprig in the car for protection

Gemstones

• lapiz lazuli
• diamond
• tiger’s eye
• emerald (and other green gemstones)
• jade (again, and other green gemstones)

Herbs

• anise
• mugwort
• chamomile
• rose
• wild rose
• oak blossoms
• lily
• cinquefoil
• lavender
• fennel
• elder
• mistletoe
• hemp
• thyme
• larkspur
• nettle
• wisteria
• vervain (verbena)
• St. John’s wort
• heartsease
• rue
• fern
• wormwood
• pine
• heather
• yarrow
• oak and holly trees

Incenses and Oils

• heliotrope
• saffron
• orange
• frankincense & myrrh
• wisteria
• cinnamon
• mint
• rose
• lemon
• lavender
• sandalwood
• pine

Foods*

• honey
• fresh summer fruits and vegetables
• lemons
• oranges
• summer squash
• pumpernickel bread
• ale
• carrots
• mead

*And y’all know I’ll go into greater detail about this later!

As we discussed a couple days ago, Litha is a time to celebrate the abundance and beauty of the Earth as she is warmed by the light of the sum. Accordingly, the gods and goddesses of this Sabbat particularly emphasize the solar aspect, including pregnant goddesses who have been blessed with fertility. Below is a (very!) short list of recognized sun deities revered around the world.

Apollo

Apollo (Ἀπόλλων) is a multi-faceted Greek god of the sun, music, medicine, and healing, among others, and a direct descendant of Zeus by Leto. His popularity grew as worship of him spread through the Roman empire (with no direct Roman equivalent, though later Roman poets often referred to him as Phoebus) and into the British Isles, where he took on many aspects of Celtic deities, such as Apollo Belenus (literally “bright” or “brilliant”) of Gaul, northern Italy, and Noricum.

One of the most important and diverse of the Olympian deities, Apollo was an oracular god — he was seen as the bringer and blesser of truth and prophecy. He actually has two cult sites dedicated to him at Delos and Delphi, and other notable oracular shrines in Clarus and Branchidae, among others.

Likely the most recognizable aspect of Apollonian statutes is his lyre, an instrument that Apollo fell in love with after its creator, Hermes, began to play. Being a god of music, it was no wonder that he became a master of the lyre shortly afterward, playing in several music contests with the likes of Pan, Marsyas, and Cinyras.

Hestia

Another Greek deity! The virginal daughter of Cronus and Rhea, Hestia watched over domesticity and the family, and was honored with the first offering at any sacrifice made in the home. Because of her devotion to her hearthkeeping duties, she always managed to stay out of much of the drama surrounding other Greek deities.

That doesn’t mean she never attracted drama, though. She took her virginity role very seriously, and in one legend, the lustful god Priapus tried to take advantage of her by creeping into her bed, planning on raping Hestia. As he sneaked in, a donkey brayed loud enough to wake the goddess from her sleep, and she let out a scream loud enough to wake the other Olympians.

Hestia was always hospitable, though, taking in strangers without offense and giving sanctuary to female guests so they would not be violated. Those who are called to serve Hestia were obligated to provide shelter and food to anyone truly in need. It is no wonder, then, that her symbol is a lamp with a perpetual flame, always a guide to those in need.

Lugh

Focus on the arts and of music seem to be common themes during Litha, as Lugh, a god of the Celtic people, is yet another who was a god of skill and distribution of talent. While not a god specifically of war, he was also known as a skilled warrior who wielded a magic spear so powerful and bloodthirsty, it often tried to fight without its owner. In parts of Ireland, when a thunderstorm rolls in from the horizon, the locals say that he and Balor are sparring… giving Lugh yet another role, that of god of storms.

If it seems like he is a jack of all trades that is master of none, you’d be sorely wrong. In fact, legend has it that Lugh arrives at Tara, the hall of the high kings of Ireland, to be admitted. The guard tells him that only one person of each particular skill will be admitted: Blacksmith, wheelwright, bard, and so forth. Lugh enumerates all the great things he can do, to which the guard replies each time, “Sorry, we’ve already got someone here who can do that.” Finally, Lugh asks, “Ah, but do you have anyone here who can do them all?”

Needless to say, he was allowed entrance into Tara.

In modern times, Pagans and Wiccans honor Lugh as the champion of artistry and skill, and artisans, musicians, bards, and crafters all invoke Lugh when they need creative assistance.

Lugh is also celebrated on Lughnasadh, his own holiday and harvest feast on 1 August. As with all other Sabbats, I will have more on him and his festival the week beforehand!

Juno and Vesta

Let’s wrap up with two popular Roman goddesses for the summer Solstice. Juno watched over women and marriage, while Vesta was the protector of the hearth and of virginity. Together, these two goddesses were incredibly sacred to Roman women.

The month of June was named for Juno, despite her festival, Matronalia, being celebrated in March. As a goddess of marriage, her month is for weddings and handfastings, and she is often honored by those who are about to embark on that life stage. During Matronalia, women also received gifts from their husbands and daughters.

Vesta also had her own holiday, Vestalia, celebrated from 7-15 June and a time for the inner sanctum of the Vestal Temple to be opened for women to visit and make offerings to the goddess. A sacred flame burned within the Temple, and the Vestales, Vestal Virgins, would swear thirty-year vows of chastity. One of the best known Vestales was Rhea Silvia, who broke her vows with the god Mars, and conceived twins Romulus and Remus.

Can you believe it? Litha’s coming up in one short week! It really sneaked up on me this year, and between everything going on in life and things still to come, I feel ill-prepared this year.

But that doesn’t mean you should feel the same!

Just like last Sabbat, when I talked about Beltane the week before the actual holiday, I’ll be doing a week-long series on Litha: Its history, gods and goddesses, practices, ritual outlines, recipe ideas, and so forth.

So let’s get this week kicked off with some history, shall we?

Litha is one of two solstices in the Wheel of the Year, celebrated around 20-22 June (this year, it falls on 21 June), on a day where the sun reaches its peak in the sky. The longest day of the year, it can appear on this day as if the sun were just hanging in the sky without moving. Appropriately, the word “solstice”, from the Latin solstitium, literally means “sun stands still.”

Whether this holiday was celebrated by ancient civilizations is still up for debate among modern Wiccans and Pagans, creating some pretty interesting discourse that either support or reject Litha… or regard it with a shrug of their shoulders. We can blame Gerald Gardner, the founder of modern Wicca, for these heated debates: He asserts that the solar festivals (which would include Litha, Mabon, Yule, and Ostara) were actually added later and imported from the Middle East.

Regardless, though, there exists some scholarly evidence that Midsummer was celebrated, and many Wiccans and Pagans do celebrate Litha every June.

I’ll go further into the mythology surrounding Litha in a later post (when gods and goddesses of the solstice will be the focus), but in brief, some Paganism traditions tell the story of the discord between light and darkness, where the Oak King is defeated by the Holly King in an epic battle to rule the seasons.

With the Holly King comes a time of brightness and warmth, where the Earth basks in the sun’s glow and, in return, she blesses us with growing life and seemingly endless bounty.

But this brightness is not simply limited to that seen in nature, but also seen within ourselves. Litha is a wonderful time to discover one’s own inner power and brightness, to reflect on the balance of light and dark in the world and within ourselves, and to find ways in which we can share our inner light with others.

As to what you can do during this holiday? Head outside! No matter what you do — a barbeque or big ol’ bonfire, running through sprinklers (go on, you know you want to feel like you’re a kid again!), swimming in a local lake or pool, lighting fireworks when the sun retreats — know that this day is for sharing, feeling, and experiencing the light!

I fully admit, I am typically not a prayerful person. Perhaps that’s a result of being a lapsed Catholic (more about my journey to and through Paganism at a later time) or just because it wasn’t the medium of connecting with Spirit that I thought was right for me, but it’s not often that I find myself compelled to prayer.

When I do, though, there are some prayers that I find comfort and solace in, and I find myself as well. It tends to be around Beltane, when I’m already thanking the wheel of the year and Mother Earth for winter’s anticipated end — and that’s even more true since I’ve moved to Maryland! Other times, I am just in need of something to bring me closer to deity and to the world around me.

A good friend of mine was recounting her business travel with a couple other coworkers earlier this week; the plane they were on was incredibly rocky the entire way, and as they were pulling into the airport on their final descent, the pilot suddenly cranked up the engine and took off again… narrowly outrunning a tornado that was fast approaching the terminal. Amidst the noise of the passengers panicking and the tornado sirens fading away in the distance, my friend pulled out a book of Catholic prayers and handed it to a coworker who, despite being Jewish, started reading them aloud.

There are, of course, books on Pagan prayer that you can check out. It might be handy to keep in your purse, backpack, or bedside in case you’re looking for a few words of comfort, some guidance, and a way to draw yourself closer to the God and Goddess. Below are some prayers that you may wish to incorporate in your Beltane blessings as well. You may wish to include a series of Pagan prayer beads, appropriate candles and incense, or even a full circle in which you recite these blessings.

Am Beannachadh Bealltain (The Beltane Blessing)

Adapted from a poem published in Carmina Gadelica, written by folklorist Alexander Carmichael, this poem originally paid tribute to the Holy Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. It has been turned into a Pagan-friendly format for purposes of Beltane and Pagan worship.

Bless, O threefold true and bountiful,
Myself, my spouse, my children.
Bless everything within my dwelling and in my possession,
Bless the kine and crops, the flocks and corn,
From Samhain Eve to Beltane Eve,
With goodly progress and gentle blessing,
From sea to sea, and every river mouth,
From wave to wave, and base of waterfall.

Be the Maiden, Mother, and Crone,
Taking possession of all to me belonging.
Be the Horned God, the Wild Spirit of the Forest,
Protecting me in truth and honor.
Satisfy my soul and shield my loved ones,
Blessing every thing and every one,
All my land and my surroundings.
Great gods who create and bring life to all, I ask for your blessings on this day of fire.

Prayers to Gods and Goddesses

These are prayers that can be offered to the Gods and Goddesses of Beltane, from Cernunnos to the May Queen, recited as a whole or in bits.

Prayer to Cernunnos

God of the green,
Lord of the forest,
I offer you my sacrifice.
I ask you for your blessing.

God of the green,
Lord of the forest,
I offer you my sacrifice.
I ask you for your blessing.

Prayer to the Gods of the Forest

Spring has come to the earth.
the land is fertile and ready at Beltane,
seeds will be sown, and
new life will begin once more.
Hail, great gods of the land!
Hail, gods of resurrected life!
Hail, Cernunnos, Osiris, Herne, and Bacchus!
Let the soil open up
and mother earth’s fertile womb
receive the seeds of life
as we welcome the spring.

Prayer Honoring the May Queen

The leaves are budding across the land
on the ash and oak and hawthorn trees.
Magic rises around us in the forest
and the hedges are filled with laughter and love.
Dear lady, we offer you a gift,
a gathering of flowers picked by our hands,
woven into the circle of endless life.
The bright colors of nature herself
blend together to honor you,
Queen of spring,
as we give you honor this day.
Spring is here and the land is fertile,
ready to offer up gifts in your name.
we pay you tribute, our lady,
daughter of the Fae,
and ask your blessing this Beltane.

A Thanks to the Earth Mother

Great earth mother!
We give you praise today
and ask for your blessing upon us.
As seeds spring forth
and grass grows green
and winds blow gently
and the rivers flow
and the sun shines down
upon our land,
we offer thanks to you for your blessings
and your gifts of life each spring.

via…

Honoring the Sacred Feminine (Goddess Ritual)

This is more the recipe for a full-on ritual involving the casting of a circle per your tradition. It is a simple ritual meant to honor the feminine aspects of the universe, so men and women can both perform it. For this, you will need a white candle, an offering of something that is important to you, a bowl of water, and a handful of small pebbles or stones.

[stand in the Goddess position]
I am (your name), and I stand before you,
goddesses of the sky and earth and sea,
I honor you, for your blood runs through my veins,
one woman, standing on the edge of the universe.
Tonight, I make an offering in Your names,
As my thanks for all you have given me.

[light candle and place offering before it on the altar]
I am (your name), and I stand before you,
Isis, Ishtar, Tiamat, Inanna, Shakti, Cybele.
Mothers of the ancient people,
guardians of those who walked the earth thousands of years ago,
I offer you this as a way of showing my gratitude.
Your strength has flowed within me,
your wisdom has given me knowledge,
your inspiration has given birth to harmony in my soul.

[take handful of pebbles except one and, for each one dropped in the water, state the name of a woman who has touched your life and how she impacted you -- some examples:]
I am (your name), and I stand before you,
to honor the sacred feminine that has touched my heart.
I honor Susan, who gave birth to me and raised me to be strong;
I honor Maggie, my grandmother, whose strength took her to the hospitals of war-torn France;
I honor Cathleen, my aunt, who lost her courageous battle with cancer;
I honor Jennifer, my sister, who has raised three children alone…

[reserve last pebble for yourself and drop it into the water]
I am (your name), and I honor myself,
for my strength, my creativity, my knowledge, my inspiration,
and for all the other remarkable things that make me a woman.

Take a few minutes and reflect on the sacred feminine. What is it about being a woman that gives you joy? If you’re a man performing this ritual, what is it about the women in your life that makes you love them? Meditate on the feminine energy of the universe for a while, and when you are ready, end the ritual.

Now that you’re armed with knowledge about Beltane’s history, lore, and deities, I’ll bet you’re ready to spread your witchy wings and fly in your own ritual to celebrate the Sabbat. I know I am! Being stuck inside all winter has made me a bit randy, and I’m looking forward to the bonfires, maypoles, and other trappings that come with Beltane conviviality.

In addition to these customs, Beltane is also a popular time of year for handfastings, which I’ll explain a bit later. To that extent, I’d like to wish my good friend Evita over at The Happy Heathen a very blessed and joyous wedding anniversary! Their handfasting was absolutely beautiful. Evita, I wish you and your amazing partner a life of love, happiness, and celebration.

Now… let’s get to the fun stuff! (As if sex wasn’t enough, right?)

A Group Beltane Bonfire Rite

Beltane is actually celebrated from sunset on May Day eve through sunset on May Day, and the festivities kick off with a pile of nine sacred woods set aflame and danced around all night. It is customary to keep the fires burning all through this Sabbat, with a piece of smoldering wood taken home by each person to ensure fertility through the summer months.

If you don’t have the space for a huge bonfire (and many of us don’t — I know we can’t fit one in our own yard), a small fire bowl, typically available at home improvement chains and discount stores, or a tabletop brazier will suffice. Need something smaller? Look to building a small fire in a cauldron or other heat-resistant bowl.

This is a group rite, so you’ll need a few friends to participate as the person to tend to the bonfire (which should be set up and blazing beforehand), the May Queen*, the King of the Forest*, and drummers and other noisemakers. You may also want a crown of flowers and headdress of antlers for each female and male participating (optional, but definitely fun! If you want to make your own flower crowns, refer to our guide).

* Depending on the relationship between May Queen and the King of the Forest, this can get as lusty as you like. Take heed that the presence of children will mean having to tone it down a bit!

(Thank you to About.com for this ritual!)

Beltane Bonfire Ritual

Have the group circle around the fire, with the May Queen and the King of the Forest on opposite sides.The High Priest (HP) and/or High Priestess (HPs) should welcome everyone to the circle:

Beltane is here! It is a time when the earth is fertile and full.
Long ago, our ancestors planted their fields at Beltane.
The fields that lay fallow for months are now warm and waiting.
The soil that was dormant for the winter now begs us to plant our seeds.
The earth is awakening and ripe, and this is a season of love and passion.
It is a season of fire.

At this point, if the fire is not already lit, the fire starter should begin lighting it. If it is, have the fire starter stoke the flames a bit as the HP/s continues:

As our fires grow, lighting up the night sky, the fire within us grows stronger.
It is the fire of lust and passion, knowing that like the earth, we too are fertile.
Tonight, the God emerges from the forest. He is known by many names –
He is Pan, Herne, Cernunnos, the Green Man. He is the God of the Forest.
Tonight is the night he will chase and capture the maiden.
She is the Queen of May, Aphrodite, Venus, Cerridwen.
She is the Goddess of fields and flowers, she is Mother Earth herself.

As the HP/s introduces the God and Goddess, they should each step forward in the circle. The HP/s then says, Bring fertility to the land! Let the hunt begin!

The May Queen and the God of the Forest begin a chase, traveling deosil (sunwise, “clockwise”) around the circle, weaving in and out of the other participants, who are drumming and making noise, possibly even chanting, slowly at first then with more ferocity. Remember that the May Queen really wants to make love to the God of the Forest, she’s just playing hard to get. This is a fun chase and a joyful courtship, not a mock rape. They should travel around the circle three times, then finally stop at a point in front of the bonfire, which should be blazing by now, and the drumming, noisemaking, and chanting comes to an abrupt stop.

The HP/s says:

Fire and passion, love and life, brought together as one.

At this point, the May Queen says to the God of the Forest:

I am the earth, the womb of all creation.
Within me, new life grows each year.
Water is my blood, air is by breath, and fire is my spirit.
I give you honor, and shall create new life with you.

The God of the Forest replies to her, saying:

I am the rutting stag, the seed, the energy of life.
I am the mighty oak that grows in the forest.
I give you honor, and shall create new life with you.

The couple then kisses, long and passionate. If they’re feeling particularly lusty, they can fall to the ground and roll about for a while, and a participant may want to cover them with a blanket. This is the symbolic union of the male and female spirit, the great rite between man and woman. Once the embrace is broken, the HP/s calls out:

The earth is once more growing new life within! We shall be blessed with abundance this year!

Everyone in the circle then claps and cheers, celebrating the heartiness of the crops and strong livestock for the year. Celebrate by dancing around the bonfire, drumming and singing! When you’re ready, end the ritual per your traditions.

The Maypole Dance

As discussed before, the maypole is a very traditional part of Beltane and any other fertility celebration; as a symbol, the phallus that is the maypole driven into the earth symbolizes the joining of the male and female. The morning after the bonfire rite, as couples (and perhaps a few other surprise couplings and triads!) rub the sleep from their eyes and the straw out of their hair after a night of lustiness inspired by the roaring fires, people would gather to begin the maypole celebrations.

( Once again, thank you to About.com for this ritual!)

A maypole is typically erected on the village green or common, or even a handy field. Most groups rent out or own a big field where they put their maypole for Beltane, and switch it out depending on the Sabbat. The maypole should have ribbons attached to the top, about 1/3 more length than the pole itself (i.e. a 15-foot pole should have about 20 feet of ribbon). Young people dance around the pole, each holding a different ribbon and with the men and women going in different directions, weaving in and out of one another until the pole is enveloped with brightly-colored ribbons.

You will need a wooden pole about 18 feet high, a hole in the ground at least 3 feet deep, lots of ribbon for your guests, a crown of flowers for the top of the pole, and people who like to have fun! Ask each participant to bring their own ribbon, in fact — make sure they’re about 20 feet long for this.

Once everyone arrives, affix the flower crown to the top of the pole, then attach the ribbons to one end of the pole (an eyelet screw is the easiest by far). Have extra ribbon on hand just in case. When the ribbons are attached, raise the pole until it’s vertical, and slide it into the hole.

… yeah, y’all thought it. No worries, bawdy jokes are more than okay.

Pack in the dirt around the base so the pole won’t shift or fall during the dance. Have people count off by twos (especially handy if you have an uneven number of men to women), and have the ones go deosil while the twos go widdershins. Hold the ribbon in the hand closest to the pole, and start dancing!

You’ll want to pass people by on the left first, then on the right, and again and again. Practice once or twice before doing it for real, then get going! Make sure you hold the ribbon high enough that the person you’re weaving by can get under. Continue until everyone runs out of ribbon, then knot all the ribbons at the bottom.

Kids’ maypoles are fun, too, but they might not get the hang of the weaving thing as feasibly. It’s probably easier to have them all go in one direction.

Parental Advisory: Due to the possible explicit nature of this post, it is not recommended for children under the age of 18. 

First off, how did I know the entry about S-E-X would be the highest-hit so far in this Beltane In A Week series. Y’all are a bunch of horn dogs! … and I like it!

Not all sex is purely about the physical pleasure, though. Sometimes, sex can transcend the physical body and enter a spiritual plane, notably when used in ritual settings. In the words of writers Janet and Stewart Farrar, Beltane especially is a time of “[...] unashamed human sexuality and fertility.” It is this notion that exemplifies the Great Rite, a sacred part of spiritual practice in some (but not all) Wiccan and Pagan traditions.

Similarly, not all ritual sex is the Great Rite. For example, there is the idea of sex symbolism; in its original form, Wicca is a fertility religion that uses many symbolic acts of sex — and by symbolic, I mean things other than overt sexual acts, such as joining the athame with the chalice. Then there’s ritual sex, which can be used to raise energy, create magickal power, or find a sense of spiritual communion with a partner. If “all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals,” then sex in ritual can certainly be a sacramental act of love!

Then there’s the Great Rite, a symbol of the connection of the god and goddess. In Wicca: the old Religion in the New Age, Vivianne Crowley says, “The outer rite involves a linking of the male and female[...] the sacred marriage is outwardly a marriage of two people, but inwardly it is a marriage of two within one person.” That being said, the Rite is more about the enactment of the creation of the universe than a simple sexual union; the god and goddess, through the Priest and Priestess (or whoever may be performing the Rite), combine to create the very world in which we live.

But wait… ritual sex may be used in coven settings? In short, the answer is “perhaps”. In most traditions that incorporate ritual sex, it is performed in private, and in all traditions, it is performed by adults. Some traditions of Wicca actually require intercourse as a part of Third Degree elevation, but that is made absolutely clear before a neophyte (someone who has dedicated himself to a path) proceeds any further, if not beforehand. In other traditions, it is performed by the High Priest and High Priestess, either symbolic or actualized.

Speaking of symbolic versus actualized, in many traditions, there are three “tiers” of the Great Rite. The first and simplest is the use of the athame, which is to represent the god, and the chalice, which is to represent the goddess. When the athame is lowered into the chalice, filled with ritual wine, many see it as a penetration of the vagina by the penis, creating a life-force energy that further blesses the wine and those who consume it.

The Great Rite can also be symbolic.

The second tier, depending on the tradition, may either be a pantomime of the sexual act that is the Great Rite or the performance of the actual Rite through intercourse only on the Greater Sabbats (Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnassadh, and Samhain). The third tier involves the physical act of intercourse, and is performed for all eight Sabbats.

Some covens may incorporate only one of the tiers, two of the three, or all three at certain points of the year. That distinction is often made by the High Priest and High Priestess of the coven, and is well known to each neophyte before embarking on any spiritual guidance courses with the coven.

Any form of ritual sex should be consensual. In fact, scratch that: It should go without saying that all sex should be consensual, and ritual sex is absolutely not an exception. No reputable coven will ever demand sexual initiation of its members. Ritual sex, be it the Great Rite or otherwise, is a specific and sacred act that is performed only by those who have studied and learned enough to feel comfortable performing it with a trusted partner.

Janet and Stewart Farrar perform the Great Rite.

If ritual sex is performed, it is typically between two individuals who are already part of an existing relationship and are of equal levels of power within the coven’s dynamics — power plays are not incorporated, especially between such levels as a Neophyte and a Third Degree.

What about the Great Rite and same-sex or other “non-traditional” couples? Or if ritual sex is required for initiation… but you are currently in a relationship with someone other than the coven leader, and you’re monogamous? Those are other topics on their own… maybe for later today or tomorrow.

Parental Advisory: Due to the possible explicit nature of this post, it is not recommended for children under the age of 18. 

I can give you one good reason why Beltane is Matt’s favorite holiday, and it’s definitely not the food, the rituals, the customs, the history… shoot, it’s not even about spring! Not entirely, at least. Beltane is a time of fertility and lusty magick, and Matt gets right in the swing of things when Beltane comes around because he knows that the gettin’s good, haha.

But it’s not just about the sex. While it’s a big aspect of it, fertility itself has been celebrated for thousands of years in several different ways, and magic can easily be intertwined to create magickal sex, both in celebration of the fertility of the world around you… and your very own!

Fertility Customs of Old

Like I said above, there have been several different ways of celebrating fertility from ancient times through today; it is believed that performing certain acts would encourage the land to be fertile, which would therefore lead to abundant crops through the summer and into the fall harvest. Any of these can be incorporated into your rituals and ceremonies.

• In for a bit of voyeurism? Ancient Roman masters of the land would take their wives out to the fields and have sex directly on the ground. Imagine having a few acres — this project could take a while, perhaps even all day! It was practically guaranteed, though, that the crops would be fertile and productive for the slaves who would plant after all this lovemaking.
• As for Roman women, they paid tribute to Flora,  the goddess of the flowers (who we discussed in brief a couple days ago), to ensure fertility of both the land and their own wombs. If a woman was having trouble conceiving, she might offer flowers at Bona Dea’s temple on the Aventine Hill; known as “The Good Goddess,” Bona Dea was a goddess of both virginity and fertility.
• A tradition that is still continued today is the adding of menstrual blood to the soil to add potency. Studies have shown that menstrual blood contains a ton of nutrients, so it only makes sense to blend it in with the dirt before planting. It is not unusual to see people urinating on their plants, either, as urine contains complementary nitrogen that can help carbon rich compost. (If you plan to do this, dilute the urine a bit, as the uric acid may burn out the roots of more delicate plants.)
• Dancing, singing, and drumming or other music are popular fertility rituals performed in many areas of the world. Farmers in the Congo region of Africa would do these and make offerings to the spirits of the land before they clear for planting, and only after the spirits indicate that they are pleased with the gifts and performances are they allowed to plant; and the Algonquin peoples of the Midatlantic region performed ritual dances to ensure a bountiful crop every autumn, making loads of noise to awaken the sleeping earth.
• Kuortes, sword dances performed in Crete by a group of men, involves gathering together and moving in unison with sticks or swords that are jabbed into the earth. Although it appears warrior-like, it is more reminiscent of the Brazilian capoeira, where marital arts and dance mix to create, as scholars say, a rite that promotes fertility. Think about it: Banging a stick or sword on the freshly plowed earth has quite a bit of fertility symbolism!
• “Is he bigger than me?!” You might think it a funny question, but when the highlight of your parade is a giant penis carved from a cypress tree, measuring about fourteen feet long and perched upon a float, you’d ask that, too! It’s a tradition in Nagoya, Japan to have such a gloat at their annual Honen-sai festival, which ensures that crops are plentiful.

Sex Symbols and Modern Wiccan Ritual

While many modern Wiccans do not copulate in the fields as those in ancient Roman times did, there are still several symbols, aspects, and magickal workings during your typical ritual, and Beltane is of no exception. In the words of writers Janet and Stewart Farrar, Beltane is foremost a time of “unashamed human sexuality and fertility”. One of the most poignant rituals is the Great Rite, wherein the sexual acts of a couple is used to raise energy and to celebrate the fertility of the human race and the universe as a whole.

Since the Great Rite deserves its own post, I will leave that for later. In the meantime, let’s discuss the Beltane altar, the symbols that are contained therein, and how they represent fertility during this Sabbat.

Typical Altar Supplies and Fertility

If you follow one of many Wiccan traditions, your Beltane altar will have the same trappings as usual. Funny enough, many of these items are rife with fertility symbols! You will notice that the contrasting energies of each actually serve to balance one another. For reference, Lord Janus explained that, in his tradition, generally “[any ritual object] that has a recess in it is considered feminine and anything that is protruding is masculine.”

• Wand: As cliche as it may be, the wand is a central tool for any altar, used for directing energy during a ritual. Its phallic nature represents male energy, power, and virility.
• Cauldron: A symbol of the Goddess, this altar accoutrement is all about femininity. Imagine the cauldron serving as a womb in which life begins. It has the ability to tie into all elements: Placing it upon the Earth, heating it with Fire, filling it with Water, and sending the steam up as Air.
• Athame: Much like the wand, the athame (a ritual knife) is seen as phallic. During the Great Rite, it interacts with the Chalice, explained below, by being dipped into the ritual wine it contains.
• Chalice: Arguably the most feminine part of the altar, the chalice (or cup or goblet) represents the element of Water and holds the wine during a ritual. It is decidedly female considering its hollow, round shape and its function in ritual.
• Salt: Generally, salt is seen as male, especially when incorporated with water.
• Water: Also generally, most any object that represents the element of Water is deemed feminine; obviously, water is Water and is therefore seen as female.
• Pentacle: While typically seen as feminine as it is a very balanced object, the pentacle is one of those “maybe one, maybe the other” symbols. It represents all four elements plus deity, and is used as a consecration tool and protection charm. Because of its different uses and associations, the jury is out as to whether it’s strictly one or the other.

The Beltane Altar

Tools and altar decorations specific to Beltane also carry with them strong symbols of fertility and sexuality. Antlers, sticks, acorns, seeds, and a maypole are all excellent examples of items that can be placed on your altar to represent the masculine, and any circular item, such as a wreath or ring, can be used to represent the fertile womb of the feminine.

Small fires in your cauldron can also be set up to represent the fire festival and the leaping over the flames to promote fertility. If you don’t have a cauldron, a flickering candle frame works beautifully. Also decorate your altar with spring flowers and herbs, all of which have had the opportunity to pollinate and sprout new seed.

Sexy Food and Drink

What kind of site would The Coexist Cafe be without some food! Better yet, how about foods known for their effects on sexuality; aphrodisiacs are very popular during Beltane, and these recipes are sure to please both your taste buds and… well, whatever may come next.

These recipes are provided by Sabbats: A Witch’s Approach to Living the Old Ways unless otherwise indicated.

Beltane Cream Pie
Meade
Farls
CHOCOLATE ANYTHING

Are y’all really that surprised that this is TCC’s most popular post? It’s about sex, for chrissake!

Beltane Cream Pie

Ha, do I even have to explain this one?

…

Now that I’m done giggling, here’s a recipe that incorporates milk and sweets, both of which are important parts of feasting during this Sabbat.

Ingredients

* 1 cup whole milk
* 1 cup whole cream
* 1/2 cup butter (not margarine!)
* 3 tablespoons cornstarch
* 1 1/2 cups sugar
* 1 1/4 tsp. vanilla
* ground nutmeg
* prepared pie crust, baked (I personally prefer graham cracker crusts)

Method

1. Melt the butter in a wide pan over medium heat.

2. In a separate bowl, slowly add the milk to the cornstarch, making sure it is fully dissolved and absorbed before adding more milk. When the cornstarch is fully blended, add this and all other ingredients (except the vanilla and nutmeg) to the cooking pan.

3. Stir this mixture constantly over medium heat until it becomes thick. Remove from the heat and add in vanilla.

4. Pour the mixture into the pie shell and sprinkle with nutmeg.

This pie may be eaten while still warm as long as it’s cool enough to be set, or it may be chilled for later. And yes, you may continue making jokes about having eaten one’s “cream pie”!

Meade

Akin to the Irish “midhe,” meaning “center,” this drink of fermented honey represents Spirit, and the drinking of this potion of the deities made one more in tune with this elusive element. Family recipes are jealously guarded, and meade connoisseurs cultivate this brew as one would with fine wine. It’s not easy, as it takes a long fermentation period, but it’s all worth it.

To have ready for Beltane, prepare this drink at least six months beforehand, preferably on Samhain.

Ingredients

* 1/2 gallon water
* 1 1/2 cups raw honey
* 1/4 cup lemon juice
* 1/8 tsp nutmeg
*1/8 tsp allspice
* 1 package brewer’s yeast
* wooden cask or other receptacle

Method

1. Heat all ingredients together over medium heat in a large stockpot.

2. As the honey melts, an oily crust will form on the top. Some say to leave it on as it adds flavor tot he mead, while others will tell you to skim it off. It’s personal preference, though I’d likely keep it on.

3. When well-blended, remove it from the heat, stirring occasionally as it cools.

4. Stir in one package of brewer’s yeast and pour the meade into a wooden cask where it can ferment. You can drink it at this point if you wish, but it won’t have any alcohol in it (and what’s the fun in that?). It will taste like sweet honey-lemon tea.

As stated before, the meade will need to ferment for at least 6 months. During that time, the casks must be aired daily to allow any built-up gasses to escape. At least once a month, it should be poured into a fresh cask.

Farls

Oats are eaten for luck and fertility, so it would make sense that this recipe, popular in both Scotland and northern Ireland, would be a common and popular treat around Beltane.

Ingredients

* 3 cups real mashed potatoes (mash ‘em yourself!)
* 2 cups dry oats
* 2 tbsp. margarine or butter
* 1/2 tsp cornstarch
* 1/2 tsp baking powder
* 1/8 tsp salt
* pinch each pepper and rosemary
* vegetable oil for frying

Method

1. Soak the oats in warm water for 15 to 20 minutes until soft and slightly swollen.

2. Mix the oats with all other ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Knead until the mixture is a thick dough. If it seems to thin or too moist, add a teaspoon or two of flour.

3. When thoroughly mixed, form small sections into round patties. Fry the patties in hot vegetable oil in a small skillet until lightly browned. Serve immediately.

CHOCOLATE ANYTHING

While not necessarily a recipe, chocolate itself is a very well-known food for its qualities as a natural aphrodisiac. In fact, there is a scientific link between chocolate and arousal: In 2004, researchers at a hospital in Milan, Italy questioned nearly two hundred people about their chocolate consumption and feelings of sexual fulfillment. Women who consumed chocolate daily reported a higher degree of sexual satisfaction, and even women who normally had a lower libido reported an increase in their sex drive after consuming chocolate.

Chocolate contains both serotonin and phenylethylamine, both of which are mood-lifting hormones naturally found in the human brain. Our levels of both increase when we eat chocolate, which leads to a feeling of excitement and an increased level of energy. It makes us feel good and replicates the feeling of being in love, which can certainly help in the bedroom!

Some ideas for chocolate are as a dip (for strawberries and other fruits, cheese, or caramels), mixed in with your favorite baked good, or straight up. There’s no limit to what you can do with chocolate, both as a food and as… well, get those creative juices flowing and see what other uses you can find!

All right. So you’ve been stuck inside all winter, with nothing to entertain you but the boob tube and maybe a few games of checkers. Now that it’s bright, sunny, and cheerful out, let’s make some crafts to celebrate the thawing of our creative juices… let’s get ‘em flowing!

Many of these crafts involve items that can be found outdoors, from flowers to sticks to the images of animals. Below are some simple craft ideas you can put together to decorate your altar and home.

(If you are creating these crafts with children, please take care that adult supervision is available at all times.)

via…

Floral Crowns

Bring out your inner goddess with a wreath of flowers on your head! Whether you make a mini version or a full-out crown for your Beltane ritual, these crowns are sure to hail in the essence of Spring and, of course, fertility. Before taking flowers from the earth (if you’re using fresh flowers), be sure to thank the flowering tree or bush for its offering.

You will need:
* green pipe cleaners
* spring flowers, such as azaleas, daffodils, violets, and irises (leave the stems on), either fresh or artificial; and spring herbs, such as ivy and marigold (leave the stems on), either fresh or artificial
* green florist’s wire
* ribbons in your preferred spring colors
* bells and other decorations as you see fit

Method:

1. Take a pipe cleaner and wrap it around your head until it fits. (Kids will typically need one, while adults may need two.) Twist the ends to form a ring.

2. With additional pipe cleaners, loop them around the crown until you have a framework to add your flowers.

3. Take your spring flowers and herbs and weave them into the loops. Tuck them in so the frame is covered. If you’re having trouble keeping them in, use some green florist’s wires to hold them in place. You may also want to use the wire to tie on some bells or other decorations.

4. Cut ribbon to a desired length, and tie them around a small area of the crown.

via…

Maypole Altar Centerpiece

This is an easy craft that involves just a few objects, but the color and joy it brings will last all the way through summer! Place this mini maypole in the center of your altar and watch as the ribbons dance about.

You will need:
* a tall object to act as a center pole, about 1′ high (Michaels and other craft stores sell dowels that work beautifully)
* a wooden circle
* lengths of ribbon about 1/2″ wide, any color(s), a couple inches longer than the pole
* hot glue gun
* miniature floral crown

Method:

1. Using the hot glue gun, glue the dowel to the middle of the wooden circle. Allow to dry. If you desire, you may paint the base of your maypole a myriad Spring colors, plain white, or even stain it.

2.Attach the ribbon to the top of the maypole. If you have a decorative top (as in the picture shown above), you may glue them to the very top. The ribbons will hang down from the point of attachment.

3. Use the maypole as a meditative piece by weaving the ribbons around the pole, or use in ritual.

Faerie Chair

Now THIS, I really want to make! Especially since I plan on turning our backyard into a faerie’s and gardener’s paradise, having a chair like this would serve as beautiful decor while also housing some fruit-bearing plants… and maybe even a few faeries!

You will need:
* an old wooden or wrought-iron chair
* some primer paint, exterior paint in colors of your choosing, and acrylic paints for creating designs (make them fae-friendly!)
* polyurethane or sealant
* seeds for a climbing flower, like morning glory or clematis, or fruit-bearing plants, like blackberry, passion fruit, and grapes
* a sunny spot in your garden

Method:

1. Apply a coat of primer paint to the chair. White or another light color is the easiest to work with. After the primer has tried, paint on your exterior colors, then use the acrylic paints to decorate the chair with designs. Get creative!

3. Allow this paint to dry, then apply a coat or two of polyurethane to protect the chair from the elements.

4. Find a sunny spot in your garden and loosen the soil a bit. Place the chair where you want it to remain, as it can’t be moved after this! Once in place, plant seeds around the base of the chair, just a few inches away from the legs.

5. Tend to your plants according to their care instructions. As the plants appear, twine the vines up through the legs of the chair and around it. If necessary, gently secure them to the chair until they’re on their own. Soon enough, you’ll have a chair covered in leafy greens and bright flowers. Encourage your children to seek out faeries that might be flitting around!

Beltane Counting Calendar

The anticipation of Beltane could prove to be a strain after a long, harsh winter, especially on children. Much like an Advent calendar, this Beltane calendar can become a popular holiday distraction and give your children a beautiful project to work on while they wait for Spring to arrive once more.

You will need:
* thirty buttons of any shape, size (preferred size is about 1″ in diameter), and design
* Velcro, cut into thirty 1/2″ to 1″ squares (they make this stuff with sticky backs on both sides)
* yellow or white felt (if you’re really creative, you could “quilt” one!) measuring 36″ x 6″
* ribbons in the color of your choice, cut in one 12″ long segment and several 3″ long segments
* needle and thread
* a quarter-inch dowel cut 7″ long
* white construction paper
* crayons, markers, or other coloring tools
* hot glue gun
* school glue
* school scissors

Method:

1. Take the felt or “quilt” and, using the needle and thread, add loops of 3″ ribbon to the top (shorter) side to hold the dowel. Weave the dowel through the ribbon loops. Tie the 12″ ribbon to each end of the dowel for hanging.

2. Stick the Velcro squares down the center of the calendar, one on top of the other, leaving as much space as necessary between each. Remove the backing on the other sticky side, and allow your child(ren) to affix the buttons to the Velcro.

3. Using the white construction paper, have your child(ren) draw little images of what they think of when they think of Spring. Have your child(ren) cut out the images and glue them to the calendar with the school glue. Alternately, you may also shop around with them for stickers and other little tchotchkes to affix to the calendar.

4. Take your creation and hang it on the wall! For each day approaching Beltane (starting with 1 April and ending on 1 May), have your child(ren) stick a button on the calendar, starting from the bottom. They may also chant or sing the following while sticking each button up (from Pagan and Wiccan Parenting):