Belteinne/Beltane Crafts and Activities in The Turning of the Wheel Forum

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Belteinne/Beltane Crafts and Activities

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Cerredwen	Belteinne/Beltane Crafts and Activities	Lead	[-]
Walks an Earthbased Path Posts: 13103 Apr 6 06 2:41 PM ~~Priestess of the Goddess~~ Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : pagan, paganism, witch, witchcraft, wicca, magick, ritual, spells, rite, druid, druidism, celtic, old ways, info, lore, sabbat, wheel of the year, crafts and activities, crafts, activities, spring, meditations, beltane, may day Beltane Crafts and Activities Source Unknown Jump the balefire. The bonfire, or need-fire, is one of the oldest Beltane traditions. When lighting the fire, use nine sacred woods from the following list: oak, apple, hawthorn, birch, elder, ash, blackthorn, grape vine, mountain ash (rowan), holly, willow, cedar, yew, and hemlock. Ashes from the balefire can be scattered in the fields as a fertility charm. Women wishing to conceive can tie a bag of the ashes around their necks. Traditionally, cattle and other animals were driven between two fires for protection, healing, and purification. Modern pagans can ritually purify tools or other things in the balefire. Jump the dying embers of the fire for summer blessings. Dance around the maypole. Gather the first wild herbs of the season. Go a-Mayin' by going to the woods and fields to gather flowers. Take a picnic. Wash your face in dew at sunrise on Beltane for beauty in the coming year. (Traditionally the dew from the hawthorn tree, but dew from grass and flowers will do.) Make daisy chains and fresh flower wreaths and chaplets (head dresses) to wear and to place atop the maypole. Braid flowers in your hair. Make and wear leafy green masks to represent the Green Man who has returned. Make a wish at the hawthorn tree, a tree associated with faeries. Place strips of cloth symbolizing your wish in the tree (the color should be appropriate to the nature of your wish, i.e. blue for health, pink or red for love, green or gold for prosperity). Take some time to attune to the tree. When you feel you have contacted its spirit, visualize your wish coming true as you hook the cloth on one of the tree's thorns, chanting your wish. When you have finished, leave a gift for the tree. Make love in the woods. Beltane is the time of year when the Goddess and God consummate their passions. Traditionally it is a time when lovers pledge to live together for a year and a day. At the end of the period, they may part ways if things haven't worked out. If all has gone well, they may make plans for a handfasting at Midsummer. Commune with the faeries. Mark the boundaries of your circle with oatmeal, a traditional Beltane grain. May the fruit of our lives be bound and sealed to Thee, O Mother, O Woman Eternal who holdest the inmost life of each of Thy daughters between the hands upon Her Heart ~~~~~~~~~~~ We swear by Peace and Love to stand, Heart to Heart and Hand to Hand. Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now, confirming this, our Sacred Vow. ~Druidic Prayer of Unity~ Last Edited By: Cerredwen Mar 27 09 12:03 PM. Edited 1 time.
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Cerredwen	Re: Belteinne/Beltane Crafts and Activities	#1	[-]
Walks an Earthbased Path Posts: 13103 Apr 6 06 2:42 PM ~~Priestess of the Goddess~~ Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Maypole For Beltane Author unknown Materials: Flat piece of wood Small wooden pole A wooden knob for the top of the pole Red and white lengths of ribbon Beltane symbols: Nuts, spring flowers, strings of beads, miniature apples, for decoration around the bottom of the maypole Glue gun Either drill hole into the flat wood base to insert pole or simply glue it to the bottom securely. Glue four equal lengths of ribbon to top, and seal knob on pole with glue, on top of the ribbons. Glue or place decorative items around base. Ritual use: During ritual, the maypole can be wound. Simply weave the ribbons in and out of each other in as pleasing a pattern as possible, fastening with sticky-tac or other less permanent adhesive (so that this apparatus can be used again next year in ritual). The symbolism of the maypole is that of the male phallic symbol (the pole itself) being enveloped by the female vaginal symbol (the ribbons). Also, the winding, when done in a traditional form by dancers around a real maypole, sometimes symbolize male-female mating with the red and white ribbons themselves. May the fruit of our lives be bound and sealed to Thee, O Mother, O Woman Eternal who holdest the inmost life of each of Thy daughters between the hands upon Her Heart ~~~~~~~~~~~ We swear by Peace and Love to stand, Heart to Heart and Hand to Hand. Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now, confirming this, our Sacred Vow. ~Druidic Prayer of Unity~
Cerredwen	Re: Belteinne/Beltane Crafts and Activities	#2	[-]
Walks an Earthbased Path Posts: 13103 Apr 11 06 3:44 PM ~~Priestess of the Goddess~~ Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Make a Faery House for Beltane Author Unknown You will need. Flat base, such as pieces of bark from tree. Larger stone, sea shells, moss and other natural items to build the house with Tiny stones, gravel etc. for walk ways Tiny dried flowers, bag of potpourri works great Anything natural that you find outdoors Wood glue Spray varnish 1. Start with the flat base. Choose items for a house and glue to base. 2. Add walkways, trees, flower beds, windows, antennas, gazing balls, swings, porches, little piles of fire wood, just let your imagination go wild. 3. Your house may be as simple or elaborate as you think your faeries would like it to be. May the fruit of our lives be bound and sealed to Thee, O Mother, O Woman Eternal who holdest the inmost life of each of Thy daughters between the hands upon Her Heart ~~~~~~~~~~~ We swear by Peace and Love to stand, Heart to Heart and Hand to Hand. Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now, confirming this, our Sacred Vow. ~Druidic Prayer of Unity~
Cerredwen	Re: Belteinne/Beltane Crafts and Activities	#3	[-]
Walks an Earthbased Path Posts: 13103 Apr 11 06 4:23 PM ~~Priestess of the Goddess~~ Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Circle round, and I'll tell you a story about the Faeries... On a bright day in early May, when the warmth of the sun had finally burned away the chill mists of the Scottish winters, Thomas of Ercildoune (ERLS-ton) laid himself down a grassy bank the shade of a hawthorn tree. The sweet flowers of the May tree -for so the hawthorn is called- perfumed the air, and bees buzzed around his head. The peacefulness of the day lulled him into sleep. The sound of bells woke him. Opening his eyes, he looked out over the green moors dotted with heather and ferny bracken and saw riding toward him the most beautiful woman he could ever imagine. She wore a grass skirt and a velvet mantle, and she held her head high and proud. Her horse's mane was twined with silver bells, so that as she passed the air rang with a high, sweet sound. Thomas jumped to his feet, took off his hat, and swept a low bow as she rode up and halted before him. "Lady, Goddess, Queen of Heaven, I hail and greet you-for never before on earth have I seen anyone like you," he said. The woman laughed, tossing back her hair, which was as bright as silver. "Oh, no, Thomas," she said, "I am no Goddess. I am Queen of Fair Elfland, who has come to visit with you. And now you must come with me, and serve me for seven years, for good or ill." With those words, the milk white horse she rode turned, and Thomas found himself jumping up onto the horse's back, clasping his arms around the Queen's waist. The horse began to run, faster and faster, until it seemed to Thomas that they were riding faster then the wind itself. They rode on for days and days, through rivers of red blood up to their knees, as if they were riding through the tides and currents of all the life that flowed in the veins of every living human being. The sun and the moon disappeared, and Thomas lost all sense of day and night. The air was bright with the silvery glow of twilight, and his ears were filled with the roar of the sea. On and on they rode. At last, when Thomas had begun to believe they would never come to the end of their journey, the landscape around them began to change. The tides of blood receded, and Thomas began to see sweet grass and graceful trees. The horse slowed her gallop to a trot, then to a walk, and at last she stopped in front of a huge old apple tree that was heavy with ripe fruit. "Lady, let me pick some of that fruit for you," Thomas offered. The truth was, he was terribly hungry and thirsty himself, but he wanted to be polite. "Oh, no, Thomas" the Queen said, "Do not eat the fruit of that tree-for what grows here in my country contains all the great powers of life and death in their pure forms. This food is too strong for mortal human beings. To you, it would be poison. Instead, let us get down from this horse and rest, and I will give you sweet wine to drink and good bread to eat." So they dismounted and lay together in the shade of the tree, Thomas ate the bread of Elfland, and never had anything tasted so good to him before. A few bites were all he needed to satisfy all his hunger and revive all his strength. He sipped the sweet wine the Queen offered him, and it tasted like all the joy of a fresh, summer day. When he could eat and drink no more, the Queen told him to lie down and rest, with his head pillowed on her lap. "I will show you three wonders," she said. As she spoke, his inner eyes opened, and suddenly he could see to the farthest horizons and beyond, to the great stone gates that divided the land of the living from the realms of the dead. The whole of the Otherworld lay spread out before him, shining with its own light. Vast forests of silvery leafed trees tossed their branches in the breeze, and beyond white horses rode the backs of the rolling breakers of the sea. The woods were crisscrossed with roads and paths, like the silver threads winding through the canopy of palest moonlight green. "Do you see that broad, broad road?" the Queen asked. Instantly a wide, smooth road appeared in Thomass vision. Crowds of shadowy figures danced along its pavement. On its sides were booths where food and ale and every pleasure and luxury imaginable were displayed. "That road is the easy way, the way that most people take", the Queen said. "Some call it the road to paradise but look, look closely." Thomas looked, and saw the figures on the road pushing and shoving each other aside to reach the enticing food and the gorgeous clothing and jewels displayed on the roadside. He saw some people stuffing themselves with meat and fruit and cakes, only to run and push and shove until they could reach the next booth and begin again, as if no matter how much they ate, they were still hungry, Others were dressing themselves in fine robes, but no sooner did they have one thing on than they were reaching for the next thing, until they were layered so think in shirts and capes and mantles that they couldn't move. And some were loading their necks with so many chains of gold that their heads were bowed down to the ground and they could no longer rise. "And now look," the Queen said" Do you see that narrow, narrow road?" Thomas looked, and saw a path barely wide enough for one person to walk on. It was lined with briars and thorn bushes that grew so closely together that the few stalwart souls who walked on the road had to push between them, getting scratched and bloodied as they went. "That is the hard road," The Queen said. "Some call it the road of righteousness, but look, look closely." Thomas looked, and he saw the pale figures who moved along the road growing thinner and thinner as they went, the thinner they became, until many of them were no more than walking skeletons, disappearing into the far distance to fade away. "And now look," the Queen said a third time. "Do you see that bonny, bonny troad that winds along the green hills?" Thomas looked, and saw the third road, which dipped under trees and emerged to climb high, open moors. The third road was neither broad nor narrow, and along it moved figures who seemed to shimmer with color. Apple trees and fragrant hedges of roses and ripe berries line it shoulders. Those who traveled the third road reached out their hands from time to time to pluck the fruit. With each fruit they tasted, they seemed to glow with deeper-toned hues, to walk with more joy and purpose in each step, and they sang as they traveled, so that the sweet tones of their voices drifted upward on the wind to where Thomas lay. "That is the road to fair Elfland, where you and I must go," the Queen said. "You will serve me for seven years and see many wonders. But in all that time, whatever you see or hear, you must not speak a single word, for if you do, you will never get back to your own country, but will belong to Elfland forever. But if you keep silence and serve me well, I will return you to life with many gifts. You will have the tongue that cannot lie, to sing of the wonders of Elfland and keep our memory alive in the world of sun and moon." And so it happened. True Thomas served the Queen for seven years, as true companion, helpmate, and lover. In all that time he spoke not a single word, but kept his eyes open and remembered all the wonders of Elfland. What were the wonders that he saw? Elfland lies on the borders of the land of he dead, in a place outside of time. There the sun and the moon, the markers of day and night, never shine, and all is twilight gray. In Elfland, nothing fades and dies, for all things exist there only in their unchanging true forms. The flower you pluck in Elfland is not a rose of earth that droops and fades, but the essence of roseness itself, that which makes a rose a rose and not a cabbage or a daisy. But nothing of green earth is truly alive there, either, for life is change. No creature of the living earth can stay too long in Elfland, for we must constantly change or cease to be. And so when the seven years had passed, Thomas lay down one summer afternoon to doze, with his head in the Elf Queen's lap. And he awoke alone, under a hawthorne tree on a sunny bank near Ercildoune. He was dressed in a fine green coat, and shoes of Elfish green, and ever after he could tell no lies, but only the honest truth. His words carried great power, and her became an honored poet, making many songs in memory of the Elf Queen, preserving the memory of Elfland in the human world at a time when the green earth was growing ever father away from the realms of twilight. If you ever tire of the good green earth, if you ever need to dip into the well of magic and drink deep, if you ever need the healing that only come from beyond time, remember the instructions of True Thomas. Pass by the broad road, follow it with a generous heart, and you too may come to fair Elfland. From Circle Round: Raising Children in Goddess Traditions, By Starhawk, Anne Hill, Diane Baker May the fruit of our lives be bound and sealed to Thee, O Mother, O Woman Eternal who holdest the inmost life of each of Thy daughters between the hands upon Her Heart ~~~~~~~~~~~ We swear by Peace and Love to stand, Heart to Heart and Hand to Hand. Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now, confirming this, our Sacred Vow. ~Druidic Prayer of Unity~
Cerredwen	Re: Belteinne/Beltane Crafts and Activities	#4	[-]
Walks an Earthbased Path Posts: 13103 Apr 13 06 4:32 PM ~~Priestess of the Goddess~~ Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Beltane Activities Author Unknown Vision Quests were originally undertaken by Native Americans for very specific reasons, such as finding the course their life would take. After ritual preparation and several days of fasting, the individual would go off into the wilderness, seeking visions. Frequently the answers came to them in animal form, which was interpreted based on the animal's characteristics. We can still do something like this today either by going into the woods for a while and observing the surroundings OR by doing a visual meditation. Below are a few of the basic animals you may encounter and what their appearance might mean to you. Ant - A dedicated worker. Its appearance may be encouraging you to be more industrious in solving your problem. Badger - A tenacious fighter and protector. Its appearance may be encouraging you to fight instead of running or giving in. Bear - A symbol of strength and plenty. Its appearance may be encouraging you to look inside yourself and tap into the many resources you have at hand. Cat - Silent and cautious animals who seem to have little regard for other creatures. Its appearance may be encouraging you to use a little detachment in solving your difficulties. Chameleon - An incredibly adaptable creature. Its appearance may be encouraging you to adapt yourself to the situation rather than wasting energy trying to change a situation that just isn't changeable. Cougar - Like a cat, but more powerful. Its appearance may be encouraging you to adopt a course of quiet power. Coyote - A trickster whose appearance is not always what it first appears. Its appearance may be encouraging you to adopt the coyote's sense of humor and to be clever and resourceful in solving your problem. Dog - Loyal to its pack and any creature it considers family. Its appearance may be encouraging you to be unfailingly loyal. Eagle - Sees everything from its high vantage point. Its appearance may be encouraging you to examine everything and gather more facts before acting in a situation. Fox - Tricky like the coyote, but also very sly. Its appearance may be encouraging you to retreat, hide and fight another day. Gopher - Hard to catch or kill because of its many well-planned escape routes. Its appearance may be encouraging you to consider a maze of possibilities. Horse - Powerful and able to endure. Its appearance may be encouraging you to tap into your stamina to move forward. Lizard - Amazing regenerative powers. Its appearance may be encouraging you to regroup in order to continue on. Owl - Symbol of wisdom and mystery. Its appearance may be encouraging you to trust your own wisdom or quietly seek the wisdom of one you trust before making a decision. Rabbit - Aware of everything. Its appearance may be encouraging you to be alert for signs of trouble. Raccoon - Agile and very intelligent. Its appearance may be encouraging you to utilize the raccoon's tenacity to move out of a difficult situation. Snake - Symbolizes reincarnation and changeability. Its appearance may be encouraging you to emerge from your problem as a new person with a fresh perspective. Squirrel - Industrious hoarder. Its appearance may be encouraging you to save your resources for when they are truly needed. Wolf - Social animals that mate for life and look out for all pack members. Its appearance may be encouraging you to take care of your own and be fidelitous. Beltane Crafts A Maypole Centerpiece You will need... A cardboard tube from a roll of paper towels Heavy cardboard Paint Crepe paper in two or three colors (red and white are traditional) Some small stones Flowers for decorating A ruler Scissors Tacky glue Step One - Cut a circle from heavy cardboard about 1 1/4 inches larger than the diameter of the cardboard tube. Step Two - Glue the cardboard tube to the center of the cardboard circle. Let dry. Step Three - Paint the cardboard tube and the cardboard circle. Let the paint dry. Step Four - Cut 2 pieces of each color of crepe paper, the length of the tube. Cut the crepe paper in half length-wise. Glue the crepe paper strips to the top inside of the tube alternating colors. Step Four - Put some small stones inside the tube to add some weight so that it will not tip over. Step Six - Decorate the top of your Maypole with flowers and more crepe paper if desired. Enjoy! Possibly the most well known Beltane custom is that of the Maypole, made of great trees driven into the earth, which is said to represent the world center or the Tree of Life. It used to be that the Maypole was made from the communal pine tree from which all but the uppermost branches had been removed. Red and white ribbons were attached to the top (white for the Goddess and red for the God). Traditionally, there were eight dancers (one person for each Sabbat), paired into four couples. The men would grasp the red ribbons and the women would grab the white ones; together they would weave the birth canal by moving in circles around the pole, weaving under each other's interlocked upheld arms in mock sexual union. The Maypole itself is the phallic symbol, impregnating the birth canal being woven around it by the dancers. Beltane circles were once constructed with the Maypole at the center and a balefire at a distance at one or all four cardinal points. Because of the sexual connotations, Parliament made Maypoles illegal in Europe in 1644 but they came back with the Restoration and a 134 foot maypole was erected in the Strand in London. Make Some Pressed Flowers 1. Selecting The Flowers Garden flowers, leaves and ferns can be collected and pressed for use in making pictures or cards. A botanical collection can also be made with wild flowers but it is important for ecological reasons that you only take one or two common flowers from a spot where they are plentiful and never harvest rare or endangered flowers. Flowers should be picked after mid-day when they are dry. They should be pressed as soon as possible after picking to avoid wilting. You will find through trial and error which flowers dry best? and which colors are lasting. Do not try to press a very thick flower... it would be best to disassemble and press just the petals. Remember... fresh flowers, press quickly and carefully, dry well, and use small flowers (or thin pieces of thicker flowers). 2. Pressing The Flowers Flowers can be pressed between sheets of blotting paper and placed in a telephone book with weights. A flower press can be used, consisting of layers of newsprint interleaved with corrugated cardboard. A press uses plywood board top and bottom, and pressure is applied by tightening the wing nuts on the four corner screws. Flowers are then carefully laid in the press, with plenty of newspaper between layers, and cardboard after every few layers. Leave them undisturbed for two or three weeks for best results. Now you can place the flowers in a scrapbook or use them to decorate handmade papers, candles or other crafts. May the fruit of our lives be bound and sealed to Thee, O Mother, O Woman Eternal who holdest the inmost life of each of Thy daughters between the hands upon Her Heart ~~~~~~~~~~~ We swear by Peace and Love to stand, Heart to Heart and Hand to Hand. Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now, confirming this, our Sacred Vow. ~Druidic Prayer of Unity~
Cerredwen	Re: Belteinne/Beltane Crafts and Activities	#5	[-]
Walks an Earthbased Path Posts: 13103 Apr 13 06 4:37 PM ~~Priestess of the Goddess~~ Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Mother Earth Suet Holder by Lynda Musante One of the "duties" of Mother Earth is to provide for the wildlife of the world. Our wire holder will feed the wildlife in your own garden or backyard. 3" Wooden disk 3 Plastic coated wire hangers 16 Gauge wire Plastic container or used margarine tub Nail Craft Snips Sand paper White glue Bird seed Pine cone Peanut butter Sand disk smooth. Spread glue on disk to seal wood. Allow to dry. To make wings, squeeze the hanger hook of one hanger closed. Pull the center of the hanger up to the hook of the hanger and loop it into the twisted section to secure. Bend hook over the loop. To assemble the body, straighten the hooks on two hangers and bend them at a right angle. They will become the arms. Insert one hanger crossways into the second hanger. Bend both arms forward. Cut a 12" length of wire. Hold wings in position and wrap wire around all three hanger's twisted sections to secure. Pull down the wide section of the two body hangers and flatten center area. Use nail to poke two holes 1" apart at the center point on each side of the plastic container bottom. Cut four 3" lengths of wire and bend each piece into a "U" shape. Insert a wire "U" through one set of holes and position container over bent hanger. Twist wire to secure it to the hanger. Repeat with three other sides. Fill container with birdseed. Spread a pinecone with peanut butter then squeeze arms together to hold it. Your bird feeder can stand in the garden or hang. Glue disk to top for face. May the fruit of our lives be bound and sealed to Thee, O Mother, O Woman Eternal who holdest the inmost life of each of Thy daughters between the hands upon Her Heart ~~~~~~~~~~~ We swear by Peace and Love to stand, Heart to Heart and Hand to Hand. Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now, confirming this, our Sacred Vow. ~Druidic Prayer of Unity~
Cerredwen	Re: Belteinne/Beltane Crafts and Activities	#6	[-]
Walks an Earthbased Path Posts: 13103 Apr 17 06 9:02 AM ~~Priestess of the Goddess~~ Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Beltane Ideas and Activities * are also great to do with children Walk the perimeter of your property to check that everything is in good order. Bring trash bags and do a general clean up of anything that is not where it should be. Make a miniature maypole for your altar if you can not make a full size version Get a new mirror, or use one you have already, and decorate it with ribbons and flowers for your bedroom Fill a cauldron or a large bowl with fresh flowers (wildflowers are best) Braid bracelets out of white ribbons and give them as gifts to friends or family Make a dish of fruits, berries, nuts and leave in the wood for the animals and fae folk to enjoy Cut branches of fresh green from budding trees, or make garlands of flowers to decorate the home for this celebration. Hang them on the doors and windows early, so the may sunrise finds them there! Create a special wreath for the top of the May Pole Make "May Day" baskets of flowers and leave on friends and family's doorsteps as a surprise gift. Maybe they'll think a faerie did it! Create hair pieces and garlands for decorating your head or around your neck from flowers that are in bloom Tie ribbons to trees to celebrate the coming of spring. Make a wish each time you tie a ribbon as its good luck to wish for things on this day! Bathe your face in the morning dew to retain youth. The fair maid who, the first of May Goes to the fields at break of day And washes in dew from the hawthorn tree Will ever after handsome be. Other sources suggest using the dew found under oaks or on ivy leaves. Make a special wish as you wash your face in it or as you drink from a well before sunrise. Dance the May Pole During the Maypole dance, think about what you wish to weave into, or out of, your spirit. The Maypole is an ancient symbol of the male aspect of the Divine, while the ribbons are strands of life. Have small baskets of goodies around the room to symbolize the coming abundance and to enjoy after the Circle. Magic is hungry work. (from Trish Telesco's Victorian Grimoire www.amazon.com/exec/obido...aganplace) Plant your frost sensitive bulbs now. Use the wonderful Bulb Planting Chant below. Fun for the Kids fun for grownups too Let your child dress up like the May Queen. Make a pointed hat with a large piece of paper rolled, and tape crepe paper streamer from the top. Decorate with crayons, stickers, and glitter. Make easy wreaths for your head and for anyone who might celebrate Beltane with you. Easy Wreath for Your Head Need: Gold, silver or other bendable garland found in stores at Yuletide/Xmas-this usually comes in stars, holly and other such designs Curling ribbon To do: Measure around the head. Measure a piece of garland the same length plus 6 inches. Over lap 3 inches of each end and wrap one end around the other as tightly as possible. Cut lengths of curling ribbon about 4 feet long and tie onto the back side of the wreath. Tie so the ends of the ribbon are even and spaced about 1 inch apart. About one third of the way around. Curl the ribbons. Wear. Make some lovely garden furniture for the fae folk. Fairy Furniture May is a month that fairies love. Show them your appreciation and give the kids a great project by making them some furniture! Items needed: Twigs, vines, dried flowers Needle and thread Scrap material Scissors Hot glue gun-be sure little fingers are safe! Pruners to cut the twigs-again watch those little fingers Directions: Decide what you're going to make. We'll make a chair, to give you an example. Cut the twigs in this manner - one long, bendable piece that will form the back legs and back of the chair, and four equal length twigs which will form the two front legs and the seat. The chair should stand no more than four inches tall (including the back) Bend the long twig, and hot glue one of the smaller pieces in between the two ends where you want the seat to be. This will be the back of the seat. Hot glue on each side of the bent twig facing towards you a smaller twig; these will be the sides of the seat. Glue the front piece of the seat to these side twigs. Glue the two front legs to the seat so that the chair legs are even. If you wish, wrap the vines around the chair back and legs. Cut the scrap material to form a "back" and a "seat" - these are NOT to be as wide as the chair, but will fit inside of the twigs. Using your needle and thread, attach the material to the chair using a whip stitch. Hot glue small dried flowers at the top of the chair. This technique can be used to make all kinds of fairy furniture, from tables to beds, to sofas - all of which are sure to delight your fairies as much as your children! Source May the fruit of our lives be bound and sealed to Thee, O Mother, O Woman Eternal who holdest the inmost life of each of Thy daughters between the hands upon Her Heart ~~~~~~~~~~*~ We swear by Peace and Love to stand, Heart to Heart and Hand to Hand. Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now, confirming this, our Sacred Vow. ~Druidic Prayer of Unity~
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Cerredwen	Re: Belteinne/Beltane Crafts and Activities	#7	[-]
Walks an Earthbased Path Posts: 13103 Apr 19 06 2:52 PM ~~Priestess of the Goddess~~ Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	May Pole Candles By Barbara Morris and GrannyMoon's Morning Feast Archives You will need: Lots of pretty ribbons Tall white or green pillar candle Gold or brass "Craft Bells" Candle holder (stand) Cut lengths of ribbon around 18 inches each, in pretty Springtime colors.(pastels) Tie a craft bell to each end of ribbon (a tooth pick helps this process) Tie ribbons starting at 3/4 way down the pillar candle, knot three times, don't tie bows, you need lots of length on the ribbons. Tie as many as you like snaking your way up the candle, but leave at least 1/4 candle bare. Place in a candle stand that will raise the candle about 6 - 8 inches, so the ribbons can "drape" Swirl the bundle of ribbons so they face East, ready to greet the dawn on Beltane morn. Light candle and cheer the Spring time blessings to come. Keep a safe eye on candle & ribbons. May the fruit of our lives be bound and sealed to Thee, O Mother, O Woman Eternal who holdest the inmost life of each of Thy daughters between the hands upon Her Heart ~~~~~~~~~~~ We swear by Peace and Love to stand, Heart to Heart and Hand to Hand. Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now, confirming this, our Sacred Vow. ~Druidic Prayer of Unity~
Cerredwen	Re: Belteinne/Beltane Crafts and Activities	#8	[-]
Walks an Earthbased Path Posts: 13103 Apr 21 06 12:46 PM ~~Priestess of the Goddess~~ Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	History and Dances of the Maypole By Breid Foxsong, copyright 2000 Some of the most popular activities of Beltane were centered around the maypole. The symbolic phallus (some were more graphic than others) was planted in the earth to fertilize her. Historically, maypoles vary in height. These poles were placed permanently in the town square and were often left up for ten to fifteen years. Villages would vie with each other to see who could find and erect the tallest maypole. Obviously, a pole of this height was not plaited with ribbons, although it was the center of a variety of ring dances. Generally it was brightly painted and decorated with wreaths, garlands, and fresh flowers each year. In 1644, the English Puritan Long Parliament banned these "devilish instruments," and ordered all existing maypoles to be taken down and burned. Despite the reintroduction of the maypole, the Puritan Reformation had its effect on Beltane festivities, and many of the Pagan elements were lost. Those of us who want to make our own maypoles are happily unencumbered by the weight of tradition and can change the design and the meanings to suit our modern purposes. When choosing a maypole, take into consideration what you will do with it after the ceremony. Will it end up in your garage, or remain in the circle area for the rest of the summer? Will you have to transport it to your ritual site and home again? For the purposes of this article, let us assume that you are not able to plant a twenty-foot pole and leave it. Let us also assume that you have fairly limited resources, both financial and otherwise. You can certainly elaborate on the basic pole. Making a Maypole The easiest way to make a maypole is to purchase it. Check out any lumber yards (or "seconds" lumberyard if you have them in your area) for dowels or banister rails. For making an eight to nine foot maypole, a one-inch dowel is perfectly adequate. You will probably not find dowels longer than twelve feet, but an eight or nine foot maypole should be big enough for any group of less than twenty. If you are going to go over twelve feet, you will have to go to a much thicker pole. At that point, start looking for old telephone poles. A more techno-Pagan approach is to use PVC pipe. You will have to start with two-inch pipe due to the higher flexibility, but it will last forever and is easily extended to be whatever size you need. Making the Base Once you have acquired the pole, you will need to fix it to a stand. The stability of the stand is important. Unless you have a good one, you will have to be careful not to pull too hard on the ribbons when you dance. The easiest type of stand is a Christmas tree stand, if you own one. If you don't own one, check at local thrift stores for them. Most of the stands have holes in the feet to allow you to anchor them with stakes outdoors. If you don't own one or can't find a tree stand, making a stand is simple. You will need two two-foot lengths of one-by-four inch boards, and two pieces of one-by-four that are only a couple of inches long. You will also need a floor flange (you'll find them in the plumbing department, cost is about three dollars) that will fit the end of the dowel. Nail the two foot boards together in a cross. Use the smaller pieces on the ends of the upper board to make the stand level. Screw the floor flange to the center of the crossed boards (screws are much more stable than nails). You will need five screws; four to screw the flange into the wood and one that will screw up through the wood and into the center of the pole for greater stability. Two more small blocks may be needed to secure the flange on the lower board, depending on the width of the flange. Sand bags can be placed in the boards to weigh them down if needed. If you are outside, you can drill holes in the ends of the one-by-fours and stake them down. Suspending the Ribbons Total cost on the maypole should average about twelve dollars plus ribbons. An additional piece that adds to the symbolism is an acorn shaped banister top. This can be purchased at a lumber yard and screwed or nailed to the top of the pole after attaching the ribbons to give it that proper "phallic" look. Many people make a suspended ring to hold the ribbons away from the pole at the top. For this, use an old embroidery hoop covered with bright cloth. You can also attach flowers, narrow ribbons, bows, or other decorations to make this more attractive. Attach wire or thin cord on four sides so that it balances nicely, and firmly affix it to the top of the pole before attaching the ribbons. The next step is to choose your "ribbons." There are several options. All of them have their virtues and vices. Crepe paper is inexpensive but tears easily and the color runs if it gets wet. Ribbons are more expensive but don't tear. Cloth is fairly cheap, but bulky. It also tends to fray on the edges, making it hard to unwrap. The ribbons should be longer than the pole by about two or three feet. This allows for the extra length needed for braiding the ribbons. To attach the ribbons, simply nail them to the top of the pole. Since most people use a maypole in a group context, you will have to decide how many ribbons you want. The easiest solution is to have one ribbon for each member who wants to dance around it. The pole will plait easier if there is an even number of ribbons, but that may mean that one person takes two, which can be awkward. The "proper" colors of the maypole vary, depending on who you ask. The dance described below uses only two colors, but that is primarily so that you can tell who is supposed to do what when. The Maypole Dance The maypole dance is usually a couples dance; it apparently originated as a form of courting. Most versions have a formal procession to the maypole in two lines with partners coming forward to get ribbons together. It certainly avoids confusion to have people getting their ribbons one at a time, and keeps the ribbons from getting tangled. Since rare is the coven that is perfectly balanced, count off by ones and twos. "Ones" get the white ribbons, "twos" the red ribbons. Once you have gotten your ribbon, move back out and form a circle around the pole. White ribbon holders face widdershins (counterclockwise) and red ribbon holders face deocil (clockwise). Music helps keep everyone together. The primary point of the music is to keep everyone moving at about the same speed. When the music starts, or someone says "go," begin weaving. Whites should start by going to the outside of the person facing them, then to the inside of the next person, then to the outside, then the inside, etc. Reds begin by going to the inside, then the outside, then the inside, then the outside, etc. This is called the "grand left and right." Continue this until the pole is wound. Theoretically, it can be reversed to unwind the pole if you want to do it again, but usually it takes a couple of tries before you get the hang of it well enough to wind it cleanly. You can add a note of confusion by passing a quick kiss each time you pass someone. It will make for a lot of laughter and some bumped noses. A more formal version of the maypole dance might go something like this: Each person curtsies or bows to his or her partner, then curtsies or bows to the pole (god/dess image). Repeat. Then all face deocil and walk around the pole once, stop, face widdershins and repeat. All face deocil and hop, glide, step once around the pole, then face widdershins and repeat. All white ribbons take two steps toward the pole and form an inside circle. Red ribbons form an outside circle. Inside circle faces deocil, outside faces widdershins. All move in hop, glide, step once around the pole. Inside and outside circles curtsy or bow to each other, face opposite direction, and return in the same way. All curtsy or bow to partners, then to the pole. Begin grand right and left. Whites go to the outside of the person facing them, then to the inside of the next person, then to the outside, then the inside, etc. Reds go to the inside, then the outside, then the inside, then the outside, etc., until done. When the pole is plaited, curtsy or bow to your partner, drop the ribbons, join hands, and leave area in procession. Whichever you decide to do, enjoy the dance. Beltane should be a day of joy. With a lighthearted attitude, the maypole can be a lot of fun, even if you end up with a tangled mess. It is truly a dance of life! May the fruit of our lives be bound and sealed to Thee, O Mother, O Woman Eternal who holdest the inmost life of each of Thy daughters between the hands upon Her Heart ~~~~~~~~~~~ We swear by Peace and Love to stand, Heart to Heart and Hand to Hand. Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now, confirming this, our Sacred Vow. ~Druidic Prayer of Unity~
Cerredwen	Re: Belteinne/Beltane Crafts and Activities	#9	[-]
Walks an Earthbased Path Posts: 13103 Apr 24 06 6:22 PM ~~Priestess of the Goddess~~ Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	May Cone Basket Author Unknown You will need: Construction paper Glue or tape Out of bright colored construction paper, cut a circle that is about 12 inches in diameter, and then cut a triangle or wedge out of the circle, allowing for a 1/2 inch overlap. Roll the paper into a cone and glue or tape the two sides together. Cut a strip of construction paper that is approx. 12 inches by 2 inches. Glue or tape it onto the top of your cone to make a handle. Fill your cone basket with real or homemade flowers and hang it on a neighbor's or friend's doorknob in the early morning while everyone is asleep. May the fruit of our lives be bound and sealed to Thee, O Mother, O Woman Eternal who holdest the inmost life of each of Thy daughters between the hands upon Her Heart ~~~~~~~~~~~ We swear by Peace and Love to stand, Heart to Heart and Hand to Hand. Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now, confirming this, our Sacred Vow. ~Druidic Prayer of Unity~
Cerredwen	Re: Belteinne/Beltane Crafts and Activities	#10	[-]
Walks an Earthbased Path Posts: 13103 Apr 26 06 6:09 PM ~~Priestess of the Goddess~~ Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Grapevine Beltane Ribbon Wreath Create this decorative wreath in minutes! Choose your own colored ribbons and flowers for a personal touch and you'll have a custom made wreath that looks like it took hours to create, even though it didn't. Of course, you don't have to tell anyone that; it'll be our little secret! Supplies: 12" grapevine wreath 5 to 7 ribbons, 3 yards in length each of various widths (3/8" to 5/8" 3 to 4 silk flowers with leaves Floral wire Glue Directions: Cut 1-1/4 yds. From each ribbon, set aside. Holding bundle of ribbons together, wrap wire around middle of bundle. Secure to wreath at the top. Starting at the middle, loosely braid ribbons. Loosely knot ends (Knots will be removed later). Attach ribbon bundles to wreath as desired. Bringing bundles together at bottom, secure on wreath with wire. Untie knots at end of braids. Pulling gently, allow individual ribbons in bundles to loop as desired. Trim ribbon to desired length. With remaining lengths of ribbon, form a bow. Glue bow to bottom of wreath. Glue flowers and leaves as desired. Source unknown May the fruit of our lives be bound and sealed to Thee, O Mother, O Woman Eternal who holdest the inmost life of each of Thy daughters between the hands upon Her Heart ~~~~~~~~~~~ We swear by Peace and Love to stand, Heart to Heart and Hand to Hand. Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now, confirming this, our Sacred Vow. ~Druidic Prayer of Unity~
Cerredwen	Re: Belteinne/Beltane Crafts and Activities	#11	[-]
Walks an Earthbased Path Posts: 13103 Feb 20 07 1:08 PM ~~Priestess of the Goddess~~ Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*This was posted by Celtic Chic in our Crafting The Tools Of Our Path forum...I thought it would fit here as well...* This is from this book I have called Beltane: Sringtime Rituals, Lore, and Celebration by Raven GRimassi. I've always wanted to try it but never really knew anyone who was that good at braiding. May the fruit of our lives be bound and sealed to Thee, O Mother, O Woman Eternal who holdest the inmost life of each of Thy daughters between the hands upon Her Heart ~~~~~~~~~~~ We swear by Peace and Love to stand, Heart to Heart and Hand to Hand. Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now, confirming this, our Sacred Vow. ~Druidic Prayer of Unity~
Cerredwen	Re: Belteinne/Beltane Crafts and Activities	#12	[-]
Walks an Earthbased Path Posts: 13103 Apr 23 07 9:19 PM ~~Priestess of the Goddess~~ Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Story Of Beltaine Author Unknown The young Lord was out roaming the Earth, playing and frolicking in the woods, when he turned and faced the Lady. When the two saw each other, they instantly fell in love. So, they decided to marry. They planned a great wedding feast. All the people across the land prepared for the wedding with much joy and anticipation. When the wedding day came, the people brought thousands and thousands of flowers. They decorated each other and their homes with the flowers. They decorated trees with brightly colored ribbons, and they gave each other baskets of flowers and ribbons in celebration of the Sacred Marriage. They were filled with joy, and danced around may poles and rode in hobby-horse races. The Lord and Lady were pleased with the gifts from the people. They added to their happiness on that sacred day. The Lord and Lady celebrated with the sacred kiss, and the whole Earth was filled with joy and hope of what might be.
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Belteinne/Beltane Crafts and Activities

Belteinne/Beltane Crafts and Activities