How about building an altar to honor your mom this weekend.  :)

A pretty table cloth, a representation of the Goddess in her Mother Aspect, Some flowers, some nice incense (jasmine, rose, etc.) and maybe a favorite photo of you and your mom together.  Light a pink candle (for love) and send her loving energy to the universe.  Can't think of a better gift. 

So take a moment today and honor your mother, be she with you, living far away, or transcended to the Summerlands.  Blessed Be. 

Tomorrow I will have been married to my wonderful husband for 2 years.  We've been together for 4 1/2 now and we have a lovely *nearly* 7 month old daughter.  I remember how we met like yesterday.

I was on my own for the first time in my life (long depressing story I don't want to go into).  I was living with my sister and her family looking for my own place for a short time when I first moved out of home.  (I financially supported my mom and grandmother for many years.  It was an emotionally abusive situation that took me way too long to get out of).  Anyhow, I had *just* 2 weeks prior to moving in with my roommate and I had gotten a job at a mall bookstore.  My roomie was great, like a sister in fact and I loved working at the bookstore.  I had made friends for the first time in my life and things were really looking up for me.  I was having a great time with Kris and for the first time really seeing how good life could be.  When I thought I could not be any happier, I met him. 

I was walking into the stockroom with some magazines to send back to the company (old issues) when this tall, blonde, blue-eyed security guard from the mall was chatting with the assistant manager (who was also a friend of mine).  Kevin introduced us.  I said 'hi' (very likely blushed) and ducked inside to do my work.  (I'm quite shy, actually.)  Handsome security guard came into the store often as he was an avid reader.  Since he rode mass transit at the time he could go through the average paperback in a about 2 days.  He'd alwasy chit-chat with either Ron (the manager) or Kevin.  He began coming in when I was stocking his favorite section and Ron or Kev were busy.  He began chatting with me about life in general.  Books, relationships, etc.  Just about anything. 

One month later we had made arrangments to join friends at a club.  Ryan was going to ride with me.  The night before we were to go out, he was playing poker with some his buddies and he had gone outside to call me to make sure I was still going.  We ended up talking about the stars as the evening was very clear and I had gone outside to take the call.  Toward the end of the phone call he confessed he has been too shy to tell me that he thought I was beautiful and he had been wanting to kiss me.  *grins*  I'm pretty self conscious and never thought of myself as pretty at all.  As a matter of fact I've always been a wallflower and a nerd.  I'll never forget that phone call.  I was on top of the world. 

I still can't believe we've been married for 2 years now and have a lovely baby girl.  Life is funny sometimes

 

For a member who was looking for some ritual ideas, I posted my ritual.  When I write a ritual, I draw from different sources.  I search online, I draw from rituals I have attended before that are in my BOS, and I draw from books that I have read.  Anyhow, enjoy and I hope everyone has a lovely Beltaine!

Beltaine ritual 2008

*Altar will be set up in the East.  The Inner Circle will be cast by the High Priestess.  The Handmaiden will allow the participants into the ritual area and close the North of East Gate. 

 The HPS does the banishing and envoking pentagrams before the participants enter.  The Summoner will light the candles at the Cardinal Directions after all have entered the ritual area the Gate is closed.

 East Quarter:

Summoner:  We call to Thee, Powers of the East!

HPS:  Powers of the East, Sylphs of Air, join with us as we celebrate the coming of Summer!  Come to us with Love and Blessings!  Hail and be Welcome!

 South Quarter:

Summoner:  We call to Thee, Powers of the South!

HPS:  Powers of the South, Salamanders of Fire, join with us as we celebrate the coming of Summer!  Come to us with Love and Blessings!  Hail and be Welcome!

 West Quarter: 

Summoner:  We call to Thee, Powers of the West!

HPS:  Powers of the West, Undynes of Water, join with us as we celebrate the coming of Summer!  Come to us with Love and Blessings!  Hail and be Welcome!

 North Quarter:

Summoner:  We call to Thee, Powers of the North!

HPS:  Powers of the North, Gnomes of the Earth, join with us as we celebrate the coming of Summer!  Come to us with Love and Blessings!  Hail and be Welcome!

*at the altar, the HPS lights the Goddess Flame

 HPS:  Lady of the Night, awake from your winter slumber, I call to you!  Join us in this Beltaine Celebration with joy, light and love!

 *lights the God Flame

HPS:  Lord of the Day, hunting through the forest, I call to you!  Join us in this Beltaine Celebration with joy, light and love!

 *The inner circle is now drawn by the HPS. 

HPS:  I raise this circle Weaving a web of Beltaine Power.

Circle of Death, Circle of Birth, Circle of Mother Earth.

Shining, forever Spinning, Ending never.

 *The Summoner and the Handmaiden begin drumming.  Participants may choose an instrument and drum along if they so wish.  The cauldron is now lit by the HPS. 

 HPS:  Ancient Ones, Listen to this Beltaine call.  Bring us the glimmer of wishes, the light of hope and the mystery of magick by your presence!

Let the Oak King live again.  May the Great Mother become fruitful once more!

 *Everyone shouts and the drumming comes to a climax and ends. 

The HPS informs the gatherers of the purpose of the ritual energy (Arlen and Diane).  Prayers are done for anyone seeking such at this time.  Now as we keep Arlen and Diane's union in our hearts and thoughts, we dance the Maypole.  As we weave the ribbons, so then their paths are woven together.

 Chant:

 Upon the eve of May,

We'll merry meet the Summer greet

Forever and a day!

As Magick Fire be our desire

To tread the Pagan way!

 The HPS and the Summoner each take hold of the Sacred Wand and hold it over the Cauldron fire. 

HPS & Summoner together:  As the Wand is to the Earth, so the male is to the female.  Joined they bring happiness. 

HPS passes the wand through the smoke of the cauldron. 

The HPS then blesses the cake offering.

 The HPS hands the Summoner the Sacred Atheme.  She takes up the cup of wine.  They say together:  As the Knife is to the cup, so the male is to the female.  As the Sun to our blossoming world, joined they bring forth life.

 The cakes and wine are then shared with the participants.

 HPS:  AS the May Queen and the Great Horned God bestow their blessings upon us and all of the creatures of the Earth, We who are one with them rejoice, and ask that their happy union become the example for all humanity to live in love and harmony. 

Thanks be to the Lord and Lady.  Circle ‘round, let us do what we must do. 

 *The Sacred Circle is then closed with the HPS and Summoner beginning at the North and going widdershins around to take up the energy. 

 The Circle is open yet unbroken,

May the love of the Goddess be ever in your heart.

Merry meet, Merry Part, and Merry Meet again!

 The circle is open and the feasting can begin!

 

That my husband (who is somewhat past his first year now) is ready and able to create his own rituals, which is the final major step in our coven towards taking initiation. 

He displays a deep understanding of the Wiccan Goddess and God, the Wheel of the Year, the Elemental Spirits and their roles in ritual, etc.  He will be ready soon to take over the teaching of some of the basic learning which will become one of his duties by next year. 

Elyzahn will write the ritual for Litha (my help if needed and I'll have to approve the ritual) and then he'll write his initiation ritual.  He'll be able to choose the date and it should be happening by Samhain if not before. 

Elyzahn is my husband of 2 years and he has also been a memeber of Whispering Oak Coven for nearly 3 years.  He has grown much spiritually and grown in confidence and will make a fine leader to our Coven.  His willingness to wait until he is ready and confident to take on the mantle of duties speaks well of his spiritual maturity and growth.  This past year has held many set backs for him surrounding an injury.  We are now moving forward and I'm very proud to announce that this year he will take on the mantle of Priesthood.

I just got our Beltaine ritual written and posted up for our coven.  I've got a grillout planned and everything.  I'm so very exicted!  We're potlucking it but I'm making a special chicken recipe for the celebration.  :)  Heeee!

What's everyone doing for the holiday?