Join us for the the afternoon/ evening to celebrate Beltane – the festival of fertility and sacred marriage between the Horned God and the Green Goddess! We’ll have much merriment, making flower crowns, face/ body painting, May pole dancing, drumming, singing, feasting and festivities. The evening will conclude with a small ceremonial fire for all to jump over.
Date:Saturday 2nd May 2015
Venue: Croydon: Woods behind Coombe Lane Tram stop.
Time: 2pm gathering – for set up, decorating altar, erecting Maypole and pre-rite socials.. Drumming/ face/body painting will generally commence; Ceremony will be around 4pm, followed by feasting; Fire jumping will be later in the evening. –
Meeting point: Please wait at the `Coombe Lane’ Tram stop to be collected. There will be a 10-15 min walk through woods (medium slopes!) to ritual spot. If weather wet, wear good grip boots.
DURATION:
Hern’s Tribe woodland rituals are `gatherings’ and generally organic. It’s best to arrive and flow with events..or even go exploring the woods. It is best to allow 4-5 hours for these events, so that you can have the best magical & communal experience.
WHAT HAPPENS – General details for HT events (some changes occur for specific events/ venues).
We’ll have the usual combination of social, setting up altar/ sacred space, seasonal ritual, chants & Drumming, magical work (including eco-magic and sometimes healing work). -Experienced HT members set up altar/ quarters, some prep for ritual fire, any cover sheets (if raining).
-You can ask to help.. 🙂
RITUAL (this will be adapted for individual events):
Basic format——-
-Generally, we begin with clearing the space (sweeping, tidying up)
-Hern Call (chanting `Hern’ nine times)
-Shamanic consecrations (Incense, rattle, drums, salt-water, essential oil)
-Creating magical circle (words/ wand/ staff)
-Calling of Elements & animal quarters / spirits.
-Invoking Horned God / Goddess energies
-Variation of seasonal myth (sometimes)
-Magical work ( group work, personal, eco, healing etc)
-Blessing of Food & Drinks
-Feasting & Socials.
– Drumming & Chants & Dancing
-Any trance work (this is unpredictable.)
RITUAL items to bring:
– Your ritual cloths/ robes/ cloaks
– Staff / wands / antlers / tribal masks
– Drums & musical instruments
– Lanterns / candles / lighter
– Crystals / runes / divination tools
-Poetry / invocations (learnt or to read)
** Please make sure you take these back immediately after ritual is over, so they don’t get misplaced in the dark
** Items placed on altar may get handled or photographed by others. Plans for 2015—
In the past we have ritually explored various myths & legends. In 2015, we’ll continue this – by working with various Horned Gods & Goddesses, woodland spirits etc.
ALL WELCOME:
-All Pagans of any spiritual are welcome..
-Non-pagans, friends/ families & children of pagans are welcome.
FOOD & DRINKS TO SHARE:
Here are some suggestions–
-Home made/ baked items are exceptionally welcome (Bread, cakes, buns, salads, soup, pre-cooked potatoes).
-Wine & Mead are popular for the pre-ritual social and for feasting & socials afterwards!
– shop-bought items (sausage rolls, short-eats).
-Cheese / ham/ butter/ crisps/ dips
-Chicken (cooked pieces)
– Water / soft drinks/ tea & coffee in flasks
-vegetarian food/ vegan food
(Basically any items that add towards a sensible feast/ meal).
BE MINDFUL / Interruptions / Phone calls:
-At all times, we ask you to be mindful of any serious ceremony / meditation/ trance/ healing/ magical works going on, and not interrupt or be intrusive.
-Please don’t use mobile phones etc during ritual. (may not work in woods anyway!)
PHOTOS/ Recordings:
-These are semi-private events (even though they are in public woods/Park).
-Not everyone may like being photographed by a stranger!!
-No recording during ritual please.
-Feel free to take pics of altar, of your self in ritual setting, and of your friends there.. (If you are going to put them in blogs/ facebook etc..ask others in them..before tagging anyone you are not too familiar with.. It’s basic privacy etiquette!)
OUTDOOR PREP:
Please see our website http://www.Hern-Tribe.org for guidelines on what to bring, how to be prepared for outdoor rituals in woodlands, and some health & safety instructions.
BAGS in the DARK:
-Please keep space tidy.. and your own belongings/ bags at a suitable place. It gets dark.. So ensure you can find them easily afterwards. But also ensure they are not in the way that others may trample over it in the dark!
-If you put anything on the altar, please remember to take it back..(and not anyone else’s item by mistake).
-Please don’t leave things behind.. we don;t always find them..when tidying up in dark..
HELP with tidying up/ taking rubbish back to Tram stop/ bins is greatly appreciated.
CLOTHES / BLANKETS / SEATS:
-Please wear sensible outdoor cloths…waterproof is better..and good shoes (always) to walk in slippery or muddy surface. If you have a walking stick/ Magical Staff, do bring it, as it helps with walking in the woods – and you can use it in the ritual..!!
-Feel free to bring picnic blankets/ sheets to sit on (ground may be wet)
-Bring small light camping-style stool or chair to sit on (be mindful of carrying bulky objects while walking up slopes/ wet ground).
-Mani Navasothy
(Founder/ Hern’s Tribe)
QuantumPhoenix 