Join us  to celebrate BELTANE 2017..  with ceremony & Maypole Dance.  We’ll drum, dance and choose a May King & May Queen.  And feast and frolic!  (sensibly!)

You will not want to miss this..  !  (just look at a few photos (below) of what we did. That’s when our ritual `team’ organically came together.  So this year it’s bound to be more festive, more frolics.. and more magic!!

Mayday falls on a Monday and no doubt mny will have coven & other events to attend that whole weekend (Fire festival in Edinburgh,  Hastings Green Man festival etc).  So we have staggered our own woodland festivities to the following weekend..  It extends the Beltane festivities..and gives all something to look forward to (without clashes) and have a final big event.. !!   🙂

• ***** Fee: £3 per person **

About Beltane: 

`The veil between the world of men and fairy (or spirit) is said to thin twice a year, at Beltane and at Samhain, which are on opposite points of the year wheel. At Beltane  (May eve) the land is at it’s most lush and green, and fertile. If Spring Equinox is the time of fertility and mating in the animal kingdom, then Beltane is one of courting couples making commitment to one another- and Handfastings! In the God-Goddess myths, this is when the playful God is said to commit to the Goddess – which is symbolised by the Sacred Marriage! The Maypole dance that is traditional at this time symbolises the fertile powers of the masculine, penetrating the land, and the ribbons danced and woven around it lock that power! A ring of flower at the tip of the Maypole signifies the feminine. Magical working with the Fay (Fairies) is an important feature at this time, in contrast to the magical work with the departed spirits at Samhain, the opposite point’ (taken from www.WitchcraftandMagic.uk )

RITUAL :

Out ritual *Team will conduct key aspects of the ceremony, with plenty of opportunities for everyone to get  involved in the actual ritual   – ie with elements calling, chants, magical work and so on.

****Fee:  £3 per person***

RITUAL items to bring:

– Ritual cloths/ robes/ cloaks / ground sheets / blankets
– Staff / wands / antlers / tribal masks / flower crowns (No athame!! ..  No swords!)
– Drums & musical instruments
– Lanterns / candles / lighter  (all candles in lanterns only please, unless it’s large pillar-candles.  Strictly No tea-lights on ground or trees!!)
– Crystals / runes / divination tools
– Poetry / invocations (learnt or to read)

Handfasting / confirming Pagan marriage vows:

In the past, couples have asked organiser about this.   Handfasting is a big event in itself, and we do not wish it to be reduced by being included in a public ceremony as a `side-event’.  It also detracts from the focus of everyone else.   However, after Blessings of Cakes & Wine (and while still within our magical circle/  sacred space), we may consider couples who are already bonded, to declare their vows / re-affirm their vows by our altar.

**(please message Mani- Wiccan High Priest-  in private in advance to arrange this – or simply to arrange your own separate day for handfasting!)**

Adult themes : 

As this is a fertility festival, there is bound to be  jokes, flirtatious behaviour, adult humour throughout the event..

No Children:

We ask no children / babies in prams etc to be brought.

Behaviour / alcohol/ drugs policy

This is in a public woodland/ park.    We wish to make sure  the good reputation/ credibility of our group/ members/ organisers are maintained.   So please BE on good behaviour.    No drugs/  substances allowed.  Anyone found disrupting will be asked to leave..  and in extreme cases, organisers may call the Police for the safety & well-being of everyone else present.  Don’t ruin it for all.. Be good!  🙂

Photos/ privacy:

Please do not take photos during set-up, run-through or ritual..   Other times, it’s fine.  It’s in a public place so we can not stop the public walking through or taking pics.   If worries about your privacy / identity,  please wear a ritual mask to safeguard your identity in photos that others may take of the group.

Meeting place (Woodman’s Pub):

Gather in the Woodman’s Pub from 1.00pm..  Get to `High Gate’ Tube station..  come up to manin road. Turn right.  Pub is just 30 seconds away.

Map (High Gate tube/ pub & Queen’s Wood)

After Ceremony & some socials in the woods, we will head back to the pub (woodmans) for warmth and more drinks/ socials.  It all depends on how long we all hang out in the woods with lanterns / candles..

-Mani Navasothy

Wiccan High Priest & Founder of  London Woodland Witches and Outdoor Pagans.

Our meetup event for this: