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You will need:
Water, lots and lots of water!
A wading pool, wash tub, or other large container that the kiddos can play in
Swimming attire, or something that you don’t mind getting wet.
Pinwheels
Play sand in a medium container (a dish washing tub works great!)
A citronella candle
*This ritual needs to be done outside! Otherwise there will be a large wet mess on your floors, and that would be bad!
Set up the water in the pool or tub. Make sure it isn’t too cold. Put some play sand into the sand-container, with enough room that it won’t spill out over the edges when it gets played with. Set the candle on the ground, where the kids can jump over it easily. Give each kid a pinwheel to stick in the ground somewhere that is inside your circle area. Make sure that your items are set up according to direction, as the kids are going to be calling the quarters in this ritual. If you’re feeling froggy, you can mark each direction with a label or letter, so the kids get the idea.
Have the kids sit in the center of the circle. Read them this passage, or another with the intent of the gathering;
"Hear us oh Great Spirit of Summer! It is now the time of fun and play before the long winter months, and the hard work that is ahead. For now, we play! We play in celebration of the warm breezes that you bring, and the hot Sun that beats down upon us! We play in the cool Water that cleanses our bodies, and we dance around the bonfires of hot-dog and marshmallow cooking! Today as we gather, we honor you as we play, Great Lady and Lord of Litha, that as we play you would smile upon us and keep the spirit of summer in our hearts all year long!"
Have the little ones stand up and face North. Have each of them place their hands into the sand, and pick up a bit in their fists. As they call the North, have them release the sand slowly so that it trickles between their fingers. Have them say something like this:
"Great Spirits of the North, Watchers of the ground we walk on and the sand we play in, hear us call to you and come play with us! Keep us safe from harm as we build castles of Earth and sand for you to dwell in! Come! Play with us!
Now, accompany each child to their pinwheel, no matter where it is, and have them face East. Have them bend or kneel so that they are able to blow on it as they call.
"Great Spirits of the East, Watchers of the wind that cools us when our faces are red from playing, hear us call to you and come play with us! Keep us safe from harm as we help you spin the pinwheels with our breath. Come! Play with us!"
Light the citronella candle. As the children call, have them jump over it, like Jack-be-nimble.
"Great Spirits of the South, Watchers of the flame that heats our hot-dogs and makes our marshmallows fluffy and gooey, hear us as we call to you and come play with us! Keep us safe from harm as we jump like your flames do! Come! Play with us!"
Now, take the kiddos to the pool or wash tub. Have everyone stand outside the pool in a circle. They can hold hands if they like, but don’t get in the water just yet!
"Great Spirits of the West, Watchers of the water that cleans our bodies after we eat our gooey marshmallows, and the sand from building our castles, hear us as we call to you and come play with us! Keep us safe from harm as we splash in your cool, clean pool of life! Come! Play with us!"
After calling the West, everyone gets to jump in and have fun!
This is a rather short ritual, but it’s more meant to allow the kids the opportunity to learn to call the Quarters. Besides, it’s summer and they want to play! After everyone is ready to come inside, be sure to thank the Spirits for attending, and put out the candle. A simple "Thank you for playing with us!" will do just fine. I really hope that you all enjoyed this ritual, as I know I had a ball writing it! Blessed Litha, all!
Desiree (Kiri)
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Beltane
Ritual for Kids
You will need:
• Fresh flowers, dandelions,
daffodils, any spring flower that grows in your area
(make sure that you have
enough for each child to end up with a small bouquet, as they will be wrapping
them in the ritual)
• Ribbons of every color
that ties in with spring
- Arrange the flowers on the altar to look pretty.
You can have the kiddos do this.
Make sure that your ribbon is cut long enough to go around a few
flowers though.
- Have the boys in your group pick up half of the
flowers and present them to the girls (if there aren’t enough boys and
girls mixed in your gathering, just have everyone take half of their
flowers and give them to the person next to them). As the flowers are
given, have the boys (or everyone) say,
“A gift of spring to you
my Lady! Without your Earth the flowers
could not grow.”
(if your group is all doing
the same thing, just have everyone hold up their flowers and speak to the
Goddess as opposed to speaking to each other)
- Have the girls in the group take half of their
ribbons and present them to the boys (again, if there aren’t enough, just
pass half of the ribbon to the person next to them). As the ribbons are given, have the
girls (or everyone) say,
“A gift of spring to you my Lord! Without your rays of sun, the flowers could
not grow.”
(again, if your group is all
doing the same thing, just have them hold up the ribbons and speak to the God)
- Have each child hold their bouquets of flowers,
and their ribbons and have them begin wrapping the stalks of flowers with
the ribbon. As they begin to wrap,
read this story:
“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 maypoles 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.”
- As the children finish their mini-maypoles, have
them hold them up high and say:
“To the Lady and Lord!
As the flower represents the Lady, and the ribbons the Lord the two are
now one and may live happily united forever!”
- Take the bundles outside for everyone to enjoy!
*This Beltane ritual was designed with the purpose of
introducing ritual role-playing to the children. It not only allows for interaction among the young ones who may
not see each other very frequently, but it also gives a sense that this is a
very important time, and that we need to respect all life, that all women are
sacred, and that all men are sacred, therefore we must treat them as such. I know that seems like a lot for a kid to
understand, but over time and through example, they will get it!
Blessed Be! And Have FUN!!
~Desiree
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