by Rhiannon Cotter
Each Beltane, to dance around the maypole---the symbol of fertility in man, the symbol of life on Earth---is to celebrate aliveness and awareness. The May King and May Queen are sent into the fields to fertilize the land. The time is ripe for creativity, for imagination. In symmetry with Hallowmas, the veil between the worlds is thin; thus allowing the playful, fantastical aspects of the spirit world access in order to celebrate living and laughing with those on the physical plane of the Earth.

A May Day Carol
Awake, awake, my pretty prithy maid,
Come out of your drowsy dream,
And step into your dairy hold,
And fetch me a bowl of cream
If not a bowl of cream, my dear,
A cup of meade to cheer,
For the Lord and Lady know we shall meet again,
To go Maying another year.
A branch of May I brought you here,
While at your keep I stand,
'Tis but a sprout all budded out,
By the power of our Lady's hand.
My song is done and I must be gone,
No longer may I stay,
Gods bless you all, the great and small,
And send you a joyous May.

The following is quite a popular traditional song that is enjoyed by both Pagans and Christians. It has been written and rewritten many times and can be used whenever you choose. I just happen to feel it is appropriate for this sabbath, and this is the version I like best which is by Todd Alan and Friends.
Lord of the Dance
by Todd Alan & Friends
When she danced on the water and the wind was her horn
the Lady laughed and everything was born
And when she lit the sun and the light gave him birth
the Lord of the Dance first appeared on the Earth.
Chorus:
So, dance, dance, wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the Dance, cried he
And I'll live in you if you live in me,
And I'll lead you all in the dance, cried he
I came with the dawning when the world was begun
I danced with the moon, and the stars, and the sun
When I saw the light that was coming from the Earth
I joined in the rhythm and she gave me birth
(Chorus)
I grow in the kernel and I bring forth the grain
I flow with the wind as I dance in the rain
When it's time for harvest I will never feel the pain
for in spring I am Lord of the dance once again
(Chorus)
I dance at the feast and stories I do tell
I dance and I sing that everyone be well
and when the dance is over do not think that I am gone
for I live in the music so I dance all along
(Chorus)

I dance in the circle when the flames leaped up high
I dance in the fire and I never, ever die
Feel me in the drumming as I call to you
when you hear my voice you'll know just what to do
(Chorus - three times)

Flowers, Herbs, and the Faeries of May
by Edain McCoy
From Beltaine to Midsummer, the faery kingdom celebrates the newborn spring. Throughout the centuries, Europeans made note of which vernal foliage was attractive to the wee folk and, by contrast, which plants would offer protection. Those plants marked with an asterisk (*) are poisonous and should be cultivated only with great caution, and should never be grown wherever children or pets are present.
Bluebell --- If bluebells ring in your garden, an evil faery is near.
Carnation --- The red ones draw faeries who enjoy healing animals.
Clover --- Wildly attractive to faery life.
Cowslip --- The best choice for attracting faeries to your yard.
Dandelion --- Believed to be used by faeries to make beverages.
Dill --- The fresh plant has a scent faeries dislike.
Foxglove* --- A favorite of earth elementals.
Hawthorne --- Sacred to faeries, as well as to May Queen.
Heliotrope* --- Enjoyed by fire elementals.
Gorse --- Repels virtually all faery life.
Hollyhock* --- A faery favorite, particularly the pink variety.
Lilac --- The gentle scent draws faery life.
Lobelia* --- Will help attract winged faeries.
Mistletoe* --- Can also attract unpleasant tree faeries.
Morning Glory* --- Repels unwanted night faeries
Mushrooms* --- Often used by faeries to mark the boundaries of their sacred circles or portals to their world.
Pansy --- Known to attract parades of trooping faeries.
Primrose --- Believed to give faeries their power of invisibility.
Rosemary --- The fresh plant protects from baneful faeries.
Sassafras --- Enjoyed by air elementals.
Shamrock --- A form of clover Celtic faeries adore.
(The above article for "Flowers, Herbs, and the Faeries of May" is written by Edain McCoy and directly quoted from "Llewellyn's 1995 Magical Almanac", pages 88-92, Llewellyn Publications, 1994.)

The May-Pole (Traditional Song)
Come lasses and lads, get leave of your dads,
And away to the Maypole hie,
For every he has got a she,
And the fiddler's standing by.
For Willie shall dance with Jane,
And Johnny has got his Joan.
To trip it, trip it, trip it, trip it, trip it up and down.

A Sample Ritual:

This Ritual shall be performed at whatever time of day or night you prefer. The corresponding time would be midmorning, as dawn represents Springtime, and noon does Summertime. Sweep area, starting in the North and moving deosil, with your magickal broom to cleanse the Circle area and "sweep away" any lingering negative energies. Set up the Quarter candles (North-Green, East-Yellow, South-Red, West-Blue) and/or other items symbolizing the elements at the Four Quarters. Set up your altar as desired, and face it to the North, covering it with a white or dark green altar cloth. For this ceremony, decorate the altar with seasonal flowers of any color of the rainbow spectrum (silk are acceptable), along with whatever else feels right. In addition to your usual tools and props, upon the altar should be:
White or Dark Green Altar Cloth
Symbol or Statue to represent your Household Guardian
Small Cauldron with a Dark Green Candle inside
A Bell
Wood Chips from Birch, Oak, Rowan (Ash), Willow, Hawthorne, Hazel, Apple, Vine and Fir (to burn in the cauldron)
(Note: it is not absolutely necessary to get all of these different woods, but do the best you can.)
Athame (for Great Rite Ceremony)
Chalice (for Great Rite Ceremony)
Incense - Any of the following either alone or mixed together:
Lilac, Jasmine, Frankincense, Myrrh, Dragon's Blood, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Sage,
Strawberry, Orange Peel, and Rose Petals
(and charcoal if using powdered or granulated incense)
When all is set up, take a shower or bath for purification and don your Ritual Robe or other Ritual attire. Be sure to wear your Magickal jewelry, if you have any. Sit quietly and meditate for a little while - to ground and center. When you feel ready to begin, play some quiet peaceful music for the Ritual.

Cast the Circle... begin the Beltane sabbath Ceremony by sitting quietly for a few moments, then say these words aloud:
"Blessed be this day of Beltane,
Wedding day of the Goddess and the God.
Holy day of Sacred Marriage,
Holy night of Sacred Union.
The fertile Goddess of Summer walks through the land
With the Great Horned God of the Forest,
And the dark time of Winter is behind me.
Ring the bell seven times, then continue, saying:
"The animals breed and the plants pollinate,
As the May Queen and Green Man
bestow Their blessings upon the Earth
and Earth's creatures.
I, (magickal name) who am Their child,
rejoice with Them and ask that
Their happy union become the example
for all humanity to live in love and harmony."
Light the candle in the cauldron and say:
"The dark days are cleared away
so that the May Day can now begin!"
As you drop the wood chips one by one into the flame in the cauldron, state the properties of each, as follows... (be careful, and use a small cauldron that can be covered with a snuffer or lid in case things get out of hand --- you don't need to use a lot of chips, just a little for the symbology). Say:
"I burn thee Birch to honor the Goddess;
and now add thee Oak to honor the God.
Thou Rowan I add for a magickal life;
and add thee Willow to celebrate death.
Thou Hawthorne I burn for fairies near me;
thou Hazel I burn for wisdom you bring.
I add thee good Apple to bring me love;
and thou Vine whose fruit is the symbol of joy.
Fir you are added as the symbol of rebirth;
your sweet scent reminds me of my immortality.
My blessings I give to all of thee,
and thy blessings I call from thee upon me.
So as I will, So Mote It Be!"
At this point, you will perform the Great Rite (symbolically). Some Wiccan Traditions insist that a Pagan working solitary cannot properly perform this act. Since the act is a symbolic one, there is no reason you cannot make it a part of your ceremony alone. Take your athame in your right hand, and your chalice in your left, and hold them in front of you. See them as the Earthly vessels of deity. Now say these words:
"I greet the time of unions and give honor to
the Lord and the Lady for Their fruitfulness!
Tonight (today) I witness the marriage of my Goddess and God.
May Their union be fertile and productive!"
Slowly lower the athame blade into the chalice and feel the union of the deities. Say:
"As They are one, They become one.
As They become one, They are one.
And I am also one with Them."
Raise the athame and chalice, still united, to your forehead to honor this union of the three of you. Place them back upon the altar. Now dance or at least march around the altar, beginning in the North, and moving deosil. Pause to greet each Elemetal quarter with outstretched arms. Move back in front of the altar when you are finished. Now pick up the symbol of your house Guardian, concentrate on these words, as you say aloud:
"Lovely Lady and Great Horned Lord,
I present to You the Guardian of this house
which is my home.
I have invited this Special Spirit into my home as my
protector and helper in all things.
I honor this Spirit in this symbol of its being.
Great Ones, bless this Guardian of this Home.
And to Your blessings, I add my thanks.
Blessed be!"
You should now lightly anoint the Guardian symbol or statue with some appropriate oil. If the symbol is such that it cannot be oiled, at least swing the smoking incense burner around it.
When you have finished and you are ready, the time is now here to perform any works of magic or spells, follow then by the Cakes & Ale Ceremony, and finally, Releasing the Circle.

Please note this ritual is based on the Northern Hemisphere correspondences of elements and their colors, and directions and so on.