Showing posts with label maypole. Show all posts
Showing posts with label maypole. Show all posts
Saturday
Bonus Beltane Pictures
These ended up on Facebook today, and I figured I'd share a few more pictures from SIPA's Beltane ritual, seeing as I was dancing around the maypole and couldn't simultaneously get pictures of people dancing.
Sunday
SIPA Beltane 2016
SIPA hosted their Beltane ritual this afternoon, which I was fortunately able to attend! I missed it last year because of a build day for an architecture group I'm in, and this year I was concerned it would overlap with set strike, but fortunately the times worked out. It was also supposed to storm today, but the weather turned out to be beautiful! All in all, we couldn't have had a nicer set-up for a ritual.
Today's ritual was at a shelter in Giant City, which has a lovely creek running past it. The shelter was smaller than the ones we've been at before, but since it was so nice out, it didn't matter.
Me before ritual, all dressed up with robes, a cape, Quartz necklace, and the flower crown I bought at Fairy Fest last summer.
Elemental banners around the Circle.
There were several dogs at today's ritual, including this little lady, Serenity.
Dogs!
East side of the creek, with Zeppelin the dog.
Waterfall into the creek.
SIPA's banner, which was incredibly difficult to hang. The gentleman on the left had to give me a leg up to tie the grommet to a nail in the wood, and then he climbed on the other guy's back to staple up the other corner.
Tying this year's ribbons to the maypole.
Our drummer getting in a good stretch so he's ready to go.
Today's ritual was at a shelter in Giant City, which has a lovely creek running past it. The shelter was smaller than the ones we've been at before, but since it was so nice out, it didn't matter.
Me before ritual, all dressed up with robes, a cape, Quartz necklace, and the flower crown I bought at Fairy Fest last summer.
The maypole; SIPA uses theirs three years consecutively and then burns it at Samhain. This is this maypole's second year.
There were several dogs at today's ritual, including this little lady, Serenity.
Blowing bubbles and grilling bratwurst.
West side of the creek
One of many red ochre rocks in the stream bed. I looked for fossils, but didn't spot any.
SIPA's banner, which was incredibly difficult to hang. The gentleman on the left had to give me a leg up to tie the grommet to a nail in the wood, and then he climbed on the other guy's back to staple up the other corner.
Tying this year's ribbons to the maypole.
Our drummer getting in a good stretch so he's ready to go.
So many ribbons! Mine was a dark blue, to match my outfit.
Erecting the maypole (not my photo, I didn't have my phone during ritual).
Everyone getting ready to dance (also not my photo; that's me in the foreground). We wove in thoughts and intentions of things we wanted to grow this year. It was super fast-paced and a little chaotic, but...
...it turned out great! Our maypole, all braided up!
We had a potluck afterwards with a ton of food, and I was completely stuffed. I got back to campus around 4:00, which left me plenty of time to get ready for set strike at 4:30. I am very tired now, but it was a good day!
Monday
April 29th, 2013
Due to a musical festival going on at my school this afternoon, we were released early, and I got home at 11:30! I was struck while walking back from the bus stop by just how nice today's weather is. In my little corner of the world, it's a balmy 70 degrees with a gentle breeze, birds singing, trees budding, and dozens of perky dandelions popping up to see what's going on. I get grumpy during the winter, being cooped up inside all day, and now that we're getting deep into spring I just feel like opening all the windows and drinking in the fresh air.
In thinking of all things Pagan, it occurred to me just now that Beltane is this Wednesday! It looks like the good weather hit just in time for the sabbat, folks. I won't be doing a big Maypole dance or anything (non-Pagan parents and all), but I have a miniature version I crafted last year that's both cute and simple.
other desired mediums. This is an easy projects for kids, so feel free to get the little ones involved. Hold the finished dowel firmly in place. If you have a narrow vase you can put it in, or a ball of play-doh in which to stick the end, that works too (1). Lay the middle of the two ribbons over the end of the dowel, crossing each other, so that the halves of each ribbon hang down the sides in equal length (2). It should look like you have four shorter ribbons attached to the pole's top. Then secure the ribbons in place by driving the thumb tack all the way into the dowel through the ribbons (3). Depending on your dowel size, it looks something like a little cap on the rod's end.
That's all there is to it - in ritual or at another desired time, braid the ribbons around the dowel as you would a larger Maypole. I only used the two long ribbons because four shorter ones were all I could handle alone. If you plan to use your altar Maypole with a friend or two, add more ribbons as desired.
In thinking of all things Pagan, it occurred to me just now that Beltane is this Wednesday! It looks like the good weather hit just in time for the sabbat, folks. I won't be doing a big Maypole dance or anything (non-Pagan parents and all), but I have a miniature version I crafted last year that's both cute and simple.
~~~~~~~~~~
To make an altar-sized Maypole, you will need:- One wooden dowel
- Two ribbons
- One red, one white, and both double the length of the dowel
- A thumb tack
- Any desired paints or decorations
That's all there is to it - in ritual or at another desired time, braid the ribbons around the dowel as you would a larger Maypole. I only used the two long ribbons because four shorter ones were all I could handle alone. If you plan to use your altar Maypole with a friend or two, add more ribbons as desired.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)