I had the wonderful experience of attending the academy of ancient arts Beltane ritual at camp richardson.
I have become very close to Priestess Debi LeFaye over the last year as we have been playing music together on the weekends.
She has written several ritual songs to accompany her new book of Light and Luna. www.academyoftheancientarts.org/
After being smudged by Priestess Berta-Jo we sat around the camp fire and played some wonderful music.
I had borrowed a mandolin for this occasion as one of her songs called for a water or rain sound. I played some harmonics and open tunings that made the opening circle song come to life.
She gathered elements from the four paths N.S.E.&W (sea salt, grain alcohol, essence of Lilac, and pine needles) and placed them into a huge pot and started the sacred fire. The colors the fire made and smells were almost indescribable. Each person wrote down their intentions and placed them on the may pole... where they could grow and blossom as the summer season progresses.
A truly wonderful experience being included in this beginning of summer right of passage.
The circle was close with a blessing "Grow and share with harm to none and good will to all".
A very enlightening experience I won’t soon forget!