2016 Beltane Festival
By: Minette Quick

The unseasonably chilly wet weather of recent days had relented somewhat as we gathered well wrapped up to celebrate the coming of summer, and set off in procession through the orchard, where all of a sudden the sun came out as we approached the Rose Garden which is dedicated to the ongoing visionary spirit of the Founders of the Fellowship.

Down in the wilderness the mighty trees of the Grove towered above us and stood witness to the beauty all around as members of the Druid Clan of Dana invoked in their native Irish and made the first of many offerings of poetry, music and song throughout the afternoon.

Restoration work on the ruins of the Abbey, home of the Noble Order of Tara, is now nearly complete, and within its ancient walls so close to nature and open to the skies, it is a perfect place to invoke the assistance of Deity in furthering the key work of the Order’s members in preserving all that nature provides.

Under the watchful gaze of Persephone at the Garden Gate we filed into the Temple, just in time to escape an imminent shower, and gathered round the Well for a reading of the Goddess Ariadne’s wise words from the Liturgy, on facing the labyrinth of the mind with courage; and a serene energy and sense of peace pervaded us all throughout the afternoon as the proceedings unfolded. Later we were counselled by the loving Mother Goddess Demeter, to turn from our sadness and grief, to drink from the river of life, and keep returning to it as often as possible, to take our fill of joy during the coming months of light.

In the meantime, we were taken on a magical journey through fresh new greenery, to meet with fairy folk and the Green Man himself, and through further poetry and song were reminded of the elementals so potently at work at this time of year.

Our Mystery Play was on the theme of the mystical marriage between the physical and spiritual paths to truth, and the necessity of fully honouring both. This was followed by our time of joint prayer for loved ones, and all those in such terrible trouble around the world at present, and was both heart-felt and deep in the presence of Divine Love which was palpable.

Having given thanks to Deity for their inspirational presence amongst us, our ceremonies ended. A few of those attending sought short energetic energy sessions with members of the priesthood, and everyone repaired afterwards to the Village for our usual enjoyable gathering for tea.

© Durdin-Robertson, Huntington Castle

Persephone, Temple Portico.