Walking the Hedge

Here’s everything you should need to know:

Click on the map for full size and to read directions

Friday we will have an opening ceremony around 4 or 5, and the Bell Branch workshop will start around 6.
Saturday we will start with games at noon followed by the Crowning of the May Queen and King. Then the ritual and Belfire dance around 4 or 5 and the feast after that.
Sunday we will have a leftover lunch around noon, followed by a ritual lead by Andrea with Maypole dance, and then a wildcrafting walk, before we have our closing ceremony.

Just a quick not on what to bring:

Camping gear
Food and drink
Potluck item for the feast
Flashlights

Suggested:
Offerings
Lantern for processional
Drums and rattle if you got them (there will be a bell branch workshop of Friday so you will be making one)
Blanket or towel or chair or something to sit on (seats are limited)
If you have a camp stove or some such thing, you may want to bring it
A broom, staff, stang or hobbyhorse for the race (loaners will be provided for those who do not bring one)

Optional:
Cup for the ritual
Items for trade and barter
Ribbon, bells etc for your bell branch

wild crafting items
A sharp knife or pruning shears (if you have them).
We will have a few hand saws and a spare pair of shears about as well.
A bag to carry collected material in (a backpack or burlap sack for example) paper bags are good to place and sort herbs into.
A camera if you wish to take pictures.
A field guide for plants or animals tracks, birds etc if you have one for this region.
Some people like to press their gathered herbs and plants (especially as collector specimens) if so you will need a press or a thick book and waxed paper. (optional)
Plastic bags come in handy for wet or dirty rocks and stones.
Digging tools if you like, some people have small shovel or trowels they use for roots or prying out a nice rock. There will be a few of these available as well.
A pencil and notepad for notes

Ritual garb or costume for processional and games
As Beltaine is the opposite of Samhain, we will be dressing up in the Morris Dancer Tradition, or in the Tradition of Guising (so think silly, funny, light hearted, like fairies and nature spirits)
If you do not have ritual garb or a costume, you could buy a masquerade mask (they can be bought at the dollar store, party store, walmart etc) or a silly hat, a feather boa, mardi gra beads, a gypsy skirt, belly dancer bells, or gather some flowers and leaves from the woods and make a garland.
Wearing or bringing bells and anything that jingles, chimes and makes noise would be great as well.
If you would prefer to just wear street clothes that is permitted as well, though you may get attacked by an organizer or other guest and be festooned with ribbon or sparkles or something … so watch out.

Some constume ideas (don’t have to go crazy, a dollar store mask is fine, a feather boa, leaves in your hair)

Robin Hood and crew, Jack in the Green, Oak King , Flower Bride, Greenman, Summer Queen, Fairies Nature spirits, ancestors, animals

We will be making offerings to: The spirits of the Land and Misty Acres itself, Mother Earth, the ancestors, totems (and other guides and guardians), various gods (the main ritual will be pan-Celtic), and any spirit of god (etc) you wish to make a personal offering.
When traveling I find the best offerings are those I can buy at the liquor store and pour out. Other good offerings are food, home made arts and crafts, write a poem or paint a picture and burn it, corn or cloth dollies, gathered herbs, coins, knifes and ritual items … anything that has some meaning to you.
There will be some birdseed or something along those lines for anyone with out an offering, they can use that and add some of their own energy to it.

Any sort of Offering will be welcome (except animals of course hehehehe). We will have compost heaps, a pond, fires, and shrines for the placing of different offerings.

A couple more notes:

There will be a pig roast or BBQ, as well as some rice and veggies and roast potatoes; Pancakes may be served  for brunch, but the rest is up to you to bring.

Both rituals are not “true” Wiccan rituals FYI  Juniper’s is Hedgecraft and Andrea’s rituals tend to have Reclaimming elements.

If you arrive Saturday, there will be time to make a Bell Branch before the ritual if you like.

Witchvox has some great articles for the first time festival goer, a few are linked on the Hedge’s forum

Head over to the Hedge’s forum for more discussion

Related posts:

1. Beltaine Photos
2. Beltaine at Misty Acres
3. Update on Beltaine at Misty Acres