Other Religions Paganism and Wicca Beltane Prayers Print Paganism and Wicca Wicca Traditions Basics Rituals and Ceremonies Sabbats and Holidays Wicca Gods Herbalism Wicca Resources for Parents By Patti Wigington Patti Wigington Paganism Expert B.A., History, Ohio University Patti Wigington is a pagan author, educator, and licensed clergy. She is the author of Daily Spellbook for the Good Witch, Wicca Practical Magic and The Daily Spell Journal. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on June 25, 2019 Beltane falls on May 1 in the Northern Hemisphers (it's six months later for our readers below the equator) and is a time to celebrate the fertility and greening of the earth in spring. By the time Beltane rolls around, sprouts and seedlings are appearing, grass is growing, and the forests are alive with new life. If you're looking for prayers to say at your Beltane ceremony, try these simple ones that celebrate the greening of the earth during the fertility feast of Beltane. 01 of 07 Am Beannachadh Bealltain (The Beltane Blessing) Beltane is a season of fertility and blessings. Matt Cardy / Getty Images News The Carmina Gadelica features hundreds of poems and prayers that folklorist Alexander Carmichael collected from residents in various areas of Scotland. There is a lovely prayer in the Gaelic entitled simply Am Beannachadh Bealltain (The Beltane Blessing), which pays tribute to the Holy Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. This is a much shorter version, and has been adapted into a Pagan-friendly format for the Beltane sabbat: Bless, O threefold true and bountiful,Myself, my spouse, my children.Bless everything within my dwelling and in my possession,Bless the kine and crops, the flocks and corn,From Samhain Eve to Beltane Eve,With goodly progress and gentle blessing,From sea to sea, and every river mouth,From wave to wave, and base of waterfall. Be the Maiden, Mother, and Crone,Taking possession of all to me belonging.Be the Horned God, the Wild Spirit of the Forest,Protecting me in truth and honor.Satisfy my soul and shield my loved ones,Blessing every thing and every one,All my land and my surroundings.Great gods who create and bring life to all,I ask for your blessings on this day of fire. 02 of 07 Prayer to Cernunnos Print Collector / Getty Images Cernunnos is a horned god found in Celtic mythology. He is connected with male animals, particularly the stag in rut, and this has led him to be associated with fertility and vegetation. Depictions of Cernunnos are found in many parts of the British Isles and western Europe. He is often portrayed with a beard and wild, shaggy hair–he is, after all, the lord of the forest: God of the green,Lord of the forest,I offer you my sacrifice.I ask you for your blessing. You are the man in the trees,the green man of the woods,who brings life to the dawning spring.You are the deer in rut,mighty Horned One,who roams the autumn woods,the hunter circling round the oak,the antlers of the wild stag,and the lifeblood that spills uponthe ground each season. God of the green,Lord of the forest,I offer you my sacrifice.I ask you for your blessing. 03 of 07 Prayer to the Earth Mother sutiporn somnam / Getty Images The Beltane season is a time to celebrate the fertility of the earth, whether you honor the masculine aspect of the gods, or the sacred feminine of the goddesses. This simply prayer offers a thanks to the archetype of the earth mother for her bounty and blessings: Great earth mother!We give you praise todayand ask for your blessing upon us.As seeds spring forthand grass grows greenand winds blow gentlyand the rivers flowand the sun shines downupon our land,we offer thanks to you for your blessingsand your gifts of life each spring. 04 of 07 Prayer to Honor the May Queen Celebrate Beltane by offering a ring of flowers to the May Queen. Johner Images / Getty Images The May Queen is Flora, the goddess of the flowers, and the young blushing bride, and the princess of the Fae. She is Lady Marian in the Robin Hood tales, and Guinevere in the Arthurian cycle. She is the embodiment of the Maiden, of mother earth in all of her fertile glory.Make an offering of a floral crown, or a libation of honey and milk, to the Queen of the May during your Beltane prayers: The leaves are budding across the landon the ash and oak and hawthorn trees.Magic rises around us in the forestand the hedges are filled with laughter and love.Dear lady, we offer you a gift,a gathering of flowers picked by our hands,woven into the circle of endless life.The bright colors of nature herselfblend together to honor you,Queen of spring,as we give you honor this day.Spring is here and the land is fertile,ready to offer up gifts in your name.we pay you tribute, our lady,daughter of the Fae,and ask your blessing this Beltane. 05 of 07 Prayer to Protect the Herds & Flocks Offer a prayer to protect the herds and flocks. Bob Pool / Getty Images In the Celtic lands, Beltane was a time of fire symbolism. Herds were driven between large blazes, as a way to protect them and guarantee their for the coming year. You may not have cattle or livestock, but you can offer this prayer to protect your pets and animals: We light the fires of Beltane,sending smoke up to the sky.The flames purify and protect,marking the turn of the Wheel of the Year.Keep our animals safe and strong.Keep our land safe and strong.Keep those who would protect themSafe and strong.May the light and heat of this firebestow life upon the herd 06 of 07 Prayer to the Gods of the Forest Celebrate Beltane by honoring the gods of the forest. Image by Joakim Leroy/E+/Getty Images Many Pagan traditions today honor the sacred masculine as part of their regular practice. Honor the gods of the forest and wilderness with this simple Beltane prayer–and feel free to incorporate additional deities as they pertain to your own belief system! Spring has come to the earth.the land is fertile and ready at Beltane,seeds will be sown, andnew life will begin once more.Hail, great gods of the land!Hail, gods of resurrected life!Hail, Cernunnos, Osiris, Herne, and Bacchus!Let the soil open upand mother earth's fertile wombreceive the seeds of lifeas we welcome the spring. 07 of 07 Set Up Your Beltane Altar Use symbols of the season to decorate your Beltane altar. Patti Wigington It's Beltane, the Sabbat where many Pagans choose to celebrate the fertility of the earth. This Sabbat is about new life, fire, passion and rebirth, so there are all kinds of creative ways you can set up for the season. Here are some ideas for dressing up your Beltane altar! Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Wigington, Patti. "Beltane Prayers." Learn Religions, Sep. 20, 2021, learnreligions.com/simple-prayers-for-beltane-2561674. Wigington, Patti. (2021, September 20). Beltane Prayers. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/simple-prayers-for-beltane-2561674 Wigington, Patti. "Beltane Prayers." Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/simple-prayers-for-beltane-2561674 (accessed March 28, 2024). copy citation