BELTANE is always a wonderful celebration on the Isle of Wight, the day beginning before dawn with a long-standing regular fixture at The Longstone for the Men of Wight morris side, their first session of the summer.
They appear from the dark mists with their obligatory barrel of beer and dance up the sun, annointing The Longstone with beer as they go.
Eventually, as they prepare to wind down, members of the hardy audience (it’s not just early, it’s also usually very cold and this year was no exception) are drawn into the dance and the finale is a mass dance around The Longstone, followed by an impromptu singsong, this year including a fine mass rendering of Hal An Tow.
As the morris side packed up, Wight Druids prepared to follow on with their spiritual celebration, including a procession between the twin Bel Fires and, this year, a very rare (for us) public initiation.
More recently, around a dozen of us embarked on Bobcat’s Perennial Course in Living Druidry, with the first meeting beneath the trees by the dragonfly pond at Medina Arboretum, on the edge of Newport. We have chosen to explore this course each month in a natural setting and already, many of us have found the inspiration heightened by the experience of sharing and debating ‘in the wild’.
It is incidentally quite extraordinary to note the enthusiasm for this, admittedly rather delightful if somewhat casual and laid-back, experience on such a small Island.
The second module took us to the large beech ‘cathedral’ deep in ancient Borthwood, as we began (with the Awen flowing) to feel the heat and looked forward to the Summer Solstice…
And so to Alban Hefin.
Wight Druids will be offering open public ritual to celebrate the Summer Solstice, the high point of the year, at The Longstone, around noon on Saturday, June 21.
As ever, all who approach with open heart and mind, and in the spirit of mutual respect which is the cornerstone of the Druid ethic, will be most welcome to join us.
Bring a drum, a musical instrument – poetry, a story, a dance … whatever might inspire you. It’s the longest day. It’s party time!!!
Bendithion Llawen/|\Many Blessings
Scribe
