“Many involve themselves in a type of earth spirituality which they say goes back thousands of years, and in which sacred hills, trees, and the annual cycle of nature play an important part.”

The programme can be heard here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00hy0df and is available for the next 30 days.

We are going to meet on Saturday, 30th April, gathering at 6.pm., here at Bryn. Green or floral/colourful clothes are to be worn if possible, and if you can bring flowers/greenery to make yourself a head wreath, or help to  decorate the maypole, etc., that would be great! If you wish, you may also bring masks to wear…. either the domino masks which can be bought, or a simple half face mask which you can make yourself form cardboard covered with leaves and or flowers. Whatever, let your imagination and inclinations run wild… it is Beltain after all! There will be a maypole to decorate and erect (Codi’r Fedwen/Raising the Birch as it was called in the olden days!) …. and later danced around! There will be the two fires to light and jump over. There will also be the hand fasting of a symbolic Lord and Lady, unless anyone would like to volunteer to have their union blessed in this way? Also feasting and story telling.

Anyone wishing to stay over night is very welcome to do so.

On Sunday, 1st May, we are going to meet in the car park at Craflwyn (just outside Beddgelert) at 10.30.am. and walk up to the top of Dinas Emrys, a traditional “high place”, where we will continue and complete the celebrations by building and walking a maze, and releasing the gathered energies of Pole, Maze and Lord and Lady. There will also be personal and group work done on peace and possitivity, released into the world at large, as symbolized by the battling red and white dragons in the pool  there. A shared picnic lunch will complete the festivities.

If you would like to join us just for Saturday evening, or just for Sunday morning, that is fine…. all are very welcome for whatever time you can give.

Do please let me know if you are able to come, and also if you would like accommodation or directions to either place.

Just to recap, you will need to bring:
1) Colourful clothes
2) Greenery and flowers for head wreathes and general decoration.
3) Lengths of coloured ribbon.
4) Masks, if you wish to wear one.
5) Something sweet and something savoury to contribute to the evening feast.
6) A contribution of wood to burn would be much appreciated, even if it is only a token gesture.
7) As always, lots of warm and waterproof clothing!

For those coming on Sunday,
8) Half a pound of cold cooked rice. (for marking out the maze!)
9) Picnic lunch contributions.

Whether you can come for some or all of the time, you will be most joyously welcome, and if we don’t get to meet at all over the Beltain period, I wish you all the love and fresh new life that is contained within this time of year.

With loving blessings of the winter truly ended,
Gillian.

So the idea struck me… why not do the same with Groves? Wouldn’t it be nice for groves to have a “Sister Grove” in another country? One, or maybe two at most – keep it personal. How this could work in the real world is simple… the two Sister Groves could write to each other (or email/whatever) and share ideas, practices, recipes, little bardic offerings and generally share what it means to be a druidic group, celebrating and honouring, working and helping as the wheel of the year turns.

Cylch Blodeuwedd actively supports this idea, and would be happy to share such a dialogue/relationship with another grove somewhere else in the world… If you are interested in this, please leave a comment at the bottom of the page.

This idea has also been mentioned on Druidic Dawn, from where we hope other groves can also make their own arrangements for such an exchange.

Blessings to you all,

Dafydd