Events

Beltane Ritual

The Three of Cups by Pamela Colman Smith

Join Reclaiming LA to celebrate Beltane, also known as May Eve, a cross-quarter holiday celebrating the height of Spring. Beltane is traditionally a festival of flowers, sensuality, and delight, when we reclaim pleasure and play for our bodies that have survived a long winter. But we also acknowledge that as Beltane occurs in the Northern Hemisphere, it is Samhain on the other half of the globe. This year, we will navigate this witchy balance as we weave wreaths/crowns that are spells of protection and good fortune for what is to come.

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Ritual Intention:

We draw on our communal power to protect what is blooming in spite of all odds.

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SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023

3PM Ritual Begins

Suggested donation $0-$20

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LOCATION

El Dorado Park, Long Beach, CA

7550 East Spring Street
Long Beach, CA 90815

Cost: $8/car to enter the park. We recommend carpooling where possible!

Directions to ritual site:

  1. Use the Spring Street entrance, across from the nature center. You will see a large dog park near the entrance. You may have to wait in line at the parking kiosk.
  2. Turn right at the stop sign right after the parking kiosk.
  3. Turn left at the first opportunity, where there is a sign that says, “Alternate Route to Site III”
  4. Park along the road as soon as you find a space to do so.
  5. We will be gathering in one of the groves of trees to the left of the road. Look for drums and witchy outfits. If you are unable to find the group, text or call 908-797-3070 for help finding us.

A detail of the PARK MAP is included below, with an X over the area where you will find us:

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INFO

● The ritual will be held fully outdoors.

● You will be invited to sit on the ground for part of the ritual. Bring a picnic blanket or cloak that will help make you comfortable for this activity.

● We will be making flower crowns at this ritual! Please bring flowers you would like to use for this purpose or share with others.

● Bring percussion instruments for the drum jam if you are called!

● Wear clothes you feel comfortable wearing in a public park (e.g. this may mean shorts and a t-shirt instead of your usual ritual wear), and comfortable shoes.

● All genders welcome!

● Children welcome with adult supervision.

● To support those in recovery, this ritual is drug and alcohol free.

ACCESSIBILITY

The ritual space is an approximately 50-100 yard walk from the road, depending on where you are able to park. The ground is mostly flat and grassy with some minor dips and divots. Organizers are happy to help folks get to the site as best we can. There are large trees near the site that may provide some acoustic resonance, and the ritual will be priestexed in a way that is mindful of those who may need help hearing. We will complete the ritual before dusk. There are accessible public restrooms approximately 100 yards from the ritual site.

We have written this to be as inclusive as possible so that people with accessibility concerns do not have to do the labor of asking. If we have overlooked some aspect, please email us at info@reclaimingla.org.


2023 Ritual Calendar

Imbolc:  Saturday, February 4 at The Green Man Store

Ostara: Saturday,  March 18 at Griffith Park

Beltane: Saturday, May 6 location TBD

Litha: Saturday, June 17 location TBD

Lughnasadh: Saturday, August 5 at The Green Man Store

Autumn Equinox: Saturday, September 23 at Griffith Park

Samhain: Saturday, November 4 at The Green Man Store

Yule: Saturday, December 16 at Nicholas Canyon Beach

Ritual plans may be subject to change based on the needs of our community. For up-to-date information on upcoming rituals and events, subscribe to the Reclaiming LA mailing list!