With cup in hand, we drink the witches’ brew of collective hope and resilience.
Beltane with Baltimore Reclaiming
Saturday, May 6, 2023
Please arrive by 1:30pm for a 2:00pm start
Lakeside Park Pavilion (also called Parkie Lakeside Pavilion) at Druid Hill Park (Red Road + East Drive)
Ritual Description: This year, our community has been working with the Tools of the Witch and for our Beltane celebration, we call in the witch’s cup. The cup is versatile and can be made from virtually anything. It has traditionally been used to hold water for scrying, mixing teas, potions, and remedies in dainty porcelain cups and heavy goblets alike.
Together, we’re breaking through barriers to discover (or re-discover) what we really need to fill our cups. What can we brew to bring hope into our lives?
To bring: Folks often benefit from bringing a water bottle and a small snack for post ritual.
Something dry you can sit on—we will be covered, but the ground may be wet, or some might find the benches on site uncomfortable.
To wear: We are inviting you to a mad tea party! Fancy hats, lacy gloves, and the like are encouraged. Remember to be comfortable for the weather as well—it’s supposed to be partly cloudy and in the 60’s for the day.
Who is Baltimore Reclaiming? Baltimore Reclaiming is a radically inclusive community of witches who use our magic to bring transformation, justice and healing to ourselves, Baltimore and the world. We are a group of witches, artists, pagans, healers, activists, queers, priestesses, anarchists, theater geeks, feminists, and other good humans. We see our work as teaching and making magic: the art of empowering ourselves and each other. In our classes, workshops, and public rituals, we train our voices, bodies, energy, intuition, and minds. We use the skills we learn to deepen our strength, both as individuals and as community, to voice our concerns about the world in which we live, and bring to birth a vision of a new culture. We gather, mostly on the Sabbats, to work magic, often for personal healing and also for the healing of our society and planet. We believe that the work we do together in our sacred circles really can change the world.
What is Beltane? Beltane is a May Day festival commonly celebrated on May 1st. In modern Witchcraft traditions it is celebrated as a cross-quarter holiday, marking the balance point between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. Traditionally, Beltane is a celebration of the imminent arrival of Summer, and often saw blessings and protective magics for cattle and fields. This festival is often commemorated with bonfires, maypoles, dancing, and performing fertility rituals.
Cost: Baltimore Reclaiming does not charge for our events, but we do have considerable expenses which include renting the space and buying supplies for the ritual! Our costs for this ritual are between $200-$250. We recommend a $10-$20 donation per person. You can bring cash or send money ahead of time via Paypal to ritual@baltimorereclaiming.org or via Venmo to 443-235-2007. No one is turned away for lack of funds. You are fully welcome regardless of your ability to financially donate.
Drugs & Alcohol: All Baltimore Reclaiming events are drug- and alcohol-free. We respectfully request that you do not use drugs or alcohol before or while attending our events.
Scent Policy: We strive to accommodate people who have chemical and scent sensitivities. Please keep these people in mind as you make choices about wearing scented personal hygiene products.
COVID Safety: We encourage (but do not require) taking an antigen test before attending. Please do not attend if you are COVID-positive, experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, or have been exposed to a person positive for COVID-19. We encourage mask wearing.
What to Expect: New to Baltimore Reclaiming? Learn more about what to expect at an event.
About the Venue & Transit: This ritual will be held at the Parkie Lakeside (also referenced as just Lakeside) Pavilion. This pavilion is located on Red Road and East Drive. There is some parking on Red Road and along East Drive.
Restrooms are available at the playing fields and the swimming pool area.
Public Transit: Druid Hill Park is served by metro, bus, and light rail. However, please note all of the drop off points are outside of the park and you should plan on a minimum of 20+ minutes walking to the pavilion.
If you are accessing this ritual via public transit and need help managing the distance between the park entrance and the pavilion, please be in touch. We can help coordinate this but we need 24 hours’ notice. Please email baltimorereclaiming@gmail.com for assistance.
Mondawmin Metro Subwaylink stop is a short walk from the entrance of the park. It is another 20+ minutes depending on walking speed from there to the pavilion.
The Woodberry light rail stop is close to a back entrance of the park, and it is another 30+ minute depending on walking speed from there to the pavilion.
The closest bus stops to the pavilion are:
CLOVERDALE RD & MADISON AVE. This bus stop is served by CityLink Yellow. It is a 20 minute walk from this stop to the pavilion.
REMINGTON AVE & WYMAN PARK DR. This bus stop is served by 21 and 94 bus routes It is a 20 minute walk from this stop to the pavilion, using a back entrance via Wyman Park Drive/East Street.