The mountain air is cool and clean this night and there is silence but for the occasional cry of a loon. Standing on the shore, looking towards the lake is a lone female figure,cloaked in brown. This is a beautiful, peaceful place, and Avalon is so pleased to have found it to share with her friends. She looks up at the full moon and feels Mother is smiling at her and blessing this monthly rite as they wait, together. On the shore, preparations have already been made for the ritual. In place of the ritual table, an ornately decorated piece of cloth has been laid on the ground and on it there are small unlit candles. Off to the side of the cloth is an abalone shell, filled with smoking white cedar and sage. Further away still, a bonfire burns brightly in anticipation of the festivities to follow later and to warm any chilled travelers.

Avalon hears the rustle of the leaves in the forest lining the shore and turns. Her brothers and sisters are arriving-- some walk in groups, speaking in quiet tones-- there is such a hallowed feeling to this magickal place-- and others walk silently by themselves. She walks up to each and greets them with a hug, "Thank you so much for being here. Welcome."

When they have all assembled and all is quiet once more, Avalon takes up the smoking shell and motions to the musicians. They come forward, instruments at their side, and allow themselves to be cleansed in the smoke. They enter the circle and begin playing-- Breck keeping the heartbeat of the Mother on the drum, and Willow Sage and Sagewolf playing a simple tune on the flute and guitar, respectively.

The rest of the participants smudge themselves with Avalon's help and enter the circle. The last one to smudge is Avalon herself, and she walks to the center of the circleand looks around, lovingly, at each one gathered. ** I welcome you to this circle on the most sacred of all nights of the moon. I welcome your energies and your presence. As we commence with the invocations, may we all be blessed by the light and the love of the Lord and the Lady.**

She steps back and motions to Piper, who comes forward...

Piper Leaves is place in the circle and goes to the Eastern quarter. He places a yellow candle that is anointed with lotus in a holder that is waiting there. ** Paralda ruler of the East bring to us your life giving air and join us now. Embrace us with your gentle breezes andguard your quarter of this circle.** Piper lights the candleand raises his arms to the eastern sky. Gentle winds stir and move the folds of his kilt and the robes of all gathered. He lowers his arms and once more takes his place in the circle to make way for.......

Red Deer, who is clothed in sanguine buckskin trews andbuckskin cape sewn with the feathers of hawks and falcons. He moves from his place in the group first to the abalone shell where he turns the smoldering cedar and sage with the tip of his athame - a silver georgian dagger - and then to the southernmost point of the circle. Red Deer traces the sign of fire - first upon the ground, then upon the air, andlast upon the back of his left hand - with the athame. ::Lords of Fire - fire that lights our skies by day, fire that warms our hearths by night and fire that raises our spirits by passion - grant us your cleansing kiss. Remind us that we come from the fires which burned within our mothers wombs, as these mountains grew from the fires which burned within the Mother of All. Protect us as wards of the southernmost point of this sacred circle.::

With his left hand, Red Deer clasps the globe of amber tied about his neck, now glowing brilliantly within the heart of night, as he raises his athame to the sky. From the clear sky, a single bolt of lightening leaps to the uplifted athame and thence to the amber, from which it is refracted about the circle and through the friends gathered within, finally grounding upon the central altar. After thebolt has passed, a faint blue web hangs upon the air, its nexi the hearts of those in attendance. Swiftly moving through the group, Red Deer kisses each upon the left hand - ending with Shegar, who...

Red Deer, who is clothed in sanguine buckskin trews andbuckskin cape sewn with the feathers of hawks and falcons. He moves from his place in the group first to the abalone shell where he turns the smoldering cedar and sage with the tip of his athame - a silver georgian dagger - and then to the southernmost point of the circle. Red Deer traces the sign of fire - first upon the ground, then upon the air, andlast upon the back of his left hand - with the athame. ::Lords of Fire - fire that lights our skies by day, fire that warms our hearths by night and fire that raises our spirits by passion - grant us your cleansing kiss. Remind us that we come from the fires which burned within our mothers wombs, as these mountains grew from the fires which burned within the Mother of All. Protect us as wards of the southernmost point of this sacred circle... With his left hand, Red Deer clasps the globe of amber tied about his neck, now glowing brilliantly within the heart of night, as he raises his athame to the sky. From the clear sky, a single bolt of lightening leaps to the uplifted athame and thence to the amber, from which it is refracted about the circle and through the friends gathered within, finally grounding upon the central altar. After thebolt has passed, a faint blue web hangs upon the air, its nexi the hearts of those in attendance. Swiftly moving through the group, Red Deer kisses each upon the left hand - ending with Shegar, who...

Salustra, who steps into the circle in the west, dressed in a simple white linen robe bound with multi-colored cords. A necklace of amethyst and lapis gleams around her neck. She draws her athame from a moonstone-studded blue leather sheath and draws the invoking pentagram of water. "From the West come the waters of Healing; Quiet, patient, flowing waters. Let these waters bring inspiration to our hearts; Let these waters fill our souls with peace." Salustra then produces a crystal decanter of water and a simple blue ceramic bowl. She pours the water from decanterto bowl, concentrating on the sound of the water.She sets the bowl in the west, and makes way for...

Apollo now enters the circle, dressed in hisDark Green Robe, which is adorned this nightwith Crystals and Stones of colors to match.

Oh Spirit of the North

Ancient ones of Earth

I call you to attend this circle

Charge this by your powers.

Apollo taking hold of his wand

gently points to the North

Immediately the area all around

is engulfed in a sea of greenish

mist, rising and writhing in the

Northern Quarter.

Sensing the ever presence,

Apollo lowers his wand and

steps back.

Before exiting, he warmly greets everyone in attendence and bids them takea crystal, a stone, or two, whichare now charged as a gift from the north.To go forward from here.

Apollo now exits and makes way for;

Poseidon, who is clad in his black and gold robe. He wears his favorite moccosins to protect his feet. Perched upon hisshoulder is his white dove, a present from the past. He raises his hands to the sky, spreads them apart to form a vee and speaks in a loud echoing tone.

"Great Ancient Father, I call to the heavens in the night. Hear me...for I invite you to join us in celebration. Come witness the beauty of your fertile touch. The seeds youhave planted have come to life in splended glory. Come and worship our Holy Mother who's womb so serene and warm,nurtures all life. Make this union of life complete- Great Horned One be with us this night!!!! Poseidon stares to the sky for a while, then takes a bell from his robe and rings it once. He then quietly retreats tohis place with a smile on his face making way for....

willow sage.. the melody of the flute is broken, & the songon Sagewolf's guitar gently becomes an old Beatles song.. willow sage smiles & begins her invocation delicately with the voice of her soul: "Born a poor country boy- Mother Nature's Son All day long i'm sitting singing songs for everyone Sit beside a mountain stream- see her waters rise Listen to the pretty sound of music as she flies Find me in a field of grass- Mother Nature's Son Swaying daisies sing a lazy song beneath the sun..." she ends her song w/ the sound of the bell & steps back...

Avalon re-enters the circle, and stands facing the moon. She raises her arms out-stretched towards the night sky and calls out:

** Mother, Father, Spirits of the Air, Fire, Water, andEarth... We thank you for being with us this moon. We ask for your blessings to grant us our petitions and bestow uponus our desires. Keep us in the light and the power of your love. Be with us now and forever more in our hearts and lives....**

She reaches inside her cloak and draws out a smallwicker basket filled to the brim with purple flowers. She sets them on the center cloth and continues: ** I bring you violets in memory of my great-great-auntMay, who taught me to love unconditionally and see thatwhich is good and kind in all. It has been one year since she passed to over to Summerland. I honor her time on this plane by passing on the lessons of love and understanding asshe taught them to me. For myself, at this time, I ask that I receive the gift of friendship from one who was my past and now my present. Watch over and guide us as we repair the pains and hurts of the past, let us find comfort and solace where there was once none, and keep us in your light and love.** Avalon lights one of the small votive candles on the center cloth before making her way back to the circle. She reaches out and squeezes the hand of the one beside her as the next petitioner steps out of the circle.

Piper walks toward the alter and places a picture of his earthly mother and a silk bag with vervain there. He steps back to gather his thoughts and looks up into the night sky.*** Ancient Mother I come before you this night to honor twowomen who mean a great deal me and who have helped shape whoI am. First is the woman who gave me life. She showed me what it is to be truly alive. To rejoice in the start of each new day and to greet it with a smile. As she starts to reach her golden years, watch over her and keep her in good health. Next is a lady who meant a great deal to us all. Lady Litha who passed from us at Baltane. She was like a mother and councilor to some but mainly she was a friend to us all. Many tears were shed at her passing for the loss of this special person. But we revel in the knowledge that our paths will one day cross again. Hold her in your warm and loving embrace till the time of her rebirth.** Piper raises his arms to send out his heart felt love for these twospecial people in his life. He wipes a tear from his cheek

and takes his place in the circle and watches as...

Piper walks toward the alter and places a picture of his earthly mother and a silk bag with vervain there. He steps back to gather his thoughts and looks up into the night sky.*** Ancient Mother I come before you this night to honor twowomen who mean a great deal me and who have helped shape whoI am. First is the woman who gave me life. She showed me what it is to be truly alive. To rejoice in the start of each new day and to greet it with a smile. As she starts to reach her golden years, watch over her and keep her in good health. Next is a lady who meant a great deal to us all. Lady Litha who passed from us at Baltane. She was like a mother and councilor to some but mainly she was a friend to us all. Many tears were shed at her passing for the loss of this special person. But we revel in the knowledge that our paths will one day cross again. Hold her in your warm and loving embrace till the time of her rebirth.** Piper raises his arms to send out his heart felt love for these twospecial people in his life. He wipes a tear from his cheek and takes his place in the circle and watches as.....

the melody of the flute gently comes to a stop & willow sagecomes before the altar... she speaks: "Females whom i honor... i believe that all women I have ever come in contact with have somehow influenced my life, from my mother, grandmother, aunts & other female relatives, my (school) teachers & friends, the women in thiscircle, & even women whom i've only seen on the street or only heard of.. i feel that i've learned from them all, & they've all made me into the young woman i am today; trying to walk towards the light but still stumbling hopefully not because i'm still as blind & naive as i was before... So this boquet of flowers is for all my sisters throughout the world, in this world & in the greater planes above.. thank you..."she places a boquet of many beautiful flowers on the altar..then feeling that only a song could best explain her petition, Sagewolf's guitar tune changes again& she sings:

"How can people be so heartless?

How can people be so cruel?

Easy to be hard.

Easy to be cold.

How can people have no feelings?

How can they ignore their friends?

Easy to be proud.

Easy to say no

Especially people who care about strangers.

Who care about evil & social injustice

Do you only care about the bleeding crowd?

How about a needing friend.

i need a friend.

How can people be so heartless?

You know i'm hung up on you..

Easy to give in...

Easy to help out...

Especially people who care about strangers..

Who say they care about social injustice..

Do you only care about the bleeding crowd?

How about a needing friend?

i need a friend...

How can people have no feelings?

How can they ignore their friends?

Easy to be hard...

Easy to be cold...

Easy to be proud...

Easy to say no...."

finishing her song & wiping a tear from her eye, hoping her family understands her petition, knowing the Sun & the Moon will, she returns to her place in the circle &continues with her song on the flute, & enters...

Sagewolf sets down his Warlock and enters thecircle. "Lord and Lady, my petition to thee is great inemotion and short in words, for you know of whom i speak. I call to thee for help in counseling my friend Brian and of any others who come to me in need of help. I love you both, and shall serve you till the end." Sagewolf steps back into

the circle and resumes his rythmic playing.

Apollo enters the circle. Lord and Lady thank you for joining us this night.To You Lady and all mothers, A Very Special Day. A Rose for each and every Mother here this night in honor of this day. Lord and Lady I really need your help in keeping mybusiness venture on pace and in peace. As there arethose who would be trying to interfere in my move.Let them be cast into their own negativitie.and that which they have for me may it be returned to them 3-fold. I wish no harm to no one, but let harm not come near me. So Mote it Be. So Mote it Be. So Mote it Be... Lord and Lady help me to find my mentor whom I cantrust in, and be able to afford. As in doing so,I can learn more to serve you better and in doing soI can help others. For this and all you help, Thank You. Apollo makes way for;

...Cloud, who moves to the altar bearing a small sheaf of grain tied together with spring flowers. She places the sheaf on the altar and lights a candle to honor Asdis, who she hasn't seen in years; others had come bearing magick before they met, but Asdis introduced Cloud to the Goddess as Mother, and has her gratitude forever. Before Cloud lays down the sheaf, she shakes the seeds from the heads of grain into her hand, and invites everyone in the circle to take one or several. These are, perhaps, the seeds of a deeper knowledge of the Earth. She connects for a moment with the brilliant moon, knowing the Goddess knows her request, and makes way for....

Breck, who now wears a small silver disk with a green onyx square at her throat and carries violets andlily-of-the-valley in her basket. She has placed the drum inPoseidon's capable hands, trusting him to continue the beating heart.... "Lady Mother and Great Lord....you know where my heart is and what needs be done..please help me as I journey towards this end." She places the bounty of her garden on the altar... "I light one candle for my Mother, and all my female ancestors who have lent themselves to me and so brought me to what I am, but I also honor all women as Mother, whether of the physical world or no...." Stepping back to her drum, she smiles as the next petitioner enters the Great circle.....

Sharon takes her place before the altar. "Great Mother, this night I wish to stand and give thanks for my mother, Elaine, for my grandmothers, Adele and Nora and for my own daughter, Pam. Each of them, in their own way, has been Mother to me and helped me on my path. No woman walks alone. We are part of each other, woven into one another and beholden to all!" Sharon raises her hands toward the shining face of the moon for a moment. Then she steps back, making way for...

Red Deer, who approaches the altar carrying live long-stemmed roses. One at a time, Red Deer places the flowers upon the altar. ::Lady and Lord, I too thank thee both for being among us this night. Accept these tokens for those whom I hold dear. Two roses for my wife - one yellow, for that is her favorite and symbolizes the friendship we share, and one red which symbolizes our love. One rose for my mother - lavender for she is old and wears purple. And two for my daughters - both white, for motherhood to come. Please hold these and those they signify close to your hearts, and see to their safety. Red Deer then steps away from the altar, making way for...

Poseidon, who holds a wicker basket filled with white and pink buds from the Dogwood Tree. Much like life, their colors change with time, their essence so sweet, but short is the pleasure of their budding beauty. Poseidon walks to the alter and throws the Dogwood buds upon it, so that not an inch is uncovered. The buds blend with the beauty of the roses and other treasures gifted to our Holy Mother. Poseidon speaks- Holy Goddess, Mother of life, I come here this Moon in celebration of your spirit, the spirit you bless upon all. I come here in reverence of all that follows your path, who give life and nurture it, unselfishly, with love and patience. I come here in respect of women as a whole, blessed be the miracle of their beauty. I worship the strength of their will, and long for the passion of their hearts. Be them nurturer, lover, warrior, or friend, they are the manifestation of your soul and spirit- Holy Mother- and I thank you for them. Poseidon then pulls out a Rose end plates it upon the alter. This is for my Mother, who has stood beside me in all of the good and bad times. I couldn't have asked for anyone dearer than her. And to all Mothers around the world -I thank you for being you. Poseidon then walks back to his place but walks the circle, throwing buds onto all in attendance. He reaches his place and stands back making way for...

Aloe approaches the altar, he places on the altar a bouquet of wild flowers plucked from all the wild places of the earth, a flower for each heart that in its beauty yearns for love. He has come here today into this circle for the last time, to petition his Lady of the Moon, and his Lord of the summer sun. He bows low before them, then standing he salutes them. Dear Lady, thank you, already you have answered one of my deepest prayers, she will live, thank you. Two others please and it harm none, and my joy will be complete. This will be the last time that we all will meet here, please bless us in our future endeavors. I thank thee Lady Hecate. Lord, bright star of the morning, light thee our ways. Aloe bows again, then returns to his place, making way for...

Avalon, who steps out of the circle. She walks to the center of the circle and looks at each of her brothers and sisters, with a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. She raises her arms one last time to the night sky and speaks softly, **Mother, Father, Earth, Wind, Fire, Air-- we thank you for your presence. Stay with us to guide and protect us long after this night is gone. The circle is open but remains forever unbroken. Merry meet and merry part and merry meet again.** She walks around the circle to hug each who joined her this night and invite them to stay for food and drink. The bonfire is restoked and picnic baskets and blankets are opened as the participants of the ritual relax and the sounds of laughter and talk break the silence of the night.

Blessed Be.