The stone walls of the old castle's ritual room glow with candelight as we meet this night. Outside, the air is balmy and bright; inside, old friends and new faces come together, and the hugs and smiles are as warm as the flames and when all are gathered a small bell rings, and the line forms for the walk to the Grove. Cloud leads, in her familiar green-brown robe and (this time, again) the copper moon crown, followed by all who will greet the four directions, the God and the Goddess. Willow Sage picks up her guitar, and many other beloved friends fall in behind as the small door at the north is opened and we leave the warmth of candlelight behind. As we enter the forest, it seems the ancient trees speak wisdom to us, though it may be a soft breeze in their leaves; we fall silent, our footsteps quiet on the winding path through the darkness until we reach the brightness at the center of the wood, surrounded by sheltering oaks and centered by the great stone altar. The air is spicy with thyme, and glows with the Moon's light, as we enter the place of magic and take our places around the circle. Cloud, who has hugged everyone as they entered, pauses a moment to gaze her love at the assembled company before stepping to the altar. She lights the censer she finds there, and adds sage, basil and rosemary to the scents around us, walking all the way around the circle with the censer and inviting us to breathe the scent as she passes. Replacing the censer, she circles again with salt water, and when that is done she returns to the altar and takes up the copper athame to circle again. As she traces the circle the third time, it glows faintly with her pale green light; it illuminates the edges of the oak leaves, already visible in the brilliant moonlight, and separates us from nothing though we feel its protection. At last Cloud replaces her athame on the altar and speaks: *Brothers and sisters, we have returned again to this place beyond place, this time beyond time, where now and the beginning are one. Nothing can do us harm here, met as we are in Light.*

She steps into the circle, takes the hands on either side, and we all circle to a soft drumbeat to complete the casting; nothing can be done by one alone that is not made stronger by the joined Power of those who come together in love. When we are back in our places, Cloud smiles a signal to Poseidon .

Poseidon enters wearing his black and gold robe. The upper part of his robe is opened to expose his Flyers Jersey he wears in celebration of his beloved team. He enters with a smile and feels the warmth and love in this circle. He faces the East, raises his arms and speaks.***Great guardian of the East, I call you and bid your attendance. Come by Powers of air. Bring your cleansing light and make this space pure. Be hear and protect us as we celebrate and worship within the womb of life.*** Poseidon lowers his arms and winks to Willow Sage as he hears her quiet strumming. He steps back making way for a friend who has been sadly missed.

Terri pauses to embrace Poseidon as they exchange places. She fondly remembers gatherings of the past, and is honored to be here once again. As she steps towards the South quadrant, her long white robe flows gently in the warm breeze. The red trim on her robe serves as a reminder of the Power of Fire and the approaching of the "year's full moon" Summer Solstice. Her hair is tied back with silver and gold ribbons. These she wears to represent the close ties between those gathered here this night family and friends, both old and new. She approaches the candle which has been placed there, waiting to acknowledge the Guardian of the South. The bright flame can be seen moving upward towards the heavens she raises her arms and begins to speak .. "By the powers of the rising sun By the powers of the shinning light By the powers of the cleansing fires . Be present for our work this night!" "Welcome, Powers of Fire, the elemental that burns . Let your presence serve to remind us that out of destruction, comes creation!" Turning slowly in a clockwise direction, she acknowledges each one assembled with a warm smile. Her eyes fall upon Mountain Brook .no words are spoken as the two exchange places .

MountainBrooke steps to the Western portal wearing a green robe that looks as if it is made of ferns. She lights the pale blue pillar candle that is waiting there. As the shimmering flame rises she raises her athame to the West and draws the invoking pentacle and says: "Hail Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West. Spirits of Water. Waters of our tears, Waters of our lovemaking. We invite you to come and share in our circle this night. Come waters of the Morning Mist, Waters of the Gentle Spring Rains. From the smallest Water Sprites, to the graceful Seagulls, to the gentle Dolphins, and on to the greatest of Whales, We invite you all to come and play with us, Come and share your laughter and strengths. Share the waters of our emotions in this circle of perfect love. We welcome you." MountainBrooke lowers her athame. Bringing it to her lips she gently kisses the tip of the blade before replacing it in its sheath. Silently she blends back into the circle exchanging places with

Avalon, who steps forth from the circle. She wears, again, her flowered green robe. She smiles at those in the circle, particularly Willow Sage, and walks to the altar. She reaches into the depths of her robe, and brings forth a handful of pungent, fresh earth and raises it to the sky as she speaks **Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North, we ask for your presence here tonight. As the earth is a symbol of creativity, fertility, and growth, we ask that you lend these powers for our work here tonight. Be with us and bless us.** She sprinkles the earth upon the floor, and walks back to her place in the circle, making way for

Red Deer, who steps from his place in the circle, and dancing in a deasil spiral, approaches the ancient stone altar at its center. He wears a crown of antlers, in honor of the Horned One whom tonight he calls. As he moves - keeping time with the heartbeat of the night - his bare feet seem to flow in and out of the fertile ground, and creeping cedar ebbs and flows about the legs of his buckskin trews. His cape adorned with feathers flutters upon the breeze. With each turn yet another smell of Summer seems to waft upon the breeze - each scent (oak, thyme, sage, basil, rosemary, and creeping cedar moving within far older stirrings of fern and leafmold) swirls to its own rhythm in the dance, yet each compliments the others, as the point and counter-point of an ancient olfactory fugue. Another counterpoint comes to the ears of those who wait, as the scent-laden breeze mounts to leaves of those ancient oaks, whose own circle about the altar lends aged stability to the energies forming within the circle of friends. Each leaf, in touching another, emits a song much reminiscent of the distant thrumming of an ethereal wind harp or of a carillon made of stars - a song ever changing yet ever the same. As Red Deer approaches the altar, he reaches beneath his cape with his left hand to withdraw a globe of golden amber which glows faintly, pulsing in time with the music from the oaks. Standing very still for a moment, his toes root into the bare and fertile Earth. He raises his right hand to trace - with his spiral staff of black walnut - a series of three symbols upon the altar's side. First a circle, that of the ancient oneness of the night. Then a leaf, that of the world tree in which all is immanent. And finally a crescent, that of the Horned God who is - by turns - Lover, Father, and Brother. Swinging the amber aloft he intones the words: ***As this moon grows full, so does the year. Having moved again within the cycle, from Blue God, to Green God and to the Great Horned God of the Hunt - I beseech you, Father, join tonight this circle. Lend strength to the Hunted, that they may swiftly fly. Lend strength to the Hunters, that they may take sustenance from the World. Lend strength to Those Who Will Feast here, in honor of our Lady and You. Lend strength for perfect love and perfect trust. Lend strength for blessings and thanks, for only so may the Prey and the Predator find peace. And most of all, Father, lend strength to the Children we all have been, are and will be to perceive You in blessed union with She who is Mother of us all, as we approach the Hinge of the Year.*** Lowering the amber globe, Red Deer turns to hold it out towards each member of the circle. As each observes and gestures in turn, the golden glow crescendos to a blaze of brilliant noon. The light burns into memory those symbols traced upon the altar - which now glow with a light of their own. Replacing the amber beneath his cloak, Red Deer genuflects towards the altar - noting the continued faint presence of those symbols whose light playfully dances from deepest blue, to forest green, to golden amber - and moves towards the circle. Before taking his prior place, Red Deer stands briefly before Breck. He bows deeply to her, then kisses her upon the forehead and upon each hand. Retaking his place, he leaves the Path open for Her

Breck smiles at Red Deer, then at each person with her as she enters the circle. She wears a deep green gown, to honor the Goddess as Mother and as always, her robe of All and Nothing Slowly she approaches the altar and the White candle sitting in it's silver Moon candlestick. "Lady Mother, as we prepare to honor you, we invite you to be with us and spend this time enjoined in our ritual. As we reach the zenith of our year, we worship you Birth Mother, having favored us with fertility and ask you lead us to a safe and happy delivery of our hopes, dreams and aspirations . Breck lights the candle and the smell of roses fill the air around the group . And so with glad and full heart I say.."Welcome here with us, Play and Sing and join in our sharing of all that may soon be born " Breck turns and rejoins the group, catching Cloud's eye as she does so

and Cloud steps forward, bearing something wrapped in the green of growth. Catching a circle of eyes shining in moonlight she pauses a moment before the altar, places her object on it for now, and speaks: *People, we are amazing, never doubt it. In spite of our occasional disagreements, we know we are more alike than different, and each moon for the past eighteen we have come together and proved it, giving ourselves and each other gifts of awesome moments of reverence and joy. In this as in all else, we are here today because of something someone did first. In this time of year, human societies have chosen many days to honor their beginnings as individuals and as nations, and we have a beginning to honor this night as well. Nineteen moons ago, five women gathered in a room in a castle somewhere in cyberspace and gave birth to an idea, invented a form, and invited us all to join them. Two of them are with us tonight, the others elsewhere, but what they gave us still lives, thrives and grows. I would like to give a gift to the Grove in their honor* and she unwraps her package, which looks like a pentacle of silver openwork. When looked at more closely, it is actually an inner circle of five open stars, points touching, surrounded by a larger circle of at least 100 smaller stars that seem to grow out of the central ring. It may be a trick of the light of candles or moon, but there seem to be yet a third ring, perhaps even a fourth, of uncounted tiny stars as yet not solid. As Cloud holds it up for us to view, the moonlight shining through the center sparkles her eyes. She hangs it from a low branch of the easternmost oak, for to her the east is the home of ideas and also the direction of the amazing realm in which this Grove exists. *Lady and Lord, I acknowledge this holy night the incredible achievement of those who gave the idea of this ritual form: Goldenwulf, whose castle was its first home and who led the first circle there; Dalen and Lady Webb, not seen here for many months; and Terri and Breck, here with us now. Many have added to this tradition, but the original innovation is theirs.* She moves to Breck and Terri, each in turn, and gives them each an enormous hug, and then, as soft sounds of guitar and drum begin, speaks again: *For all of us here this holy night, may we remember where we come from, for we wouldn't be here otherwise. May we approach the new without fear, for innovation is change is life. So mote it be* And she steps back to the circle, inviting all who have founders to honor or wishes to bring to life to bring them before the Goddess and God. And, awash in light and sound, aglow with friendship, we await the beginning of honorings and petitions .

MoonEagle steps forward, garbed in a flowing white robe. Pans' horns firmly attached to his head. "My friends I must leave you, but I shan't forget you as the Lord and Lady bless you all this night let also my blessings be with you all. I thank you for your kindness and generosity that you all have shown me. You shall always be in my heart and in my mind." MoonEagle turns thrice deosil .Arms raised above his head

"Lord and Lady of Light,

Blessings on these the true Wiccan,

Bless them with your Love and Might.

It is with heavy heart that I cry,

Listening to the wind sigh,

For alone again I will be,

After all I have had to see.

As I leave them behind,

I'll remember their Love in kind,

Until that day we meet,

In the summer so sweet."

MoonEagle, tears running down his face, turns to all and smiles. "My LOVE to you all my Brothers and Sisters." MoonEagle turns and leaves the circle .

the guitar stops for a quick moment while Willow Sage pauses to give MoonEagle & then continues with a tune we should all be familiar with.. Avalon places a pink candle on the altar for her daughter, and feeling, or knowing that the best way to get her invocation across could only be a song, Willow Sage sings

*On my own pretending he's beside me

all alone i walk with him til morning

without him i feel his arms around me

& when i lose my way i close my eyes & he has found me

through the rain the pavement shines like silver

all the lights are misty in the river

in the darkness the trees are full of starlight

& all i see is him & me forever & forever.

& i know it's only in my mind

that i'm talking to myself & not to him

& all though i know that he is blind still i say there's

a way for us

i love him but when the night is over he is gone

the river's just a river

without him the world around me changes

the trees are bare & everywhere the streets are full of

strangers

i love him but everyday i'm learning

all my life i've only been pretending

without me his world will go on turning

the world is full of happiness that i have never known

i love him but only on my own*

she finishes the song, puts a rose on the altar, & steps back making way for

Poseidon, who gives Willow Sage a huge hug of reassurance then moves towards the alter. He places a basket full of Honeysuckle on the alter and smells the beauty of it's scent. He then speaks**** Holy Mother, I come here this night in worship of life and all it's manifestations .*** Poseidon pulls a piece of paper out from his robe and begins to tell a story that is real- a story that was a lesson blessed upon his soul by the Lady of Light, the Holy Goddess. He speaks*** As I remember it I was a boy of 9 or 10. I was alone and playing in a hedgerow that bordered a cornfield. I played a part in a fantasy where I was Daniel Boone, the Hunter. My weapon was a rubber band and paper clip. Harmless at it seems, this weapon changed my life and way of thinking. Perched upon a branch of a mighty Oak tree was a baby black bird singing it's song of life. In my eyes I saw a target worthy of any great hunter. I took aim, rubber band pulled back to my ear. With the rush of adrenaline streaming through my bones I let the paper clip slip through my fingers and heard it whiz by my ear. To my amazement my aim was true. As feathers flew airborne my prey fell to the ground. I ran as fast as I could to find my kill. Once upon it, the thrill of the kill had departed. What I saw was a baby blackbird ..courageously gasping for every last breathe of life it could muster. I looked into the birds eyes and learned you need not speak to communicate. The words in the eyes of my victim spoke true and loud. This birds words were not of hate or anger, but only of questions. Questions of why. Why did I deprive it of life. Why did I intrude on it's peace and fill it's world with hate. Who was I to decide it's short life should cease. With tears streaming down my face, I cupped the little bird in my puny bloodied hands and ran him home to Mom. I thought maybe, just maybe I could save him. I called out to my mother for help but by the time she arrived I had become a killer. I cried so hard. My guilt so severe. My mother hugged me and looked sternly in my eyes. Son you were cowardly enough to kill him, now you must be man enough to bury him and let him leave this world with integrity. I built a small casket for him and put him in the ground right next to my cat Archie's grave. I can still feel the pain and the guilt of being the killer that day. That day I'll never forget. It was a day that formed my values and love for life. Not just Human life but all life . in whatever form it may exist. The End. Holy Goddess, I thank you for this lesson of life and all others you will bless upon me. This was the first time in my life I understood that life itself is more important than mine alone. Poseidon pulls a feather from his robe and places it upon the alter. He stands quiet for a moment than steps back making way for

and Cloud steps forward. Her familiar basket is filled with blue Virginia spiderworts, a glorious flower that pretends it's a weed. She hugs Poseidon, whose story she *understands*, and continues around the circle, with a flower and a hug for everyone, until her basket is down to the papers in the bottom, and one flower, which she lays on the altar, with this year's sheaf of staff memos and schedule sheets, placed in gratitude for today's good beginning to a worthy venture. She lights a yellow candle for the continued brilliance of an excellent staff, and one brown as the earth for the endurance she expects they will need. Cloud steps back, making way for

Red Deer, who returns to the altar after making a deaosil round of the circle with a warm hug for each in attendance. From within a pouch hidden beneath his cape, he lays three items upon the altar. The first, a large white and heavenly perfumed flower, that of a Night-Blooming Cereus. ***Lady and Lord, I offer this blossom of the night Let it remind us that only in sweet union with darkness is the day born and that each turn of day and night, which is but a gossamer veil between the infinite webs of past and future, is a fragile thing that, all to soon, releases it's nectar and passes on.*** The second, a stem of green and golden mistletoe, now devoid of its sticky white fruit. ***Lady and Lord, I bring from the heart of winter this reminder to us all that the Wheel goes ever 'round. May all who truly perceive it know the joy of standing amid the pillars of the temple and know the delight of riding the wheel in these bodies we are given, our own temples.*** The last, an Amanita muscaria, its cap of deepest crimson speckled with white. ***Lady and Lord, from the heart of summer I bring this, a keeper of visions. Let all who behold it recognize the spirit of the vision-quest, and be fulfilled in their search for You, regardless of their path. Give us all visions of tolerance, and the ability to recognize that You truly love all of Your children - both those of the Light and of the Dark.*** ***At this, the last moon before Litha, I give thanks to you for the fathers in my life. The ancient Oak Father who, through each turn of the seasons, greets me at every coming and going, and stands ward by the door to our home. My own father, whom I never truly knew until the three short years I had with him as an adult. He never knew my daughters, but through them I have learned the joy that I hope he found in me. My second father, who - with his family - gave me roots in a culture other than my own and who never balked at assuring that my family had any material needs met for its continuance in comfort. My brothers, who are fathers in their own right, and were - in their own ways - fathers to me. And mostly, I give thanks for my self as a father. I have been honored to wear the Horns of the Shining One, to run with the deer and to fly with the falcons. Yet, returning from all the distant realms to which I've traveled, my greatest comfort and Your greatest gifts have been my daughters. I thank you, Mother, for being my wife. I thank you, Father, for being me. And I beseech you to guide me, and all fathers, along the path that culminates in seeing our children emerge into the world with their own sense of awe as parts of the Web that hath No Weaver.*** Red Deer places both hands upon the sides of the ancient stone which serves us here as altar, and bends forward to place his forehead for a moment upon the heart of the Earth then, with a smile for each of the friends here gathered - human, forest familiar and ancient tree alike - returns to his place in the circle to make way for

Sharon, who wears her summer deerskin ritual robe. She carries two photographs to the altar and places them there, one on the Mother's side, the other on Father's. Before the first photo, she sets and lights a small pink candle. Before the second, a white one. "Dear Ones," she says. "I present to you my eldest son and his wife-to-be. In eight days, they will exchange marriage vows, and I ask that you bless them in their unity and love. By vocation, they are both healers, Holy Ones, intent on bringing ease to the pain of others. Strengthen them in their work and give them ease themselves from their own hurts. I thank you! The man in this second picture is my father, who taught me to see You without knowing he did so. Four years ago, this month was his next to last in this life, and I thank you for the time he had to enjoy the fullness of both Sun and Moon." Sharon raises her arms skyward for a moment, then steps back, making way for .

Midnight steps up to the altar, wearing her dark blue robe etched with silver stars Her bare feet feel the love of the earth beneath her, and the moon sends her beams down to caress Midnight's long brown hair . She stands silently before the altar for a moment, then places upon it a small red pyramid made of stone and polished to a shine which catches the moonbeams . She turns her face to the face of the moon and speaks softly "Precious mother I have come to this circle with requests and needs in the past, but not on this night . tonight I come with awe in my heart and thanks upon my lips. my petitions to you have been granted in ways that I had not even considered . you have allowed me to see all that I would see many things splendid, and many things painful . other things which fall beyond my mortal comprehension . I am thankful for the sight of all these things, but most of all I am thankful that you have allowed me to see myself in all my pain, beauty, and flaws . I have seen so much that it may take me years of work to understand it all, and to make the necessary changes in myself .. but I vow to you now, that I will not turn away from what I have been shown, and I will take up the task of knowing myself with joy and determination ." Midnight looks at the small pyramid, which seems to wink as the moonlight glints off one of its faces . she smiles and returns to the circle . taking a place next to Shegar and giving his hand a warm squeeze . She looks out into the circle to watch the approach of .

Avalon. She walks to the altar quietly and stands with her arms raised in supplication, and speaks **Mother Earth, Great Spirit, I come before you, humble and meek. My soul is in great sadness and pain. Please help me to walk on the path of goodness and rightness. Please help me to not hurt myself or others by my actions or words. Please help me to do what I can to help others on their journey on this plane. This I ask so that I may finally find some peace within my heart. So mote it be.** She reaches into the folds of her robe and withdraws some objects and places them on the altar, and begins speaking again **Dear Mother, dear Father, I bring these objects in memory of loved ones who have gone before me but have guided me in the past and continue to guide me today. This deck of cards is in memory of my grandfather and the times I felt most loved and secure watching him play cards with his friends and family. I miss him so much.** She places a sytrofoam Dunkin Donuts coffee cup on the altar and wipes the tears that begin rolling down her face, and continues **This is for my friend, Tom. He believed in me and loved me when I couldn't love myself. I love him so much and I miss him daily. He passed over such a long time ago, and I am just now beginning to know the wisdom of the lessons he passed on to me. The pain of my loss when he died is still so great but I try to hold on to the happiest of my memories-- of sharing friendship and coffee on a chilly spring morning. Blessed be, Tom, I love you and we will be together again someday.** Avalon walks back to her place in the circle, making way for

Breck, who walks slowly towards the altar "Blessed Lady, Glorious Lord I seem to have lost words this time .each time I approach you, all thought flees so I ask you to please read in my heart know whom I honor and know my needs I open my heart to you and ask for your blessings in return .." She places a small acorn and a stalk of wheat on the altar.from such small things do blessed wonders come She leaves the altar, tears trickling down her face, making

way for ..

.Cloud, who looks around the circle to see if any wish to speak and seeing none step forward, begins to round the circle again to a soft drumbeat that picks up speed as she begins to move more quickly. A chant begins: *The Goddess is alive, magic is afoot, the God is alive, magic is afoot* and it begins to change almost as soon as it starts: Midnight is alive, magic is afoot, Terri is alive, Poseidon is alive, magic is afoot, Willow Sage, Avalon alive, magic is afoot, we all hear our own names, and those we honor, mingled in the music Cloud takes Red Deer's hand, and he takes Breck's, and we all join hands in a powerful dancing spiral to the heartbeat of mother Earth; drums and feet join all the colors of light in a strong weave that reaches over our heads, winding together our petitions spoken and unspoken in a bright cone that is ******RELEASED as we all meet in a tight ring at the center. We spiral back, unwinding our circle as we release the remaining energy to the Earth, the waters and the winds. We give back what we cannot use, and stand, a little breathless as the drum slows and stops. Cloud speaks: *May there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you. May you honor your beginnings and create a beautiful future. And may we come to this place again, in harmony, for many moons to come. *The circle is open, but unbroken. The rite is ended, but never ends. Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again* SO MOTE IT BE, and we dissolve in a loose assembly of hugs and grins and begin to wander back through the woods to the ritual room, where the promise of conversation and chocolate beckons. Of course, some will want to stay and drum all night