SongSpring stands beside the calm lake in the middle of the Texas hill country, a gentle breeze blowing through her hair as the brilliant light of the great Full Moon is reflected in the waters as it climbs to its place high above in the sky. Around her there were many great Oak and Cedar trees that had not been as of yet been destroyed by man. Hills were abundant in this area, some smaller, some reaching high towards the skies. The lake she stood by was great in size.

They were at the entrance to a cove that opened towards the North East, giving a beautiful view of the lake, yet protecting them from the stiffer breezes upon the main part of the lake. It was bordered by great rocks that had been smoothed by the passing of time and weather. Gentle waves gently washed upon the shore and retreated as night birds sang and crickets chirped. Not so far in the distance, a young stag chased a doe along the waters and into the trees.

SongSpring called out, "Tonight is the night of the Full Moon. Let us gather together and celebrate this time as She has bade us. We have a long journey ahead, so let us gather quickly." As she spoke, people began gathering beside the water with her to celebrate together. As they came, SongSpring gave each a hug and a warm welcome. Friends turned to greet each other and a warm welcome was given to those who were new and those who came to watch. "You are all welcome my friends! Here we stand at a very special place tome. I once lived here. Before I was ever aware of the Goddess in all her guises, I would come down to this spot and sit upon this rock here and sing as the Full Moon appeared over the horizon and rose to Her place in the sky. See the brilliance of the moon and the stars here? We are far away from the city and its disturbances here. It is here that my mind wanders when I have need of solitude. In this place I felt one with nature for the first time. I felt her call here strongly, even while I was yet unaware of the path I now follow. Did you see the deer run by only moments ago? They are all around us and will come close if you allow them. Listen closely now. Do you hear the wild ducks? They are sleeping now, but in the day they will come to you and eat from your hand. This is a special place to me and this is where I truly think of when I think about home. I wish to share this special place with all of you this night..."

SongSpring paused a minute before continuing, allowing the last of the celebrants to join them before they made their journey. Pointing to a large hill she said, "From that hill you can see miles around. When I needed to be alone, I would go and sit upon that hill and watch the play of Nature all about me. That is where we journey this eve. Follow me and keep well to the path." With that, they began their journey upwards, laughing and playing as they went, frolicking about and enjoying the smells and sounds of a warm spring night.

When they reached the top of the hill, they could view all the splendor of Nature around them through the circle of trees that lay atop the hill. To the North and North East lay the lake, which they could now see almost in full. Surrounding the other directions lay meadows and hills of various sizes, blanketed by the soft glow of the Full Moon. It was breathtakingly beautiful as the wind blew through the circle of trees that surrounded them, gently rustling the leaves. Birds nested in the trees looked down upon the celebrants and sang them a soft welcome to their domain. In the center of the Circle, an oak alter had been set up. It was made from the trunk of a great old tree that had fallen over in its age. Upon the altar lay all the tools for the casting of the Circle as well as a small basket of brightly colored eggs and flowers in honor of the Spring Maiden.

SongSpring welcomed each into this place as they emerged from the trees. When all were present, SongSpring spoke again. "Welcome my friends! This is the first Full Moon of Spring. It is a special time of fertility and balance! May we celebrate the Spring as we honor the God and Goddess this eve! Let us begin our celebration." Song paused to give Cu a quick hug before stepping to her place in the Circle....

Cu stepped forward into the centre of the Circle, drawing his dirk from the kilt belt with his right hand, having the oaken staff in his left hand, knelt before the altar and kissed the earth. He then arose and turning deosil to the East Gate he slowly stepped out to the perimeter of the sacred place. Cu then raised both arms and in a firm and resolute voice called out," I call and greet thee, Guardian of the Watchtower of the East, thou being of Air. I invite thee to come and witness this our rite, leading to the participants thy virtues of wisdom, insight, and creativity. Imbue me with the quickness of thought and protect this circle from all perils that aproach from the East. .... So Mote it Be!" after a short time Cu lowers his arms, and resheaths his dirk. He then pivots around slowly and takes a Guarding stance at the East Gate, awaiting the summoning of the South Gate by.....

NightShade who moves to the South quadrant of the circle. She wears a long gown of fiery red, embroidered with gold thread in symbols representing the element of fire. In her hands she holds a red candle. Striking a flint, she lights the candle, watching as its flame takes hold and grows brighter. Raising the candle to the sky, she speaks:

"Hail and greetings to the Guardians of the South, you who are the elementals of fire. Your energy, in its varied forms, is always with us. Always present in nature, we see you in lightening, sun and stars. Destructive, yet cleansing, your energy transforms the old into the new."

"As the great Wheel takes another turn, we move closer to your time of greatest power. Spring has arrived, its light and warmth dispelling the dark and cold of winter. Your energy has warmed and awakened the earth, renewing its fertility. New growth and beginnings are blossoming once more."

"I call upon and ask you to watch over this circle. Be with us and lend us your energy as we celebrate the coming of spring. Protect this circle, our sacred space, and all within from harm."

Placing the candle on the ground, she faces the center of the circle once more and awaits....

...Cloud, who wears a new robe of deep blue that catches the moonlight on its folds as she moves to the West quadrant. She carries her favorite chalice, made by a friend in the misty past and decorated with many shades of blue glaze and a bright full moon; on this night it is filled with rainwater. She gazes around her at friends well met again, and after a grounding moment, speaks: *Hail, powers of the West, first water of Water: spirit of the River who brings us changes, spirit of the Ocean who leaves surprises on the strand, spirit of the Storm who brings us challenge. Join us here as we celebrate the return of new life to the earth. Carry us through our change times on a gentle stream of love. Rain on us. Help us grow. Be here, now*

And with her welcoming gesture we feel a slightly moist breeze, bearing a promise of showers after the rite is over. She passes the chalice around the circle for all to sip, and when it returns to her raises it to the Moon, sips herself, and pours what remains on the earth to nourish new growth. Cloud places the chalice at the very point of West, and turns to await....

. . . it is now Gelehrte's turn to invoke the Guardian of the North, the power of the Earth. He begins to move close to the North quadrant. This is his first invocation and he is nervous, but he is also excited. He is wearing a brown, monk's robe with a pentagram necklace. There is a knowing and a kind smile on his face as he nods toward SongSpring and the others. On his left breast, sewn in the color green, is the rune of Earth. In his hands is a large, clay cauldron which contains herbs and fresh, garden dirt. he begins his invocation:

"I hail to you with love, Oh Guardian of the North. One who has many names and power of the land. Across the plains and mountains, from here to world's who are without end, I call upon you who has many names, to be at the ceremony at hand."

"Oh, Guardina of the living Earth, we ask of your sacred, motherly precense as we create this early Spring rite, in the eyes of the full moonlight. Bring to us magic, success, and spiritual powers to do what is willed while harming none. We ask this in hopes of success in this rite, this very special night."

With that, the invocation to the North Quadrant is complete. He feels the power of the earth going from the enchanted mother's womb through her flesh and into his body. The others in the group also feels the power of the earth streaming through the ground and into each person's soul. He then places the cauldron at the North Quadrant, his appointed place in the Full Moon rite. Gelehrte steps back to allow the next invocation phase to take place . . .

Hand in hand, Elenya and Red Deer move from their place among the circle of friends. Elenya wears a flowing robe of green to symbolize the season, her auburn hair framed by a silver headband of changing moon phases, in honour of the Goddess, while Red Deer moves within a blur of amber light - loosely wrapped within the hide of a great stag. Deosil round the sacred space they dance, exchanging greetings with each present, then making their way to the oaken altar. Standing before those gathered - human and not - they warmly embrace, then each lays hands upon one of the sacred tools placed there.

After a long moment of silence, Elenya and Deer turn to face each other with hands clasped, seemingly oblivious to those gathered around them. "As it has always been between man and woman," Deer intones, "we stand thus - face to face. Yet when love moves with us in the darkness are our backs are exposed." Then, in a single fluid motion, both turn to stand back to back - seemingly having never released their hold each upon the other. "And as it always shall be between woman and man," Elenya chants, "we stand thus - back to back. Yet each looks outward from the other, to protect the one thing which we always have been."

Again the pair turn, and Elenya kneels before Red Deer beside the altar. "My Lord, the night sings of many Mysteries - the first full moon of Spring and the coming of Beltaine. Join with me in the glory of Lord and Lady. Blessed be thy hooves, which have brought thee in these ways," she murmurs, kissing Deer's bare feet, then proceeding through the remainder of the five- fold kiss. Standing, Elenya raises her arms to the sky, then spreads them out to the woods about her. "Grant me hearing, Horned Father, known to those of old by many names. Before the Stag becomes the Serpent this eve, before you take to the skies and once again, however briefly, devour She who shines within the darkness - I invoke and call upon you. By prey and predator, by shaft and blood do I - for the sake of life and love - invite You to descend into the body of he who stands before me. So mote it be."

Red Deer then, with the momentary shimmer of tines upon his brow and hooves where feet should be, kneels before Elenya. "My Lady, Mysteries indeed. The pursuit of a mate, the pursuit of a future, and the extraordinary darkness which shall enfold all between the full moon's times of rise and set. Join with me in the glory of the Lady and Lord. Blessed be thy feet, which have brought thee in these ways," he sings, kissing Elenya upon each of her graceful feet, then returning her five-fold kiss. Finishing with a long kiss upon the lips, Deer raises his arms skyward as though to encircle the moon. "Grant me hearing, Holy Mother, known to those of old by many names. Before Your face is hidden from us this evening - by the great Dragon who roams the heavens - I invoke and call upon Thee. By root and stem and leaf, by bud and flower and seed, by scale and feather and fur do I - for the sake of life, love and need - invite Thee to descend into the body of she who stands before me. So mote it be."

Momentarily, Elenya seems encircled in a soft glow, as a scintillating moonbeam drifts lazily downward to the lake's still surface before being focused into a dazzling reflection about her. An intense stillness settles about the hilltop, as the reflected moonlight draws from the water a thick mist to hide from all gathered the center of the circle, the altar, and the two standing there. The moon's bright light wanes in an instant, her hue deepening from cream to deepest rust and then into darkness, as she is consumed by shadow. An eternity passes, with those in circle illuminated solely by starlight and the opalescent glow which hides Elenya and Deer from their view - though some believe they see not human forms but those of a stag and a skylark dancing within the mist. Then the familiar face brightens once again in the sky above them, the mist dissolves and the circle of friends note that the pair stand hand in hand, placing the glain - a jasper egg once believed to be that of a dragon - upon the altar.

Turning to those circled about them, the two smile broadly. "Once in the month, and preferably when the moon is full..." Elenya and Deer state in unison, before returning to their places among friends to await....

SongSpring, who stepping out from her place in the Circle walks about the Circle doesil once, then stopping before the altar turns to face all about. "Now is the Circle cast. We stand here in the presence of the Lord and Lady in this place which is no place in a time where there is no time. Let us come now and bring our petitions before the Lord and Lady this eve as the Full Moon now rises above us." SongSpring turns to the altar, pausing a few minutes in silent meditation before walking back to her place within the Circle. Surrounding the circle a small audience of woodland creatures had assembled. Deer lay along the edge of the trees along with other creatures not so easily seen. This place was truly as it should be. SongSpring stood now at a place along the edge of the circle awaiting the petitions.

Cloud reaches for her ever-present basket, filled to the brim with fresh small apple branches bearing fat buds. They are from the tree that needed pruning, and if put in water they won't go to waste. Sometimes they grow roots; almost always they blossom beautifully. She rounds the circle with a branch for everyone who wants one, and a hug to go with it, a sharing of the coming of spring to her place in honor of the new life in her family. All things considered, she thinks to the moon as she resumes her place at the West, she is feeling amazingly spry....

Cu receives the apple sprig from Cloud with the Love that the giver imbued the gift. After the Center of the sacred circle had cleared he stepped forward to the altar. Reaching into his sporran Cu draws out some seeds and raises them to the Full moon and says " Persephone, I welcome thee from your long stay in the underworld. As you bring the fullness of the fertility to the earth and in that the life anew to these seed, I call upon thee to fill me with the healing energies that I require to free my self from the addiction I have. I plant these Rose seeds around this circle to manifest the pact that, as the moon above wanes, so shall be my need for the nicotine. So that by the dark of the moon>>i shall no longer have the compulsion to harm myself and in harming self with the abuse of the sacred plant, harm others." Cu then draws a deep breath and declares to all present, "I ask all here to help as they can, in thought and intent, in support of this endeavor of mine." He then faces the altar again and, drawing his dirk from the kilt belt and raising it high above his forehead, says "By Earth, Sky and Sea may I be thrice cursed if I forswear this oath I take."

"In that I have involved by request others in this task, I now claim this oath, that if I fail to abide to the dismissal of the abuse of the sacred plant of my Grandmother and continue to smoke it without ritual or reverence that>> I be called "Warlock" and thereby foresworn and that the community Ostracize me until I make good my oath. Let SongSpring be continual witness. So Mote It Be!" Cu then uses his Dirk and cuts a small hole before the altar and places one rose seed there and closes it up. He The kisses the spot and steps backward to the North clearing the centre for the next petitioner. He then takes the other seeds and plants them at the Quarters and Cross Quarters kissing the place of each planting. When he finished the task he returned to the East Gate and stood quietly.

SongSpring watches her Love and marks well the oath he takes. She silently vows that she will do all she can to help him in this endeavor. She watches as he plants rose seeds at the alter and the quarters. She sheds a small tear of love for the one who would care so to always leave nature as or better than he found it. As he resumes his place in the North, SongSpring steps out toward the alter, carrying the apple sprig which Cloud had given to each of them. She raised her hands above to the Full Moon and spoke. "My Lady Goddess, many are my joys this night and many are my needs. You have guided me and led me to this path. May I now walk in strength with the knowledge of your constant presence. You have blessed me with such great Love, that has carried me through. May that be always a part of me as I look upon all things. I come now to a place and time when I have need of monetary prosperity to lead me forward on my new path with my new apartment. I ask thee now, Great Lady, that you lead me to those places where I will find as I need. There are other needs which I cannot express, but you may see openly within myself to the unspoken needs which I have."

SongSpring takes from her robe three candles. One yellow candle, one a gold candle, and the other a red candle. Each bearing the significance she had bestowed upon them prior to the ritual. She placed them upon the alter and directed>> her needs into them. As she lit them one by one, she meditated upon the significance of each one. When each candle was lit and burning brightly upon the alter, SongSpring stood and said, "With free will to all, and harm to none, as I will, it shall be done. So Mote It Be!" With that, SongSpring stood and walked back to her place in the Circle awaiting the next petitioner.

Typo Demon steps quietly from the corner, having never petitioned the Goddess here before, with hesitation he steps to the altar. Demeter, mother of nature, I welcome your joy at the return of your daughter and the return of your blessing of fertility upon this earth. I call upon you to shed your loving blessing upon my future union and handfasting with Carielle. I call upon you to bless our union with happiness and fertility. Typo then removes his Athame and places it above his heart. My Lady may I plunge this blade in my heart if I am not true in my desire to be one with the Gods and my Love. so mote it be, Typo gives thanks and returns to the shadows

Boudica steps into the circle, Owl leaving her arm and lands in a branch in a tree above the circle. She has an apple branch in the belt of her sapphire blue gown, and carries a basket with colored eggs, colored silk ribbons and some golden yellow daffodil flowers, the first from her yard thisspring. She places the basket on the altar, looks to the moon, full and clear and bright. "Welcome back, Goddess, from your long rest. Welcome to a spring of new beginnings. I have many new tasks set before me, and I ask your guidance in these things. Thank you for the many blessings you have given me and mine. For us, we are many times blessed, and wish all were as blessed as we are. But we ask for strength for those we know who are ill and for theirfamilies. May they find comfort and rest in your arms." She turns to the circle, smiles at all who have gathered, raises her arm, and Owl drops from the tree to his place with her. She return to the circle to make room for....

Gelehrte gives a nod and a smile of thanks to everyone who has come here at this beautiful and magikal movement. He is touched by the powers given off by such wonderful and enlightened people as Cu, Cloud, and SongSpring. He goes up and begins his petition:

I realize that I am new at this,

Lord and Lady, but I thank you both

for the way you have touched my life.

Your wisdom and tenderness has been with me

through the many turmoils that I have seen

as I see the world change before my eyes.

Lord and Lady I just want to thank you

because you are true friends and teachers

that have helped me through my life.

By the many roads that I have walked on

cut by the thornes of challenge and stiff

thank you for giving me wisdom to do what is

right.

Gelehrte turns to his fellow petitioners and invokers. "I just want the God and Goddess to witness this simple thank you to all of you. You have helped me more than you know." Again Gelehrte is about to doff his hat, but . . . again like last time . . . he realizes he is not wearing one. With a kind and gentle smile he steps back to his place in the northern quarter. With his arms he makes the sign of the Strega (Italian religion) shaman's northern quarter (he stands tall and erect with arms by his side).

Making way for the next petitioner . . .

DarkWater and Kestrel step forward, hand in hand. DarkWater is wearing robes of the color that is absence of color, the perfect complimentary of Kestrels robes. Around his neck is a small leather pouch. he wears a golden bracelet with runes embossed upon it on his left wrist, and in his right hand he wields a Diamond Willow staff that is a few inches taller than himself, upon the length of the staff is inlaid golden symbols of the craft. Kestrel is clothed in the color that is all colors, the perfect complimentary of DarkWaters robes. around her neck she displays a delicate pentacle. Upon her right wrist is a silver bracelet with a rutilated quartz. together they approach the altar and kneel before it. DarkWater reaches inside his robes and produces a corked vile, Kestrel produces a small polished brass bowl from her robe, in unison they place the objects on the altar. they then produce a green candle each from their robes... In unison they speak "My the Lord And Lady protect all within this circle, rightfully cast, and grant each health and long life." DW>" May the lord hear our prayer on this night." ( he uncorks the vile and pours the contents into the bowl) K>" and may the Lady accept this offering." Kestrel and DarkWater light the candles and place the burning tips into the bowl, as the mixture begins to burn the smell of sage and patchouli emanates forth. In Unison>"on this full moon, in the presence of the Lord and Lady we humbly ask for earthly needs, our financial situation has taken a surpass turn for the worst, we ask for the help of the divine to get through these tough times." DarkWater produces a small scroll, tied with a piece of silk and places it with the smoldering contents of the bowl, it bursts into flames and is but ashes in seconds. In Unison> " This Is Our Will, So Mote It Be"

They rise, bow, and step back to make room for....

Badger steps up bearing peach blossoms and the first roses from her yard. She is wearing a simple green robe and is barefoot. She has tears in her eyes.

"Goddess, I have just had news that a friend of mine may have diabetes and is very frightened of this possibility. Please help me to help him through this. He wants to end his life and I just couldn't bear that."

She stands at the alter and cries a bit before placing the flowers on the altar. She steps back to make room for....

Deer moves from his place by Elenya in the circle back to the altar. Three peach colored blooms from a quince shrub he leaves there, before raising his arms in exaltation of his Lady and Lord. "This eve I want for nothing.... "I have experienced the wholeness of unity with the Horned Father, the wonder of joining with the Holy Mother incarnate, and the blessing of two beautiful daughters who, even now, embark upon the mystery that is this path. May all those who petition here live as blessed as have I. My only request is that the young man with whom I am working - who was burned over forty-five percent of his body - receive healing, both physical and emotional. So mote it be."

Deer bends low to kiss the oaken altar, lightly touches the glain which glows faintly there, and then returns to his place among the gathered friends....