It's good that we gather quickly, for though the ritual roomis warm with candellight and we feel the power of old rites here, it is a beautiful night to be outdoors. Anticipation builds as we come together, until everyone has arrived. Cloud leads us once around this old circle where even a newcomer feels at home, touches the altar in reverence for the power of the place, and leads us out the North door intothe warm Spring shadows.

We move slowly at first, for the forest we pass through is dark; even at this season of not-quite-leaves, the ancient trunks cast deep shade, and the footing is uneven with gnarled roots. We follow Cloud down the twisty trail, hearing around us the small sounds of coming night and glimpsing, perhaps, quick movements in the shadows, until wepass the final turn into brightness.

The path broadens on smoother ground, heady with thyme, intoa moonlit circle surrounded by the oldest of the oak trees, shadowed a little at the edges by their lowest limbs. The old stone altar waits, surrounded by the fresh green of seeds and bulbs left as offerings in the past and now bringing their new life to old. The lowest branches glitter with ornaments hung there last year; the highest glitter with stars.

Cloud almost dances to the altar, where she picks up her oldcopper athame and raises it a long moment to the face of thebrilliant Moon. She stays at the center, her blade flat at the end of her outstretched arm, and turns the circle, smiling at each of us as she meets our eyes. Behind the edges of our vision we notice a pale green glow at the clearing's rim. We breathe deep stillness, slowing down, readying, as Cloud lays her athame on the altar and moves tothe East, where a daffodil planted long ago nods to mark thepoint. As she gazes at the flower, Cloud's hands move beforeher in a subtle waving sign. We feel a fresher breeze, alivewith blossoms; we breathe in the Power of Air.

A pale yellow light twines with the misty green at the edge of the circle as Cloud moves to the exact point of South. She stands a little taller, perhaps, her hands moving quickly above her head, until she picks up the bright chunk of red amber that marks the spot. She holds it a moment, herface lit red by its reflected moonglow, and hands it to the person on her left. As the amber is passed around the circleour spines tingle with emerging life, and the flame red glowbraids with the pale green and yellow at our backs. We crackle with the Power of Fire.

Cloud places the amber back at the South point when it returns, and sways to the West, where her chalice is waitingAs she raises it to the twilight sky, her hands catch a blueglow through the crystal. She sips, passes the chalice to her left, and a strand of twilight blue joins the circle's light. Each of us sips in turn. The breeze takes on a hint of nourishing rain. We feel the pulse in our veins. We join with the Power of Water.

Cloud leaves the chalice in the West and strides to the North. Her hands reach down to touch the Earth, then out to clasp those on either side. We sense the strong life of the Mother through the ground beneath our feet, through each other. A strand of deeper green joins the skein of light. Weinherit the Power of Earth.

Our energy moving hand to hand, we stand on the warm ground of this ancient place, connected to each other and to all that has gone before.

We stand, breathing together, feeling each other's pulses now, and await...

...Elenya, who wears a flowing forest green cape over a white peasant dress. Her auburn hair is framed with a crown of fresh spring flowers and her bare feet caress the moss covered ground where she stands. She nods at her friend Cloud, and smiles at the familiar sights, sounds and smells of the grove where she attended her first ritual. She hums a tune heard long ago -

"Joy, health and peace be in the world

That spins into the May-o

For summer is a commin' in

And winter's gone away-o."

As she sings, Elenya skips deosil around the circle handing spring flowers to all those gathered. She stops to place the last blossoms upon the altar, then turns to face her beloved husband Red Deer...

Who - with a rowan and primrose wreath about his neck - moves also deosil about the circle, following Elenya's steps. He stops to exchange a warm embrace with each there gathered, and to present to each a fragrant cluster of blossoms from the fringe-trees now blooming afore Elenya's and his home. After greeting all gathered, Deer continues twice more about the circle, now moving in a spiral towards the altar and Elenya. Before her he kneels, and awaits as she removes the wreath from about his neck. While Elenya holds the green and gold circle high, the pure tones of two spherical bells - one golden and one silver - fill the space beneath the ancient oaks. Deer stands, and together they place this offering upon the altar.

Deer kneels again before Elenya, who intones, "I invoke and call upon you, Lord of Summer, to be here with us this night. May You smile broadly upon the world to favor us with Your Beltane magick, and bring us gathered here together Your light of joy, passion and blessings." As she finishes this invocation, Deer chants -

"I am the stag of seven tines,

I am the wide flood over the world,

I am born by the wind,

I descend like tears in the dew and lie glittering,

I fly aloft as a hawk to my nest upon a cliff,

I bloom among the lovliest flowers,

I am both the oak and the lightening which blasts it.

I embolden the spearmen,

I teach the councillors wisdom,

I inspire the poets,

I rove the hills like a ravening boar,

I roar like the winter sea,

I return again like the receding wave."

Red Deer then stands, and assists his beloved Elenya to recline upon the ground before the altar. "Lady of the growing earth, of the glowing moon, of the quickening blood - I call upon You to join us this night. May You smile broadly upon the world to favor us with Your Beltane magick, and bring us gathered here together Your light, Your love and Your life." When Deer's voice trails off to silence, those gathered hear Elenya's whisper -

"I am the womb of every holt,

I am the blaze on every hill,

I am the queen of every hive,

I am the shield to every head,

I am the tomb to every hope."

As Elenya stands, Deer kisses her upon each foot, saying "Blessed be thy feet," proceeding until he kisses her long and passionately upon the lips. For a space, the two seem oblivious to those gathered about them. Finally aware that time flows even for those in this sacred place, both say in unison "By Oak and Ash and Thorn, So mote it be," then return to their stations among the circle of friends to watch as...

...Cloud, graying hair spilling moonlight, circles again, catching each of our eyes as she passes. The time is right, and we stand expectant in the bright night, surrounded by skeined light, feeling the Presences around us, awaiting those who will speak.

Boudica walks to the center of the circle, Owl taking to a branch in a tree. Her sapphire blue gown bright in the golden moon light, she raises her arms to the moon.

I thank the Goddess this night all the good things that are around me.

I give thanks for a fine family, warm friends, and a good life.

I give thanks for the guidance you have given me, and for assistance in the things I have recently done. I give thanks for spring flowers and warmer nights.

I ask for nothing for myself, you have been more than generous with me.

There are friends who are ill, watch over them please. Thisis all I ask.

She lowers her arms, bows her head, and turns to the circle.She greets everyone with a warm hug. She then raises her arm, Owl returns to his place, and she returns to her place in the circle to allow the next petitioner......

... Danielle shook a whisp of brown hair out from her eyes and adjusted her simple black robe as she stepped forward, in turn, nodding, as she did to Boudica. She took a shivering breath, nervous at being in the company of others for a rite.

"Dearest and most blessed of Gods, I ask that you look down upon me as you always have; you have granted me a love,you have granted me the energy to achieve, you have granted me protection; I could ask for no more, save that you would look down with the same love upon my closest friend, Ruth. She continues in her hardships and I ask that you protect her. Grant her the peace I have found, grant her your steadfast protection, as you have granted me. Be with her."

She bend her head in silence for a few moments, willing the gods to hear and honor her request, then, kissing her hand to the Lord and Lady, she returned to the edge of the circle to await.....

...Red Deer, hair swirling in the early summer air, as he returns to the altar. "Lady and Lord, there is again little I may ask for myself as I am abundantly blessed - for which I offer thanks. Within sight of our home, and old red-oak weakens, and I fear that she will die, leaving bodiless that dragon-spirit which makes her home. This moon I ask healing for her, for such a one should have thousands of moons yet within this world. And for my daughter, ChinaKat - her cat Sunflower has been missing for two days... please see him safely home. ChinaKat needs orange stripes to make her days complete."

Leaving a red wort from the holm oak upon the altar, Deer returns to his station and awaits...

...Elenya, who again approaches the altar. From the pocket of her dress she brings forth a lock of hair and lays it upon the massive stone. She lifts her arms to the sky and closes her eyes. "Lady and Lord of us all, I thank thee for the many blessings I have been given in my life. Tonight, I also thank You for the healing and courage bestowed upon my friend Jane. Her fight against cancer continues, and she grows weary from the battle. The chemotherapy has killed many of the cancerous cells, but has also weakened her spirit. In this season of renewal and rebirth, please hold her close between You both and give her the energy to be strong and continue to improve...So Mote It Be." Elenya lowers her arms and quietly returns to her place in the circle. Her concentration is interrupted by the lyrics to a song heard at a festival attended earlier:

"We are living 'neath the great big dipper

We are washed by the very same rain

We are swimming in this stream together

Some in power and some in pain

We can worship the ground we walk on

Cherish the beings that we live beside

Loving spirits will live forever

We're all swimming to the other side..."

Smiling, Elenya slips her hand into Red Deer's, then turns her head to see who next approaches...

...Cloud, who approaches the altar bearing her outside altarstone for this year. She lays it on the altar to bless her garden, and perhaps her market season as well. After a pauseshe takes a small photo from her pocket and places it on theNorth edge of the altar. Taking a moment to ground, she looks into the face of the shining Moon. Perhaps her eyes shine back.

*Mama, I ask the favor of peace and healing for one is facing a tough time in her long life. Wrap Your arms around her, please, and see if you can get her to let Your human representatives do the same*

She steps back for a while, to await...

...And Bronwyn tilts harp to breast. Lightly touching the strings, she plays the pulse of earth, deep and ancient-sounding. She gains speed, then dances up the harp, playing tag with the rising east wind. She begins a loving lullaby, which is reflected back as each voice joins in, tender and yearning and strong all at once. Bron glances upand sees the face of the goddess and god on each participant.Then the harp is suddenly stilled, in anticipation of...

Maggie enters the sacred circle, her head bowed respectfullyand slowly walks the perimeter, stopping to greet and honor each of the directions. Her green eyes are red from weepingIn her hand she carries a soft pink taper and a photograph of her grandbaby, the Wonder Child. She moves slowly, her red curls glowing in the moonlight, and approaches the altarwhere she places the photograph and holds up the candle.

Speaking softly she says "Gracious Goddess--you who have blessed us with all life and joy--please hear my cry this moon. My heart--and that of my daughter--is breaking. Our most precious gift from you--our precious Wonder Child is leaving to spend a long period of four to six months with her father in another state. Her father, dear Goddess, doesnot understand You--and does not understand that a little girl needs her mother, just as we here need You. We beg you, we implore your mercy and kindness for our little one. If she must go away from us--be with her and help her. Protect her from any harm or abuse from her father and any others in his family. We ask no harm for him, dear Goddess.I ask that Athena give us the wisdom in how to deal with herfather, Diana give us the courage to take whatever steps we must, and Kali-Ma, in her most wonderfully awesome form of fierce protective mother, be with our precious little one. Precious Goddess--please wrap your arms around her and protect her on all her journeys--and bring her home safely to us. And I also ask, dear Goddess, as a mother--that you send peace and comfort to my daughter. As Demeter wept for Persephone--my daughter weeps for her baby. And I weep for both of them. Succor and comfort and protect them both, my Lady. I implore and beg you for this. Kali-Ma, I ask you to show your fierce loving face to her father and his family. Let them see you and understand that this little one is to be treated with only kindness and gentleness and love. And please, dear Goddess, bring her home to us safelyand soon." Maggie places the glowing candle on the altar and slowly wraps herself in a dark green velvet cloak. She moves slowly back around the circle, once again thanking theelements and directions for their help, and then slowly leaves the circle. As she leaves, she turns back to gaze again on the glowing pink taper placed next to her grandbaby's photograph. She turns to leave and sees...

Snowchild approaches the altar finally, in her tye dyed skirtand tee, (being realistic)"Goddess, I just ask that everything stays the way it is, my life is surrounded with fine points right now, and a friend of mine that wishes for me to teach her magic, please offer a bit of help there, I still am not sure what I am doing." she steps back. "Thank you, I love you" She walks to the outer edge of the circle and waits...

...as ChinaKat, urged on by her mother and father, moves hesitantly to the altar, where she lays a picture she has drawn of her orange tabby dancing with the faeries. "Thank you mama moon, for bringing my Sunflower home. She then turns and darts back to her parents...

...as Cloud takes the hands beside her and begins to round the circle once again, slowly at first, as a chant begins: *We are a circle, within a circle, with no beginning, and never ending*. The power grows as we all move, drawing from the braided light, the Presences in this old sacred place, the Earth through the soles of our feet, flowing around us as we spiral to the center. A second chant weaves into the first: *The Goddess is alive, magic is afoot, the God is alive, magic is afoot*, couterpointing melodies as the wordschange:*Maggie is alive, magic is afoot, Red Deer is alive, Jane, Boudicca, Chinacat, Elenya is alive, Wonder Child is alive, magic is afoot, our own names and those we work for mingling in the music and the rhythm of our feet.

We spiral outward, breathing power. We spiral in again, the skein of light swirling around us. Out again, and the words are lost, sound and rhythm alone dancing us faster, inward, power within and around us building, focussing, until we reach the center and it *GOES* and we sink to the ground in a heap.

Cloud moves first, after a few heartbeats of breathing our remaining energyy back to the Earth. She goes to the altar and brings us each back a maple blossom - quick child of airand earth, full of life-fire and born of rain- to add to ourbouquets and begins to give thanks to the Powers around us, hugging Elenya and Red Deer, elevating and replacing chalice and amber, kissing a daffodil, touching earth, sheathing her athame once again.

At a touch we scramble to our feet and spiral back out into a circle again. *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 drop hands to dissolve in a joyous melee of hugs, eventually gathering our belongings toreturn through the warm spring woods to the ritual room for refreshments...and maybe a few more hugs. Blessed be.