Another day - shimmering with heat gleaned from the Eye of Summer, who now approaches his southernmost - settles into almost chill evening breezes. All around, red desert, red rock and red canyons flow - accented by the intense colors of blue sky, white granite capstone on the inner rim of the canyon twelve hundred feet below that mirrors the thunderheads above, and the dull green Colorado River nearly a thousand feet below the inner rim. As last fingers of summer sunset reach to paint the higher cloud tops with vivid hues, Elenya and Red Deer await. One by one, they greet old friends and new upon the narrow isthmus, barely fifty feet wide, which leads out onto the point - an island suspended in a sea of sky.

When all are gathered, Deer beckons them to follow, and leads the way out upon the point. Mother's light illuminates their path along the vertical outer rim, emerging upon the eastern shore. They close into a circle about a twisted juniper stave, set squarely into the earth. Rotating the circle slowly deosil, Red Deer intones "Father Sky -bearer of light and darkness, shaper of winds - we stand in awe of the vistas you encompass, above us, among us and here below us." He moves in upon a deosil spiral to gently touch the stave, "We invite you here to join our circle, and to ward our eastern quarter," then spirals back out, as each following does the same.

Their spiral opens to a line, moves with Deer to the southern shore, and is redrawn to a circle around a silver athame which rests upon a block of red sandstone. "Grandfather Fire - eye of summer, giver of light and warmth - we bask in your season, your high desert air cleanses us." He moves deosil again to palm the athame's hilt, "We ask you here to join our circle, and to ward our southern quarter," before spiraling out and drawing the line to the western shore.

There, they circle a hand-hammered copper bowl filled with water from the river below. "Mother River - bringer of life, shaper of worlds - we feel you here in the desert." Deer stoops to dip a hand into the water, "We invite you here to join our circle, and to ward our western quarter," then moves out along the western limn of the island. Heading north, he reaches out over the canyon - hand suspended above the abyss and the mighty river far below -and allows the precious water to fall. Barely perceivable, the trails of droplets searching out their individual paths to the river below are enhanced into a web over the canyon wall as each of those gathered add droplets of their own.

Deer then returns to the northern point of the island - where the isthmus leads back to a seemingly endless expanse of desert. Encircling another sandstone block, the group find a torq of twisted copper and brass waiting there. "Grandmother Earth - bosom of growth, concealer in death - we are of your womb, to you we shall return." Another deosil spiral, and Deer slides his thumb gently over one of the counterweights and about the twisted metal to the other, "We ask you here to join our circle, and to ward our northern quarter."

Now, three times about the island they move, in a spiral ever tightening upon a gnarled juniper near the northern edge of the circle. Approaching this living altar, Red Deer removes from his neck a silver pentagram overlain with the bust of a stag. This he hangs upon one of the juniper's limbs. "The elements are called. Our circle raised. Let us take our places about it. So mote it be." Deer leads the final opening spiral to the inner perimeter of the circle - small and wonderful in this vast backdrop of space and of the ages, but vast and timeless of itself. He turns to face inward toward the altar, takes his beloved Elenya's hand and awaits Cloud...

...who is drumming ruffling tumbles of small fast beats as she rounds the circle on this sky island, the backbeat stronger as she comes around again. Four times around, and as she reaches the gnarly juniper at the end the ruffles have disappeared and the strong fourbeat bangs to a silence that crackles like distant lightning. Stormbringer, carrying survival strength, deathbringer and lifemaker, strong will to joy at the giveaway time, we feel Him in every synapse of our urge to grow...

...for some heartbeats, until the drum starts again, in a dancing beat, once around spilling flowers on our hearts. Does Cloud have bells on her ankles this night? If she does, they are slower on the second round, the drumbeat softer, nourishing rain on a wood roof, sustaining life. Third round starts like thunder, and ends with a heartbeat: a wise slowing after storms, steady, unceasing, renewing, felt through the Earth and our feet until we know no difference between the Mother's heartbeat and our own. She is here now, but was never away.

With us, in us, around us, below and above, we know the Presence right here, right now. As the last beats die away, Cloud leaves the drum at the tree and moves back to her place. Our eyes turn to Red Deer...

...who returns to the aged juniper which serves as their altar. Gnarled she is, but with many fine branches for hanging offerings, and a trunk which in some breadth runs almost horizontal across the rock before turning up to the sky. "Sister, we are gathered. Mothers and Fathers, Grandmothers and Grandfathers, and more than a few Children still," he says with a mischievous grin at the end. "We ask You, Lady and Lord, to hear and grant the petitions we bring before You - as is Your will. So mote it be."

Deer moves back to his place beside Elenya to await the first petitioner...

...Boudica approaches, Owl on her shoulder. She looks at the scenery... Red Deer has chosen well. Owl looks perplexed, no where to go off and roost. Boudica smiles.. Owl will stay where it is.

She looks at the moon, round, full, bright. She approaches the juniper and places an herb wreath, of mixed new herbs, upon the tree.

She looks again to the moon. Oh Goddess, who has been so kind to me and mine, I give thanks. To those who need, I ask that you look kindly upon them. Bless all those who gather here today. Lend your strength to those who need it.

She then turns, smiles at all who are gathered, and returns to the circle to make a place for...

...Cloud, who tucks one precious branch of budding kiwi into a shag of gnarly bark, in honor of the long-awaited *FIRST BLOOM* (and hopefully fruit) of these ten-year-old vines. Her gratitude knows no bounds. She touches the tree, and the Earth, and moves back to her place to await...

Niteowl... as she steps forward extending her arms so that her cloak catches and seems to hold the wind, billowing gently as though to lift her in a spiral dance as she circles to greet each one with a smile of welcome. From the depths of her cloak she brings forth a dream catcher... spun of silver, with obisidian beads and the white feathers of the great horned owl. Hanging her gift upon the tree, she steps back to the edge of the circle and waits for...

...Bronwyn; moon-pale her skin, the color of moon her gown. Her harp is silent today. It is a day of both piercing sadness, and relief that the inevitable has happened. She steps soundlessly to the altar. On it she places a pink rose rich with fragrance, the scent of romance and love, entwined with a cluster of pure white delicate rosebuds, the color of purity, of infinity. She kneels, grazing her forehead of the feather-soft petals. At first, no words come. Finally, she says haltingly, "Mother, I release him to you. Help him to remember our friendship with fondness. I know there is a great spiritual lesson taking place here, but it is so hard! Be with me always!" Bronwyn quietly sings the chant "I will be gentle to myself, I will love myself. I am a child of the Universe, being born each moment." She turns back to her place in the sacred circle, a lone tear on her cheek...

...and Elenya leaves the side of her beloved as she sets down her handbasket. She brings herbal oils and vinegars, freshly prepared; enough for all in attendance.. She approaches the altar with a heart-shaped grapevine wreath, interwoven with fresh herbs. The scents of rosemary, sage, basil, heather, and honeysuckle fill the air as Elenya places the wreath in the arms of the juniper and looks to the sky... "Mother, this moon I celebrate the 18th anniversary of my union with Red Deer. I give thanks for my husband and our two wonderful daughters who inspire me every day... I am truly blessed."

Elenya turns from the altar and walks back to her place beside Red Deer. Smiling, she turns as another approaches...

...Venia's proud steps to the center of the circle weak as she approaches the tree. She kneels, raising her arms to the moon both in anguish and hope. "Dearest God and Goddess; most Blessed Lord and Lady: I have walked with you in my steps at all times, and you have given me the strength to endure that which I must for my choices. You have given me comfort and the necessities of life have come easily. You have answered my prayers, no matter how trivial..." She opens her cloak to remove a flower... a single rose from the garden so dear to her. "Goddess, God, I thank thee, but once more I ask something of you." She bows her head but keeps her arms aloft. "Give me the power and the courage to stand up for myself, and to defend you. Let me not seek revenge, but justice for what has been done to me at the hands of my teacher. Guide me and bless me with your love and light, for I cannot do this on my own... nor could I have begun this journey without you." She rises to her feet, the pride and grace returning to her limbs as she kisses her hand to the moon and earth, as well as to the East where Father Sun would soon return, and places the flower in the branches of the Juniper. Venia steps back into the circle...

...Seeing the petitions completed - except one - Red Deer returns to the juniper. He agilely weaves himself among the limbs, moving in to hug the aged trunk as the wind brings to them the long "screeeeeeeeeeeee" of a falcon rising over the canyon rim.

Stepping back, Deer raises his arms to the night. "Mother and Father, the old one for whom I asked healing last moon shows signs of strengthening. Again, though, I seek energy for her. For myself, I ask that You hold our children especially close while we are away from them. Hear the petitions made this moon, and grant them - as is Your will, so mote it be..."

Red Deer lowers his arms, then removes a small sea-star hung upon a leather thong from about his neck. "Sister, another likeness of our altar pentagram I leave for you this moon - in grateful appreciation that you have joined our circle and been our altar," he says hanging the star and then retrieving his silver pentagram. "May this serve to strengthen the bond between us - for, wearing this, I shall often think of you."

"Father Sky, keeper of our eastern quarter, we thank you for joining our circle this moon and for holding our minds and hearts still by your mighty vistas. Grandfather Fire, keeper of our southern quarter, we thank you for joining us this moon and for kindling our hearts and minds with your flames. Mother River, keeper of our western quarter, we thank you for joining our circle this moon and for infusing flesh and blood with your life. Grandmother Earth, keeper of our northern quarter, we thank you for joining us this moon and for forming our very bodies of yourself."

Deer then moves about their circle, warmly embracing each celebrant gathered, before returning to his place beside Elenya. He kisses her full on the lips, turns back to the juniper and chants,

"Gratitude to Mother Earth, sailing through night and day
and to Her soil: rich, rare and sweet
in our minds so mote it be.

Gratitude to Plants, the sun-facing light-changing leaf
and fine root hairs; standing still through wind
and rain; their dance is in the flowing spiral grain
in our minds so mote it be.

Gratitude to Air, bearing the soaring Swift and the silent
Owl at dawn. Breath of our song
clear spirit breeze
in our minds so mote it be.

Gratitude to Wild Beings, our sisters teaching secrets
freedoms and ways; who share with us their milk;
self-complete, brave and aware
in our minds so mote it be.

Gratitude to Water, clouds, lakes, rivers, glaciers;
holding or releasing; streaming through all
our bodies' salty seas
in our minds so mote it be.

Gratitude to the Sun: blinding pulsing light through
trunks of trees, through mists, warming caves where
bears and snakes sleep - he who wakes us -
in our minds so mote it be.

Gratitude to the Great Sky
who holds all the stars - and goes yet beyond that -
beyond all powers and thoughts
and is yet within us -
In our minds so mote it be."

Red Deer then opens their circle and, after another turn around the point including a silent stop at each of the four quarters, leads the line of celebrants to a southwestern summer feast laid upon the ground among the pinyon pines and juniper. There for all are fry bread with honey; freshly peeled prickly pears; blue corn chips with salsa, chilis and habaneros; thick, hearty chili (five alarm, at least); and a fresh dessert greens salad with jack cheese and lignon berry vinaigrette. Pitchers of clear ice water wait at every turn, with strong earthenware mugs at hand. "Feast and be merry, friends. Enjoy the moon, and the sky filled with more stars than you'll likely see again. They, too, are part of the magick of this place. Tonight is the last moon of the waxing year."