Norda waits at the wooden gate, a tall red-haired man by her side. Though he dwarfs her, a strong resemblance can be seen, in the twinkle of blue-grey eyes behind spectacles, in the way they hold their heads as they listen to the music of Steeleye Span spilling from the Jeep parked in the sandy lot. A hawkfaced man, his crisply curling black hair shot with silver, sits waiting in the passenger seat, drumminghis fingers merrily to the strains of raucous fiddle and sharpened vocal harmonies.

The fading sunlight is deepening into dusk as the others start to arrive in their various vehicles. Norda smoothes down her sleeveless long brown crinklesilk dress and sweeps her broad-brimmed chocolate-colored hat off in a welcoming arc. The red-haired man hands her a great bunch of keys, climbs into the driver's seat of the Jeep, and looks away understandingly as she skips around to the passenger side and shares a long kiss with the dark-haired man. They rub noses fondly, and then the Jeep drives out of the sandlot, up a small stony trail into a stand of woods and disappears from sight.

When everyone is ready, Norda locks the gate [hung with a sign marked PARK CLOSES AT DUSK] and leads the way up the same small hill on foot in the deepening dark. There are stones and roots underfoot, but the footing is not troublesome. At the highest point of the trail stands a little log & beam building marked "Nature Center". A very tall, very thin young woman in jeans and boots emerges from it, a one-eyed owl on her shoulder. She nods at the assembled friends and says, "if anyone needs to change, feel free to use my office. And don't forget---you're invited to cookies and drinks at the main house later." She turns and melts almost noiselessly into the night, the owl with its head turned backward towards those assembled, as though in acknowledgment & approval.

The Nature Center is full of glass cases and maps, but Norda's sister Cat has thoughtfully partitioned it off into thirds for "dressing rooms". Norda, of course, commandeers Cat's office first and rapidly dons her yellow silk tunic over her brown gown. She threads her topaz pendant about her neck, fastens her emerald and pearl brooch to the left side of her wide brown cloth belt, fluffs out her long brown & grey mane, frizzy from the humidity, and checks to make sure her belt pouches are secure. Picking up her maple staff from the corner, she walks out into the main room and beyond into the night, a chorus of "No peeking!" amidst laughter ringing out behind her.

After a time, the others join her on the trail, giggles stifled now. The heat of the day has relented, and they all set off again on the trail deeper into the woods and further away from the lights of the town surrounding the nature preserve of "Old Farm". Norda leads the way on the trail with her flashlight hastily grabbed from the Nature Center. The trees around them are a mix of young and old woods; there are maples and birches and oaks, and here and there some oddities like walnut and ailanthus. The moths have started flying; more than once a cecropia or a luna moth can be seen dimly in its nocturnal journey. They hear rather than see the vernal pond as they pass it on the trail; now in deep summer the bullfrogs are in full voice. The fields around the pond widen into a place where Norda points out very young apple trees, planted to replaced the old orchard leveled by hurricane some time ago. The woods are thinning out now and we suddenly come upon a stand of trees quite different from those we have passed. Widely spaced, majestically tall hemlocks form a grove carpeted with evergreen needles, a great clearing in the center of it. Eight trees form a perfect circle and other hemlocks are spaced about it in rows, as though columns in a great cathedral; their branches interlace to form a canopy nearly thick enough to shut out the sky, but not quite. The full moon has risen and the summer sky is full of stars.

In the center of the circle formed by the great trees of "Hemlock Hall" stands Norda's makeshift altar, a marbletopped antique sewing table which her brother and sister helped her carry here. There are candles set upon it and matches and two bowls, one of wood, the other copper. The wooden bowl holds potting soil, the copper one clear water. There is a small posy laid upon the altar, a bouquet of Queen Anne's lace and black-eyed Susans tied with a paisley ribbon.

Norda turns and hugs each one of those assembled, then moves about the altar sunwise with her staff. She looks up at the moon above as she speaks. "Blessed be all within my Circle and look down upon us, Great Mother. We call on you and on the One who is your Consort to guide us as we honor you in this Season of High Summer. Let all feel renewed under your loving light."

Norda takes a handful of basil and chocolate out of her beltpouch and sprinkles it about her feet as she completes the circle, knowing it is cast in love. All move into the circle and await the calling of the quarters...

...Red Deer breaks from his place in the circle, somewhat dazed with the beauty and intensity of this place. After kissing Elenya, he moves - each step echoed with the faint sound of bells. Traversing to the easternmost point of their circle, he stops before the majestic one who towers there.

"No candle bring I to the quarter this eve, with a flame so pure already standing here." Deer gives the mighty bole a long hug, finding within his arms the mighty shoulders of an ancient brother, then steps back a pace - already feeling the tides of the circle-to-be mixed with those of circles-long-past." Ladies & Lords of the East: set the winds to watch over us, breathe life into our circle, join us in worship of our Lady and Lord this moon. As we enter into the place that is no place, the time that is no time, we invite you to stand with us against all harm."

He closes with "So mote it be, " before returning to Elenya's side and his place in the circle...

...Elenya enters the circle as if in a trance, slightly startled by the awesome beauty that is surrounding her. The hem of her hunter-green robe flows gently over the earth caressing her feet as she steps silently to the southernmost point of the circle. The moonstone that hangs from her neck sparkles more brilliantly than ever under the full moonlight, perhaps in anticipation of tonight's event. Elenya raises her arms to the sky and intones:

"Spirits of the South, ye ancient ones of Fire, I call upon thee to be with us and attend our circle this night. Share with us your powers of courage and passion to be a guiding force in the work we begin here this eve, always in perfect love and perfect trust." "So Mote It Be" Elenya turns and slowly walks back to her place in the circle, smiling broadly as she catches Norda's eye, then turns to await...

...as Carielle enters the circle, her face peaceful and solemn in the moonlight filtering in through the majestic hemlocks. Her deep blue robe, velvety in texture, swishes against the ground, making a soft sound much like the gentle roar of waves against a beach. She turns her green-blue eyes to each of the circle's members and smiles as she intones, "Ancient Ones of the West, Spirits of Water, we welcome you to our circle. Be with us this night, and share with us your compassion and gentle influences." Carielle moves back to her place in the circle, smiling as she feels Water's surge of emotional serenity come into place. She waits patiently for the next...

...Typo moves forward into the center of the circle, standing tall with his reddish-brown hair whipping briskly about his shoulders in a soft breeze that starts suddenly. his long black robe grazing the ground as he centers himself in the circle of friends. Typo reaches into a small hidden pocket inside the left breast of the robe and produces a small golden pentacle. Holding it towards the north he calls loudly, "Welcome guardians of the North, spirits of Earth. your strong and steady guidance is welcome here. bestow upon us your gifts of insight and the wisdom of our great mother Gaia." Typo steps back to his place a small smile parting his lips and he waits...

...as Cloud steps forward, in her familiar green-brown robe and *all* her amber. She makes a circuit of the ancient guardian trees at the quarter points, and comes at last to the center, where she lays on the altar a perfect head of broccoli and an equally perfect bunch of small green grapes, in token of bounty present and to come. We all breathe together a long moment, as Cloud pulls down a skein of moonlight that makes her grey streaks glow a little. Finally, she raises her arms to crescent and speaks:

*Lady of silver magic, Mother of mothers, giver of all the enormous gift of bounty around us and gatherer of all life, we come to you and each other with grateful hearts: another magic moment together between the worlds, created by our actions but enformed by your love, and in real-time a glory of green. Hold us in your arms as we grow ourselves this moon, and shine your light on our petitions according to free will and for the good of all living. Be here, *now* ...and the glow around Cloud spreads to envelope us all in a warm ocean of love as we respond *Blessed be* Cloud steps back and we await...

...As the tall, rugged stranger who visited the Avebury ritual in April strides out from behind the greatest hemlock in this circle of Ancients. His dark blond hair curls invitingly around his neck, which is hung with a necklace of mysterious runes. His skin is tanned with years of living with the wild creatures of the outdoors, and his muscular lithe body is draped simply with an animal skin around his waist. His grey eyes light up at the sight of all these friends, kindred of spirit each one. With the silent walk of the stag, he steps to the center of the circle. Then pacing the inner circumference, he holds up an oak staff and calls resoundingly, like a clarion:

"Lord of the wild ones, God of the bracing hunt, join us this night in celebration of our Lady's wondrous light! Kind Father and Protector, watch over your children here and keep us in the safety of your abiding love. Come, we call you! God, impassioned lover of our Goddess, spark of life, love and wholeness, join us in our revels of summer and harvest! Come, we call you! Be Here Now!"

The tall man of the forest holds his staff up to the stars, which shimmer in answer. With the roar of the lion, the staff bursts into gold sparks at the end, which travel down the man's arm and skip among the celebrants. God is here!...

...Norda bows to the presence of the Shaggy Man, and holds her hands out to catch the energy that all have raised within this circle. Motes of light dance in her cupped palms as she walks again lightly around the altar, offering her smile to those who have joined here. She completes the circuit and opens her hands to release the light among the stars. "Welcome to all who stand with us here -- guardians of Air, Fire, Water, Earth. Mother of All, Father Life-giver, we greet thee and honor thee. Beasts of the forests and the fields which surround us, birds of the air above us and insects in the ground below us, we bless thee and make thee welcome. Hear our petitions, spoken and unspoken..."

...Taking a silent cue from Norda, and feeling the wondrous presence of the Lady and Lord, Carielle steps to the center of the circle and, raising her eyes to the full moon, speaks softly. "Mother, Father, my first wish this moon is to offer you heartfelt thanks for all of the good things in my life. I have much to be thankful for, and I appreciate all of it. I ask that you continue to be a guiding force in my life as I strive to grow, learn, and improve myself. I also ask as you watch over my baby sister as she moves from the role of Maiden to Mother. Keep her safe and healthy, and bless her baby with your love" Carielle stops for a moment, thinking of her family so far away on this day, then she walks gracefully to where her husband Typo stands, and she takes his hands in hers as she gazes into his eyes. Once more she speaks to the Lord and Lady. "Most of all, dear Mother and Father, I want to thank you for bringing my beloved and I together. Our marriage is a reflection of your love, Lord to Lady and Lady to Lord, I ask your support as we live, love and learn together, through this life and the next, for as long as our love shall last." The look in her eyes tells all present that the love she speaks of shall last a good long time. Carielle walks back to the center of the circle and leaves there an offering of a single full-blown red rose, glorious in color and smelling sweetly of its perfume. She then moves back to her place in circle and makes room for the next petitioner to step forward...

...As Bronwyn takes her turn at the altar under this magical light in moonlit glade. She smiles at all gathered, then removes an amber amulet from around her neck. Holding it first to the light, where it catches the glint of silver, she places it gently on the altar, offering her silent thanks that her friend and partner, The Wild Dane of the Forest, could be here with her tonight. It could be a memorable night indeed, she thinks, as she returns to the circle and stands on her toes to give him a kiss." And so mote it be" he whispers back, with a wink...

...Norda looks fondly at Bronwyn and the wild stranger, then at Red Deer and Elenya, standing as always hand-in-hand and hearts joined. She reads the encouragement in their eyes as they make their own silent petitions to Mother Moon. Feeling the night's beauty and mystery stir something very powerful in her heart, Norda moves to the altar. She takes three photographs from her beltpouch and lays them on the altar. One is a picture of a slender young man with curling black hair and an infectious smile; one is of a long-furred white cat with mismatched eyes; & the third is of a petite woman with long straight brown hair garbed in a star-strewn black sweatshirt and blue jeans. "Mother and Father, I ask three things from you this moon. Firstly, as my soul lifts and my health continues to improve, please take away the shadow of fear in my beloved's eyes and let me see the sun in his smile again. Secondly, although I understand that the wheel of seasons turns for us all, even for roguish white kittycats, it grieves me to realize that he is getting old. When it is time for him to leave us, I ask that his passing into the Summerland be swift and silent and painless. He has given us such joy in the years we have known him and deserves this gift. Thirdly, although it is still a wrenching pain, I ask that my memories of my dear friend Joanna never fade. I owe a great deal to her. She was a true 'soul sister', a kinswoman, a compatriot, and my fellow Kitchen Witch and Secrets-Keeper of Herbal Teas & Tuna Fish." Norda shakes the tears out of her eyes that are starting to cloud her sight." Thank you, Lord and Lady, for allowing me to know her, but I still miss her here and now, and never want to forget her." She clears her throat and quotes:

"the stiff geometry
of constellations
trembles
on black water
once there was a girl
whose breath
filled a winter day
with stars."

Norda steps back into the circle, head bowed...

...Typo steps forward and casts his robe to the sandy ground. his eyes usually their dark green shade have given way to blood red disks of anger and fury. his whole body seems to be radiating a slight glow of deep red. "Lord Mars, I call upon you to remove yourself from my heart, take thee away from me." Typo places a small sheet of parchment with symbols unknown to most at this rite, unknown to all likely except to Red Deer. The parchment reveals a large blue pentacle with the names of Mars, Ares, and Nemesis circling the outer lines. the inner part of the pentacle has the symbol of Mars traced in red. "I banish you from my heart Mars NEVER to return." Typo sets the parchment alight and and casts the debris to the wind. "Mother Earth, healer of all pain and suffering. hold me to your hearth fires and cleanse me of this influence of Geburah. lift me to Binah and let me fall not again." Typo's eyes return to their normal shade of deep green as he takes his place next to his Lovely one Carielle. wiping the sweat away from his brow he waits...

...and transfixed, all present at this most holy moment see a shaft of gentle blue light spin down from Luna above. The light drifts to our friend Typo, then coalesces around him in a beautiful cloud or peace and healing, lifting that which has troubled him to the embrace of the Ancient Ones...

...Above the heads of the friends gathered in circle, an owl coasts silently across the face of the Moon, winging its way back to join the colony dwelling in the old silo after a successful hunt. Norda gazes around, letting her glance of respect fall at first upon TypoDemon, then smiles affectionately at each and every one. Seeing no other petitioners, she moves to the quarters in turn and silently acknowledges her thanks to the powers that dwell there. The night air has become less humid and cooler, a blessed relief. Norda completes her round and states clearly, in words which are familiar and comfortable, "Our Circle is open but never broken. Merry Meet and Merry Part and Merry Meet Again." She hugs each in turn and leads the party to the Great House down the hill, where ginger snaps and oatmeal cookies and sparkling cider await in abundance.