The hot August day is just beginning to lose it's heavy edge as the sun moves down on the horizon. Carielle and Typo drive along a highway, listening to music blaring, and feeling their hair whipped by the winds of passing cars. As Carielle gestures, Typo pulls the truck into a forest preserve entrance, the doorway to a forest located in the northern Illinois village of Willow Springs. Excitedly, Carielle bolts from the truck, for it has been a long time since these woods heard her voice, and she felt the presence of the woodland spirits. Grinning, Typo gathers what they need for the upcoming ritual, and follows his wife as she romps along a woodland trail.

After walking for awhile in the deep green woods, Carielle turns off the main path and follows one of the many deer paths into a much less "civilized" part of the forest. The footing is a bit rough, as the last feet to walk this path were cloven, but the two continue to walk until they reach a clearing, where Carielle pauses and a bright smile lights her face.

The small clearing is a gem hidden in the deep folds of the forest green, and twilight lengthened shadows and cool the still air. A small group of deer drink from the far side of the tiny pond located at the west edge of the clearing, and Carielle points as the buck looked up, sensing the presence of non-deer siblings. Quietly, Carielle moves forward, and watches as the buck took one last drink, a long cool sip of water as he watches the newcomers. Then, as a single unit, the deer walk slowly back into the woods, fading into the green and brown as if they had never been.

As twilight deepens into night, Carielle prepares the ritual area, setting a cloth of deepest green edged with gold on top of a long, low stone set in the center of the clearing. She lays out the altar, taking special care with her tools, and as she finishes, she hears the tell-tale sounds of others following the deer path. Turning, she calls,

"Welcome, friends, brothers and sisters! Come, join my circle, celebrate the love of the Goddess with me in the Ritual of the Full Moon!"

Smiling, she welcomes Red Deer and Elenya, Norda, and the others who come to share the circle and honor the Deities who created the beautiful glade in which they were to hold ritual.

When all are assembled, Carielle holds out her arms, the sleeves of her green robe falling back, and softly speaks to the moon.

"We gather now in perfect love and perfect trust to celebrate the Full Moon of August. Bless this circle with the knowledge that You, Mother Goddess, are always with us, but especially so when we come to you as your children, beneath the glowing silver Moon."

Carielle steps back as the circle casting begins...

...and Red Deer steps forward, throwing his head high into the air. The setting, beautiful as it is, is almost more than he can bear this moon; for he hears (both within his head and without) the wild call. Having come so many steps along the deer trail, Deer *longs* to leave the circle now and run with his sisters and brothers of the wood. So little his mother understood of the name she gave him at birth, and of how well she had called him. At this moment, however, the moon-tides run high in his blood, and he knows the deer will remain after circle was done.

A glamoury he shares, never-the-less, as he prepares to call the Eastern quarter - such that any human observing from outside their circle this night might see only deer. Indeed, so intense is the longing within him that any careful watcher might note no footprints, but cloven hoof-marks, left upon the ground as he approaches the East.

"Lords and Ladies of Air, Watchers of the East, descend from your windy realm to keep this quarter of our circle tonight. Fill us with the powers of perception, of intellect, and of purpose." Deer stoops low to spike a sturdy beeswax taper into the ground and lights it. The scents of deerstongue and of beeswax soon fill the glade. "So mote it be, " he intones, then straightens and moves toward the Southern quarter.

"Lords and Ladies of Fire, Watchers of the South, dance from your blazing realm to keep this quarter of our circle tonight. Fill us with the powers of change, of the turning wheel, and of light." Deer again bends to spike a taper at this point of the circle and, after lighting it, inhales the scent of amber joining those already released into the night. "So mote it be, " he states again, before returning to his place at Elenya's side.

Rubbing against her, until she notes that seems a bit more thickly furred tonight than usual, he again throws back his head - this time giving the bugle call of a stag entering rut. The gleam in his eyes states unquestionably that there will be a further romp in Carielle's woods tonight, and he smiles with the hope that his wife - as well as the others in circle - will join the race with his sisters and brothers through thicket, glen and old growth ere the sun returns...

...and Elenya nods to Deer, smiling to herself and trying to concentrate on the task at hand instead of her husband's invitation. She slowly approaches the Western quarter of the circle and raising her arms to the sky, begins to speak.

"Lords and Ladies of Water, Watchers of the West, arise from your watery realm to keep this quarter of our circle tonight. Fill us with the powers of mirth, of reverence and of humility. Elenya lowers her arms and bends to place a long taper in the soft earth at her feet. She lights the candle and as the flame grows bright, she whispers, "So Mote It Be." She stands silently for a moment, as the scent of Myrrh fills the air, breathes deeply, then turns and walks slowly to the North.

As she reaches the Northern quarter of the circle, she lifts her arms skyward, and again speaks.

"Lords and Ladies of Earth, Watchers of the North, arise from your fertile realm to keep this quarter of our circle tonight. Fill us with the powers of strength, of honor and of compassion. Lowering her arms, she places another taper into the ground and lights it. The smoke encircles her head, surrounding her with the scent of Oak Moss. Elenya smiles and whispers, "So Mote It Be", and feeling the energies rising in her body, walks back to her place beside Red Deer. She turns to nod at Carielle, and awaits...

...Typo steps forward with a lustful glance at Carielle, he is dressed in his black satin robe, his hair shining that slight glint of red in the moons soft light. removing his robe he stands skyclad and proud before the gods. Typo lowers to his knees and looks down at the rich black soil below him. "Pan, I kneel here on the ground upon you once walked, I invite your return to this forest glade." Typo stands and walks over to a large tree just to his left." I invite you to join in our gathering this night as we revel in your creations of plant and animal." Typo steps toward Red Deer and smiles. turning toward Elenya he opens his hand and reveals a small amount of white powder. Blowing the powder onto Elenya she morphs into a beautiful doe, her brown fur almost glowing red in the moon light. Typo returns to Carielle and taking her hand in his they smile widely at Red and El. Typo thinks to himself "to have loved one another for so long and to still see the wonder of a child in each others eyes. they are truly beloved of the gods..."

...Norda directs a comradely grin at Typo and steps forward into the center of this circle cast in camaraderie and good spirit. The playful mood that has sprung up here is starting to sweep over her as well, but she must direct her attention to the Lady.

The tinkling sound of the silver coins sewn to her cloth belt, the jangle of silver bracelets and the clinking of hervarious chain necklaces and her moonstone & crystal collar accompany Norda's movements as she leans far back to contemplate the Moon and the Stars. Opening her arms wide as though to embrace the entire sky, she cries out, "Mother! Lady Bright! You look upon wild places and city rooftops alike, you come among us a friend chance met, a shoulder when wisdom is needed, a wild creature to inspire our impulses and dreams. I ask you to join with us here and now to be with us in this season of change from Summer to Autumn. Silver Queen of Sky and Sea, be among us!"

Norda reaches deep into the low neckline of the blue gown with silver sleeves which her beloved has newly remade for her with his customary skill. She pulls out a curious long pendant of three silver twists in ascending sizes, set with brown enamel pieces. She holds this pendant in front of her and begins to charge it in the Moon's brilliant rays as...

...Carielle steps forward, feeling the energy of the circle swirling about the group of people, creating a link between the world of the forest and another one, the world of Spirit, the realm of the Lord and Lady Themselves. With her arms raised and outstretched, Carielle speaks words said by many before her.

"The Circle is Cast and we are between the worlds, beyond the bounds of time, where night and day, birth and death, joy and sorrow, meet as one."

Raising her face to the full moon, Carielle smiles and softly speaks the first petition.

"Mother Moon, we come to you this evening to celebrate your influence in our lives. As you wax and wane in endless cycles, so do our lives echo your turning. At this full moon, I want to give thanks for the relationship that my husband and I share. It has bought I fullness and a sense of completeness to my life that I could never have imagined before I met my beloved. We will celebrate our first anniversary as husband and wife beneath your gaze, Mother, and I ask that you grant us many more in this lifetime." With a tear in her eye and a loving, lingering look to her husband, Carielle places upon the altar a small wreath made of red and white roses, reminiscent of the flowers she wore in her hair on the day they became husband and wife. Then she steps back to once again take her place in the circle, awaiting the next petitioner....

...Red Deer steps to the altar, leaving there a nettle stem from the herb garden. "Mother & Father, life is sweet. I ask for naught this eve except that the petitions here raised be granted, by our will and Your grace. Thank you for the abundance with which my life is bestowed."

So saying, Deer moves again to the circle's perimeter, to rejoin his mate...

...Cloud, late arrived from another place between the worlds and slightly sunburnt. She moves to the altar, her customary green-brown robe replace for this occasion by blue jeans and an MPC T-shirt, and places a small stone on the altar. She gazes into the bright face of the moon and speaks:

*Lady, I bring you a small stone from another place of wonder, this one in the world of form. May the land it came from prosper in the care of those who love it*.

Grateful for safe travel and loving friends, Cloud checks to see that the deer ones are still in the circle and returns to her place to await...

...Elenya, feeling a bit awkward, slowly steps forward as she accustoms herself to walking on four hooves. She approaches the atlar, lifts her head towards the luminous sphere in the sky above her, and begins to speak:

"Mother and Father, again my heart is full of joy and appreciation. This past month brought us together again with ones we hold near and dear to us. Thank you for bringing us together both on the Internet and in the real world."

Elenya, feeling a little more at ease, gives her back legs a little kick as she walks back to her place in the circle. She rubs her head against her mate's ear, and giving Typo a warm smile, waits patiently for the next petitioner...

...as Bronwyn comes forward out of the deep sylvan shadows. Clad in black she is, dark as the secrets held in the rings of old-growth forest. Stepping without sound, she bends to the altar, touching it with the palms of her hands, feeling the stone-song coursing through her being, connecting to all that is.

"Mother, you alone know what my heart holds tonight. With harm to none, for the good of all, may this be done in the light of your love, in the strength of your sacred Consort. So mote it be." She removes from a black pouch a curious object that on closer glance is revealed to be a tender and fragrant moss rose, wound with a golden, mature stalk of wheat. The air shimmers momentarily with radiance the color of the flower's perfume, and Bronwyn melts back into the shadows...

...DesertFox approaches the altar under a now dark sky, the stars shining so very bright now- -miles away from the noisy city. Only the sounds of a ritual bonfire can be heard above the sounds of an owl nesting in a nearby pine tree.

He places an ear of corn into the bonfire, as an offering to the gods for a bountiful harvest, knowing that there are some not as fortunate this year.

Gazing silently into the fire as the smoke rises, he offers his petition of gratitude, and a plea for the gods to look after the less fortunate. He then silently steps back into the shadows...

...Norda shakes her head as though to clear away the last cobwebs of a lingering dream. Her shaggy mane shows its grey a bit more strongly this month, but her steps are light and sure as she walks to the altar stone and hugs it impulsively. Arising from her knees, she addresses her petition to the skies. "Mother Moon, Father Sky, I ask nothing for myself this cycle, I thank you for renewing my health, for sharpening my awareness of how well I am loved, and for clearing my vision so that I again see beauty all around me. Thank you!" She does an impromptu little jig which sets all her silver to jingling as she resumes her place in the circle...

...The air shimmers slightly and a mist floats silently between trees in the hollow of sheltering hills and the smell is of warm rich earth as Rowan steps from the mist and moves towards the altar. She removes a small bundle of green material wrapped and bound with black cord from around her neck. The three large knots are obvious as she lays the small pouch on the altar. Turning her face to the bright moon she reaches for the first knot saying "Lady, I have carried this for five long years, and know joy that I can finally give it back to you." She unties the first knot "thank you for your love" :second knot: "your protection" :third knot:" and your healing of my heart and soul"

Removing the cord, she lays it in the fire...watching it burn as she opens the pouch. Moving to the east, she scrapes a hole in the dirt and shakes the contents of the pouch into the hole before covering it with soil.

Standing again, eyes sparkling and a smile on her face, Rowan walks around the circle...hugging all before returning to her mist as another moves forward...

...approaching the altar with head hung low. Red Deer, upon reaching the circle's focus, pauses for a long moment. "Lady & Lord, Mama & Papa - I find that I do have a request this moon. The husband of a good friend and colleague has just suffered a stroke and is now hospitalized for work-up and treatment. Please send to John all the energy he needs for healing. May his recovery be swift and complete. And give Pat the strength to deal with this, allaying her fears of being widowed young."

Pulling a sprig of summer mistletoe from his hair, Deer chants: "Earth's energies I summon, two pillars of the temple stand between, healing and life-giving spirit, share with my friend your power of gold and green." Deer returns solemnly to Elenya's side and waits, until...

...Sensing the power of the circle coming to its natural close, and with a final prayer that all petitions are heard and met accordingly, Carielle moves widdershins around the circle, speaking to each Quarter in turn, thanking them for their participation, and wishing them well. Finally, Carielle closes the circle with a quiet reassurance. "This circle is open but never broken....go if you must, stay if you will, and come again always!"

With that, Carielle and Typo bring out their version of cakes and ale....sweet handbaked "full moon" sugar cookies and cool white milk. And deep in the benighted forest, with only the animals and the sky to witness, the group draws to a happy close, knowing that their celebration pleases the Lord and the Lady...

...after the delicious cookies and milk - which Deer, while only under the glamory of a stag, had to assist his deer Elenya to partake of - Red Deer moves back to the center of what had been their circle. He first embraces the altar stone, then - raising his arms high toward the night sky - begins to bellow, to bugle, in a voice which carries throughout the forest. The others watch, a bit nervously at first, as into the clearing come does and their half-grown fawns, followed soon by the young bucks. The entire assembly is soon ringed round by another, traveling deosil round the group on cloven hooves.

Deer continues to bellow, and all (except his hoofed sisters and brothers) begin to wonder who or what he calls to now. After several further moments, the outer circle briefly opens, and a magnificent stag enters their space. He pauses within the inner circle of those covened for the moon, then walks round to each member and holds them in a strong and timeless gaze. Having completed his circuit, the massive one moves towards Red Deer at the circles' center. As he approaches, he throws his head high, antlers back, and returns Red Deer's call - before nuzzling the man before him and licking him upon the cheek.

Red Deer instantly throws his arms about the stag's neck, and in a twinkling shifts not only shape but substance into that of his namesake. As the group watch, man and stag hugging and wrestling become two mighty stags sparring playfully. They soon regain their composure and, at the older stag's bidding, Red Deer addresses his sisters and brothers...

"To us the wild is open tonight. By the grace of our Lady and Lord, and the invitation of my uncle, all who would may run with the herd this eve. For unseen by most, our cousins of the wood also revel in the fullness of our Lady's light. Any who would join need only touch the altar stone before sunrise, and learn the feeling of running upon cloven hooves." Deer turns momentarily to Elenya, admiring her large, brown doe eyes, and licks her upon the cheek - before bounding high over the outer circle of revelers at the heels of his uncle. So caught up is he in the moment that he scarcely notices whether any of their group have accepted the herdmaster's invitation.

In the moonlight, with these eyes, Deer sees the wood more clearly than he might usually in the light of day. Scrubs and small trees of the understory whip painlessly against his hide; the moon and stars flash almost as strobes between the massive branches and leaves of the forest canopy; and the sounds and smells of the warm summer night within the wood assault his senses; however, Deer is mostly aware of the challenge... to keep pace with he who leads this wild chase through the night. After a time, Deer is aware of the thunderous cacophony of hooves behind them, but dares not turn his attention from their leader to observe whether any other of their original group have joined in the run...

...With a grin, and a flick of her green-eyed gaze to her husband Typo, Carielle runs and embraces the altar stone. Her body shifts, transforming into that of a young white-tailed doe. Rather than darker red-brown of Red Deer's color, Carielle/deer resembles a dark honeyed flame as she bounds away gracefully on light cloven hooves. The flash of her white tail raised is a challenge to her deer husband to join her in her wild romp in the dark forest of her youth.

As she runs, Carielle throws her nose into the wind's currents, reveling in the senses of the deer. She smells all the vibrant fragrances of the forest; the musky scent of animals, and she puts the name to them; deer, rabbit, raccoon, fox, ground squirrel, and the visiting horse and dog. She smells the sharp scent of fresh vegetation, late blooming flowers, and ground moss. She glories even in the heavier scents of decay, of mold, and of death which is also a part of the life of the forest.

Within the scents of the forest, she detects the special scent of her husband, and notices the shift as he also embraces the altar stone to join her in this run...

...Glad at the chance to once again run upon four legs, Rowan hurries to clasp the altar stone, reveling in the feel of her body transforming. Within in moments in her place stands a pure white doe with eyes black as night, a string of rowan berries twined round her neck. She snorts at the sudden influx of scents, the forest suddenly alive around her. Then dancing happily around the circle, she licks the cheeks of the others still sitting, urging them to join the fun. With a last shake of her head and a flick of her soft tail she jumps the altar stone...pounding off into the forest. The rhythm of her hooves matching the beating in her heart as she joyfully races to overtake the others before her...

...As Typo is about to touch the stone he stops and silently watches as the others romp around the dark wood, carefree and overjoyed in each others company. he watches Red and El traipsing off down a secluded path. he places a small cube on the ground so that when El is ready to return to her usual human form she can do so. its magick countering the powder he had covered her in. Typo sits in front of the alter watching silently as he often watched unknown in the company of others in the chat rooms under different names. he smiles knowing he shall not return to the company of those deer friends he once knew here but he knows that he will not lose touch with those here who have called him friend (or nephew for that matter). Typo stands and finally he touches the alter and allows the stags magick to transform him to the shape of a deer, clumsily he staggers about unused to hoofs. giving it time he finally gets his footing and follows Carielle into the woods...

...Elenya turns her head, seeing that she's being left behind by the others enjoying their frolic. The joy she had felt earlier has somewhat diminished, at the news of her dear friends' departure, but she turns about and quickly leaps to follow the others into the wood, where she knows that life is timeless and they will always be together in spirit. She races to catch up with her husband, and when finally by his side, takes her nose, and gently prodding his neck, invites him to join her in a private romp...

...As Bronwyn emerges from the shadows. She reaches for the altar stone, and all can see that she is part deer before even touching it. She leaps off to run her own moonlit race, leaping rock and felled tree and stream as light as starshine. Then she rejoins her friends in their reveling flight, panting breaths mingling in joy...

...Well tired, and filled with feelings of the moon and the night, Red Deer notes that the others who joined the herd this moon have now gone their separate ways. With Elenya, he returns to the place of their circle and bends he head low to the stone of their transformation. Nuzzling the stone, and then his deer wife, he winces briefly as both are returned to their mundane forms. A quiet "Thank you" he whispers to the wind, knowing that it will be borne both to his uncle and to the remainder of the herd. Thanks for their acceptance, thanks for their lead in the night's wild run, and thanks for the many teachings his sisters and brothers of the forest have given him. Then, exhausted, he and Elenya find a small thicket nearby carpeted with a soft floor of moss, and settle back to sleep, perchance to dream...