...Heather hurries through the cold winter night to the beautiful circle cast along the lake. The sliver moonlight illuminates the placid water and sets the night aglow. She enters the circle from the north taking her place among family, a bit nervous as this is her first FMR. Her long red-brown hair billows and whispers across her forehead with a slight breeze from the north. Slowly, Heather steps to the alter, offering and lighting a brown sandalwood candle. She closes her eyes and breathes in the frigid winter air, gathering her thoughts and words. In a soft but resonant voice she calls...

"To the guardians of the Watchtower of the North. Spirit of the earth that is our mothers body, I do call to you on this winter night to bless and guard this sacred circle. Great spirits, with love and light in our hearts I do ask it, so be it...

Heather quietly steps to the side waiting for...

...Walking along a small path skirting the lake, leaves crunching under her boots, Topaz shivers in the cold. Unconsciously she wraps her plum colored woolen cloak more tightly about her body as she makes her way among the sway of tall pines to the circle Windwalker is preparing. As she nears the place, she senses the wood's gentle murmur of approval that the Old Ways are being honored in these times of high tech and general disbelief in anything that cannot be seen and explained in a few sound bytes. She wonders with sadness what people will do when they have cut down all the greenwoods such as these to make way for more strip malls, more concrete, more cars, more people. What legacy would there be for our children's children? The wind whips through the folds of her cloak chilling her to the bone, but her shiver this time is not from the cold, but from the stark answer that seems a reply to her unspoken question. Pushing such dark thoughts aside, she picks up her pace and soon finds herself at the appointed place. With a deep cleansing breath she shifts her mind to the ritual ahead, banishing the mundane from her swirling thoughts. Entering the circle from the North, she takes her place, feeling increasing warmth as Windwalker conjures its boundaries.

With smiles all around to those present, she stands in silent honor to the spirits of the North as Heather so eloquently calls their presence. At a nod from Windwalker/Whitehawke, Topaz steps forward and moves first to the altar. Next to the amethyst she places two round pieces of polished rose quartz and two roses, one pink, one white. Silently she honors and thanks the Lord and Lady to come. Moving next to the East of the circle, she takes a moment to ground, center, and attune herself to the energies she has been asked to summon. When it feels right, she stands tall, straightens her shoulders and opens her arms skyward. In a clear voice she calls out...

"Hail and well met good Guardians and spirits of the East, keepers of Air and place of the rising sun! I call upon you this night to ward our circle and witness our rites. Fill our spirits with the essence of your energy, that which stimulates our minds and leads us to achieve our fullest potential. Join us and be welcome!"

Knowing her task is done for the present, she steps back silently and waits for...

...Susan smiles as the breeze ruffles her hair as East is called in. The spirits are playful this chilly northern eve. This is a far cry from Texas, where she had run in sandals and short sleeves just yesterday. She flexes her toes impatiently in her hiking boots and socks, longing for the feel of the earth under her toes. Impulsively she takes off her footwear and stands barefooted on the forest floor, her long grey velvet skirt and purple cloak brushing the tops of her feet.

Susan gives Flid a mischievous grin and sticks out her tongue at her, then turns to give a Coyote smile to her other brothers and sisters in the circle.

Turning to the South, she throws her arms back and listens for a long moment. When she hears the laughter, half-Coyote half-man, she knows it is time.

"All Those Who Watch the South! Spirits of Fire! Spirits of transformation, of passion! Coyote, Mountain Lion, Stallion! We ask that you be with us this night. Bring your warmth to our circle, your laughter to our bellies, your inspiration to our hearts! Merry Met!"

Susan lowers her arms, shivering a little as the cloak drops back to reveal her green-velvet clad arms. She bends forth and lights an orange candle. She winks at Coyote, lurking in the shadows, then turns to wait for...

...Morgan (who found her way here without once getting lost thanks, to the good directions given!) approaches the altar. She is wearing a black woolen cloak with touches of white at the collar and sleeves; this is in special recognition of the eclipse which will shortly block the light of the full moon above. From an inner pocket of the cloak she pulls a smudging wand made of sage from her own garden; from the same pocket she pulls a lighter (which she has bought especially for tonight's ritual, since she hasn't owned a lighter since she quit smoking last March!) and lights the wand.

The fragrant smoke wafts gently over the altar and into the sky and Morgan pulls a small ceramic bowl from her cloak, places the wand in it and sets it on the altar. She walks to the western quarter, and from yet another pocket, draws out a small blue candle, which she lights and places on the stone marking the quarter. She draws her athame from the sheath at her waist, carves an invoking pentagram in the air, and says: "Hail, guardians of the watchtowers of the West! Spirits of water, charge and ward this circle! By sea, lake and stream, be here now!"

After re-sheathing her athame, Morgan steadily breathes as she feels the power gather and manifest itself. She looks up at the moon's slowly darkening face for a moment, then slowly returns to her place in the circle and waits for...

...Cailean takes two steps forward and stops. Taking a deep breath of the cold clean air, she realizes it's been a long time since she had been in a winter's night. She gives silent thanks to her friend Donna back in L.A. for the beautiful (and warm) purple velvet cloak, made as a Yule gift. Her gaze falls on the lake, known, loved and associated with a teenaged weekend at Windwalker's home. So long ago and yet it feels like yesterday. She grins wickedly at Windwalker and then looks up at the full moon. Relaxing her body and her mind, she lets the light fill her. Slowly, with a dancer's grace, she approaches the altar so lovingly adorned. From the pouch tied around her waist, she draws red rose petals from the bush in her front yard back in California and a few leaves and pink blooms pulled from the jasmine plants Windwalker so loves and strews them about the altar.

Finally, she looks up again at the moon, raises her arms skyward and says,

"Lady, hear me. In this beautiful space, we gather in answer to your call, a family of unknown faces but much-loved hearts. As the light of this wondrous moon washes over us, so, too, let the light of your love and blessings, of peace and contentment, wash over our spirits. Come, join us now, let each of us feel you near, a part of us as you surely are; protect us and watch over us, not only during this rite, but always."

Cailean lowers her arms, takes deep breath and walks back to her place and waits for...

...Whisper steps forward from the shadows with his long black robe flowing gently in the breeze as he approaches the altar. Sprinkling a pinch of dragon's blood on the burning coals, he stands facing the altar with her legs solidly rooted to the ground and raises his arms skyward and then across his chest feeling the power of the God coursing through his body. He then raises his face to the shining moon, his long dark hair glowing in the firelight as he calls out:

"Hail to thee, O Father God, Horned Hunter of the Greenwood, Lord of my ancestors. Hear my call. I greet thee and ask that you shall come forth and join us here in this sacred space as we come together as community in this moon time gathering. I ask for your strength, your guidance, and protection."

He lowers his head and arms, then pulls a small piece of tiger eye and anointed red candle from a pocket in his robes, which he lights and places it on the altar. He smiles to greet his friends gathered around and steps back into his place in the circle and waits...

...Susan steps forth from her place in the South and lays on the altar an envelope from her college and a piece of prairie agate from her native Dakota.

"Great Lady, Mighty Lord, I come to give thanks this moon for all you have given me. First, thank you for the strength you have given me since extracting myself from my job situation last fall. Even when I have doubted, you have helped me find a way to make this work, have put the right things in my path. Thank you for the strength and presence of mind that got me through finals, and that helped me earn my grades. Thank you most of all for the scholarship and teaching job that have been given me this spring. With your help I have been able to dedicate myself to school full time and with your inspiration I have turned out work that was worthy or respect and reward from my colleagues and superiors. Thank you for removing the financial barriers to my upcoming wedding.

"I am profoundly grateful for these gifts, and most of all for the love and support of my brothers and sisters, both in real space and within my cyber family."

Susan pauses for a moment, looks at the moon, gifts a soft Coyote howl, and returns to her place to wait for...

...EarthChild arrives late and out of breath. She is glad to have made it and not missed this month's FMR. She enters the circle and looks around. She says to her friends and family gathered, "I'm sorry to be running late. I'm glad that I got here in time to join you all. I would have been terribly disappointed if I had missed it this month." She smiles, and then walks to the center.

She places a small handful of stones on the altar. "Lord and Lady, I come before you tonight with both deep gratitude and some requests. I'm sorry that somehow there always seem to be requests...but I have both great joy and great need in my life right now.

I wanted to thank you for having allowed my friend and soul sister April to have come into my life. Even though I have only known her for less than a year in this life, she has become Family. I an so very grateful for the time I have been allowed to spend with her. I know that my life has been forever changed and enriched for having known her.

The upcoming months are going to be hard. We know that her time remaining with us in this life is short, and I want to make the absolute most of it. Despite the sadness I feel in knowing that she will soon pass on, I am trying very hard to hold onto the joy of our friendship and companionship.

We are trying to find a place big enough but within our budget so that we can all move in together. As the cancer that has invaded her body progresses, she will need more help. I wish to able to be there for her. Please, help us to find a place that will fit our needs and budget.

Lord and Lady, I know that this will be incredibly hard for all of us who love her. I ask that you give us the strength to keep her last days happy and to not let the sadness over her impending loss overshadow what is left of her life.

I am also asking that with so much that is going on right now, that my daughter's fourth birthday be happy and joyous. She is getting so big! In four short days she will be four. I am amazed at her. She truly is a gift. I want to make this birthday a happy occasion for her. For a brief time, I want to help her put aside the tensions and upsets that have been going on. I want her day to be special.

I really have been given so much...and as much as I ask of you...I never forget how much I have. I refuse to let the sadness make me forget that." With tears in her eyes, EarthChild stands silently foe a moment. Then, with a rustle of skirts and a nice warm cloak, she finds a place in the circle...

...Wren steps out from the circle, and walks to the altar. She bends and places a geode at the base. Within the amethyst geode is a small crystal point. "Thank you, my Brother and my Sister, my Father and Mother", she says, "for your lessons in balance this past lunar cycle". With that, she moves back into circle.

...Whitehawke comes to the altar after having spent the better part of the day regaining her strength. She has let the music calm her mind and the beauty of the day fill her soul. Sitting on the deck in her "shell", she has gained the peace and calm of the Lady in her glory. She looks into the woods that are covered with snow and rejoices in the sight of nine male cardinals and uncountable numbers of females and young adults (and countless other birds who come to empty her 8 feeders). Her spirits rise, refreshed. She now returns her "essence" to the circle to offer her energies with Owl for those in greater need. She gathers it to her core and then releases it out to the circle, thickening the air inside so that as you enter and breath you may share in what you need. "Lady I thank you for the personal peace I have found since last moontime. I ask that the young adult we have recently delivered to you also finds some peace in your gentle hands and the parents find some comfort in their grief. I thank you for the friends here , who by their sharing have made the road easier for another child. But mostly today I just rejoice in the winter cloak you have laid before us, that has renewed my being to overwhelming, so that I may offer my energies to others in need."

Whitehawke steps back to the edge and smiles to those who have lightened the anxiety she first experienced when she volunteered for this ritual. She hugs Cailean and offers her hand to share her energies in her struggles, knowing that together their strength has overcome diversity many times before. Then she turns and waits for...

...Jess steps forward, brushing the cat hair off her green cloak. On the altar she places a stained glass eighth note which has hung in her window all year. "Thank you for the music and for the ability to lift my voice in song," she says. "Thank you for the wisdom, strength, and experience to lead my fellow sopranos through another grueling/glorious season. And, finally, thank you for the breath of inspiration you have given to the writers and composers whose works it is my joy to sing."

Jess steps back, humming "Sure on this shining night", but quietly, so as not to disturb...

...Cailean steps back into the Circle. At the altar, she stops and admires all the offerings. She takes a deep breath, seeks and finds a kernel of strength inside...

"Oh Lady, I ask for your help. The past week or two have been sooooooo horrific. I KNOW I haven't quite gotten the lesson on patience, I'm trying, truly I am. I take each problem as it comes. I take the time to give thanks for the good things around me. Guide me through these rough waters, let me find the strength inside myself to get through."

Cailean goes back to her place feeling just a bit better...

...Whisper steps forward from the shadows with his long black robe flowing gently in the breeze as he approaches the lovingly decorated altar, where he gently places a single white rose.

"Blessed be well, my friend." He says softly, his voice a bittersweet mixture of pain and hope for the future. Sprinkling a pinch of frankincense and rose petals on the burning coals, he stands facing the altar and raises his arms skyward holding up a small piece of obsidian. He then raises his face to the shining moon, his long dark hair glowing in the firelight as he calls out:

"Hail O Shining Lady of Many Names I ask that you shall grant Pat the vision to see her life as it really is. Let the veils of self-deception be lifted from her eyes so that she may see the truth about her life, both good and bad. Grant her the wisdom and insight to weigh the options that lie before her; and the courage to leave behind those things she finds no longer viable as she moves forward on a course that will heal the wounds of the past and lead her to a joyous new beginning. As is best for all those involved, so mote it be"

He lowers his head and arms, then places the obsidian upon the altar. He then pulls an anointed purple candle from a pouch on his belt, which he lights and holds it up in both hands saying, "Behold the Sacred Flame of Cull Dar. May its light be a beacon to you, my friend, in times of indecision. May its warmth comfort you in times of strife and its flame consume the obstacles that stand before you. I ask that the Lady Brighid watch over you and grant you her strength, guidance, and protection." He then lowers the candle and places it on the altar.

He turns, smiling to greet his friends gathered around, and steps back into his place in the circle and waits...

...Heather steps back into the circle, adding her beloved carved butterfly carnelian to the generous offerings.

"Gracious Lord and Lady, on this night I come to offer my thanks and to make a small request. First and most importantly, thank you for guiding my mother through her surgery safely and with out event. You held my hand through a difficult time and comforted me when I needed it. I would also like to thank you for blessing me with someone to love and want, and from this blessing comes my request, let him see my love and not fear it. I know that I have been blessed with loving family and friends, but at this time I need the kind of love in my life that keeps me awake at night and stirs the butterflies in my stomach. Thank you again" Heather steps back to her spot among family, slightly embarrassed for being so mushy, but knowing her request was heard.

...Red Deer moves from his place among the circle of friends to the altar, bells making a raucous jingle as he shivers in the cold. He basks in the radiant energy there, waiting for the exact moment when the moon enters the center of totality.

"Mama, Papa - this moon I ask for only me. I really want to go to Borneo. Please."

His simple request made, Deer returns to his place in the circle (and to his clothes) and waits...

...From the circle Deer hears Owl and Caliean softly whisper... "So mote it be"...

...Dancing Skygazer has been standing quietly in the circle, listening to the beautiful words of her friends, both old and new. She smiles as her heart is touched with their energies and love. The light of the Moon at first is more a glow, for there are clouds obscuring a clear view of Her Face. As she grounds and centers, she silently asks that the Goddess permit a view of the evenings celestial display. Gently she breathes in and out in a gentle rhythm. A wind appears from the North, and the arctic blast is very cold, but also cleansing to the sky. The clouds become thinner, and the glow behind appears a light coral and tan. The light is opalescent, like mother of pearl on the inside of an oyster shell. She has been steadily gazing skyward, watching as this full moon, first blanketed with snow clouds, peeks out tentatively, then audaciously, and the sky totally clears of any cloud cover. The Moon's light reflects brightly off of the white snow, which sparkles like a million little diamonds on the ground. She smiles then as the shadow passes across the Lady's Face. At its totality, the shadow turns the Face a burnt sienna, with cinnamon tinged edges. The sky is totally clear, and as a meteor obligingly streaks across the sky for her, Dancing Skygazer again breaks out a hearty laugh. "I hear you Lady!" and she steps boldly up to the altar, the snow crunching under her ankle high sneakers with the heavy duty treads. From her pocket, she pulls a handful of rosemary and sage from her home window garden. She rubs this between her palms, releasing the sweet scent of the herbs into the chill of the night air. "Oh Lord and Lady, I thank you for Your blessings, they have been many; my family, my friends and spiritual brothers and sisters, the roof over my head, my work, and Your Presence in my life. I bring you this gift of rosemary, for healing, that my family may continue to heal from our painful past, and that I may continue to be strong in my work. I gift You with this sage for growth, that we may continue to develop to our fullest potential." She allows the rubbed herbs to fall onto the altar, amongst the other offerings. >From her other pocket, she removes an egg. "And Lady, I leave you this egg for growth. As You emerge from the shadows, so shall I." Crunching through the snow, and with a broad smile on her face, she prances and dances back to her place with joy, and watches as...

...Cailean steps excitedly to the altar once more.

"Yes, Lady, I know I'm a pest this month. But this time I wish only to give thanks. The situation with my uncle's finances which has had me tied in knots for weeks has finally been resolved. A huge weight has lifted off my shoulders. Thank you for your guidance. And I give thanks, too, for the wonderful people gathered round me. Their love, patience and shared energy helped me make it through this trial."

Cailean places on the altar a piece of rose quartz, something she has owned for many years, well, more than a decade, and it is dear to her heart. But she offers it gladly. Returning to the Circle, she hugs those who have been there for her Owl, Wren, Annie, Windwalker, and all the others she has come to care for in this family...

...Ramoth slowly makes her way into the circle. It seems to be all she can do right now to put one foot in front of the other. She lets the light of the Mother shine on her as she looks up for a moment and feels refreshed and invigorated (as she knew she would). Ramoth turns in a slow circle and looks at the faces of all those surrounding her at this moment. Some faces are old friends and some are new friends.

Ramoth pulls a white candle from under her cloak, lights it and places it on the altar. She steps back and raises her arms and her voice. "Mother and Father, Lady and Lord, thank you for the friends that I have found here and in real time. Without them I could not have faced this past week. Please tell Tina that we miss her smile and her laugh, but, that justice will soon be accomplished on her behalf. Thank you for all the wonderful gifts that you have bestowed upon me and for the wonderful mate that you led me to 27 years ago. His love and friendship have truly allowed me to keep my sanity over this difficult time."

Ramoth takes just a few quiet seconds to feel the beauty and power around her in this magnificent piece of nature and then, with a lightened heart and a big smile, she moves back to her place in the circle and waits for...

Fairymoon steps up to the alter, smiles at all her brothers and sisters .. She lays a rose quartz and white carnation on the alter. She looks towards the silver moon and holds her hands up high" Blessed mother and Father as the wheel turns in this new year I ask for your wisdom and strength .. To follow the path you have laid out for me .. I would also like to ask for your healing hand and keeping me and my daughter and all you sons and daughters strong and healthy.. I ask for your support in the ever enduring financial problems but most of all I ask for your spiritual guidance to help me grow.. Thank you for all the blessings I have in my life for they are abundant ...so mote it be" with that she turns smiles at all in the circle and returns to her spot and waits...

...Annie steps toward the altar and places a small planted with a bit of root showing and a dash of green rising...it is a bit of ginger root that has captured and stored the summer's heat in the darkness and just started to respond to the returning light...shortly a thin stalk will emerge. She looks up at the Mama's face and smiles.

Starting back to her place in the circle she reaches to dust a bit of snow from her shoulder only to find a chip of wood... seeing that the fire is starting to die down she tosses in it... surely there it is of better use... she returns to the circle and waits for...

...Maxime steps to the altar and takes a moment to soak in the incredible energies building in the circles center. She raises her face to the night sky.

"Mother, thank you for the many blessings this past month. The growth cycle at work and the forward movement with my health. I would ask for guidance and a bit of your wisdom concerning decisions I must make and continued strength and energy for myself and those in my prayers."

...Taking a large cleansing breath, Max opens her eyes and shyly smiles at her circle mates as she retakes her place and waits...

...Beth steps towards the alter- "oh great and wise ones, I thank you for the strength that you have given me the past month. For guiding me to one who can help me in my search for me. For the strength of a good friend, for the strength to let the friendship go. I ask for continued strength during my search for who I am and where I fit in. For beginning to lead me towards a more spiritual path. I thank you." Drawing in the power of those circle, she steps back...

...Cloud steps forward, snow-dusted green and brown, reflecting moonlight from eyes and silver, grinning around at the old faces here and loving all the new ones. She is feeling "home again for the first time", awed but not too solemn. Moving to the altar she places a sharp new pencil and a roll of film in gratitude for the good work of Carrie and Melissa, grins again hoping that her warm thoughts can reach them, shoots an extra warm thought for the editor unknown, and then, sobering a little, reaches into her capacious pocket yet again. She draws out a new gold candle that she plans to light later for the protection of her friends from any possible adverse affects of publicity. Perhaps the intense energy of this circle will charge it even more. Knowing it's easy from where she sits a couple hundred miles away, Cloud thinks of people who made a decision she's not sure she could make, thanks the Lady for those who can, and returns to her place...

...Flid moves towards the altar, feet barely touching the ground in her joy. She smiles bravely at everyone before pulling a small piece of paper from the suede bag around her neck. On it is nothing more than the word "Rowan". She lights the paper and holds it until it has become nothing more than ash and floats away on the wind. raising her face to the wind she says "Lady Flidais, Lord Cernunnos...it's been a long 8 years and an even longer month for me. Since my dedication to you a month ago I have been given revelations and joy and a new hope. I barely felt the two by four you had to use to get my attention, really! Thank you for your protection and your loving embrace and the change that has given me back my soul. I ask that you bless the lives of those women who have shown me what sisterhood.. what friendship.. really is and keep them safe always" She turns to look upon everyone with a happiness shining out that has been long missing from her eyes. Walking back towards her place she stops to hug Windwalker and thank her for a beautiful ritual. As she moves into the circle of friends she remembers something and turns to Susan, quickly sticking her tongue out at her in revenge and laughs mischievously before turning to await...

...Topaz smoothes back her blonde hair, straightens her cloak, and steps forward once more to approach the altar. She smiles at all the new people she's come to know during this last half-turn of the Wheel and silently thanks the Lord and Lady for the seeds of friendship which have been planted.

From a side pocket she retrieves a handful of fresh lemon balm and places it on the altar with the other offerings. Just this morning she'd found it in a patch of her garden, still green and flourishing beneath a layer of dead leaves and new fallen snow. The symbolism was not lost on her and she wondered anew at what is revealed if we are willing to listen with an open heart.

She breaths deeply of Morgan's smudge and fans some of the sweet smoke towards her, then, gathering her thoughts, she picks up the amethyst and hugs it close to her heart. "Mother," she says to herself, "This has been a difficult turn of the Wheel and I thank you for the lessons it has brought. With time's passing, I'm coming to grips with the loss of Grama & Papa, although I have felt dead myself at times with their passing. I thank you for being there to comfort me as I cried and for the gentle strength and peace you brought me when I most needed it. As I brush away this dead layer of leaves upon myself, let my roots remain strong that I may have balance and flourish even in the face of adversity."

Replacing the amethyst back to the altar's center, she removes an anointed lavender candle from her pocket, lights it, and places it to rest next to the lemon balm. She returns to her place in the circle to wait for...

...Flid moves towards the altar, feet barely touching the ground in her joy. She smiles bravely at everyone before pulling a small piece of paper from the suede bag around her neck. On it is nothing more than the word "Rowan". She lights the paper and holds it until it has become nothing more than ash and floats away on the wind. raising her face to the wind she says "Lady Flidais, Lord Cernunnos...it's been a long 8 years and an even longer month for me. Since my dedication to you a month ago I have been given revelations and joy and a new hope. I barely felt the two by four you had to use to get my attention, really! Thank you for your protection and your loving embrace and the change that has given me back my soul. I ask that you bless the lives of those women who have shown me what sisterhood.. what friendship.. really is and keep them safe always" She turns to look upon everyone with a happiness shining out that has been long missing from her eyes. Walking back towards her place she stops to hug Windwalker and thank her for a beautiful ritual. As she moves into the circle of friends she remembers something and turns to Susan, quickly sticking her tongue out at her in revenge and laughs mischievously before turning to await...

...Rosemary approaches the altar with a heavy heart. "It is Tuesday, the snow is falling upon the base that is left from two days ago. The total should add up to 10 or 12 inches. The furnace is not working. Although the thermostat is set at 90, the thermometers in the house register around 60. Fortunately we have a gas fireplace. Abe is wrapped in blankets sitting by it trying to keep warm. He is not well, and this does not help. I manage."

She sighs, and continues, "My petition, Lady, is that my furnace fixer puts me at the top of the list to visit as soon as the secondary streets are plowed and he can first get out, and second that my street it plowed and he can reach me..."