Fern spends the day hauling supplies up the hill to the ritual site, and setting everything up.

First to be set up is the spot for the fire. "Thank you, RainGods, for ending the drought! It will be wonderful to be able to use the fire pit again!" She clears the fire pit and the area around it of wild fuel, then starts to lay in wood for the sacred fire. More wood stands accessible to the fire pit, to keep the fire going thru the full ritual.

Harder to set up is the Bile, the branched staff representing the world tree. Eventually she gets it standing firm and tall. That done, she sets up the Well - a large bowl set in a woven basket and decorated with flowers and vines.

Next she moves to the main altar, and covers it with a gold cloth. On top of that she puts a cup for the offering to the Outsiders as well as two glass chalices, one green and one clear. As people enter the sacred space later, many will put their offerings to the God/dess/es on the altar rather than hold them thru the ritual. Close at hand is an offering plate for use later in the ritual.

Fern then sets up the altars to the kindreds. First the one for the Ancestors, set up on the on the edge of ritual space closest to the stream. This altar has two sea blue cups, one with water and one she fills with black powder. The second altar, for the Tuatha, is set up 1/3 way around the perimeter of the circle to the right. This has sky blue cups, one with feathers and one with black powder. The third and final kindred alter is 1/3 of the way around the perimeter to the left, for the Nature Spirits. this altar, too, has two cups. These are green, and one contains rich black soil, the other black powder.

Finally, she puts in place a large cauldron... leaving it empty. Fern checks for other supplies - drinkable water, whiskey, water to contain the fire with, etc. Once she is satisfied with the setup of the ritual space, she retreats down to the meeting area, about a mile away.

It is later afternoon when Fern gets to the wooded campground where all will meet before, and have revels after, the ritual. Around the picnic tables coolers have blossomed, holding the food for the feast. Folding chairs abound. Folks who have camped there overnight, or will camp that night, have tents set up. It is a very warm afternoon.

Just before moonrise, Fern steps forward.

"Welcome to the Pre-ritual Briefing! Since most of you aren't familiar with ADF ritual format, let's go over a few of the differences. First, we aren't going to be meeting erecting a circle during the ritual. Energy flow will be controlled in a different way, using a gatekeeper. Thus, if you need to leave the circle for any reason, you don't have to cut a gate, etc. Our rituals can run long, depending on how many offerings to the God/des/es are made - feel free to sit down during the ritual, or if you need to bring a folding chair go right ahead. It may be awkward to carry during the processional, though! We're doing the processional and ritual during the evening, so you are less likely to have heat or dehydration problems, but you certainly can bring water bottles to the ritual as well.

"For the sharing of the Waters of Life, there will be two chalices going around. The green one will have whiskey, the clear one water. They will be presented to you with the words "Behold the waters of life!" You respond "The waters of life", and take one. You can sip, kiss the cup, or pour an offering to the earth. If you have reasons to not share a cup, then bring your own cup and, when Nym is filing the chalices have her pour some of either liquid into your cup.

"Full Moons as my grove does them, are for development of the grove, working for personal development and bonding/community building in the grove. We'll keep on this theme here. Over on that table over there (Fern points) are some smooth dark river rocks, and several bottles of nail polish. During your meditation time, take a rock and a bottle of polish. Think about some weakness you have, something you'd like LESS of, something that is a barrier to you being either fully in the pagan community or a contributing member of it. Put that on the rock, either as a sigil or word or whatever. Bring that rock to the ritual for the working.

"Okay! Now, if there are no more questions, go mediate and mark your rock. The next sound you will here will be Jess with the musical signal to start the procession to the ritual area."

Talis approaches slowly. She is new here and unsure of her welcome, frightened of making a mistake or of offending someone inadvertently. "I hope they let me stay" she murmurs wistfully, staff clasped tightly in her hand. "Greetings and Blessings to all" She waits, scarcely daring to breathe.

Jess closes her eyes. A strange waltz begins to play on a harp. Her soft soprano voice intones a lullaby from Samuel Barber's Vanessa:

Under the willow tree
Two doves cry, two doves cry
Under the willow tree
Two doves cry, ah-oh
Where shall we sleep my love
Wither shall we fly?
Where shall we sleep my love
Wither shall we fly?
The wood has swallowed the moon
The fog has swallowed the shore
The green toad has swallowed
The key to my door

Jess opens her eyes and looks for her companions. For a moment, they disappear, replaced by macabre ballroom scene. She blinks rapidly. The scene fades back to the grove.

Fern turns and takes one of the dozen or so lit tiki torches from around the campsite in one hand. In her other hand she carries her staff, topped with a deer's antler and wound about with ribbon. She leads the way from the clearing, thru the gap between some holly bushes, and down a narrow path. The path winds thru the sparse, deer-nibbled vegetation under the old, mature trees. Down, down the path goes, and everyone has to scramble over several large fallen tree trunks, until it ends at a much larger, well-defined trail. Confidently, she turns to the right and leads on.

A song begins to swell from the procession... "Going up on the mountain, I ain't coming back till morning. Going up on the mountain, I ain't coming back in chains. Going up to set my soul free, I ain't coming back till morning, going up to set my soul, free. I ain't coming back in chains. Spirit lives inside of me - all I have to do is set her free. Spirit lives inside of me, all I have to do is set her free. Going up on the mountain, I ain't coming back till morning. Going up on the mountain, I ain't coming back in chains". The path here is smooth, wide, and clear. Walking and chanting is easy, in the early evening dusk. The moon is sensed more than seen as it rises hidden behind the old-growth trees. A ravine begins to grow on the left of the trail. It grows deeper, and water is heard running in it. To the right a swampy area buzzes with insects - dragonflies appear to investigate the movement of the group.

The trail dips suddenly down, as the waters of the ravine and swamp join with a creek. Fern, unable to figure a way to lift her robes while carrying torch and staff (!) walks into the flowing water. She, and the others following, feels the water wash away all mundane cares, all distractions. The deepest part of the water swirls around their knees. The stones on the bottom massage their feet as they walk it's 20 foot width. The trail resumes on the other side. But soon there is a turn in the trail, and they come out of the woods. Ahead in the grassland, they see the tor.

The Tor is covered with grasses and other lowish wild plants, with an emphasis on wild mugwort, due to some badly-aimed magic a few years ago. It's pretty green covering, standing still in the calm of sundown, hides the fact that it's some 50 feet to the top, and the sides are STEEP. A ditch - some would say a moat, but that's really far too grand a term - surrounds it. The song that all have been singing as they walked revives as all see the Tor, and follow the path to it's far side. Each in turn lightly jumps over the ditch... then starts up the path.

The singing stops, replaced by grunts and gasps as the grove members work their way up the path. On and on the path seems to go, with only a small terrace about half way up where many stop for a moment to catch their breath. Then, onward and upward they struggle. Finally they get to the summit!

Fern leads the way to the ritual site, and walks over to where the wood is set for the fire. Taking the tiki torch, she lights it, and the flame sputters and grows as the line of people walk 3 times around the ritual area then come to a halt.

Fern turns to the group, and signals for the PRAYER TO THE EARTH MOTHER...

Topaz steps forward, still a bit winded from the steep climb up the Tor but regaining her breath. A bit nervous, she takes a deep breath while clasping the ritual riverstone more tightly in her hand for a bit of reassurance. This being her first Druid ritual, she thought it best to stick to a well known invocation rather than make one of her own. She'd carefully memorized it but had written it down just in case. But, the words flowed freely from her memory and the paper remained hidden in her pocket...

O Earth Mother! We praise Thee: that seed springeth, that flower openeth, that grass waveth. We praise Thee: for winds that whisper through the shining birch, through the lively pine, through the mighty oak. We praise Thee, for all things, O Earth Mother, Who givest Life!
"Earth Mother, Blessings and Welcome!"

From a small flour sack, she takes a handful of grain sprinkling bits of it on the ground while walking around the circle. She then steps back and waits for...

...Heart racing, with both exhilaration for the experience and recovery from the steep climb, Red Deer moves to the Altar so beautifully appointed by Fern. He leaves there a spray of mimosa flowers on their fern-like foliage for Bridget, and a circlet of green acorns and oak leaves for Herne. Next Deer moves around the sacred space to each of the peripheral altars - first to that for the Ancestors, then the Nature Spirits and finally the T'uatha. At each, he places his hands beside the chalice containing water, soil or feathers, and bends to gently touch forehead to the chalice' rim. As he continues inward toward the Bile, images swirl through Deer's mind, forming then blending each into the other - rapid as his still racing heart. From somewhere deep within Deer perceives the beginning of a chant, almost as though he were reading from a book without leaves, one waiting at that point where all worlds meet, for any who come to read from it.

"At the center of the worlds,
where all things come together,
we meet:"
"Meeting we touch.
Touching we join.
Joining we are one.
One we are All. "

The pictures in Deer's head slow in their tempestuous shape shifting, becoming more an more rhythmic. Deer takes three breaths, deep and slow, and feels those gathered breathing with him. As the kaleidoscopic motion slows more to that of his breathing than his pulse, Deer shares them with those gathered. Beginning with the ever expanding web of the Ancestors - first his own but, as the web expands, those of all gathered. This slowly merges into the web of Nature Spirits, which in its own turning becomes that of the T'uatha. And so, all who come to this space and attend to what it offers find themselves once again connecting to the Source, the Center from which all spring.

All the while, Deer calls -

"At the center of the worlds,
where all things come together, we meet:"
"Meeting we touch.
Touching we join.
Joining we are one.
One we are All."

"Meeting we touch.
Touching we join.
Joining we are one.
One we are All."

"Meeting we touch.
Touching we join.
Joining we are one.
One we are All."

And he hears those gathered joining the chant. First friends' and acquaintances' voices rise in the evening. As their chant settles into its own rhythm, rich with syllables, tones and spaces, Deer begins to notice that - in the spaces between sounds uttered by those in human guise - other voices join. First and most human, echoes of voices from the past as ancestors join, each and all in their native languages, yet each understood by the other. Then, in the spaces remaining of silence between the voices of humans present and past, other voices join. Many voices - mammalian, avian, reptilian, and even the drone of insects - swell into hearing...

"Meeting we touch.
Touching we join.
Joining we are one.
One we are all."

Yet spaces between sound still remain, and slowly - from even deeper between the worlds, silvery voices rise. Voices already old when the Ancestors first gathered to praise the Gods. Voices not young when the first Nature spirits moved upon the Waters, Earth and Sky and sang. Many voices, one song:

"Meeting we touch.
Touching we join.
Joining we are on.
One we are all."

As the chant slows and his trance deepens, Deer experiences the spreading of self into the space about him. Toes sunk deep into the rich earth of the Tor seem to elongate into roots. Arms raised into the night air seem to spread into branches, their fine hairs becoming leaves. Then, as the changes continue, Deer feels roots circling other roots beneath the soil, leaves brushing against other leaves in the night air. He opens his eyes, still facing the Bile, not to a branched staff planted firmly in the earth, but to a mighty Oak whose roots reach out through his own to those of all gathered; whose mighty trunk, broader than the chests of three hefty men, towers overhead; and whose mighty boughs spread, leaves mingling with the his own which reach high overhead. The source, the center... that which joins the worlds together. Then, looking past the Bile, Deer sees not a grassy Tor, but one covered with trees... birch, rowan, ash, alder, willow, hawthorn, oak, holly, hazel, bramble, ivy, reed, and elder, join fir, jasmine, linden, poplar and yew in spreading roots and branches into a singular web. Then, just as the chant and the meditation begin to fade, Deer discerns mistletoe growing the very pillars of the temple in the high boughs of the Bile. And brilliant white speckled scarlet domes flowering, throwing open the temple doors, among the Bile's spreading roots.

"At the center of the worlds,
where all things come together,
we meet:"
"Meeting we touch.
Touching we join.
Joining we are one.
One we are All."

"Meeting we touch.
Touching we join.
Joining we are one.
One we are All."

"Meeting we touch.
Touching we join.
Joining we are one.
One we are All."

As the chant winds down, Deer stands silently for a few moments... somewhat overwhelmed by the power of so many voices joined at this place, and of the vision he's just been granted. "I thank us all, I thank us one - for that which comes into our minds joined upon the Tor." Deer then returns to his place in the group - but not before having to assure himself that the toes he's dug so deep into the soil are really still toes - and waits for...

The journey to Tor was long but peaceful and serene. As MoonWater reclaims her breath, she caresses her river stone and begins to call out to Bridget...

In this night and in this hour I call upon the Ancient Power O Goddess Bride and Consort Bright I ask thee now to bring your light Give us song, give us word Let our voices be beautifully heard Bridget, Blessings and welcome!

From the offering cup she pours her offering of whiskey onto the fire and the wonderful aroma fills the air. She then steps back and waits for... ___________________________________________ >>

Fern steps forward. She walks around the ritual area as she speaks.

"Full moon bring us a most interesting energy. There's some debate on what the best use for this energy! My Senior Druid thinks that you use full moon energy for goals to manifest in the short term. A Gardnerian friend of mine feels that Full Moons are the right time to start work on banishings. Others say that the full moon is the time for petitions.

Here, we are using the full moon in a combination of those ways. We will be using the Full Moon energy to help build community. And we will do this by letting go of obstacles within ourselves as a first step."

Fern then goes over to the Altar. Taking the bronze cup, she holds it up, and calls out: OUTSIDERS! All you random spirits, Goddesses, Gods, elementals, energies! All beings not involved in this ritual, we give you this offering. We do not seek to disturb you on your pursuits, we ask that you not interfere with ours! Take this offering, and leave us in peace!" Fern lowers the cup, and walks beyond the edge of the ritual space. At the base of a very healthy clump of mugwort, she pours out the offering with a flourish. Then she turns and walks back into the ritual space, again over to the altar, and puts the cup down.

Fern then turns her attention hallowing the Sacred Center...

"There are few things we know about the Druids of old. This we do know: Their sacred spaces always contained 3 elements - a deep pit, a hearth, and a small shaft. The deep pit was the Well. The hearth held the sacred fire. The shaft held the Bile', or world tree." Fern takes a cup of whiskey from the altar, and walks over to the decorated basket holding the cauldron of well water. "Oh sacred well! After the drought last year, we appreciate your gifts all the more. You provide the water all living beings need. You flow in us as blood. You refresh us when we tire, you cleanse us after we toil. From you we come and to you we always return. We ask your blessings to our sacred ritual. Oh sacred Well, we flow with you!" Fern pours some whiskey into the cauldron.

Fern walks over to the hearth, and carefully adds a bit more wood to the flames. She then stands.

"Oh sacred Fire! You cook our food, you light our way in the dark. You take our offerings and give them to the Goddesses and Gods in smoke to the heavens and ashes to the earth! Like us you must eat to live. Like us you come to dance here for but a short time. We ask your blessings on our sacred ritual. Oh sacred Fire, we burn with you!" Fern slowly pours some whiskey into the fire. It burns with a whoosh, releasing the intoxicating aroma.

Fern finally walks over to the Bile' erected in the circle. "Oh sacred Tree! Your roots reach down to the Underworlds. Your branches reach up into the Heavens. Light and dark meet in your trunk. The waters of life flow in you, the sacred fire burns within you. Oh Sacred Tree, we stand with you!" Fern anoints the Bile' with whiskey. She goes back to the altar to put the cup down, and before she returns to her place to get her staff, she signals Red Deer to start the Gate Opening invocation, and she and Nymue and Owl stand facing the fire, staffs raised and tips touching over the fire...

...Red Deer - still mesmerized by all that has transpired thus far - takes a moment to collect himself while Fern, Owl and Nymue move toward the sacred fire. He steps from among the group toward their altar and stops, facing the fire and his three sisters there gathered. Deer watches as each raise their staves skyward, as the three points come closer and closer over the dancing flames. Dropping to his right knee, hands clasped about the amber at his neck, Deer continues to focus - not upon the staves, but on the ever dwindling space between them to which the tongues of fire reach ever closer.

Soon, Deer feels the familiar throb within the amber - heartbeat of ancient forests which signals the approach to the center, where all worlds merge. Raising the cabochon over his head, Deer begins to chant:

"Manannan, of apertures and appearances
Mannanan, of fecundity and fertility
Manannan, of magic and mystery
Manannan, of regeneration and reincarnation
Manannan, of sea and storm..."

"We invoke Thee, Manannan,
opener of every gate.
We invoke Thee, Manannan,
opener of every gate.
You will reach us.
You will teach us.
Your touch shall reveal our fate."

"We invoke Thee, Manannan,
opener of every gate.
We invoke Thee, Manannan,
opener of every gate.
You will reach us.
You will teach us.
Your touch shall reveal our fate."

"We invoke Thee, Manannan,
opener of every gate.
We invoke Thee, Manannan,
opener of every gate.
You will reach us.
You will teach us.
Your touch shall reveal our fate."

Then Deer calls out, "Manannan, Blessings and Welcome!," and hears the group respond, "Blessings and Welcome, Manannan!"

"Manannan, Blessings and Welcome!," he cries, and feels the returned "Blessings and Welcome, Manannan!"

And a final time, "Manannan, Blessings and Welcome!," Deer bellows, and again feels the responded "Blessings and Welcome, Manannan!," wash over him just as he perceives the darkness spiraling out from that point between the three upraised staves, the darkness which is the chasm between all worlds, and from which all light emanates. Deer feels more than sees or hears that opening, and *knows* that Manannan indeed stands among them.

"Ancient One, we ask that you ward our working this eve. Stand close by the gate at which all worlds are open unto each other. Mediate that which flows between us and the Bright and Shining Ones of Old, letting none who do not here belong pass. Keep watch, as we each climb upon the World Tree, whether upwards or down, and assure that we all return to our proper places when the working here is done."

Deer looks upward, to see the fire dancing in the heart of the amber he holds skyward. Then, with a final, whisper to the Gatekeeper, returns to his place among those gathered. Still, however, his attention is riveted to that ethereal space between the three upthrust staves which is infinitesimal, yet which now seems to hold them all. And Deer watches and listens as...

Troll steps up to do the invocation... Troll raises high his gnarled staff... "Spirits of Nature AWAKE from your slumber beneath this hallowed Tor..." [he drums the tor with the butt of his staff...] "Spirits we stand drinking your soothing moonlight, come dance with us as we chant..." "Moon, moon, roll - ing moon, round is the moon"

As the chant wears down Troll takes the blue cup of black powder to the fire... "Spirits of Nature, Blessings and Welcome!" He throws the powder into the flames, the flames and smoke leap high!

He returns the cup to the Nature Spirits altar, safely puts down his staff, and all eyes turn to Nymue' at the Ancestors altar...

Filled with an overwhelming sense of peace Nymue approaches the altar Fern has prepared for the Ancestors. She looks with gentle eyes at her brothers and sisters here this night.

Lifting the cup of water she holds it high;

"Mothers and Fathers, Old Ones, and Ancestors, I reach across the Veil with my words, And call to You. To all those whose bones lie in this land, whose hearts are tied to it, whose memory holds it; ancient tribes of this place, we offer you welcome. To all of our grandmothers and grandfathers, our own beloved dead, blood-kin and heart-kin; ancient tribes of our blood, we offer you welcome."

"We children of the earth call out to the mighty dead. Hear us, our ancestors, our kindred. Eistigi anois, a shinseara, a mhuintir. Old Ones of this Land, Loving Tribes of Caretakers, I offer you this Sacred Water, water of the deepest oceans, water of the gentle rains, water of the darkest wells Ancestors of our Culture, Ancient worshippers of our Gods."

Nymue then pours the offering of water upon the ground. Taking up the second cup she raises it high.

"To all those elder wise ones who guide their people, poets and seers, judges and magicians; wise women and men of ancient days, we offer you welcome. So, mighty ones, we call to you as our kin, in the love of the earth mother, to join in our magic. Come to our fire, spirits; meet us at the boundary. Guide and ward us as we walk the elder ways. Ancestors, accept our sacrifice. A shinseara, glac an h-iobairt seo muid."

Nym' feeds the contents of the cup to the fire and watches as a sudden hand of flames bursts skyward embracing the space.

Nym steps back from the flame raising her hands skyward to say "Ancestors, Blessing and Welcome"

From those gathered the response echoes back, "Blessing and Welcome"

As Nymue' returns to her place, Fern stirs at the altar to the High Ones. Lifting the offering cup and her voice, she sings:

"Hail all the Gods. Hail all the Goddesses. Hail all the Holy Ones, we dwell together. Hail, all the Gods. Hail, all the Goddesses. Hail, all the Gods and Goddess.

"Lords of the sky, Ladies of the sacred earth, spirits and the ancestors, we dwell together. Hail, all the Gods. Hail, all the Goddesses. Hail, all the Gods and Goddesses.

"Hail all the Gods. Hail all the Goddesses. Hail all the Holy Ones, we Dwell together".

She walks to the fire, empties the contents of the offering cup into the flames, "High Ones, Blessings and Welcome!" The flame and smoke shoots skyward.

Fern returns the cup to the God/dess/es altar, then returns to the fire.

"This is the time we make offering to the Gods. We ask their blessings today, an exchange of energy - this is our part of the exchange. Gifts can be offered to earth, fire, offering plate, or well. The items on offering plate and well will be added to a deep spot in the stream we crossed on the way here after the ritual ends.

"I will make the first offering," Fern says, taking a small glass unicorn from a hidden pouch. She touches it to the bile', she waves it over the fire, and finally adds it to the well. "Who else has offerings to the Gods?"...

Suz steps forward, humbled and awed by what is transpiring here. On the altar she places a bowl of red cherries, ripe and cool, and lays a deep red rose on top of them. After a moment of silence, she turns to the sacred fire. Kneeling before it, she takes from her pocket a green candle. It has been cleansed by sitting overnight in a dish of mugwort, then rubbed with seawater collected under a blue moon. With a silent prayer to Bridget, she lights the candle and seats herself in front of it.

The flame is so small by the roar of the sacred fire. Suz gazes steadily, quietly, into its depths. The familiar stillness begins to creep over her, but also there flickers a worm of doubt, of worry... can she do this? After a moment, the warm presence of Bridget nears. It will be all right. Whatever the outcome, it will be as it is meant to be. Just be still, and let it happen...

Suz's eyes begin to burn. She tries to keep them focused, but they sting and water. She closes them, and immediately her self dives behind the babbling, worrying, ceaselessly moving outer facade and goes deep. It's like swimming in midnight waters, cool and delicious. Nameless colors flash past, sounds with scents. Is it water? It feels like silk, sensuous. Darkness again, but not an emptiness. A waiting, pregnant darkness. Then, distant, a light.

Suz moves closer to it. Floating in water? Drifting in cloud? Suspended in ice crystals? It doesn't matter. The light, she sees, is a candle. But this candle is white. The flame is steady, pure and white. Its light slowly grows and brightens until it encompasses all. Abruptly, but not ungently, Suz returns to herself. The flame from the green candle dances before the heat of the sacred fire. "I'm sorry" she murmurs. "I have no idea how to interpret that. I can only share it with you."

Dazzled, embarrassed, exhausted, exhilarated, she steps back to await what comes next... ..

> "I will make the first offering," Fern says, taking a small glass > unicorn from a hidden pouch. She touches it to the bile', she > waves it over the fire, and finally adds it to the well.

> "Who else has offerings to the Gods?"...

Epona steps forward, a freshly baked loaf of homemade soda bread in her hands. Epona holds the bread out in front of her then welcomes the great ones to the ritual. "Bright blessing and welcome Gods and Goddesses!" Epona breaks off a third of the soda bread loaf and places it at the base of the bile'. She then breaks off another third of the bread and feeds it to the fire. With a small smile Epona then takes the rest of the bread and adds it to the well. A nod of thanks to Fern for the beautiful ritual thus far, Epona returns to her place with the other participants and waits for...

Owl breathes deeply of the scents of Ritual. The staff in her hand, reaching to join with those of her sisters, begins to vibrate deep within the fibers of old wood.

"Spirits of the Air
Flowing strong and free above and below
Attend me!
Spirits of Water
Flowing strong and free above and below
Attend me!
Spirits of Fire
Flowing strong and free above and below
Attend me!
Spirits of Earth
Flowing strong and free above and below
Attend me!"

As the energies of the elementals gathered along the staff, the tip seemed to twist and draw a spiral in the air between the staves.

Owl felt the stirrings of energies beneath her feet, and a softening of the earth around her. It seemed as if she was sinking, but her foot touched root and she regained her balance ... The root reached out and circled her staff, .. in a twinkling a green vine snaked its way along the rod, gently wrapping itself around her hand as it wove its way to the tip. A gust of wind swirled around her, brushing her face with tenderness as it traveled along the now vine covered shaft. Dew drops formed and glistened over the leaves and staff, moistening her cloak so that it caught the pale of moonglow. A warm flame caught at the hem or her gown, rapidly creeping thru the folds, and leaping to the staff to lick capriciously at the dew laden vine. The bark of a fox, the hoot of an owl, the grunt of the black bear, the snort of the stag, echoed softly from the forest. "Attend me", crooned the Owl as she focused her own spirit along the festooned staff .. and as her will mingled with the attention of the Nature Spirits .. a shaft of light burst forth from her staff ... and held true till the next Sister called forth ...

MoonWater steps forward in fluid like motion with her robe softly billowing about her in the glorious night breeze. She holds high above her head her offering of a purple silk bag with a golden cord to keep it's contents of crystals safe during the journey to Tor. In the light of the Moon she begins to speak: "Bright blessings and welcome Gods and Goddesses...These crystals I give to you as an offering of praise...

Agate for strength and courage... Amethyst for meditation... Copper for energy... Emerald for tranquility... Jade for wisdom... Onyx for inspiration... Peridot for intuition... Ruby for protection... Sapphire for love and loyalty... Tiger Eye for communication..."

She touches the silken bag to the bile', she turns and walks to the fire and passes the bag over the flames and then she proceeds to the well and gently lowers the silken bag of crystals into it. She returns to her place within the circle of her sisters and waits for...

...Red Deer, who returns to the altar - with a quiet wink to MoonWater and the quick thought that "Few women call a stag sister, sister... but I am honored to be counted so," followed by the mischievous grin so well known of him. Three small tears of amber he bears, each on a silver cord. One, he places upon the altar with the circlet of green acorns. "Herne, I bring You these - memories from forests ancient and unborn. Many thanks for the blessings you have bestowed upon me." Deer then moves to the Bile, and stands long to feel the worlds above and the worlds below resonate where they join the world about. He reaches high, and hangs the second tear on one of the forks of its crown. "Manannan, this gift for you. Please allow all who climb this tree tonight safe passage to that which they seek, successful hunting of that which they need, and swift return to their rightful places among us." Finally, Deer moves to the well, and slowly lowers the third tear - not releasing it until his fingertips have lightly touched the water's surface. "Bridget, Bright One, for all the gifts bestowed I give Thee thanks. Please continue to watch over my daughters as the blossom into womanhood."

Offerings made, Deer turns thrice about the well - again smiling broadly at all gathered here, both human and otherwise, and returns to his place among the group of celebrants. He then waits and watches, as...

After Red Deer makes his offering, so do others... some singing, some dancing, some offering poetry. Precious jewelry goes into the well, and even a handmade cloak - in a silver blue moon color - is offered into the fire. After the last of the offerings is, well, offered, Fern goes over to the fire, raises her hands, and sings. "From far beyond this mortal plain, mothers and fathers of old, we pray that you return again, mothers and fathers of old. To share with us the mysteries, and secrets yet untold. Of the ancient ways we seek to reclaim, Mothers and Fathers of Old."

Fern turns from the fire to the assembled grove. "The omen given Sue was a white candle. You may remember - she did not mention if it was lit! No comment on any flame, whether leaping boldly, windblown, sputtering weakly, or anything else. Think on this now... what does this tell you about the blessings that the God/dess/es will be returning?"

Silent meditation begins. As this goes on, Nymue' comes forward to bless and share the Waters of Life...

Fern goes to the altar, lifts the two cups up towards the moon, and silently charges the liquids. She takes them to the assembled grove. Offering them to each person in turn with "Behold, the Waters of Life!", each person in turn responds "The waters of Life", takes one cup, and either sips the liquid, kisses the cup, or pours the offering to the earth.

After all others have had the Waters, Fern takes her sip, and pours the rest of the waters into the liquid filled cauldron, and puts the chalices back on the altar.

Then, the Working starts! Fern walks toward the large empty cauldron in the sacred space. "Each of you has decorated a stone with something that holds you back. Now, come forth! Let the powers of the Moon, the powers of ebb and flow, of evolutionary change, work on them! But be aware - you are giving up a very familiar part of yourself, even if you see it as a negative. There will be separation, and change, and learning a new way." She places her stone in the cauldron, and signals the rest to come forward to put theirs in.

Some come up quickly, and hurriedly drop their stones in the cauldron. Some come up more slowly, wondering what it will be like afterwards. Some choose to keep their stone. Perhaps they will give them up another day... perhaps not.

Soon all who have decided to offer up something for change have done it, and are back at their places. Fern lifts her hands over the cauldron, "High Ones! Nature Spirits, Ancestor, Gods! We know that change is the way of this world. During the time of this ritual alone the Moon has waxed to full and started visibly waning. We work now to manifest this power on the issues we have put into the cauldron. They are to wane with the moon, leaving space for new growth."

Fern turns back to the grove. "But what form will the growth take? What direction do the High Ones want us to move in? That candle is not yet lit... To find out what the High Ones would have you do, now come forth again! Take a new stone from the cauldron! For one persons weaknesses may well be another's strengths, and the Gods may re-write any of the stones. You may look at them after the ritual, or wait until the first sliver of the next moon rides the sky." Fern reaches in, takes a stone, and the rest of the grove come up in turn to take one. After each person returns to their place, Fern lifts her hands to the Moon again. "High Ones, we thank you for the changes you instigated tonight! We know that they will manifest in myriad unexpected ways! Blessings, and thanks!"

Fern then picks up her staff, and walks to the altar to the God/dess/es. "High Ones, Tuatha Da Daanan, we thank you for attending our ritual and adding your powers to it. Revels to follow! You are, of course, invited, though' we know you may have duties that lead you elsewhere. Stay if you can, go if you must. High Ones, Blessings and Farewell!"

She walks to the Ancestors altar. "Blessed ancestors, of flesh and heart and mind, we thank your for attending our ritual and adding your powers to it. Please join us at Revels if you are free. Stay if you can, go if you must. Ancestors, Blessings and Farewell!"

She walks to the Nature Spirits altar. "Nature Spirits, you of fur and fin and feather, of leave and bough, of sand and rock and mineral, we thank you for attending our ritual and adding your powers to it. Stay if you can, go if you must. Nature spirits, Blessings and Farewell!"

Fern goes back to the God/dess/es altar, and signals to Nymue and Owl. They all take up their staffs, and with them horizontal before them, walk back to the Fire until they stand before it, forming a triangle of staffs around it.

They await the Gate closing by Red Deer...

...who moves to a spot between the altar and the sacred fire. He observes sisters three gathered thereabout, their staves held end to end in an enclosing triangle. As he holds the amber close to his heart, Deer again sees the darkness of the gate which they have opened, and the light streaming though it. As the various auras from the workings undertaken here tonight slowly fade - leaving only the pale luminescence which still emanates from that point above their fire, Deer again sees Manannan - seemingly floating there, His emerald green robes fluttering in the breeze, although in slow motion as though the ancient one has not left his native seas.

"Manannan, of storm and sea Manannan, of reincarnation and regeneration Manannan, of mystery and magic Manannan, of fertility and fecundity Manannan, of appearances and apertures..."

"We invoked Thee, Manannan,
Our gate You opened and kept.
We invoked Thee, Manannan,
Our gate You opened and kept.
Our visions You wrought.
Our selves You taught.
Our potentials you have mapped."

"We invoked Thee, Manannan,
Our gate You opened and kept.
We invoked Thee, Manannan,
Our gate You opened and kept.
Our visions You wrought.
Our selves You taught.
Our potentials you have mapped."

"We invoked Thee, Manannan,
Our gate You opened and kept.
We invoked Thee, Manannan,
Our gate You opened and kept.
Our visions You wrought.
Our selves You taught.
Our potentials you have mapped."

"Gratitude and accolades, Manannan," Red Deer begins, to which he hears a hushed "Manannan, gratitude and accolades," from those gathered about him.

Upon each of the successive two calls and responses, Deer feels the slow withdrawal of that energy so present within the gate, and finally senses that the doorway has closed. Just before that final divergence, Deer whispers "Blessings Bright and Dark, Ancient One. Blessings Bright and Dark to You and to us all." As ever, its presence remains within him even as it withdraws from physical perception in the space which all occupy upon the Tor.

...Deer then returns to the Bile's base, where he'd led the Tree meditation earlier, and indicates that all present should return to the spot occupied at that time.

"Time, for now, to close this book," he thinks and once again looks out upon a Tor covered not with grass, but a forest of interlaced Trees. As the doors of the Temple slowly fade in his mind, followed by the pillars high in the boughs of the Bile, Deer begins to see the emergence of faces and forms quite human from the grove which had surrounded him.

"All were one.
one was joined.
Joined by touching.
Touched by meeting."

"All were one.
one was joined.
Joined by touching.
Touched by meeting."

"All were one.
one was joined.
Joined by touching.
Touched by meeting."

Deer slowly releases awareness of their intertwined reality, to return to a world in which each, though connected, proceeds through the days of their lives alone. As with the sense of the ever present gate, however, he also knows their unity is always there and takes only a thought, a turn of phrase and an action to re-establish. He fervently hopes that this is so for the others, as he retakes his place among the group and anticipates...

MoonWater steps forward from her spot in the circle and calls out to Bridget, "Thank you Bridget for the wonderful creativity you have given to all of us on this beautiful Full Moon You have enriched each of us to overflowing.

May we walk together forever in the light.

Moon Water returns to her place within the circle and waits as...

Fern steps forward for the final time.

"The rite is ended. Revels to follow!"

Folks mill about, hugging, chatting. Everyone works together to pack up the ritual items, stack the altars for carrying back, and put out the fire safely before leaving the area. When all is prepared and in hand, Fern takes up her staff and the Tiki torch, and the group starts to travel back to the camp ground. They take a slightly different path back, which takes them to a deep pool in the stream, where they put the offerings that were made to the well... then they cross the creek via a bridge rather than wading across in the cool darkness of full night!

Revels include music, food, dance, and discussion...