the sun is nearing the horizon as suz parks her moped in the parking area on south shore road overlooking long bay.  she sighs, half in relief from being out of maryland's surprisingly cold spring, and half in sheer ecstacy at being home.  bay grape leaves rustle in the warm welcoming on shore breeze, and a heavenly scent of oleander and frangipani seem to echo suz' delight at being here.

there are several paths leading down to different sections of long bay.  suz sets off without thinking down the one that leads to stonehole, then whaps herself in the head and hurries back to the bike.  grabbing a piece of paper, she draws a hurried arrow and a quick note 'wear your sandals til you get to the beach!  casurina cones and prickly pears lurk for bare feet!'  she shoulders her backpack and puts the note at the head of the path, weighing it down with a hunk of bermuda limestone.

suz shrinks and grows again as she walks down this path, going from a tiny girl who thought this hill one of the world's greatest mountains, to a teenager full of romance and anticipation, to the witch she is today.  a streak of yellow zooms by, calling a familiar note.  'kiskadee! kiskadee!'  it is as familiar as the scent of the flowers, as the feel of the sand and crabgrass of the path.  but what never loses its majesty is the sight of the ocean.  the brilliance of the turquoise water, low tide, small creamy surf whispering to itself onto the coral sands, is almost unreal.  the salt smell is fresh and intoxicating, never drain-like and offensive as it can be in less blessed places.  suz completes the last few hundred yards of the walk in a haze of nostalgic bliss.  at stonehole she sets down her backpack with its few items and contemplates the beach.  long bay stretches northeast as far as the eye can see, sparsely populated.  bermudians consider this far too early in the season for any civilized person to take to the beach, and most of the tourists have left or are leaving for dinner and cocktails.  the mass of rock with the tall keyhole in the center just barely touches the water at this time.  on the far side of it suz knows there is a smaller, more private beach, just the right size for 13 or so people, with a big line of cliffs bordering and enclosing it, reaching out into the ocean.  suz goes to her backpack and takes out a besom made from casurina and poinsiana branches, bound together with ivy.  then, impulsively, before she begins, she climbs up onto stonehole rock.  it's difficult.  it was not easy even when she was smaller and more agile than she is today.  but a strong desire to stand up on the top of the rock and look out over the beach, the ocean, the area where the circle will be cast, is on her.  she puffs her way determinedly to a flattish spot near the top and looks out.  a wave of intense gratitude and overwhelming happiness sweeps over her.  tears dripping, she raises her face in a moment of quiet communion.

but time is passing.  yes!  from this vantage she can see figures arriving up at the top of the hill and beginning to make their way down.  the sun is still visible, but won't be for long.

suz makes her way back down the rock, reclaims her besom, and takes a moment to ground and center.  then she begins to sweep the area, widdershins.  negative energy doesn't last long around the sea winds and salt air, and the sands of bermuda seem to repel any ooglies that attempt to stay.  certain energies are welcome though.....suz giggles as she wonders if there is a relationship between coral sand and pretty pink powder.......

around a sweep of the main part of the beach, up and over the landward end of stonehole's mass (panting again as she climbs and pushes through the stiff bushes that line the back of the rockpile, and encompassing the entire small beach on the far side.  then, ah yes, into the water and out and around, and back to the main side of the beach.  suz ducks under, and the taste and silky feel of the water are the most compelling sense of home so far.  eyes open in the crystal element, suz is not sure whether she is swimming or flying, the ecstacy is almost unbearable.  then out, dry off quickly, drape a light robe over the swimsuit.   now, to wait for her friends to arrive to cast the circle.........

as the group of friends gathers on the open beach, suz greets, hugs, laughs, totes pot luck items over to the smaller cove on the other side.  some people want to follow the path up the cliffs overlooking the ocean, and suz directs the right way.  there are places out there where, during high tide, folks who enjoy flinging their bodies into empty space might enjoy diving later. suz will be scarfing up on their share of the potluck.

there is almost no surf this evening.  only a tiny line of milk-white foam curls on the sand, with a whispered hushing sound.  the sun sinks lower, it's almost gone.  the songbirds quiet.  even the distant sound of traffic from south shore road is muted.  the playful breeze drops.  everyone gathers again , feet in the water or nearby in the damp sand.  as one, we turn and face the east.

as the sun slips down in a brilliant pyrotechnic display behind us, the moon lifts the edge of her shining face over the sea.  a collective sigh rises from the group as we see the glimmering reflection waver from the sliver of moon to our feet.  the sky spans the spectrum of color, deep lavendar through brilliant gold.  the aqua of the water deepens.  suz moves forward into the water until she is standing waist deep in the cool waves.  she pulls her athame from its neck sheath and points it east.  envisioning a stream of iridescent fishscale shimmers pouring from its tip, suz moves deosil through the water. as she passes stonehole and moves into the the little bay on the far side, she feels currents and pulls of water that are not of the tide.  'ah,' she thinks.  'the gifts are being delivered'.  a playful splash over by the cliffs underscores the thought.  she moves up and out of the water, and over by the cliffs.  up over the beach, rainbow sparkles pouring from the tip of her athame.  the fish scales can open and close like louvres, letting in what is needed and releasing what is spent.  over the back of stonehole (fighting the bushes again, getting her wet robe tangled), and back onto the main beach.  as she walks back out and draws her glimmering line out and around her friends, the sky explodes in a wild orgy of colours as yet unnamed.  the sea laughingly reflects them back.  back out into the water to finish the circle, and suz returns to her friends, marvelling at their unearthly beauty as they stand part of the glory of this magick evening.  'the circle is cast'.

smiling, she looks at beth, 'time to call the winds, love!...'

...Beth smiles at Suz and makes her way across the pink sand to the base of Stonehole Rock.  Slipping out of her sandals, she starts to climb, following the path she watched Suz use earlier.  Her sleeveless pale lavender rough-hewn cotton dress grazes her ankles as she makes her way up the rock and she gathers it up in one hand so she can climb more freely.

The twilight air is still and little beads of perspiration pop out on her forehead and upper lip as Beth reaches the flattish part near the top. A damp tendril of her dark brown hair which has escaped the hair stick that holds the rest of her shoulder length hair up off her neck and back grazes her cheek and chin lightly. Brushing it back from her face, she catches her breath and gazes out at the beauty that surrounds her.  The azure water touching the darkening sky, the pink sand, the group gathered below and the hills behind her....she takes it all in, the sights, smells, sounds, and feelings filling her.

Taking another deep breath, Beth steps forward to the edge of the great rock and looks out over the beautiful ocean where the moon is slowly rising, a huge silvery orange orb that seems to hang in perfect balance with the sea and the earth.  Its light begins to make a silvery path across the quiet waters towards the pink sands of the secluded cove where the group is gathered. Beth closes her eyes and smiles and turns her focus inward as she readies herself.  She draws a third deep breath and lifts her face to the sky.

"Spirits of the wind, bearers of change, bringers of hope and cleansing, chasers of the dark, I greet you in this lovely place.  Come to us, cool us, and join us tonight."  Eyes still closed, Beth's hands slowly raise from her sides and hover in front of her just above shoulder height, palms out.  She envisions other wind callings...the sultry touch of the hot Virginia afternoon breeze playing tag through Leoni's oak grove, the bright yellow leaves of the hillside tree on Owl Mountain rustling furiously as the cool forest breath moves through it, the holly leaves and the Japanese Ginger of her special grove coming to life as the wind swoops through her pasture and encircles her in joy and excitement.

It's coming!  Beth feels the goosepimples rise along her arms and the familiar chill run down her spine.  She takes another deep breath and reaches out, silently, with her mind. The hem of her dress flutters gently against her ankles as the soft sea breeze from the east begins to rise.  Beth feels it move through her hair and press against her upraised hands.  It touches her face and circles around her body, softly touching her like a whisper. She smiles, bathed in her beloved wind.  Lowering her hands and opening her eyes, she reachs into her pocket and draws out a small handful of her runesparkles.  She hasn't used them in a group ritual since Jess's Yule gathering and is eager to see them play in the balmy Bermudian breezes of Suz's full moon ritual.

Cupping her hands around the restless runesparkles, she pauses a moment and then tosses them upwards, opening her fingers as wide as they can go. The sparkly wind runes, all in the shape of Ansuz, Odin's rune of the intellect, of speech, of thought, and of song, fly out of Beth's hands and are caught up in the wind and swirl like sparkling multicolored fireflies above and around her.  They rise and are carried out over the water and then are lifted back over the group gathered below on the pink shoreline. They spiral above the group and slowly waft down like irridescent confetti, dancing in the breezes and settling gently on the smiling faces below. Beth claps her hands in joy and laughes out loud as she turns back to face the eastern wind.

"Spirits of the air, riders of the wind, welcome to our circle tonight!"

She looks down and meets Suz's eyes and winks, letting the temptation to embrace her beloved winds and leap off the edge of the rock into the waters below pass.  Smiling at Suz's evident relief, Beth slowly makes her way down the path from Stonehole Rock to the beach below.  She rejoins the circle and smiles with her friends as the wind runes dance around their faces and are blown from person to person with each breeze's touch.  Beth and Suz hug, and then, smiling as she brushes a tiny purple sparkling wind rune from her cheek, Suz steps forward and turns to...

...Hoping all is well with Rosemary, Nym' moves to the west. Of all the beaches Nym' has seen in her life, never has she found one so enchanting before.The strands of pearls and crystal entwined about her wrists and ankles seem to come alive at the edge of the water itself. the cool aqua flow gives honor to the moon. The powdery sand a testament to the strength of water, how something so soft can transform coral and stone into a substance so comforting shows how the flow of emotion can change and transform the hardest of situations. Nym's scoops up a handful of the cool water and allows it to glide between her breast, over her heart =85seeping into her core. Bowing her head I honor she speaks:

   "Spirits of the water, you fill us with emotions.
   Peaceful and calm, wild and stormy, you are part of us
   as we are part of you.
   Lend us your serenity and strength tonight.
   Guide us as we journey on your tides.
   We ask you to join us here tonight."

A school of dolphins play upon the building waves, the moons shines on her children as Nym' returns to her place to await...

...As Rosemary attacks the sand slowing her footsteps, three steps forward and two steps back, she thinks to herself, "I feel like the White Rabbit" and mutters, "Oh, my ears and whiskers."  The cauldron of cedar shavings bangs against her hip reminding her she must hurry.  As she crests a small sand dune she sees the faces of her friends, welcoming.  Friendly hands relieve her of her load, and the cauldron is firmly placed in the South quarter.

After a deep breath, she raises her arms to the heavens and says, "My Lady Pele, thank you for revealing to me your wish to join us for the celebration of the Full Moon.  There is none other I would rather represent at this time, and I am honored for the opportunity."  She stands still for a moment, savoring the warm ocean breezes with their fragrance of salt and a tiny hint of grilling food from a far-off campsite.  She smiles, envisioning the feast waiting for them all, and reveling in the spiritual feast spread before her.  From her robe she draws  a small vial of clear liquid and her trusty sacred Zippo.  She opens the vial and pours it into the cauldron saying, "Spirits and dragons of the South.  My Lady Pele.  Welcome this night to our Circle as we honor our old ones and Deity.  Keep this space sacred to our intentions and protect us from all, spirit and flesh, who would intrude into our thoughts."  She spins the wheel of the lighter and touches it to the shavings, jumping backward hurriedly to avoid the flame that leaps into the air.  She stands quietly for a moment,  appreciating the blast of heat and light that has always signified for her the embodiment of the Southern Quarter.  She nods her head, smiles, and is satisfied with her efforts. "Hail and Welcome.  So Mote It Be..."

...Windwalker joyously gliding through the water, feeling the warmth on her skin and the salty taste on her lips.  She had come earlier in the day to find the exact spot and then camped on a little inlet of pink sand towards the north, so that she could feel one with the earth of this area and get to know the energies provided by the small island life. Wearing a swimsuit that could be tanned through, she has quite the nice little burn going, but is confident in her body's abilities to turn it to tan by morning. Meanwhile the water cools the burning sensations as the moonlight flows into the water and through her core. She revels in the sight of duality... on one side the final glow of the sun as it sinks behind the horizon formed by the island's land. On the other side the waters' horizon already holds the night and the glow from the moon and stars. Beneath her the water is less full of life that she remembers from her youth, but as if in response to her questing a ray comes off the ocean bottom and glides smoothly beneath her. Each flick of its giant `wings' gently touching her body as it circles and welcomes her back to the islands. Even in the dimming light she can see the color of the water differs from home as it reflects the darkening skies above. Slowly she swims towards the beach to join the others, the sand glowing from the last of the sun's light and with the embrace of its sister the moon.

Stepping up from the water she bends to pick up a handful of wet sand just as she hears the casting of the circle begin. She bends her head and thanks the spirits for their guidance in coming at such a timely fashion. When it is her turn to call Windwalker concentrates, but can only feel the dry sands' warmth beneath her feet as she stands in her place in the circle. She feels the earth mother fill her as her feet sink into the sands and connects to the energies she has opened herself to all day. She is exhilarated with the power of it and the power she feels coming from inside the circle they are creating here. Out in the oceans she sees shadows diving in and out of the water as if the beings that live there are also curious about the power they feel coming from the shores this night.

From two small bottles tied to her waist she opens the stopper and empties the contents. The bottle of ocean water from home she pours into this ocean, its sister. The sand from her beach not far from home she lets fall to the sand at her feet. She raises her arms and softly speaks to the energies of a coastline that now mingles, as the sand and water mingled when she added them, forever changing them. Windwalker feels the power of the earth as it seeps into her and she begins:

"Spirits of the North, home of the winds of earth, we ask you to join = into our celebration and that you watch over us as we honor the powers of creation this night. Brothers of the north; those of the animal kingdom, we welcome you into the circle and invite you to join our celebration as well. For the north is a place of knowledge and we seek to join our minds to those of our sisters and brothers in all directions. We beseech our Mother the earth, lend us her strength as we sit together and offer our energies to the healing of this land. For as she spreads her hands under the waters and travels to other lands she can feel the sickness of those beings who live in the oceans of the world. It is for them that we ask her to join her power to ours. For united we can accomplish that which cannot be done alone. We offer our spirits and power to those of our brothers who need healing in the waters of life. We feel the flow of life within the waters match the tides of the flow within our veins and know that to help them, will be to help ourselves. For as we touch the core of Turtle Island, we feel ourselves welcomed, surrounded in a blanket of well being. Opening yourself to us so that we may draw from the wells of your stores into ourselves directing these energies to those in need."

With this Windwalker lowers her arms. She sees her brother wolf on the edges of the water and hears the cry of hawk in the distance and knows her teachers have given their assent to this night of healing for all their relations. The shadows in the distant waters have come closer. The ocean alive with life, as the sands also join in. A salamander running across her feet towards a clump of tall grass startles her.  The breeze coming from the ocean is chilled, bringing the scent of pines from the north. It circles and embraces all present. The clouds over the northern edge of the waters have taken on a distinct shape of Mountain Lion, guardian of the north, or so it seems. Smiling at the embrace from the northwinds and the presence of her guardian Windwalker turns to wait for...

...Deer stands in Circle but not, again replaying the day's events on his private screen as the ritual began.  Always a new environment engendered questions that, for Deer at least, must be answered in order to assure a sound weaving.  So he'd arrived early to stonehole rock, needing to absorb the energies of this place.  Having climbed to a perch atop the fabled rock, Deer had watched as the day progressed - morning through noon and vespers, into early evening when the sun hung low over the horizon.  He had been  struck with the seeming immutability of this landscape, which stood in stark contrast to the range of impressions it gave as the light changed from lower to higher and back again.  A phrase from somewhere unknown, "Change within stability, stability despite change," had crept into his head and Deer puzzled over it a bit off and on through the day, before realizing laying it in parallel to the vedic script, "Here diverge the hundred thousand thousand shapes."

As the sun's angle lengthened, those phrases had launched Deer upon a reexperiencing - to another time, another beach, another vision.  One who had purified and passed on Soma, divine drink of the gods...  On a black sand beach surrounded with cycads during the eve of a new moon...  Darkness expanded all his senses, pupils dilated to take up each luminescence which passed by, over and through him.  Then a single tower of flame had sprung spontaneously from sands shimmering in starlight, spawned by a bolt from stratocumulus towers which had rolled in over the beach.  Thunder...  a drum beat...  the heart beat...  one and the same, washed over Deer as he'd ecstatically watched and waited.  Slowly, the flame took on the rhythm of the sound, and Deer found a form dancing within it.  Lithe and yet powerful, graceful and still commanding, overpowering but somehow sweet...   and then he'd understood.  This Dance was all.  All passed before this Dance and was obliterated.  But this very Dance was old before all of Creation.  A pas de deux of incredible antiquity.  Thoughts and experiences which launched into sonnet, penned at a prior memory of that distant past.

   "With summer's early evening breezes singing
   caught diamonds night's raven hair flowing,
   the newly silvered crescent on her forehead gleaming
   now illumined river shore where we were going.
   With radiant aura lady born of mountains
   brought bearing patchouli leaves graceful maidens,
   followed with music one horns wearing golden
   and strong-armed young men sandalwood laden.
   With scented smoke encircled scarlet flames
   that space where we had lain a mighty pyre,
   the rhythm he alone form drumhead claims
   now moved amid the brightly glowing fire."

   "From depths of somic trance the dancing mind creates
   and here diverge the hundred thousand thousand shapes."

Suddenly having sensed more than seen suz' arrival at the parking lot, Deer had sought to dismount the rock without being noticed - hoping to afford her private communion with a root place for her; an interaction he *knew* she would enjoy most alone.  Deeply tanned skin, rosy from the day's long exposure, and copper-gold hair had melted among the rocks and brush as he made his way down toward the shore.  Contact with the sands cooling in the early evening had brought him a jolt of realization - a lot of heat he'd absorbed during the day, solar and otherwise.  "Ah, well," Deer thought to himself as his body involuntarily dove through the glistening skin of the water, "best to cool the fire in the head before attempting to be social."   But beneath the cool waters, Deer had continued to be haunted by questions of what all this had to do with this evening's ritual.  "What indeed is the relationship?  This is now woven into tonight for me, but why?  New moon reviewed, full moon to celebrate.  The Lord of Destruction dancing near the eve of Midsummer.  Black sands and pink.  What and why???" he had thought a final time before surfacing to join the others already gathered on suz' hidden beach.

With the mildest shift of consciousness, Deer returned wholly to that circle of which he is a part.  Through his reverie, circle casting and quarter calls - all done in beauty - have wrapped themselves serpentine through the other thoughts he'd entertained.  Suddenly, Deer recognizes the call and - feeling a bit the Heyoka he'd taken to in an earlier moon, somewhat antisocial, a bit overpowering, and perhaps more than a little unappreciated - he begins to move.  Madly about the circle Deer spins, briefly touching a hand here, a cheek there.  More than once he catches the amused expression in Owl's eyes - the quiet laugh, the approving nod, the quick smile of recognition.  And all this entwined with a splash though mother ocean and a leap through the cauldron of flames, a higher leap into the aestival winds and a final brief dive and roll in the sands as a swarm of shapes he takes on...  a stag, a flood, a wind, a tear, a hawk, a wonder, a god...

Deer rises - bronzed skin rosy with the days sun glitters with its covering of pink Bermudian sand - and a man wearing the glamour of antlers stands at their circle's center.  His breath spent, Deer strikes a pose reminiscent of a bas relief from ancient Hindu temples - one of balance within a maelstrom of thoughts - and whispers.  Knowing that in this place and especially at this time sounds will carry, Deer is certain that all those gathered about - as well as those in the waters below and the skies above - may hear.

"God is among us.  Lord Siva, Destroyer, by our desire for personal transmutation are You invited within this gathering.  At the height of our year, bring us to symbolic annihilation.  But not the wholesale trembling of a cosmos trodden into dust. Rather, help us to feel the flow between creation and oblivion, between intelligence and entropy.  Beginnings from endings. Growth and change from pain and loss.  Move among us and touch each with one hand or another.  Demonstrate for each of us one of Your four attributes of power that each may experience the transformation which is now most needed.  Bring us into Your Dance.  And having allowed us to witness the awefullness of You, Destroyer, bring us deeper into the bliss of that Dance which Devi shares with you alone, yet through which all is born."

Fire in the head...  Deer watches as Owl moves toward the circle's center.  The virtual stillness of his body strikes a counterpoint to the myriad of thoughts which race in concentric spheres from that place he can only label "I."  But even as he sees her approach, Deer seems already to be hearing the words that she will utter...

As the preparations for the FMR got under way, Owl had chosen a spot to meditate .. a bit above the shore, soft sand drifted in the lee of ancient rocks .. a cascade of leafy branches trailing down .. their roots sunk deep into the earth, yet precariously perched on the slope of the hill. Hidden in the shade of the stone, and leaf bower, Owl had seen each one approaching. Suz, scrambling to prepare and make things beautiful .. like a young bride getting ready for her first dinner with her in laws. Beth, enthusiastically joining in to help her friend get ready for the party, and throwing herself wholeheartedly into the spirit of the day. Windwalker, tasting the strangeness of the place .. taking her time to familiarize, and acknowledge the spirits of the land .. and then .. making it her own. Rosemary .. catching up with herself, and resolutely struggling over the rough terrain .. much as she has done in all facets of her life .. and bringing with her a strong conviction of purpose and reverence .. mixed with spices of sweet mirth and tangy joir de vivre. Nym, her sweet smile glowing at the warmth and friendship gathered here ... and her well deserved sense of accomplishment at being the touchstone of this group of friends ... her quiet joy ... her constant vigilance ... Owl whispers to her friend "Thanks sweetie".

From her bower, Owl had watched as Deer roamed the shoreline, the hillside, and finally the sea itself. As she followed his path with her eyes, she seemed to see another place, another time. A vision of Black Sands clouded the reality of this place .. and once again, Owl found herself in the mind of the Deer. What was left there shall remain his secret ...

for some things must be held within as an anchor. A touchstone, to which we all return through our lives. A thing which rests in our souls, and reminds us of who we are. Reminds us that we can grow, and change .. yet we must take with us the memories of what went before. And occassionally, revisit those times where we've experienced things without really knowing their importance. It is only thru retrospect that we begin to appreciate and understand how significant, and special were some of the days of our lives. As Deer stands waiting in Circle, Owl grins knowingly at him .. standing as tho at ease .. yet she can feel the tension in his glance ... a bit defensive ... a bit unsure ... yet knowing that he is where he is supposed to be.

Owl stops for a moment and turns to Suz ... A warm hug, and a whisper ... "It's beautiful, hon .. you done good!" .. Then once again catching Deer's eye, she slowly approaches as he stands tensely waiting. Placing her left hand on his head, and her right hand over his heart, she once again reminds him ... "You are my altar" ... and lets him know that whatever has been, or will be, is part of the ever lasting dance ... and as she stands before him, the rhythms of their hearts begin to beat as one. Deer cups her shin in his left hand, and places his hand over her heart. She looks deeply into his eyes, and calls to the Mother:

"Lady, within each of us you reside for all time. You teach us to nurture, and to receive nurturing when needed. You are with us in the worst of times, and you are with us at our best. You are constant in our lives .... the past, the present, and we know you will be with us in the futures. Today, we gather in this special place, prepared with love and attention, by your hand on the earth, and by our love and appreciation of your handiwork. Each of us know you intimately, but many of us know you thru different lore, and by other names. Here ... Now ... those differences have no meaning. We are your children .. in all our shapes, sizes, and complexities. We invite you to step within and join with us in our celebration of your existance in our lives. Mother .. I call to you .. join us now in our Circle!"

Owl moves close to Reddeer and enfolds him in her arms as the familiar tingling of energy rushes up her spine. As his arms come around her ... she experiences once again the wholeness of spirit within her .. and without ... As each of them ... Reddeer manifesting God .. Owl manifesting Goddess .. send out the energies to encircle and encompass all who stand together in this Sacred Space .... Hand in hand, Owl and Reddeer pace the Circle round, greeting and hugging each one who gathers here in the name of the Deities ... They return to center and wait ..... Fern steps forward, wrapped in the magic that all have brought and brought forth in this place.  Feeling the sands beneith her feet, tasting the salt breezes, smelling seaweeds and incenses, hearing the waves and invocations.  It is, indeed, a time that is not a time, in a place that is not a place, between the worlds and beyond!

She walks to two stacks of staves. One is of dried mangrove branches, all about 2 1/2 feet long and 2 - 3 inches wide.  The other is of dried bamboo, about as long, but with the dry rustling leaves still attached.  She hands one of each to the first person she comes to - the bamboo in the left hand, mangrove in the right - then on to the next person, only putting the bamboo in their right hand and the mangrove in their left.  And so on, around the circle she goes, till all have their instruments.

    Then, the beat begins!  Bamboo meets neighbor's bamboo for 3 beats, then mangrove meets mangrove for one beat on the other side.  The bamboo's percussion sounds a bit like the ocean waves, with the leaves modifying the sound.  The mangrove, wood of water, kicks the percussion, and energy, up a notch each time they meet.

    Fern starts to lead the chant, starting with the chorus (which everyone joins in on...)  The tune and rythm is from "We Will Rock You", by Queen, filked for the occassion:

   The Gods will, The Gods will, change you, change you
   The Gods will, The Gods will, change you, change you
   Buddies you got issues,     baggage, Cr-ap
   Drag-ging it along
   every day to day
   They hold you back
   They give you flack
   in short, you're rather
   off of the track
   The Gods will, The Gods will, change you, change you
   The Gods will, The Gods will, change you, change you
   Say you want change
   But you got fears
   What if your ex-
   cuses fly a-way
   Gods'll give you things
   Responsibilities, too
   That's then energy exchange
   between Them and you
   The Gods will, The Gods will, change you, change you
   The Gods will, The Gods will, change you, change you
   You think you know
   how the change will look?
   You think the Gods
   Are short order cooks?
   Give that thought up
   you've no control, pup
   Accept what they put
   into your cup.

     The Gods will, The Gods will, change you, unpredicatably!
     The Gods will, The Gods will, change you, unpredicatably!
     The Gods will, The Gods will, change you, unpredicatably!
     The Gods will, The Gods will, change you, unpredicatably!
     The Gods will, The Gods will, change you, unpredicatably!
     The Gods will, The Gods will, change you, unpredicatably!

At the last beat, all the mangrove staves meet in the center of the circle. The energy raised rises from the the vortex they make.  A florescent yet translucent rainbow of energy rises and arcs towards holdinrock, suffusing the rock with its colors, and going thru the hole.   Fern turns the magical working back over to  Suz...... exhilerated, glowing, practically imploding with delight, suz turns to jess. 'move through the energy and pass through the rock, lovely one!  let the transformation begin!'

...Jess approaches the hole. The sense of ortherworldly-ness is so thick, she expects to see sylphs and sirens through the luminesence. As the last echo of that power raising song fades, she can hear a tune, just on the edge of her sharp hearing. A calypso beat moves her: swaying hips, tapping feet, and Harry Belafonte in her head:

   di dah di dah di dah
   di dah di dah di dah
   di dah di dah di dah
   dah di dah di dah

She turns to the circle and sings

   "we come from the fire
   living in the fire
   go back to the fire
   turn the world around
   we come from the water
     living in the water
   go back to the water
   turn the world around"

She turns to the rock and walks through. The air cool and silky. For the split second she is betweed the worlds, she hears everying. Every noise, every song, every voice lifted in prayer, song, laughter, anguish, and oy. Then one song, the one she heard on the other side, comes back louder and stronger:

   "we come from the mountain
   living _on_ the mountain
   go back to the mountain
   turn the world around"

Jess bounds into the water, plunging in to touch the sea floor. She breaks the surface and sings:

   "wo-ho so is life
   ah-ha so is life
   wo-ho so is life
   ah-ha so is life"

Seekers stepping through the mist continue the song. As they step through, Jess sees the moment of transformation: a blur, a shift, undefinable.

   "do you know who i am
   do i know who you are
   see we one another clearly
   do we know who we are
   wo-ho so is life
   amatiwa-ha
   so is life
   wo-ho so is life
   amatiwa-ha so is life"

Dancers cavort around on the sand, hands weaving and hips swaying. Others splash through the water, like brightly colored seals at play.

   "water make the river
   river wash the mountain
   fire make the sunlight turn the world around
   heart is of the river
   body is the mountain
   spirit is the sunlight
   turn the world around"

Jess clasps the nearest hands and places them on her hips. She pulls the dancers into a line and they snake back and forth across the sand.

   "we are of the spirit
   truly of the spirit
   only can the spirit
   turn the world around
   do you know who i am
   do i know who you are
   see we one another clearly
   do we know who we are
   wo-ho so is life
   amatiwa-ha so is life!

The song ends with a truimphant shout! Exhausted, the dancers fall to the sand laughing, hugging, and sweating. Called back to the moment, they gather again and watch...

...suz moves into the misty haze of the rainbow and pauses within.  a shudder starts at the soles of her feet and sweeps up through her body.  on into the circle of stone...pause again.  she closes her eyes.  a tiny movement deep within, the first stirrings of a seed deep in the earth.  it is enough.  the change will come...

...then she moves through the rock and emerges with her toes in the phosphorescent surf and her ears filled with golden sound.  the rythmn and cadence are so island it's like they are part of the sound of the sea, but the voice...that voice is new and fresh as the dawn.  part of the wonderful new life that is the now.

tears of joy slip down her face as she gives jess a small hug, not as strong as she wants, not wanting to interrupt the singing.  then plunge into the dark silky water...ah! that's it! that's home!  as her fingers touch the bottom they encounter a vaguely familiar shape.  suz peers through the eerily lit depths and sees with odd clarity the shape of a sea fan, glowing lavender and deep purple and aquamarine.  how beautiful! but the colours do not last out of the mother ocean.  how sad that the fan will fade and turn grey.  but the memory of the colours will not.  with murmured thanks, suz surfaces and carries her gift gently to the shore, and waits for everyone to come through. the little cove is full of people dancing, laughing, splashing in the moonspangled water, sharing their gifts.  jess has stopped the golden thread of her song to dive in, but it still seems to hang in the air, weaving with the salty breeze and silver light to create a mist of magick that obscures the beach from from mundane sight.

the group slowly gathers again at the waters edge, smiling and shaking water of hair, holding hands, hugging, close on so many levels.  'it's time to close the ritual, but not for the night to end!  it is such a joy for me to have you here in this special place with me, dear ones.  what a wonderful overlay to put on all the youngsuz memories i have for this  place! i hope you take with you a little bit of the beauty and magick and serenity of bermuda, as well as the fruition of the transformation you each began here, whatever that might be.

'thank you, my friends'.

suz' eyes find owlie and deer, arms clasped around each other with the foam of the gentle surf surging around their feet, alight with the glow of the god and goddess.  she curtseys deeply to them.  'my lady, and my lord...'

...Owl steps from the foam and takes Suz's hand, raising her from the deep curtsey ... and draws her into her arms ... motioning Reddeer to hug both of them .... As they stand, three together, in close embrace ... the others draw nearer ... wet, breathless, laughing, they descend upon the three ... GROUP HUG!!! ... Owl and Deer step back to the water bringing all with them ... as we wade out deeper the bouyancy lifts us .. gentle waves tug at us ... people grasp at hands, and clothing .. and we float, effortlessly, joined together, yet each feeling the elements tugging and moving us .. our only anchors the threads of community and friendship. Glistening in the moonlight, a flotilla of friends, joined in common bonds of love and laughter. This is a special night.