FULL MOON RITUAL: ???<P> Ritual Leader: ???<P>

   Boudica was sick of snow by now. One of the worst winters in the last 7 years for her, it snowed almost constantly. Even if it did not accumulate, it snowed. It was always overcast; she could count on both hands the number of days of sunshine over the past few month.

   Not to be misunderstood, she loved the snow. At the beginning of each winter, she looks forward to the cold and fluffy white stuff. Being a winter baby, its easy to understand the connection she has to winter. The first snows are always an enchantment to her, she looks forward to the day when she can walk making the first footprints on the land as she watches the seasons turn from late fall brown to winter white. The muffling of sound, the crunch underfoot of crisp fresh fallen snow. Even the worst snowstorms, the sound of the wind whistling by the house, the etching of the snowdrifts by the wind. Yes, she did love the winter and all its magical wonders.

   But enough was enough. It's time for the next turn of the wheel.

   Boudica arrived at the gardens early. There was still snow on the ground, but the greenhouse had the promise of spring contained in its glass walls and heated floors. This garden was a lovely place she and her husband wandered in all seasons. The place was a private mansion at one time, donated to the city by the owner as a place of tranquility and beauty for the common man.

   She has known many greenhouses over the years. Grand ones in the city, smaller private ones in the different places she has visited over the years. Each of them provides a place to meditate on the next turn of the wheel and the mysteries of nature in the unusual species these crystal houses offer.

   She had worked briefly in a private greenhouse here in town. The only well remembered moment occurred a few days before Yule. They had brought thousands of poinsettias out into the main sales area, placing them on the tables, all the different colors and sizes for people to come and purchase for their homes for the holidays. It had started to snow that morning and by noon there was quite a cover of snow. She took her lunch and wandered the great crystal house, the riot of reds, pinks, whites and gold's nestled in green leaves and foil covered pots, against the deepening snow outside. Quite a contrast and one she has imbedded in her minds eye.

   Now she entered the greenhouse, and the warmth and humidity touched her cold face. She dropped her coat in the vestibule and her blue gown beneath caught the dim lights from outside. The smell of daffodils and hyacinths before she turned on the lights filled her nose with a remembrance of spring. Yes, enclosed in this greenhouse was the promise of a new turn of the wheel.

   She walked over to the great French doors off the vestibule. There was an enclosed courtyard, where the gardeners had laid out their spring show. She flung the doors open and entered. She waked down the small path between springtime beds. There was a brick circle in the middle of the courtyard, where the greenhouse provided a table and chairs for the patrons to sit, and Boudica had always wondered about holding a circle in a place like this. She moved the chairs out of the courtyard to a potters room just off to the side. She would use the table for the altar.

   She stopped and looked at all the flowers. There were lights in the ceiling, but she shunned them in favor of some candles she would place on the ground in glass baby food containers. Small tea lights in jars, it took her a while, but they lit the room up and presented a very warm and inviting space to work in. The moonlight would illuminate the room from above once She came up. She went to the car and got out a wide shallow pot and brought that to the table. She then went to the potters shed where she had recently bought a huge bag of soil, and had left it there for tonight's ritual. The pot covered the entire table, and was about 6 inches deep. This would do fine for what we have in mind.

   Boudica had also brought a boom, and rather than smudge the courtyard and try to cover over the fragrance of the flowers, she swept the circle with the broom, to cleanse the sacred space. In the soft light of the candles, the colors of the flowers could still be seen, the yellows of the daffodils, the reds of the tulips, the white jonquils. Purple crocus' in pots and a small bed of blue and pink and white hyacinths, all lending their perfume to the air. That was cleansing enough for her.

   Out in the vestibule she placed some bottles of wine to share and some cups and some sweet cakes. She also had a large carrier with a cover on it, and a huge basket filled with eggs. She had painted the eggs over the past week, all colors, all sorts of Celtic designs and traditional. She took the carrier and the eggs to the circle and placed the basket of eggs next to the table with the huge pot. The carrier she placed near the spot where she would stand.

   She felt that if someone want to bring some tools, they could, but all she needed was there. All that was left was for the people to arrive.

   The great French doors to the courtyard were open and tea lights lit the pathway between the beds of spring flowers to the center of the courtyard and the circle. There were chairs in the vestibule where people could drop their coats and hang out to wait till everyone would arrive.

   She would wait for everyone before she would create the circle...

   ...Deer arrived and, after a warm hug and pleasantries exchanged with Boudi, wandered off to roam among the spring flowers. He'd thoroughly enjoyed the trek through more snow than the Carolinas see in several winters. But the early riot of Spring in a crystal house with Winter still full blow just beyond the windows, as always, truly awed him. He felt the strong need to develop a sense of where in the pattern of this climate a ritual here would be woven and, regardless of Boudi's plan, needed a personal sense of what was happening within. He'd not felt bad about slipping away with only a "Later," as he know they'd be spending ample time together during and after their working...

   ...Owl arrived.. and ran around the greenhouse, ooohing, ahhhing.. and WOW! Hugging Boudi, and grabbing her hands to skip about.. Owl knew they both needed this potent reminder of Spring, and growing, and Earth Magick of the Wheel turning.

   She stood on tiptoe to whisper in Boudi's ear.. Hey, friend, we’ve gotten through a tough winter this year. Now it's time to play, and rejoice.. and wear a red hat, and a purple dress, and GLOVES! .. With that, Owl dropped her winter cloak, and plopped a red floppy hat on her head.. and with her purple dress flowing.. she put on her Gardening Gloves!!

   A heavy sack hung from her belt.. and Owl took off one glove to place her naked hand into the sack, and began fondling the bulbs inside. Hmmm.. fondling bulbs.. now why does that make me think of the Red Deer? Where is he, by the way.. somewhere in the Garden??

   OK Boudi, while we wait for the others, I'm off to find the Deer.. and see if he has bulbs to fondle.. maybe I'll let him fondle mine!.. Oh.. right, this isn't Beltaine yet .. I'll go chase him down anyway.. Call us when everyone gets here!!...

   ...CrystalAquana arrived shortly after Owl. After a few quick stretches after the long drive, she started looking around for the others. She came upon Boudica first, while they were chatting she heard Owl and Red Deer. After a little bit of catching up, CrystalAquana needed help unloading the flats of plants she started from seeds she saved from last year. Once she had that done and settled near the alter, she's ready for coffee...

   ...Boudica joined her friends in the greenhouse courtyard in the circle. She opened the carrier and took out a lovely grey bunny. She placed him down on the ground and he wandered around the circle, sniffing all the people gathered. He stopped by the egg basket, so appropriate, and Boudica began the circle.

   Walking from the east, she made a circle, stopping at each of the four directions.

   "At south we do greet the Summer, green earth and warm fullness..

   At west we greet Fall, bright colors, cool days and harvest..

   At north we greet Winter, cold winds, deep snows and sleep.."

   As she approached east, she stopped.

   "At East, we greet Spring, warming days, abundant rains, the wakening of the earth.

   She went to the center of the circle, and poured the soil into the large pot.

   "Bless the earth and waken it, God and Goddess. Make it warm and moist for your fruits and flowers. "

   She bent over and picked up the rabbit and one of the eggs. "Bless all your animals and give them a fertile year."

   She looked to the rising moon as it shown through the glass roof and light up the courtyard. "Bless us all Goddess, as you travel the Spring sky, and bring us a new Turn of the Wheel filled with warmth and growth and the promise of fullness."

   She put the egg down, and turned to her friends. "Time now for your blessings."

   Carrying the bunny, she returned to her place in the circle and waited for...

   ...CrystalAquana steps forward greeting Boudica with a smile & hug and the bunny with a kiss on the nose. She steps toward the alter and retrieves the seeds she saved from her garden last year.

   Stepping to the pot of soil, she looks to the sky and says. Bless the seeds, the fruit of your womb. (dropping the seeds into the pot) Mix them with earth, water, air and sunlight, that they may grow strong and healthy and share their fruits.

   Stepping back towards the alter, she picks up a box of little plants. As she walks the circle, handing one to each that have gathered here. She says, These are my gifts to you. May they flourish as our friendships have.

   Putting the final plant on the alter she returns to her spot...

   ...Jess breathes deeply, inhaling the scent of rich, damp earth. She sings:

   In the scented bud of the morning, oh, as the windy grass went rippling far I saw my dear one walking slow in the field where the daisies are.

   We did not laugh and we did not speak as we wandered happily to and fro. I kissed my dear on either cheek in the bud of the morning, oh!

   (a bird trills)

   A lark sang up from the breezy land. A lark sang down from a cloud afar as he and I went hand in hand in the field where the daisies are.

   Bowing her head to the collected group, Jess returns to her spot...

   ...Fern arrives a bit late, having been wrestling with virus's. "Sorry, folks, but you wouldn't have wanted me infecting y'all."

   As usuall, she is carrying WAY too many things. Blooming flowers for everyone - pots of crocus and narcissus and hyacinths. Bulbs, ready to be planted. Offerings for the Petitions phase. Food for the revels. Incidentally, you DO know that Druids needed ponies not to invade faster, but because they do NOT travel light.. and never did.

   She hands everyone their pot of blooming plants, and three bulbs, putting the rest of the bulbs on the altar. "You know me and my triads - today I bring three types of blooming bulbs, all with Greek mythological origins!"

   Hyacinthus. A handsome Spartan youth loved by both Apollo, god of the sun, and Zephyrus, god of the west wind. Both gods competed to gain this handsome youth’s attention. One day, as Apollo was teaching the young man how to throw the discus, the god accidentally killed Hyacinths. According to another legend, Zephyrus was jealous of the youth's love for Apollo and blew upon the discus, causing it to strike Hyacinths and kill him.

   "Cheerful Spring story, eh? Well, how about.."

   Narcissus. This famous, flower inspired myth is perhaps more suited to the beauty of the narcissus. Narcissus was an exceptionally handsome young man. His mother had told him that he would live a long life if he did not look upon his own beauty. Narcissus however, decided to see his reflection on the surface of the water coming from a spring. He was so enchanted by his own beauty that he remained there, still, admiring his image until he died by the side of the spring. According to another version, he mistakenly thought that his own reflection was the face of the nymph that inhabited the spring and he drowned when we jumped into the water trying to catch her. The narcissus flower supposedly grew at that spot

   "Hmmm. Let's try again.." Crocus. Crocus was a friend of the Greek god Hermes. One day as the two friends were playing, Hermes accidentally hit and killed his friend. A small flower grew at the place of the accident. Three drops of Crocus’ blood fell on the center of the flower and formed the spots on this plant. The plant took the name crocus because of this event. According to another myth, Crocus was a young man who transformed into a flower because of his unfulfilled love for a nymph called Smilax. At the same time, Smilax transformed into a vine-plant (Smilax aspera-sarsparilla).

   "Well. Uh. In spring one's mind/other body parts turn to love, and that leads to death? Certainly the bulbs that bloom in the spring are CLOSELY tied to the Underworld, the Dead, even as they speak to us of rebirth.

   "But those are the bulbs that are now blooming. The bulbs that I have given to be planted are the Crocus that gives us SAFFRON. They bloom in the fall. And they yield that most precious of all spices!"

   "Death, yielding the most precious thing of all, colored gold like the mineral."

   Fern finds a place around the circle, and waits for...

   ...Adrianna steps into the greenhouse with all the rich smells of earth and flower.. not sure if she is too late to join in. She is delayed arriving because of seemingly mystical glitches in the world of computer, but breathes deeply the incense of renewal all around her.. bathed in the moonlight. She hears the sounds of the others and feels hesitant.. a newcomer.. used to working alone.. but drawn to the sounds and sense of peace.. joy.. a pull towards being a part of a group of people in tune with the Earth and the ebb and flow of the seasons.

   She places her foods brought for sharing among the rest.. egg salad and watercress sandwiches.. hot cross buns with the crosscut of the four directions.. this time of year a crossroads.. which path for this growing, creating, soon busy living out what was envisioned with goals set.. a crossroads for our World of people as well.. perhaps not chosen as well.. a prayer for all the women and children and men.. Are there other solutions, not seen yet, which create less damage to all that live within this Mother's home.. human and others? A prayer that, if so, it will be found.. Soon!

   A small dish is set down, tucked into the concealment of overhanging leaf with a little jar lid of milk.. a gift for the wee folk. At sharing time, someone can slip them a bit of ale. A smile and a soft, "Thank you".. and her focus moves back to the group gathered around the altar under the moonlight. Taking a pouch from under a tuck of cloak, she pours the contents into an empty flower pot.. Crystals, citrine, apache tears, amber, turqoise, emerald, amethyst, even a tiny diamond for the one who jokes (or not?!) of being Queen.. and other semi precious stones spill softly and gently into the pot, so as not to disturb.. river rocks, stones from here and there.. all from what the little ones call the "blessing pile", when they find them and bring them to her garden telling what is special about each one. Some of these she has brought to share with new friends.. Which will they choose to tuck into personal pouches, to set in little spots, to hold, or to put into their own flower pots this Spring, or into gardens? With prayer for blessing, love, and abundance they were brought.. ready to receive the special needs whispered by each one who will treasure them for this new year as they add their gentle strength to goals.

   Adrianna sits within the circle, smiling.. content to be here.. and pushes the flowerpot of stones into the space ahead.. content to listen and breathe in the peace of this night and watch the faces. It is good...

   ...Owl steps forward and from her cloak comes a bag of FERTILIZER! Yep, that good old stuff that makes everything grow.

   With a wink at Red Deer, Owl sprinkles some of the fertilizer around, then places the rest of the bag near the seeds and bulbs already presented.

   Now let's think about this great season of sprouting, and growing and encouragement. It takes work, my friends.. and paying attention to the Earth and her cycles. Whether we are planning to bake a cake, or plant a seed, or raise a child.. we have to shovel a great deal of care in order to do it right.

   As Maidens and Young men, we become aware of the "need to incite..” the urge to fondle, to hug, to kiss, to make love, and to have babies, just like the plants, and other animals of our planet. As Mothers, and Fathers, we see the need to tend our children, and their future needs. Just as some plants will grow longer leaves to protect the seedlings, or an animal will find a safe cozy den from which to rear the young. And there comes a time for all of us when we realize that our nurturing, and enticing of growth, love, community, is all part of the same process.

   It takes work.. it takes fertilizer.. it takes caring. So at the season of Ostara, let us all be the care takers. Let us all tend our children and our flocks. Let's all plant the seeds of growth and renewal.. and may we all remember those who are far away from home, and in danger.

   Owl turns to Red Deer.. and fondles his antlers.. "'Tis your turn, my brother...”

   ...Thoroughly enjoying Owl's attention to the itch above his ears, Deer finally embraces her warmly then turns and approaches the table at center of their circle. He carries an irregular brown bulb which fills both hands. At the table, Deer turns the bulb forth and back in his hands, considering the wisdom of that which he offers. A child of one nearly old as his marriage to El that currently grows by the deck off their greenhouse - even though it's a semitropical plant. Long one of Deer’s favorites - both for its showy, palm-like foliage reaching three to four feet tall when mature and for its incredible foot-long spath of intense vermillion surrounded by a single petal of deepest maroon all atop a sturdy stalk of brown and cream pythonskin. A dragon lily from far India whose only seeming drawback is its aroma. Pollinated by flies, its calling card for them being the smell of rotting flesh. Always to Deer a reminder of death within life and life within death. Seldom something he chose to share with others whose sensibilities might be more fragile.

   Having weighed his decision a final time, then with bare hands created a hollow in the center of Boudi's table-sized pot of Earth. "Father, be here in this place. Lord of the Hunt, always remind those who experience this rare beauty that as life springs eternal ever does it so in the face of death. Dying God, joyfully preside over our celebration this turn of the wheel - when the blood rises, the fires burn hotter and everywhere one turns new life springs forth." Gently, Deer covers the bulb with soil and *sees* it flourishing there for years to come. He wonders only whether those who keep this place will allow it to bloom in its full splendor (aroma included) or choose to remove the spathe (source of the odor) at the beginning of bloom0-time.

   Deer stands quietly for a moment, before speaking again, "Elder God, in Spring your Lady calls you. Come forth 'neath this full moon to frolic in the warming nights, to look longingly after the doe-eyed lady, to rekindle in us all that which is ours through the ages."

   With a renewed spring in his step, Deer returns to his place beside Owl and waits until...

   ...Owl takes the hand of her brother and calls softly.. Lady, once again the Sun has answered your call.. Once again the Stag seeks the Doe, the Ram seeks the Ewe.. the seeds seek the Sun.. and we who love you welcome you here with us at the time of Eostara.. Hail and Welcome!...

   ...Boudica sees that everyone has come to celebrate. She walks to the pot with the soil and fertilizer and rocks and bulbs and seeds, and takes a handful of soil in her hand.

   She puts the bunny down to wander around the circle, and she looks up to the glass roof and sees the moon.

   Thank you Mother for getting my hubby help before it became a problem. Wean live with the life adjustments. Thanks to the Greenman for grounding me well to deal with this.

   She then looks to the circle. There is much to petition the Gods and Goddesses for.

   She makes way for...

   ...Red Deer, who returns to the altar. Gently he scoops a small amount of soil away from one side of the Dragon bulb he'd planted there and places within the excavation a small carving. Fashioned from home-grown yellow pine felled in the recent ice storm, it is a Carolina wolf - long gone from his homeland but now returning. "Mother, Father - I am doing all that I know to assure that my youngest, Kathryn, will herself become a member of the pack. Mundane and magical have I worked and I ask You to grant me this as well. Open a way to Wood's School for her, I beseech You."

   Deer gently replaces the soil about his offering in hopes that with the burgeoning spring this need too shall come to fruition. Returning to Owl's side, he looks about for...

   ...Boudica saw that everyone had finished and she walked around the pot. Scooping up the bunny and the basket, she offered eggs to everyone gathered. Some hugs, some laughing, some scratching of the bunny, everyone relaxed as she went around the circle. She then placed the basket next to the table, and took a handful of dirt. She walked to the beds of flowers, and she tossed the rich earth into the beds, as a thank you for allowing us to use this place.

   Looking up to the sky, the moon was traveling on Her way now to the dark. Boudica made one more turn of the circle, and looked at everyone "The circle is now open but never broken. Thank you all for coming.. there is wine, juice and goodies inside, please join us for some merry making."

   Thank you everyone for a lovely Full Moon.