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

Owl lights a votive candle before the statue of Hekate on her altar. She has been lighting a candle each night for the past week, anticipating the time that her friend would choose to pass over.

She places a stick of incense in each of the torches Hecate holds in her hands...

...Before joining the growing circle, Jess slips to the stereo nestled behind Owl's dining table. She puts in a CD and tunes it to Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings, Op 11. Somehow life always seems to have a soundtrack and, at its most reflective moments, this piece pops into her head...

...As the flame flickers, and the scented smoke wafts around the room, Owl opens the door to the deck, and steps out to watch the shadowed mountain around her home. Looking up at the full moon, she sees the face of Hekate etched on the glowing orb.

Breathing in the crisp air of this fall night, she sends her energy out to all those who would gather here for this Ritual...

...As members join hands and begin their calls, the strings rise in a gentle, almost mournful crescendo, sigh and fall back, and rise again. With Owl's salt glinting in the cold air, the piece reaches its pinnacle. The chord resonates, at once joyous and painful.

The conductor for this recording was masterful: he holds the tension of that ecstatic chord just long enough that one holds one's breath through rest that follows. As the strings softly resume, the quarters are called...

...Reaching for Boudica's hand, and then Crystal's, Owl asks that they each call two quarters. Crystal, please call East and West.. Boudi, please call North and South..

A feeling of sadness grips her briefly, and she shakes it off.. saying "No!.. I will rejoice for Ellen.. I know she is safe and home in the arms of the Lady and Lord"..

Owl looks within and without.. and calls softly to Red Deer..

"Brother, stand with me in grief and joy, we walk between the worlds tonight."

With a wave of her hand she casts salt into the air, the winds catch the grains and scatter them far beyond the normal bounds.. glistening in the moon light like a shower of stars. It's cold here.. yet Owl sees a myriad of lights twinkling in the trees. Fireflies? No.. you all know what and who lives on this mountain.. Owl chants softly as she reaches out across the land to create Sacred Space to honor her friend..

"Above as below, Within as without
Cast the Circle thrice about
Me to you, and you to me
Here in Sacred Space are we
As the circle is cast, the Rite has begun
We focus together, we are as one...”

…Crystal gives Owl a quick hug as she prepares to take her place.

“Guardians of the eastern watchtower.
You are the air that fills our lungs.
And the crispness that we feel against our skin.
Join us here tonight in the sacred time and place.
Join us here as we celebrate the lady and remember our friend Ellen.”

Crystal lays a feather of a Dove by the candle marking the eastern quarter and returns to her place...

...Owl wonders where Boudica went? But seeing her sister indisposed, she turns to the South and intones,

"Guardians of the Southern Watchtower.. You are the fire that warms us, the fire that cleanses, the fire of passion, and the blaze of awareness. Join us here tonight in the sacred time and place. Join us here as we celebrate the lady and remember our friend Ellen.”

Owl waits for Crystal to call West, and hopes Boudi makes it for the North call...

...Crystal takes her place, takes a deep breath to steel herself against the flood of emotions and the pain in her heart. She just found out that she too loss a dear friend, she rejoices for the journey he is now taking but grieves for his young wife and two little one. She starts:

“Guardians of the western watchtower.
You are the water that held us before birth.
And the dew on the morning grass.
Join us here tonight in the sacred time and space.
Join us here as we celebrate the lady and remember our friends lost to us.”

Crystal places a shell full of sea water in the western quarter and returns to her place...

...Boudica faces North. She raises her hands and stops for a second..

“From the earth we come, and we spend all our lives protecting that precious gift we have been given. And in the end, we return to the earth, to the Mother and the warmth and protection of her arms.”

“Come this evening, Earth, Ancient One of the North, come dance with us this evening as we call the Circle of the Full Moon. Lend us your strength as we walk Between the Worlds this night.”

Boudica ends her calling, and she turns, a tear in her eye, and walks back to her place in the circle to await...

...Owl stands quietly in the center of the Circle. Head bowed, and feeling in the need of great comfort, she looks to Red Deer. Knowing she doesn't have to ask, she still looks to him with a question in her eyes.

Watching his face.. that grin of encouragement, and then the solemn look of sorrow as he reads her emotions. They remember.. other times, other places, other friends and loved ones.. they've been here before. Feeling the loss of today, yet knowing they will meet these loved ones again in future times.. embracing the sorrow, and feeling the joy of the promises kept throughout eternity..

Owl reaches out and calls softly.. "Lord, I know your strength, I know your touch, I know your heart. Join with us now, as the leaves of autumn fall. You have gathered a harvest of souls this season, and their fruit has been wonderful for us, for that we thank you.. yet we are sorrowed because they have left us and gone to join you. We ask that you treat them gently, and when our time comes, you open your arms and take us under the mantle of your love and protection. Be with us now at our time of grief, and our time of celebration. Life is never so sweet as when we realize our mortality. "

Owl watches as Red Deer once again changes.. and becomes more than he was.. yet not quite what he will be…

…Hearing Owl's words, Deer turns that corner, feels the shift in perspective and the all-to-familiar queasiness of becoming somewhat detached from time. What had for him begun with humor and spanned to sadness, now simply was. Calm.. Quiet.. Serene.. Certain.. On the one hand unbelievably self-assured and care-free. On the other, completely without spontaneity or surprise. And once again he understood and was immensely grateful for the Dance - with all its pain and sorrow.

Slowly, he takes Owl in his arms and whispers, "Find peace, love. And remembrance as well. " Then, taking a step back, Deer raises his hands - almost touching his sister's cheeks. He is momentarily stunned by the appearance of neat scars, marching rows of ancient stitches across his body, and marvels at his sisters' craft. "Lady, I feel your love, I feel your caress, I feel your care. As Samhain approaches, loose your hair to fly with the falling leaves and join me again. A crane-skin bag I bring, filled not with letters but souls - those returning from a ride upon the Great Wheel. Welcome them back into your all-embracing darkness. And with me comfort those who mourn their loss. As the veil thins, they shall hear their loved ones singing. And all shall rejoice in our Dance. "

Deer lowers his arms and watches as Owl stands a bit taller.. sheds the visage of years.. smiles as youth and crone at once. And this night it seems she wears not only wings wings but a crown of moon and horns as well. Smiling broadly, he holds out his hand to her and says, "My Lady, may I have the honor?"

A few turns about the sacred space - timeless yet brief - and the pair return to their places among those gathered. Deer faces Owl across the circle and waits...

...And Jess calls, “A teacher and friend is remembered. May she find rest and comfort with her Lady. May her rebirth be joyous. May her journey continue with wonder...

...Nym' had been staying to herself of late but the solace of Owls' circle seemed to breath a glint of light back into her..

A friend had sent her a Desert Rose from the sands of Iraq.. a reminder that within turmoil one could still find serenity. Placing a rosemary bundle for remembrance beside the crystallized rose, she gives her thanks and remembrance for those that have pasted.

“I bow my head
In the eye of the Mother who gave us birth,
In the eye of the Crone who guides us in wisdom,
In friendship and affection.
Through thy gift of nature, Blessed Danu,
Bestow upon us fullness in our need…”

…Pomb places a parchment scroll tied with red silk ribbon on the altar. What it contains is just a fraction of the writing of the spirit who is honored. Her writing lives on in many hearts as well as on many pages. As Pomb releases her grip on the parchment, Ellen’s words flash through their collective experience:

“Who Are the Paganfolk?”

“We are the singers of the oldest songs, followers of the ancient paths. We are children of Sun and Sea, of Earth and Sky.”

“We worship Life in all things, and we find our gods in the trees, the Sun, the Earth, the Sea, the Moon, the stars, and in ourselves. Our Mother is the Earth, in Her strength and Her fertility. She is the Sea, the sacred womb of life. She is deep space, dark and unknown. In this form and others we still adore and revere Her, and call Her Lady, Freya, Demeter, Isis, Danu, Mother, Goddess.”

“Our Father is the Sun, Life-Giver and Light-Bringer. He is the Grain and the Seed. He is the Stag - tall, strong, and virile. He is the life of the forest, the Oak, the Ash, the Thorn. In this form and others do we love and revere him, and call Him Lord, Ra, Zeus, Horned One, Cernunnos, Father, God.”

“We are the folk who celebrate the changing seasons, the phases of the moon, coming together in a circle to sing, dance, worship, and adore. Wherever we meet, we worship in the shadow of the standing stones, in the shade of the circling wood, in the presence of ancients who worshipped as we do. Our voices raised in praise are echoed by voices from the far past. We are called by many names - pantheist, sun-worshipper, nature-lover, Druid, Witch, Pagan. Some, who do not understand, have made these names into curses, and hundreds upon thousands have died because they were accused of being one of us.”

“We are the paganfolk, and we are here among you. Here, in this land; now, in this time. We live as you live, work as you work, and follow our path with the same devotion you have for yours. We do not ask that you join us, for our way may not be yours, and we have found that each finds his proper path, calls to the Name that best suits him, hears his own music. We ask only that you understand - that you cease to fear - that you allow us to live and worship as we wish - -that you give us the same freedoms your religions have, in this land born because our ancestors wished for that freedom. We ask only for what we willingly give - respect for those beliefs not your own.”

“We are the paganfolk - singers of the oldest songs, travelers of ancient paths - and we wish you joy…”

…Susanna steps forward. “Isis, your daughter is coming home. Nut, watch in the skies for the grand-daughter who adores you.”

“I offer The Book of Am Tuat, and read an adaptation from the Egyptian Book of the Dead.”

"Osiris, grant that Ellen Cannon Reed may come. She has become a khu, she has been judged, she has become a divine being, she has come, and she has avenged her own body. She has taken up her seat by the divine birth-chamber of Osiris, and she has destroyed the sickness and suffering which were there. She has become mighty, and she has become a divine being by the side of the birth-chamber of Osiris, She is brought forth with him, she renews her youth and takes possession of her two thighs which are in the place where is Osiris, and she opens the mouth of the gods therewith, Ellen takes her seat by his side, and Thoth cometh forth, and She is strengthened in heart with thousands of cakes upon the altars of her divine father..”

“Shine thou with thy beams of light upon the face of Ellen, who is victorious; for she singeth hymns of praise unto thee at dawn, and she maketh thee to set at eventide with words of adoration. May the soul of Ellen, come forth with thee into heaven, may she go forth in the Mater boat. May she come into port in the Sekter boat, and may she cleave her path among the never-resting stars in the heavens."

Closing her book, Susanna whispers, “Ellen, they're awaiting you, to bring you safely home and birth you into eternity...”

…suz steps to the altar bearing her little iron cauldron in which is fanned out her beloved witch's tarot deck. she places it on the altar and lights a charcoal burner with frankincense, myrrh and amber.

“ellen cannon reed. ellen cannon reed. ellen cannon reed. thank you for all that you have brought into my life, for your wisdom and warmth and humor. although i only met you far too briefly and hurriedly, your words have been a beacon, a comfort and a goad to me. i thank you for all three. may your passage be joyful, and the reunion with your ancestors a glorious event. you will be missed.”

slowly and quietly, suz steps back...

...Memories fill Boudica’s mind of some times with Ellen. Yelling at each other in the chat rooms cause there was a "lack" of agreement about this or that. Always.. Storming out of each others chat rooms to come back again and yell as a newbie comes into the channel looking for spells or a shortcut for something or other.

Then there were the moments when Ellen was brilliant, doing what she did the best.. teach. She would impart her wisdom with the impact of a two by four and the brightness of a star going nova. She knew her stuff and she did what she did best.. teach.

Then there was sitting together at the bar at Between the Worlds, all drinking and having a good time. Talking in the hallways at BBMMDC. Sitting back in the chat channels and talking about Pagan Song Books, and "New Age is gar-baaaaaage". A woman with an attitude, she didn't care what you thought, she had what she knew and that was good enough for her.

Boudica looks back at the altar. She starts again.. and then stops. Ellen was sooooo Egyptian. She was "Egyptian Wicca". Someone else mentioned the Egyptian Deities. That would be more appropriate..

Raising her arms she calls upon the Deities she is most familiar with.

"Great Goddess Hathor, one of your daughters has come home. Walk with her between the reeds and lead her to cool waters in the evening. Give her honey wine and bread warm from the oven. A comfortable chair and a cool breeze.

May the God Toth find your heart lighter than the feather and find a special place for you to shine from the heavens...

...Owl holds out her hands to friends gathered round. “Mourning often takes words from our thoughts, and leaves us still.. quiet..”

Owl thinks of those who have passed over.. Our beloved Abe, who waited for the Solstice Moon.. Ellen, who waited for the Full Moon of October.. and for others who have touched our lives and gone on ahead of us Owl remembers a song, written by Ellen, way back in 1985.. and sings out for all those who have passed,

“Come, come, walk with me
Across a silent silver sea
To a place where we
Will always be
Touched by the love of the Lady.”

“The silver moon is full tonight
Our Lady manifest in light
And her beams hurry down
In gentle flight
To carry the love of the Lady.”

“There is no room for sadness here
So leave behind all hate and fear
Open up your heart
And feel her near
And live in the love of the Lady...”

…Running late.. having just finished a 5K Race for the Cure.. Quietwaters joins those gathered..

.. thinking of those who have passed.. those who have survived..

Quietly, with tears in her eyes and a strange sense of joy in her heart (leftover energy from the race, she imagines), she joins hands with those next to her...

...Jess silently offers her petition: “Blessed ones please give me a sign that my son is at peace now…”

…And Owl reminds us all of another of Ellen’s many contributions. “While browsing through ‘Pagansong’, a book compiled by Ellen Cannon Reed, I noticed the last song in the book was written by Ellen herself. It's fitting that we share these words. I don't remember seeing this one before, but if I did, it didn't stay with me, until now.

“Blessed be every step that you take.
Blessed be every morning you wake
And blessed be all that you do
As I have been blessed know you.
Blessed be, by the Sun and the Moon
And may we join our hands again soon.
May the Lady watch over each sister and brother
May love flow between you and me.
Till we meet again, blessed be!”

Owl looks about the group. “That says it all, I think.. Blessed Be…”

…Nivasi watches..

As the moon envelopes Deer & Owl in her warm embrace.
Leaving the circle without a trace.
Singing along into the night
Awaiting the next Full Moon Rite...

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"Blessed Be!"
Ellen Cannon Reed © 1985

“Who Are the Paganfolk?”
Ellen Cannon Reed © 1993