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

Pomb was lucky to find this spot, just a little south of the snowstorm, a field that's just barely frosted, not enough to be slippery, with parking a short walk away. There's plenty of open space for the huge tree and plant spirits to manifest, just for a night or two, while we hold them in our hearts, she thinks.

Out of the wagon she's pulling she takes a bag of small votives and holders, placing them in a circle in the snow. In the center she places a tiny cone, a small seed holder from which will grow an enormous centerpiece for our ritual, to be decorated with our hopes and dreams (and boasts).

The field is surrounded by woods, each tree spirit unique and wild, now quiet, some slumbering, some watching, some laboring steadily, deep within their roots or trunks, some simply waiting, some sheltering.

In this time, Pomb feels so many demands and expectations. In the morning when she runs, she feels such gratitude for the trees she passes. When her breath is getting short, she thanks them for their oxygen, and breathing gets easier again. She wants to learn their ways of stillness, their ability to breathe in and take in all that is around them and then to breathe out healing and essential elements, easily and naturally. They give and take in every second, with grace and without demand and expectation. They take, they give, they live. Even when they fall, the cycle never stops, and in giving to the earth, they live on.

Our circle on this full moon is surrounded by living trees, enclosing our magic and ensuring our safety. Let those spirits of the living trees that wish to join us come into the circle with us and take our praise and joy and humor and give their own gifts..

The circle is cast, and as the sharp winter sun sends its last rays slicing over the horizon in the west, a figure approaches the east of the circle.. Owl steps into the circle of votive lights, and breathes in the scents of the land. With a smile and warm hug, she greets Pomb, and thanks her for arranging this beautiful site...

...Stepping to the East, Owl takes a slim wand from her cloak and holds it aloft. The wand is very strong. It is made of three willow branches braided together, and banded at the base with a copper wire that has been worked with Celtic knots, and a Spiral closure.

Owl shakes the wand gently, then holds it tightly in both hands as the tip of the wand begins to sprout long leafy branches.. as the wand grows, it would seem that Owl has become the trunk of the tree, while above her, bending and flowing back to the ground, are the long, delicate leaved arms of the weeping willow tree.

Owl feels the roots of the tree spreading deep into the earth. She begins to sway, lifting and tossing the slender branches into a dance around her.. enticing, cajoling,..

Owl calls out: "Guardians of the East, Element of Air, join with us this Esbat. You who carve the face of the Earth with your constancy. You who cool the hot days of summer. You who rage through the bitter winters. I give you the Willow, who bends and sways and dances in the airs swirling round her. Anchored in the Earth, the Willow and I invite you to dance with joy in this circle.

Hail and Welcome!”

As the wind rushes in and lifts the Willow branches in a dance of joy.. Owl turns back to center and waits...

…Jess opens her cloak with a rustle of taffeta (why I lined it with taffeta, I'll never know). Sheltered in its depths is a small magnolia sitting, patiently, in a plastic pot. It's too cold to plant this southern belle in the ground! Instead, Jess cradles the pot in her arms. She ignores the cascade of loose soil leaking from the pot.

"Hail, Spirit of the South. Infuse us with the patience of years. Spread your dark limbs over us with whispers of warm breezes.” She gently strokes the waxy, dark green leaves.

She returns the pot to the recesses of her warm cloak and returns her attention to the center of the circle…

...Doreen steps out the of circle carrying an apple that she picked with her beloved over a month ago at a local orchard.

She pulls her cloak around her tightly to guard against the blustery winter weather. She gets most of her warmth from the smiles and encouraging looks from the people in the circle - those that she knows personally and those that she knows online.

She explains that apples are a symbol of the Otherworld to the Celts and Avalon means "Isle of Apples".

"Spirits of the West - Over nine waves you have come to be with us. Join us today in our Yule circle. Cleanse and purify us like water rushing in a mountain stream. Help us forge new beginnings and remind us of the joy, love and compassion of this holy season. Remind us to play like the dolphins in the ocean and dance like the white capped waves on the sea. Spirits of the West, Blessings and Welcome!”

Doreen leaves the apple on the altar, to be eaten after the ritual for whatever wild creatures wish to enjoy it.

She then quietly (for once) steps back into the circle with her beloved and her friends…

...and Deer, who shivers a bit in the cold but drops his doe skin cloak never-the-less, moves to the northern quadrant to the accompaniment of icy bells. He holds close to his heart a bough of mistletoe, nearly wrist thick at its base and forming a globular shape over a foot in diameter and bearing if one pale white berry a thousand. Holding it aloft, Deer calls:

"I bear the tree which is no tree.. the small doer of great deeds.. the one which belongs to the wheel but not to the year. Here in the north I raise up the one tree whose roots never touch mother earth except as they are transmitted through a host, for mistletoe forms the very antlers of other trees. In the cold midwinter, I feel its strength reaching through me down into the slumbering earth. Awakening that which lies beneath this counterpane of snow. And together, we invite the earth spirits - sand, soil and rock. Our foundations, shifting or solid. Our depths. Our predecessors. Be with us now and ward our circle.”

After a moments reflection, Deer leaves the mistletoe by the northern candle, dons his cloak and watches as...

...Boudica moves to the center of the circle.

From under her cloak she pulls an acorn. It is from a huge old gnarled oak tree that stands on her property. He is a great tree, thick, strong.. a mighty oak indeed.

She places it on the altar and her memory wanders.. As she feels herself leaning on that old tree her feet dig deep into the earth, her arms reach into the sky with that old tree, outstretched high towards the sun. She feels his bark against her skin. She feels the spring rains, the summer suns and winter winds, year after year, as He stands strong against the elements and time.

She shares space with the Old Oak, melding herself with Him, remembering the passing of the seasons. We are in yet another winter, but this too will pass and we will grow older but stronger.

For all the winds and cold, there is but warmth and love here.

She speaks to those gathered in the circle.. We call upon the God of the Oak to come join us this Moon. Come lend your strength and wisdom to our group. Dance with us this Moon and make merry. Bless us with your love..

Boudica returns to herself, still feeling the warmth and beauty of the God who now stands with them in the circle.

She turns and waits for the calling of the Goddess...

...letting the sheltering warmth of the oak tree's spirit fill her own limbs, Pomb moves toward the center of the circle.

"Goddess who dwells deep within the earth, Goddess who dwells high within the moon, Goddess who lives in roots and trunk and limb and tiniest leaf, as the year turns, gently awaken your children, all in good time, all in good time.. ever living, ever green. Give us a glimpse of our awakening in this coming year, a look at how we will change and grow and manifest..” She steps back as a shape darker than the darkness whirls at the center of the circle. Wider and longer as it spins and grows and changes. It holds at its center all the darkness of the long night and at its shimmering tips all the light of the full moon. It is a huge blue-green spruce, rooted deeply in the earth, reaching high into the sky, a strong, bright, living cone of power, rich with healing and invigorating scent. “The tree is ready to receive whatever gifts, offerings, petitions we'd like to offer...”

...The first three acorns found this fall rested in a knot of gold at Nym's throat. The ancestors called strongly to her in this place, a dwelling of memory.. memories of the land, memories of the hearts around her.. memories of the life force that runs through all.

She places a seedling in honor of the Ancestors.. "Duir, Old Knobbey, they will someday call you. When I am longer and my dreams are no more, my passion and honor will live on in your core. You are the door to the three worlds”

The White Oak is of the ancients and those yet to be, branches reaching the light while it's root dig into the dark of the earth.. a stability that giving life.

Above and below it limbs spread, holding the secrets of the past entwined with the promise of things yet to be.. a reminder of the unending cycle of life. The roots given us by those gone before, it's branches the continuum of their lives and dreams providing us shelter. A poem comes to Nym, its author unknown:

Twilight falls, soft velvet blue
I light my lamp and dream of you
You're safe at home son in your care
Whilst I run wild, night wind in my hair.
Oak trees and candlelight
Old gods and new.
With harp and green velvet
Elm, ash and yew.
Sing to the night birds, and sing to the fox.
In the field of cut corn, on a bed of fresh moss.
Moon drifts, sails 'cross night sky
I dreamed I was here, and now I know why.
Dream dances real, as the wind through his strings,
Calls to my harp and Uriel sings.
Oak trees and candlelight,
Old gods and new
With harp and blue muslin
Elm, ash and yew.
Sing to the badgers, sing to the owl
'Neath the arch of the oak, near no human soul.
Time past, morning draws nigh
Sky painted violet, I leave with a sigh.
Harp on my back, and joy in my heart
Return to my love, each day a new start.
Oak trees and candlelight
Old gods and new
With harp and white linen
Elm, ash and yew.
Sing to my husband, sing to my son,
Loves of my life, and a day new begun...

...Tina apologizes in advance for the short and to the point petition - not very eloquent right now..

"May the itchies & ouchies be gone! May we have the answer to the unknown question. Thank you!”

A quick thanks to everyone for their well wishes.. I'm back to sleep in a few minutes and am not sure when I'll be back online - only hear b/c hubby had the wireless nearby and I happened to be awake. The pox are slowly on their way out, hopefully I've experienced the worse.. Jess did not know I originally went to the doc for another reason - the 4th fever in the past month, with pain in right rib, ovaries and left side between belly button and side.. I am still waiting for test results from doctor - preliminary results look fine, but they are waiting on cultures. My guts tell me (literally) it's intestinal.. no normal bowl movement since early Nov. Doc questioned any travel.. quite a bit of international in '98 and I ate local food and occasionally drank local water, especially for hot drinks. Parasitic maybe? At this point I hope that's what it is, so I can address it and be done with it.. I don't want this to be a guessing game.

I am in fairly good spirits though, and am looking at all of this as a release, renew experience (rest, recoup, rebuild).

Thanks again everyone.. off to bed I go.. Blessings to everyone…

...Adrianna steps towards the huge Spruce in the center.. love the smell of the evergreens at this time of year! She pulls a black velvet bag out of the folds of her cloak and wraps the folds of cloak closed again around her. Really feeling the cold this Solstice! Dress-up wear for Circle this night is thick knit sweater, warm slacks, and legwarmers pulled up as far as they will go.. She begins to put glittering stars among the sheltering branches of the tree.. one for each of the many, many people in our group both here now, and those only met through the words and memories of others. A little fey help to get some of the stars to where they need to go. As she moves around the tree, she hums and softly sings words of blessing for each.. that each may release to the Mother what needs to go.. and then all the wonders of new wishes and dreams. Releasing the song like a sigh on the wind, she blows kisses to accompany the blessings of this full moon and the happiness of Solstice.. It flows and swirls to become one with the natural world.. one with the other.. she can see it swirling into the wind to wrap around all gathered and swirl ever wider and higher.. Brightest Blessings…

...Typo steps forward, its been awhile since he has been amongst his friends here at the FMR and he basks in the friendship of those here. He walks up to the beautiful tree and stares at the old tree for a moment and wonders how many winters this old tree has seen come and go. Typo, holding a small pentacle in his hand that once belonged to Carielle, begins to dig at the base of the old tree and buries the pentacle. "Lord and Lady I offer this symbol to release Carielle's spirit from me and me from her, with the coming season I am renewed in your light, I am stronger for the lessons you have taught me.” Typo then steps back and removes a small piece of paper from his flowing black robe with the Moffitt Cancer Center logo on it. "Mother, Father, I do not ask for your strength to fight my battle with my illness, I ask you to help me find my own and I ask you to help Rosemary with the same as we fight the same fight. for only true strength can come from within.” Typo then hangs the paper on the tree and steps back and waits...

...and Deer takes the center of their circle. The beautiful spruce he hugs mightily, making sure to rub it in all the right places so that doe skin and deer skin will come away with heavy doses of fragrant resin. Then, from within his cloak, Deer removes a sterling silver star. It's five inches high and has six points, but is not David's. Rather and ornament based on Frank Lloyd Wright's luxfer prism, with a point to each of the sacred directions - East, South, West, North, Below and Above. As he hangs the star high as his arms will reach, Deer whispers a request onto the night wind. "Lady, Lord.. in the coming year I ask justice for the children.. in Iraq.. in Texas.. wherever they are in need. Justice without mercy to those who harm little people. And compassionate, caring repose for the ones who have been abused - most especially those abused in the name of God.”

Deer steps back to his place and watches as...

...Owl reaches out and touches the branches of the beautiful Blue Spruce as though shaking hands with an old friend. She breathes deeply, and lets the scent fill her lungs, feeling the tickle in her nose, and the taste of the tree on her tongue. Ducking under the branches, she stands silently in the sheltered midst, and there she leaves a small compass, an arrow, a feather, and a rattle. “I start a new journey this year, dear friend.. help me feel the your roots when I am lost.” Stepping out from under the tree, Owl looks up at the moon..

“Mother, Father, aid me on my journey.. you know how important this is.. I trust you to guide me on the right path. Owl returns to Circle and waits...

...From the outer circle Rosemary echoes Owl's welcome. She also waits for guidance and hopes there may be a hint for her when Owl receives her guidance. And to Typo, she whispers, “Thank you. I will visit Abe's tree and tell him also…”

...Deer returns to the majestic spruce which shimmers in the late mists. "An additional petition, if I may be so bold. A colleague, and the best friend of a best friend is currently in critical condition after surgery. Lynn is in my cauldron at Sylvia's request. And I bring her name here for healing as well. So mote it be!”

As quickly as he'd come, Deer moves back to his place in the circle of friends and waits...

...as the petitions and offerings, spoken and unspoken, fill the tree, Pomb feels a lightening in her heart and an ease in her limbs. She looks around and sees that many others there are feeling the same. Even in the time of the longest night, the seed of the next season is deep within. She closes her eyes and sends a final petition that the pine's strength can help those who need healing now.. and thanks for all the miracles she's asked for and received, every day. "Go if you must and stay if you will, tree spirits.. let us help you find the best places to set your roots and grow as you help us with your healing breath..” She takes the hand of the one next to her and begins to lead a dance widdershins around the pine. As those gathered begin to warm themselves in the dance or by clapping hands watching, the darkness in the center of the circle intensifies, until there is nothing but night air between the shimmering stars that once hung in the trees branches. The stars themselves glow like embers, then fade as a greater star begins to show itself in the east. All that is left is the sweet sharp scent of growing things. "The circle is open, but unbroken. Merry meet, and merry part, and merry meet again!..”

“And now it's time for breakfast -- who brought the chocolate coffee creamer?”