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

As Peg is driving the short distance from her home to the Dutch barn, site of this Full Moon Ritual, she is worrying that some might be put off by the snow showers and blustery winds, and not show up. She thinks a bit, chuckles, and chides herself for the thought. Those who have committed will come! Peg pulls in to the driveway and notices smoke coming out of the chimney atop the barn. “Oh my”, she thinks. “Something’s up!”

Peg approaches the old Dutch barn in the Town of Guilderland, New York, on the site of a working farm. The barn shelters the sheep and goats that are raised here on this land. The stalls line the outer walls, leaving the vast center available for our gathering. May it be that we witness birthing on this night!

She retrieves from the ‘Crone van' some additional items for the Ritual – potting soil, various packets of seeds, seedling trays, her deer antler rack and the "magic fire stick" for lighting the candles. Huffing and puffing, she carries these things into the barn. “Wow! It’s warm in here”. Peg then hears the low animal noises. She drops the stuff near the altar and rushes to the stalls. Mama Ewe has birthed a lamb! And Daddy Ram is looking so proud! After cooing and ‘oohing’, she moves to the next stall. Nanny has birthed a kid and “Billy” stands guard! How beautiful it is to see the babes. Peg settles herself near the stalls to wait for the folks to arrive, and for the Ritual to begin - starting with… East. This FMR will be about New Beginnings, rejoicing in the return of the Sun, discarding those things in our lives that are old and useless with an ultimate focus on World Peace.

There is ample parking, and although there will be an outside light leading the way to the front barn door - the interior will be in relative darkness. As folks enter, the only interior light will be from over the far door that leads to the farmhouse. Against a wall near that door, a table has been placed to hold any refreshments that the participants wish to share. As folks gather, and their sight adjusts to the dim light, they will see an altar set up in the middle of the barn. The Altar table is covered with a snowy white cloth, crossed with a green satin runner.

On the Altar is a five-branched silver candelabra with five white candles, to be lit, one by one, as folks call/honor/invoke North, South, East, West, Unity. On either side of the candelabra is a crystal candlestick - each holding a yellow candle - one for the God and one for the Goddess. Also on the Altar are: white sage for smudging, white narcissus flowers, a clear crystal goblet of fresh white goat's milk, and fresh white goat cheese. On the ground nearby are candles to be consecrated for the coming year, and Peg's herbal gardening tools for consecration. It is Peg's hope and wish that others will bring candles and gardening tools for consecration also. She has planned the focus for this moon to be the Returning Sun, New Beginnings, and World Peace…

…It had been far too many years since Nym visited these Mountains…the smell of hay and autumn apples still stored away brought back memories of childhood.

Nym' approached the Altar and faced the East as a soothing wind begins to blow through the barn doors. Three nights ago she had selected special seeds… some for new beginnings, some for inspiration and others for compassion. On that night she placed the seeds in a blessing bowl and walked sunwise 3 times around sprinkling them with sacred rainwater. Those seeds now rest in the palm of her hand.

From the pocket of her woolen cloak appears a new boline Nym' places this tool to be consecrate with the tools Peg set out. "May this blade enjoy bountiful harvest from the seeds we sow here."

After lighting the first candle Nym' brings the handful of seeds to her heart. "I sow the seeds in the name of the ones that give it life. I will place myself at the will of the winds and throw a gracious handful high. Every seed will root as the Elements and High Ones desire. Faoi bhrat Bbhride sinn!" (May you be under Brigit's mantle!)

Extending her hand, palm up, to the night sky she breathes deep on the frosty air. "Spirits of the East, spirits that move with the zephyr, May your inspiration and compassion join us… Breezes of change….gusts of inspiration, We seek your aid in this time of new beginnings. Into your care we place these seeds." A sudden gust lifts the handful of seeds from her palm and plays with them upon the wind. "May the will of the common good be in your hands. Hail and Welcome!"

As Nym' returns to her place a Lunar Moth settles in near the candles and Nym' whispers to herself, "So Mote It Be…"

…Shari arrives at the farm in her trusty Cruiser- always amazed at how willing to go through the snow she is. As she steps inside, the warmth of the barn and sweet scent of the animals are welcome relief from the bitter cold. Taking a moment to adjust to the light, she approaches the altar, where she places a seedling dragon's blood plant that she clipped from the one at her sister's last fall. A small hand rake is placed beside the plant, along with an incense holder with frankincense and dragon's blood incense- hand blended by a dear friend. She lights the incense, and facing south, speaks softly.

“Wise ones of the south- hear our call. You bring the promise of new life- the warmth of spring sure to come. The fires of creativity and passion burn bright.. come and lend us your light, inspire us, ignite our imaginations and our spirits.”

“Hail and welcome!..”

…Peg quietly moves to the Altar and lights the second candle for South…

…Fern finds her way around the barn in the near dark, adding her stuff to the food on the table. She's just happy that she got there AFTER the births - she prefers the 'miracle of life' in theory to live/messy/in her face!

She hears the wonderful evocations of the others, and steps forward in her turn, facing West and lighting the candle there.

"Deep Ones, we call to You! You, who flow in our veins, our arteries, You, flow moderated by Heart! Come to this Circle, Fill it with the strength you bring, The power to wear away stones, the medium in which life started."

"Spirits of West, Hail and Welcome!.."

…Sharon, wearing a gray wool cloak, approaches the altar. On it she sets a small bundle of fleece and a comb for preparing wool for spinning. These represent the beginnings of projects she expects to finish by this year's Yule - hand spun, knitted sweaters for her family. Then she greets the fleece-bearing animals present and thanks them for their gifts of warmth and comfort. She lights the candle and faces North.

"O Guardian of the North, foundation of our earth, we welcome You this night and invite You to join in our celebration of new events and beginnings. As we start afresh, remind us of our roots in the past and in the earth. Keep us grounded even as we fly aloft with incandescent joy!"

Sharon steps back, making way for…

…Jess, who moves to the center of the circle.

"I know tonight is Brigid's night. Imbolc is her time to quicken the seed in her belly. I do not know this lady well. I know my own mother, whose name is Birgitta. I know her as the woman who carried me, who gave birth to me, who fed me wonderful foods, who nurtured my mind and soul, who encouraged me to discover my own being.”

"I know this woman who gave the same gifts to my sister and my brother. I watched as she sacrificed for her children. I watched her in sorrow and in joy.”

"I know you, Brigid. For you are my mother."

Jess steps back in the circle and awaits Red Deer's call…

…Deer moves - or is pushed, he can't tell which - to their circle's center.

Opening his mouth to speak, the first sound out is a scream. Then, after a pause for breath, he tries again. "I know this is not a Father's night. It is a Mother's. And a Son's. Yet it is a night of huge transition. Tonight we are certain that the young Light grows stronger. Tonight we witness births all around us. But for a Son, this night is not one of joy. It is one of deprivation - removed from the surety of warmth and plenty in his Mother's womb and not yet certain the She will continue to provide all the love and nurture She has before. A magical night to be sure, for both Mother and observer. But for the Son? One of the pain of separation.. the cold of the world outside the only universe he's experienced his entire existence.. the ache of unused lungs struggling with unaccustomed work."

Deer slowly reaches toward the table and lifts the Goddess' candle from its crystal candlestick. He holds it high above the candelabra, centered above the unity candle, and waits - breathless - until it catches flame. Moving it toward the God's candle, he whispers, "Mother, cradled in Your womb I felt the certainty of a universe which revolved around only me. Help me to accept, to feel and to know - whatever vagaries I may perceive in life - that truth remains the same."

Quietly, Deer returns the Goddess' candle to its place, and himself to his…

…Peg has been pondering, between the calls, just why she included a part for Unity in this FMR. She knows that she has experienced, and contributed to, lots of bickering, and hissing and pissing in her many online groups – and in routine daily life. Not good – no unity. Unbidden, the image of the Darwin fish comes to mind. From that first bit of matter that was the beginning of all life forms on Gaia, Mother Earth, our fragile island home – we are all related. We experience the inter-connectedness of all life every day. A paraphrase of her usual signature line on letters comes to mind: :Many paths – one beginning – we are all related.”

Peg approaches the center of the Circle, carrying a globe of our planet Earth. "Look! This is our community! Our global community! We have summoned the Directions and the Elementals, and The Lord and The Lady are with us! May we all find in our hearts and minds the dignity and courage to embrace all life forms as our brothers and sisters. May we all be moved to work together for tolerance and understanding in our worldwide communities - Pagan/Heathen and mundane. May we all commit ourselves to supporting Global Peace and Harmony." She approaches the altar and sets the globe on the ground in front of it. She whispers "Thank You" - as she sees a glow within the globe. “So Mote It Be!..”

…Nym' knew what the calendar said but in her heart she had not been able to resolve that Imbolc was almost here. The frigid cold and lack of a January thaw combined with her longing for her first born grandson now living so far away had placed her spirit in a numbing state, yet when she awoke early this morning she simply knew that in spite of all Brigit had indeed arrived.

A new spark of passion, a new burning desire had reemerged within…..she felt it to her core.

Nym' returned to the altar Peg had so beautifully set and from a bag at her hip emerged 3 candles, one white, one red, one silver. Each gleaming with oil as runes spiraled down their side. Next came a bronze plate etched with the tree of life spreading it branched above while it's roots dug deep…..connected by the body between.

From between her breasts she drew a nine-inch length of yarn spun at the Winters Solstice, nine times knotted. Under the new moon before Yule Nym' had bathed, in vervain, fresh fleece to be spun into two balls of yarn at the Solstice. The zigzag pattern of this length told its intent!

Holding the yarn high Nym' released it… allowing it to fall where it may as the Gods desired.

"This is a time of life, of transformation. A passing from Maiden / Mother to Crone and Wisdom. I light this first candle in honor of the wonder and innocence of maidenhood. I light the next for the blood of life that has ceased to flow, for the labors ended in new life, for the joy of my children and future generations. A time of fertility, renewal and growth. I light the third for the time I have entered. A time of understanding and strength, a time of lessons learned, a time of knowledge that success and failures are stepping stones on an unknown course, steps of growth and trust, steps of wisdom. We are changers and yet we change. I bow my head to the maiden that taught me joy, To the Mother that taught me love, and to the Crone that teaches me wisdom."

The wax from the lighting taper had been dripping through out and Nym' noted the result. The length of yarn she had dropped had come to rest full circle like a serpent coiled back upon itself, bound by the wax.

Nym' moved back to her place in the circle, smiling to herself at the sudden warmth. She knew that, at least this time, it wasn't just another hot flash, but warmth brought on by the caring and combined spirit of all gathered here tonight. Nym' stops to hug Peg and thank her for this beautiful ritual…

…Rosemary has been waiting quietly, not something that comes easily to her. “Help me to pull it all back together,” is her petition.

…Nym' returns to the altar and places a bundle of lavender and a bloodstone among the candles. "For Caileen… Slainte mhor agus a h-uile beannachd duibh"

She also places a large pot of her favorite flowers. “Mother may these daisies serve as a reminder of spring around the corner… May warmth and sunshine be close behind…”

…Quietly walking up to the altar from the shadows Daingneach Ruiadh places a small bundle of braided yarn on it and whispers "Thank you for my finding my new home and giving me hope." Then walks back to the shadows and watches feeling very humble…

…Deer returns to the altar table, two lengths of woven satin in his hands. As he places it upon the green runner, at the foot of the God's candle, he asks, "Father, accept the gift of my honors cords from my last UNC Gradation. And shepherd Jessica into becoming the Tar Heel she wants to be." Quietly, Deer retakes his place among the circle and watches…

…Those gathered here have witnessed the Croning of Nym, a most beautiful self-affirmation. We have listened intently to the petitions and thanksgivings, giving our support and energies. There is stillness, a sense of expectation in the air. Softly, in the background, the low sounds of the little ones are heard. Peg slowly approaches the altar and raises her arms skyward.

"Dear Lord and Lady – we thank you for your presence here tonight, and for Your love. Stay if You will – go if You must."

Facing East – "Powers and energies of East – we thank you for your presence and your inspiration for our New Beginnings. Stay if you will – go if you must."

Facing South – "Powers and energies of South – we thank you for your presence and the fiery energy to accomplish the changes in our lives. Stay if you will – go if you must."

Facing West – "Powers and energies of West – we thank you for your presence. May we all be mindful of your connection with water – that which binds us together. Stay if you will – go if you must."

Facing North – "Powers and energies of North – we thank you for your presence. May our feet be firmly planted in the earth, to support us on the paths we have chosen this night. Stay if you will – go if you must."

Peg extinguishes all the candles except the one for Unity. She will stand guardian and will watch until…

"The Circle is open, but never broken. Merry Meet, Merry Part, Merry Meet Again"