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

A cool night under Carolina skies finds Deer keeping company with the old, split-trunked oak he calls "Grandfather." Tonight a stark skeleton with the first hints of softening as myriad buds swell at the terminus of each limb. Deer watches as wisps of cloud float across the heavens – background to Grandfather's shape and foreground to the stars and moon. Hunkering down near the bole, Deer waits until all have gathered. Then he moves among them – following the path defined by Grandfather – to limn their ritual space. Round and about the craggy bole he traces a path, at times following roots clearly visible in the moonlight, at times following shadows cast by the moon from boughs above. Deer continues, his feet weaving many twists and turns and upon completion of his second weaving an intricate knot seems to emerge on in the soft leaf-mold. He completes a third weaving and their ritual space for the moon is clearly determined. The cool air near the old oak is virtually electric, and Deer imagines blue fire arcing through his hair as he turns to Fern and listens…

…Fern watched silently as the Deer nimbly went three times around the pixilated circle. As he finished, she circled Grandfather Tree herself, and called out: "Deep Ones, Hear us on this full moon night. Grandfather Tree's roots delve into your physical realm - here into the thin top soil, into the clay, into the gravel. He knows of the waters of the earth, the rocks, the bedrock. I'm sure He even knows of the deep heat center of the Earth. You who hold the knowledge of the past, join us here tonight! The waters of the earth come from the long past, yet they burst forth into streams and rivers and oceans, using the past to define the now and carve out the future.” "Our ancestors, of body, spirit, and mind, have joined Y'all below. Yet they, too, keep helping define the present and create the future. They, too, we invite to the circle tonight.” "Spirits Below - Blessings and Welcome!" Everyone assembled echoes Fern's final line, and she turns to smile at Caillen…

…Cailean smiles back at Fern and steps forward. First she approaches Red Deer and, with his permission, hangs about his neck a lei of the roses and lilies and other wild flowers already blooming back home in California. "A reminder that Spring has arrived and Mother Earth brings forth Her glory and beauty," she whispers in his ear. Stepping back to the center of the Circle, she looks up, contemplating Old Grandfather Oak for a few minutes. She's a bit hesitant as this is rather different than most rituals. But after a few minutes, she feels the Spirits moving about her. "Those About us, Wind, Grass, Trees, Fae Ones, Mother, Father, and especially you, venerated Grandfather, I hear you. Let us remember each and every day that we are surrounded by magick, the magick of life, of love, yes, even the magick of pain and trials. Let us see the wonder of the world about us -- that which our eyes can see and that which our eyes cannot." "Spirits of About -- Blessings and Welcome!" Cailean turns to Jess, gives her a big hug and moves back to her place…

…Jess steps forward, trailing a long scarf of mottled blue, white, and beige (thanks, Coll!). She raises her arms above her, hands spread wide. "As above, so below. We each have the power to reach up and out and touch that which is above us. 'Man's reach should exceed his grasp, else what is Heaven for?' "Spirits of the Above, let us touch you, just at the edge of our reach." She lowers her arms, bows her head slightly, and returns to her place…

…Adrianna sits almost invisibly within the roots of the tree, listening to the flow of the callings. Watching as both humans and spirits gather to blend within the energies of this Full Moon. Here and there the Ancestors, who have something to give to one or another of those who stand within the embrace of Moonlight and Tree, walk out of the mists to become part of the magick this night. The blue mist thickens. The night throbs low.. audibly.. as the energy builds. From out of the mists, a Lady steps hesitantly.. breathtakingly beautiful.. heartbreakingly innocent.. yet heart searching for someone She knows completes the other half of Her Being. As She steps within the Circle, Her glowing light reaches out to surround each one, encircling them, and rekindling Her freshness and beauty, and young innocence in every being gathered.. young.. old.. human form or not. There is a low, collective sigh as the all-possibility.. all love.. all passion to be awakened.. fertility still contained within.. lightness of New life Awakening.. fills the hearts and minds, and bodies of those privileged to be within this space.. this particular moment. It fills, and floods, and spills over to flow into the Earth, envelope the land, invade the Grandfather Tree, then spreads upwards to join with the beautiful Full Moon, the Night Sky, and all Universal Potential. From almost within the shadows of the Tree, the Young Lord steps. How did He stay hidden with that virile young body in perfect form? His fierce beauty.. radiating heat and as yet innocent, but knowledgeable Desire? He has been watching The Lady, who hasn't yet seen Him.. drinking in Her beauty with delight.. Knowing She is His, even if She hasn't realized He is what She seeks.. does not yet understand the coming into physical form His energy provides.. the firing spark. For yet this little while, He must treat her gently, with courtly manners, gifting Her with flowers, birdsong, and the small delights of the unseen and natural worlds.. teach Her to know Him. As their energies entwine, intune, and blend, He will teach Her of the total release into total joy, orgasm, and splendor coming soon with the awakening of Spring. For now, the Beginning. He feels capable of all things because of Her.. Intuitively aware, He knows She is the other half of Him.. and knows at this moment what He needs to do! He steps away from the shadows and becomes visible to Her. A slight blush stains Her cheek as She catches His look and the intensity of His Gaze.. He stirs all kinds of unknown feelings and desires. He holds out His arms to invite Her to dance.. His gaze never leaving Her eyes. She feels more beautiful than anything in Earth and Sky as She moves into His hold. He feels the most gifted of any being as He enfolds all Heaven and Earth within His embrace. Together They begin the Dance, building energies to be fully released with the ripening of May. They trace the pattern of Deer's Celtic knot, the binding of eternal energies which create all things.. the Beginnings of Sacred Dance, promising the potential of Sacred marriage to come.. already a fusing of Their energies filling and invigorating the souls and lives of all gathered.. raising a pulse-beat.. building towards what is to come.. for this moment still the potential of all that may become. As They dance, entwined within each other's arms.. adoring.. smiling.. love building and spilling into each other's eyes and hearts.. that Divine Love, with all its potential, filling all those here. They begin to fade into the mists of Blue Fire. All lean towards their disappearing forms.. not yet! Not willing to let go yet.. please, not yet! Almost a trace of sadness in letting go of that haunting promise of Beauty. Wait! It is still beating.. still beating within heart and soul.. to burst into full song with the fullness of Spring.. and grow into the steadiness of Forever Connection. “Blessed Be!” Adrianna sits back, flooded with ‘thank you’s’, and tears. No way could she have called the young Goddess and God.. whatever Their names. They came to bless and empower all with Their Presence and the Power of young, beginning Love. Instead of ‘calling’, this Full Moon was gifted with the Veil brushed aside for a moment out of time. For a time, we shared with the Gods! Adrianna looks to Deer for what to do with all of this. No way to speak...

…Deer leans - speechless and breathless - into Grandfather's supporting trunk. "From the oh, so simple opening I began after requesting a rather unusual set of callings for this moon has arisen a most amazing ritual," he thinks. Still unable to leave the balance the tree provides him, he silently thanks and hugs (in his mind's eye at least) Fern, Cailean, Jess, and Adrianna for reminding him of the power - always around and within us - which is sometimes made more obvious by the unusual…

…Jess quietly offers, “Grandfather, I have two requests. One for me and one for someone in my care.” “Maeve will be spayed on Thursday. Please clear a path for her to live a long and happy life with the gentlemen who can care for her despite her FIV+ status.” “For myself, I'm treading a path that is entirely new to me. I do not ask for intervention or smooth sailing the whole way. I only ask that my eyes and ears be open, that I be honest with myself and with others, and that they are honest and open with me. Thank you!..”

…Nym places a leather painting at the foot of the Grandfather. "Grandfather these were noble, mystical people….. May your branches extent to shelter and protect their ancestors from the ignorance of those that do not understand their culture, those that lookdown on the lack of material things and those that come to their lands only for their own pleasure. The roots of these people are deep, their spirit strong …the joy and laughter in their hearts enduring!

…As Deer's head clears, he realizes that both Jess and Nym have already offered petitions and he welcomes all else who would do so to join in. From the red honeysuckle which entwines Grandfather's base, Deer retrieves one of the brightly colored silk ribbons he'd placed there earlier. On the ribbon, he scribes thanks for the wisdom which has led Jessica to Appalachian State for her undergraduate work in forensic chemistry. He knows it will be difficult to send her so far from home for school. And he knows that this is as it should be. Finished with his petition, Deer ties the length of green silk about a low hanging limb and watches for others to follow suit...

…Cailean steps forward once more. She places seashells at the base of Grandfather Oak. "My friend, one who was caring for me through my illness so diligently (whether I wanted her to or not), now finds herself facing lifelong illness. Help me help her through her rough times as she has helped me. Keep her strong in body, mind and soul." Returning to her space, Cailean stops to hug Nym and whisper, "I want to hear all about the dolphins!.."

…Adrianna leans over from her spot within the roots of Grandfather Tree to place a bit of tobacco and herbs, with a crystal tucked inside. Scents of rose, jasmine, and sandalwood mix with the rest, from the incense she lights and puts within a safe container, for the protection of the Grandfather and the Elder grasses of the last year. “Grandfather, and Others, I don't understand completely what You sent through for us this ritual, or even why You felt we were worthy. I recognize it was a Gift. May we use the blessing to fire and activate our dreams. May we grow what we need in gratitude and Wisdom. Help me to see my Doors and Path with those who come.” She leans back to hold the Tree. Even that is not enough! So she turns to embrace Grandfather totally. "Thank you Deer for sharing! I was hoping you had the wisdom to know what happened. And I miss Owl, the Tree seems to want her here. I hope all is well with her…"

…Peg has been pondering why, at 59 years in this lifetime, she enjoys good health, while others she deeply loves, have not. Husband had severe gout attack. Will has had cataract surgery on both eyes. Owl still battles with diabetes. Their son Jimmy got his hand mangled at work, and is now on disability. Peg's eldest daughter still struggles with depression. She asks that healing energy be sent. She acknowledges her God and Goddess, Cernunnos and Hecate - and thanks them for their guidance and aid. “Blessed Be to all!..”

...aware that no more come forward with petitions, Deer hugs the plated bark of the old white oak. Then he addresses all gathered. "Spirits Below - deep ones, who hold knowledge of the past, who tonight have burst forth as do the waters of the earth. Ancestors of body, spirit and mind. Y'all below - we thank you for your presence and ward of our ritual this moon. Stay if you will, or go your merry ways if you must." "Spirits About - widespread ones, who surround us amid the magic, love and trials of live. You of the middle world - we thank you for your presence and ward of our ritual this moon. Stay if you will, or go your merry ways if you must." "Spirits Above - high ones, who dance just at the edge of our usual reach. You of the world above who constantly remind us to stretch beyond ourselves - we thank you for your presence and ward of our ritual this moon. Stay if you will, or go your merry ways if you must." "Mother, Father - Dancers in the cosmic night. You who are beyond and yet within the three realms, the world we inhabit, and indeed each of us - we thank you for your presence and ward of our ritual this moon. In one form or another, we recognize that you are always around us, near us, within us. As tonight's Dance merges into the background of Your greater one, we are supported that You stay as You will and go Your merry ways as you must." Deer finally treads softly about the tree, unwinding the path he'd traced thrice as their ritual began. Along the way, he pauses to hug each of the participants gathered - with an especially heartfelt hug for Adrianna - and a whispered "Welcome home," to his sister Owl perched unseen on a limb above. "Where we have gathered, where we have shared, where we have woven is now open but not broken. For always are the workings of a moon carried forward within us."