FULL MOON RITUAL

Owl steps forward and places on the altar a birch wand,     

carved spirally with Runic letters.  "Lady, there have been 

many gifts given and received in your name.  I'd like to    

thank you for the friendships and the bonds formed between  

many who would not have met if it weren't for you.  Thank   

you for the strength you have given in our times of need.   

Thank you for the healing you have brought to so many of us.

I give you this wand ... it is from Will.  He knew of you   

for many years, yet he didn't KNOW you.  When he finally    

came face to face with the Deities, here in this grove, his 

blocks came down.  His talent has been emerging since then. 

I thank you for the gift of freedom you gave him, to be     

someone who finds pleasure in working with the earth, and   

finding bits of magik in the trees, and the stones.  He is  

listening to the songs of the earth ... thank you for       

curing his "deafness" .                                  

  Owl gazes lovingly around the circle, and motions for     

Will to step forward.  He blushes and shakes his head. She  

smiles and says "maybe next time, dear".  She steps back to 

circle and waits:                                           

Bronwyn gently shakes her head to clear it from almost      

trancelike state this ritual is bringing to her.  She feels 

it is her turn now before the Goddess and God, here at this 

time of seeming death of light and vegetation.  She         

approaches the altar silently, and reaching out with her    

hands, places them on this place of power.  The cold she    

feels starts to warm, and then grows hot as she feels the   

dance of the atoms in the stone, spinning in endless,       

perfect cycles, fueling the universe with life-spirit of the

Ancient Ones. Suddenly dizzy with the effect, Browyn        

releases her touch and presses the damp earth below,        

funneling the charge back to its source.  "Mother," she >>> 

silently prays, "Help me to find that peace which I seek.  I

ask nothing else of you for myself, but bid you bless the   

small creatures on this planet with protection from the     

onslaught of humankind.  Help us to be aware, sensitive to  

your call, responsible in the care of your blessed body.    

Father God, fire me with the will to do my best, even when I

feel the odds are insurmountable at times.  I honor you in  

your death-sleep, and await your return from the sacred     

darkness."                                                  

She places a small black stone the sea gave her.  Imbeded   

into a crevice is a tiny white round stone, held in the     

bosom of the night as the God in the Mother's womb.  >>>>   

Pulling her dark green hood over her head, Bronwyn takes her

place once more in the circle, alone with The Ones for a    

while...                                                    

...as MoonWillow approaches the altar. Removing the         

peony-root necklace, she lays it between the red & white    

candles, saying,"Grandmother Moon,beautiful Bright-Faced    

Mother, shining Virgin of the Hunt, I am grateful to you for

so much....and yet, there is more I would ask of you. Not   

for myself, but for my children, especially the three who   

have been made fatherless by their father's own             

hand...succor them with your boundless, infinite love."     

     Drawing a photograph of father, mother & 3 children    

from her cloak pocket, MoonWillow holds the picture over the

flame of the red candle. "Great Horned One, Wild Man of the 

Forest, Laughing God of Life & Death, I ask your protection 

and care for this family...may the one who has passed on    

know peace, and may we who remain learn & draw strength from

your courage, your wisdom, your fierceness, and your        

abandon.By Fire, Earth, Air & Water I ask protection, and   

that no harm may befall us by my asking amiss...Mother &    

Father, Eternal Lovers, you know my heart.....              

     MoonWillow steps back within the warmth of the circle  

as.....                                                     

...as Elenya re-enters the circle.  She retraces the steps  

she walked this past summer and has the same feelings of    

wonder and awe. As she approaches the altar, she reaches    

into her pocket and brings forth a necklace with the face   

of the Green Man forged in pewter, purchased at the Renn    

Faire when she last visited this grove. As she lays it on   

the altar cloth with the other items, she closes her eyes   

and with a trembling voice, begins to speak.  "Mother and   

Father, I come before you with mixed emotions.  You have    

blessed my life with a wonderful husband and two beautiful  

daughters. You have led me to friendships unimagined a few  

years ago.  For these I am eternally grateful.  While I ask 

for nothing for myself, there are those close to me who     

struggle; and I ask that You be there for them, to make     

their lives easier.  For my brother, please grant him       

healing from the disease that has taken over his body and   

spirit and give Melinda the strength to help him.  For our  

sister and her family across the lakes, please be with them 

and help find a way to ease their financial burden, as Your 

light shines brightly in her. I pray that You hold both of  

these families close to Your heart, as they are in mine."   

As Elenya completes her petition, she turns again to look   

lovingly into the faces of those gathered here, and         

blinking back tears, she returns to await...                

...Cloud, who brings the last of the mums and asters to the 

altar in thanks for all this year has brought. Even the pain

brings learning, and even the sorrow dawns in joy. She gazes

into the face of the beaming Moon for a long moment,        

breathing the names of her blessings, especially her        

grandchildren and her successes at work, before she finally 

speaks:                                                     

*Mother of waves, you who wash back to the source all that  

we release to you and leave behind that which will be       

treasure if we find it, keep me watchful for the appearance 

of the new opportunity I have requested. I know it will be  

there, but I also know that it may come in any form and will

require my attention. Way will open, but only if my eyes are

open to the surprise. I thank you for all the blessings that

have come this year, and for those on the way*              

She leaves the flowers on the altar, and returns to her     

place to await...                                           

...as Red Deer, now skyclad, moves silently to the Southern 

Watchtower.  Knowing not whether those gathered will        

perceive the effects of his actions, Deer moves his hands   

through a series of ancient, unlearned gestures.            

   "Grandfather, you who have stood watch at the            

southeastern corner of our dwelling since before it was, I  

ask that you join us here.  Tonight I again need your       

strength.  You who have been with me through the years of   

this forging, help me to complete it this moon, and to      

continue another.  And, as the Lady and Lord will it, lend  

me strength to complete an endeavor undertaken at Samhain." 

In Deer's eyes, the flames gather into a single pillar,     

then spread out into the form of a mighty dragon - wings    

wide outspread to completely enfold their circle.  From his 

left hand, Deer offers a small white cylinder to the        

flames, then moves both hands to the stones hung about his  

neck.  "Thank you again, Grandfather, for all that you      

share."                                                     

    After silently embracing the form within the fire,      

Deer turns again to the altar.  Reaching it, he kneels      

upon the ground, places his forehead upon the flowing       

cloth, and presses his lips to the warm wood below.  There  

Deer remains for what seems an eternity, before standing    

again and holding high into the night that which he wears.  

   "Lady and Lord, Mother and Father of us all...  I add my 

voice to all those petitions brought unto You tonight.      

Hear all, and grant them as is Your will.  Tonight, though  

You have already blessed me beyond measure, three things I  

ask for myself..."                                          

   "Of amber, two talismans - each a year in the forging,   

near completion.  The blonde for our daugher of spirit      

soaring, bright and agile.  The bronze for our daughter     

of passion dancing, dark and fiery.  In the coming years as 

I wear each, strengthen their power, and the bond between   

them, that - when I cross over - they may be an ongoing     

source of strength, a reminder of the eternal bond of       

sisterhood, and a tangible form of the endless love a       

father bequeaths his children, to the women who will one    

day hold them.  As the sun gave life to ancient forests,    

now crystalized in these talismans, may I give it to the    

daughters I love beyond compare."                           

   "Of moonstone, a third talisman - the forging of         

which began last Mabon.  In my Father's power long have     

I revelled.  May this lead me further into my Mother's      

love and strengthen that which binds me to she with whom I  

traverse the Wheel.  As I approach the hinge of the year of 

my own life, may it draw me closer to her and grant me      

understanding and acceptance of all I find difficult in our 

relationship.  Father Sun burns within my head.  Now may    

Mother Moon shine within my heart."                         

   "Lastly, have I given to the Grandfather that which has  

been my weakness.  Samhain, I tried again to give up the    

addiction of tobacco, but have slipped since.  Tonight, I   

have given to the mighty one who wards us my last           

cigarette.  As its essence was released within the          

Southern Watchtower, I ask that you release my strength to  

resist its temptation."                                     

   "All this I ask, and know it is much for one already so  

blessed.  Yet, as You will it, So Mote It Be!"              

   Deer again kneels for a long moment at the altar, before 

returning to the three who are his life, his love and       

his home.  Pulling the black robe over his head, he is      

amazed to momentarily perceive dancing among its threads a  

barely discernable pattern woven in shades of gold, pearl   

and smoke - the immutable forms of Grandfather Oak.         

Eyes glistening with the emotions which fill him, Deer      

gathers those three into his arms - then turns to smile     

broadly at all those gathered, and to await...              

...Elenya, who looks to see if there are other petitioners  

who wish to come forward.  Seeing no one, she waits a moment

more for those who wish to complete theirs silently, then   

once again, she approaches the altar.  Raising her arms to  

the sky, she speaks;                                        

 "Lovely Lady and Horned God, although we feel you with us  

in our daily lives, we are truly grateful for your presence 

with us this evening, as we celebrate the Turning of the    

Wheel. Please hear our petitions and accept our gifts, and  

if you will, join us as we prepare to partake of the gifts  

of your bounty".  "Watchtowers of the East, South, West     

and North. Powers of the Air, Fire, Water and of the Earth. 

Under your protection we have joined together this evening. 

Thank you for lending your energies to our work and we now  

release you, in peace and love. So Mote It Be".             

 Eleyna steps back into her place in the circle, and hand   

and hand we begin moving in a powerful spiral dance that    

weaves us together in unity and love. We dance to the       

heartbeat of Mother Earth, our steps moving faster and      

faster. The energy level rises higher and higher as our     

steps become faster until our bodies and robes become a     

blur of color, and a bright cone of light pulses skyward.   

We fall to the ground, palms outstretched, and send the     

remaining energy back into the earth. Breathless, Elenya    

stands and motions for the others to do the same.  One by   

one, she stops in front of each in the circle to give them  

a warm hug.  "I thank each of you for coming here this      

evening. As we prepare to depart, may you each capture a    

moment from this night to carry with you in your heart, to  

call upon in an hour of need. The circle is now open, but   

will never be broken.  As children of the Goddess we have   

entered, so shall we leave, with no harm done. Merry Part   

until we Merry Meet again".                                 

  Elenya leads the group out of the grove and across the    

path to the lake. The table is prepared with hot cider,     

meade and cresent cakes, and everyone helps themselves as   

the dancing and merriment continues.  Elenya catches the    

scent of something familiar, and looking around, sees that  

Owl has brought out a pot of her famous chicken-corn        

chowder.  Grinning broadly, El shouts, "Soup's On...        

Blessed Be!"                                                



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