Invoking Herne A wind comes soughing through the trees Carrying the song of Frost The dance of leaves turned red or gold The baying of the Autumn Hounds, the Winter Wolf. Holly Lord, we call to you to keep our fears at bay The Light is gone, stripped from the sky and the trees are shorn also The Earth, our Mother, and our guide slumbers in her bare cloak of brown We call to you, Blood-berry Crowned Royal Stag, come to us from your eternal grove Hunter, protect our dimming heartfires Shield our circle of flickering light Help us see past the long shadows cast in the dying-birth of the new Year. Oh stag of seven tines Guardian of secrets held within Annwn's veil Bough of knife-sharp evergreen Antlered King, we call you. Be with us, Herne, In the Darkness that is come Give us eyes to see in shadow, that we may never fear, or lose the memory of light