It was one of those unbearably hot summer nights. I sneaked out of the house hoping to
catch a cool breeze on my damp skin. I walked toward the meadow marveling at the
twinkling stars, the light of a full moon guiding my steps. I found myself near an ancient
oak tree. With a sigh I contemplated returning to the house, but the night was so much
cooler, I felt free. So I decided to sleep in the safe embrace of that old oak tree.


As I stepped beneath the limbs of the tree, crossing a circle of grass that grew thicker and greener than the grass in the meadow around the tree, my world was transformed. Suddenly I was not in the shadows, but felt as if all the light from the full moon was focused beneath this very tree. Dazzled by the light I hesitantly stepped forward. As I did so, I heard a Celtic melody and saw fairies dancing about the tree. For the longest time, I just stood there, watching in awe. Then a fairy saw me and held out a tiny hand to me. I reached out to touch the hand and was suddenly drawn into the fun and frolic of the dance. I was joyous and jubilant and wild as I danced beneath the tree, aware of the plants and creatures in meadow and the forest beyond like never before.

Suddenly the fairy folk grew quiet, whispers of anticipation as they looked out beyond the tree. In the meadow was a great horned stag who approached the tree, the object of great reverence. I saw the stag. He was a magnificent creature. He broke the circle and walked toward me. A powerful creature, beautiful to behold, I reached out to touch him, curiously devoid of fear. At the touch of his warm coat, I could hear him speaking to me. The words I do not remember, but the message was clear. You are special, you have been chosen to protect my forests, to protect my creatures. I call you to learn all you can of my world so that someday you may serve me more fully.

Then he was gone, the fairy we gone and I was sleeping beneath the sacred oak tree. I woke just before sunrise. It all seemed so real, but I shook my head. "Could it be true?" I asked myself? As the sun rose, I greeted it with great joy. Then I saw the ring of toadstools around the tree. A sure sign that the fairies had danced here last night.