SECTION III - THE CAULDRON - PART 1
Oil and Ointment Recipes - Rev. Judith Lewis
Pagan Humor on the Web - Luna Willowsong
Abby - Mystickally
Mystic Moon - ~Rain
Michael and Beth Chronicles - Selene SilverWind
Tears - Lorelei
Bedtime Prayer - Kat Dyer
Green Mother - Catherine Wolfe
Notes from The Little Witches Coven and Marching Society
Oil and Ointment Recipes
By Rev. Judith Lewis F.HPs D.E.V.A.
These directions are pretty generic and can be applied against any of the OIL blends:
Add the essential oils first to the bottle and swirl them gently in order to get them blended. Add any crystals (make sure they are clean too) and then add your base oil to top the bottle off. I don't use crystals in all my blends but some people add crystals to their magical blends to keep them charged with a specific intention. Make sure to keep the oils stored away from light and write on a sticker or piece of paper to be taped on the name of the blend, time, date, moon phase, planetary hour and any other info you wish so that you know what you made and when for use later. As well, be careful as these blends will eventually go off so use your sniffer and be aware of what the blend should smell like. If these blends are exposed to heat or light, they will quickly degrade. Once it seems off, you can discard it, clean the bottle and start a fresh however be sure no trace of the previous blend remains or your new one will smell rancid straight away.
Essential oils are volatile so bottles left with tops off will soon lose their potency. Ensure that oils don't get too hot and, in the case of oils like citrus-based oils, not too cold. To test your essential oils to see if they are pure, put a drop or two on blotter paper. Genuine essential oils will evaporate completely leaving no oily residue although some will leave a
colour.
***
Moon God Oil:
Some people don't realize there are lunal gods in some cultures so I created this recipe to celebrate them
What you need:
2 dram (10mL) clean amber or cobalt vial
sweet almond oil (has vitamin E for preservation)
4 drops sandalwood mysore e.o.
2 drops myrrh e.o.
2 drops violet e.o.
1 drop mimosa e.o.
Moon Goddess Oil:
For rituals of the moon when you draw the Lady down or any lunar ritual.
What you need:
2 dram (10mL) clean amber or cobalt vial
sweet almond oil (has vitamin E for preservation)
3 drops sandalwood mysore e.o.
3 drops jasmine e.o.
1 drop rose e.o.
1 drop bergamot e.o.
Purification Oil:
For blessing yourself (and coveners)
What you need:
2 dram (10mL) clean amber or cobalt vial
apricot kernel oil (has vitamin E for preservation)
4 drops lemon e.o.
3 drops grapefruit e.o.
2 drops juniperberry e.o.
2 drops ylang ylang e.o.
WARNING: some folk are sensitive to lemon and.or graprfruit.
Altar Oil:
For blessing yourself (and coveners)
What you need:
2 dram (10mL) clean amber or cobalt vial
apricot kernel oil (has vitamin E for preservation)
4 drops lemon e.o.
3 drops cedarwood e.o.
2 drops frankincense e.o.
1 drop myrrh e.o.
WARNING: some folk are sensitive to lemon.
***************
Again, here are some generic instructions for the ointments:
To make the beeswax base, take equal amounts of beeswax (usually 1/4 cup) and grapeseed oil (again, usually 1/4 cup) and heat together. Place the oil in the top half of a double boiler and add the beeswax to it and stir until all the beeswax has melted - stir constantly. This is important as it needs to combine properly. You can use a conventional double boiler or use a coffee can in boiling water or a smaller pot in a bigger one.
Remember to use glass measuring cups.
Once done, allow the mix to cool until it begins to thicken. This will stop the essential oils from evaporating when added to the mix. Add the essential oils one at a time, stirring constantly. Decant into an amber glass ointment jar if possible and store away from light and heat. These are not meant to last more than a few months so keep an eye on your ointment and if mould appears, discard, clean and jar (remember to boil in water to remove bits of stuff you might not see) and start a fresh!
Hecate Ointment:
What you need:
beeswax base
6 drops sandalwood mysore e.o.
5 drops patchouli e.o.
3 drops jasmine e.o.
1 drop myrrh e.o.
1 drop lavender e.o.
Samhain Ointment:
What you need:
beeswax base
6 drops patchouli
4 drops jasmine
2 drops bergamot
10 drops narcissus (5% dilution in grapeseed)
WARNING: Do not operate equipment, drive, or do anything but sleep after using this. Test this for reactions on the inside of your elbow first.
Astral Travel Ointment:
Anoint your body before rituals or other magical workings
What you need:
beeswax base
3 drops frankincense e.o.
5 drops linden e.o.
2 drops sandalwood mysore e.o.
3 drops hops e.o.
1 drops cedarwood e.o.
10 drops of a 5% dilution of narcissus in grapeseed oil
WARNING: Do not operate equipment, drive, or do anything but sleep after using this. Test this for reactions on the inside of your elbow first. Linden, Hops and Narcissus are strong relaxants - please use caution with this recipe.
Psychic Powers Ointment:
This one came about from researching some leftover oils
What you need:
beeswax base
5 drops sandalwood mysore e.o.
4 drops lemon grass e.o.
3 drops yarrow e.o.
2 drops bay e.o.
1 drop hops e.o.
May the Blessings of Brigid be with you always,
Rev. Judith Lewis F.HPs D.E.V.A.
Pagan Humor on the Web
By Luna Willowsong
It seems that so many of the people I know have been going through difficult times of late, with little to nothing to make them smile. As a therapist I know that humor is one of the best “medications” to revive the spirit, ease physical and emotional pain, has few side effects, and costs little. The Web provides many opportunities to medicate oneself with a good belly laugh, giggle, or even the smallest of smiles. For that reason I have collected a brief list of some of my favorite sites to find humor appropriate to pagans
http://www.glasstemple.com/humour offers a number of entertaining pieces, some of which I’ve seen and heard already but some of which are worth a second reading. I particularly enjoyed “Your Neighbor Might be a Witch If” and “How to Piss Off a Pagan”
http://www.celestialtides.com/PaganToons/index.html has several links to sites that feature cartoons that are of interest to pagans.
American Tradition of the Goddess offers a few tidbits. I particularly enjoyed “Charge of the Credit Card Goddess”.
http://www.amtrad.org/humor.htm
For the kitchen witch, check out “The Lesser Banishing Rite of the Casserole”
http://sheta.home.texas.net/PaganHumor.html
For those of us who live a wee bit north of Lake Wobegone, and who sometimes have a desire for a bit more sophistication in what we find funny, Prairie Home Companion fans will enjoy archived skits from previously aired programs
http://prairiehome.org/performances/20010310/guynoir.html
http://prairiehome.org/performances/20010623/unity.html
These are but a few items found on the web. There are thousands of opportunities for you to laugh available at the click of your mouse! A web search using the term “pagan humor” turned up 38820 references. So go ahead. Lighten up!!!
Abby
By Mystickally
Sleepless nights became a usual occurrence for Abby and Shaene, but this particular night proved to be a more disturbing evening. Sirens filled the air, people were screaming, lots of cars were driving by quickly, and smoke whitened the otherwise dark sky.
Abby was startled awake that night. She felt a sudden chill run down her spine and she struggled to focus on the open window in her bedroom. There were bright lights flashing outside, and there was a light breeze coming into the room.
She sat up, rubbed her eyes, and then called out for Shaene.
When he didn't answer, she walked towards the living room.
Rather than fight to be able to concentrate on even walking without tripping over the cats, Abby instead made a trip to the bathroom, where she washed up and brushed her teeth.
It was 10 minutes before she was fully dressed and was able to make her way to the lobby of the complex, where she found Shaene standing with their friends, as well as most of the residents of the complex.
"What's going on?"
Shaene, Kat and Cal were staring out towards the flashing lights. Many of the onlookers had decided to run in that direction, while many more people were trying to run away from it.
Nobody answered Abby's inquiry. Instead, she watched silently, standing next to her closest friends, as more and more police cars and fire trucks raced down the road.
Many of those standing around had tears in their eyes, holding on to each other, as if their lives depended on it.
Hundreds of innocent people were killed that day; All over a very stupid, cowardly act by one group of misguided kids...
)O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O(
It was all over the news : A very angry group of college students had invaded the student center of the university. They were in an uproar over the past accusations and actions taken against the pagan community. They took it upon themselves to "defend" themselves, and in a moment of fear and panic, gunshots rang out killing many students, a few teachers, and even a couple of police officers. Fearing for their lives, these "renegades" set fire to the building, which resulted in many more innocent victims. It was a very sad day for everyone, both those directly affected as well as those watching from their televisions.
School was cancelled indefinitely, and every "out of the broom closet" pagan was suddenly silent, for fear of retaliation. Inevitably, every pagan in the area became closely watched, and hateful stares and snickering followed them where ever they went.
At Abby and Shaene's apartment, Kat and Cal kept a vigil, all four of them with their eyes fixed to the television, watching every piece of news coverage on the tragedy. They periodically had tears streaming down their faces. The tragedy had hit them personally: Mike, Cailey and Cari were there that day eating dinner. Cari and Mike had made it out of the building relatively unharmed, but Cailey was rushed to the hospital and was said to be in very critical condition. Only family was allowed to see her or even inquire about her, so nobody knew what was going on. Cailey's family had been unreachable, so school officials were desperately trying to locate her next of kin.
It had been a week since the incident. Cari and Mike were both very traumatized by it; Mike had chosen to leave school and went to stay with his older sister out of state. He only left word to Cal and Shaene that he had to get out of there.
"I doubt we'll ever hear from Mike again." Cal had suspected.
Mike had always been the one to bring humor into their lives. Now, they feared that nothing could ever bring the humor back into Michael
Rotch.
"Mike is dead."
Abby, Shaene and Kat looked up from the kitchen table at Cal, who stood at the window, looking out towards the silent campus.
"The Mike we knew is dead. He's never coming back."
And with that, Cal walked out of the apartment and disappeared for several hours. The three friends said nothing. They knew that Caleb was probably right.
Cari had chosen to stick by herself, locking herself in her dorm room, darkness filling her as she stared blankly up at the ceiling from her bed. She lay in bed for a week straight, not getting up to eat or answer the phone. Once a day, Abby would pay her a visit and leave her a few sports drinks in hopes that she would at least drink them. Every afternoon, Abby would go in and take away the empty bottles and leave new ones. Abby wondered if Cari was actually drinking them, or just dumping them out.
Just as they had feared, the community was scared. Every pagan was branded evil. Every person deemed "alternative" was said to be out looking for trouble, and wanting to hurt or even kill in order to get what he or she wanted.
Going to the market for some food became such a hardship. Most people were reluctant to serve anybody, regardless of religious preference. Anybody that looked college-aged was scrutinized. After a month, school had failed to reopen and many of its students had decided that it was no longer worth it to stick around the town they had dubbed
"Jinxtown". Many had vacated their apartments and left town altogether.
)O( )O( )O()O( )O( )O()O( )O( )O()O( )O( )O()O( )O( )O()O( )O( )O()O( )O( )O(
Cari surprised them one day and knocked on the door. She was in tears and could barely contain herself.
"It's Ben."
Abby immediately perked up.
"What did he do to you now?"
"He's gone. He died. He was one of the guys that was shot."
"So?" Abby retorted.
Shaene, Kat and Cal turned their attention over to Abby, with a look of surprise on their faces.
"This is the jerk that nearly beat you to death! He's the monster that raped you! He doesn't deserve your tears!"
"Abby ---"
"No Shaene! It's not right! She's crying over this poor excuse for a man! He deserved to die,
Cari. He was one of the bad guys."
"I know."
"You know but you're still crying."
Without a raised voice and very calmly, Cari said: "I loved him, Abby."
Cari gave Abby a hug, then walked away.
Abby couldn't wrap her mind around it. How could Cari love a man that treated her like garbage? He routinely beat her until she was passed out, black and blue and so bloody that her face was unrecognizable. Yet sweet, smart, and strong Cari-lynn loved this man with all her heart.
Later that day, Abby found a note stuck in her mailbox. She instantly recognized the handwriting as being
Cari-lynn's. It read:
Abby,
I know you can never truly understand why I cared so deeply for Ben. He was a cruel creature, this I know. But you didn't know him, Abby. Inside, he was hurting. He was kind and gentle sometimes. When he wasn't it was because the bastard that he called Mother suddenly paid him a visit, only to tell him how worthless he was, and how he'd never amount to anything. She always told him that he was a mistake, that she should have had the abortion when she had the chance. You should know all about jerks for family. You know what it's like. Sometimes, he'd get so stressed out, upset and hurt by his mother that he'd just lose it.
I'm not making excuses for what he did. But there is always a reason for everything. And I still had hoped that one day, Ben would see the light, get some help and be able to look at me one day and say, "I'm sorry." Sure, that may have been a long shot, but it was my hope. Now, it definitely won't ever happen.
I've been thinking a lot these past few weeks about things. I think it's time for me to move on. I need to spread my wings a little and get away from here. I came here to be with Ben. Now that he's gone, I need to go where I should have gone when I first got accepted: I'm going to New York and to
Juilliard. I think I can make it, Abby. And when I do, I'll look back at this time in my life and be grateful to have had a friend like you.
Keep in touch and bless your heart,
Cari-lynn Atkins
With a heavy sigh, Abby folded up the piece of paper, tucked it into her pocket, and started to walk down the deserted road, and headed straight for the university. One way or another, Abby planned on starting over. AGAIN.
Mystic Moon
By ~Rain
Chapter. 10
“The Roof Top Garden”
(Last time, the group was gathering together to start Jane’s dedication ritual. The story continues taking an interesting twist....)
I assumed we were just going to move the furniture and caste our circle in the living room. However, Shara had other plans. She motioned us to the window.
Jane and I just decided to follow Mona and Shara. They went out the window and up the fire escape. Of course it seems fitting I hate elevators, and Jane has a fear of heights. So I made Jane go up after Mona and I told her I was right behind her the whole time. We walked up the stairs carefully, and slowly.
I heard a little noise from the city, but we were so high up it seemed muffled. The wind blew my dress and I finally reached the top. Jane and Mona helped me up.
"Thank you !" I said with relief. I heard something behind me and I looked down. There were eight cats on the top step. Jane and I picked them all up and helped them onto the roof. They wanted to see our ritual too.
I looked at the sky, shades of pink and orange touched the blue so softly as if they were penciled in by an artist. When I looked at the roof I saw a trellis. Attached to the trellis was a rod - iron gate that reached my waist. Ivy vines flowed freely and fully masking my view of the rest of the roof area .
Shara entered the gate, Mona followed. Jane looked at me and smiled. She grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the entrance. As we walked toward the entrance I saw a small wooden sign. I moved closer and read it outloud " Goddess's Enchanted Garden. " I looked at Jane but she was distracted, more like entranced. Then I looked in that direction, through the gate. I saw a mystical place, with flowers of mystical colors, an ornate bird bath, birds flying, and butterflies dancing. Shara came and opened the gate.
"Why, dears aren't you coming in?" She asked. We walked in, still arm in arm, and equally in shock. I couldn't speak, I just stood in wonder and awe. It truly was a Goddess's enchanted garden.
Some flowers were bigger than my hand. Plenty of red roses, with a powerful scent. There was a large circle in the center of the roof, and it was carefully laid out in stones, perfectly laid out, as if it was painstakingly measured. Across the stoned circle were two enchanting wrought iron benches. Next to the benches, were little fairy statues and a few leprechauns hiding, peaking out from under the iron legs. Jane and I walked to those benches and sat down. I was beginning to feel better, the fainting spell no longer loomed over my head. Instead my heart was captured by the beauty and the ancient powerful aura that emanated from the area. Behind me I smelt fresh mint as I turned I saw a mini herb section, where nettle, yarrow and mugwort grew. I couldn't name all those herbs, the list was so long.
Mona placed lanterns in the circle and Shara lite each one carefully. They unpacked the basket which contained the ritual feast ( including the apple pie). Then the ritual tools were laid out on a little make shift altar. As I glanced at the lanterns I notes the time, almost night.
Shara came back to us and said," Would you like a tour?" Jane and I just smiled and got up. We just followed
Shara. She showed us the lilacs, herbs, roses, and other plentiful flowers. It was as if I were in an ancient temple, I felt a sacred presence.
"How long has this garden been here?" I asked Shara.
"Oh, many years. I moved here about 15 years ago, and it was started by another woman before I came. " She sounded sad. I couldn't help but wonder where the woman went, or why she’d left. Shara was reading my mind and answered my questions, " She died of loneliness, well, that's what some people told me. Poor dear."
I could tell why it hurt her so much, because now she feels lonely too. Her husband died not to long age, I remember how sad she was. I remember wanting to caste a spell to take her pain away, but there was no spell in the world that could do that. I looked at Jane walking near by, she seemed so happy. I was almost jealous. Nobody created such a fuse for me. However, I figured she is my best friend and I should be happy for her. We were coming back to the circle, the light from the sky was dying down. I glimpsed at the sky and saw the moon smiling. I knew everything would be all right.
We walked into the circle, give one last look around to see if we forgot anything. I noticed the cats laid under the benches. I assumed it was there regular place. We caste the circle by chanting and dancing, releasing our energy and love into this sacred place.
Shara stood a North, Mona walked to the West, I stood at South, and Jane was next to me in East. We invoked the corners, the guardians. Then we came together hand in hand, and chanted the ancient Egyptian hymn's of the Goddess Isis and God
Osiris.
Shara guided Jane into the center of the circle, and we danced around her. We each wished something for her. I wished her to see love in everything. Shara wished her sight of the un known, and Mona wished her knowledge. Our hair was blowing and our dress danced in the wind. Shara took a rope, that is know as the witches cord and handed it to Jane.
"What name have you chosen to enter the craft?" Shara asked Jane, presenting her with the cord.
"Midnight Rose." She answered.
"Then in the presence of the Goddess and God, you are now Midnight Rose, daughter, dedicate, maiden, and witch!" We started a chant once again, we chanted Jane's new craft name. She moved to our circle and we all danced and shouted like crazy amazon women. At the end we shouted
"So Mote It Be!" The city lights flickered, and the Moon, smiled. It was done. We said farewell to the gods, and guardians and released our circle.
We started our ritual feast. I asked Shara why we didn't have the ritual feast in the circle, she said, "This ritual was tiring, I wanted to sit on benches dear. When you are my age you'll understand." She squealed and sat down.
"Mona dear, cut me a piece of pie will you?" Shara asked he daughter.
"Sure!" She opened up the basket and past out the food. We talked, laughed, and ate. Jane was glowing." We have some things for you." Mona told Jane with a hidden expression on her face.
She opened up the basket again and pulled out three package. "These are for you, for your dedication." Jane read all the cards and then un wrapped them. Shara hand made an alter cloth. Mona gave charcoal blocks and various exotic resins. I picked out a essential oil kit.
"Thank you all so much, this means so much to me!" She said with tears in her eyes. "I just never expected something so wonderful."
We heard thunder in the distance. I looked at the sky and dark clouds covered the moon, the lanterns were the only source of light. The thunder came closer and closer. Lightning streaked the sky and the rain, fell. Buckets came pouring down.
We put everything we could in the basket and tucked it under the bench. The cats ran into the bushes. We looked at each other and danced. The thunder shouted and we shouted back." Witches don't fear the rain, we sing and dance in its goodness !"
Finally we were getting cold and tired, and went back to the loft. The cats looked mad. But I assumed Shara had done this to them before. We changed back to our regular clothes and sat on the couch and had some tea. I had so much fun. But when I saw the time, I realized it was time to go.
Mona decided to stay longer, but she gave me a small pentacle to put on my key chain. She told me to hold it every time I went in an elevator. So I followed her instructions and Jane and I went on our way. The elevator ride went better than the first. We got home at twelve thirty and went straight to bed! That night I heard our chanting as I feel asleep.
Michael and Beth Chronicles
Plans and Decisions
by Selene Silverwind
SeleneSilverwind.com
(In our last episode, Marisa was injured by a schoolmate. Angela came to the rescue. Angela's offer on the house was accepted. Gary found out that the jellyfish was indeed endangered. Michael suggested that he and Beth move in together.)
Angela sat at her kitchen table with the floor plan and garden plot of her new house before her. Several rough sketches and numerous home decorating and gardening books and catalogs sprawled across the rest of the table. A knock on her open front door drew her attention from her task and she spun around to face Kyra who stood in the doorway with her morning tea basket. "Morning," Angela said brightly.
"Morning." Kyra entered and walked to the kitchen where she filled the teapot with water and set it on the stove. She pulled her tea infuser out of her basket and set it in the pot. The tea brewing, she stepped to Angela and peered over her shoulder at the papers on the table. "What are you scheming over here?"
Angela giggled. "Not scheming. Plotting would be more like it." She glanced up at Kyra's raised eyebrow. "My garden."
"Oh, in that case, I should help!" Kyra said, jumping into a seat beside Angela and swiped the property plot away from her. She looked it over, then scanned the scribbles on Angela's pad. She shook her head, pointing to one of the plants listed. "No, this won't work. Is it the look or the medicinal use you're going for?"
"The look," Angela said. "I leave the medicinal to you."
"Then I have the solution." Kyra grabbed Angela's already dog-eared copy of Sunset's "Western Garden Book" and flipped through it until she came to a picture of a plant very similar to the one Angela had chosen. "This will look almost the same, but it will flourish in that spot."
Angela scribbled that plant down on her pad. "What else?"
Kyra studied the plot again, then pointed to a small patch Angela had ear-marked for sunflowers. "This would make a better herb garden. Put your sunflowers on this wall."
Angela smiled, already envisioning her gorgeous garden. "Thank you."
"What are best friends for?" Kyra teased. "Now I assume you'll need help planting."
"I wouldn't say no. And if you need some extra room for your plants, they're welcome to come stay at my house."
"Be careful what you offer," Kyra said with a laugh. "This thing is really taking off."
"New developments?"
"A few other magazines got wind of the story and asked for samples."
Angela flooded with pleasure for her friend. "That's fantastic. Pretty soon you're going to have to evict all your tenants just to make room for your herbs!"
"Goodness, I hope not. Couldn't I just buy a farm instead?"
"Even better."
"Knock, knock," said Mark from the doorway. "Hope I'm not interrupting."
Angela turned toward the door. "No, come in. We always make too much tea."
As Mark approached, the teakettle whistled. Angela jumped up and went to the stove, whisking the teapot off the burner. She grabbed three mugs from the mug tree by the stove and poured the steaming beverage into them. The scent of raspberry filled the room. "I'm going to miss this," Angela murmured.
Kyra turned to catch Angela's eye and smiled softly. "Me too."
Mark sat down beside Kyra and glanced at the floor plan and garden plot. "It looks great Angela. You must be so excited."
Angela nodded, the melancholic moment passing. "I am. I only wish it wasn't going to take another month to close on the property."
"But that's so fast," Kyra protested. "I thought you said six weeks."
"It turns out that the owners had to move suddenly and really needed to sell the house. As soon as they put it on the market, they started doing the inspections. They're almost all done. We have a few more inspections to do ourselves, but with no one living there, it's pretty easy to schedule them."
"So what are you doing to the yard?" Mark asked.
"Deciding what to plant where."
"Looks good. So, a month huh?"
"Yep."
Mark turned to face Kyra. "Mind if I ask a favor?"
"Sure. If I can, it's yours."
"Could Gary and I move in here after Angela moves out?"
Kyra's eyes widened with surprise. "Are you sure? It's so big."
"Yeah, but my place is too small."
"It's a two-bedroom. There are two of you!" Angela said.
"I know, but with my office and his office and the meditation room we want to set up, we need more space."
"Then I'd be happy to have you move up here," Kyra said.
"Didn't Gary just finish unpacking?" Angela asked.
Mark laughed. "Yeah, but he can do it again. He's not moving that far this time."
"That's true," Kyra agreed. "Speaking of moving, shouldn't you start packing soon, Angela?"
"I will. But first I have to hire movers who will give me boxes."
"We can help you move," Mark said.
Angela smiled and looked at Mark. "I knew you'd offer, but we really do want to hire movers. It's three floors and a family of four. I'd wind up owing you guys beer and pizza for a year."
"Good point. Movers it is," Kyra said.
"Hey, how's Marisa?" Mark asked.
"She's good. Angela patched her bruises up nicely."
"And the boy?" Angela asked.
"I called the principal. He's going to talk to the boy and the boy's parents. The boy will be suspended for a couple days. Marisa is mad at me for calling the principal, but she'll get over it."
"Better she suffer a little embarrassment than let a bully get away with it," Angela said.
"Exactly," Mark agreed. "So, when are you going to invite us all over to your new place?" he asked, turning the conversation to a happier topic.
Angela grinned broadly, imagining her first party. "As soon as my boxes are delivered!"
Down in her apartment, Beth was lost in her painting, or at least attempting to lose herself in it as she slid the brush across the canvas. In reality, she was struggling over what to tell Michael. For the past three days, that was all she'd been thinking about. Move in with him. Don't move in with him. They'd been together such a short time, and yet it felt like forever and a day, to quote the old cliché. She loved him. That much she knew. And he loved her. It wasn't like it had been with anyone else. She would marry him someday. That much she also knew. So then what was holding her up? Kurt. That's what was holding her up. That had hurt bad. But Michael would never do that. She needed to talk to Janine.
Beth stuck her paintbrush in the rinse bottle on her easel and snatched the phone off the window ledge beside her, punching the speed dial button for her best friend. Janine answered on the first ring.
"I need your help," Beth said.
"Nice way to say hello."
"Sorry. Hi. I need your help."
"What is it?"
"It's Michael."
Beth could hear the burst of protective anger in Janine's voice. "What did he do? I can be on the next plane. I'll break his kneecaps."
Beth laughed, but was pleased that her best friend was there for her in her time of crisis. "No, no. It's nothing bad. I like him with kneecaps."
"Then what is it?"
"He asked me to move in with him."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"What did you say?"
"I had to think."
"And?"
"I don't know," Beth said with a moan.
"What are you afraid of?"
Beth paused before admitting the truth aloud. "I don't want to repeat another Kurt."
"Do you think it would be?"
"No."
"Then?"
"You're right. It's so soon though."
"Yeah, but when it's right..."
"You don't think we're rushing?"
"Well, some people would say yes, but he does live next door. You've compressed a certain amount of dating time into a few months. Plus you said he's something special."
Warmth flooded Beth's chest as she thought of all the special things Michael did for her. "That's true."
"When would you move in with him?"
"That's the other thing. I don't want to leave this building."
"Are there any vacancies?"
"Well, there will be one soon. But it's too big."
"It'll work out. Who's moving?"
"That family I told you about. They just bought a house."
"So there you go. Say yes, but only agree to move when a two-bedroom unit opens up."
Michael's familiar knock at the door interrupted Beth's conversation. "He's here." Trepidation at the thought of giving Michael an answer washed over her. "What do I say?"
"Whatever comes to you."
"Okay. Love you. Bye."
"Love you. Bye."
Beth hung up and went to the door. With a deep breath, she swung it open. Michael swooped her against him and dropped his lips down onto hers.
When their kiss parted he said, "I missed you."
"It's been one day."
"I know, but it was hard knowing you were right next door."
"Well, you had to get the paper done."
"And now it is. I'm all yours."
Beth smiled and led him to the couch. "I've been thinking about what you asked," she said as she sat down.
"And?" Michael asked, a catch in his voice.
Beth took another deep breath. Was she really doing this? "Yes. But."
"But what?"
"But only when a two-bedroom opens up in this building."
"What about the three-bedroom? It'll be available sooner."
Beth smiled softly. "You know we can't afford that. And besides, we don't need that much room."
"You're right. Okay, we'll wait for a two. I'm just happy you said yes." Michael stood up, grabbing her hands and pulling her onto her feet. "Let's go celebrate."
"But I was painting!" Beth protested.
"It's okay. You can finish in a minute."
"A minute?"
"An hour."
"That's better," Beth said laughing, amazed at herself for saying yes. One part of her wondered if she was doing the right thing, but the other part knew she was.
Bedtime Prayer
copyright 1992 K.Dyer
Now I lay me down to sleep
In the twilight dark so deep
Lord and Lady in thy Light
Keep me safe and well this night
Children's Chants
Lyrics copyright 1992 K.Dyer
(to tune of "Ruban, Ruban")
Lord and Lady, Lord and Lady
Once again, once again
We gather in our Circle, we gather in our Circle
With our friends, with our friends
(to tune of "Jesus Loves Me")
The Goddess* loves me, this I know
Heart and mind they tell me so
In Her* arms I'll safely stay
Walking in the Pagan way
Yes, the Goddess loves me
Yes, the Goddess loves me
Yes, the Goddess loves me
My soul it tells me so
alt last line - For (S)he has told me so
*alt - the Lady (Her), the Horned One (His), etc
motions:
"the Goddess" raise hands in a circle around head
"the Horned One" make 'branches' on your forehead
"loves me" cross hands on heart then point to self
"this I know" tap forehead with finger
"heart and mind" hand on heart then forehead
"they tell me so" shake finger in time to song
"in 'x' arms I'll safely stay" rock arms as if holding baby
"walking in the Pagan way" make fingers walk from right to left
"yes" use the sign language letter "a"
"my soul it tells me so" start with arms above head, and trace an arc on
both sides to make a circle when your hands meet again at the bottom
Lullaby and Goodnight
lyrics copyright 1993 K.Dyer
sung to the tune of "Brahm's Lullaby"
Lullaby and goodnight
In a Circle of Light
To awaken in the morn
When the sun will be reborn
Lullaby and goodnight
Let your eyes now close tight
Lullaby and goodnight
Let your eyes now close tight
Lullaby and goodnight
Oh my baby so bright
The Watchtowers all will come
"Til you greet the morning sun
East and South, West and North
I will call them all forth
East and South, West and North
I will call them all forth
Sleep, Baby, Sleep
lyrics copyright 1993 K.Dyer
Sleep, baby, sleep
In a Circle so deep
The Watchtowers are all around
To keep my baby safe and sound
Sleep, baby, sleep
alt - the guardians are all around, the Lady watches all around
Notes from The Little Witches Coven and Marching Society - Samhain
The Little Witches have a difficult problem, an uncomfortable problem. Quite familiar with the unusual, the Little Witches are used to coping even playing with the mysterious; this time, however, they are not quite sure what to; they are not even sure they have a problem. A coven member has disappeared and the manner of her going was so ethereal, so transcendental, so downright occluded that the Little Witches are bemused and ambivalent, and yet they are not quite as worried as some of them believe they ought to be.
It all began at Samhain, a most strange Samhain, a Samhain that the Little Witches Coven and Marching Society celebrated much, much deeper in the woods... in the dark... in the deep, dark, earthiness of Ancient Forest. I guess the whole mystery really began at the coven's Saturday Night Samhain Planning Meeting and Chicken Pluck, when the Little Witches all got to bickering, and to complaining about last year's
Samhain, and to speaking vehemently about the way "Samhain was supposed to be."
See, very few of the Little Witches actually enjoy chicken plucking and at the monthly Pluck their demeanor often turned fowl and their comments pithy. Then too, several of the Little Witches were still annoyed that last year's Samhain had been so subdued. Last
Samhain, a majority of the coven (this was before they switched to consensus rule making) had voted against keening. There was no keening that
Samhain. So the he would-be keeners sulked and the non-keeners felt guilty, and well... it hadn't been a very successful ritual. And though everyone had left the ritual feeling better, it seemed now that some unresolved irk was going to make this planning meeting cantankerous. And the smell of singed feathers arose from more than just the chickens.
So, when the newest coven member, Niamh, suggested that they pick the ritual spot and do the pre-ritual site cleaning and preparation, everyone quickly agreed. Niamh hadn't been part of last year's controversy and she had now been in the coven just long enough that it was time she start one of the coven rituals. As the youngest coven member both in age and in time with the coven, Niamh was given the honor of setting up the initial stages of this year's Samhain celebration and of choosing the altar site and putting some of the ritual tools in place. The really important tools would be brought by Lamprey and the coven elders and placed properly on the altar at the start of the ritual.
Because Samhain was Niamh's first time leading a ritual for the Little Witches, everyone was anxious that she do well. So everyone gave her bits of advice during the week before the ritual, and many gave her emphatic advice about whether there should or should not be keening involved. And each Little Witch felt that Niamh had listened and appreciated and understood the importance of their input.
Even at this point, Niamh was something of a mystery, as can be appreciated by the ease with which everyone soon accepted that they had all agreed that Niamh would lead the entire Samhain ritual. No one remembered exactly when this was decided but they all knew it had been. Even Lamprey, who does not relinquish leadership easily and who had already given a fair amount of thought about what to include in this Samhain celebration, was sure she remembered making the decision to leave this ritual entirely in Niamh's hands.
Being around Niamh sometimes provoked this kind of confusion; she was a wee bit perplexing. Everyone felt as if they had known Niamh "sometime before," remembering her from somewhere just beyond the tip of memory. Whenever one of the Little Witches had a personal conversation with
Niamh, the Little Witch came away with the feeling that something very important to their
well-being had been discussed within the subtle depths and layers of the conversation, some vital knowledge eluding them.
Even how Niamh had arrived and where she had come from was a bit unusual. She had arrived at the Little Witches farm at Panther Creek three months earlier with a request that she be allowed to study with Lamprey. She said she had come from a small island off the Hebrides in Scotland. After Niamh attended an open circle the Little Witches decided her energy was so "present" that she was accepted on probation for a year without dissent. Now Niamh was ready to lead her first ritual for the Little Witches.
Perhaps a description of Niamh ni' Etaceh might be in order so that if anyone should meet her or knows what finally became of her, they could send a note to The Little Witches and put an end to some of the worrying and mystery. Niamh is not tall. Her hair shines black; her eyes twinkle blue. Her
temperament feels chameleon, but her accent is definitely Scottish. Her age is hard to estimate but Chester swears she could not be over seventeen or eighteen, though he may not be the best judge. One month after Niamh's arrival, Chester could be found wandering around the Little Witches' farm at Panther Creek humming "Black is the color of my true love's hair."
As the dusk of Samhain opened the veil on the Other World, Naimh began the procession while the trees of the forest dripped and the golden leaves of the aspen fluttered on their way to the ground. Already winter storms crept through the Coastal Mountains turning the firs eerie and the forest floor squishy. Brushing a fern during the ritual procession anointed Little Witch robes from the waist down with a water blessing and the smell of wet wool to mingle with the odor of soggy forest and the aroma of smoldering sage.
Niamh lead the Little Witches far into the forest. Her path meandered under the upturned roots of fallen trees, around fairy circles of purple mushrooms, even through an arch of leaning stone slabs. Each Little Witch would have sworn they know all the paths within a mile of the forest junction at Bob Cat's Revenge and Turkey Vulture's Feather. Yet this night was not like any other night and nothing looked familiar. Each Little Witch followed Niamh holding their clay pot candle up trying to recognize landmarks in the dark. But the forest shed shrouds of mystery this night, a forest place unlike any other place.
Awe and wonder cloaked the coven as they journeyed further into the unknown. After a ritual march which lasted twenty minutes or two hours, each Little Witch had their keenest night vision and could see ahead the glints of light from a fire. Stepping through the blackened hole of a snag long ago hit by lightening, the Little Witches entered a forest glade which reflected the light from the ritual fire. With senses scrambled by the darkness of the forest, the hidden twistings of the path, and the heavy odors of wet witch the warmth and light of the fire was appreciated by them all.
The ritual meadow was laid out differently than the Little Witches expected. To begin with none of their usual house ritual tools were in use. Instead gleaming on a wooden altar were tools that Niamh had apparently made especially for this celebration. Each and every
athame, cup, or salt and water holder was not only unique and serpentine in design but made of wood so highly polished they had a light of their own. Near the edge of the meadow was a second wee fire with an old black pot full of the scintillatingly Autumn smells of a good Winter herb soup.
As each Little Witch stepped through the hole in the snag and looked around astonished, Niamh walked the witch to "a special place." Though no one could explain then or later what was so special about the spot they were led to, each knew that their spot had been intended for them alone, a sacred grove spot radiating with knowledge of their uniqueness and each Little Witch became absorbed in personal discovery. When Niamh walked the circle greeting each witch in their special place she handed them a carved wooden bowl full of steamy forest soup. Usually at times like this, when everything wasn't pre- planned and practiced ahead of time, witch would look at witch and try to decide whether to drink the soup now or wait. But not this
Samhain, the soup smelled so wholesome and inviting no eyes searched for reassurance from a neighbor. Little Witch noses inhaled; Little Witch eyes closed and Little Witch aura blossomed with health as they drank.
Slowly, deeply, Niamh began to chant; not a familiar chant, which Lamprey or the other Little Witches recognized. The words felt old and strange and profound. The rhythm felt even older, [archaic] a rhythm that might have been recognized at a gathering of the first peoples deep in the untrammeled Ancient Forest of the past.
Niamh began the Samhain ritual. Not the ritual the coven had planned and not the words of the ritual that Lamprey had taught her. How to put this? The ritual had a sense of time and age and emotion and longing and community and perhaps most of all a profound sense of continuity. Each Little Witch participated. They knew what to say and what to do and when to do it though none of it had been said or done before in Little Witch celebrations.
When the drum and pipes came from the forest the dancing began. Not a wild and frenzied dance that might be expected of the Little Witches when they really get into their paces. This was almost stately at first -- dignified. There was no moon that Samhain and only the stars and the fires lit the circle. For an hour or more the dancing was slow, rhythmic, and personal. A body facing body kind of dancing that was not meant as a joyous expression but rather as a communication of being. It went on until gradually the intensity of the drumming and the piping increased. The pace of the dancing kept with the call of the music and the Little Witches danced, body to body, in a line, in a circle, in a huddled group bent low to the ground.
The music from the forest stopped. The dancing stopped. The Little Witches stood each with unexpected thoughts and unrecognized emotions. They were standing around Niamh in a circle and she looked at each of them. One by one she handed them a cup of wine and then she said goodbye. She walked softly into the forest and The Little Witches suddenly noticed that dawn had come. They made their way home and most of them slept throughout the day.
No one at The Little Witches Coven and Marching Society has seen Niamh since Samhain and they are more than a bit worried about her. Lamprey is most concerned because she feels responsible for her novices safety. There is seventy miles of forest between The Little Witches farm and the coast and her novice walked into that forest at dawn with no preparation at all.
The night of November 1st the Little Witches went to the Witches Ball. At 11:40, twenty minutes before the ritual was to happen the bomb threat cleared the hall. Strange things sometimes happen in the forest but stranger things happen in the city.
