SECTION III - THE CAULDRON
Promoting Pagan Family Values - Selene Silverwind
Face it together - Lorelei
Abby - Mystickally
Mystic Moon - ~Rain
Michael and Beth Chronicles - Selene SilverWind
Hold On To Your Dreams - Lorelei
A New Box of Crayons - Cat Sweeney
The scene in my mind - Lorelei
Walls crumbling, blood on the sand - Cat Sweeney
Promoting Pagan Family Values
By Selene Silverwind
SeleneSilverwind.com
The world has changed a great deal since the last time I wrote one of these columns. If you're like me, you're finding this holiday season feels a bit different. Decisions about whether or not to send cards and how to decorate suddenly seem deeply important. Here are a few suggestions for keeping the holiday normal and cheery and for continuing the unity and sense of community that has been so recently renewed.
Your children may have been very confused about what was happening this fall. Right now they may need to be reassured that the holidays will go on just like usual, but it is also a good time to teach them the importance of giving to those in need. Take them to a toy store or a discount store that sells quality toys (Target, Wal-Mart, and K-Mart are all good). Set a spending limit, then ask your kids to pick out new toys for other children. Have them donate their choices to your local toy drive. If you've missed the toy drive deadline, you can still help your children give by making cookies for the local children's hospital or retirement home. Put a little magic into the cookies by asking your children to give them the energy of good holiday cheer. It'll spread the joy even further and they will learn that the holidays are the season of giving, family togetherness, and sharing the festive season with others, not just that time when they get new toys.
By the time you read this, most schoolchildren will have already made numerous holiday crafts in class, but there may be time for one more. You can do this after the holiday has passed to celebrate winter, which is just now officially getting under way. Get a piece of white butcher paper, construction paper in many colors, and beads, baubles, feathers, and glitter. Ask the children to create something that represents their feelings about the winter holidays and winter in general out of the materials you provide. When they are done, paste them all to the butcher paper or hang three-dimensional items from the ceiling. Then talk about what winter means to them and why they made what they did while they snack on snowman cookies.
In your neighborhoods, I'm sure there are many flags flying and people coming together who haven't before. Why not continue the theme by having a multi-cultural winter party? Ask everyone to bring a dish and a story common to their culture. You can all spend a pleasant evening sampling foods from other cultures as well as listening to their myths and legends. For your part, give your story a Pagan twist. Perhaps tell a story about winter from the days of old when people thought the Gods brought the cold weather or a tale set in winter that deals with elves, faeries, and other magical folk. Everyone will enjoy the story-swap and maybe even learn a little about other cultures. It's amazing how similar some of our stories and traditions really are once you get down to it.
This holiday season will surely be different from many that have come before and many that will come after, but I think we're all up to the task of making it a merry and loving one for all. Happy Yule!
Abby
By Mystickally
When Abby neared the gates leading to the dark campus, she could do nothing more than gaze into the once peaceful and beautiful fields that made the college so picture-perfect. The lights that were normally shining bright were all turned off. The paved walkways were unusually empty and the only people seen roaming the streets were that of uniformed officers.
No unauthorized people were allowed onto campus, and some sort of guardian accompanied the few students that were permitted on the vicinity.
Abby found a way to sneak onto the campus, along with a few other curious faces. She hid behind shadowed areas to avoid being detected by the armed guards. Somehow, she made her way to the concert hall.
Abby tiptoed her way around the darkened facility, then finally settled down at the middle row of seats in front of the stage. Quietly, Abby just stared at the empty performance area, remembering the many concerts she happily attended, many of which included Cari-lynn as well as Janie Leigh. They had belonged to the school's renowned chamber orchestra, where the best of the music department's students performed alongside their professors.
The orchestra had just wrapped up a rehearsal when the chaos began. Many of the group's members had already left, but several of the musicians had stayed, as they often did, to chat, to practice or even to listen to the others as they rehearsed.
Many of those musicians had been either killed, or remained in critical condition at surrounding hospitals. No wonder Cari-lynn had been so traumatized - many of her colleagues had fallen victims to these malicious acts.
The thing that Abby was so pissed off about was the fact that the people responsible for this were people she once stood beside, asking for the same consideration for pagans that any religious group would get: you don't have to believe my beliefs, but respect the fact that I am entitled to my own and you are entitled to your own.
Many had argued that they were wrong. Many had argued that they were wrong. Eventually, most agreed to disagree and had tried to move on. Apparently, this wasn't enough for these misinformed individuals. As a result, all pagans were looked down upon, hated and feared. They accomplished the exact opposite of what they may have set out to do, but they didn't care! All they cared about was hurting those who had hurt them, and for the revenge, innocent people suffered.
Abby closed her eyes and leaned against the back of the cushioned seat. She felt dizzy with her eyes closed but couldn't bring her self to look at the world.
After what seemed like seconds, a bright light flashed into her eyes. Abby jumped out of her chair and opened her eyes. Four uniformed guards had surrounded her and began questioning her. They held her for an hour and a half before letting her go with a stern warning not to trespass on her own campus!
As she was being escorted off campus by the four men, rush of people ran passed them. The guards suddenly turned their attention towards the crowd, leaving Abby standing in front of the gates alone. She contemplated her options before finally deciding on joining the crowd.
Abby soon learned that the crowd had gathered there, looking for the same answers that she was looking for. They were all trying to figure out how to get on with their lives.
Without meaning to, they all began fighting for the right to continue their educations. They wanted the school to re-open. Unfortunately, their requests were met with a lot of reservations. In fact, they were warned against attempting to return to their usual classes because if they tried, they would be arrested for trespassing.
The next day, Abby joined that same crowd in braving the police officers that were awaiting their arrival. It wasn't until the local television station reported it that Shaene and Kat knew about what was going on, but they were completely stunned to see Abby's face, as well as
Cal's, huddled among the protesting students.
Fearing for their safety, the duo hurried over to the campus to find them. Just as they arrived, the officers suddenly became frantic, ushering the crowd to step behind the gates to the school entrance. When the crowd resisted, the officers began using force.
Using some sort of wand, the officers pushed the crowd farther and farther away from the gates. A sudden large crash was heard and the crowd dispersed, running and screaming out of fear. Gunshots rang out and utter chaos ensued.
Kat and Shaene finally found Abby, kneeling on the ground with a bleeding Cal in her arms. The trio held on to each other, watching helplessly as Cal passed away in Abby's arms, ignorant of the commotion surrounding them.
)O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O(
Abby spent the next few weeks locked up in her apartment. She didn't eat or drink, she cried endlessly and wouldn't answer the phone or read her mail. The only time she moved was to run her hands over the cats' loving bodies or when Shaene reached over to comfort her.
She was numb. She couldn't think about anything except the feeling of sheer terror. And as much as Shaene tried to comfort her, Abby could see through his half-hearted efforts because he, too was mourning and in such pain. Cal had been the one steady thing in Abby's life. He became such a close friend to
Shaene. And now he was gone.
Kat finally paid them a visit, finding the apartment in darkness, except for several lit candles along the windows of each room.
Shaene and Kat greeted one another with a hug. No words had to be exchanged ... each knew what the other was thinking.
Kat entered the living room and found Abby laying on the couch, covered in a thick blanket with fresh tears running down her cheeks.
Kat sat beside Abby's feet and rested her arm on her leg.
Abby could see that Kat's eyes were red and puffy from crying. Kat looked pale and her hair didn't look like it had been brushed in quite some time.
In a scratchy voice, Kat started to speak.
"I could never know him like you know him, Abby. But I do feel your pain. And I think now more than ever I need you... so please ..."
Kat started to choke up but tried to continue.
"...Please don't shut down on me. You are the closest thing to Caleb that I can ever have again! "
Just as Kat began to sob uncontrollably, Abby sat up and caught her friend in her arms. Shaene left them alone to cry in each other's arms. They spent hours not saying a word, but just sitting together in the darkness, concentrating on the comforting flame of the candles.
A few more weeks passed before they received word that their fight to get the school to reopen had worked; School was set to begin again in another week. But the damage had already been done, and Abby's faith in humanity had been further destroyed.
)O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O( )O(
Abby had finally gathered up the strength to visit Cal's grave. She sat beside his monument and looked around. Cal had been laid to rest at the top of a hill, overlooking the crystal blue ocean and under a tree. The scene was absolutely spectacular.
Abby sighed loudly before beginning her dialogue to Caleb.
"At least you don't feel anymore pain, where ever it is that you are. Now maybe you can answer why it is life sucks so much! It's just not worth all the heartache. Is this what it's supposed to be like? Life is just a series of letdowns? My existence is for nothing more than suffering, so that it can be proven that I should never have been born."
"What the hell kind of God would do this?! We all have our own problems right? Debt, crappy families, bad grades ... but did anybody deserve to die? And in such a horrible way for that matter! No, we exist for the sole purpose of adding humor to the existence of whatever it is that is supposedly looking out for us, or whatever it is that created us."
Abby suddenly stood to leave. She turned toward Caleb's monument one last time and declared:
"Prove me wrong Caleb, because I have no faith."
And with that, Abby walked away. Every part of her that had been clinging to hope that life would get better, that she would find happiness and all the suffering in the world would one day be for something, had finally been destroyed. Abby had finally given up on life.
Mystic Moon
(Chapter 11)
By ~ G. Rain
It was early morning but the sun shined brightly upon the city, as if to say good morning to the people hurrying about the streets. Some headed to work, started shopping, or just took a morning stroll in the park with the newspaper or a good book. Although it was December, the weather was unusually warm, a gift.
Normally the shop, Mystic Moon opens at ten o'clock but because December is our busiest month Shara and Mona open up earlier and close later. So that meant the help, me, myself and I had to get up early and head on in to open up shop. Since I had to get up bright and early to open up the shop it didn't leave much time for anything normal people do in the morning, a.k.a. sleep, or make a full breakfast. So every morning like clockwork I'd stop by the coffee house and grab something quick.
"Gwen, your a true New Yorker." Shara had said with a smile when she saw me holding two smoking hot cups of coffee a few weeks ago. As I walked into the coffee house I thought of my closest friends and the time we had spent there. We had bonded in this coffee house and I guess we could consider it "our place". Jane's dedication ritual had occurred in September and from that experience we decided to call ourselves a "coven". We had all worked together so well, it seemed fitting. I started to realize that we hadn't thought up a name.
"Next!" someone shouted as I waited on line. A sour faced woman called to the person in front of me. Maybe, I thought to myself she missed her calling, Drill Sergeant fits the woman's personality more than "what kind of coffee you would like." I suppose though, she could have just been having a bad day so I started to feel a bit sorry for her.
"Good morning, nice day isn't it?" I said trying to be kind as I approached the counter.
"What do you want" She replied. So much for being nice I thought.
"I'd like a mocha cappuccino please, with extra foam!"
"Machines not working right so your gonna have to wait a few minutes." The woman said.
"Ok that's fine." I said not at all phased by this minor complication. Although I did hear a few moans and groans from behind. On the subject of sounds, as I was waiting ... out of no where came a loud sound, although it was oddly familiar ... the sound of plates, dishes and more than likely someone's order hitting the floor. I looked over in the direction and saw the purple haired waitress that had served myself and the gang (Jane, Mona, and
Shara) previously bent over the mess.
"I am sorry I am just not myself today. I am not really feeling to well." She mumbled as she worked quickly to pick up the broken glass.
"That's the same excuse you used two days ago!" The manager shouted loud enough for the whole place to hear.
"I'll pay for it all, everything, I swear." The girl responded which seemed to calm down the manger. He held out his hand and helped her up.
I began to think about one night a few months ago when we were at the coffee house and the girl gave me an uneasy feeling. I sensed evil around her at the time yet now the feeling was different as if evil was around her but she wasn't the source of it.
"That will be $2.95." I heard a voice say loudly, which quickly snapped me out of my haze.
"Oh yes, for the coffee, right" I paid the woman and headed for the door. As I had my hand on the doorknob ready to go I got distracted once again. But that time it was a black bird waiting outside.
It was a sign. Ravens are symbolic for negative omens. Death, an unfortunate message, or a negative force unleashed and heading my way.
Just as I had snapped out of my odd distraction I bumped directly into a tall very pale man dressed head to toe in black. His hair covered his eyes as if he were hiding form the world. Trying not to be seen but to see others.
"I am sorry I didn't see you there." I said moving out of his way.
"You really should watch where your going." He replied in a deep angry voice.
It send shivers up my spine. Although the morning started out well. I couldn't help but dwell on the raven, as well as the dark man I had encountered.
Mystic Moon was a few blocks away from the coffee house so I made it there in great time. I entered the store, it was quit and peaceful. It was a sanctuary and after the morning of negative vibes it helped cloak me in protection.
***************************
Just as I had suspected the morning was very hectic. People coming and going non stop. At one thirty in the afternoon I finally had time to rest for a minute or two. I sat myself down on the stool behind the old wooden and glass counter.
"Busy day?" A familiar voice said from the front of the store. I held my hands over my face in pure exhaustion but didn't bother moving them because Shara's voice was unmistakable.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." I muttered through my fingers.
"Try me" Shara's voice sounded closer. My hands dropped to the counter.
"Well, I came in a 1/2 an hour early to unpack the new shipment of books and candles. At precisely 9 o'clock I opened up shop and refreshed the receipt paper roll. Let me tell you, its a good thing I did because there have been nothing but customers since the very second I finished that task. I honestly don't know what kind of spells you've been working on this store but they are most certainly working!"
"Well, I've just been using the usual incantations and charms, nothing new. As I said the other day, December is always the busiest month."
"Yeah and its better here than it was at my old job, so I am happy." I said.
"You'll be happy with this too." Shara said and handed over an old parchment envelope.
"What's this?" I asked puzzled.
"Just a little something to make your Yule extra special. In the business world they call it ... a bonus." She said with a smile. I quickly opened up the envelope and saw a check for a large amount.
"Oh Shara, I can't accept this, its too generous."
"You've done more than your fair share of work here Gwen, and you deserve it." She said kindly, pushing the envelope away in protest." Anyway, I am getting the feeling that your leaving something out? How are those dreams of yours?"
"Dreams?" I asked, " Oh yes, they are the same. Man comes out of no where, reaches out to me, I take his hand and then he vanishes." I let out a deep pent up breath and took out a dusting cloth. I whipped the counter, but there was nothing on it because I had cleaned it earlier in the day ... twice.
"How about I call Mona in to work, she's phoned me three times today. I'd say she could use something to do."
"Has she found out the sex of the baby yet?" I asked curiously.
"No, she said she'd like to be surprised, although the poor dear is so excited. These last four months will surely be the death of her yet!" Shara said in fun in and jest.
"So when we go to lunch, we should start planning her baby shower!" I said.
"Yes, what a good idea Gwen, and maybe you'll tell me what else is on your mind. I can practically see whatever it is weighing you down."
She knew me so well I though, so very well it was scary. I began to wonder what Shara would know about the ominous sign I had received. Maybe she'd do a card reading and give me a heads up on the dark man I had encountered, the raven, and my reoccurring dreams. Somehow they were all connected. I knew out of anyone, Shara would know how.
Michael and Beth Chronicles
A Change of Plans
By Selene Silverwind
SeleneSilverwind.com
(In our last episode: Kyra got word that her business will soon be booming, Mark asked if he and Gary could move into the three-bedroom after Angela's family moves out, and Beth agreed to move in with Michael when a two-bedroom opened up in the building.)
As Gary burst through the front door of the apartment he shared with Mark he nearly tripped over a box positioned in front of it.
"What's this?" he asked Mark, who was standing over a similar box in the kitchen.
"I've decided to start packing since business is slow right now."
"We're not moving for three weeks."
"And it will take us that long to pack up all our stuff. I finally took an inventory. Do you have any idea how much we really have?"
Gary chuckled, then nodded. "You're right. I'll give you a hand this weekend. But now I have fantastic news!"
Mark crossed the room toward his soon-to-be husband. "What?"
"The judge who granted the TRO on the beach has a few connections and has already started the process of protecting the beach permanently. It should be designated within two months!"
"That's fantastic. Congrats."
"And I've been thinking something else."
"Help me pack while you explain," Mark said as he walked back into the kitchen. The box in there was already half-full of seldom-used Tupperware. Another box contained seldom-used pots and pans. He went to a third, which was filled with kitchen towels and potholders and began emptying a drawer into it. "So what were you thinking?"
"I don't want to get united in May."
Mark dropped the drawer and turned to face him. "What?"
Gary could see the hurt and panic in Mark's eyes. He hadn't meant to say it like that. "I want to get married now. Let's ask Kyra to do it next weekend. Here, in the courtyard."
The hurt left Mark's eyes, only to be replaced by confusion. "But what about our deposits and the caterer and our guests."
"I called the hotel. We can get our deposit back in full. The caterer is available next weekend, and all our guests are local. Half of them live in this building anyway."
"You want to do this now? You don't want the beautiful location and the fancy flowers?"
"No. All I want is to be permanently united to you as soon as possible," Gary said, stepping closer to Mark and hugging him tight. "Don't you?"
Mark leaned back his head and smiled. "Okay. Let's do it. Forget packing. I'll go ask Kyra in a minute."
As Michael came in through the carport, he spotted Kyra sitting on the lawn. Her eyes were open, so he guessed he wouldn't be disturbing her meditation time if he spoke to her. "Hi,
Kyra."
She turned toward him, flashing a warm smile. "Hi, Michael."
"I heard that Mark and Gary are moving upstairs. Does that mean their unit will be available?"
"I haven't decided yet. Why?"
"Because if it is, Beth and I would like to move into it."
Kyra jumped to her feet and hugged Michael. "Then it's yours. Decision made."
Michael stepped back, grinning. "Perfect. I can't wait to tell Beth!"
And then he was off, dashing up the stairs to knock on Beth's door. She answered a moment later, dressed in a paint-covered smock and apparently nothing else. For a moment, Michael almost forgot why he'd knocked, then he remembered.
"Start packing!"
"Huh?" Beth said as she opened the door wider so Michael could pass through it.
"We're moving in three weeks. Into Mark and Gary's place."
"Wow. That was fast."
"I prefer to think of it as fate."
Beth laughed and it made Michael's blood race through his veins. "Fate it is. But I don't need to pack now. I don't have much stuff. Except the books. I can pack in a day."
"Perfect, then you have time for a diversion," he said as he swung her front door closed and stepped closer to her.
Mark stepped out of his apartment and crossed the lawn to Kyra, who had resumed her busy day of cloud-gazing. She leaned up as she heard the footsteps approaching. "Well, hello, Mark. I heard cheering earlier. Care to share with the class?"
He was smiling like a happy fool. "Gary and I have another favor to ask you."
"Yes, if I can."
"Wait till you hear what I say."
She laughed. He was right. She really shouldn't always be agreeing to everything up front. It was just so hard to turn down people she considered family. "Okay. What's up?"
"Gary and I have decided to be united next weekend. Can we do it here and will you still perform the ceremony?"
Once again Kyra jumped up. She really was getting a work-out today. "Of course! Oh my, I need to decorate. There's so much to do. We should get busy. I need to call a tenant's meeting."
Krya cupped her hands around her lips, then yelled. "Meeting, now! Everyone into the courtyard!"
Simultaneously, four doors popped open. It was unusual for everyone to be home at eleven a.m. on a Tuesday, but Kyra found it serendipitous. Beth and Michael ran down the stairs buttoning their shirts while Angela skipped down repositioning the towel wrapped around her hair. Anacati emerged from her unit clad in a lab coat. Gary also came out, holding a newspaper in one hand.
Once they were all standing in a circle around Kyra she said, "We have a sudden change in plans. Gary and Mark are getting united here next weekend. That gives us 12 days to get everything together. I'll need everyone's help. Angela and Beth, you help with decorating.
Anacati, you'll help Michael make arrangements for chairs and that sort of thing. Mark and Gary, you'll call all your guests to notify them. All right, everyone get to work!"
Everyone hugged Gary and Mark, then hurried in different directions. Beth and Angela followed Kyra into her apartment while Anacati and Michael headed up to his place in search of a phone book. Mark and Gary went back into their apartment to start a marathon phone and e-mail session.
In Kyra's apartment, Beth and Angela immediately started throwing out ideas for what they could do. It was decided that the ceremony would be lovely right in front of the lavender bush. Kyra would have Adam erect an arch over it for added flair. The caterer could set up along the cement walkway at the back of the courtyard and chairs could be arranged on the lawn for the ceremony, then rearranged around folding tables for the reception. Mark and Gary weren't having a terribly large number of guests, so if they opened their bottom floor apartment, there would be plenty of room for everyone. And since they would be almost packed, it would be simple to set out a few vases of flowers to continue the festive theme in there.
"I'd like to make the garlands for the seats and a cloth to go over the altar," Angela said. "I recently learned how to cross-stitch and found a lovely pattern I've been meaning to try."
"I'll make their handfasting cord and a painting to go over the gift table," Beth chimed in. "And the cup I'm supposed to make for my pottery class. That'll be a perfect wedding chalice. Oh, and I can get my band to play at the reception. I was working on a special song to play at the wedding. Good thing I was almost done anyway!"
"And I've already got the ceremony written, fortunately for me."
"Now all we need is a banner, which I can easily paint. I have the perfect piece of fabric for it. Can you think of anything else?" Beth asked.
"No. I think we're set as long as everything else falls into place. Beth, let me warn you now," Kyra said. "When you and Michael decide to get married, I want more than two weeks notice." She sounded stern, but she was smiling.
"Me and Michael?"
"Yes. It's obvious you're going there and I'd love to perform the ceremony, but I'd like lots of notice."
Beth laughed. "Don't worry. I can promise you lots of notice. I don't think Michael's going to be proposing for a long time yet."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Kyra said with one of her odd smiles.
"Is there something I should know?"
"Just a feeling."
"Yeah, I know about your feelings." She hated when Kyra got all mysterious about her future, but she had to admit that Kyra's feelings always turned out to be right, and always turned out to be good for her.
Within an hour, Michael and Anacati had reserved everything they would need for the ceremony and arranged to have it all delivered. Then the conversation turned to more personal matters. "So, when will I get to come to your wedding?" Anacati asked.
Michael felt his cheeks color, but he wondered the same thing himself. "I don't think we're quite there yet."
"I don't know. You seem pretty there."
"I don't think Beth is there."
"Have you asked?"
Michael considered that. Was it possible that Beth was there? And more to the point, was this something he was actually considering? Yes, he loved Beth. He was clear on that. Yes, he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Yes, he wanted that to start as soon as possible, which was why he was moving in with her. But marriage? They'd only been dating a few months.
"You don't think that's rushing things?" he asked.
Anacati shrugged. "That's not something I can answer for you."
"I need to think about this."
Except that he didn't really need to think about it. Deep down he knew his decision was made. The question was: would Beth agree?
He'd watch her for the next couple days, try to get a read on how she felt about it. If she showed any signs of moving in that direction, he'd follow his heart and see where it took him.
The scene in my mind
By Lorelei
The scene in my mind
beckons me astray-
to a place found in dreams
on a dreary winter day.
Calm blue skies,
a fluttering breeze,
I run through the meadow,
I fall to my knees.
I smell the flowers
and turn for a look
and a short little listen
to the babbling brook.
I turn my face to the sky,
a sprinkle of rain,
cleanses my soul
and eases my pain.
The clouds rolling in
break the serenity,
now I must return
to my reality.
