As Thoth inspires, so do I write.
We walk down a path through the forest towards the glen in which we normally celebrate our Holy Days. We are many and varied, though our hearts leap at the thought of sharing this time together, rejoicing in the renewal of the Earth, our Mother. Someone perhaps plays a walking tune on a recorder. The forest is much as it has always been, deep, and full of quiet wisdom, and the sounds of the small denizens of the Woods. We have traveled this way many times before, yet something feels slightly different, changed. We notice that, up ahead, the path we normally trod has Changed; the Goddess has been at work here it seems. We stop to ponder whether or not we should proceed as normal, or venture down this new, unknown path which leads we know not where.
As we stand discussing this new pathway amongst ourselves, someone whispers “Look, over there! Do you see it?”. We turn to gaze where they point and lo, we see a tiny point of light, that seems to come towards us, growing in size as it comes. We watch in wondering amazement as a figure takes form. It appears to be that of a youngling, a little girl with longish tresses, raven black, falling over her shoulders and back. She seems clad in raiment of a cloth so fine and shimmering, that it must surely be spun from the very moonlight which bathes and guides our party. We are amazed as the wonder-child lifts her gaze to us: her eyes glow with the softest of moonlight. Of a certitude, we know now that this is no mere mortal child cloaked in a glamour. No with features this fine, and eyes that glow with the power of Creation in them, she must be of the Ancient race, the Faerie!
She smiles at us, a smile that fills our hearts with love and joy, and wordlessly, in the silence of our souls, she speaks to us. “Happy is this time, this day and night, for it is the time of the Balance of the new year! Be you all at peace, and know I bring you love and joy! Our Mother, the Goddess herself has bid me come to you this night, to guide you to a new place, for She and her Mate, the God have a gift to give unto you. Follow me, and leave your cares and troubles behind, for tonight, we celebrate! Tonight is the Dance of Life and Love! Come!” With this joyous greeting, she quickly rushes away, down the new path.
We hurry to follow the sprite-child, laughter and song welling up out of our hearts, for we are filled with wondrous expectation at what the Goddess and God have for us, up ahead. Our feet seem lighter as we rush down this new path: we are buoyed up by the very joy that strains to burst forth from within each of us! At long last, we reach the end of the path, it opens into a glade surrounded by beautiful evergreens, yet these are unlike any trees or shrubs known to us, for they bear most curious fruit: some have berries of gold, others of silver, all in equal measure. As the Faerie-Child turns to face us, a gentle breeze wafts through the glade, and the berries chime, like wondrous bells: the gold sound a deep tone that speaks to the earth within us; the silver shimmer in sound that makes our souls sing.
We are filled with happiness at the sight and sounds of this magickal place, and start to speak to the Child, to thank her for leading us here, when she again speaks to our minds. “This place, though very fair to the eye, ear, and heart, is not your destination tonight.” Gesturing with her hand, she says “Behold!” as a magnificent, stately, silvery tree appears in the midst of the glade. Tall it is, with bark and branches as pale as moonlight, yet its leaves gleam with the warm glow of the sun itself! “This tree is the passageway which will lead to your Gift. You must climb it, together, all of you and reach its top.” “But it is so tall,” we cry out, “how shall we be able to reach the top?” For the first time, she utters a sound that falls on our ears: bright peals of laughter. Taking the hand of the nearest person, she says “Join you all together, for we shall dance our way to the top!”
With leaping, dancing, swift-footed steps, she mounts into the very air about us! We are all pulled along behind her, filled with amazement and laughter at the wondrous thing. Higher and higher we go, spiraling around the magickal tree. The Faerie-Child begins to sing a song, not of words, but of love and joy, that seems to make the very air about us glow and shimmer. Higher and higher still, up towards the top of the Tree we dance, song and laughter fills the air about us, when suddenly there is a brilliant flash of light, and a burst of sound.
We find ourselves on a high desert plateau, at the edge of a cliff. The air is silent, and we are filled with wonder and expectation. The Sun and the Moon both hang in the sky, on either side of what looks to be the Earth itself! Someone whispers “We’re not in Kansas anymore.” We jump as laughter bursts out behind us! We all turn and see two figures; one male, one female, both are robust young people. They are clad in raiments of black and white, upon her brow is a circlet of shimmering silver, his is of warm-glowing gold. They walk hand-in-hand, and our hearts are filled with joy at the sight of Them, for we now know who They are. They speak to us in unison, saying:
“Be you welcome to this place and this time!
Your arrival is fortuitous, for this is the time of the Balance.
At this time, day and night are equal one with the other.
Winter loses its grasp on the world, and summer comes apace.
Your hearts, and all of Creation itself know this, that the Balance
must be maintained,
that Chaos must be balanced with Order,
discord must be balanced with harmony.
Yet, the Order which governs your lives must not be rigid: let your hearts be light and full of love.
That is why We have called you here at this time of not-day and not-night to share Our love and
blessings with you.
We would give unto you our gifts, that you might know
We are with you always, and in all things.”
Now, They move a little apart. The Lady looks at us and says: “I give you my love, the love of a mother for her newborn child, the love of that child for the sights, smells, and sounds it shall enjoy during every Springtime of every year. I give you the freedom your hearts yearn for, to dance and sing and frolic like the young lamb in the meadow. I give to you the boundless joy of the young lovers, whose two hearts seek to be one, and the quiet whispers of love and faith that the young at heart share with each other in quiet times. I give to you the peaceful tranquillity of times spent in quiet meditation beside a wandering spring, fed by the melting snows of winter. These things, and all that your hearts desire, I give to you, My children.”
The God looks at us, and throws his arms wide, as a father embraces His children. To you, my sons and daughters I give the Earth herself, renewed, and full of life! To you I give the satisfaction and joy of seeing all your endeavours take root and grow, just as the newly-planted seeds grow into the fruitful gardens of the world. To you, I give the joyous freedom of lusty abandon, to let your hearts take flight, to let your joy and love for each other fill you to bursting! To you I give the strength of the mighty oak tree, so that you may overcome any adversity, any hardship. To you I give the joys of fellowship, and the love and good times shared with friends. May your hearts be filled with merriment, and a song always upon your lips, for in these simple things you join with Us in worshipful celebration!
They again join hands, and silently commune for a time with us in joyous union. Then once again They speak in unison, saying: “We see that in your hearts are sorrows, for there are those among you, and about you who have sorrow or loss in your life. We grieve with you, and would take these pains from you, but We must not. For just as the tree must now and again need pruning, that it might grow strong and true, and bear fruit, so too shall their be times in your lives when you are anguished. Though your pains are great at this time, know this: those who have gone on before you live on in Us, for We encompass all, and all are a part of Us. We cherished them before their time came to be, We loved them during their lives, however short, and We welcome them again unto Us in the silence of memory. They are not lost to you.
Remember you this, even if you forget aught else: as long as these dear ones live on in your hearts, they shall live forever. Hold not back the tears you would shed for them, for the tears you shed nourish your souls and the souls of those around you, just as the rain nourishes the roots of the new growing plants. Death and life are part of the Eternal Balance, just as light and dark must needs balance each other. Now is the time of new life, and new growth, even though that life and growth must proceed from death. So let your hearts be light, and let your Dance again begin, for it is the embodiment of the Dance of Life itself. And when your hearts would be made heavy by loss, know this: as you Dance, those who are gone from you Dance with you for all time, and so it goes; the Cycle renews itself, and the Wheel turns.”
They join with us, leading the Dance Themselves. Though the steps are often intricate, and the meter uneven, we find ourselves Dancing faster and faster, our hearts growing lighter and more and more full of the joy which is Springtime. Suddenly, with a flash of light, we find ourselves in our traditional glade in the woods, wherein we have so oft-celebrated the Turning of the Wheel. As we stand, hand in hand, marveling at our shared experience, we again hear Their voices in our minds saying: “The Wheel turns, and everything shall happen in its time, for this is the way of Life. Brightest blessings to you all.”
All thanks to my Patron, Mighty Thoth, for His inspiration. Queron Truthsayer March 21st, 1998.
Design & Graphics© 1997-1999 Catherine B. Hicks, Starweaver Creations/Cyberpanic Web Design. All rights for the work remain with the authors as stated. All rights reserved. Copying this page without permission is a violation of United States copyright laws.