- Spring
…shiver…
…where am I? Think back, think back.
Ever so slowly, I remember…
My parents met volunteering in the Hog Farm Collective’s free kitchen at the original Woodstock Festival. After their shift in the kitchen, they spent the rest of the festival as part of the “Please Force,” helping redirect offensive behavior with positive influence. Apparently, I was conceived amidst the massive mystic energy generated on Yasgur’s farm during those three days.
My childhood was spent spanning the North American continent in an old beat up repainted school bus, my parents traveling from commune to gathering to festival, spreading their own ideologies for peace and ecology in those formative years. “Always leave a camp in better condition than you found it,” was imbued in to me with my first breath. I found my own way spiritually, and attended what Circles I could, becoming an acolyte of my chosen path at twelve.
Love was freely given and received beginning at seventeen, but unlike my parents I preferred remaining unattached. I conceived a year later, and my now grown daughter was welcomed as a Maiden by drinking the elixir and dancing in the Moonbeam at the full moon celebration the month of her 21st birthday. She shows much potential for becoming a powerful priestess herself, one day. The same as I did at my own Maiden ceremony years ago. I am proud of the powerful and independent woman she has grown to be, yet relish my own freedom once again.
What day is it? It seems to be morning…
Ah yes, no wonder I am befuddled. The full moon ceremony for the month of my 40th birthday was last night. My Motherhood ceremony was held in the glade at the great altar, where we all danced skyclad in the moon light.
One of the new responsibilities for a Mother is brewing her own elixir from the mushrooms, before she is given the honor of brewing it for the rising Maidens. Having indulged in various substances throughout my life, I decided to make my elixir a little stronger than the Crones recommended.
It appears it worked...
During the dance last night, it became my honor to dance on the altar itself, directly in the beam of moonlight. As I danced, I was handed a golden chalice of my elixir, which I held up towards Mother Moon for her blessing, then drank down. To my perception time stood still. The glade’s leaves flowed with motes of silver starlight sparkling along their ridges. The forest blurred and I found myself melding in to it as I danced faster and faster.
In the end, exhausted, I collapsed upon the altar in the moonbeam and slept.
And awoke here, alone in a grassy meadow surrounded by unknown trees. I do not recognize this place, but I feel it is good. The naturalness here sings to me. And already the cold recedes with the warmth of the rising sun...
As the sun rose higher, I make my way over to the tree line which surrounds the meadow. I spy a species which seems vaguely familiar. Its leaves are heart-shaped and remind me of the Empress trees of the Appalachians. Yes, I smile to myself, making my way over to some younger growth Empress trees with their huge leaves. These will do…
Approaching one of the saplings, I give honor to it with a small bow of acknowledgment before reaching out to begin harvesting one of its massive leaves. At nearly two feet across, I will only need a few to cover myself. There are enough saplings for me to only harvest one from each.
As my hand encircles the base of the leaf’s stem, a nearly imperceptible shudder seems to run through the tree. I step back, hand dropping quickly to my side. “Are you aware of me?” I ask. Ever so slightly, the leaves rustle, as if in reply. I didn’t feel a breeze just then. Perhaps there will be some lingering effects from my elixir yet, I think to myself, shaking my head at my fancy. Still, no harm in becoming more attuned to one I seek a gift from, I continue musing as I press my skyclad form in to the leaf and slowly wrap it around me, all the while leaving it attached.
My mind opens itself to the tree, sending a vision of myself draped in several of the leaves from it and its brethren, when suddenly my perception is no longer of me opening to it.
This can not be real! I cry out, not knowing if I am vocalizing that thought or not. But it no longer matters whether I did or not. I am One with the tree. And not only the tree. My mind expands; growing and stretching to embrace all of Nature: Flora and Fauna. Air, Earth, Fire, and Water.
Not a quote from my path, but it feels appropriate…
- “For everything there is a season.
And a time to every purpose
…under heaven.”
…may it forever continue.