"In Glade's Embrace" (Entry 539)

The bats continue their symphony.

Leading and guiding the way.

Follow the path unseen.

Travel where only the blessed have tread.

Relief as companions appear

from the shadowed embrace of oaks.

Carry holly and the mistletoe.

Enter the glade together.

Ceremony.

Sacred space.

Home.

*************

Happy Yule to all of you celebrating today. Blessed Be!

"Winds Turn" (Entry 538)

North winds turn to bound and ground.

East winds turn to whip air and rip.

South winds turn to light up the night.

West winds turn to moon’s tidal ride.

*********

Thinking of everyone in the UK suffering through these gale force winds. Stay safe and warm. 

"Silver Ring" (Entry 361)

It shone out in the moonlight.

Sparkling silver, circle bright. 

A shimmering ring,

She knew what it meant, but why?

She didn't expect it, this night

To turn out this way, not right. 

She howled in anguish,

Knowing every word was a lie. 

It meant that all they'd had done was deceit 

Crying out, her world crashed at her feet.

The silver ring, she found in the forest. 

Broke her heart, she wanted to die. 

To a noise behind, she span round

Raised her head high and stood her ground,

As her tears turned to anger. 

He stepped forward with smile, so wry. 

"So, I've caught you" he said in victorious gloat. 

As in-human snarl rose in her throat. 

"You can't step over the silver circle. This ring that we made. 

Can you, werewolf? Don't deny!"

"UK Solstice Day" (Entry 356)

Solstice day sans sun. 

Rain clouds thunder past our way. 

British summer norm.

********

Happy Summer Solstice! Blessed Be!

"To Gaze, but Not See" (Entry 298)

Gaze at surroundings.
Clear eyes, like crystal balls,
To view another’s life.
Although it’s mine.
I see the oak rocking chair
With broken lattice that digs into my ribs
As I seesaw.
I see the purple hand-knitted cushion,
With many a pull caused by
Wedged into the space to stop the sharp swing dig.
The pack of tarot cards,
Worn soft by pleading hands
wringing love or riches from them.
A china cup on mismatched chipped saucer
Roses and Polka Dots.
These are the stuff of a life,
That’s mine,
But I cannot quite see as I
Gaze at surroundings.

"A meeting. Hey, Lady!" (Entry 282)

"Hey, Lady! Got any change?"
"What?"
"Change. Have you got any? To spare, like."

Lady glances at the grubby girl in the doorway.
Just another dropout, but there was something about the eyes.

What is it about eyes?

Grubby can't be more than 15,
a child really.
A child.

Lady rubs her swollen belly protectively,
then digs into her bag,
pulls out a £5 note, pushing into the outstretched hand.
"Wow! Thanks, Lady!"

Grubby jumps to her feet and
lays her hand on her donor's stomach.

Unexpected!

"You and your child are truly blessed."

Startled by the statement,
as the voice that occupies Grubby is much older, deeper almost a host of sound that resonates.
Echoes.
Sings.
Chants and praises.
Raises and rides an ocean wave of emotion.

A moment.
It seems that the 33 week load she carries becomes weightless, like a helium filled balloon.
Relief. Warmth. Release.
Love. Support. Peace.
Grubby got it right - a blessing.
Truly, a blessing.

Lady turns to question Grubby.
Gone.
Off to spend the money on booze or drugs or some such thing.
With that thought,
The pain returns.
Lady sighs.
And sighs again.

"Hidden from Sight" (Entry 250)

They kept it locked, cased in special place,
within the museum vaults.
For in its hideousness, it was still precious,
even with all its faults.
Kept within a box behind glass and metal,
so no-one could peer to find
and far away, to stay, from visitors' view,
for to see it - you will go blind.

"For Want of a Cat" (Entry 241)

The flea bit on the rat within the grime,
Many existed after the Burning Times.

Executed witches and their familiars, just pets.
The cats were killed, which now they regret.

So out into the world, the rodent ran
from flea to rat to ravaged man.

And on and on and on.

The Black Death scampered,
humanity's growth almost hampered.

And on and on and on.

Death became them, almost all,
this could have been civilisations fall.

For it all started with a flea on rat.
So on they cried, for want of a cat.

"Momentous Moment of Mystical Bliss" (Entry 195)

She reached the ocean's edge.
The candles held by her companions
reflected on calm silken surface,
joining with those lights of the stars,
who had come out to watch
this momentous single moment of mystical bliss.
She accepted the words of blessings
and, with freewill,
stepped into the water.
She became their sister,
one of the star children.
She was cleansed and energised.

"Cafe Conjuring" (Entry 169)

She liked to sit in the quiet corner of the cafe.
To stir good fortune along with the sugar.
To conjure calmness on spilt milk.
To meddle in magick beside the muffins.
To sprinkle dreams on top of the chocolate.
To shape love within the foamed hearts.

She watched the truth of life descend on her fellow companions,
she sent out positivity to all even though they never spoke to her.
The circle of life,
full of beginnings and endings they thought.
She knew different.
If they only asked her.

"A Witches Prayer" (Entry 163)

In the end, we prayed.

Crowded together in the cells.

The only water from the damp rocks.

We chanted for help.

In the end, that was all we could do.

Persecuted for being different,

for being healers... and female.

Accused of dancing with the devil.

UNTRUE! NOT RIGHT!

Guilty in their eyes, but not ours.

We lived in harmony with nature

and nurtured the gifts of cosmos.

But we lived in a man's world

who would turn any phrase to suit himself.

So we prayed for death.

Not revenge for their actions,

or to die by their hand -

in torture - in flames - in agony beyond screams.

Their punishment. And they called us evil.

We prayed that we would be taken in this night,

before dawn's discovery.

To go to our light, in our rightful place, at our choosing.

Not suicide, but a request - granted.

"Inside The Circle" (Entry 120)

Inside the circle... MagicK happens.
Inside the circle... YOU are between worlds.
Not heavens or Earths
But a place of your OWN making.
Here be Dragons,
The compass takes form of Angels or Spirits.
Inside the circle... YOU are part of the orb.
Inside the circle... ENERGY twirls.