The scene was set
\nA roaring fire
\nA thinning veil
\nThere to inspire
\nA goodly few
\nAncestrally
\nRobed up and masked
\nAnd wanting to be<\/p>\n
The stones looked resplendent
\nIn the afternoon light
\nLichened and purposeful
\nAnd just feeling right
\nSkeletons seated
\nWith birds of prey
\nWith pumpkins and lanterns
\nA true array <\/p>\n
Of Magickal symbols
\nFrom this liminal sphere
\nBesoms and candles
\nIt just was all here
\nPlenty of thermals,
\nTo combat the frost
\nA south Westerly wind
\nMy frizzy locks tossed<\/p>\n
In the South Chipping Norton’s
\nBurnt umber hues
\nOf Autumnized cereals
\nPaying their dues
\nTo the greatest of mothers
\nDying back they
\nAll enriching the earth
\nAt the end of the day<\/p>\n
In the West where the veil
\nWas as thin as could be
\nWhere the thinly clad trees
\nHung frantically
\nThe light picked out pigments
\nOf orange and gold
\nOn this mound of antiquity
\nMost there seem sold<\/p>\n
In the North a dark halo
\nOf trees clustered there
\nProtecting the site
\nFrom the roadside
\nThey share
\nOlive and darker shades
\nAnd in the East
\nThe Druids and friends
\nAwait the great feast<\/p>\n
The ritual of Samhain
\nThe feelings abroad
\nA great marbled sky
\nA justly reward
\nLed by our Arch Druid
\nResplendant in green
\nCat masks and ghouls
\nA peaceable scene<\/p>\n
Forming a circle
\nThe ancestors too
\nAre joining the ritual
\nIn spirit anew
\nWe close our eyes
\nBriefly holding hands
\nAs we dream
\nOf the loved ones we lost
\nInviting a stream<\/p>\n
Of consciousness to us
\nAbundantly we
\nFind the closeness of friends
\nSharing, we be
\nThe quarters are opened
\nThe dancers appear
\nBeautiful music
\nTo pleasant the ear<\/p>\n
Gyrations magickal
\nGraceful acclaim
\nAnd all the while
\nWatching the colourful flame
\nDave is a our fire person
\nLogs to the fore
\nWe break the circle
\nTo the East to implore<\/p>\n
Of the spirits
\nthe Ancestors
\nThe triple goddess
\nSamhain,
\nthe witches the faeries
\nThe fortune tellers who gain
\nFrom the Rollright stones
\nEach spirit there
\nIn their reply
\nWe are able to share<\/p>\n
The manna is blessed
\nAnd is passed around
\nWhilst our Bard from his chair
\nEntertains
\nAnd is bound
\nIn creating some pictures
\nWith words to acclaim
\nThe secrets and passages
\nOf this Samhain<\/p>\n
Then comes the talking stick
\nA magickal phase
\nFor each soul who holds it
\nCan ably praise
\nWhatever they have chosen
\nTo share with us all
\nA poem a song a reflection
\nA call
\nReminded affirming it be
\nHealing us all us all
\nWith each sweet symphony<\/p>\n
We are all friends together
\nAdmiringly
\nWe can all share the deference
\nOf the ceremony
\nIts a quiet time
\nEnveloped by the darkening light
\nBy the wonderful stones
\nMoving in ever tight<\/p>\n
We are all free spirits
\nTogether as one
\nWith a great sense of purpose
\nFor what we have done
\nLeft the warmth of the fireside
\nTo come to a place
\nWhich is ancient and special
\nA benevolent space<\/p>\n
To breathe in the air
\nThe frost let it try
\nTo break through the thermals
\nStanding here
\nHigh
\non the great hill
\nIn open air
\nOur lungs being filled
\nAs ancients have done
\nAs ancestors willed<\/p>\n
It to be, in the open
\nFree of wifi
\nMoments of wonderment
\nDown from the sky
\nA great transformation
\nThe fervour of light
\nOf headlamps and lanterns
\nAnd torches
\nAll bright<\/p>\n
Names to be remembered
\nWritten on the scroll
\nAnd burned in the embers
\nEach and every soul
\nAll the spirits around us
\nPast present and before
\nCalled into being
\nAnd for evermore<\/p>\n
The Druids prayer
\nRecited together
\nClosing the quarters
\nGiving thanks that the weather
\nHad been convivial
\nHad spared the rain
\nThe wind chill expected
\nHad begun to drain<\/p>\n
The blood from the toes
\nAnd the finger tips too
\nBut the fire smiled a lot
\nAnd its magick we drew
\nThen came the sparklers
\nThe joyous refrain
\nOf relaxing together
\nWith thanks to Samhain<\/p>\n
The Cotswold Order
\nCreates in a way
\nA chance to be free
\nAnd to share and to play
\nA part in creation
\nA ritual of sorts
\nThat inspires and desires
\nAnd concentrates thoughts<\/p>\n
To the wonderful countryside
\nThe open air
\nCollective affirmations
\nThat all of us share
\nThe elders the youth
\nIts a meeting of minds
\nEven “Riler”the canine
\nSeemingly finds
\nA place for herself
\nSharing with her mama
\nAn understanding
\nYES Whoever we are.<\/p>\n
A special thanks to all the Order
\nWho worked this ritual beautifully today
\nEach and everyone of you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The scene was set A roaring fire A thinning veil There to inspire A goodly few Ancestrally Robed up and masked And wanting to be The stones looked resplendent In the afternoon light Lichened and purposeful And just feeling right … Continue reading