Her eyes grow large and luminous and her voice flares with raw power as she proclaims:
"I do not demand sacrifice! For behold, I am the Mother of all living things!"
She places the palm of her right hand on one man's forehead. She shouts:
"Create and Heal"
Then softens her voice and winks at another:
"Be strong, yet gentle."
She turns quickly to an old woman:
"Be noble, yet reverent."
She then tips the chin of an attractive young lady:
"Bring forth and replenish."
And pivots with a seductive laugh. She moves about the circle, touching each individual, murmuring encouragement of hopes and dreams, laying aside fear and hatred.
"And, as does the cycle of the Moon ever begin to wax and wane and to grow forth again, as do the seasons from one to next flow in smooth rhythm, from sowing to reaping, to seeming death and rebirth... so will my children know their own patternt in both worlds!"
Your heart begins to beat its own primal rhythm as she moves- no, glides- toward you. Your stomach does those familiar flippity-flops when you realize it is you she has singled out. She stand but a breath in front of you. You feel her warmth envelop you with the perfume of musk, or is it lavender? She is so beautiful you think your eyes will never see normally again.
Her hand delicately touches your shoulder, sending a rapturous vortex of power jolting down your body, then building in your belly. She speaks in a whisper that, amazingly, all can hear:
"And ye shall say these words...
I WILL love and harm none.
I WILL live, love, die, and live again.
I WILL meet, remember, know,
and embrace once more.
For the free will of ALL, And with harm to None
As I will
It now is done
So mote it be!"
You speak the words. The people speak the words. She backs to the center of the circle, never appearing to be move; but just the same. Her power churns through every molecule of your system.
The circle begins to fill with the drifting notes of pan pipes, whirling into a foggy spiral toward her. Where she once stood alone, now solidifies a towering being- half beast, half man. His body is covered in fine, golden iridescence. His bronze, muscular arms encircle her gently, as if she were made of the lightest faery wing.
Two large, twisting horns protrude from His head, glowing with a light that appears to be all its own. His visage does not frighten you, for you realize that this is the God, the consort of the Lady, and that he is the golden half of her.
They smile deeply at one another. Their seperate bodies slowly melt together into a single, blazing entity of light. And the human circle is plunged into darkness.
Your fearful heart turns your eyes to the heavens, but it is only another cloud that has passed before the face of the moon.
The light returns almost as quickly as it was stolen. Perhaps... not quite as mystical as before. All eyes turn to the center of the circle.
And it is bare.
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