Memorial Part Two

Many people think geese are innocent and that the hunters who kill them are babarians. I wonder what they would say if the only knew what was really going on: that Canadian Geese are smuggling info on the Socialist health care system Canadians use across the border into the United States. Hunters are really crack squads of CIA assassins who are there to prevent the corruption our our beautiful capitalist state.

It could not have been a better weekend. Small wonders filled the whole weekend. Things like the fact that it rained all night Sunday night, yet we woke to a beautiful, sunny morning for our memorial service. As soon as the service was done and we were in camp, packing to go home, the clouds began to gather again. Like the fact that we had almost two and a half hours on the mountaintop to ourselves to remember Jim.

Other sorts of small miracles occurred. Loni and I sat on the banks of a lake and watched a bird of prey fly across the lake, then suddenly dive and catch a fish with its claws and fly away. It's one thing to see that on National Geographic; it is a whole different universe to see it live. We think is was an Osprey because of the markings.

There was sadness because this was also the last time we would be meeting as a coven. Our interests have been diverse from the very beginning and with Jim gone, some of the glue holding us together is gone. So we would be going our own different ways after this.

The hike on Monday morning up Elk Mountain (I used to live in Colorado and am simply not used to hearing a 2200 foot hill called a mountain) was very pleasant. It went slow and that was fine. This mountain is a very popular hike for tourists, yet we had it to ourselves after reaching the top. It is a good thing that we did, your average tourist might have freaked to see us all in full robes with Jim's complete altar setup. We did mess up one thing: we left the book with the ritual Jim had written in the car. Frankly, I could almost hear him sigh and see him shrug; that's what happens when you leave organization to a bunch of witches.

The ritual was beautiful. That's all I have to say about it; it was beautiful. We scattered his ashes and as Linda cast the final handful of ashes a beautiful, wonderful bird of prey flew right through them; rising on the wind. I feel that it was an angel, come to take Jim home to Summerland. Do I believe in magick? Oh, yes I do. Everyday is filled with magick.

We finished with the song that we always ended circle with:

By the air that is Her breath
By the fire of Her bright spirit
By the waters of Her womb
And the earth that is Her body

Our circle is open; Yet unbroken
May the Peace of the Goddess be ever in our hearts
Merry Meet, Merry Part and Merry Meet again.

By the air that is Her breath
By the fire of Her bright spirit
By the waters of Her womb
And the earth that is Her body

Our circle is open; Yet unbroken
May the Love of the Goddess be ever in our hearts
Merry Meet, Merry Part and Merry Meet again.

By the air that is Her breath
By the fire of Her bright spirit
By the waters of Her womb
And the earth that is Her body

Our circle is open; Yet unbroken
May the Joy of the Goddess be ever in our hearts
Merry Meet, Merry Part and Merry Meet again.

Our Circle is now open; It will NEVER be broken. Merry did we meet, Merry did we part and Merry will we meet again! So Mote it Be!

Blessings to all of you, my friends. Take time to hug the people and animals you love. Hum a song you enjoy. Let life carry you along today. If you are struggling remember: this too shall pass. Pax.