And as you watch in awe and wonder and sheerest joy, the forms solidify into that of a Lady and her Lord, at once the robed Priest and Priestess that met you, and yet much, much more.

The Lady seems to shift forms, now young, now old, Mother of the Green Earth in her leafy garment, or Queen of the Stars, her cloak of midnight blue containing the starry depths of the universe. She stretches out her hands, her body making the holy star of wisdom, Michaelangelo's perfect form.

As she does so, the man calls out, "Listen to the words of the Great Mother, who of old was called Isis, Freya, Danu, Cybele, Demeter, Kuan Yin, Lakshmi, Mokosh, Shekinah, and many other names."

The woman's voice is rich with both promise and fufillment. "Whenever you have need of anything, once in the month, and better it be when the Moon is full, you shall gather in some secret place and adore the spirit of Me who am Queen of all the wise. Sing, feast, dance, make music and love, all in My presence, for Mine is the ecstasy of the spirit, and Mine also is joy on earth. For My law is love unto all beings. Mine is the secret that opens the door of youth, and Mine is the cup of wine of life that is the Cauldron of Ceridwen that is the holy grail of immortality. I give the knowledge of the spirit eternal and beyond death I give peace and freedom and reunion with those that have gone before. Nor do I demand aught of sacrifice, for behold, I am the Mother of all things and My love is poured upon the earth."

The man again calls with joy and laughter in his voice: "Hear the words of the Starry Lady, the dust of whose feet are the scattered stars, whose body encircles the Universe."

And now indeed a note of mystery enters the woman's voice, and she looks directly at you as she speaks, and her look is that of one who can look past your facades, see who you really are, and embrace shadow and light both. "I who am the beauty of the green earth, and the white Moon among the stars, and the mysteries of the waters, I call upon your soul to arise and come unto Me. For I am the soul of nature that gives life to the universe. From Me all things proceed and unto Me they shall return. Let My worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals. Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you. And you who seek to know Me, know that your seeking and yearning will avail you not unless you know the Mystery: for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without. For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I am that which is attained at the end of desire."

The man moves to her, places a kiss on her brow, and says simply, "Great Mother, welcome."

The woman bows her head in acknowledgement and respect as the Lady manifests through her, then turns to the man. "Hear the words of the God, he who is slain and reborn, the Summer King and Winter Child, the soul of mankind and the mirror in which mankind reflects."

The man smiles, and now he too is changing, from ruddy-faced youth to greyheaded crowned king to the grinning Trickster to the horned one of the woods. "I who am the glory of the Sun and the Lord of the dance, the ripe grain that is reaped and the seed which is sown, I call to you with the the horn of the hunter and the cry of a babe. I am the soul of mankind, born to learn, live, love, die and be reborn. Drink of My vine, the blood of life, and lift a glass to My holy laughter echoing across the hills. But know that I am both harvester and harvest, the sacrificed One of sword, sickle and cross who descends into the womb of the Mother where all souls go to be reborn. For in this I reveal My mystery: that My dance is yours, My path is yours, and My laughter leads the way to the Summerland. For I am you and you are Me. And My light is with you always, to lead you through the shadows and back again." He turns to his Lady, and goes to one knee before her.

The Lady stoops and kisses his brow in benediction. "Bright Lord, welcome."

And now the two smile, and extend a hand to you in welcome, and as you take their hands it becomes difficult to draw the line between you and them and bending tree and leaping flames and scented smoke. All interwoven, all connected, the Lord and Lady both transcendently Other and yet parts of your deepest soul, the dance of sun and moon and season, the song of stone and sea and star, the rhythm of your heartbeat, and all who come before and after. And you spend time reveling in the sheerest joy of rediscovering your part, your connection, your encompassing of the All. Indeed, this has been with you since the beginning, and yet is that which is obtained at the end of desire.

The Lady seems to shift forms, now young, now old, Mother of the Green Earth in her leafy garment, or Queen of the Stars, her cloak of midnight blue containing the starry depths of the universe. She stretches out her hands, her body making the holy star of wisdom, Michaelangelo's perfect form.
			As she does so, the man calls out, "Listen to the words of the Great Mother, who of old was called Isis, Freya, Danu, Cybele, Demeter, Kuan Yin, Lakshmi, Mokosh, Shekinah, and many other names."
The woman's voice is rich with both promise and fufillment. "Whenever you have need of anything, once in the month, and better it be when the Moon is full, you shall gather in some secret place and adore the spirit of Me who am Queen of all the wise. Sing, feast, dance, make music and love, all in My presence, for Mine is the ecstasy of the spirit, and Mine also is joy on earth. For My law is love unto all beings. Mine is the secret that opens the door of youth, and Mine is the cup of wine of life that is the Cauldron of Ceridwen that is the holy grail of immortality. I give the knowledge of the spirit eternal and beyond death I give peace and freedom and reunion with those that have gone before. Nor do I demand aught of sacrifice, for behold, I am the Mother of all things and My love is poured upon the earth."
			The man again calls with joy and laughter in his voice: "Hear the words of the Starry Lady, the dust of whose feet are the scattered stars, whose body encircles the Universe."
And now indeed a note of mystery enters the woman's voice, and she looks directly at you as she speaks, and her look is that of one who can look past your facades, see who you really are, and embrace shadow and light both. "I who am the beauty of the green earth, and the white Moon among the stars, and the mysteries of the waters, I call upon your soul to arise and come unto Me. For I am the soul of nature that gives life to the universe. From Me all things proceed and unto Me they shall return. Let My worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals. Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you. And you who seek to know Me, know that your seeking and yearning will avail you not unless you know the Mystery: for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without. For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I am that which is attained at the end of desire."
			The man moves to her, places a kiss on her brow, and says simply, "Great Mother, welcome."
The woman bows her head in acknowledgement and respect as the Lady manifests through her, then turns to the man. "Hear the words of the God, he who is slain and reborn, the Summer King and Winter Child, the soul of mankind and the mirror in which mankind reflects."
			The man smiles, and now he too is changing, from ruddy-faced youth to greyheaded crowned king to the grinning Trickster to the horned one of the woods. "I who am the glory of the Sun and the Lord of the dance, the ripe grain that is reaped and the seed which is sown, I call to you with the the horn of the hunter and the cry of a babe. I am the soul of mankind, born to learn, live, love, die and be reborn. Drink of My vine, the blood of life, and lift a glass to My holy laughter echoing across the hills. But know that I am both harvester and harvest, the sacrificed One of sword, sickle and cross who descends into the womb of the Mother where all souls go to be reborn. For in this I reveal My mystery: that My dance is yours, My path is yours, and My laughter leads the way to the Summerland. For I am you and you are Me. And My light is with you always, to lead you through the shadows and back again." He turns to his Lady, and goes to one knee before her.
The Lady stoops and kisses his brow in benediction. "Bright Lord, welcome."

Merry Meet and Welcome!