It is late afternoon and the slanting light is filtering through the redwoods. I am barefoot feeling the redwood roots intertwined and alive under the trail. We are laying a maze/labyrinth with rooms of challenge and healing for our community of witches of all genders to move though later this night as part of our evening ritual. I move off the trail and begin building a altar of bee healing, using a low redwood stump. There is honey to drizzle on skin with an invitation to feel its sticky goodness before licking it off, pieces of honeycomb to break off and roll around in their mouths, healing honey salve to work into rough skin, a lantern draped with a floral cloth illuminating this place since the ritual will be held after the sun sets in the west.
I stand on the wooden bridge on the way to the ritual circle where I can already hear the drums calling me to join. I am once again with 120 Reclaiming Tradition witches of all genders at California Witchcamp. I hear the water ripple and flow beneath me. The creek is stronger this year, after four years of drought the land has found reprieve with a wetter Spring here amidst the redwoods. It is the last week of June and the extra water also brings extra mosquitos. My physiology is such that they rarely bite me, and when they do I hardly welt or itch, so when one lands on my forearm, I simply watch as it feeds off me. It turns into a small glowing ruby before flying off to become food for the bats and other beings. I can afford to leave a little blood offering here in the woods for the continuing cycle of life.
Thank you Elizabeth. My heart appreciates the blessings!
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