Traveling along the twisting coastal road
as fog and night spread over the ocean,
a solitary pilgrim journeys
to her place of devotion.
She arrives at the rusty gate,
slips past the ‘forbidden’ sign,
squeezes through a slender opening—
the boundaries between worlds dissolve.
Will-o-the-whisps guide her way
as she follows a dark path
to her trysting place
where fresh water flows freely to the sea.
A rocky shore waits beneath the moon.
Silver dances across the womb waters
of Mother Earth herself.
To her beloveds
Wild Woman is called.
She comes dressed in her finest:
A hooded black cloak
lined with patterns of dragonfly wings—
a gift from her grandmothers.
A strand of silver upon her neck
bearing a glowing green stone—
a gift from her mother.
A chain of red West African beads
resting on her hips—
a gift from her auntie.
A black dress—
the one she wore
to the Sacrifice.
Red boots,
laced up high.
The time has come
to make an offering of herself.
Moon dropping over the water.
Ocean wild and roaring.
Earth rugged beneath her feat.
She approaches the tempest sea—
dancing silver
under moonlight.
Held in her hands
is a vessel
that carries the blood memories
of her Ancestors.
She feels the creative power it holds;
whispers her prayers
into her own womb waters
in Earth’s native tongue.
The blood is blessed now
with sacred vows
to join the Holy Trinity
of Earth, Moon, and Ocean Womb.
To this, her true membership,
she betroths her voice;
offers her life in service
forevermore.
The ragging ocean rises
to meet her gift
and she screams.
A glimmering, silver path opens
towards the horizon before her.
She pours out her offering
where river meets the sea.
Sanguine waters flow over stone—
swallowed by the waves.
Waters merge.
She pulls back her black hood as
her hair turns fire red beneath the moon.
Her eyes become dark as ocean.
A mysterious song falls from her lips.
Something ancient is reborn.
Earth trembles.
A flower blooms in the desert.
Artwork: Red Smoke Ocean Moon Rise by Blake Richards
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