Dreamers (dreamersunited) wrote in emmys_writings, @ 2008-01-23 00:20:00 |
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Entry tags: | originalfic |
Daughters of Mother Earth
By Koneko
Me: Well, this is certainly a turning point…I’m doing an original work! *laughs* An accomplishment, I must say! *looking at the page amount* I guess I can’t help writing too much! Next year, however, I shall have a real epic in 3 sections w/ a cute partner who may carry on my evil habits after I’ve graduated. Some people will get my joke about the title. In addition, I have to thank some people. Especially my Moonlight and Magick group friends, who have been kind enough to allow me to make my bonfire scene based off their Ostara bonfire format. *hugs sylvermagic, a.k.a. ladydruantia, the group leader*
Before I begin, I’ll identify the characters as it’s a little unclear as many of them have several names they go by: one everyday name, one magickal name and a nickname.
Cleopatra: aka Rabiah and Cleo, she is one of Diana’s friends and she worships the Egyptian gods and goddesses in her heritage as an Egyptian Wicca.
Diana: aka Myst, she is a Druid and she is rather sensitive about what she believes in.
Vivienne: aka Viv and Lucia, she is an eclectic pagan and she combines a few different beliefs
Kali: a Catholic girl who is friends with Cleopatra, Diana and Vivienne
Catrina: one of Diana’s cousins, who is married and taught Diana about Druidry, she is Diana’s teacher and friend.
Gwen: Gwen is a very open student in Diana’s English and Gym class. Her mother’s a nurse and her father’s a vet and she knows a lot of remedies from her mother.
Ms. Clark: Diana, Cleo, Kali and Gwen’s English teacher
Sterling: Catrina’s husband, he is also a Druid and teaches Diana, he plays a flute made of elder wood, one of many sacred trees
“The goddess…is a brilliant being. One who can love man and forgive his mistakes.”— Vice in Terra by Soome Lee
“Be merciful, just as also your father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.” —Jesus in The Gospel According to Luke 6:36-37
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::Sunday, March 14, 2004::
~Cleopatra POV~
If there is one thing I do not like about school, it has to be the teasing. Diana, Vivienne and I are eclectic pagans. Diana focuses mostly on Druidry. Vivienne has a mix of many different religions, greater than I can count or name and I lean more toward Egyptian Wicca. We are friends and have formed a group of pagan sisters so we can enjoy the holidays together. We refuse to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, which is this Wednesday, just because we are pagan. Those who celebrate St. Patrick’s Day are celebrating the fact that he drove the snakes off the shores of Ireland. We all know there are no snakes in Ireland. The “snakes” is a Christian reference to pagans. So thus, it is telling us that he drove the PAGANS off the shores of Ireland. Few pagans escaped alive. So that’s why we protest St. Patrick’s Day. We are all going to being wearing some kind of Anti-Saint Patrick’s Day objects with our uniforms. I’m wearing my snake armlet around my wrist. Vivienne is going to be wearing her black headband and bracelet and choker set, and Diana said she was going to wear her green stone pendant with the black snake engraving, which I find a laugh because it is virtually mocking the holiday itself. The necklace puts the emphasis on the snake due to the stone’s shape and such. Diana got it as a souvenir from the same shop Vivienne got her Native American drum. (A/N: No offense to the Irish, the Christian, or anyone else who celebrates St. Pat’s, but this is TRUE. That’s why we have St. Patrick’s Day at all. Just because St. Patrick happened to end many of the pagan activities in Ireland. And wearing black or some kind of snake or serpent is considered Anti-St. Patrick’s Day.)
We are occasionally bombarded with “Convert-Everyone-To-Christianity” syndrome at school. It’s not that I hate Christianity. Kali is Catholic and she’s one of my close friends. I just don’t like the idea that so many people still believe that witches are evil, green, cackle and always wear black robes. And that those believers in that nonsense think of pagans as terrible people. We are ordinary people. We don’t fly brooms, though we love to pretend to do that. The broom is just a cleanser and a reminder of fertility. We cannot get away with everything with a touch of magic and the wave of a wand. We cannot make someone fall in love with us. We are not better. We are all about choices. We try to do what is right based on the circumstances and the consequences. We have an ethics code, but it is always up for personal interpretation. There are always choices and we are also very open about almost anything. Though, of course, each of us have our own individual preferences.
Ostara’s coming up soon…I wonder if we’ll have a bonfire. It’ll be fun if we do! And if we do have a bonfire that means Diana’s cousin Catrina will come.
::Monday, March 15, 2004::
~Diana POV~
Our teacher was recapping last weeks’ classes so we’d be prepared for the test on The Crucible once we finished acting it out. Usually there are a few snickers about witches and pagans and how we have a few in our class, myself included. But today the snickering and snide remarks took their toll on me. I had explained the difference between that time period witchcraft and modern Wicca. And it pained me when someone said, ‘Of course she knows. She’s one of them.’ And then when we volunteered for parts, people kept saying I volunteered for the accused. I wanted to cry…I just focused on following along with the class, but not looking at our actresses. I remember Kali asking me why I hadn’t made friends right away during freshman year. I remember how I had explained my religious dilemma and how I’m always afraid how people will look at me. I’m very sensitive about stuff like that. I’m more of a teacher’s pet than anything else. I get good grades, pay attention and respect the teacher.
The only way I had met Cleo, Kali and Vivienne was that one day I had been upset after a class that I hadn’t done so well in and I had recited one of the first chants I had learned from Catrina when I had been stressed over some test in eighth grade. It’s very calming and has a good strengthening rhythm. Cleo had heard me and quietly picked up on the words, reciting them back to me and she fell into the rhythm of the chant. I don’t know why, but I immediately connected to these three girls. Kali had been a bit upset when I told them about my religion. She said she wouldn’t be able to invite me over because her parents don’t approve, though she said religion didn’t matter to her. I shrugged and told her it was okay. Cleo and Viv were happy because they had interests in religions similar to mine. I was pleased to have people who wouldn’t scold me for my beliefs. And Vivienne and Kali introduced me to their theology teacher, who is friends with a Wiccan. I remember Vivienne asking me the difference between Wicca and Druidry and how I had explained that Wicca is closed and Druidry is open. Druidry stretches a vast area, while Wicca is more personal. I didn’t mind the confusion. All newcomers have this confusion. I had it too.
~Cleopatra POV~
After English class, Diana looked really upset. As we got to the library, I handed her my scarab amulet. Kali and I both helped her collapse into one of the reading chairs in the center-front alcove. She closed her eyes as she sat back in the chair. I could feel her distress. She gently pressed the scarab to her heart the way I had taught her. The hieroglyphs for beetle, which is pronounced kheper also means “to exist.” So wearing the scarab means that your continued existence is assumed. My belief is that in giving the dead heart scarabs, we remind ourselves that they exist in another world.
::Tuesday, March 16, 2004::
~Vivienne POV~
Diana wasn’t in today. At lunch, I called her house and her mom said she was sick and sleeping. Later, I checked her journal during my free. She wrote:
Evilness abounds…disaster ensues March 16, 2004 12:00pm
I know my friends are probably fussing that I’m not at school. After all, our English class was so horrible and burned us yesterday. I wasn’t feeling well this morning and I asked my mom if I could stay home. I slept all day. I hate English now. I don’t want to read about the Salem Witch Trials in The Crucible. I don’t want them to taunt me and claim that I should be Tituba or Elizabeth Proctor just because I’m a pagan. It’s awful that some of my classmates could say such things about what I believe in. Not all pagans are evil and mean. And I understand that the Trials and the Burning Times happened, but still it’s not true that we’re terrible people. We didn’t deserve that. No one deserves to die for what they believe in, though we still call it martyrdom. I still don’t think it’s necessary. And it’s bad to flaunt religion by saying we killed all your people. Even if it is indirectly. *sad* It makes me upset. They really don’t understand. They don’t know who I am…I hate that…I need to be recognized. We need to be recognized…I had an awful feeling that something bad was going to happen and it did. I’m so upset. All I can do is sleep or sing sad songs, which is pretty depressing. I can’t think happy because I get all upset…
Well, I’m going back to bed. Perhaps Orlando Bloom or Johnny Depp will visit me as I sleep…I can only hope…
Later,
Myst
Mood: depressed
Music: Breaking of the Fellowship—Lord Of The Rings: Fellowship Of The Ring soundtrack
I was sad that Diana wasn’t happy. It’s awful that she has to be so uptight about what we believe… I just wish that a few of our classmates didn’t take us the wrong way and think we’re bad because of what we believe in. It’s true that it’s not fair. We deserve the same respect we give them. That’s in the Bible too, isn’t it?
::Wednesday, March 17, 2004::
Before English, I started shaking. I was a little dizzy too. I felt sick and I wanted to lie down. I told Kali and because we were in our English classroom, she went to the wall and consulted the nurse’s schedule; she was busy for the rest of the day.
Ms. Clark saw me miserably try to focus on my work as class began. She asked me if I was okay and I explained about how I wasn’t feeling well and that the nurse was busy for the rest of the day and that I didn’t want to go home. She gave me permission to put my head down on my desk and rest. Gwen overheard me say I was dizzy and smiled gently at me.
“Ms. Clark? May I go to the ladies’ room?” Gwen said quietly.
Ms. Clark looked up, “Yes, you may. And before you come back, please get Diana something to drink. Wait a minute. I’ll give you a note in case a teacher asks.”
Gwen left with the note. She came back shortly, holding a bottle of water from one of the machines and a wet paper towel. She knelt down so she could look in my eyes.
“Diana, this might help you feel better. Look up for a minute, take this from me, and put it at the back of your neck and then rest. You won’t feel so dizzy by the end of class. I’ll hold onto your water.”
I nodded, doing as she had asked and closing my eyes as I put my head down. The girls could update me on what was going on if I really had to know. At the end of class, I did feel a little better. I was still shaky, but not so dizzy.
Gwen smiled, giving me the water she had gotten, “I’ll accompany you guys at your free. The library, right?”
I nodded, tucking the bottle of water into my backpack, after taking a sip. This year’s schedule was a little weird. The whole of our English class had lunch early. Either third or fourth. Since our English class met fifth, at our usual lunch hour. And for some reason, they didn’t want to drop. Don’t ask me why the schedule was like that.
Gwen smiled at Kali, Cleopatra and I, “What do you have after your free, Diana?”
I frowned, “Theo. Then we have gym.”
Gwen smiled, “Can you survive the rest of the day?”
I nodded slowly, “I can try.”
Gwen nodded, “I’ll partner with you in gym if you want.”
I nodded, “That would be good.”
I rested for most of the free. Gwen did her best to keep the other girls quiet. I really couldn’t wait until school was over. This was going to be a long day.
Gwen was studying me, “Diana, are you nervous? Or scared?”
I looked up, “Yes…Nervous and sad. I don’t like English class anymore. No one cares about my beliefs…They all mock me…It’s not nice and it’s not fair…”
Gwen looked at me, “Do you want to have a day where you teach the class about modern paganism? And how it isn’t the same as perceived witchcraft?”
I nodded, “I’d love that, but I don’t know if anyone would approve.”
Gwen hugged me, “I’ll ask the school president if we could have an Alternative Religions Awareness Day or something in the spring. When the trees and flowers are in full bloom and the grass is nice and green. I’d love to see how you work your rituals. It would be amazing, I think. Ms. Andrews says Wiccan rituals are beautiful.”
I smiled, “I’m not Wiccan. The three of us, Vivienne, Cleopatra and I, are all eclectic pagans. We mix our beliefs. Vivienne combines a bunch of religions. Cleopatra prefers the Egyptian magick in her heritage. And I prefer the Druid path. We’re all different, but together, we make an interesting bunch. I’d love to be able to do an open circle here. Though for a start I’d probably have to start small. It would be wonderful for people to understand how our rituals really work and how much belief is necessary to our path. Though we still have some who are us in name only, just like the Christians.”
Gwen nodded, “Well, now I have a suggestion for the school and for Stu-Co, so we’ll see what happens.”
I grinned, “Well, the bell’s gonna ring. Let’s get ready to go.” I sighed grabbing my bookbag and carrying it on the trek to Theology. I hoped we wouldn’t have a St. Pat’s Day speech. I hate today. I managed to survive all my classes and gym.
Afterward, Gwen smiled, “You look much better, Diana.”
I nodded, “I can’t thank you enough for helping me.”
Gwen smiled, “You’re a good kid. Just don’t mind what the others think. You're still you no matter what they say and think."
::Saturday, March 20, 2004, Evening::
~Diana POV~
I smiled, gathering the girls together to head off to the clearing. The clearing is a good walking distance from my house. Not too far, not too close. It’s in the middle of a wood and it’s virtually untouched. And I know no one’s claimed it for a national park yet, so we can have our bonfires there. Catrina told me she’d be there.
Vivienne, Cleopatra and I had been making Ostara eggs. It’s fun to do. Of course, Kali had said she wished she could join us for the egg coloring. It’s just like Easter eggs. And we have the exact same symbols between Ostara and Easter: eggs, bunnies, resurrection, growth, chicks, and ducks.
Catrina was at the clearing when we arrived. Sterling was playing a high scale on his flute. Catrina smiled, looking at the sky. The stars were coming out. “It is time to start the bonfire. Who will help me find dry wood to make the fire?” Catrina began walking into the wood. I laughed as Vivienne rushed in singing at the top of her lungs.
Cleopatra and I went in together, singing Vivienne’s favorite song, “We can rise with the fires of freedom, Truth is a fire that burns our chains, And we can stop the fires of destruction, Healing is a fire running through our veins.”
Sterling waved us off and sat in the clearing, continuing to play his wooden flute. When we finished gathering, Catrina began to build up the fire and then lit it. We danced around the fire singing, “Fire fire fire: Kindle our spirits higher, In thy flame, naught remains but fire fire fire.” I grinned as Vivienne laughed and sat down next to her Native American drum. She smiled closing her eyes and letting her hands drum a beat. I recognized the sound of a calling. Catrina nodded, summoning the powers as Vivienne’s drumming became a very low. I smiled as Vivienne’s drumming quickly picked up and then changed slowly descending into the humming-like noise that Cleo often called earth silence. Vivienne’s drumming silenced and I looked at Sterling. He began to play the tune I needed for my song, “Mother Earth, hear me calling, I’m your daughter you’re my home, Sister Moon, hear me calling, In the night we’re not alone. Father Sun, hear me calling, Let your strong light shine in me, All my ancestors stand by me, Teach my spirit to be free.”
Cleopatra grinned, “So, who is joining us on this lovely evening? And what do you bring for the circle?” She paused, “I’m Rabiah, the child born in the springtime. I bring youth, and growth, the possibility of change.” She turned toward me.
I smiled, “I am Myst, I bring a hunger to learn and the courage to continue being what I am meant to be.”
Vivienne thought for a few minutes before adding her voice, “I am Lucia. I bring passion—the fire of life. I bring the will to grow in strength and the faith that shows I am willing to follow my inner light.”
Catrina looked up, “I am Catrina. I bring the courage to grow. I bring a pure spirit and the understanding and patience necessary for a teacher.”
Sterling smiled, “I am Sterling. I bring the silver sound that will begin to awaken the trees. The sound of the wood that brings growth and change.”
Catrina smiled, "Growth and Change are big themes tonight. There's a song about that too." She paused and then began to sing, "Tower of change, growth and pain, butterfly lessons one in the same, Spiritual growth I have to gain, The wild within I shall not tame. I am. Grounded firm, flying free, teaching, learning, always a balance always being the best I can be, under the moon, sing and dance. I am."
Vivienne beamed, "Oh, I've got a song!"
I nodded, "Go on. Sing.”
Viv smiled, "Ancient Mother, I hear you calling, Ancient Mother I hear your song, Ancient Mother, I seek your wisdom. Ancient Mother, I feel your arms."
Catrina took hold of Sterling's hand and began to dance, chanting, "Mother is alive, Magick is afoot!" I laughed, grabbing onto the girls' hands and joining the chain. We chanted, blending our voices into one sound. The single phrase repeated for several turns of the circle, until we slowed our movements a little. Catrina laughed, continuing into another Goddess chant, "We are the flow, We are the ebb, She is the weaver, We are the Web."
Cleopatra continued this second Goddess chant, "Lady weave your Circle tight, Spin a Web of glowing light, Earth, and Air, and Fire and Water, Bind us to Her."
Catrina grinned, letting go of our hands and letting us ground. We smiled, and I signed 'Thank you' in Sign Language. She nodded.
I smiled, she was going to let me do the thanks offerings. It’s not often that she lets me do it. "To commune with you is the highest energy of which I am capable of giving. Daily I bathe in the light of your wisdom and grace I am continuously receiving. Thou O Mother, are a shield for me, even in my ignorance when I couldn't clearly see, Lost like a child in the woods, You came and sustained me, like a Mother most surely should, You kissed my lips and dried my cheeks as though I were your only child to love, Mother I can only strive to always be involved with gaining your divine wisdom, So that one day I am worthy to receive your hidden gifts from above." I paused and then continued, "I am thankful for all my friends, for my family, and for nature."
Vivienne grinned, "I am thankful for friends, family and just the pure nature of existence."
Cleo laughed at Viv's thanks offering, then said, "I am thankful for the beautiful gifts nature gives us now. The rain, the sunny skies, the flowers budding, the trees."
Catrina smiled, "I am thankful for everyone who decided to join us this evening. I am thankful for my family and for the gifts I have received from the Lord and the Lady."
Sterling smiled, "There's so much to be thankful for, so I'll just say I'm thankful for everything!"
Sterling grinned, and began to sing, "Why are there so many songs about rainbows And what's on the other side? Rainbows are visions, but only illusions, And rainbows have nothing to hid. So we've been told and some choose to believe it I know they're wrong, wait and see. Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection, The lovers, the dreamers, and me. Who said that every wish would be heard and answered When wished on the morning star? Somebody thought of that, and someone believed it, And look what it's done so far. What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing And what do we think we might see? Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection, The lovers ,the dreamers, and me. All of us under its spell, We know that it's probably magic……Have you been half asleep? And have you heard voices? I've heard them calling my name….Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors? The voice might be one and the same I've heard it too many times to ignore it It's something that I'm s'posed to be…Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection, The lovers, the dreamers and me. Laa, da daa dee da daa daaa, La laa la la laa dee daa doo…"
Catrina smiled, "Now we ask for blessings. If you are in need, ask now for your thoughts to be answered and Your dreams to be realized." She paused and then continued, "We beseech you Mother to give to us your knowledge and wisdom to guide us in our time of need." She paused once more and then started again, "Ask for blessings now if you are in need."
Cleo and Vivienne asked for blessings on their families and friends.
I looked at the ground, "For me, I'm struggling with everything right now. I need comfort, protection and guidance." I saw Catrina look at me, a bit of concern showing through. Sterling was also looking at me. I sat down, feeling a little lost. Catrina sent the powers back to their places in nature and then we closed the circle. Catrina and Sterling both walked over to me as Viv and Cleo went off to ground and have a snack from the basket Catrina had brought.
Catrina smiled, "What's wrong, dear?"
I frowned, "No one understands our beliefs at school. I'm just really afraid."
Sterling smiled, "Answer these questions for me, Myst. Do you know who you are? Is this what you want to believe in? And do you know right from wrong?"
I looked up, "They're all yes."
Sterling grinned, "Exactly. If this is what you want to be, that's all that matters. Not what people think of you."
Catrina smiled, "I know it's hard at your age to do that. To think about what you want. I've been through it. Sterling has too. Later in life, you'll learn that you get to decide who you are. You'll understand. Just don't worry. And if they bother you, do you remember the small phrase I taught you at Christmas when your grandmother was talking about how some people like us are?"
"That little calming chant?"
"Yes, use it. It will help keep you from feeling their hatred as strongly. But still, if you submit to them honestly and let them make their decision about you, you will gain more than they will."
I grinned, "Thanks, Catrina and Sterling." I hugged them both.
~Diana POV~
I guess it's right what we say. Life is all circles. We've fallen down and we've gotten back up again and now we're celebrating our growth. Perhaps we'll fall again. Who knows? Falling is the best lesson. Life is all about continuing in the midst of trouble. Getting up and trying again when you've been pushed down countless times. Even if Gwen does bring about the Alternative Religions Awareness Day thing she wants, I'm just going to keep strong and eventually, I'll overcome their prejudiced remarks and be stronger than them. They won't affect me so much. As Gwen said and Catrina and Sterling repeated, "You're still you no matter what they say and think." It's true. I'm still me. I won't change much on the inside over time.
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Sources
1) Scarab hieroglyph pronunciation and meaning: Ancient Egyptian Magick by Bob Brier
2) Bonfire Stuff provided by ladydruantia: “Fire gathering call” by ladydruantia; “Fires of Freedom Song” by Starhawk; “Fire Fire Fire” by Pomegranate Rose; “Hear Me Calling” Author Unknown; “I am” 3rd stanza contributed by Whispering Willow http://www.angelfire.com/music4/thegodd
3) Bonfire stuff provided by patsguurl: “Roll call” by patsguurl
4) Bonfire stuff provided by rowanwatersprite: “Ancient Mother” by Unknown Author
5) Bonfire stuff provided by jmoote: “The Weaver” by Unknown Author; “Goddess Chant” by Unknown Author