Dedication to Cernunnos, during an outdoor ritual
unforgiving cold pushing me forward.
Yet I hunger for the sense of freedom,
but home? No, this is not home.
Here I do not feel the unnatural warmth,
there is no voice to guide me.
Here there is no fence to keep me in a right place,
there is no string to guide me back safely.
As I continue to walk further into the wilderness,
as the darkness started to envelope me.
I hear a voice, the beast of the Wild.
He beckoned me to come closer,
to walk further and don't look back.
Another sense started to crawl up my skin,
the natural human emotion of fear.
I stopped where I stand and looked,
the man with the deer horns smiled, and held out a hand.
"Start anew and let yourself free,"
he spoke in a soft rumble.
Panicked and startled, I started to think,
think of my home.
Where a roof stood over me,
a family of ill wishes and cages.
Yet they brought me love and safety,
and still held back, lacking happiness.
Freedom, it can bring pain and suffering,
but what great would it be, to cower behind safety?
If it meant my soul was forever captured?
I slowly twirled around on my toes, my hands raised.
An unforced smile appeared on my face,
as the trees waved around with the cold wind.
As the beast and I cheerfully danced on the fallen leaves.
Winter brought the end of all things, but it starts a new life.
Memories of home flashed past me,
but here is home. I should be set free.
And yet, invisible chains still remain,
I must return and stay under the rood.
Only now, the gates shall remain open,
free for me to return when the wind whistles.
When the trees whisper my name,
and the animals dance on the soil.
I walked along the forest floor, neither fearful nor lost.
Holly King, bringer of cold and winter, not to be mistaken
with darkness. Oak King always returns year around with warmth.
I should be the same way, prevailing.
Remember not to get lost in what's in front,
instead looking ahead and going forward.
The Wild and I danced around, till it was my time to return.
I will come back, like seasons of Spring, Summer, and Winter.
