The Dedication

            There was a strange feeling in the air as I strode down the wooded path, as if anything were possible tonight. The sunset was a brilliant with colors of orange and red, and I could not help but think of how beautiful all of nature really was. By the time I had reached the place that I would perform my dedication, it was dusk, and the light of the day was quickly fading.

            It was still a little early, so I found a nice spot and started to meditate. Normally when I would meditate, I would close my eyes, clear my thoughts and try to ground myself. This time, however, was a vastly different. As I began to clear my thoughts, I could feel a presence in the woods around me. It wasn’t threatening, so I just sat and wondered about it.

            After a while, I opened my eyes, and saw that it was time. The bright full moon shone brightly overhead, casting its ghostly light over the quiet meadow. I sat for a moment, listening to the night birds sing, a gentle fog began to roll in, giving the whole area an otherworldly feel. I just knew that the gods would be with me in my dedication tonight.

            Then, from out of the dark, a loon sounded its lonely cry. As if this were a signal, small colored lights began to appear. First one, then another and another. Soon the whole field was alive with dancing lights. I could do nothing but sit and watch this magical show before me.

            At first they moved around in no particular direction, float from one point to another. Then out of the bordering woods came the sound of a flute being played, barely heard as if it were carried on the breeze from some other time and place.

            As the source of the tune drew closer, the lights all began to drift towards the center of the field, spinning slowly and seeming to move with the rhythm of the flute. Around and round they spun, beneath them the grasses and flowers seemed to bow to them, creating a circle that seemed so inviting, the music growing louder and louder. And then, just as the tune seemed to reach its peak, it stopped. With it, too, so did the lights, hovering over the ground as if in anticipation.

            The sound of my heart seeming to be the loudest sound in the world, the silence stretching on forever. I was afraid to even breathe as it might break the spell that hung over the entire meadow. And then, from out of the dark, the loon sounded its lonely cry once more.

            Across the meadow, from out of the wood, a lone figure stepped out. I could feel it was the same presence that I had felt earlier. Strangely cloaked in shadows, its almost human form slowly made its way towards the circle, stopping in front of the waiting lights. After a moment he spoke to the waiting lights, his deep masculine voice becoming but a deep whisper over the distance to my ears. When he was done, the lights seemed to be considering what he had said.

            After what seemed like much deliberation, the circle parted and allowed him entrance. He stepped forward, the circle closing behind him. Once inside the shadow seemed to lift and I could see him clearly for the first time. He stood tall and muscular, with hair down to his broad shoulders. Two small horns rose from the top of his head, and a neatly trimmed and pointed beard concealed his face. A light dusting of hair covered his body to the waist, and below that were the fur-covered hindquarters of a goat.

            Once the circle was closed, he turned slowly seeming to greet all the present lights, and raised the flute to his lips. Then, lifting his eyes he looked directly at me. I could feel him weighing my very soul, judging my worthiness. After what seemed like an eternity, he straightened and smiled, beckoning me over.

            Slowly I rose, fearing to even blink as it all might vanish. Cautiously I stepped out into the field, carefully making my way through the knee-high fog and grass. As I drew closure, I could see that the lights were actually small creatures. They were all different colors, glowing with some inner fire. They were all hovering by means of clear wings that looked like a dragonfly's. They were all smiling warmly at me as I approached, and I realized that they were fairies.

            I stopped just outside the fairy ring. They all seemed to be waiting for something. What I realized must be a Pan himself spoke.

            “Ask,” he said in a deep friendly voice.

            And so I did, the words coming to me as if I had always known them. “I humbly seek admittance to this circle so that I may dedicate myself to the gods of old. Let us dance and worship them as in days of old, when man and fae lived together in harmony. This I ask.”

            The fairies turned to one another, their voices chiming like small silver bells. After a minute of this, they parted and granted me entrance. Acting on instinct, I took off my clothes, feeling it would be proper to present my whole self to the gods. As I stepped inside the border of the circle, I had the feeling of walking through a wall of cold water, the magic created here cleansing me. The circle closed behind me and the fairies all tinkled with joy and laughter. Pan stepped over, embracing me like a brother. He was solid with muscle beneath my arms, and he had a musky comforting smell. I felt like I had come home.

            “Welcome brother,” he said releasing me, “let us begin.”

            He raised the flute to his lips again and began to play a spirited tune. The fairies all began to dance, waving for me to join in. Then the fawn and I began to dance. Around and round we danced with the moon shining down on us. As we danced I felt the gods filling me with a joy of which I had never felt before.

            Once the song finished, Pan himself presided over my dedication. I was filled with such joy that tears came unbidden. Once the ceremony was complete, he played and we danced some more.

We danced until we fell over from exhaustion. The fawn, the fairies and I all laid there on the ground staring up at the moon giving silent thanks to the gods until I finally fell asleep dreaming of the dance.

            When I awoke, I was in the field, the sun shining down. The circle, and all sign of what had happened the night before were gone. Except the feeling that I now carried inside of me, I could still feel the gods with me, and knew that from now on, I always would.

            I gathered up my clothes and began dressing. When I picked up my shirt, something fell out of my pocket. I picked it up and found a necklace. The cord seemed to be woven from some kind of animal hair, and on it hung a pendant. It was a pentacle that looked to be made of silver. Around the circles edge was written, “In dedicating yourself to the gods, we dedicate ourselves to you.”

            From then on, I knew that I would forever live my life for the gods, and I would always feel their love in me.