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The Confundus Conspiracy; or, Youngblood Circle ([info]confundere) wrote,
@ 2005-12-24 15:36:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Current mood: jubilant
Current music:Gaudete - by Steeleye Span

Skopje Magical College: Christmas Eve among Spellsingers
The bonfires were lit on the high places all over Magical Europe: each one could be seen by those gathered at the previous Fire Loft, and by those gathered at the next. The Antrim coast Fire Loft could be seen by witches and wizards in the Hebrides; the Jersey fire could be seen across the Channel in France. The dances and feasting were held around each loft, or inside nearby in case of inclement weather. Honey mead and hot whiskey and hot cider were passed around by families and friends in their warmest dress robes; circle dances were breaking out everywhere, indoors and out; and Divination masters and mistresses were taking queries for readings on the upcoming New Year.

Midwinter at Skopje Magical College in northern Macedonia found Madame Jovana Sandansky at the center of a cyclone of activity around her own Fire Loft. New arrivals and owls telling of new arrivals were everywhere; the flesh of boar, pheasant and turkey was roasting on indoor fires; baked and fresh fruits were being passed around; and house elves were bringing in one course of the feast long before previous ones had been polished off. It was sheer madness, but happy madness all the same. Floating candles mingled with rotating Japanese lanterns over the heads of the celebrants. Circle dances for children and adults galloped around and atop tables. Lovers were taking and renewing Winter Vows and year-and-a-day betrothals in the feasting hall, meditation rooms and the corridors outside the ritual room. In and out went the people watching the outdoor Fire Loft, sometimes requesting more wood and tinder fuel, sometimes marshalling children indoors and out to observe their bonfire's progress and look out over the lake to the nearest Fire Loft to this one. The energy was unbelievable, and would only grow more impassioned as night fell.

Just before the call came for dinner, Jovana allowed herself to be drawn into a songspell dance in honour of the season. The fortyish spellsinger was pulled into the circle by her friends Lule and Ailu Gierran; drums and bouzoukis began playing, and the lead singer began verses of a Macedonian song in honour of Ama Marija (the Virgin Mary), the great mystic and visionary of ancient Israel:

The young girl danced, and the green touched her;
The vision of angels overtook her sight.
No cave nor dream she needed to see clearly,
Ama, Amonah, Marija, Doimater.

Marija, only just come of age,
She, the avatar of her nomad people,
She who achieved mystical union with the Creator,
Ama, Amonah, Marija, Doimater.

Star of the Sea they call her,
As they called Aphrodite before her,
Queen of Heaven, as Asherah, as Inanna,
Ama, Amonah, Marija, Doimater.

The vision was a fright and confusing;
But the angels conveyed blessing and love,
And her ecstasy brought healing to the people.
Ama, Amonah, Marija, Doimater.

Today Marija dances among the poor:
The frightened ones of Iraq, of Palestine,
The Afghans under heavy siege,
The poor of America's Gulf and cities.

Tonight her child is born again
In the slums of London and Hong Kong,
In the refugee camps throughout the world:
Ama, Amonah, Marija, Doimater.

Maidens of the poor, dance with Marija;
Follow her lead into powerful visions.
You are chosen thus, not the gold-ridden mighty.
Ama, Amonah, Marija, Doimater.


A toast rose up among the feastgoers, that all would go well when Jovana Sandansky of Skopje left for America; and that feasting would yet come to those who had no food, and that the innocent dead of the wars and storms would find their blood settled and their souls at last in peace.

Much Merriment of the Season to All...from the witches and wizards of Skopje Magical College, Sapmi Witchcraft and Wizarding Academy, Ilmatar Magical Academy, and the Karelia Songspell Collective!!



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[info]confundere
2009-01-02 03:54 pm UTC (link)
Jovana awoke with a gasp where she had been laid after she had collapsed in trance during the dance, as had many other witches who were dancing around the Fire Loft. All who had left their bodies to circle the First Mother and shower blessings on the world had been laid in a semicircle on sheepskins around the warmth of the bonfire (though far enough away not to be injured by cinders or sparks), and covered with piles of furs and blankets. As they began to regain consciousness, attendants lifted them to sitting positions and fed them hot spiced wine and cider, and bites of food, to help reground them in their bodies.

"So it is each Christmas Eve among our kind", the lead spellsinger of Skopje Magical College told those assembled around the entranced women as they revived. "Those with the shamanic gifts have circled the Earth with women from around the world tonight, infusing their blessings and prayers with the energy of millions of us wishing the world well from the very depths of our souls. And now, let us go inside again! More food, drink, toasts and music await all and sundry!"

And in they all trudged, once each of the shamanic journeyers had been revived and helped to her feet. Jovana walked in, arm in arm with Lule, a Macedonian and a Saami witch holding each other and grinning in greater joy than either had ever felt before.

*****


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