Elemental Super Heroes!

The altar was decorated in wonderful fresh fruits and herbs, beautiful roses, lilies and lavender and beautiful pictures. The huge altar area, the huge circle where the Coven of ESH met, had a light air around it.

Flame regained her role as High Priestess, as well as the Light King, with Wind acting as her High Priest. Ice would play the role of the Dark King.

Earth had a brain fart, “Hey Ice...what is Litha again?”

Ice laughed. “ It’s easy Earth... Until now the God and Goddess have ruled supreme, they have imposed their will upon the kingdom without challenge, but now a somber figure makes his appearance. This is the beginning of the ancient pagan theme of the battle between the brothers; the light and dark kings now begin their conflict. As you know, as Ice elemental, I play the role of the Dark king. The Dark king attempts to overpower the Queen; the child she bears represents the realm. They fight, light against dark, Flame against Ice, but at this time the sun is still at the height of his powers, and the King drives the challenger back. In his struggle, he overthrows the userper, but is wounded, and his strength begins to decline. The light still rules supreme, but a shadow has fallen over the kingdom. The God and Goddess remain at the height of their power, yet a new force - darkness - is awakening in the world.”

“So you know you are going to fight and win.” Earth said.

“Of course Earth...Winter is closer than you think...and that is my time.” Ice smiled.

Ice was dressed in pure white silvery robes, and Flame was dressed in Goddess robes.

The bonfire roared in the center of the circle area. It represented love, purification, health and fertility.

Flame smiled and held up her hands, “Balefire leaping! Let us all rededicate ourselves to our Goddess and Horned God!”

Flame went first, and took a flying leap over the bonfire, not even feeling the heat.

Wind went after her, and quickly jumped over the fire.

Ice went next, laughing. Litha was a fun time.

Shadow bound over the fire with no problem.

Storm hopped over the fire.

Goldenna jumped well over the raging fire, it licked at her heels.

Flood jumped through the fire safely.

Earth jumped, but tripped, and landed in the fire.

Everyone laughed. Earth jumped up and did a dance as his rear was flaming.

Flame put his ass out.

Earth grumbled and walked over to the feast table and grabbed a big handful of cauldron cookies and ate them with a glass of goats milk.

Then, the real fun began...the ‘play fight’ between the Holly King and the Oak King. Flame grabbed her flame sword and held it up, “I am the King of the Light...the one the Goddess calls the Oak King.” She stood in a pose.

“And I am the God of Dark, the Holly King, master of winter... I have come to reclaim the Earth as my own.” Ice said, holding up her own sword.

Flame yelled out and Ice dodged, their Ice Sword and Flame sword struck each other.

“I am Winter...” Ice hissed, “Winter shall reign again. I have given you time to bask in the warmth and the sun... now it is my turn to prevail once more!” Ice yelled out and attacked Flame, who moved so their swords hit each other.

The others stood around them, as they fought in the old dance around the bonfire. Ice would yell and Flame would dodge, Flame would yell and Ice would dodge.

Finally, Ice retreated, defeated, she spoke, “You cannot keep Winter at bay forever great Twin Oak King.” She pointed at Flame, “I shall return to regain control.”

***

((This, as was the Handfasting and Funeral, was predone, just adding some ESH twists...Earth-isms and such, it was done first off as a single witch’s ritual, I have changed it so our entire ‘coven’ can enjoy!))

Prior to the ritual, Flame prepared a small cloth pouch of herbs, lavender and chamomile, for each member of the group. As she prepared it, she poured into it her troubles, problems, pains, sorrows and illnesses. She gave one to the others, and had them do the same. She then placed all the small pouches on the altar for later use. In addition to the basic altar and circle set-up, Flame placed the cauldron in front of the altar. To the right of the cauldron, she placed a red candle, and to the left of the cauldron, she placed a green candle. Wind had placed a cup of fresh spring water ready to place into the cauldron later in the ceremony. The picture of the family pets...Blizzard the dog, and the Super Elemental Beta Fish, as well as the two cats, sat on the altar.
Flame then swept the area, starting in the North and moving deosil, with her magickal broom to cleanse the Circle area and \"sweep away\" any lingering negative energies. She then set up the Quarter candles The North candle was green, the East candle was yellow, the South candle wasRed, and the West candle was blue, as well as the coven atheme, the coven wand and so forth. Flame set up the altar as desired, and faced it to the North, covered it with a white or golden yellow altar cloth.

For this ceremony, Flame decorated the altar with seasonal flowers, lavender and roses and sunflowers. In addition to the usual tools and props, upon the altar was be:
Golden Yellow Altar Cloth
Prepared Small Cloth Pouch of Herbs, such as Lavender and Chamomile for each member of the Coven.
Cauldron, with a cup of fresh Spring Water, ready to place into it later
Red Sun God Candle (in holder on the right side of the Cauldron)
Green Earth Goddess Candle (in holder on the left side of the Cauldron)
Pet\'s Picture, Blizzard, the six fish, the two cats...
Pet\'s Blessing Gift, small collars for the dog and cats, and a plant for each fish.
Incense - Summer Blend - any combination of Frankincense, Myrrh, Sandalwood, Lemon,
Pine, Jasmine, Rose, Lotus, or Wysteria

When it was all set up, the entire group took a bath, skyclad, in the nearby stream for purification and all donned their Ritual Robe or other Ritual attire. Earth smirked, he was so use to seeing the females skyclad that he didn’t have to worry about an erection, but this time, he looked at Ice a little longer, so he was glad when he could don his robe. Everyone sat quietly and meditated for a little while - to ground and center. When Flame felt ready to begin, she played some quiet peaceful music for the Ritual.

Flame then picked up the wand, and with arms upraised, she faced the South and said,
\"I celebrate the noon of Summer with this rite held in honor of the Blazing God of the Sun... All of nature vibrates with the fertile energies of the Goddess and the God. The Earth is bathed with the warmth, and light and life of the Sun. The Wheel of the Year turns again... since Yule the light has been growing ever stronger. At Ostara the light finally became greater than the dark, and the light has kept on growing until today, the middle of the time of light, Litha, Midsummer. From here, the light begins to fade again, until once more, the Wheel will turn to darkness and Yule will return. Today the Sun is high, the Light is bright, the Earth is warm. As the Lord of the Sun blazes above, the Fires of my celebration shall flame below.\"

Flame then returned the wand to its place on the altar. She then lit the green candle to the left of the cauldron, saying:

\"O Green Forest Mother, Meadow Mother, Great One of the Stars and the Moon, Spinner of Fates, I give honor to you, and ask your Blessings here.\"

She then lit the red candle to the right of the cauldron, saying:

\"O Great Red Sun God, Forest Father, God of Fertility and Plenty, be here with me now. I give honor to you, and ask your Blessings here.\"

At this time, everyone lifted up the small pouch of herbs from the altar, hold it aloft, as Flame said: \"O fiery Sun, burn away the unuseful, the hurtful, the troublesome, the painful, the sickness, and ill luck. PURIFY ME AND MINE!!\"

Everyone held their pouches over the bonfire, lighting it aflame. When it was burning, everyone dropped it into the cauldron, as Flame spoke again:

\"By the powers of the Great Goddess and the Great God, by the powers of the Great Spirit of All-That-Is, by the powers of Earth, Air, Fire and Water, and by the powers of the Sun, Moon and Stars... I BANISH THESE BANES FROM MY LIFE!\"

Ice visualized the negative energies burning away to nothing, as did everyone else. When the pouch and the herbs had been consumed by the flames, Wind placed the container of water into the cauldron on top of the ashes and spoke:

\"As the Phoenix rises from the ashes, so let this water be pure and new, for this is the sacred cauldron of the Triple Goddess. O Great Mother Goddess, bless this water, so that its touch may bless and renew, even as the rays of the Midsummer Sun nourish and bless all life.\"

Wind then passed his hands and arms between the two candles, over the cauldron, making wishes for luck, health, prosperity, and many other good things for the coven’s life.

Flame took in a breath \"By these symbols of the Midsummer bonfires, I do bless these animal friend and companions, Blizzard, the dog... Midnight the cat and Mud the cat, in the ways of my ancestors, that they may be blessed with health and goodness throughout their years upon the Earth.\"
Flame knelt before the altar, and placed a pinch of salt on her tongue, and said:
\"We, the Elemental Super Heros, rededicate ourselves to the Wicca Way, to the Goddess and the God, who together form the Great Spirit, the All-That-Is, whose combined power is strong and vital here. I give my word-bond to follow the ancient paths that lead to true wisdom and knowledge. I will serve the Great Goddess, and give reverence to the Great God. I am a Pagan, a Witch, a Wiccan... a stone of the ancient circle, standing firmly balanced upon the Earth, yet open to the winds of the heavens, and enduring through time. May the Blessed Goddess and God witness my words.\"

Flame faced the North and said:

\"Behold, O Powers of Earth, Spirits of the North, we, the Elemental Super Heros, rededicate ourselves to the Lady of the Moon, and the Lord of the Sun. Earth, the one who takes his powers from you, ask that you guide him in the year of his Coming.\"

Flame then faced the East and said:

\"Behold, O Powers of Air, Spirits of the East, we, the Elemental Super Heros, rededicate ourselves, to the Lady of the Moon, and the Lord of the Sun. Wind, the one who takes strength from you...asks you continue to do so in the year ahead.\"

Flame then faced the South and said:

\"Behold, O Powers of Fire, Spirits of the South, we, the Elemental Super Heros, rededicate ourselves to the Lady of the Moon, and the Lord of the Sun. I, the one who takes the ability of fire, ask that you help me and guide me in the coming year.”

Flame faced the West and said:

\"Behold, O Powers of Water, Spirits of the West, We, the Elemental Super Heros, rededicate ourselves to the Lady of the Moon, and the Lord of the Sun. Flood, the one of us who takes her power from you... asks that you give her the powers to continue on, even after a harsh loss.\"

Flame then dipped her forefinger of her power hand into the cauldron water, and traced a pentagram, and a crescent moon on her forehead, saying:

\"Let my mind be open to the truth, as High Priestess.\"

Flame anointed her lips, saying:

\"Let my lips speak the Truth, except that they be silent among the unbelievers where there may be harm, as High Priestess I ask this.\"

Flame anointed her heart, saying:

\"Let my heart seek the ways of the Goddess always, and as High Priestess, I ask that you allow me to lead my coven the same way.\"

Flame anointed the centers of her palms, saying:

\"Let my hands be gifted to work in magickal ways, as Priestess, I ask that I never do harm, except to those who deserve it.\"

Flame then anointed the soles of her feet, saying:

“As the High Priestess of my Coven, Let my feet ever walk upon the sacred paths.\"

When Flame had finished with the ritual, she turned to the others and smiled, then released the circle.

***

“Hmmpph hmm!” Earth spoke.

“Earth, do not speak with your mouth full!” Ice warned.

“I said, excuse me.” Earth said swallowing his food.

Flame was dancing around the bonfire with Shadow as the sun set.

“So, Earth...what do you want for your birthday?” Ice said, knowing the answer.


Earth leaned forward to her and took a sip of his wine, “You... in nothing but ribbons.”

Ice blushed, “EARTH!”

Earth laughed, “It won’t take long Ice, I’m a virgin.”

Ice stopped, “I thought that you and Flood...”

“No...we talked, that’s about it.” Earth said, setting his wine down and smiling at Ice.

“Earth...I...I...”

“I know, you are with Leaf...” Earth said, frowning.

“I... I don’t want him hurting you.” Ice said.

“My birthday is in four days Ice...” Earth said, picking up his goblet and walking over towards the bonfire.

The group danced, ate and sang until midnight, when the bonfire was banked and the group went inside to sleep.

***

((So, it’s bizarre, I know, but it is also just another chapter. What is Ice going to do? Earth is determined to get her in bed... *GULP* Next chapter...Earth’s birthday, and his powers come into full power!

As always, ideas are welcomed!))