Rituals
As a pagan myself (eclectic Wiccan I'm told) I understand that not everyone is the most understanding when it comes to nature based faiths and spiritualties. Some people assume that pagans sacrifice animals to the devil or just go and have sex in the woods. While sometimes rituals may call for a sacrifice of some sort or even acts of passion most simply require faith, a gift, and respect to the blessed spirits.
This is for those, who like me, know that not every path is the same nor should they be forgotten. What is correct to one may be wrong to another but the point is that we understand and respect the views of others.
Blessed be readers and please enjoy.
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She understood that they weren't here for the same reason as her which ultimately shouldn't bother her. Sitting by the fire, however, Kasey couldn't help but feel a certain annoyance as she watched her friends making out less than three feet from her. Groping each other with shameless abandon while Sara's boyfriend kept implying that the vixen was free to join them. Kasey, again, declined with a small smile as the two of them started going at it in the middle of camp.
When she'd invited her roommate to share a skyclad weekend with her in the mountains, Kasey had thought that the ferret might actually get the hint that she was needing to get some time away to be herself and pray. Living in the apartment they shared off campus made it hard for the fox to feel her connection to the spirits and the longer that she was away from the woods the more restless she became. So when Sara agreed to drive her up to the mountains for the weekend while the weather was set to be nice Kasey was more than happy to accept the offer.
However, Sara's boyfriend Jason had asked to come as well and how woeful it would have been for the otter to be told no. Instead, Sara had explained to him that Kasey was coming up to do "her pagan thing" in the woods to which the otter feigned enough interest to at least ask a few standard questions.
By the time Kasey had explained what skyclad meant he was as on board for going as the vixen was for not wanting him to go. However, Sara insisted that it would be fine and that the fox would still have time for her rituals. There wasn't any more room to argue then as the two lovebirds declared the weekend set in stone.
Now, however, as the sharp musk of mustelid arousal stung her nostrils, Kasey had had enough. Moving to her tent, the vixen crawled inside as she began to run a check of the materials that she'd brought. Her pendant that she used to focus her energies was safely tucked inside its pouch and the four small, wooden dishes she used for her cleansings were tucked away as well. The materials would be easy enough to get though she thought it best to bring her lighter for the fire and the blue jay feather one of her friends had given her from among his own molting.
Carefully placing the materials in her ritual bag, Kasey made her way back out of the tent to find Jason busy thrusting into Sara with all the inexperience of the pathetic frat boy he was. Rolling her eyes, she stood to make her way out.
"Mmf, come on nature girl," Jason called after her as she started to walk into the woods. "You got all naked for us. Why not join in and have some fun? I got more than enough energy to make both you sexy babes happy."
Kasey reached back and tapped her naked, russet and white-furred ass. "Enjoy the view if you want but I'm not joining in. You knew before getting here that my being naked did not mean your dick was going anywhere in or near me. Try focusing on Sara before she falls asleep in boredom." Before he could respond, she made her way into the woods and focused on the task at hand.
The breeze along her body was wonderful enough but the warmth of the sun as it shone down on her from between the leaves of the trees made it all the sweeter. As she left the scents and sounds of camp behind her, Kasey could start to feel her connection with the Mother Goddess reinforcing with ever step of her paws. Warm, rich soil formed around her toes and worked its way between her digits as the vixen traversed her home away from home.
It didn't take long for her ears to catch the trickling of water coming from the south as she let the woods guide her where she needed to be. A shift in the wind brought her the rich scent of damper soil and running water; a dancing energy that flowed through her like the water through its rocky bed. Heading towards it, she started to speak her prayers.
"Blessed spirits of earth and sky from whom I was born and to whom I will return, thank you for the bounty of peace that is this day. For the chance to return to you as the mother Goddess intended in not but the flesh and fur granted me. Blessed be each of you, great spirits, as you show me the way and give to me the lessons you seek to teach. May my words find me worthy of your graces and my soul be ready for your lessons. Amen."
By the time she finished the first of her prayers, Kasey stood alongside the gently flowing stream as it made its way down the long journey to the lake she knew sat at the bottom of the mountain. Reaching into her bag, the vixen pulled out one of the wooden bowls before giving pause. Humming, she set her bag and materials aside.
Raising her arms into the sky, she reached for the warmth of the light as the cooling air of the breeze caressed along her body. Breathing in deep, she shut her eyes and stood there with her body so exposed to the wind.
"Blessed sun, by your light and the breeze of the Goddess may by body be cleansed of that which taints it every day. May my energy be renewed and once again restored by the natural essence around me. May the energy I put into my ritual workings be pure and my offerings today pleasing to the spirits of the earth. Amen."
Satisfied, she knelt down and retrieved the bowl once more. Carefully, she tipped it down into the flowing waters of the stream and let it fill a little over half full. Content, she stood and held the dish in one hand while slinging her bag back over her shoulder with the other.
Careful not to waste what she took, Kasey walked along the edge of the stream for a time as her eyes scanned for somewhere nice and drier that she could set herself up. Part of her wanted the open view down the mountain and it felt right as she questioned if she should. Nodding her head in resolve, she turned as she saw what looked to be a small open patch free of trees and brush.
To her surprise it appeared that others had been in the same clearing several times in the past. Various paw prints of differing ages marked the dirt and had helped thin the grass in the small clearing. Humming at the coincidence that others would find the spot, Kasey carefully sat down and set the bowl of water down.
Basing her directions on the sun, she set the water on the western side of her body. Taking a deep breath, she then set another dish in each of the other 3 cardinal directions. Moving away from the area for a moment, she collected a handful of soft, wet soil from near the stream before returning it and placing it in the northern faced bowl. Wiping her hand onto her fur, she hummed as her free hand pulled out the white candle from her bag and placed it to the south. Finally, the large, blue feather was placed atop the bowl to the east with a small gem slid around the quill to keep it from easily blowing away.
Letting out her breath, Kasey focused herself on feeling the energy of the earth beneath her. Like electricity, she could feel her fur standing on edge as she attuned to the rush of living essence beneath her paws. In her mind, she pictured the circle around her ritual set up and slowly traced it out with her finger as she said, "Blessed spirits, protect this circle that no evil thing would pass it."
Closing off the ring with herself inside, the vixen knelt down to her candle and used a lighter to light it. Setting the lighter aside, she stood and lifted her hands to the sky once again.
"Great spirits of this earth, I call out to you and offer the essence of my own spirit to you as thanks for your lessons and guidance thus far this year and for those lessons yet to come. As I have walked this earth under the watchful eye of my patron Otter I do ask now for the aid of another. Spirit of cunning and of patience that I may teach another who seeks to learn but is blind to what holds her back from truly seeing. Spirit of wisdom, walk with me now as I reach out to Sara and help her walk the path she thinks she understands but of which she knows so little. Let her see that magic of the earth is not simply found in release of the flesh.
I call upon the spirit of raven that he would grant me wisdom and guidance through visions and dreams to help Sara find her way; be it along the path of nature or away from it. Let me guide her with wisdom that no matter her choice it would be one made in understanding of what she does. Equally, blessed spirit, I call upon you to watch over me that my actions would bring honour to the spirits of Mother Goddess and would not shame them in my teaching. In this request, I offer forth my own essence to empower you and a gift of seeds left for your children each night before I go to sleep.
By my invocation of the four elements and the strength of my spirit, may my prayer carry to Raven and be heard. Blessed be, great spirits, and amen."
Taking a deep breath, Kelsey could feel the forest around her more vividly as her heart pumped in excitement like it always did for a ritual. It had been short, brief, but served its purpose. Kneeling down, she blew out the candle before packing up her items in reverse order that she carried them. The earth and water was returned where she collected it from and soon the vixen simply lay enjoying the sun in the clearing.
Sighing happily, she took a deep breath and let her hands casually rest on her stomach. Soon she'd have to go back and endure the escapades of Jason and Sara but for now, in this moment, she could enjoy being part of something bigger than herself.
Letting her tail swish idly at her side, the vixen smiled as she planned out which ritual she wanted to perform next. Her prayer seemed to have gone well though only time would tell. Maybe she'd humor the lovers back at camp and consider joining in their fun. Snorting, she wondered if it would only sully her point though. Nature was a wonderful thing when enjoyed in the right ways. Sometimes, though not as often as Sara might think, that even meant sex.
Humming, Kasey simply let the warmth wash over her as her ears adjusted to the buzz of the forest around her. Here, away from the trappings of her life, she could truly feel alive.