Last Sunday I was priviledged to hoast a birthday gathering for a dear friend. Instead of the usual paryying for such an event, he requested a ritual. This ritual was to be a tribute to love. Love for ourselves, others, the earth, society...

As his eight guests gathered in my dining room which, had been cleared for the occasion and draped with sumptous fabrics, lined with candles and an altar the length of an entire wall, I could feel the of energy, loves energy, flowing through and around each end every one. The participants consisted of five women, two men and one individual who choses to be gender non-specific. Shiva and Shakti were well represented.

In circle, the evening's intention was called forth and we were instructed to write an expression of our personal intention for the expression of love in our lives, on a slip of paper...

Then, a censor was lit and we moved outside to the back deck of my home and there, above a clear sky, the first in many weeks, was the moon. Goddess Moon, in her glory witnessed our offering as we, one by one, burned our intentions in the fire, releasing it's energy.

It was one of the most beautiful rituals I've ever been a part of. I felt at the time that there was such strong goddess energy flowing that night with the five women, the moon as our witness and the powerful intentions at work, there would be great things to come about as a result.

My dear friend is using the ashes and offerings from the altar to offer as a gift to the trees at his property which, he is working to develop into a permaculture insitute where sustainability and other workshops can be taught.

What a wonderful way to celebrate one's birth!