CrossRoads, Yule 9995

                                  Freya at Yule

                 I am Freya, great queen of the northern people
                        I am mother and lover and ruler
                           I am the mistress of magic
                  I am the goddess of the full and shining moon
                    At this season of Yule I am full of light
                        Filled with the child of promise
              As you see me shining full and radiant, see yourself
                       For you are also filled with light
                      As I cradle deep the child of promise
                        I must nurture myself completely
                      Feed my soul and my body and my mind
                            The most precious things
                 For I have a deep binding obligation to myself
                     And to the light which grows within me
                      I feel my body swell to fullness and
                             I know the time is now
                          Birth holds both joy and pain
                        There is ripping and giving way
                        For the new life to spring forth
                              Have you felt my pain
                    Open yourself and let the miracle occur
                                The babe is born
                      When I look upon the child of light
                       I see I have given birth to myself
                       And that I have given birth to you
                              We are the light and
                          We have returned to the world
                            I welcome you my children
                            For the child of light
                              The child of promise
                              Is indeed ourselves
                        Let us bless and honor the child
                      Nurture it and it shall grow strong
                        For now it has a life of its own
                        I have held you in my belly and
                           Given you the gift of life
                  I gift you with your body and mind and spirit
                      I gift you with that special quality
                              That is yours alone
                   I gift you with the blessings of the world
                      I gift you with the powers of magick
                            And the magick of rebirth
                        What will you make of my gifts?
                        What will you give me in return?
                   Do you honor me with your accomplishments?
                              Your loving nature?
                     Do you honor me by honoring the earth?
                          By adoring the moon and sun
                              And all of creation?
                    I charge you to go out into the world and
                              Make me proud of you
                      For to do otherwise is a disservice
                              To me and to yourself


                                  by Amy Joyce