THE CRAFT OF THE WISE

Now the Lady made Her journey to the Plane of Mortal Existence, and on the way,
She passed through many other realms:  Those of spirits and phantasms, and
those of the elements.  She dwelt a time in each realm, gathering the essences
of each one about Her, layer upon layer, to clothe Herself.  These essences
were necessary, for the Plane of Mortal Existence is made up of all of these
elements, seen and unseen.

Too, She spent time with Light-of-the-Womb, experiencing Her quiet pain, her
self-imposed penance.  The Great Goddess reminded her Little Sister, Moon, that
all things work together in Harmony, and that one day, Her great sacrifice
would be repaid in Great Glory.

Then coming at last to her destination, the Goddess once again clothed herself
in Human Flesh.  She clothed Herself in all the pain and sorrow, and the joy
that is the Fate of Humankind.  Back She went - back to the sensations of the
five senses.  Back to the heavy physical vehicle that Human souls use to
transport themselves about.  Back to a coarse and humble life; one from which
She could study her people more fully, and teach them that which they must know.

She chose not to go back into the body of a strong warrior, nor yet on of great
physical feminine beauty - but rather as a plain, slender young woman.  Her
eyes were brown as the Earth in which She dug for roots; Her hair was as brown
as the bark; Her skin weathered a bit by the elements.  though She dressed as
drabbly as any other mortal girl, there was still a spark, an intensity that 
could not be denied.  this, the Goddess Herself, could not change, for 
otherwise, She would not be present.

The sparkle of Divinity that shone from Her eyes drew others to Her in a warm
bond.  they listened to Her teach the secrets of planting and growing things,
the ways of animals and fish and fowl; the flying birds and insects; secrets of
water, wind and dire.

Too, She instructed them in the Way.  She taught them of the Spiral Dance of
the Universe, that same spiral that is found in the very cells of their bodies.
She instructed them in the Mysteries - those of Birth, and Death, and Rebirth;
and in doing so, explained the Game of Karma.

When She taught them all they could learn, She told them that She must go once
again to her Halls of Love and Light, but that they might call upon Her in
times of need, and She would hear and answer.  She told them that the phases of
the Moon would show the Way.

Among them She left One whom She had taken as a Consort and Helper.  He was a
Forest Lord, Protector of the Wilds; He would as as Her Regent upon the Earth
while She was away.

The people wept bitterly, for they could not bear to be without their beloved
Goddess.  But the Lord comforted them, saying, "Does She not love you enough to
come amongst you? To provide a Regent for your comfort - to promise you an
Eternal Life in Her Love at the end of the Spiral Dance?"

And they built many temples and places of worship.  Sacred were the many
Springs where She had drunk.  Sacred, too, were the many Groves where She had
slept.  And too, those places of power where She had wrought the Magicks of the
Spiral Dance for the edification and delight of Her children.

Those She taught well became Her Priests and Priestesses - and they continue to
instruct Her People in Her Ways.