HOW THE SEASONS CAME TO BE



In the beginning of the green World, the Lady Night did dance upon the Earth's 
breast.  She delighted in all the Earth - the growing herbs, the animals, the 
insects, the birds of the air, the creatures of the waters, and all that made up 
this pleasant abode.

She exulted in the warmth of the sunny days and cool nights.  She ruled this 
world with Her companion and counterpart, the Bright King, whom She had 
fashioned out of Her longing for love.  His name was Day; the brightness of the 
Sun shone from His visage. Great was their joy in one another, and in the green 
fertile World about Them.

The Earth became more and more full of Her creations - crowding happily in on 
one another, until there was little room to Dance or move about, and the Earth 
groaned under Life's weight.

Mother Earth complained to Father sun, the They consulted with each other on how 
they might best serve the Great Goddess, and at the same time relieve the burden 
that rested so heavily on Earth's weary body.

After much talking, they could not decide what they must do, and Father Sun told 
Mother Earth that since hers was the pain, so must Hers be the solution. And He 
turned away His Face and shrouded Himself in robes of seething clouds.

Coldness fell upon the Earth, and many things cried out in loss an pain.  For 
was not the Sun needful to them for Life?  Many things began to wilt and shrivel 
close to the Little Mother's bosom, looking for solace.  Many things burrowed 
deep, sleeping until a more favorable time.

Then Mother Earth devised a plan - let there be two halves to the year - the 
bright and warm, and the dark and cold.  Thus would the burden lighten somewhat, 
when the things shriveled for a while.

Father Sun once again looked upon Mother Earth, and agreed that Her plan might 
work well.  "But who would rule the dark time?" He asked.

"Let the Lord be the Master of the cold season, " She replied. "Then can the 
Lady renew and replenish all things after His Reign."

Father Sun felt it would not be wise to leave the Lady companionless.  Why could 
there not be two - one to rule the bright and one to rule the dark.  He wished 
that the Bright Lord should remain in the warm time; for He was straight of 
limb, bright of visage, and merry of heart.  Too, Father Sun thought the Lady 
would wish a companion to compliment Her beauty, be light-hearted in all ways, 
thus making the task of renewing all the more joyous.

Mother Earth thought long on this, and at last sent a choice of her own. The man 
was strong and dark of countenance.  He had not the great beauty of Father Sun's 
choice, nor were His ways light-hearted and merry.  He was much given to 
thinking, planning and building.  He was much given to practicalities, and could 
be counted upon to the clearing away of the extra weight that so burdened Mother 
Earth.

On a day designated by Sun and Earth, the two Lords met in a glade where the 
Lady sat twining ropes of flowers in her tresses, and draping them about Her 
body.  As She surveyed the two Lords, She felt chill from the Dark One.  He 
seemed so stern and forbidding!  The Bright One caused Her heart to dance.  She 
ran gaily off, holding the hand of the Bright Lord, singing and laughing.

The Dark One said nothing.  He went far to the North, where the sun's rays were 
weaker, and the vegetation sparser.  He built Himself a fortress, and hunted for 
foods, preparing them in strange ways so that they would last a long while. 
These, He stored, and then set about making furniture and pots of fired clay in 
which to cook.  After a time, He had made a snug and comfortable home for 
Himself, with room enough for guests.

The Lady and Bright Lord paid Him no mind, gaily Dancing and playing and loving.  
They planted seeds, tended them lovingly, and then at the fruits of Their 
Harvest.

On the day the Sun stood still in His journey, the frolicking Lady and Lord felt 
a sudden chill.  There, in the meadow, where first the Three had met, stood the 
Dark One.  He held out His hand to invite the Maiden Lady to come with Him.

The Bright Lord sheltered the Maiden in His arms, refusing to let her go, 
clinging with all the love of Life that was His nature. The Lady held close to 
the Bright King, refusing to look upon the Other.

"Then," said that Dark Other.  "We fight!"  They took up arms against One 
Another, and it seemed as if the Bright King was winning for a time.  The Maiden 
Lady clapped Her hands in glee.

The Sun and Earth watched this battle passively; it seemed to go on forever. But 
the sun must not stay His course in the Sky, and as sunset approached, the 
strength of the Bright King waned.  The Dark Lord, He of the Earth's devising, 
seemed neither to lose or gain strength, but remained constant.  He struck a 
great blow against the Bright King, who fell down, dying.  The golden grain 
drooped heavy heads, and the fruits of the trees fell to the ground in sorrow. 
The flowers began to wither, though new ones sprang up, blood red from the Life 
fluids of the dying God.

The Lady gave out a sorrowful cry, and the tree leaves changed their colors - 
some golden in honor of the Bright King's hair, some as red as His blood, and 
others the color of the Earth that was to receive Him into Her bosom.

The Lady heaped flowers upon the still form of the Bright King, and mourned Him 
in a sorrowful song; a song that raced through the branches of the trees, who 
added their own mournful tones.

Though the blood of the Bright King cried out for revenge, the Dark Lord ignored 
it, and grasping the Lady firmly by the hand, took Her off to His home in the 
North.

The fallen fruits and flowers dissolved in sorrow, into the Earth Mother's 
breast.  The seeds of their yearning for Life lay dreaming of the long summer 
they had known; remembering the shining love that the Lady and Her Consort had 
shared with all that was.

Now Father sun was angry that Mother Earth's choice should win over His Bright 
King in battle, and took Himself off a ways from Her.  The World became colder. 
Without the love of the Maiden, the Brightness of the youth, and the warmth of 
Father Sun, Earth began to sleep under a blanket of white.  So, too, slept all 
but the most hardy of plants, trees, and animals.

Though the Maiden resisted Him at first, She soon came to love the Dark One for 
His differences, and She learned much from Him, and He from Her.

Then one day, the Sun stood quite still, viewing the Earth, thinking how still 
and pale She looked - and how it was not Her fault that her Champion had won. He 
sent a pale ray of light down into the Cavern Fortress where the Dark One ruled 
as Lord, the Lady by His side.  And lo, a son was born to Them.  His visage was 
bright and shining, as He laughed and played in His cradle.

For a time, the Dark One was jealous of the Child, for He knew it was the Bright 
One, returned.  Then, as the Child grew to manhood, the Dark King sent Him away.

The Lady, refreshed from Her confinement, followed the Youth. Again, Spring came 
to the World.

Now, this story is many times repeated.  Neither the Bright King or the Dark One 
ever own the Maiden-Lady for all time, but must share Her.  This must be, so the 
World be a true World, that the Four Seasons go apace to turn the wheel of the 
Year, and that all may learn that Life and Death and Life are but a cycle, and 
that Hope is always near.