Through The Mist

You are out hiking on an old worn dusty trail. The sun has begun its decent into the evening time and glows orangey, yellow, and crimson on the horizon. You are dressed in hiking boots, a light cotton t-shirt and khaki shorts. Your canteen and backpack are thrown over your right shoulder. Up ahead there is a small clearing, just right for camping. You stop and set up your tent near the shelter of some trees and gather some wood for a small fire. After eating a light meal you sit back and relax.

The sun has retired for the evening but it is still hot and muggy on this summer night. Your clothes cling to your damp body. The moon and stars play hide and seek amongst the brewing storm clouds. As the winds pick up you can literally smell the moisture in the air. It won’t be long before the rain comes. You sit watching the night sky enjoying the cooling winds. Frogs croak in the distance and the cicadas and crickets sing along.

The rain arrives, steady but gentle at first and it is so inviting that you dance amongst the cool, refreshing droplets. As it begins to rain harder you seek the shelter of your tent. You towel off and change into some clean dry clothes and settle in until the rain ends. Before long, the heavy rains change to a gentle sprinkle causing you to feel drowsy.

Waking, you step from your tent to find you are surrounded by mist. It rises steadily from the ground about you enveloping you in its white veil. It has cooled considerably and the dampness makes you shiver so you grab your cloak and throwing it over your back and shoulders wrap it about out your body. Above you, the stars twinkle and the moon shines radiantly. Cautiously you make your way to were the fire was with fresh dry pine boughs and relight it. The fire pops, cracks and sparks back to life.

In the distance you hear beautiful, melodious singing. Grabbing a limb from the fire to use as a torch to see by you begin walking towards the mesmerizing sound. There is a narrow, barely visible trail with thick undergrowth under the dense thicket of trees. There is light in the distance where the singing is coming from. Carefully, and quietly, you make your way up the path. The mist slowly begins to dissipate. Suddenly, as you step from the woods you find yourself in a large clearing. Violets and marigolds dot the landscape covered in clover, while honeysuckle and lavender perfume the air. The Full Moons shine luminous and bright. Strange but beautiful beings with delicate, elfin features are singing, giggling and dancing about it. You realize you are in a Faery Ring. Woodland spirits dressed in cloaks of forest green, hooded capes of amber, dance arm in arm, circling about, laughing. Some of them have iridescent wings in soft shades of blue, green, yellow. Your heart skips with joy at the magick and beauty that surrounds you.

A violet eyed, flaxen haired woman steps from the circle of dancers and walks toward you, smiling broadly. Barely visible from beneath her cloak of green you see gossamer wings of rainbow hues. Her hair is the color of pale gold soft as fresh spun silk and glistens in the moonlight. She wears a tunic of soft yellow and has flowers entwined in her hair. She reaches out a delicate gentle hand and grasps yours as she pulls you from amongst the trees towards the circle of dancers. She giggles and it reminds you of wind chimes. As you enter the clearing you notice that there are others sitting about dining on fresh fruit and cakes of honey and drinking blackberry and elderberry wine. The sites, sounds, and aromas fill your senses, the splendor and beauty fill your spirit with the magick of this place.

The beautiful young Fae takes you amongst the diners and motions for you to sit. She offers you wine and cakes and your senses explode with the tastes of the delicious rich flavors. Suddenly, you realize and are amazed that you are able to understand your hosts and the lilting songs. Being mindful of your manners, you ask questions and they tell you fantastic stories of their culture and heritage. Tales of love, battles, legends and lore told from the heart and memory touch your heart, bringing tears to your eyes. Eventually, you are pulled into the circle of dancers where you twirl about joining in the gaiety and songs. You feel enraptured and enthralled. You dance and sing and delight in the exquisiteness of it all. Now and then one of the dancers steps out to enjoy the feast and another enters in their place.

Feeling a bit tired and overwhelmed, you decide to sit back and watch the festivities. You are feeling a bit heady now from the wine and gradually drift off to sleep. The Faeries, their stories and songs fill your dreams.

Waking, you find yourself back in the safety of your campsite snuggled comfortably in your sleeping bag. Sitting up, you stretch and rub your eyes. Was it a dream? Opening the tent flap, you step out into the sun drenched clearing, holding your hands to shield your eyes from the brightness. Seeing a narrow path opposite the remnants of your campfire you can’t resist investigating. Gathering your things and cleaning up the campfire remains, your throw your pack and canteen over your shoulder and begin your way up the trail. Carefully you pick your way through the dense underbrush that crowds the path eventually coming to a large clearing. There are still flowers everywhere but encircling the flowers is a narrow path lined with mushrooms. Standing outside the circle, your reach inside your pack and pull out an apple and a pear. Carefully, so as not to step on any of the flowers or mushrooms, you lay the fruit at the edge of the circle and step back. You take a moment to give thanks and ask a blessing upon the magickal beings and this place.

As you throw you pack back on you shoulder and begin up the trail you hum to yourself one of the tunes you learned from the Fae. Every now and then you hear the sound of wind chimes and know it is the sweet laughter of a Faery. Before long, you find yourself on the familiar trail that brought you here and returns home. Reaching the edge of the forest you find you are home. On your doorstep there is a beautiful, fragrant bouquet of flowers containing honeysuckle, lavender, violets and marigolds.