Signal Flare – Saturday, September 11, 2010

photo by keyseeker

Ahoy there!

Contacts from the ghostThe energy body of a physical plane being. Usage usually assumes after the death of the physical body, though not always. See Out-Of-Body-Experience (OOBE) community that has recently found us put me in mind of this story.

A Very Special Circle

Samhain (October 31st), 2001

We had gathered at the house of a couple of friends of ours to celebrate the Wiccan hollyday commemorating both the turning of the Wheel of the Year and those who had died during that year.

Mike & I lived in Frederick, Maryland, at the time, and because of that relative closeness to all three sites, I had taken 9-11 rather hard. No personal losses, thank Goodness, but the closeness had still left me shaken. The ‘could-have-beens’ gave me a profound respect for the ‘co-incidences’ that shape our lives, and the fragility of the Paths we walk.

We had talked it over with our friends, and decided that in our ceremony, we would honour those who had died, especially those of the Pennsylvania flight.

Could-have-beens.

We did not expect what happened next.

As we gathered around the picnic table outside to speak the words and watch the world descend into the night, we all began to feel a sense of presence as the ceremony went on.

I don’t remember who mentioned it first, but I remember that feeling appearing as we thanked those who had passed in that Pennsylvanian field that day.

Suddenly, we realized that they had come here to our Circle. They had come to acknowledge our thanks, and to thank us for remembering them as well.

We were both surprised & humbled by their attendance. I don’t know how many came that night, but it felt like a lot. Attentive & focused on what we were doing. Thanking & thankful at the same time.

Of all the outcomes, this was one that none of us had expected.

What made it all the more powerful & moving was that in physical life, the majority probably would not have attended a pagan ceremony, for any of a number of reasons, starting with the simple fact that, growing tho’ it may be, paganism simply isn’t that widely practiced here in the USA as of yet.

But on this special night, we all came together, in peace, in harmony, in remembrance, in sacredness.

We shared our Circle together, then as we released the energies of the Circle and went back inside, we all had another shock.

This circle we had thought had only taken a couple of hours had, in fact, taken five. It was 3 a.m. when we came back to the Waking World.

We looked at each other, and knew that something extra-magickal had just taken place. The people-who-write-the-books talk about a Circle being a Place Between the Worlds, but I had never experienced it to that level before – a level where Time itself marched to a different beat.

Here in 2010, I write this not to bring up old pain, but to show you that, despite our differences, we can come together to honour & respect each other.

Today of all days, let us remember that.

And then all of the others too.

Announcement from the Bridge

This day & this subject bring out a lot of strong emotions in people.

We acknowledge & respect that.

Please remember, however, that this ship is a place of mutual respect and safety, open-mindedness and tolerance.

Comment accordingly.

Thank you.

The Journey Continues….

Vittoria, 1519