*Soleil*
"Hi and welcome, I am Tanya". The woman's smile is friendly and she holds out her hand to me. "Mark told me it's your birthday today, congratulations".

"Thank you". I say smiling shyly, shaking her hand.

Tanya exudes friendliness and warmth, and I immediately likes her. My eyes slide down her dress, It really is almost identical to the one that Davina had sown to me, but where mine has a flower bort, hers has silver Celtic knots along its edge.

"Come on we are going quite far into the forest, it is this way". Tanya waves me along onto a path. "Mark told me that he had explained which special astronomical phenomena we are having these days. Super full moon happening at the same time as the summer solstice. Wow it's crazy. I can't even imagine which fantastic powers are going to dance with us tonight, when both the mother and father are so close". Tanya's eyes are shining. "But how much do you know about the traditional feast we are here to celebrate". She ask.

"Not so much, besides it being the midsummer celebration for fertility".

"Yes Litha, as we call it is summer solstice, it's the day of the year where the day is the longest and the night is the shortest, from tomorrow the days are going to be shorter and when we reach the shortest day, Yule, which is winter solstice it all starts over". Tanya stops and holds a branch aside so I can pass. "In the old Celtic mythology King oak and King Holly was twins fighting for power doing to year". She continues. "People saw how the oak trees lose their leaves in the fall and that gave space for the holly which is always green behind the foliage. In the spring the oak grows its leafs back and it makes the holly disappear. In our coven we have taken up the fight of King oak and King Holly. We are going to say goodbye to King oak today".

I am listening fascinated by Tanya's tale. I have read a bit about this, when I made the magical circle, but it was still crazy that I'm going to be in a real wiccan sabbat.

"But first we are going to celebrate that it's now the Sun is closest to us". Tanya look up, throwing out her arms. "The goddess in the aspect of the Mother is highly pregnant after her reunion with the God at Beltane's fertility sabbat  and nature is in its fullest. When it's midnight, we are saying goodbye to King oak by throwing firewood made from oak on the bonfire. There you can collect your old amulets and write bad habits or something else you want to get rid of on a piece of paper and thrown into the fire".

"I have read something about people jumping over the fire at midnight. Do you do that?" I ask her curiously.

"It's not something we have practised, but it sounds like a good idea. It's always cool to try new things". Tanya laughs. "We usually just ends the ritual by thanking the nature, the goddess and the God for the gifts and then we just get our earthly connection back before we break the circle".

We finally reached the spot of the sabbat. The trip has taken us through the forest to the South-east and after that we went down a very slim overgrown path. If Tanya hadn't been here to show me the way, I would have never found it.the forest grows denser and several places there is only a small animal trail showing us the way. Then suddenly we stepped in to an opening that the big tree is had kept completely hidden.

The open space covers an area of 14 x 10 m and you can see that the coven uses it regularly for their sabbats and its esbats, because the grass is short and some places it is worn down to the bare ground. There is a big white circle painted in the grass. With a fireplaces marking each world corner, and in the middle of it stand a tall pole. In the end of the circle facing north, between the pole and the fireplace there is an altar of old three trunks. The altar is covered in flowers in every colour falling over the edge like a waterfall.  Two big white candle stands on each side of the big brass cauldron and to the right is a long black knife. I recognise it from Marks apartment: it is Athame - the rituelle knife. To the left is a beautiful wine glass.

The rituel space did not take up the whole clearing and and the left over space there was a table with food and drinks. Here she Saw the rest of the coven, Waiting for the ritual to start. I spot Mark as he comes over.

"Welcome Soleil, greetings to you". He takes both my hands, giving them a warm Sif squeeze.

Hadn't it been for his piercings I might not have recognized him. The hair which I have only seen up in spikes, as pulled back in a simple ponytail and he is wearing a long white robe, much like the dresses, just with a low round neckline and the same golden celtic knots as Tanya's dress.

"Let me introduce you to the rest of the gang. You have already met Tanya, she is out priestess". Mark offers me his arm and I take it, letting him lead me to three girls around my age. "Soleil, this is Jeanette, Anna and Simone".

We all greet each other. They are all wearing dresses similar to mine, but all with different patterns I notice.

On the other side of the table is the last three members: Sarah, a woman looking to be Tanya's age, her husband Lars and a young guy Rene. Every one of them greets me warmly and I genuinely feel welcome, making forget a bit of my shyness. It is not at all what I imagined. They are all totally normal people, not weird hippies or fanatic know it all types.

When I have said hello to everyone I follow Tanya to the buffet table.

"The ritual starts a eight, so we have a bit of time to relax and get to know each other". Tanya say, pointing to the table. "Please help yourself and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask". She sends me a smile, before leaving to help Mark get things ready.

I pick up a paper plate and find a bit of bread, salad and some meatballs. Even if I'm actually quite hungry, I'm not totally secure about just loading on. I look around for a place to sit and noticed that the three girls waves me over. Shyness prickles in my cheeks. I go over to them anyway, I don't want them to think I'm some kind of
snop.

"Be greeted". They say almost as one.

"Be greeted". I answer insecurely.

"Come sit with us". Simone scootch over a bit, so I can sit down next to them.

"Mark told us that you completely new to wiccan and wanted to see if joining a covenant was something for you". Jeanette says.

I look at her with surprise, the only thing I had agreed to was coming to see how a ritual was held. I hadn't said anything about joining the witch club.

"Well, yeah. I'm still trying to figure out how it all works and what it means to me". I answer, at least I haven't promised anything but I haven't said no either,  if I should want to come back.

The girls start telling me about how they had first started with wicca. I try to find something to say, but in the end I give up and just listen to the conversation. I look around at the people gathered there. There is a fantastic warmth and sympathy between all of them and I have to admit that I like the atmosphere which I in lack of better words have to call pure positive energy.

The girls are talking and having so much fun they don't realise the time before Tanya comes over. "It is time to start girls. Will the virgin be so kind as to lead us in the dance ?"

Anna smiles and gets up. "It's my turn to be the virgin". She say, walking over to Tanya.

Lars and Sarah gets a guitar and a drum while everybody else gets up gathering at the circle. When Sarah starts drumming the guitar joins in and Anna starts dancing. Everyone else joins up behind her, following her around and around in the clearing. When they have danced to the music for a while they virgin start singing and a couple of them laughs.

"Put your right arm in, put your right arm out".  She sings, the music change fitting with the song.

I look at them with surprise. This is a wiccan sabbat and we run around singing children's songs !?

Jeanette must have noticed my doubtful face. "Children songs with dances and movements are actually a really good way of letting go of your inhibitions and just have fun with each other". She explains with a laugh.

I nod and doubtfully start singing with the rest of them, while putting my left leg in. After a couple of verses the other ones laughter and enjoyment in the game rubs off at me and I realise that Jeanette was right, the silly children song makes me laugh and play like when I was a kid. It is wonderful, freeing and extremely funny at the same time. The groups dancing and playing increases to an almost euphoric level and it feels like they are high on the joy and togetherness.

  Then the music stills. Lars stops playing altogether and join the rest of us. Sarah sit down next to the pole and keep drumming in a slow monotone rhythm. The virgin leads to chain of people into the circle and we stop in a ring around Sarah, swaying to the slow beat. Rene and Lars starts humming to the slow music, and when we have all joined in, Sarah gets up to join us.

"Brothers and sisters let's take the joy of the dance and singing with us into the circle, and let it fill our bodies and soul. Let your inner light flow into the chain we are making together and feel how you receive safety and love from the chain". Tanya is standing in front of the altar talking with a high demanding voice. She reach her hands towards us, sending her own light out. Next to Tanya, Mark is standing with the black knife Athame and on her sign he starts walking left way around the white circle. 

"With the power of Athame I draw the magical circle". He messes as he walk around us, drawing an imaginary circle with the knife.

I notice how the wind start pulling at the treetops, it really has to be some great powers we are dealing with like Tanya predicted, when they can change the weather. I feel a chill down my spine, this is it, this must be what my dreams are trying to tell me. That I am to join Marks coven.

"Let nothing.." Mark continues.

That is all he gets to say, before the wind blows up violently, slamming down between us. The gusts of wind collects itself pulling up a swirl of dust, leaves and smoke from the fires. Everyone is staring in horror at the big tornado materialising in front of us, hovering 4 m up in the air. I feel like I can see someone inside the whirlwind, but how on earth could that be? This is when I feel something warm around my neck, scared I look down and realise that my necklace is glowing golden and the warmth is the coming from it. I start scrambling to get it of, but at that moment the tornado jumps right in front of me and I scream as I am lifted up into the air.

"Soleil !"

Through the roaring storm I hear Mark call my name and with my arms flailing I manage to turn and reach for him. Lars shows up beside him, trying to save me too. It is impossible; the power of the whirling wind keeps pushing them back. Soon they have to give up and helplessly watch as I am swallowed by the tornado. The last thing I see is everyone else fleeing into the wood, then the whirlwind closes around me.

While I am thrown around unclear voices are whispering around me; voices I can't really hear over the roar of the whirling wind. Desperately I am trying to find something to grab onto. I lifeline to pull me to safety. Then I reach the eye of the storm. Only the sound of my own screams sings in my ears in here and when I run out of air, there is only silence. I am not scared any longer. The pressure of the wind slides around me, pushing my slightly to lay down, like in a comfortable reclining chair. How can this happen ? Around me the wind is churning, powerful and uncontrollable, making it impossible to look out. I no longer know what is up or down and I don't know if Mark and Lars is okay.

  'You have called for us child'

It was the voice from her dream ! It sounded like it was inside her head. What is this ? Am I dreaming ? Am I actually laying in my bed sleeping ?

'Don't be scared'. The voice is talking directly to me. 'You are one with the wind. Take control'.

I am what ? Take what ? My necklace starts glowing again and burn against my cool skin. I flinch and once again realise where I am. Desperately I fight to get out of this nightmare and I manage to kind of swim through the whirl. With a hard bump I land on the ground and stare wide eyed at the giant wind column dancing in front of me. It stays at the same spot and still it whirl with immense speed right before me.

Mark comes running, helping me back on my feet. The whole clearing has been swept clean, only the fireplaces, the altar and the pole has survived the tornado.

"What is happening Mark ? What have we done ?" I gasp.

"I don't know. I didn't even know it was possible to.. ". Mark is even more scared than I am.

"Possible to what ?"

His voice is a scared whisper. "It's not possible".

"But we did this right ?" Mark doesn't answer. His mouth is moving like he is talking, but no sound is coming out. "Isn't this what you were preaching ? That there is a soul in every tree and every stone ? Well say hello to one of the guys then". My voice is laced with indignation.

Mark still don't answer. The high priest seemed to be scared shitless. The fear for the powers he claimed to believe in and which had finally manifestet themselves in front of him, was evident in his face.

Hypocrite ! Her passive openmouted staring makes me angry. And I feel how I find power in the anger and indignation. I turn towards the tornado. It is still standing still right behind me, rotating around itself at immense speed.

You are one with the wind, take control ! Wasn't that what the voice in the tornado had said.

I reach out, touching the wind. Immediately a small whirl break loose from the big one, sitting there on my palm. It was like a small jolt of electricity as it touches me and I pull my hand away. The tiny tornado dissolve as soon as it leaves my hand. Curiously I look from my hand to the big tornado and carefully I reach for it again. Just like before, a small copy jumps up on my hand. My necklace is glowing, but I am so focussed on this miracle to notice.

I start laughing. Everything seems so unreal and still. I have experienced this before, haven't I ? The dreams about the stone circles a suddenly completely clear in my mind and I remember how I played with the wind, how I made it grow or stop at will.

"Stop !" I say calmly, still filled with the confidence and harmony I remember from my dreams.

The tornado slowly power down, until it is completely gone and I turn towards Mark. He is on his knees, staring up at me with huge eyes and his mouth hanging open.

   I lift my hand and a small whirlwind comes to life on my palm. "Mark I think it is best if we keep this little seance to ourselves. Don't you agree ?" I step towards him.

Slowly he seems to awaken and back away looking scared nodding furiously. If it is my stern tone or the fact that I am holding a tiny tornado in my hand that scares him the most I can't say. But from the look on his face I am quite sure he is never gonna tell anyone.

He gets up on his feet and run.

With a superior grin I look after him as he disappears between the trees. The wind die down. My vision blur and with a sigh I collapse.