For some, the word from my sponsor is a trifle academic in its approach. By my standards, it is experiential, but just in case, here's a different response. You either know what it is, or you don't. If you do, then you'll work out that compressing it to nine hours rather than days will entail a real journey, starting in darkness. Even if you can find a short one, please plan this appropriately and and take care. |
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It begins in darkness: from the darkenss comes desire; |
It is a dark road, and a long road, and a trying road, But the darkness gives ecstasy, and shares ecstasy,
The road will connect beginning and end:
Lady. look upon our journey with favour, We have known you by many names, You have stood for us, |
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A briar rose for the Lady: The brandy-darkness gives shade, |
Soon, we know, new buds will be full of promise, For now, the roses are blood-dark, As the moon starts to wax, we bring you a rose. Stand with us, Lady. There will be blood in the wine. |
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Once, She wept tears of blood. each dark rose something endured, |
Dark roses, the briar in the blood You have fought for us, and stood for us. Autumn roses dance, the last blooms, leaves falling. Your soothsayer-lawyers They stood with you, as we stand with you, |
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The moon is our guide and our guardian. But even when She is hidden, She still guides, |
Even though there is no need, we will bleed for you. It is lighting the candle, You are present even when we cannot see you, The light is also Your guidance, Your comfort, |
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This space stands between the worlds, The whole world is in this space, |
The candlelight makes a gentle cage Rather than constraining, the cage is a safe place And follow You we must, Wherever You are with us, the space is sacred: |
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We cannot stop the leaves falling but we know that She will return, |
You are only slipping away to a love tryst, Your soft hair catches the light and have gentle, terrifying compassion. You admonish us when we do something wrong, As a lover, Your forgiveness is hard-won. |
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We are falling in darkness Falling from nowehere to nowhere, |
We have loved you that you are as much within us as we are within you. Finally, we realise that unless we know what is within Knowledge without need of knowledge, We would dance for you, and be merry; |
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We were close as companions asking no more than we could give. |
Suddenly, You will not speak. Give us the courage to accept your will You have been everything. Beautiful one, radiant lady. |
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It ends with the sunrise: The sunrise balances the steel moon, setting. |
Finally, we sleep When we awaken, You are there with us, You do not dominate. You need not bind your enemies; All the dead women will help us sleep. | ||||
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