Giving Myself to Hope

Time had slipped by and I was starting to get hungry. Dinner was approaching. The sun was getting low in the sky. Not quite dusk but late afternoon. I gathered some of the wood and restarted the fire. The flames died down to cooking embers. I put some water to boil. I put some of the dehydrated beef I had brought in with a little season packet. It doesn’t make the best soup but it is good for an outing like this. I added some dried noodles to round out the meal.

The aroma must have grabbed the attention of my guest. As he awoke from his nap he looked as if he expected someone.

The others should be here soon, he said.

Who else is coming? I asked.

The rest of our group.

There was that word again, our. As if I was supposed to know who he meant. I must have looked a little confused because he said. I’m sorry. I thought you knew we were gathering. Didn’t Hope contact you?

No, I told him. I just had a feeling I should be here.

Good. he said. The psychic connection is forming.

About an hour went by when another person showed up in the clearing. A woman dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt. She had a small bag over her shoulder. She set it on the ground and took a ground cloth out. Spread it out and transferred the bag to it. She set alongside the bag.

She looked around and said,

Early as usual aren’t you. Ready for tonight’s ritual?

Ritual, I thought. What have I gotten myself into?

She acted as if we knew each other. Was she one of the ones here last time? They all had hooded robes on so I didn’t see their faces.

Two more showed together shortly thereafter. Then a couple more entered the clearing. They too had bags and placed them next to ours.

The last to enter the clearing carried a basket. This basket had slots on each end that took pieces that acted as legs. She inserted them and set the basket as a table. When she finished setting the basket she set next to me.

She was a nice-looking woman. Medium build with short red hair.

Good. You are all here. We are here to welcome Joe into the group. Let’s get to know him a little. First, let me tell you who I am.

My name is Hope. I gave myself to you when we met. Tonight you will decide if you want to give yourself to me and our group.

We are a collection of powerful beings gathering together to make our world a better place. We are of diverse backgrounds. I have been chosen as the leader of our group. I will oversee and direct. We are not complete yet. Others destined to join will come at their time. Enough about us and who we are. This is about/and for Joe. He was chosen and sent by the gods to help in our goals.

Everyone here is a powerful being whether we know it or not. We have all been chosen by the gods for a purpose. We may never know what that purpose is. We have chosen to be here to become better beings.

To enhance our abilities.

To learn.

To help each other. To make our world a better place.

Sometimes what is good for some is not good for others. It is our choice to join or not. It will be your choice tonight Joe to join us or not.

All eyes went to me. My name is Joe Nordic. I’m nobody special. I work in farming. That means I do everything. I don’t know why but I was drawn to the gathering last time.

While they talked Hope and some of the others starting building a fire. They also scratched a circle around it with a stick. In the end, the stick was added to the fire.

From the basket, they took a knife and candles along with some incense and a small dish. They set it up as an alter.

By now darkness set in. The full moon rose early. As it topped the trees the group gathered around the circle. Hope entered the circle. She held an athame(the knife) in one hand. She traced the circle and said a conjuring and cleansed it. She motioned as to open a door and invited us all to come in. As she closed the door she said. Let none stay inside that would cause harm to any of us now or ever. So mote it be. She called the guardians to watch over and protect us.

When finished she did a short charging ritual calling the positive and healing energies of the universe to flow through us. She lit some incense and offered it to the gods. I could feel the power enter my body. It flowed like a river with a great current.

When we call the powers they are strong but as a group, they are stronger. Joe have you decided to join us?

I felt as if I had been given a great gift that I could not refuse. YES, I said.

Then take my side as you offer yourself to me and the group.

I stood by Hope and raised my hands to offer myself. The others gathered around us. Hope presented me with a robe. I put it on. The others placed their hands on me and said together. We are one. Welcome to the rest of your life.

I wasn’t sure what that meant but I guess I’ll find out.

Hope banished the guardians with thanks and farewell then took down the circle.

We all sat around the fire and talked for a bit. We celebrated with a little wine and bread. It too was in the basket. After a while, most left. I planned to stay the night again. Hope came to set with me a while. So what do you think?

I’m not sure. I was called. I answered.

I was told you are with child.

Your child!

I’m not sure I’m ready to be a father.

The gods think you are.

I don’t know you. Are we supposed to raise her together?

We will. The group will help raise her too.

Are we supposed to get married? I don’t know if I’m ready to be married.

You don’t have to. We will get to know each other and if it is meant to be it can happen. We will grow together. Time will tell. For now, we can just be friends.

She said Are you staying here tonight?

I said I planned to.

Can I stay with you?

Why not. You are like family now.

It was getting chilly. The fire had dwindled to only a few embers. She laid next to me and wrapped my sleeping bag around both of us.

I could feel my inner guardian grow to protect the three of us. I don’t know where this path is going but I know I have chosen to follow it.

Only the gods know where it will lead.