Last fall, I shared two poems/songs/prayers I called “Song for the Way Opening” and “Song for the Winter Rade” after getting a message from some of my allies that I should be celebrating the movements of the Pleiades more intentionally. So one thing led to another and the prayer Daimler gave for the Way Opening sort of spontaneously transposed itself into a ballad to the tune of Thomas the Rhymer, and then I reworked the prayer for the Winter Rade more intentionally, and now here’s the Song for the Darkening, which I’ll be celebrating during the day tomorrow.
The first two stanzas of the song are the same, and the last two stanzas are as well, except for the two seasonal words in the last line, and the end of the third line changed to rhyme properly.
Song for the Darkening
I call to all you goodly wights,
My kin and friends whoe’er shall be.
All you who’d be my allies true,
And come and walk this path with me.
I call to all the Queens and Kings,
Monarchs and Sov’reigns, all gentry near —
If you would celebrate with me
Tis time to come and join me here.
Today the Queens leave the night sky,
To trade the dark for the light of day;
Now Seven Queens their own paths tread
As each will travel her own way.
Their powers burn as bright as fire —
So bright together as apart —
But in our world, the sun’s hot rays
Outshine their stars and they depart.
The Queens ride out for weal and woe;
The gates are open, holding wide.
Each Queen has errands to complete
Before the stars again are spied.
As they ride past, may we be blessed,
With token or with smile or nod,
And may they take our offerings,
As their refreshment while they’re abroad.
A good word to the Fairy Rade,
And may you never do us harm!
Ride out along the fairy roads,
Bringing with you Summer’s warmth.
I’ve also pulled another omen to share: one rune and one ogham fid, to symbolize the two groups of fairy folk with whom I work most closely. I pulled Algiz, which is a rune of protection and defensive actions, and Straif, associated with the Blackthorn, and for which my kenning is “Strengthening Changes”. I also associate Straif with magical workings of an active defense type, such as banishing, cord cutting, and return-to-sender workings. Taken together, it’s a warning to be careful, and to stay vigilant – don’t hesitate to protect yourselves! It seems like we might be seeing an upswing in activity that continues rising, instead of ebbing as we round the corner on this Bealtaine season.