Spinning Fate's Threads

Tsuzuki pulled Abel down to sit so they could watch what was happening. Abel studied the group, having never met anyone aside from Blaze before. The other four were as beautiful as they were different. The one to Blaze’s right was a dark skinned woman wearing a necklace of dark gemstones, swords at each hip, with bracelets at her wrists and ankles and a burgundy scarf wound several times around her hair. The woman to her left had golden skin and uptilted dark eyes, wearing a blue and gold cheongsam. The woman across from her had skin of a light bronze color, her dark hair swept back from her face, wearing a gauzy white gown and draped in jewels made to look like lotus blossoms. The woman in the middle of all of them had skin that was tinged red, her black hair straight and shining to her knees, wearing a white dress that was intricately beaded. They all looked to be women in their late thirties or early forties and any one of them would have been a marvel to behold alone. Together, they were simply stunning.



The power radiating from the circle made Abel understand why it was necessary to contain this proceeding within those confines. Even at a distance, he felt a vibration to the marrow of his bones. He felt sure that if that power in one place were unbound it would shake the world apart.



All drums and music ceased abruptly as the woman in the center raised both hands to the sky and spoke very clearly to the night.



Spinning fates threads

Into the forever

Throughout time the web it weaves

The lives of all, ceasing never.



The other women joined the chant one by one as the stanzas were said.



Threads made of wind,

Of air, of breath

Give wonder at birth

And wisdom at death.





Threads made of ember,

Of spark, of fire

Give the will and the drive

To heart’s desire.





Threads made of water,

Of ice, of tears

Give love and peace

Throughout the years.





Threads made of Earth

Of soil, of clay

Give strength and growth

Upon this day.





Threads made of spirit

Of life, of soul

Touch this child

Make them whole.





Into this life

The threads do spin

To the final cord

Then back again.





The woman in the center of the circle turned in the direction of the two men sitting on the ground and motioned with one hand. Abel found himself lurching to his feet, which didn’t seem to be under his control at all. He cast a terrified look down at Tsuzuki, who only shrugged and remained seated.



“Relax. You’re beyond safe with the Mothers, Abel.”



Abel walked steadily toward the five women, all of them either turning their heads or their bodies completely around to face him until he had passed the outer protective ring. To his horror, 02 instantly took over without warning, fully. His hair darkened to black, skin turning a light blue, fangs and wings bursting forward. 02 was startled beyond measure to find himself smacked in the back of the head and very firmly bound by spinning winds.



“Stop that, right now, boy,” the dark skinned woman said with a snort. “Like we’d hurt one of Edana’s children.”



He just stared at her for a moment before his hair and skin began to lighten and fade back to what they usually were. He sat down on the ground hard, the pressure within the confines of the circle was nearly bone shattering but he somehow managed to hold it together.



“Blaze?” he said, looking around. Confused as to why he was there.



Blaze came over and hugged him while he was still sitting on the ground. “I know you and Tsu only came to watch. But you might as well participate since this is for you and you’re here.”



“For . . . me?” he nearly squeaked.



“You know, Edana,” the woman in the gauzy white dress said, tilting her head back and forth, studying him. “He almost looks like one of mine in that form with the blue skin and dark hair. He’s lovely either way.”



“He is. Shall we continue?” the woman who had been standing in the middle asked. “That is if you wish to be here, Abel? We’ll not hold you if you do not.”



“No. No. That’s fine. What do I need to do?”



“Just sit there. We’ll come to you,” Blaze said, stepping back to her place in the circle.



Abel remained seated and watched as the dark skinned woman approached him, laying her hands on top of his head she said, “The gifts that the wind grants this child are: Joy, humor, intelligence, diligence, and the ability to see light upon a dark path.” She kissed the top of his head and every nerve in his body seemed to come painfully alive, vibrating with the power.



She backed away and Blaze came forward. “The gifts that the fire grants this child are: Strength, energy, courage, faith, and protection.” She kissed the top of his head and ruffled his hair before stepping away.



The woman in the blue cheongsam stepped forward and instead of putting her hand on his head, she turned to Blaze. “Edana, I want to hold him, just for a moment.”



“Of course you do. But I think that’s up to him,” Blaze said.



Abel nodded jerkily, not sure what to make of this. She wrapped her arms around him, squeezing gently. The woman was so petite that on his knees he could lean his head against her chest. She stroked her fingers over his hair, smiling a little as she said. “The gifts that the water grants this child are: Love, healing, compassion, rest and the ability to forgive, especially himself.” She hugged him tight against her before kissing the top of his head and letting go to move back to her place.



The woman in the gauzy white dress sighed heavily and shook her head. “Damn it, Kwan Yin, you make the rest of us look bad,” she said before walking over to Abel. She winked at him and placed one hand on top of his head. “The gifts that the Earth grants this child are: Stability, power, wealth, perseverance, and the ability to follow through with any task set him.”



As the last woman approached him, he was shaking. Not from fear but from a deep sense of self loathing and unworthiness. She took his chin in her hand and tilted his face up to look at her. “Were you unworthy, Abel Nightroad, you would not be here. Edana would not have chosen you as one of her children. And you would have died coming through the protective lines of this circle regardless of the power in you. Gifts can be rejected. If you accept these gifts, know that they each have their own price. The main one being that you will change. You will no longer have the ability to hide within the fugue state of being that you have been. Do you understand?”



He suddenly knew the huge risk he was taking. To set aside the haze he had been in for the last few centuries and allow all to become clear was a terrifying thought. But he also knew that it might be the only way to heal the breaks in his own mind. He nodded, giving her permission. She didn’t touch the top of his head but kept her hand beneath his chin, holding eye contact with him as she spoke.



“The gifts that Spirit grants this child are: Unification, transformation, balance, and the ability to accept change as it comes to him. To this child the blessings of the Queens of Earth are so conferred. It is done.”







***

The chants and blessings used in this chapter are what I wrote for my niece's baby blessing. If any other lovely pagans want to use what's been put forth here, you're perfectly welcome to do so. But I want credit for it. heheeh.