23rd February 2019

Thank you the fifty odd incarnate spirits who co-created magic at the Crossbones Vigil. The Goose reminded us that the garden and the shrine are the physical manifestations of the deeper work of transformation that happens when we get out of the way and let her do her dance.

As ever, we were held by the ritual forms – lighting the open pathways, tying the ribbons to ‘Here lay your hearts…’ (only tonight Crow forgot to bring the ribbons!  – but as ever at Crossbones, happy accident – so we all envisioned ourselves as ribbons on the gate gently fluttering in the balmy breeze – ah! – before tying our psychic ribbons)

For the offerings, Dave 500 spoke movingly of what Crossbones means to him, especially after he lost his son Jason aka Angryness Brimstone… Hannah spoke of the wonder of being a Crossbones warden and read a visionary poem by Octavio Paz… John Crow performed John Crow Trickster (“May the Spirit be with Crow and all them who walk beside him / when he walk about The Liberty with but his Goose to guide him.”)… Rainbow Lizzie reiterated that we’re not fighting any and all development – just soul-less development… Then Jules spoke of February, and Haywards the Ironmongers who used to be at Number 23 (of course!) Union Street, and a poem by Hildegard of Bingen. And then ‘as if by magic’, a living Hildegard stepped forth to sing a song by Hildegard of Bingen – in Latin! And Heathen Geoff shared the poem he’d written for Crossbones.

Thanks also to those who didn’t speak but were strongly present in silent concentration, Seani and Grace, Nev, Ross, Pete and Irene , Arthur and Joel, Ruth and Ruby, Mervyn – with Katy Kaos holding it together behind the scenes (and doing the gin in Jennifer’s absence. Special honour to all who did their stint as Goose Samurai closing the road to keep us all safe.

At the end we all said “Here where the bones be crossed…” before sharing in the unconditional blessings of “Open Pathways” and “Goose may your Spirit fly free…”

And so She does!