Hello, 1 AM!
The full moon of Spring Equinox woke me with inescapable silver brightness. Instead of digging up my sleep mask, I’ve come to blog for you, friends.
WINTER IS OVER.
My creative energy has returned with a vengeance: I want to go everywhere and see everyone, and do everything…NOW.
What things do I want to do? Produce The Wizard King Audiobook; Write travel essays for my non-fiction project; Remind you that I wrote a Coven of The Bowler story about Ostara, the Wiccan ritual celebrating the Spring Equinox, for Enheduanna Volume 3, available for purchase.
Here’s an excerpt:
Blossom pink and fresh green springtime power surged into the magical sphere. Vigorous energy soaked up from the soles of their feet into the souls of their bodies. The fresh magic of Ostara rushed in, suffusing instruments, tools, bodies and ultimately, the bowler hats.
Cat soaked up energy with every breath, getting warm up to their eyeballs—almost too warm. When they opened their eyes, the dome’s air had turned thick and yellow, like Summerland beach at noon.
Across the circle, light and energy made Golden Goat and Amber Tamarin’s gilded toenails sparkle. They’d painted them at the sleepover the night before. Goth at heart more than in name, Black Cat’s finger and toe nails remained perennial black. Black absorbed the warm magic best, making Cat’s extremities tingle, siphoning the energy into the Bowler faster than strictly necessary.
There was plenty of energy, and all morning to gather it, but it was a thrill to feel the black bowler hat transform. The band that sat on Cat’s brow went from cool to high-heat—like on a dryer cycle. The brim had already turned the color of spring rain clouds and was rapidly glowing toward angelic white. Cat chuckled, glad the power bleach wasn’t permanent. Technically they were a coven of white hats, but actual white hats? That would never pass as merely eccentric. It would be downright weird.
Nearly full of power, it was almost time for Cat to start shunting energy away. This is what it meant to be a master, Cat realized. I can channel now. I power up more fully. I can handle this delicious, hot magic without my nerve endings feeling singed. Holding still, giving the other coven members time to do their own soaking, Cat’s gaze floated across the coven members on the opposite side of the circle.
Amber Tamarin was exuding magic from toes to the tip of his bowler hat. Cat saw Tam’s eyes open. A full, white smile deepened the wrinkles at the edges of his brown face. The ritual rebirth in the sun felt so good, Cat echoed his smile. Most of the magic users were still in trance, taking full, slow breaths. Red Panda’s bowler turned from black to sooty grey. Indigo Jay’s hat was already pale as drifting fog. Soon every bowler would be pure white. Cat waited while their magical family topped off as much energy as each witch, warlock, or wizard could hold.
I’m off to DO.
Happy Spring!
What do you think?