valarltd | Onward

Shellshocked

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From Shell-shocked (work safe)

Sean didn't quite understand Imbolc. “But why do we celebrate the lambing, when we aren't agrarian?” he asked.

Gabe just smiled and kept sweeping the apartment, moving clockwise. “It's really more about the growing light. Not to mention that we're waking Mother so spring can come. Besides, it's time to finish that prosperity spell I started back in September.”

Sean didn't question too much more. He drew baths for both of them and turned the heat up in the apartment so they could do the ritual skyclad. When Gabe retired to meditate, Sean sat looking at the altar and the picture of Cernunnos above it.

“I don't understand,” he said to the picture. “But I love him. I guess that's the important part. I'll understand more as time goes on. “ For an instant, it seemed the god smiled a little under the thick beard he wore. Sean was ready when Gabe came out.

Gabe lit two candles. “Carry this for me?” he asked, giving one to Sean.

They went to the altar. Gabe cast the circle and called the quarters, calling on the guardians of each cardinal point to join them. He lit seven small candles, four white and three red.

Sean listened to him call the fire for light and warmth, for healing and purification. It seemed to him that the seven small flames melded into one near the end, warming the whole room.

Gabe let the candles burn a moment more. “Meditate on what is damaged and needs repair. Meditate on what needs healing. Concentrate on the purifying light.”

Sean stared into the flames, thinking of his illness, his high pain days, the days when he was awful to his lover. He left them go, let them burn away in the cleansing fire.