The Turning of the Wheel

As my tenure as Green Man for WiCoM comes to the end, I look both backwards and forwards and wonder where the Pagan community is going. Our community has had its trials and lies shattered. There were no winners, we all lost. And I don’t debate the importance of the issues. But I look at other religions. They too have similar issues, but they seem to be more resilient in these situations. I have meditated on what the difference is but I do not see a clear answer. And this problem is not unique to the Twin Cities. Pagan communities everywhere seem to suffer rifts for one reason or another, and the community is pressed to survive. The Catholics, for example, have a number of their clergy indicted for sex crimes, but the church is not shaken. I would challenge everyone to meditate upon this and try to understand the difference.

During my reign as Green Man, I served the Lady. I have been serving the Lady in my own fashion since I was 18 years old. It was an honor to serve her as a public function. Since my first encounter with the Goddess in a lonely, remote section of woods in Georgia so many years ago, she has always been my first concern. She has been the light that has guided my way through so much. She has taught me lessons, some joyful and some tearful. But I have always trusted in her. When she chose me in her Lottery on the magickal Beltane night, I was happy to take up her work.

But I have done my work. My time is over. I wish that I could have done more. I hope that what I have done is enough. And I am wondering who else out there places the Goddess first in their life? Who else will take up the work? Will anyone rise up to heal the community? Does anyone else out there put the Goddess first in their life?

For my last act as Green Man, my last use of the Green Man’s energy, I called down healing upon our community. All of you are shining souls and I am honored to have the chance to walk this path with every last one of you. My time as Green Man has come to an end. But, as the Green Man, I know the secret. The mystery of the God, is the mystery of the cycle of death and rebirth. Though I pass on the mantle and retire from service, in my act of passing, I summon forth my successor. In the name of the Goddess, I call you forth. Rise up Green Man, I look forward to meeting you at the next Beltane!