The Burning Times By Todd Allen In the cool of the evening, they used to gather, Beneath the stars, the meadows, the circle, and an old oak tree..... At the times appointed, by the seasons of the earth, and the phases of the moon... In the center of them, stood a woman Equal with the others and respected for her words One of the many we call, the witches... The healers and the teachers of the wisdom of the earth People grew through the knowledge she gave them..... Words to heal their bodies, spells to make their spirits whole.... Hear them chanting healing incantations calling for the Wise Ones, Celebrate with DANCE and SONG...... Isis Astarte Dianna Hecate Demeter Kali Inanna..... There were those who came to power, Domination! and they bonded in the worship, of a dead man on a cross.... They sought control of the comman people, by demanding allegience, unto the church of Rome... And the particlan, the Inquisition, it was a war against the woman, who's power they feared..... And this holocost against the nature people, Nine Million European women died...... And a tale is told of those who, by the hundreds polled in to together chose their death in the sea.. Chanting the praises, of the Mother Goddess Women were dying to be Free.... Isis Astarte Dianna Hecate Demeter Kali, Innana....... Now the earth is a witch....... ....and the men still burn her, stripping down her body, and the poisons of her laws.... Still to us, the earth is a healer, a teacher, a mother She is the weaver of the web of life, that keeps us all alive... She gives us the vision, to, see thru the chaos, She gives us the courage, IT IS OUR WILL, to SURVIVE..... Isis Astarte Diana Hecate Demeter Kali, Innana ~Note: In the song, it says that 9 million women died....this is an estimate, no one truly knows how many died during the burning times....and it was not only women, the numbers included men and children too, and even dogs too, the majority, who were not even witches. And men are not the only ones, who, still "burn Her"....many still destroy our mother earth, those of all sexes..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gwynievere By Lady Isadora Come all ye wild young people who roam both far and near, who tell tales of noble bravery, and valor love to hear..... I will tell to you a story tale, about a maiden bold, her eyes were like the summer sky, her hair of burning gold.... The mighty sun did love to shine, For on this maiden's stock, The strength and courage of a line, were in her family's blood.... Her name it was faire Gwynievere, Like Arthur's fabled queen, And often in the good green wood, this maiden could be seen..... For she was of the pagan folk, who followed nature's way, who traveled round by light of moon, and toiled the earth by day.... But with the passing of the years, and the ringing of church bells, the faithful children of the earth, on evil times than fell.... For the followers of a jealous God, now power did command, and the hangman's noose, and the flaming torch, began to sweep the land...... Now it was not this maiden's way, to live in secrecy, her witchcraft and her healing arts, she practiced openly.... But when at last, the madness, in her village did prevail, they seized upon poor Gwynievere, and cast her into jail..... "You call upon our Lady, but you serve the Prince of Hell, Now tell us of your common folk, their names and where they dwell!" "You fiends, may do your worst to me, my life and freedom take, You can hang me from the tallest tree, or burn me at the stake.... But never will my friends betray, to any one of you..... now from my Goddess my faith is sworn, no matter what you do..... You think to punish evil, for the Father and the Son, but Jesus would have wept to see, the evil you have done....." Sweet Jesus Christ, was put to death, for blasphemy and shame, and the cruel fate this noble maid, did suffer was the same..... They led her to the market place, and bound her to the pyre.... And still they urged her to repent, and still the flames crept higher..... Her golden head she did lift up, and she called out to the sky, "My flesh and blood, you can take from me! but my spirit will not die........" Now hearken, all ye pagan folk, who worship moon and sun.... Take care all well, and keep in guard, the freedoms we have won...... For once our kind was sacrificed, to hate and bigotry..... Now the lion hearted woman, must live on in you and me........ ~Tala 2003~