Hello, hello, my loves.
Today I’d like to share a poem with you.
This poem is called Queen of the Forest. It’s part of a larger collection I am developing called From Root to Wing: a poetic ritual manual, which is designed to be read as a spiritual journey, from the grit and shadow of the root to the freedom of the wing. Each poem in the collection functions simultaneously as part poem, part affirmation, and part ritual invitation. It doesn’t quite make sense, but then again, the best magick doesn’t often make sense, hm?
I wrote about Lughnasadh the other day, from the standpoint of being Lugh’s godspouse. This poem is transitory, as Lughnasadh and high summer are fading down to Autumn (the best season, really), and another facet of my life comes to the forefront as Gwyn ap Nudd, Welsh God of the other/underworld steps forward from his death sleep that happened back during Calan Mai (Beltane/May Day). Coincidentally, I am also spoused to Gwyn, and the deer is one of His animals meaning that this poem is a devotional piece from me to Him which makes the sharing of this piece a stepping stone from Lugh’s sunny season to Gwyn’s slightly more somber season.
Enjoy!
Queen of the Forest
I am Poetess
music flows through my pen
to roll off the tongue
I am cosmic stardust
stretch marked
full near to bursting
out of this too tight skin,
shedding last winter’s
loss
like the deer shedding antlers
I am honed and ready
to embrace
The Crown of the Forest
A Three-Card Spread for the Shedding Season
If you want to sit with this poem as a ritual rather than just a reading, here is a simple three-card tarot or oracle spread to accompany it:
From Root to Wing is in development. Follow along here and on Instagram @untamedpriestess for updates.
