Faith Healer

The old faith healer carefully got things ready.
She had spring water collected from the source
that had been taken at the night of the new moon.
Some special herbs also gathered by moonlight.

Setting the pebbles in a circle on the cleared earth.
She lights a small fire in its heart and feeds it.
Once it is burning bright, she shakes out some of the herbs
adding them to the spring water, then patiently waits.

When the moon appears she busily goes to work,
a pinch of liverwort, some ground sunflowers.
Tansy and dried apple, a bit of spiders web,
she places the pot on the fire and stirs.

First three stirs clockwise, now two anti three more clockwise.
Chanting softly as she stirs the simmering brew.
Now adding crushed primrose and burdock, she stirs. 
Then she lays it in the moonlight waiting for dark.

Once the moon slides from sight, she pours it into a vessel
and caps it tight. Shrugging back her hood she gathers all.
Now it is time for it to sit and infuse before it is time for use.
Her fame is renown, the kingdom wide, many are they who seek her.

She blesses the potion first with Mut, then calls on Pax,
finally she invokes Serena's help, finally done,
she sets it in a ray of moonlight leaving it for now.
It is time for the cleansing of her patients before they drink it. 

The following day miraculous recoveries by them all.
Singing her praises they try to cross her hand with silver.
Gently she shakes her head, not for money is her gift.
Freely she shares it, for the goddesses gave her the healing gift.


Mut is the goddess of nature mother earth.
Pax is the goddess of peace.
Serena is the goddess of healing.

written 10/14/2014

Sect: Faith Healer

contest: Religious Poetry: Non-Christian
Copyright © | Year Posted 2014

Poem

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Sietesantos Avatar
October 24, 2014 at 11:50 AM
Excellent write! Beautiful devotion to the "old religion"! Congratulations to you on your wonderful win! Pandita
Hamilton Avatar
October 24, 2014 at 6:43 PM
ty Pandita much appreciated hugs
Meier-Hans Avatar
October 23, 2014 at 8:19 AM
Congratulations Shadow. I'm glad I got the chance to read this again.
Lamoureux Avatar
October 22, 2014 at 3:58 PM
Congratulations Shadow, I enjoyed your tale.
Mehta Avatar
October 22, 2014 at 10:11 AM
Lovely write on faith, congrats on the win
Dietrich Avatar
October 16, 2014 at 9:47 PM
wow, a very interesting approach to this contest. It would never have occurred to me how to do this one. And tell me, Shadow, where did you ever get that recipe?
Hamilton Avatar
October 23, 2014 at 7:08 PM
lol from my mind Andrea ty hugs
Meier-Hans Avatar
October 13, 2014 at 9:17 PM
Brilliantly penned Shadow. What a fantastic idea. I absolutely love where you took this. I hope to see this doing well. I give it a 7.
Hamilton Avatar
October 23, 2014 at 7:07 PM
ty very much appreciated hugs
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