Joyful Aspen

In the embrace of the ancient oak, beneath the watchful eyes of the moon, I sit, contemplating the swirling chaos that has torn at the heart of a community. The news of Lauri Carleton, an innocent life lost, a life devoted to love, acceptance, and the embrace of the LGBTQ+ community, casts a shadow upon my heart deep as the roots of the ancient trees surrounding me.

We, as Druids, are keepers of wisdom, love, and balance. Our tradition speaks of unity with nature and with one another. In our world, where the branches of life intertwine, we find both diversity and unity, like the leaves that dance on the same wind yet flutter in unique patterns.

The incident of blind rage that has taken a life, a life that symbolized love and acceptance, forces us to ask: How have we come to this place? What sickness of the soul causes one to sever the very bonds that connect us as human beings?

As I sit with this grief, the whispers of the ancient ones echo through the woods. They remind us that love and compassion are our natural tendencies, the rivers that nourish the landscape of our humanity. But these rivers can be dammed and obstructed by fear, ignorance, and the unwillingness to understand.

In this heart-wrenching moment, we must look deeply into our hearts and question the fears that drive us apart. For the LGBTQ+ community, who ask only for the dignity, love, and acceptance that is the birthright of all, we must stand tall and steadfast.

It is not simply a matter of social justice. It’s a calling to heal the very fabric of our existence. The call is loud, and the need is urgent, for there is a tear in the tapestry of our community. Our responsibility as Druids and fellow human beings is to mend this tear with threads of empathy, understanding, and unyielding support.

The stars above mirror the tears in our eyes, but they also remind us that we are a part of something greater, something divine. Our connection to nature, to one another, is sacred, and it is in honoring this connection that we can move forward.

Let us honor this loss by embodying the values that this innocent soul lived and died for. Let us embrace the LGBTQ+ community as our own, as part of the beautiful and diverse garden of humanity. Let us water this garden with tears of compassion and tend to it with hands of love.

As I rise from my reflection, my heart aches, but it is also filled with a renewed sense of purpose. The ancient oak seems to nod in agreement, its leaves rustling with a wisdom that transcends our fleeting pain. In embracing love, acceptance, and the pursuit of justice, we find the path to healing and the way back to our true selves.

May we walk this path together, hand in hand, heart to heart, towards a future where love is natural and celebrated in all its glorious forms.