Mabon has come and gone, and with it the passage of the Realm’s power from the Summer Queen to the Winter King. My personal dislike and distrust for Maric notwithstanding, I believe he will do his best to keep our realm safe and secure. The ceremony was short and intense: I felt the power pour out of me as if all my breath was stolen, and I’m afraid the King must have had to carry me to my bed. Much as he might have wanted more, the physical exchange of power was an almost ritualised kiss, which I worked in to the ceremony itself. Funny how naturally being a priestess comes to me, now that I’ve been on My throne for more than a year. And what a year it’s been.

I’ve promised myself and the Fae Folk that I’ll not sleep through the winter months this year as I felt compelled to do last year. So much happened while I was hibernating in my beautiful garden, holding on to the spring.

But still, I wonder…

What does it mean to be a Winter Queen?

Turn again, Year, and Turn the Queen to Winter
Sing again, Wind, a bring her dancing centre
Call the tales of Mabon, let the power flow
Queen to King and Light to Dark and so the Seasons go.

The Queen is in her Bower, dressed in crimson gold
The Wind has blown the Spring away and left her leaves to hold.

Am I irrelevant? Am I a beautiful figurehead with nothing to do but plan parties and try to teach my children how to interact in our world?

Am I merely the memory of spring?

The King waits in the Shadows, cloaked with smoke and horn
We count the Summer down with him and see him rise, reborn

Oh, darkness cloaks the Lady’s Bower: watch her wear the Spring

Then cast it off like Autumn rags as all the Faery sing.

How do I behave? Does my soul go cold with October?

Now bring her wings of gold and white, and cast her face like stone

Even with the seasons’ turning, I can still feel the warmth of summer inside me.

What does that mean? I know I am the spirit of summer, the light of the realm, but….

And turn her Widdershins with Wind to make her Winter Throne

But there is also the cold. The wind. The dark promise of long nights and short days.

The closing doors of Time will take her into Autumn’s breast
And weave with Wind her Harvest gown, and never, never rest.

Can I see myself, a Winter Queen on a Winter Throne?

Come Mabon, come Samhain, come Harvest, come Hunter
Bring Apples, bring Cider, bring cakes against hunger
Come Winter, come Darkness, come fierce Winter King
And guard well this Lady til Imbolg brings Spring.

Cold, cold, cold.

Cold.

Style Cards:

Crimson Dress Photos:
Body: Maitreya
Head: Lelutka, Stella
Skin: Lumae, Niska Bare
Makeup: Eyes, Blacklace Beauty. Lips, Izzy’s
Ears: Lumae, Leevi Long Ears
Eyes: Mayfly, Luminous Borealis
Hair: Catwa, Princess Bun
Dress: PoshTale, Deiphe Gown & Train*
Crown: NSP Florals, Lady Gwynevere (Nobility)
Shoes: Aisling, Enchanted Rose Heels
Necklace: Illusions, Silumira Necklace
Tattoos: Things, Aigneis and Airell (Available at The Secret Affair!)

Blue and Gold Gown Photos:
Body: Maitreya
Head: Lelutka, Stella
Skin: Lumae, Niska Bare
Ears: Lumae, Leevi Long Ears
Eyes: Mayfly, Luminous Borealis
Hair: Truth, Nayeli
Makeup: Slackgirl, Drama Eyes; Izzy’s, Free Natural Lips
Dress: Mistique, Mydaiel Blue*
Cloak: Junbug, Hilda’s Black Cloak
Tiara and Earrings: Supernatural, Ophelia
Necklace: Empyrean Forge, Aglaea’s Splendor

Lavender Dress Photos:
Body: Maitreya
Head: Lelutka, Stella
Skin: Lumae, Niska Bare
Ears: Lumae, Leevi Long Ears
Eyes: Mayfly, Luminous Borealis
Hair: Catwa, Mia
Dress: Spyralle, Esyld Skirt and Top, Dusk*
Necklace: Cae, Cernunnos
Belly Crystal: Earthstones, Amethyst
Crown: Kibitz, Flower Crown, Lights, Ultra Rare
Shoes: Muka: Feetwrap
Tattoos: Things, Aigneis and Airell (Available at The Secret Affair!)

Brown Dress Photos:
Body: Maitreya
Head: Lelutka, Stella
Skin: Mudskin, Reina Pale
Ears: Mandala, Steking Ears
Eyes: Mayfly, Luminous Borealis
Hair: Exile, Memory Bliss
Dress: Belle Epoque, Enchanted Princess, Brown (Available at Jackpot Gacha!)
Jewellery: The Plastik, Autumnus (Available at Shiny Shabby!)
Wings: ClaVv Gatotkaka, Golden Rustic Wide Wings
Shoes: Slink Margot Ballet Slippers
Tattoos: Things, Aigneis and Airell (Available at The Secret Affair!)

White Dress Photos:
Body: Maitreya
Head: Lelutka, Stella
Skin: Lumae, Niska Bare
Ears: Lumae, Leevi Long Ears
Eyes: Mayfly, Luminous Borealis
Makeup: White Widow, Face Tattoo Arctica
Hair: EMO-tions, Jewel (Available at We Love Roleplay!)
Dress: Evie’s Closet, Iseult Gown
Crown and Collar: Aisling, Sumiana, Gold
Shoes: TumbleTwig & Skjern, Pearls of Muse, White
Throne: Boudoir, Wearable Winter Queen Throne

*These three beautiful dresses were featured at September’s Fair Play: Second Life is a Game event, and I meant to get this blog entry out before the event closed; unfortunately, RL got in the way. I hope to be more on top of October’s great Fair Play offerings!

I am deeply grateful to Nathaniel Ballard (benbold) for some Photoshop tweaking on the Winter Throne photographs.

Spiffy photos taken with the indispensible aid of my LumiPro. I never leave home without it!