After his departure, I check in on Luna. Everything is still set for her to join us tomorrow. With the zombie version of my mom in the next room, I’m not particularly loving being alone in the house, so she stays on the phone with me and we talk about nothing in particular, until we’re both ready to crawl into bed.
Thursday’s school session drags far too slow. I’m not emotionally or mentally present. All my focus is set on my intentions for later. Our intended casting works. When the final bell of the day rings, my brother is waiting out front to drive Jeanna, James, and me home. Or rather, to James’s house.
Having dealt with their early glimpse yesterday, Jeanna and James show zero surprise when faced with my brother and his distinguishing facial scar. They are completely normal and pleasant.
By the time we get to James’s, the full moon is at its peak. Michael follows at our backs as we head into the house and make our way to the kitchen.
“You guys are aware that now is not the ideal time for the spell you’re planning, right?” he says. Jeanna, James, and I come to a full stop and I spin around.
“What?” My voice spikes. “Why didn’t you bring this up sooner?”
He shrugs. “You’ve been so on top of your game, I thought you knew.”
“Clearly, we all failed on this one,” I say. “I thought the full moon would give us the largest punch of energy.”
“And it will, with the right spells,” he counters. “Usually banishing spells are performed during a waning gibbous.”
“Seriously?” My shoulders droop, and I feel as if my entire body is melting into the ground. “I don’t want to wait several more days.” A deep frown presses into my features.
Michael steps forward and slaps his hand upon my shoulder. “Don’t worry. We’ll make it work. After all, moon cycles are suggested, not mandatory.” He releases his hold and steps past me into the kitchen.
“What are you saying?” I turn and follow, as do James and Jeanna.
“We’ll do the spell anyway,” he blurts.
“How did we all manage to mess this one up?’ James says.
“Hive mind,” my brother answers.
“I’m not following,” I say at the same time Jeanna says, “What?”
“Short answer.” Michael stops beside the kitchen counter and presses his spread fingers against the hard surface. “One picked the date and the others followed along blindly.” His gaze lands upon the ingredients gathered in the center of the table. “I’ll do my best to compensate for the offset.”
“How are you supposed to do that?” I ask.
“Just leave that to me.” I open my mouth to speak, but he cuts me off. “Should we wait for your friend Luna?” he asks, redirecting the conversation.
“No.” I shake my head. “She won’t be here for a bit, but we can handle this part without her.”
“Alright then.” He turns his attention to James and Jeanna. “Shall we begin?”
Chapter Eleven
We each take a seat at the table, and everyone closes their eyes, begins their preparation meditation. I fight the desire to steal glances at my brother, and I fear my distraction will affect my ability to clear my mind. I may need thirty minutes instead of our usual twenty. Only, I am determined to help my mom, so I force all my blooming brother-related questions behind a wall and focus on joy and gratitude.
“Here and now, I enter the sacred space of my heart,” I silently say. “With eyes closed, I go deep, diving into the sanctuary of my soul. I pray for divine guidance and leave myself open to receive. May I live my highest and most great good.”
My mind quiets, finds a sense of serenity, and my energy rises. With what time remains, I solidify my intentions. After our meditation, we get busy sprinkling ingredients into our stone smudge bowls. We add pine and lilac, cloves and sage, and a few others, then mix and crush them with a heavy pestle, blend them into a fine herbal mix. While we mix and crush, we chant.
“Mother Moon come to us. We call and gently ask of thee… Help us feel your strength at its fullest. Help us find the Goddess that resides within. We are ready.”
James passes a roll of toilet paper around the table, and we each take a square, write upon the paper what it is we want to banish—the evil influence upon Mom.
Michael hands us each a rabbit’s foot.
With all the components ready, we move to the backyard and combine our altars. We stand in a circle with the altar at the center. And in the center of the altar, I place a picture of my mom. “This picture represents my mom’s physical being,” I say and sprinkle a salt circle around her image. “Goddess, protect her body and mind as we cast upon this representation. Pull the negative influence out of her and into the salt.”
The others step forward, and we place our bowls at the four corners of the photograph. Using white candles, we set the ingredients to burn, and drop our toilet paper square into the blaze. We then step back and link hands.
“As above, so below. As within, so without. As the universe, so the soul. Gracious Goddess, be here with us,” we say in unison, then release our handholds and place our clutched rabbit’s feet to our hearts. “With rabbits’ foot and magick verse we turn around this wicked curse. And as these words of ours are spoken, let this evil curse be forever broken.”
The fire in our bowls sends swirling plums of smoke, and tiny toilet paper ash, toward the sky. There is no lightning or electrical show. There is simply a verve in the air.
