Blow a Kiss to the Moon

‘Grace, give it a break. You shouldn’t run while looking at your phone.’ It was an autumn Saturday morning, and Grace and Scarlett had almost finished their 5K parkrun.

‘What did you say?’ Grace panted as she caught up. ‘Give me a minute. Almost finished today's Moon Reading.’

‘I’ll see you at the café, meet me there,’ Scarlett ran off, leaving her friend to struggle on alone.

Grace was fixated on the Moon Readings she received from a man called Jonathon. Scarlett said they were a load of baloney, but Grace wouldn't listen. She was totally under his spell.

‘So what has Jonathon got to say today?’ Scarlett asked, sipping her latte.

Grace grabbed Scarlett’s arm and spoke in a hushed voice. ‘Well, if you really want to know...’

‘Of course I do. I like listening to mumbo-jumbo.’

‘He says I have a rare Astrological Profile.’

‘You know you can get pills for that?’ Scarlett interrupted.

Grace folded her arms. 'I'm not going to tell you if you're going to poke fun.'

‘I'm sorry, go on. Enlighten me.’

‘Jonathan says my chart shapes my destiny.’

‘How much are you paying this guy?’

‘Twenty-five a month, but that's only because I've bought the platinum package.’

Scarlett stirred her coffee. ‘That's a lot of money for hokum!’

‘An Astro Transit is coming this week. Jonathon says I need to...’

‘Is that a new make of car?’

‘What?’

‘An Astro Transit?’

‘You're impossible.’ Grace stared out of the window.

‘I'm sorry,’ Scarlett said. Go on, I promise I'll be good.’

‘He says I've to take a leap of faith.’ She waited for the next smart comment. When it didn't come, she said, ‘I've been searching for answers for a long time, Scarlett. Jonathon says I've sacrificed too much to make other people happy.’

‘I could’ve told you that for nothing. You're a single mum with your own aging parents.’ Scarlett got out her card to pay.

‘Exactly, so I can't miss what’s about to happen in the next few days. I’m going to have a revelation. I'm not going to miss out.’

*

The next day, Grace and Scarlett stood outside a purple-painted shop and scrutinised the window display. Neither of them had been in The Wee Witch Shop before. Bells tinkled as they entered, and an overpowering aroma of lavender hit them. Behind the counter was a woman with henna hair and silver bangles up her arm.

‘Do you know you have a strong aura?’ the woman said to Grace.

‘No, can't say I do.’

‘I’ll tell you then. There’s fiery red radiating around you. You have passion, energy, and courage. There is also indigo at the edges. You are becoming spiritually aware, but there is black fading in and out. You need healing, my dear. Does that make sense?’ Scarlett was desperate to roll her eyes. ‘What’s brought you to my shop today? I’m Minerva.’

Grace nodded. What was she doing here? She was ready to run and never return. ‘Jonathon recommended you,’ she blurted out instead.

‘Of course. I love his Moon Readings.’ Minerva smiled at the two women.

‘He mentioned you had, eh, workshops?’

‘That depends on what kind of ‘workshops’ you mean.’ Minerva smiled at Grace.

‘Workshops? Like candle making?’ interrupted Scarlett.

‘I’m not here to make candles. Where in my Astral Projection would it say that?’ Grace glared at her friend. ‘I’m here about the ‘other thing’. You know…’

‘What other thing? Why are you being so mysterious?’ Scarlett was confused.

‘The Wicca meeting! Ok? Now you know!’ Grace blurted out.

‘Wicker? Making baskets?’ Scarlett asked.

‘Let me close the shop. Then we can talk properly,’ Minerva said as she glided to the door.

Scarlett grabbed Grace by the arm. ‘What’s going on?’ she hissed. ‘What are you getting involved in?’

*

The following evening the two friends trembled as they walked deeper into the woods.

‘Welcome to our group.’ Minerva appeared, took Grace by the elbow and guided her forward. ‘You’re just in time. We’re about to begin.’

Half a dozen gowned women stood in a circle, chanting and beating a steady rhythm on hand-held drums. Scarlett whispered to Grace, ‘Thank goodness. They’ve all got clothes on.’

Silence fell across the clearing. Minerva held a bunch of gently smoking sage and swept it around the circle. ‘Bring us balance and harmony as we stand under the moon.’

Scarlett looked at Grace and held her hand tighter.

‘This space is cleansed and shall keep us safe.’ Minerva spread salt at the women’s feet as she walked around. ‘Tonight we welcome two new believers into our midst. They come for healing and transformation.’

The women began to chant again as Minerva led Grace and Scarlett into the circle. She held crystals above their heads and addressed the moon. ‘Great Goddess, cleanse these women. They have suffered. Look deeply into their souls and heal them.’ The women in the circle moved forward and embraced Grace and Scarlett. ‘Well done, everyone. Good work. Time for cake and wine. Did I hear someone made a salted caramel sponge?’

Grace and Scarlett soon discovered they’d met some of the women before at school concerts and parents’ evenings. They chatted over a few glasses of sparkling wine, and of course, indulged in the salted caramel sponge. As they walked home, Grace turned to Scarlett.

‘Thanks so much for coming with me tonight. You’re a wonderful friend.’

‘I’m glad I came too. It was a lot of fun. How’s your Astral Projection?’

‘I don’t feel any different, but I did enjoy the company. I got the recipe for that cake. Speak tomorrow. Night.’

She waved to Scarlett as she strolled home. Scarlett noticed a bright red light swirling around her friend as she walked into the distance. It had indigo at the edges. She stood for a moment, startled, taking in the beauty of the sight. She turned away and laughed before she blew a kiss to the moon.