tinhuvielartanis | Daen Luma'Dhrys'Loma Jonnsa

The Tale of the Budding Trees Moon

It was that in the Crafting of Eterah, Lord Htanna suggested to the Mother Mnemiva that the essence of creativity be placed within the heart of the planet. And so Mnemiva breathed Her own spirit into Eterah, creating a soul that, through its dreaming, would guid the forces of Creation into new shapes and forms of life. This entity embodies Eterah and was called by the Tarmi, Meneterah Thla'Khaya'Rhuh ~ Mother Earth, Lady Paradise.

Even today we can see Meneterah's imagination and skills at work in the lush gardens and forests, or in the grace of the jaguar and the noble beauty of the whale. Or we may see Her creations when we look at ourselves.

Now it was always known to the Tarmi when Meneterah gave birth to a new life entity. Always some natural enigma would be noticed by the Dalni, the Tarmian priestesses and priests, that would herald a birth. For instance, when the Deer Nation came into Life, holly bushes bore for the first time bright red berries. The Deer remember themselves still when the holly puts forth.

So one day when every tree on Eterah, save for the Pines and their kin, lost all their leaves, the Tarmi were surprised and delighted at this new experience. Never before had the trees shed their leaves. Surely a new Nation had been born!

Yet no new creature was found. Throughout their five Sovereignties and their holdings around the world, the Tarmi looked for any sign of new life to no avail. And as Summer chilled into Autumn, the trees still stood like bony wraiths, devoid of leafy raiment. Winter came, and still no leaves.

Depressed by this turn of events, some Tarmi gathered in the huge Grove of the Sovereignty of Thessalonika to try to bring the leaves back through Dolman, Eterahn magick. No new life had yet been encountered and the leafless trees weighed heavily on Tarmian hearts.

In the naked grove some thirty-nine Tarmi formed the Circle and were beginning to make the leaf magick when before them appeared Rhyllhyn the Messenger. Beautiful Rhyllhyn was, and bright, His face shone with the light of the ancient starsuns and His silver eyes twinkled with mirth. Always was it a joyous occasion for the young God to come among the Tarmi because He spoke to the Tarmi on behalf of all the deities and spoke to the deities on behalf of the Tarmi. 'Twas He who build the bridge between the two when language was a hindrance. Rhyllhyn inspired happiness in all realms.

"Greetings, Hopeful One," He began, His voice the chiming of bells. "I bring to you a message from Meneterah. She is long in Her labour and asks for your patience. She says that these Children are indeed special and are likened to the trees and their leaves in that they will branch forever outward, looking to Mnemiva's Moon and Htanna's Starsun to guide their growth, but they will always be deeply rooted in Eterah who is their Mother. Meneterah asks that the Tarmi protect these fragile ones and teach them, for their natural knowledge is unlike the Elderkin, who are born with all they need."

Rhyllhyn paused to let the Tarmi absorb the full meaning of his words. Then He said, "Will you comply with Meneterah's request that you wait for the Children and that you teach and protect them when the waiting is over?"

The Tarmi linked to one another in the Grove and around the world to determine their answer. Not long after, a Dalna replied, "We shall honour Meneterah. May Her labour be eased."

Rhyllhyn smiled and swept himself away on a beam of light.

Three months passed - the brightness of the Earth Renewal Moon, the purity of the Cleansing Moon, and the power of the Storm Moon. Spring arrived to warm the naked branches of the leafless trees. It had been a year and a day since the leaves fell, and the Tarmi were about to give up hoping for their lovingly-remembered beauty. But it happened upon this day, as twilight began to caress the horizon and bring forth a full moon, that a young Tarma named Danaewen spied the soft fullness on the branches of a maple sapling.

Closely did he look at the branches an he sensed within them tiny leaves! He quickly sent out the happy news by linking with his people throughout Eterah: "The promise of leaves!" Danaewen sang. "The branches of the trees are pregnant with leaves!"

Around the world Tarmi frolicked about the trees, marveling at the mysterious buds. And they celebrated beneath the great moon and breathed joyously the flower-sweet air. Then the festivals were silenced by the plaintive cries of infant children - cries that were heard in the forests of El-Tour'Adhoa, the gardens of Thessalonika, the oases of Khemeth, the mountains of Omanola, and the orchards of Meybhelahn.

And so the Tarmi searched, following the cries with their keen ears. Finally Danaewen found at the base of a great oak that was bursting with leaves, a babe unlike any Tarmian infant. He took up the girl child and, in the Tarmian tradition of Naming, called her Dhrys'Rholura, the Child of the Tree, and he sang to the baby her name before the witness of all Nature, and so she was Dhrys'Rholura.

So it was that the Tarmi encountered the first humans, and the name that Danaewen sang remained the name of humanity for millennia after our birth. And ever since, the Tarmi honoured the Dhrys'Rholura by naming the first full moon of Spring, the Moon of April, Luma'Dhrys'Loma, the Budding Trees Moon.

Blessed Be,
Tinhuviel Artanis