Matt (pictured right) was an early leader of Awen’s Light Grove (2007, 2008). One of the originals, he helped us to form a solid ritual presence. His understanding of energy, nuance and his solid Earth feel gave a grounded presence to every circle he was a part. He was our ‘standing stone’. That presence in the North anytime we performed Wheel of Year rituals.

He was a personal mentor to me, helping me integrate my ritual practice and understand how to work those energies. Matt was not the type to ‘join’ something like ALG, he was a consultant. Staying with us just long enough to get our kinks worked out and one of the last words before he drifted away from the Grove was ‘You have enough ritual to last the Grove a long time’, which was a statement of how well the Grove had stepped up to good meaningful ritual thanks completely to his efforts in training us.

I had lunch with him a couple of years ago, hadn’t heard from him since. Though he’d just had his surgery when the Melanoma was just diagnosed, I remember a solid positive attitude, just like you’d expect from a standing stone.

So to you Matt: “In the name of the great bear of the starry heavens and of the element of earth, we thank the powers of the North.”  Blessings of Star and Stone, your service to the Grove will not be forgotten.

Matt crossed over June 11th 2012.
http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/06/17/2142464/matthew-len-hilliard-pinkston.html