3. THE UNION: Ningal expresses her love to Nanna, the Moon, and it is received beyond her wildest expectations.

Then, one night as Nanna appeared in the skies announcing the beginning of springtime, Ningal felt she could at last sing to Nanna her heart’s song aloud. Would he accept her? She did not know. With a growing sense of wonder, Ningal realized that she longed, but did not hurt for Nanna. Knowing her dreams as she did, Nanna was the deepest desire of her Soul, but would he also be the true delight of her waking hours, the True Companion of Life’s Mysteries?

So Ningal sang:

‘Hail Nanna, listen to Ningal
Hail Nanna, listen to your soul
Welcome please be to my company,
O light that unfolds such a wondrous World
You are the hand fitted to my glove
Needle to my thread, friend the very best
Welcome please be, Lord of my desire,
Candle to my fire, torch-bearer of my Soul’

That very night, at onset of springtime, Nanna looked down to the marshlands and heard Ningal’s song, saw her upraised face to the night skies, smiling at him, wooing him. For as long as he could remember, a Maiden had been the Silent Companion of his nightly journeys, always to return. He saw Ningal, he loved her more anything. Desire so great for the young goddess felt the Moon Lord that he impetuously came down to earth to ask her:

‘...Lady of my heart, sister without peer, now that I found you, now that I met you, now that I know after so much searching that you are my best Dream come true, my blood sings, my heart leaps, my head spins for everything that you mean. I cannot wait to hold you in my arms and share all body, mind and soul delights! ...O my sweet lady, why wait for the right time to meet, why wait so long for the wedding rites? Beloved, come to me, but in secrecy not to upset our families. If you truly love me as I love you, come to me tomorrow and we will make our wildest fantasies come true.’

Taken by surprise, but totally overcome by sheer delight, Ningal did not think twice:

‘As you come to me today, beloved, I’ll sure come to you tonight. You are truly the desire of my heart, I cannot refuse the invite. O my sweet lord, I’ve also dreamt about you for so long! Why should we then wait for the right time to meet, why should we wait for the wedding day, when so much joy has come our way?’

So Ningal spent the day in the most joyful preparations...When she left the reed house that night, Ningal shone as bright as the full moon. And as bright as the full moon Nanna came, as loving and respectful as the king-to-be wooing the high priestess of the land...For night after night during that fortnight, until the time came for Nanna to go and light up the Underworld, the Moon Lord and the Mistress of Dream Divination met and made sweet love. Then the last night came, before Nanna should return to the Underworld to light up the Depths Below. After celebrating in joy and reverence their love, in the aftermath of shared pleasure, Nanna kissed Ningal and held her close to whisper in her hair the acknowledgement of the longing of his young lover’s soul:

‘Marry me, Ningal, Inner Torch of my Life, who fills with light my darkest night.’

Delight so great filled Ningal’s heart, but Nanna’s shine was rapidly fading to the Middleworld. Ningal knew though he was shining bright in the depths below and within her very soul.

‘On your return, beloved‘ she replied, ’we will talk this out.’

But in the Heights Above, upon the Earth and in the Depths Below, the Great Gods knew of Nanna’s and Ningal’s secret love. The Great Gods, who know All, approved of the young lovers’ choice, but were intrigued about their interest in making secret a joy that should not be hidden. There was also the case of Nanna’s impetuousness by wooing Ningal to the marshlands without his or her parents’ agreement. Somehow Nanna’s enthusiasm had to be put on a hold before he made his intentions towards Ningal honorable and clear not only to her, but to all the Anunnaki. The Great Gods, the Anunnaki, were the Guardians of the Land, Patrons of Order and Balance, the Spiritual Sustenance to all the living. And Love, being the Life Force, formed the Basis of Civilization: it should therefore be protected, cherished and preserved in all worlds. Youth was not an excuse for irresponsibility in love.

Full program notes: www.amycamie.com/dreams_orchestration.html