Rising at dawn, I begin my preparation for the sacrifices to Juno. I kneel at her shrine and recite a prayer. After being dressed by the slaves, a bodyguard is assembled and with two attendants and we proceed to the Temple of Juno Regina on Mons Aventinus. Outside the Temple, my attendant purchases four doves and a lamb. These will be offered to the priestess along with a purse of coins.

As the priestess prepares the animals and begins the sacrificial ceremony, I wash my hands with the holy water offered and then shut my mind to all distractions. My lips move ever so slightly in murmured prayer, my arms outstretched to the image of Juno before me. After some time, my breathing slows. Deep in prayer, the smoke of the incense floats about me.

Suddenly, from out of the air around me it comes! The immense feeling of Her love, filling me, inundating my heart and my soul. It was like a flood, like the mighty Tiber, and with the power of that river, scourging my heart clean. As the river in flood bears before it dead trees, loose rocks and sand, so the flood of Juno’s love bears away the memories of past deeds, the memories of slights, hurts, dishonor, both given and received. No act or omission any longer chains me to the past. I live in the glorious moment, the forever now moment of Juno’s love!

O Juno, I can feel your acceptance just as I am at this
moment. I surrender everything up to you! I am
totally cleansed by the light of your love.

When I recover a sense of the day around me, of the earth beneath my knees, of the air in my lungs, the ache in my arms, I gather myself together and rise to leave. My knees are stiff and my arms tired, but my soul is energized.

I return to the villa and dismiss everyone, saying I will fast the rest of the day and am not to be disturbed. It is afternoon already. I had lost all sense of time in the Temple. I sit in my private garden, heart beating strong, meditating on the peace in my soul, the rapture still within.