Festival of Souls
Oct. 18th, 2009 03:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
valarltdIt was amazing.
We headed out Thursday and I got stuck in the registration line from hell. To the point that I ate dinner standing on line and was pulled out of line by Mama Dragon to wash dishes. And by the time I got done with dishes, it STILL wasn't my turn.
Then I ended up on the Firing Line. This is where the clergy council asks the students a lot of questions. It was a little harrowing. I restrained my urge to lip off when asked one question, but I did give them a chuckle with answer. (The fertilizer that makes your garden grow was a pile of crap once, too.)
Friday I worked in the kitchen for breakfast and lunch. Our kitchen chief was on her own Firing Line, so I bounced in and made garlic bread to go with the soup (like the menu said) She came out to find lunch ready to go. She was VERY pleased. The water went off about noon. We did the fastest dishwash ever to get everything clean beforehand. And then we filled huge multi-gallon pots of water for cooking and cleaning, and set about preparing supper.
Cerea tapped me for the Ancestor Ritual. I got to hold the incense. We built a big fire and everyone circled up. Cerea and Bradley walked the perimeter of the circle, hands extended. As each person took an extended hand, they were led to the center, where I met them. They spoke of their beloved dead and I offered them the incense. They threw a pinch on the fire. It got very emotional. Afterward, we walked the Labyrinth. Pitch black. No moon. No stars. Only hundreds of tealights in cups of sand marking the way. In the center, we could light incense and leave it on the altar. It was...INTENSE.
One young woman came out of it and gave the most dramatic example of grounding I have ever seen. STRAIGHT down, both hands flat on the earth. I was fine coming out, until I brushed a tree. The next thing I remember, I was clinging to it and weeping.
Then I did a Sacred Fire workshop. We were taken on a guided meditation to our own inner fire, and we stepped in. It was quite an experience. I spent the rest of the weekend flushed from the heat.
Saturday, I shopped a little in the morning and got to meet W. Lyon martin who writes pagan children's books. I bought a leather bookmark for Dollface, with the triple moon. My own says "Forget the knight in shining armor. I want elves in tight leather."
I ended up serving lunch again. Minestrone and grilled cheese. Yummy!
After lunch, it was Realm Graduation. I not only passed, I advanced to Second Realm. Afterward, I paid a visit out to Wal Mart. We got back just in time for Dollface to put on her costume and trick-or-treat with the other kids. She's Cleopatra.
The main ritual was a Wild Hunt. Our priest led a bunch of the more fit people on a run through the roods, illuminated only by glow sticks. They leapt and howled and made a lot of noise as they rounded up the souls of the past year. We went to the circle and when they approached, we bayed, since they'd forgotten the hounds of Gwynn ap Nudd. We sent the spirits on their way and dispersed to the feast.
After feast, I got Dollface all done up for the costume contest. She tied with the Dead Cheerleader for best costume in the kids. I had a moment of inspiration. I'd bought a purple satin witch-hat with a veil and roses and feathers and all. So I borrowed![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
moonstone_fae's apron and a big spoon from the dishroom. I was a kitchen witch. I took second, after CorsetGirl from Repo!
Then the Traveling Fates Concert. Oh MY! I missed "Firebird's Child" and "Hymn to Herne" since I was, once again, doing dishes.satyrblade and his wife Damiana are gorgeous, talented dancers and I did my best not whack them with a tray of hot coffee cups. The Fates were done up as Alice in Wonderland with Ginger as the Mad Hatter, Beka as Alice and Sooj as the Chesire cat. Of course they had to cover "Go ask Alice." And during "Alligator in the House," my underwear spontaneously combusted. satyrblade and another man were flamenco-ing with each other. It was hot and sexy and silly and fun and we all had a BLAST.
During the intermission, the raffle prizes were given away. Dollface got her little witch-fairy. I didn't get the necklaces I tried for.
The concert ran to half-past midnight, and Dollface got all overwhelmed and had to be grounded and put to bed.
In short, an awesome weekend, a lot of emotional work and some self-discovery. I got to know a lot of people better and I am deeply in love withmoonstone_fae and her husband.
We headed out Thursday and I got stuck in the registration line from hell. To the point that I ate dinner standing on line and was pulled out of line by Mama Dragon to wash dishes. And by the time I got done with dishes, it STILL wasn't my turn.
Then I ended up on the Firing Line. This is where the clergy council asks the students a lot of questions. It was a little harrowing. I restrained my urge to lip off when asked one question, but I did give them a chuckle with answer. (The fertilizer that makes your garden grow was a pile of crap once, too.)
Friday I worked in the kitchen for breakfast and lunch. Our kitchen chief was on her own Firing Line, so I bounced in and made garlic bread to go with the soup (like the menu said) She came out to find lunch ready to go. She was VERY pleased. The water went off about noon. We did the fastest dishwash ever to get everything clean beforehand. And then we filled huge multi-gallon pots of water for cooking and cleaning, and set about preparing supper.
Cerea tapped me for the Ancestor Ritual. I got to hold the incense. We built a big fire and everyone circled up. Cerea and Bradley walked the perimeter of the circle, hands extended. As each person took an extended hand, they were led to the center, where I met them. They spoke of their beloved dead and I offered them the incense. They threw a pinch on the fire. It got very emotional. Afterward, we walked the Labyrinth. Pitch black. No moon. No stars. Only hundreds of tealights in cups of sand marking the way. In the center, we could light incense and leave it on the altar. It was...INTENSE.
One young woman came out of it and gave the most dramatic example of grounding I have ever seen. STRAIGHT down, both hands flat on the earth. I was fine coming out, until I brushed a tree. The next thing I remember, I was clinging to it and weeping.
Then I did a Sacred Fire workshop. We were taken on a guided meditation to our own inner fire, and we stepped in. It was quite an experience. I spent the rest of the weekend flushed from the heat.
Saturday, I shopped a little in the morning and got to meet W. Lyon martin who writes pagan children's books. I bought a leather bookmark for Dollface, with the triple moon. My own says "Forget the knight in shining armor. I want elves in tight leather."
I ended up serving lunch again. Minestrone and grilled cheese. Yummy!
After lunch, it was Realm Graduation. I not only passed, I advanced to Second Realm. Afterward, I paid a visit out to Wal Mart. We got back just in time for Dollface to put on her costume and trick-or-treat with the other kids. She's Cleopatra.
The main ritual was a Wild Hunt. Our priest led a bunch of the more fit people on a run through the roods, illuminated only by glow sticks. They leapt and howled and made a lot of noise as they rounded up the souls of the past year. We went to the circle and when they approached, we bayed, since they'd forgotten the hounds of Gwynn ap Nudd. We sent the spirits on their way and dispersed to the feast.
After feast, I got Dollface all done up for the costume contest. She tied with the Dead Cheerleader for best costume in the kids. I had a moment of inspiration. I'd bought a purple satin witch-hat with a veil and roses and feathers and all. So I borrowed
moonstone_fae's apron and a big spoon from the dishroom. I was a kitchen witch. I took second, after CorsetGirl from Repo!Then the Traveling Fates Concert. Oh MY! I missed "Firebird's Child" and "Hymn to Herne" since I was, once again, doing dishes.
satyrblade and his wife Damiana are gorgeous, talented dancers and I did my best not whack them with a tray of hot coffee cups. The Fates were done up as Alice in Wonderland with Ginger as the Mad Hatter, Beka as Alice and Sooj as the Chesire cat. Of course they had to cover "Go ask Alice." And during "Alligator in the House," my underwear spontaneously combusted. satyrblade and another man were flamenco-ing with each other. It was hot and sexy and silly and fun and we all had a BLAST. During the intermission, the raffle prizes were given away. Dollface got her little witch-fairy. I didn't get the necklaces I tried for.
The concert ran to half-past midnight, and Dollface got all overwhelmed and had to be grounded and put to bed.
In short, an awesome weekend, a lot of emotional work and some self-discovery. I got to know a lot of people better and I am deeply in love with
moonstone_fae and her husband.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-10-18 09:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-19 12:10 am (UTC)Glad you guys had such a good time.
Huggs
Kes
no subject
Date: 2009-10-19 12:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-19 12:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-19 01:05 am (UTC)sandi's LJ handle: damiana_swan
"Go Ask Alice" = "White Rabbit" (Jefferson Airplane)
Wait, what happened to your underwear..? Behold the power of Alligator!
(if it's any consolation, the Mad Hatter's pants split on that song, too.)
Love you! Thank you for everything!
no subject
Date: 2009-10-19 01:55 am (UTC)Phil and his friend were so hot and so sexy and so all-fired macho (the testosterone lay thick and heavy) that my underwear combusted. And my girl, Tabitha, commented "Now I finally understand why you write boy on boy."
Love you too, sugar. You and the Fates MADE the Festival.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-19 01:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-19 01:56 am (UTC)