|
|
| Author |
Message |
moonowl
|
|
Pagan Spirit Gathering 1997
| 
Jun 27 05:12 UTC 1997 |
I just returned from PSG 97 and what a great gathering it was. This
year's Pagan Spirit Gathering was held in Ohio on 620 acres of pristine land.
There were 500 adults and about 100 children attending. The land known as
Wisteria, owned by Todd Alan, Don Waterhawk and several others, is absolutly
beautiful!
We celebrating a Hand-Fasting, a Wicanning, held an earth blessing
ceremony for the land and several other rituals. There were over 50 free
workshops, all-night drumming and dancing, sweat lodges every night and many
friends to get reaquanted with and many new freinds to make. This year was
by far the best PSG that I have attended.
Any pagan looking to network, learn, have a great time would be the
better for having gone!!!
|
| 31 responses total. |
bjorn
|
|
response 1 of 31:
|
Jun 27 15:30 UTC 1997 |
Someone ought to link this to the synthesis conference. I, unfortunately,
do not have those permissons. I beseech you tell us more, moonowl.
|
kami
|
|
response 2 of 31:
|
Jun 27 22:35 UTC 1997 |
What Bjorn said...Bruin, if you would? I don't think Rob reads Agora.
The land it was held on is an interesting project; it's a joint venture
between a number of entrepreneurs, and being handled as a business, not a
hippy co-op. They're hoping to rent the space out to various groups such as
the boy scouts, etc., not just paganfolk, while maintaining it in a reverent
and sustainable way. Todd Alan, a well known Pagan musician, is one of the
organizers. I suppose, now it's closer than Wisconsin, I might show up some
year.
Thing that's worthy of general discussion, I think, is about the relationship
between the "counterculture(s)" and money- are we growing into tolerance of
it? Should we be? Can we develop sound financial practices without "selling
out"?
|
bruin
|
|
response 3 of 31:
|
Jun 27 22:51 UTC 1997 |
If somebody can tell me how to link items to other conferences, I'll
gladly link this item to synthesis.
|
bjorn
|
|
response 4 of 31:
|
Jun 28 03:18 UTC 1997 |
1. Go to target Conference
2. Type "linkfrom <confrence name><item number>"
3. Hit Enter/Return.
4. Done.
|
valerie
|
|
response 5 of 31:
|
Jun 28 13:42 UTC 1997 |
This response has been erased.
|
bruin
|
|
response 6 of 31:
|
Jun 28 14:21 UTC 1997 |
It has been done (i.e. linking Agora 26 to Synthesis 109)!
|
bjorn
|
|
response 7 of 31:
|
Jun 28 15:30 UTC 1997 |
Thank you bruin.
|
kami
|
|
response 8 of 31:
|
Jun 29 02:32 UTC 1997 |
Yea!
So, Hokshila, go on...
|
bjorn
|
|
response 9 of 31:
|
Jun 29 03:57 UTC 1997 |
Yes, please . . .
|
moonowl
|
|
response 10 of 31:
|
Jun 29 06:16 UTC 1997 |
The gathering was wonerful. Each day from 1:00 through about 4 or 5 there are
free workshops, everything from drumming, to trance dancing, to Healing Hands.
For example, on Tuesday at 1:00, we had a choice of:
1. Abott Bromsley Horn Dance Workshop
2> Middle Eastern Drumming for Beginners
3> SUN - Singles Unity Network (for single pagans)
4> Healing Hands
5> Trends in Paganism in North AMerica
6> Natural Breast Health
7> Panpipes II
8> The Little Gods and Goddess Storytime (for the kids)
and at three o'clock we had the choices of:
1> Rainbow Ritual
2> Drumming Workshop 1 (mainly african drums and rythums)
3> Ars Poetica Pagana: Walking the Bardic Path (Sch)
4> The Galloping Garrolous Grok Flock (all about CAW)
5> Yoga for relaxation and meditation
6> Recliaming the Goddess within (for men and wemon)
7> Teen Art: Creating a Sacred Talisman
8> Children's Garlands
9> Journeying Through Discreet States of Consciousness
As you can see, each day there was quite a variety of things to do. All the
workshops are free. Each night there was a main ritual or concert, and of
course there was a Sweat Lodge, too. And what pagan gathering wouldn't be
complete without all night, yes all night drumming and dancing, which I did
instead of sleeping most nights.
PSG is one gathering where the people come together and truely have
a pagan community throughout the week. As you may have noticed, we take into
account the teens and the kids in our planning. There is a day care there if
you'd like to leave your child and go to a workshop or just take a break. Each
person that attends signs up for four work shifts through out the week in
order that the community may function. Areas such as first aide, information
center, Centering Dome (counseling), childcare, wood cutting, sweatlodge, etc.
We all pitch in to make it work. And I love the opportunity, regardless of
what it costs, the practice what I talk about the rest of the year--pagan
living.
One of my favorite Rituals that is held is the Animal Totem Dance. It
is held in the Ritual Circle and people dress as the totem they wish to
invoke. The procession starts at one end of the camp and as it passes, the
procession grows... the Drummers lead the procession to the ritual circle.
Some {very} interesting things occur during this rite.
Wisteria is the campground where the gathering was held, and Kami's
technical disription is accurate is it's way. The land there is
beautiful---620 acres of <pristine> land - fireflies light up the paths at
night, turtles and bull frogs abound-- the coyotes can be heard laughing at
the dancers at night. During the day the hawks fly over head. There are clean
and clear running spring feed streams that you can drink from... The Spirits
are felt and hear the prayers of those who pray... The little people whatch
from the woods and invite those that respect the ways of the land to return.
I hope that all of the abundance of the universe is bestoyed upon those who
have invested in this land, those that have given up their homes and homelands
to make Wisteria work. Remember, being pagan doesn't mean we need be poor,
nor does having abundance mean we have sold out. If we follow our hearts and
live our truth, why would not abundance follow?
I am all ready planning next years journey to the Pagan Spirit
Gathering, where ever it is held. They are my family, my kindred spirits. I
would invite all those who seek kinship to gather with us next year... share
our fire and our food, our drum and dance, our tears and joy.
Peace, Love and Light,
Johnny Moonowl, Tatonka Hokshila
|
bjorn
|
|
response 11 of 31:
|
Jun 29 14:13 UTC 1997 |
That sounds absolutely deliteful.
|
kami
|
|
response 12 of 31:
|
Jun 30 00:58 UTC 1997 |
That was eloquent! Thanks.
>free workshops, everything from drumming, to trance dancing, to Healing
I generally expect workshops to be included in the admission price. I know
that there are some events where the admission just pays for basic camping
and you have to sign up (and pay) for additional classes, and I suspect I
wouldn't go to much, being sort of cheap.
> 1. Abott Bromsley Horn Dance Workshop
Do you happen to know who taught this one?
> what it costs, the practice what I talk about the rest of the year--pagan
Yup. Practice it, learn more about it, have its very possibility reinforced.
>Kami's technical description is accurate in its way.
Pretty sparse, eh? I haven't been there yet, and I wanted to make a point
about the attitude of the organizers- that they can be hard-headed when they
need to be, businesslike in preserving the sacredness of the land. I'd like
to go some time.
> to make Wisteria work. Remember, being pagan doesn't mean we need be poor,
Hear, hear!
> would invite all those who seek kinship to gather with us next year... share
Road trip? Grexpedition?
|
e4808mc
|
|
response 13 of 31:
|
Jun 30 01:31 UTC 1997 |
I would be interested in at least carpooling with other Grexers, and camping.
|
moonowl
|
|
response 14 of 31:
|
Jun 30 11:01 UTC 1997 |
Sounds like a road trip to me! Convoy! The workshops are free in another
sense, too. The people that do the workshops to them for free. If the is a
workshop you'd like to do when you go, you can send in a request when you
register and the will most likely fit it into the schedule! The dance was done
by some one named Nels... that's all the information listed...
|
kami
|
|
response 15 of 31:
|
Jun 30 14:19 UTC 1997 |
Well, I'm not sure about the organizers of PSG, but for ConVocation and WicCan
Fest there are a limited number of workshop slots, so people submit
applications to teach. The folks in charge of progamming choose among these,
the workshops which look most well thought out, interesting and varied. Most
teachers get the privilege of teaching <g>, a few "guests"--the ones who are
known, or who are doing a whole lot, or something- get special treatment: free
entry or a special dinner or first-refusal on the best camp site or something.
I believe that Starwood is different in that they a) have a number of classes
which require a surcharge and b) can afford to pay their guests a significant
fee, which is how they get some of the "names" they do. Programming a
festival is a headache-producing job, but really fun.
I have a friend who has been researching Morris dancing, mummers plays and
such things, which is why I wondered who had done the workshop on Abbots
Bromley. It's not her.
|
moonowl
|
|
response 16 of 31:
|
Jun 30 21:08 UTC 1997 |
Seems that over the years, the larger the gathering at PSG, the more workshops
they have. This year, we had afternoon gatherings, but it seems that in years
past, we had them in the morning, too. These are different from the many
rituals held in the evenings.
Starwood is different from what I have heard from others. There seems
to be a great deal of partying going on there, compared to PSG. We a great
deal of fun and there is some drinking, but it isn't the focus at all. I
haven't been to other wiccan or pagan gatherings, save for a couple of dozen
native american gatherings, which are very different and wonderful. What
gatherings ahve you been to Kami, and what are they like?
|
kami
|
|
response 17 of 31:
|
Jul 2 03:25 UTC 1997 |
I gather that Starwood is pretty deliberately going for the "psychadelic"
crowd. Not sure that's such a good plan, what with some winner deciding to
get drunk and stoned at the same time, and take a walk in the fire, a couple
of years back. He seems to have learned his lesson. And the various
substances have been rather less in evidence since then...
Other than Pennsic, which is medieval but has an open circle of 200-400 people
each year, I've been to 3 Starwoods, two Wellsprings (ADF's national
gathering), Merry Meet (COG's national gathering) once, when it was at Circle
Pines, and WicCan Fest this year. Of them all, I particularly liked WicCan
Fest, but then, I have lots of friends there, was teaching, and had not
politics of any sort to deal with. But that one is relatively small- 300
people and real kid-friendly and generally pleasant. Wellspring is even
smaller, about 100, but rife with politics since it's where a year's worth
of business has to get done. Same with Merry Meet, but at least it wasn't
*my* politics...I was just there with a friend, who was just there to hang
out, so it was very mellow. They all have the usual bardic circles, drumming
and dancing circles, workshops and rituals, as well as some combination of
communal food and camp-cooking. As it happens, all the sites have swimming,
too, although at Brushwood the pool isn't open yet by Wellspring- just the
hottub (awww, shucks <g>).
Now, besides those outdoor festivals, I've been to Esotericon (now defunct),
Etheracon and Ecumenicon, all out east. They're indoor gatherings so there's
a lot more concentrated programming--don't have to allow the time for transit
and for camp-mainainance. I find I prefer them, for the intense atmosphere,
although I enjoy camping out with friends. They've had the sorts of "people
politics" that plague SF cons, but those were mostly internal and not really
my problem. Other than that, there're generally super people, good
programming, and decent accomodations. There's generally a pool and often
a hottub, huckters' room, art show, concerts, some amount of singing and
drumming although not the all night variety of outdoor events, and a
hospitality suite which is open until almost an obscene enough hour to make
up for the lack of a bonfire. It's what ConVocation is modelled after.
So- tell us about the Native American gatherings Moonowl.
|
moonowl
|
|
response 18 of 31:
|
Jul 2 11:30 UTC 1997 |
We get together and pray. The spirits come and help us move our lives in a
good way. Then we share food and give away. Usually, we send grandpa and
grandma home with some money and tabacco for the old people on the
reservation.
|
kami
|
|
response 19 of 31:
|
Jul 2 17:39 UTC 1997 |
A little mellower, a little more intense, eh? Probably a *lot* closer
community- you don't have the "tail sniffing" of deciding who's a "real" pagan
or whatever. Cool.
|
moonowl
|
|
response 20 of 31:
|
Jul 2 19:34 UTC 1997 |
Well, can't say I've ever done any "Tail sniffing". I have never felt the need
to determine who's a real pagan. I figure that we are all where we're supposed
to be on our own path, so that judgement isn't one I need to make. But yes,
we are a very close family when the weekend is through. Many life long
friendships are made at those gatherings. The people that are there are the
people who are supposed to be there. I guess I look at all gatherings that
way. Each person is there to get what the need at their particular place on
their own path. Besides, I'm not sure what a 'real pagan" is. Enlighten me,
please, as to what makes a pagan real.
|
kami
|
|
response 21 of 31:
|
Jul 3 18:54 UTC 1997 |
Johnny, I have no idea "what makes a pagan real." I've certainly run into
people with whom I felt a swift affinity, a sense of familiarity, even family.
I've also run into people who seemed to be "slumming", putting on a role,
enjoying the romance of being "different" without having put real thought into
what it means. I've met a lot of people who profess "pagan values" but who
are themselves intolerant, careless, unkind, dishonest, hypocritical, etc.
Now, I'm not sure where the line is between human weakness- being on the path
as we all are- and being "not for real", but some people you instinctively
trust and others you don't. That appears to be different from the more
egregious "tail sniffing"; "Oh, you're Wiccan? What tradition? What line?
Do you know so-and-so? Oh, you were trained by X? Well, you know her
initiation isn't valid don't you?"-- that sort of catty snobbery. It does
happen, if not quite *that* soap-opera nastily. I try not to play that game,
letting obvious competence speak for itself, and yet, it's easy to look for
a short-hand with which to establish shared language and experiences; "Oh,
you're Faery Trad/Dianic/Gardnerian-derived? Well, have you tried playing
with ....What did you think?"--a little more familiar than "Hey lady, what's
your sign?". You see what I'm getting at? Trying to find a way to make
community stronger, not more devisive, when we're so spread out and have
*been* a community for so few years.
|
moonowl
|
|
response 22 of 31:
|
Jul 3 22:04 UTC 1997 |
Right! I have often thought about how in society in general, when we find that
we have issues with a group of people, how we tend to just drift to another
group and avoid the issues. I think that in the general society, we can
afford, if you will, that luxury. However, in the pagan community, we can not
afford to allow issues to tear about the fragile fabric that has grwon in the
last twenty or so years. I believe that by working through the issues, we can
make the community stronger and more durable as well as get healthier in our
relations at the same time.
I have noticed that some people are as you have said, not quite really
walking the talk. In my experience in AA, we say fake it til you make it! I
think this also applies to the people that you speak of. I didn't hear much
of that kind of talk at PSG, though. I'm sure it was there, to some degree.
The overwhelming tolerance of the gathering has, on more than one occassion,
but things in my face that I needed to look at. This has been good for me.
I have learned what really makes a person beautiful, getting past the physical
aspects of beauty in that judgemental way. Also, I have been challenged with
really learning what it means to be open minded. This is a tough challenge
to live up to. Paula keeps me on an even keel in this department.
I was also, for the most part blessed not to have been apart of the
politics that I'm sure where there. I loose what grace I have in such
discussion, so I avoid them as much as possible. Politics I am not good with.
Also, I think that maybe because I follow the native path, some of the
discussions about wiccan traditions I don't find myself around, all though
I must admit that when I do I ask some questions to learn more about them,
and If i'm in one of my moods, some questions to have fun with.
There were some faces missing from this year's psg do to this one not
seeing eye to eye with that one. My thoughts center on "As long as the ties
that bind us are stronger than those that would tear us apart, what will
happen will happen and we will still be here." I really, really hope to see
You dancing across the fire from me at psg 98. I would love to have more
people in Ann Arbor come into my family fire in this way. I like the way you
get me to thinking about certain things. And I bet you dance a mean fire!!!
Johnny Moonowl
|
kami
|
|
response 23 of 31:
|
Jul 4 18:17 UTC 1997 |
Actually, Johnny, it takes a long time before I"ll get up and dance. I enjoy
it once I do, though. I'm more comfortable telling stories around a bardic
circle. Had some fun at WicCan Fest- I told a story about why we don't tell
stories from Beltaine to Samhain (that is, though the summer half of the
year). Totally apocryphal, and a real hoot! The punch line was "and that,
good people, is why I cannot tell you a story today"--after spinning a longish
yarn. People just about fell over! whee!
I'm glad that there really is an atmosphere of tolerance at PSG. It does
sound like a good time.
Being comfortable in your own tradition and knowledge, and able to ask
bridge-building questions of folks from other traditions, is a gift.
|
moonowl
|
|
response 24 of 31:
|
Jul 5 22:48 UTC 1997 |
Gee, Kami,
We'd have you dancing in no time at all! The drums just kinda get under
your skin and Johnny bugs you til you dance. Unfortunately, the bards where
sparse this year, but hopefully next year Caltria will be there.. I had a good
one to tie on the end of their story circle this year, so next year I'll do
it if they are there. At any rate, start planning a grexpitition to psg next
year! It'd be wonderful to have a bunch of us travel and meet there. Southern
Ohio has to be close for Grex-ohio as well as most of Michigan and other areas
as well. There were some folks who came out from California this year. Also
Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Geaorgia, Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mass., Minnisota,
Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North
Carolina, Ohio, Penn., South Dakota, Tenn., Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington
State and D.C., West Virginia, Wisconsin, and a few from North of the Border.
A few wonders and rovers where also in attandance. Definately a GREAT way to
net work the U.S of A. in a fun and interesting vacation.
|
