I was so high from both talking to F. and from Candy's support that I couldn't sleep for hours. Eventually I did fall asleep and got a few hours in before dawn. I need caffeine.
The ritual planning session was at 10 am and I did make it on time. But the thunder dome is being rebuilt and the dome isn't there right now so it was hot. I stayed under the shade at the entrance as long as I could but had to get out into the bowl area when it was time to block out the Faery Queen roles. By the time that was done I was feeling light-headed from the heat. I had wanted to attend the workshop on the "Politics and Logistics of Creating Condom Compacts", but it was scheduled opposite the ritual planning session and I am in the ritual.
After that we went to get lunch and take it to the CAW Regional Meeting. The topic was one that I had posed to the Feedback list - "What do members want from their clergy?" It was an interesting discussion and suggestions varied from visiting nests, counseling, to being a good role-model. Some members felt that they weren't getting much from clergy, especially clergy in CA. Some members felt that it wasn't enough for clergy to be doing good in their own local area, that being CAW clergy necessitated a national focus and a national vision.
I had a healing ritual scheduled for after the regional meeting but it was so hot and I was feeling so low in energy that we decided to opt for continuing the discussion. I wish more members had attended so we could get a wider-spectrum of ideas. But it was a good discussion and I think members who were present came away understanding some things that they might not have before.
After dinner we got ready for the ritual and headed down for it. The 7 shadows all wore dark cloaks and white facemasks. They did a great job of being the dark shadowy side of communication: judgmental, preconceived perceptions, distrust, egoistic, etc. To heal them they waltzed and would reach out and take someone from the circle to waltz with for a few minutes, then get someone else until most people were dancing with their own shadows to transform and heal them. When the waltz was complete the power was sent for that. Then we moved to the gates of Faery and the May King and Queen who had embodied the God and Goddess, also embodied the King and Queen of Faery. Now it was the turn of the 7 Faery Queens of good communication to come out and share them: empathy, courtesy and respect. Then we danced in the center twirling M's into W's. The chant was about turning the m in Me into the w in We. We ran around and around the fire twirling the letters, which reflected the light until we sent off the power to manifest good communication. After that was the watersharing (the Faery King and Queen had previously given us permission to drink in Faery without having to stay). It was a fun ritual.
Later in the evening I hung around Ronn's campsite and was regaled with more stories and tidbits about the man I am in love with. It was a very pleasant way to end an evening.
Copyright © 2001 Kyril Oakwind