I had a great time at Samhain at Fireheart. Kris and I made the trip together and I talked most of the time. Being a kind friend she assured me on the way home that she was fine with my chatting so much. It entertained her and kept her awake. We had an opportunity to catch up, gossip, politics, and philosophy. It was fun.
When we got to Fireheart, F. was just on his way out the door as we came up the walk. He changed his mind and helped us unload the car. Then he grabbed my wrist and "dragged" me off to be alone with him. By the time we surfaced others had arrived. It was great to see so many CAW folks that I haven't seen since August.
Friday (Nov. 2nd) night the final court of the May King and Queen was held. We dressed as an ancestor or simply as we chose. I wore a white negligee underdress, a red velvet vest laced tightly up the front, and a black overskirt. It was kind of fun to dress up. But it was chilly and I was quite cold during the court. Afterwards some of us went to the fire and F. and M. and Spiritchef drummed while I danced around the fire. I love dancing around the fire to the sound of the drums. When I got overheated I took the overskirt off and kept going. The nearly full/gibbous moon rose and I danced weaving the firelight with the moonlight, feeling the power of the God in the dynamic energy of the flame and the gentle power of the Goddess in the Moon. Bringing the energies together in a sacred union and balancing them was a moment of true beauty and I felt them as a blissed out point between the worlds. I shredded the bottom of my stockings on the sand and cinder mix around the firepit, and got very black feet but it was a great way to ground all that energy. Hopefully, Fireheart will have benefited by the magick. Ronn's bedroom has a white carpet and that is where F. and I were staying. We discovered the sooty feet after we walked on the carpet. Ooops. Ronn was pretty easy about it though. I just washed my feet in the shower while F. vacuumed our footprints. Luckily they came out easily.
Ronn, the host and steward for Fireheart, was a very welcoming presence. It is clear that some of the success is due merely to his personality and charisma. And of course, much of the rest is due to the hard work of all involved. For me, this was a taste of extended family as I was taken in with open arms and hearts. I was offered the use of the bedrooms and real beds instead of the floor or tent. What a luxury at a Pagan fest! I could get used to this:)
Saturday night (Nov. 3rd) was the main ritual and we had the opportunity to do an underworld journey, take part in being denizens of the underworld, or of course, sit out. I chose to take the journey and I am glad that I did. There were several guardians with different challenges and questions. Earlier in the day I had been about when Raven was creating the magickal staffs used to open the gate between the worlds. I appreciated the opportunity to see the magickal work that went into getting ready for this ritual. A few people were turned back during the journey because they couldn't meet the challenges but most were successful. And many asked for an audience with Hades and Persephone. I intended to but it got very late and was quite cold so in the end I gave that up so that my knees would be usable the next day - the cold sometimes makes everything stiffen up. In some ways I found the challenges and questions easy. Yet they have stayed with me and I find myself returning to them occasionally and integrating them in my life. And as F. was one of the Guardians the question that he asked has stayed with me. The answer was surprising to me yet he had expected it.
Sunday (Nov. 4th) was the final ritual - the presentation and coronation of the Queen. In the Underworld journey the night before the May King and Queen had been judged. The Queen was found to have fulfilled her duties and was ready to lay down her role as Goddess/Land and to become "just" a human Queen but also a consort to the Gods. The King on the other hand was "sacrificed" and died in the Underworld. So there is no longer a King, the King is dead. But David is still the consort to the Queen.
Also the May pole was removed from the hole by the women who carried it back to a place in the ritual circle. Then we talked about the coming 6 months and the kind of focus that we wanted to see ritually - harmony was the choice. The men buried something in the hole, which will be ritually dug up and revealed in a later ritual, and filled it back in. It was nice having a brief period of men's and women's mysteries as it were.
Gradually people began to pack up and leave and the goodbye's were said. I had my laptop with me so I was able to get some digital photos of the event from Mark. And F. and I danced to music that was playing. I love watching him move. It was pretty hot but people were leaving and waiting to say goodbye and that interrupted us. It was hard to say goodbye to everyone. Kris and I were staying over one more night and in a way that made it easier.
Copyright © 2001 Kyril Oakwind