Tom and I went to Grow Closer together. He agreed to go just to be there for my ordination ritual. I felt very touched that he was willing to do it when I know that he doesn't care for camping and driving long distances and people. I drove most of the way to make the trip easier for him. We set up camp near Dragon Family and Jack. It was good to see everyone again.
My ordination ritual went smoothly with only the usual unexpected occurences and mishaps. I pushed the time back because a meal that Ottercat was cooking in the long hall kitchen was running late but somehow that didn’t make it to the herald so the ritual was announced as being 15 minutes earlier than the reset time. Ah well. I ended up being late to my own ritual. As I headed down to Thunder, the area in which the ritual was being held, the assembled Grok Flock started chanting my name. It was a rather amazing thing energetically. I felt like a rock star or something as I approached them so I waved and called out "my fans, my fans" :) Then while Aeona took something around to each participant, delaying the start of the circle further, I went around the circle and mooned a couple of people, laughed, and played, and finally went around to each person and put my hand on their heart to make a connection. Finally the ritual began.
From my perspective it went pretty well. I had made an outline of the flow of things and set that down on the ground next to the various props. That way I could check it without being really obvious about it and also not be carrying papers. I designed the ritual to give members a chance to talk about what they wanted from clergy and then I asked people from various nests to come up to prime the pump as it were. Then others came up and spoke about what they wanted as well. Finally I did a little scenario with a basket of gravel that represented all the problems, needs, issues, tasks, responsibilities, as well as the good connections, fun, etc. within the church. I tried to lift if but it was too heavy. So I asked the other clergy present to help me but it was too heavy. Then I asked Scions to come and take some out of the basket and help share the burden. But still it was too heavy. Then I asked everyone to come and take a small amount. And finally the remainder was light enough for the clergy to carry. To me the point was that we are all in this together and just as we say to one another “Thou art God/ess” so each of us must share in the responsibilities of creating, building, and maintaining our church.
Near the end of the ritual Aeona presented me with my silver clergy Dearinth, which was the item that had been taken around to each person present for them to put their energy and blessings into. And I was accepted as clergy by all present. After the watersharing, Candy in the grip of Eris once again, dumped water all over me. While we were cleaning up though I dumped water down the front of her dress. She assured me that was going to be the only time that I got away with it though.
I had a good time and got to spend time reconnecting with Jack, which was very sweet. Mr. Bill, one of the people online that held things together during the political upheaval in CAW last year, was there so I got to see him again and spend some time with him. I was invited to an Internest puppy pile in Ottercat's, (who is this year's SpiritWeaver's Branch, May King) tent. That was fun though I went back to my own tent to sleep with Tom. Jack Chocolate gave me a massage that was incredible. Phoenix gave a concert at the same time. Luckily I could hear most of it from where I was so I could enjoy the songs and get worked on at the same time. And one of my nestmates stumbled over looking for hot water for coffee in the morning. It was nice to spend the time visiting. I don’t think Tom had a very good time though – he just doesn’t like to be around people, or to camp, or to have a long drive to camp around people. He probably won’t come to any more festivals with me for quite a long time but I am glad that he came at least once.
Copyright © 2001, 2002 Kyril Oakwind