Spring Mysteries Festival XXVII (2012)
I’m not going to go through the Festival day by day and explain everything that happened from my personal perspective.
I will admit that going into this SMF, I had not really done my due diligence as a Priest of Ares. Though I had invoked him a few times in rehearsal, and meditated on his role in the script and the Mysteries in general a bit, I hadn’t really expended the effort I should have. I acknowledge this.
For those who don’t know, the Spring Mysteries Festival is a modern re-enactment of the Eleusinian Mysteries of Greece. These are the Mysteries of Demeter and Kore/Persephone, and if you’re at all familiar with the Homeric Hymn to Demeter (upon which the modern Mysteries are based) you can infer that Ares plays no real role in the main thrust of the drama. I made the most of the stage-time I was given, and also had fun with the “immersive scenes” (mini-dramas not part of the actual Ritual Drama script of the Festival). Highlights include Ares trying to be unobtrusive while shadowing a Certain Someone (‘cause Ares is all about being sneaky and subtle), and getting his ass handed to him by Aphrodite at the wedding feast (which had the crowd, mortals and gods, roaring with approval). Nice to know that despite age and increasing physical ailments, I can still pull of some entertaining stage-combat.
I was very fortunate - moreso than most other members of the cast, I think - to have the majority of my costumery and props handed down to me from previous priests who had held the role. I really only had to modify one chiton, and buy some sandals (which rocked and were much remarked upon) and a dress oufit for the Wedding Feast scene (which was something I found pretty cheaply on some anime costuming website and was nevertheless also very popular). I wound up with three separate and distinct sets of armor, which along with accessories allowed me to present an ever-changing appearance for Ares this weekend.
The Ares shrine, though plagued by high winds (it was at one of the highest points on the park grounds and directly above the shore, so duh) which kept trying to disassemble it, turned out very well, given that I had limited supplies and only myself and Ares’ most dedicated Dedicant to put it together. It had the feel of a general’s field camp, which worked pretty well, I think. I wound up seeing maybe ten people, and Ares received three Dedications - the aforementioned perennial Dedicant, another voluntary Dedication, and one spontaneously imposed by the god upon a young woman who was initially uncertain as to why she was inspired to visit his shrine. As is usual for me, most of what was said during the shrine scene is now mostly lost in a haze, but overall I think it went pretty well, and I’ve heard positive feedback.
This year, one part of the ritual drama called for Ares to teach some of the participants a “war dance,” to include a “war cry”. This was an interesting challenge both choreographically and ritually, and I was concerned that what I finally came up with (for those who are interested, it was a blend of karate kata, Mauri haka and Anthony Quinn’s dance from Zorba the Greek) was perhaps a bit too challenging for those participants who chose to receive Ares “gift”. Unfortunately, due to the flow of the action, I couldn’t be there in person to see them perform the dance when the ritual drama called for it, but I could hear it at a distance, and from what I’ve been told, they did me and the War God proud.
My barley-malt-based stage-blood recipe finally got its field test, and performed beautifully, IMHO. I did discover later, though, that if you leave barley-malt on your skin for too long, it starts to have a mild henna-like effect…
Logistics prevented me from experiencing the Lesser Mysteries this year, but thankfully I was able to attend the Greater Mysteries, and experienced what was the most profound and powerful magickal ritual I have ever attended (rivaled only by the Fires of Lughnasadh ritual in which I invoked Lugh - my patron deity - and was slain in sky-clad ritual combat wherein all of the weapons were real, sharpened steel). All of the godforms involved were carried by experienced priests and priestesses of amazing talent and ability, and the sheer power of what was presented cannot be conveyed in words. (That’s why it’s a Mystery, you see. :) I simply cannot express how moved I was, and how much I appreciate what these people went through, personally, to give us all the gift of the message of the Greaters.
The main rituals aside, there was an incredible amount of magick happening this weekend, and the simple, unrehearsed, spontaneous moments that kept happening throughout the weekend - and even the mistakes! - only served to enhance the power of the whole experience.
A few of my most memorable moments:
Learning, through sheer and repeated need, that the Ares energy does, in fact, have a healing aspect to it.
An amazing ritual, unrelated to the Festival as a whole but nonetheless important to it, which solidified for me one path of worship I will pursue in the future.
Feeling Ares, God of War, cringe in fear before the power and might of Gaia.
Hearing Pan, lost in the night, screaming his grief at the full moon above.
Giggling, in the back of my mind (and very quietly, so s/he wouldn’t hear) as Charon, terrifying Guardian of the Gates of Erobos, became, for just a moment, Scottish.
Watching as a man I have known for quite a number of years now showed that he has in that time become the sort of priest I can only aspire to be.
At the cast party, for the first time in my life, having a drunken “I love you, man!” moment. I meant it, wholeheartedly.
Also at the cast party, finding myself quite unexpectedly in the position of being the experienced old man passing on knowledge to an eager, impressionable youth. Weird. Drunken old codger has much to tell you, young padawan.
Being a part, however peripheral, of a cast which was - to me, at least - the perfect storm of actors and priests to pull off this most amazing script and ritual.
[ETA: As the festival progressed, and we repeatedly invoked our godforms, my relationship with Ares improved. I became more comfortable with him, and what he required of me during invokation. Also, he came to see that this year's script cast him not as the bad-guy (as has been the case in years past), but as one of the good-guys. (Many thanks from me and the War Lord to the script writers for that!) He also saw that, despite my lackluster preparation, I was sincere in acting as his priest. It also didn't hurt that he seemed to be fairly popular this year. Once the war-dance had been successfully taught and executed, he was fully on board with me as priest. I think this is why I was able to connect with his energy in a positive, healing way. By the time it was all over, I felt comfortable in calling upon him at need - even when not invoked - and feel a bit wistful about letting him go.]
My profound thanks to everyone who made this year’s Spring Mysteries Festival what it was. I don’t think it’ll ever be any better than that.
I (and others) have said it before, and I’ll say it again: Best SMF Evar!
I will admit that going into this SMF, I had not really done my due diligence as a Priest of Ares. Though I had invoked him a few times in rehearsal, and meditated on his role in the script and the Mysteries in general a bit, I hadn’t really expended the effort I should have. I acknowledge this.
For those who don’t know, the Spring Mysteries Festival is a modern re-enactment of the Eleusinian Mysteries of Greece. These are the Mysteries of Demeter and Kore/Persephone, and if you’re at all familiar with the Homeric Hymn to Demeter (upon which the modern Mysteries are based) you can infer that Ares plays no real role in the main thrust of the drama. I made the most of the stage-time I was given, and also had fun with the “immersive scenes” (mini-dramas not part of the actual Ritual Drama script of the Festival). Highlights include Ares trying to be unobtrusive while shadowing a Certain Someone (‘cause Ares is all about being sneaky and subtle), and getting his ass handed to him by Aphrodite at the wedding feast (which had the crowd, mortals and gods, roaring with approval). Nice to know that despite age and increasing physical ailments, I can still pull of some entertaining stage-combat.
I was very fortunate - moreso than most other members of the cast, I think - to have the majority of my costumery and props handed down to me from previous priests who had held the role. I really only had to modify one chiton, and buy some sandals (which rocked and were much remarked upon) and a dress oufit for the Wedding Feast scene (which was something I found pretty cheaply on some anime costuming website and was nevertheless also very popular). I wound up with three separate and distinct sets of armor, which along with accessories allowed me to present an ever-changing appearance for Ares this weekend.
The Ares shrine, though plagued by high winds (it was at one of the highest points on the park grounds and directly above the shore, so duh) which kept trying to disassemble it, turned out very well, given that I had limited supplies and only myself and Ares’ most dedicated Dedicant to put it together. It had the feel of a general’s field camp, which worked pretty well, I think. I wound up seeing maybe ten people, and Ares received three Dedications - the aforementioned perennial Dedicant, another voluntary Dedication, and one spontaneously imposed by the god upon a young woman who was initially uncertain as to why she was inspired to visit his shrine. As is usual for me, most of what was said during the shrine scene is now mostly lost in a haze, but overall I think it went pretty well, and I’ve heard positive feedback.
This year, one part of the ritual drama called for Ares to teach some of the participants a “war dance,” to include a “war cry”. This was an interesting challenge both choreographically and ritually, and I was concerned that what I finally came up with (for those who are interested, it was a blend of karate kata, Mauri haka and Anthony Quinn’s dance from Zorba the Greek) was perhaps a bit too challenging for those participants who chose to receive Ares “gift”. Unfortunately, due to the flow of the action, I couldn’t be there in person to see them perform the dance when the ritual drama called for it, but I could hear it at a distance, and from what I’ve been told, they did me and the War God proud.
My barley-malt-based stage-blood recipe finally got its field test, and performed beautifully, IMHO. I did discover later, though, that if you leave barley-malt on your skin for too long, it starts to have a mild henna-like effect…
Logistics prevented me from experiencing the Lesser Mysteries this year, but thankfully I was able to attend the Greater Mysteries, and experienced what was the most profound and powerful magickal ritual I have ever attended (rivaled only by the Fires of Lughnasadh ritual in which I invoked Lugh - my patron deity - and was slain in sky-clad ritual combat wherein all of the weapons were real, sharpened steel). All of the godforms involved were carried by experienced priests and priestesses of amazing talent and ability, and the sheer power of what was presented cannot be conveyed in words. (That’s why it’s a Mystery, you see. :) I simply cannot express how moved I was, and how much I appreciate what these people went through, personally, to give us all the gift of the message of the Greaters.
The main rituals aside, there was an incredible amount of magick happening this weekend, and the simple, unrehearsed, spontaneous moments that kept happening throughout the weekend - and even the mistakes! - only served to enhance the power of the whole experience.
A few of my most memorable moments:
Learning, through sheer and repeated need, that the Ares energy does, in fact, have a healing aspect to it.
An amazing ritual, unrelated to the Festival as a whole but nonetheless important to it, which solidified for me one path of worship I will pursue in the future.
Feeling Ares, God of War, cringe in fear before the power and might of Gaia.
Hearing Pan, lost in the night, screaming his grief at the full moon above.
Giggling, in the back of my mind (and very quietly, so s/he wouldn’t hear) as Charon, terrifying Guardian of the Gates of Erobos, became, for just a moment, Scottish.
Watching as a man I have known for quite a number of years now showed that he has in that time become the sort of priest I can only aspire to be.
At the cast party, for the first time in my life, having a drunken “I love you, man!” moment. I meant it, wholeheartedly.
Also at the cast party, finding myself quite unexpectedly in the position of being the experienced old man passing on knowledge to an eager, impressionable youth. Weird. Drunken old codger has much to tell you, young padawan.
Being a part, however peripheral, of a cast which was - to me, at least - the perfect storm of actors and priests to pull off this most amazing script and ritual.
[ETA: As the festival progressed, and we repeatedly invoked our godforms, my relationship with Ares improved. I became more comfortable with him, and what he required of me during invokation. Also, he came to see that this year's script cast him not as the bad-guy (as has been the case in years past), but as one of the good-guys. (Many thanks from me and the War Lord to the script writers for that!) He also saw that, despite my lackluster preparation, I was sincere in acting as his priest. It also didn't hurt that he seemed to be fairly popular this year. Once the war-dance had been successfully taught and executed, he was fully on board with me as priest. I think this is why I was able to connect with his energy in a positive, healing way. By the time it was all over, I felt comfortable in calling upon him at need - even when not invoked - and feel a bit wistful about letting him go.]
My profound thanks to everyone who made this year’s Spring Mysteries Festival what it was. I don’t think it’ll ever be any better than that.
I (and others) have said it before, and I’ll say it again: Best SMF Evar!