Beltaine love!
Had a kickass Beltaine planning session yesterday. Feeling good about the ritual this year. It feels simple but potent and has a new element we haven't introduced in our ritual work before, but have been contemplating incorporating into the rituals for years. Something old, something new. Fire! Life force! Lust! Creativity!
Also, this feels good to me because it is feeding my growing relationship with Brigid. Yum.
Heard from Alex again recently; she's coming back to film at Beltaine, and all the week beforehand too. I'm actually at the point of comfort with her and with the film project now where it sort of feels exciting that they're coming back, and slightly less terrifying. :) They were around so much in the fall that they got to feeling like friends. I missed the zany deadpan humor of Greg the cameraman.
Here's the details in case anybody wants to come and isn't on the email list.
Stone City Beltaine Festival
April 25-26, 2009
Ritual collaboration with Morpheus Anima, Shannon Moore, Sam Webster, Tina Beachy, Jasmine and Neil Kelly, and (we hope) you.
You are welcome to arrive any time starting Friday evening the 24th.
Festival ends at 3:00 pm on Sunday the 26th.
Beltaine Fire Ritual
Saturday 7:00 pm in the Henge.
We celebrate the opening of the Gates of Life and the upwelling of life force that is Spring. In this ritual we will light the sacred Bel-fire and make offerings to the spirits and the Gods, invoking Brigid and Lugh as Gods of rising light, fire, and creative power. We will use an ancient rite of anointing and marking the Beltaine stone, pouring power into the stone to help open the gateway between the worlds, and bringing forth the creative fire of the life force into this world and into ourselves.
Following the formal ritual, celebration, song, fire-leaping, and feasting in the Henge into the night. Please feel free to bring your drums and musical instruments, and please bring a contribution for the feast.
Maypole Dance
Sunday 11:00 am at the May Tree.
In the presence of the Gods, we offer libations to feed our living icon of the Lord of Life, the May Tree, followed by dancing the Maypole in celebration of the erotic interweaving of the dance of creation.
THINGS TO BRING
~Flowers for the Maypole and ritual circles - fresh flowers preferable.
~Potluck feast contribution for Saturday night's Beltaine feast. Tables will be placed in the Henge and you can bring your feast items before circle begins, or you can go and fetch them after the formal portion of the ritual is completed.
~Drums and musical instruments for celebration after ritual.
~Flashlights! Our Beltaine this year falls at the New Moon. This makes for spectacular stargazing but you will need your flashlight!
~Clothing for warm or cool weather. Nighttime temperatures can go to upper 40s/low 50s. Daytime temperatures are likely to be in the low 80s but can vary considerably.
~Camping gear - If you plan on tent camping, bring a good warm sleeping bag. See below for details on guest house and cabins.
ACCOMMODATIONS
We have plenty of camping space. Limited indoor sleeping space is also available in the Guest House, first-come first-served. The Guest House has a queen futon bed and some floor space which is available on a first-come first-served basis. Please bring your own blankets or sleeping bags. Several campers, trailers and boats are available as private cabins. Most have bed space for 2-4 people each. There is an additional cost for reserving one of these cabins - see below under cost info. Please email us to reserve one of these private cabins.
Hot showers, bathtub, composting toilet, and kitchen facilities are available to all in the Guest House. Please note the guest kitchen has a supply of dishes and some cooking pots and implements, but if you need anything specific please plan to bring it. PLEASE plan to help clean the Guest House kitchen if you use it at all.
COST
$25/one night or $35/two nights, per person for adults; kids and teenagers are free and welcomed with a parent or guardian.
This registration cost covers attendance at all open festival events, camping space, use of the guest house and guest kitchen, showers etc.
If you want to reserve one of the private campers/trailers/boats, the additional cost is $15-25 per night depending on which one you want. Note this is per cabin, NOT per person, so it's cheaper to share. Please email for details.
Registration payments can be made via PayPal for credit card or debit, to thestonecity@gmail.com; or you can mail your registration to the address below.
Please include a note with your registration to let us know when you'll be arriving and how many will be with you (including kids) so we know how many ribbons to get for the Maypole. And of course, if the payment includes reservation for a cabin.
You are also welcome to add donations on to the registration total; we are a 501c3 nonprofit organization and always need your help for improving the land.
Many thanks and we look forward to celebrating the season of light and beauty with you!
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STONE CITY EVENTS FOR 2009
PantheaCon - February 13-16
Spring Work Parties:
February 28-March 1
March 14-15
April 4-5
Beltaine Festival - April 25-26
Work Party - May 9-10
Ancient Ways Festival - May 13-17
Fall Benefit Show - September 12
Samhain Festival - October 30-November 1
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Also, this feels good to me because it is feeding my growing relationship with Brigid. Yum.
Heard from Alex again recently; she's coming back to film at Beltaine, and all the week beforehand too. I'm actually at the point of comfort with her and with the film project now where it sort of feels exciting that they're coming back, and slightly less terrifying. :) They were around so much in the fall that they got to feeling like friends. I missed the zany deadpan humor of Greg the cameraman.
Here's the details in case anybody wants to come and isn't on the email list.
Stone City Beltaine Festival
April 25-26, 2009
Ritual collaboration with Morpheus Anima, Shannon Moore, Sam Webster, Tina Beachy, Jasmine and Neil Kelly, and (we hope) you.
You are welcome to arrive any time starting Friday evening the 24th.
Festival ends at 3:00 pm on Sunday the 26th.
Beltaine Fire Ritual
Saturday 7:00 pm in the Henge.
We celebrate the opening of the Gates of Life and the upwelling of life force that is Spring. In this ritual we will light the sacred Bel-fire and make offerings to the spirits and the Gods, invoking Brigid and Lugh as Gods of rising light, fire, and creative power. We will use an ancient rite of anointing and marking the Beltaine stone, pouring power into the stone to help open the gateway between the worlds, and bringing forth the creative fire of the life force into this world and into ourselves.
Following the formal ritual, celebration, song, fire-leaping, and feasting in the Henge into the night. Please feel free to bring your drums and musical instruments, and please bring a contribution for the feast.
Maypole Dance
Sunday 11:00 am at the May Tree.
In the presence of the Gods, we offer libations to feed our living icon of the Lord of Life, the May Tree, followed by dancing the Maypole in celebration of the erotic interweaving of the dance of creation.
THINGS TO BRING
~Flowers for the Maypole and ritual circles - fresh flowers preferable.
~Potluck feast contribution for Saturday night's Beltaine feast. Tables will be placed in the Henge and you can bring your feast items before circle begins, or you can go and fetch them after the formal portion of the ritual is completed.
~Drums and musical instruments for celebration after ritual.
~Flashlights! Our Beltaine this year falls at the New Moon. This makes for spectacular stargazing but you will need your flashlight!
~Clothing for warm or cool weather. Nighttime temperatures can go to upper 40s/low 50s. Daytime temperatures are likely to be in the low 80s but can vary considerably.
~Camping gear - If you plan on tent camping, bring a good warm sleeping bag. See below for details on guest house and cabins.
ACCOMMODATIONS
We have plenty of camping space. Limited indoor sleeping space is also available in the Guest House, first-come first-served. The Guest House has a queen futon bed and some floor space which is available on a first-come first-served basis. Please bring your own blankets or sleeping bags. Several campers, trailers and boats are available as private cabins. Most have bed space for 2-4 people each. There is an additional cost for reserving one of these cabins - see below under cost info. Please email us to reserve one of these private cabins.
Hot showers, bathtub, composting toilet, and kitchen facilities are available to all in the Guest House. Please note the guest kitchen has a supply of dishes and some cooking pots and implements, but if you need anything specific please plan to bring it. PLEASE plan to help clean the Guest House kitchen if you use it at all.
COST
$25/one night or $35/two nights, per person for adults; kids and teenagers are free and welcomed with a parent or guardian.
This registration cost covers attendance at all open festival events, camping space, use of the guest house and guest kitchen, showers etc.
If you want to reserve one of the private campers/trailers/boats, the additional cost is $15-25 per night depending on which one you want. Note this is per cabin, NOT per person, so it's cheaper to share. Please email for details.
Registration payments can be made via PayPal for credit card or debit, to thestonecity@gmail.com; or you can mail your registration to the address below.
Please include a note with your registration to let us know when you'll be arriving and how many will be with you (including kids) so we know how many ribbons to get for the Maypole. And of course, if the payment includes reservation for a cabin.
You are also welcome to add donations on to the registration total; we are a 501c3 nonprofit organization and always need your help for improving the land.
Many thanks and we look forward to celebrating the season of light and beauty with you!
-----------------------------------------------------------
STONE CITY EVENTS FOR 2009
PantheaCon - February 13-16
Spring Work Parties:
February 28-March 1
March 14-15
April 4-5
Beltaine Festival - April 25-26
Work Party - May 9-10
Ancient Ways Festival - May 13-17
Fall Benefit Show - September 12
Samhain Festival - October 30-November 1
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