Turning the wheel of the year
Sunday afternoon, I got with my circle sisters for a Dianic Yule. One of the presents handed out was Willendorf magnets. After I got home in a rainstorm, I stayed up all night translating a legal document. Monday night I went to Drum Lady's house for a drum jam. I saw two or three other people I knew already. There were also some people from the Rhythm Workers Union. We spent most of the evening drumming. It was the first New Year's Eve party I had been to in 23 years. It was not a kissing party, we mostly drummed at midnight, which is when the belly dancing began. Kristen and Cherie, another woman I know from the Guerrilla Poetry performances, changed into long colorful broomstick skirts and belly danced, showing a mastery of fast hip shimmy. I joined in the dance but have not perfected that technique yet. They said they learned it in a class somewhere. The tempo of the drum rhythms was way faster than the rhythms used in belly dance, so they sped it up accordingly. Kristen had asked us to bring ideas for saving energy in the coming year, and provided posterboard for us all to write our ideas on. Shortly before midnight, Kristen had us all circle together, she passed around fresh pineapple pieces, everyone took one and said something about how they want to live in the new year. We practiced meditating a little with ujjayi breathing and then went back to drumming, and we drummed in the new year. I may be shy and not be the best at socializing, but joining in a drum jam, I'm in my element.