HSF 09
We made it back safe and sound last night and got some pretty decent sleep (yaay for the sleep!)
The weekend went very well. Arrived early Friday for Brenda to set up registration- which by all accounts went smoothly. The first of the offerings to the Fey and the beginning of what I will simply refer to as the Festival of the Walking Wounded. More than a couple of people (myself included) slipped and twisted some part of their body.
Saturday- Despite offerings to the Fey asking for nice weather we became a bit concerned at one point when not only did it start raining, but there was the attendant thunder and lightning followed by hail and (according to at least one person) snow(!). I threatened (as I am certain many others did as well) to withhold the rest of my offering should this crap continue. Needless to say, by the time we were ready to kick off the ritual things had cleared up quite nicely and the evening was incredibly beautiful.
Main Event! By the time we were actually invoked I was still having pre-performance jitters up to and including the fear of dropping a line or forgetting some other equally important bit. I stood by the fire and waited for the masses to come from the dining hall so I could delivered my purification speech at the fire. (As close to a shrine scene as I have ever gotten and I am very pleased that it went well.) The call to Hecate was beautifully performed by the attendees (although I admit to shuddering at one point as someone said, in a voice that sounded just a bit angry, "Hecate, we call you out!" This immediately brought forth images of Hecate coming out ready to fight and since
1_wolfsong was Hecate I could actually see her coming out ready to fight!) The veil was parted and the clans went to their paths.
There was some idle time at the fire- though not mis-spent as the prison ministry had offerings to the dead from those who are unable to attend because of where they reside.
The clans started to return and one of the moments that I was dreading arrived- keep the people entertained whilst waiting for all to return from the other side of the veil. So I started with a story (and if you heard the story, it was a true story- the sailor was me!) and asked if anyone else had something to share. Crom Dubh (one of our godforms) stepped forward and told a lovely creation myth, libraryraven and others shared songs from the venerable SJ Tucker,and photopagan told a tale of getting arrested by Canadian border guards (ask him, not me!).
We honored and released the dead. And was it just me, but did it seem as though practically everyone in attendance had someone to release this year? Or was it because I had a different perspective of things this year?
The godforms departed and, we the Druids, closed the veil. Big sigh of relief- let's go devoke. This is the first time I have ever had problems coming back into my appropriate state of mind- I think primarily because I had to keep "one foot in this realm and one foot in the other" while the ritual was being performed and the sheer number of people remembering their beloved dead built a lot of energy that I was unaware of as being there. I found myself crying as I devoked and this huge lump of unresolved something in my chest. After an assist from leeotch13 and being ordered by TJ to get some food- which helped immensely- I was feeling much better.
Beads and cords proceeded after dinner and I got my five year bead. Wow! I have been with the ATC this long?!? Sigh.... How quickly time passes.
Sunday- Packed our shit, offered the last of my gift to the Fey for the lovely ritual weather, closing circle and GTFO right after Brenda handed back the work duty deposits. Ok, so not quite..... There was one young lady still standing around after everyone else had left. Her husband was supposed to be coming to pick her up, but he was nowhere to be seen. So Brenda and I got her over to the Ranger's house and she called hubby and arranged to meet him in Anacortes. We got her to the ferry safe and sound and made sure that she was picked up before we headed home ourselves.
Thank you one all with whom I worked this weekend- cast or attendee. You guys all make this so worth the time and effort.
And now to find my monologue for SMF auditions. (Already? eep!)
The weekend went very well. Arrived early Friday for Brenda to set up registration- which by all accounts went smoothly. The first of the offerings to the Fey and the beginning of what I will simply refer to as the Festival of the Walking Wounded. More than a couple of people (myself included) slipped and twisted some part of their body.
Saturday- Despite offerings to the Fey asking for nice weather we became a bit concerned at one point when not only did it start raining, but there was the attendant thunder and lightning followed by hail and (according to at least one person) snow(!). I threatened (as I am certain many others did as well) to withhold the rest of my offering should this crap continue. Needless to say, by the time we were ready to kick off the ritual things had cleared up quite nicely and the evening was incredibly beautiful.
Main Event! By the time we were actually invoked I was still having pre-performance jitters up to and including the fear of dropping a line or forgetting some other equally important bit. I stood by the fire and waited for the masses to come from the dining hall so I could delivered my purification speech at the fire. (As close to a shrine scene as I have ever gotten and I am very pleased that it went well.) The call to Hecate was beautifully performed by the attendees (although I admit to shuddering at one point as someone said, in a voice that sounded just a bit angry, "Hecate, we call you out!" This immediately brought forth images of Hecate coming out ready to fight and since
1_wolfsong was Hecate I could actually see her coming out ready to fight!) The veil was parted and the clans went to their paths.
There was some idle time at the fire- though not mis-spent as the prison ministry had offerings to the dead from those who are unable to attend because of where they reside.
The clans started to return and one of the moments that I was dreading arrived- keep the people entertained whilst waiting for all to return from the other side of the veil. So I started with a story (and if you heard the story, it was a true story- the sailor was me!) and asked if anyone else had something to share. Crom Dubh (one of our godforms) stepped forward and told a lovely creation myth, libraryraven and others shared songs from the venerable SJ Tucker,and photopagan told a tale of getting arrested by Canadian border guards (ask him, not me!).
We honored and released the dead. And was it just me, but did it seem as though practically everyone in attendance had someone to release this year? Or was it because I had a different perspective of things this year?
The godforms departed and, we the Druids, closed the veil. Big sigh of relief- let's go devoke. This is the first time I have ever had problems coming back into my appropriate state of mind- I think primarily because I had to keep "one foot in this realm and one foot in the other" while the ritual was being performed and the sheer number of people remembering their beloved dead built a lot of energy that I was unaware of as being there. I found myself crying as I devoked and this huge lump of unresolved something in my chest. After an assist from leeotch13 and being ordered by TJ to get some food- which helped immensely- I was feeling much better.
Beads and cords proceeded after dinner and I got my five year bead. Wow! I have been with the ATC this long?!? Sigh.... How quickly time passes.
Sunday- Packed our shit, offered the last of my gift to the Fey for the lovely ritual weather, closing circle and GTFO right after Brenda handed back the work duty deposits. Ok, so not quite..... There was one young lady still standing around after everyone else had left. Her husband was supposed to be coming to pick her up, but he was nowhere to be seen. So Brenda and I got her over to the Ranger's house and she called hubby and arranged to meet him in Anacortes. We got her to the ferry safe and sound and made sure that she was picked up before we headed home ourselves.
Thank you one all with whom I worked this weekend- cast or attendee. You guys all make this so worth the time and effort.
And now to find my monologue for SMF auditions. (Already? eep!)