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Blot for Frey and Freya (from CSQ 05)
So what really happens at a Pagan gathering? What witchery and spells are performed? What evil goings on occur under the full moon at midnight? What ancient wicked knowledge is shared and learned? What rites are practiced? If you have the courage, read on to see some of the inner workings of a long time Pagan organization and its members. If you dare, click on the Photos From an Actual Heathen Ritual! link above to see photos from an actual Pagan Rite.
I do want to proudly point out that out of 83 or so participants at Carolina Spirit Quest this year, four were public school teachers. Here are three witch teachers. Al is an EC teacher in Winston-Salem and I talked Aurora (middle) into going for her National Certification, that’s me on the right.
The first other worldly thing you had to do upon entering the sacred area was… register. Pick up your registration packet; figure out which cabin you were staying in and slep your stuff to your abode for the weekend. I mean… er… sign your name in blood in The Book, then lug your Cauldron to your shack using only your magic broom and your back (for those of you with no imagination, anything in italics is meant sarcastically, except the words to chants!).
On the way, you can add personal items to the Community Altar, if you want to. I brought tiny statues of Kwan Yin, a Buddha celebrating abundance, and, of course, Kali.
Next, settle in, change into comfortable clothes and get back in time to meet and greet old friends and new and eat. Oh, darn it! I mean… don your enchanted raiment and talismans, then join the group to partake of finely cooked and spiced flesh and vegetables. This just is not sounding scary, is it?
Here’s a clearer photo of the witch teachers attending.
OK, OK, but the next part really is. After the opening Ritual, where we set sacred space so others will not harm us, after dark, in the light of the moon… we get together… and play drums!!!
Ok, so that wasn’t too weird and strange, either. I know, how about this? There was a workshop about Vodou (also known as Voodoo) and since I know very little about it, I went to learn what is was all about. Wouldn’t it be great if others who know nothing about a subject (maybe, oh, I don’t know, Paganism???) actually learned about the Path BEFORE they started opening their mouths and showing the world their lack of knowledge?
Basically, the foundation of Vodou is this… get ready for the absolute horror of supernatural possession and zombies… It is a religion that began in Africa and is now dominant in Haiti. It has several basic concepts that all surround the main belief of service of the Spirit. There is one God. The central characteristic of Vodou is healing people and service to the Spirit. The best way to serve Spirit is to be a “good child.” By acting in a manner that is in the benefit of the Spirit, yourself, the community and others, you are being a good child. Mmm… doesn’t sound like the movies I’ve seen about it at all. Could it be that there is a deeper and more beautiful religious belief than what has been portrayed by the entertainment industry?
Surely there will be something unearthly in the Astronomy workshop… and there was! It was about the other planets, not just about earth (so, “unearthly…” come on… not on the earth?). Mostly what I got out of it is more emphasis on cycles. Throughout history there have been long cycles; war, peace, deception, depression, wealth, etc. Seems that this fellow could point out similar planetary alignments in the very same cycles… could be something to it.
But there were, of course, wonderful vendors there selling lots of really cool stuff. Ritual robes of every color (we don’t always wear black, you know!), tools, jewelry, beautiful pottery and art, even gorgeous hair pins (almost got a couple).
Well, at least we had a very Pagan main Ritual Saturday night. I was asked to be a small part of it and called Southeast; those magicians that shape the world through inspiration and divination. The main heart of the Ritual involved the “transformational power of Our Hands and Our Hearts in our personal lives, our sacred community and the larger world. Our hands impact the world in many ways—as healers, educators, caregivers, activists, environmentalists, philosophers and magic-users. Our hearts have many and varied responses to the voices and actions of the community—compassion, anger, dismay, sadness, joy, passion and wonder. Have we kept our hands and hearts in sync? How do our actions influence our feelings, and how do our feelings influence our actions?” (words from the Ritual created by Tamia)
Building Bridges
Building bridges, between our divisions
I reach out to you and you reach out to me.
With all of our voices and all of our visions,
Brothers we can make such a sweet harmony.
Sisters we can make such a sweet harmony.
So… nothing reprehensible yet. But, oh, wait… the herbology workshop should have something… an ugly old crone cackling over poisonous herbs used to harm others and make them do her will perhaps??
The Herbs for Women workshop was presented by Kathy, hardly an ugly cackling crone (although I have heard her cackle once or twice). And power over others? Nope. Power to understand and live in more harmony with our own bodies, yes!
Ancient plant wisdom has become modern mega businesses. We learned about such exotic herbs like Red Raspberry leaves for a uterine tonic and having an easier birthing process, Red Clover to relieve some menopausal and perimenopausal experiences and Ginseng to help our bodies deal with stress and fatigue and enhance our immune function. Dong Quai helps to balance the menstrual cycle and relieves cramps. Black Cohosh reduces levels of LH and can be an alternative to hormone replacement therapy. For those of you that are going “yuck, menstruation!” Remember that this was a workshop about Herbs for Women!
So, again, nothing so very strange here, either. Although… she did mention that if you put essential oil on the bottom of your feet, you’ll taste it within 4 minutes—I’m going to try that one out.
We did find a little frog just after the workshop. Being the witches we are we immediately snipped off its tiny little toes to make our brew with… oh, come on, you didn’t fall for that one, did you??? We released it gently further back into the woods so no one would accidentally step on it.
I did get to see many friends I had not seen in a long time. Lance and I have done several Rituals together and used to hang out before I moved to Boone. He is this year’s CSQ Co-Director (with Cynthia). Bill is not just one of the very best cooks I have ever met, but a truly knowledgeable and experienced Druid. And Danny… well, Danny is… kind of… a little… mmm… I think of him as a Rune Master and an informed and educated heathen. Jag was the head of security for our event (keeping us safe from the mundanes) and was elected to the CSQ Board.
So what did we do when we weren’t in workshops, buying from the vendors, in Ritual, drumming, dancing or sleeping? Ah, finally some abnormal behavior that non-Pagans can point out to find fault with us for… we played games. Chess, card games, board games, Uno, etc.
So… I guess it was simply a wonderful, deeply spiritual, fun, recharging experience. Here are two chants we ended with that pretty much sum up the weekend:
Dear Friend
Dear friend, dear friend,
Let me tell you how I feel.
You have given me your treasures,
I love you so.
Go Now In Peace
Go now in peace, go now in peace,
May the beauty of love surround you,
Everywhere, everywhere
You… may… go.
