Wow. It's been awhile since I wrote on here. My friend Sophie encouraged me to keep going with it so here I am.
What can I say about Pagan Spirit Gathering? Wow. Awesome experience. Wonderful people. Great workshops. The music was a whole experience in itself. Tuatha Dea was hands down my favorite of the weekend. Followed by Damh the Bard. There were many other great musicians there that I really didn't get to hear since I only went for the weekend. Next year I'll go all week.
I attended four workshops and all of them were great. Shauna Aura and a new friend named River gave a great workshop on chanting. You can never know too many chants. lol Margot Adler did a workshop that was a ritual completely done in chants. What an awesome lady she is. All of these people are truly wonderful to behold.
The late night drumming/dancing I was able to stay awake for was an experience all in itself. There were those sitting on the side drumming, those dancing and some taking turns doing both. Or maybe just sitting and tapping your leg, holding the space and enjoying just being there. Whatever you chose to do the energy was great and it was a wonderful experience.
But I think the most important part for me was the "community" feel of it. Prior to PSG the largest gathering of Pagans I had been to was St Louis Pagan Picnic. The picnic is wonderful and they do a great job. But to actually "live" in a space with other Pagans was something I have never experienced. Selena Fox and everyone else involved does such a great job of organizing this. I am just blown away. Coming home, even after just spending the weekend, was an adjustment. I thought the clothing optional thing would be a major culture shock for me but it really wasn't. After about the first half hour I was over it and it just seemed natural. While I am not brave enough to shed my clothes I did admire those that did. Cause it was just hot. I did not experience one rude person there all weekend which in itself is an amazing thing. People were so helpful and nice. Everyone. If only our mundane world was like that. Alcohol is allowed but it was drug free. We were high on life. I also noticed there were quite a few older people at PSG. It makes me think about my age and where I'll be in ten years. But that's a subject for a different blog.
It got me to thinking about our Pagan "community" back home. Why are we all so split. I think maybe part of the problem (and I include myself in this) is that we don't respect each other's differences and difference of opinions enough. Why can't we all have our "tribes" but some together for events and community time? I tried a number of years ago to pull off a Pagan Pride Day in Peoria. There just wasn't enough interest to truly be able to pull it off. I still think Peoria is large enough to host one but somehow we need to drop the barrier between the difference groups. I've attended public events other groups have held. While they were very nice they just didn't have the community feel. I don't know how we get that. I will be thinking on it. I'm excited that a new Druid group is starting locally and will be a brother group to the Midwest Walkers of the Wheel. This is a start.
Blessings,
~Em~
