Heartland Pagan Festival Experience, Part One

Heartland Pagan Festival Experience, Part One May 25, 2015

by manaphoto-stock on deviant art used with permission
by manaphoto-stock on deviant art
used with permission

What to even write?  I feel as if it’s almost impossible to describe in words what I experienced at Heartland Pagan Festival this past weekend.  It was my first big Pagan festival, the first time I’d gathered together with more than 40 people who self-identified somewhere under the Pagan umbrella.  The atmosphere of such a place – a place where I could be who I was without any reservations, without pausing to assess the possible ramifications of my words about spirituality or religion.  A place where I could just dig in and discuss topics with anyone, where open-mindedness and acceptance were the rule rather than the exception.  It was an intensely validating experience.

First, I’d like to take a moment to say how amazing the Gaea Youth program was.  I had my seven year old daughter with me, and I can count on one hand the amount of times she complained of being bored – a monumental feat that I’m not sure has ever happened before!  Every hour of workshop space was also filled with an activity or craft for the children, each day had the theme of a separate culture, and each activity was well-designed and well-executed.  The volunteers at the Gaea Youth tent were amazing, and I couldn’t be more appreciative of their hard work both before, during, and after the festival.

Friday, I attended T. Thorn Coyle’s Practical Magic workshop, and I was so impressed by her.  I was aware of her of course, as a follower of the general Pagan blogosphere, but I must admit I hadn’t taken the time to follow or read much of her work.  The workshop focused on manifesting what we desire, and as a person with some background in the Golden Dawn and high magic, I found her paradigm built on Eliphas Levi’s work to be familiar and yet highly innovative in a very compelling way.  I also was lucky to attend a workshop by local Nebraska Pagan Kalisara, Embracing the Dark.  It set a bit of a theme for the weekend for me – learning to embrace and work with my many flaws rather than trying to discount them, fix them, or push them aside.

That night, my friend and my daughter and I had the privilege to listen to Ginger Doss and Lynda Millard in concert, which was inspiring.  I must admit that I’ve never been a big Pagan music listener; but experiencing it live has given it a remarkable magic for me that returns even as I listen to the CD here at home.  Afterwards, the bonfire started – and oh, what a fire it was.  I have always felt a magic in music and dance, and experiencing that magic in a place with hundreds of people dancing and drumming and purposefully raising that energy was transformative.  That dance still flickers within me like a flame that will not go out.  It was a flame I sorely needed, an energy and a life that my spirit desperately wanted to be filled back up after recent months that have been so draining for me personally.

Saturday morning, we woke up early – the perils of camping with a little one!  My daughter and I made time to sneak off to one of the fairy circles, sacred spaces that are scattered all around Camp Gaea, and perform our daily devotionals.  Even this simple, everyday exercise was so different in this new land, this place where the land spirits are regularly recognized and offered to, where the Gods are called on and hailed.  Afterwards, I attended a morning meditation led by Daniel Scharpenburg, that provided some necessary silence and centering after such intense feelings I experienced the night before and in the fairy circle that morning.

That afternoon, Kalisara presented another wonderful workshop entitled Introverts and Energy, which was so fascinating and also very helpful.  I am very much an introvert that pretends to be an extrovert – I put myself out into the community in a way that can be very draining at times.  In this collaborative workshop, many great ideas for refilling that well of energy were presented; my personal favorite was creating a space that is yours and yours alone to use as an energy sink, where you can go and recharge much more quickly.

Afterwards, I attended Thorn’s second workshop, On Leadership.  As one of my local communities approaches a crossroads as one leader steps aside, I find myself working to improve as a leader so that my roles and efforts in the various groups I am a part of can be more helpful and effective; Thorn’s workshop focused on the Pentacle of Leadership and was so helpful in identifying areas in which I could improve.

Saturday night, SJ Tucker played a wonderful, magical concert.  Unfortunately, the rain also began pouring down about this time (despite liberal offerings to Thunor the morning we left)!  There was no bonfire that night for the main ritual, but it was still so intense with elaborate costuming and a beautiful chant.  I received a token, a message from the Gods, telling me to remain strong and true to who I was. Not to be deterred by the rain, the drummers and dancers gathered under the pavilion to make merry after the ritual.  It was another very powerful night, the beat of the drums and the movement of the dancers merging into my spirit.

In Part Two of this series, I’ll talk about my experience Sunday, including my own presentation and ritual!


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