{"id":10159,"date":"2018-07-17T03:00:24","date_gmt":"2018-07-17T09:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/johnbeckett\/?p=10159"},"modified":"2018-07-16T18:38:20","modified_gmt":"2018-07-17T00:38:20","slug":"15-random-thoughts-from-mystic-south","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/johnbeckett\/2018\/07\/15-random-thoughts-from-mystic-south.html","title":{"rendered":"15 Random Thoughts From Mystic South"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Unlike last year<\/a> where the hotel air conditioning malfunction created a clear focus for the event, this year there was no central theme to the Mystic South conference in Atlanta. So I\u2019m just going to list my thoughts and observations from the weekend.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Mystic South is one of the best organized, best run Pagan gatherings I\u2019ve encountered. And I say that both as a presenter and as a participant. It wasn\u2019t perfect, but the logistics were good and the content was excellent. I think I went to more presentations than at any conference in years. And the informal conversations were awesome.<\/li>\n
  2. I wish I could have gone to more presentations. I\u2019m thankful for the large Denton contingent who divided up and took notes for each other.<\/li>\n
  3. I appreciate The Wild Hunt throwing a meet and greet on Thursday night. I also appreciate their understanding when I had to leave because their suite got too crowded for my claustrophobia. Star Bustamonte\u2019s (mostly) quiet room and good Irish whiskey made for a welcome retreat. Thanks, Star!<\/li>\n
  4. The Morrigan Devotional Ritual was intended to wake some people up, to kick people who are dozing out of bed, and to call those who are awake to action. I heard from people in all three groups who are starting to move. Blessings to you as you answer Her call<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  5. I also heard from people who didn\u2019t attend the Morrigan ritual because they\u2019re running from the Great Queen. While most times She will take no for an answer, that doesn\u2019t mean She won\u2019t keep asking. But at some point She\u2019ll run out of patience and withdraw Her offer (or possibly claim you forcibly). And your opportunity for a life-altering experience will be gone forever. The choice is yours (probably), but choose wisely.\"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. I can\u2019t tell you how great it felt to not only facilitate a devotional ritual to a Goddess to whom I am oathed at a major conference, but to do it with a full ritual team of friends and co-religionists from Texas. Many thanks to Erik Kolderup, Ruth Gibbs, Gabrielle Milburn, Morgan Milburn, Lauren Mart, and Cynthia Talbot. We performed a service for our community and for the Battle Raven, and we learned a few things ourselves.<\/li>\n
  7. I really appreciated the personal stories of high strangeness in The Shredded Veil workshop. Every single one was presented in a completely factual manner. Never let anyone tell you that your experiences didn\u2019t happen. We can argue about what caused them and what they mean, but that they happened is undeniable. Tell your stories \u2013 we all need to hear them.<\/li>\n
  8. It was great to finally meet Morgan Daimler in person. Her scholarship and stories are even better in person than in writing. Wish we could have had a private conversation about a certain mutual acquaintance among the Fair Folk, but we were both incredibly busy. Maybe next time.<\/li>\n
  9. If I pronounce a word one way and Morgan Daimler pronounces it another, there is a 99% chance she\u2019s right and I\u2019m wrong.\"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
  10. It\u2019s a privilege to watch Ivo Dominguez Jr. teach. He knows his material and he knows how to present it. He reminds me of how far I have to go as a teacher, and he shows me how to get there. If you ever have the opportunity to attend one of Ivo\u2019s classes, take it, even if you think you don\u2019t care about the subject. Before it\u2019s over, you will.<\/li>\n
  11. The Anomalous Thracian isn\u2019t everyone\u2019s cup of tea. He\u2019s loud, profane, and there is no subject about which he doesn\u2019t have a strong opinion. I found myself at odds with him on at least two occasions. And I don\u2019t care. He raises important issues and challenges me to think more deeply than I otherwise would. I\u2019m not going to comment on his \u201cTheistic Orientation\u201d presentation until the paper is published, but I will have much to say about it once it is. It\u2019s important work for the polytheist movement.<\/li>\n
  12. I wish the entire Pagan community could have heard the Pagan Media panel discussion, especially the part about the difference between journalism and blogging. We have different goals, different methods, and different standards. I wish the folks at Fox News (and for that matter, at MSNBC) could have heard it too.\n

    \"\"<\/a>
    The Pagan Media Panel: Nathan Hall, Heron Michelle, John Beckett, Stacy Psaros, and Star Bustamonte. Photo by Marla Roberson.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p><\/li>\n
  13. I will treasure the kind words many people said about my writing. I write because my Gods tell me to write and because I have something to say, not for the flattering comments. But they\u2019re very nice to hear. Thank you.<\/li>\n
  14. There were several conversations I intended to have and never did, or started and got interrupted. I wish there had been time for more. If one of them was you, feel free to pick it up by email. It\u2019s not the same, but it\u2019s better than waiting till next July.<\/li>\n
  15. I\u2019ll definitely be back next year. Mystic South is a great event, and for a hotel-based conference it\u2019s reasonably priced. If you can afford the money and time off from work, I strongly encourage you to go.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    The second Mystic South conference was even better than the first, and not just because the hotel air conditioning stayed on the whole time. Here are my thoughts and observations from a wonderful weekend.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1129,"featured_media":10174,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[272],"tags":[323,227,577,29,1268,4,5,8],"class_list":["post-10159","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community-2","tag-anomalous-thracian","tag-ivo-dominguez-jr","tag-morgan-daimler","tag-morrigan","tag-mystic-south","tag-pagan","tag-paganism","tag-polytheism"],"yoast_head":"\n15 Random Thoughts From Mystic South<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The second Mystic South conference was even better than the first, and not just because the hotel air conditioning stayed on the whole time. 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