tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042413503017463795.post1384079102547795413..comments2024-03-28T20:51:06.948-07:00Comments on threads of the spiderwoman: Sirius Rising endsLauren Rainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12157367890138761677noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042413503017463795.post-1030175350111992092015-07-28T08:01:29.620-07:002015-07-28T08:01:29.620-07:00My friends and I left instead of walking the labyr...My friends and I left instead of walking the labyrinth. Too many people in a small space. Instead I went the next morning at dawn and had a quiet walk by myself. Some of the candles were still lit and it was misty and peaceful.<br />I will also add that over the past eight years I've had more than ten deaths in my family and became quite spiritually and emotionally numb for it all. This festival, the rituals and workshops helped me unblock that energy. I had a wonderful experience this year.Ailim Hazelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02003380123222994587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042413503017463795.post-1036345379615731072013-09-04T07:58:53.239-07:002013-09-04T07:58:53.239-07:00Thanks for your comments, and sorry indeed that it...Thanks for your comments, and sorry indeed that it's taken me a while to see that there were pending comments. I see that I've misunderstood some of the history of Sirius Rising (thanks Roy), and am glad for the commentary which adds to the dialogue. Even if I've offended some people with my response to the Spirit Rising ritual, I'm glad that it's sparked a bit of controversy, because I believe controversy is what is often useful to provoke creativity.<br /><br />Best wishes to all.Lauren Rainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12157367890138761677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042413503017463795.post-46268206583074962682013-08-25T08:41:40.568-07:002013-08-25T08:41:40.568-07:00It is time for the Community to do more “work” at ...It is time for the Community to do more “work” at these rituals---personal work, working at understanding, and grasping the ideas presented—and not just spectate….the real satisfaction is that MOST of the Community come prepared to work and improve and grow spiritually. THAT is why we do these, and each year we have required a little more of that from those who attend….hence the concept of finding one’s own wisdom and way, without spoon feeding…it’s time for folks to THINK…..I am a BIG believer in that---frankly, I think that is one of the most satisfying things about Paganism---thinking. That was one of the lessons the Spirit ritual was teaching for those who chose to see. The Labyrinth was a two-way “street” this year…folks going in and out at the same time….to me it represented that while we may all be on the Path to Wisdom, we are all going at our own pace, in our own way, and some have completed some of their training, while some are obviously just beginning….it is a beautiful thing.<br />I truly believe that the laughter and joy on the faces of those who traversed the Labyrinth was a most beautiful and transcendent vision…..laughter is one of the best ways to build Community---who can help but respond to a smile with a smile? And again, my Deities delight in laughter at ritual---not that there is not a time for solemnity, but I always thought Paganism (using the most inclusive label), was a spirituality of joy and happiness---if I wanted all seriousness, all the time, I would be a Catholic…;-) It is somewhat disheartening to learn that there are still some who think we need to be so serious and solemn….I dearly love to laugh! ;-) (with apologies to Jane Austen).<br />Sorry if you were confused by the Spirit ritual—though I am not sure why—the instructions were clear to me, even though I heard them for the first time on that Friday night, along with everyone else—they keep the Spirit event pretty secret, even from those of us who plan…but I stood at the West entrance, as did Gretchen Schorck (as she always does), and we repeated the instructions to those entering….”Candles on your right to go in, on your left to go out”. <br />Doing a singular, stand-alone ritual is easy---telling a week-long story with a point and a lesson or two for those who choose to attend all the rituals, is not easy; but for those of us who plan all year long, and spend much of our vacations and odd weekends off working to provide the best experience for all, it is well worth the effort. We are well aware not everyone will ever be satisfied, every year. Most people got it. As usual, we will all work harder to convey the message more effectively next year. Those who attend, need to promise to try to do the work…that is what Community is all about.<br /> Thanks for your attention.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16957336103486742419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042413503017463795.post-37531810430632769102013-08-25T08:40:58.047-07:002013-08-25T08:40:58.047-07:00The Spirit folks are excellent at taking construct...The Spirit folks are excellent at taking constructive suggestions and working to make things better. The Stewards appreciate your comments, too. Be aware, however, that while the ritual may not have worked for YOU, it did for many others… you can speak for yourself, but others who attended all the rituals might have a different viewpoint.<br />However, there are some errors I feel need addressing---no one has ever “led” anyone in or out of the Labyrinth---the entrance has always been in the West, where Frank and I have stood for 10 years—trust me, I can tell you, there has never been a “leader” in or out of it, as the point is for folks to enter and leave as they will---be that right after the ritual, or come back later, as it is lit all night, for those who prefer a more solitary progression. The fact that I or Frank and I are sometimes the first in has more to do with us standing right there than that anyone leads anyone anywhere----this kind of implies the Community has a difficult time taking action on their own, which I have never found to be the case! ;-) <br />The porta-johns are nowhere near the Labyrinth itself, as they are across the road from the path that leads either to the Ancestor mound or the circle which encloses the Labyrinth….to be here you imply they sit, would put them in the middle of the area where the Mickeys play! <br />This was Frank’s vision—Roy only facilitated it, and it was my understanding that Dave Guzman actually was the one who chose the site for the Labyrinth….<br />Change is not always easy…it requires work on the part of those who engineer the change and on the part of those the change is presented to. The rituals that were done as a series---a week-long “passion play”. If you missed most of them and then attended the last, it would not have made sense--- I was not aware you attended all of the rituals.<br /> (Part 2 to follow)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16957336103486742419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042413503017463795.post-78067424101973075472013-08-25T01:13:31.988-07:002013-08-25T01:13:31.988-07:00Lauren, I should correct you on one important poin...Lauren, I should correct you on one important point about Sirius Rising. The original idea for the festival was Frank Barney's. I was part of the group that worked out the rough design of the event and took the lead on organizing it for the first eight seasons.<br /><br />You can be forgiven for thinking it was "my festival" because I was doing most of the organizing pretty much single-handed but for the first few years, Sirius Rising was small enough that one person could do most of the work of producing the event unaided. By 2002, however, it was clear that Sirius Rising had grown to the point that my way of running things was no longer adequate. Also, I had an opportunity to go to grad school which meant I wouldn't have time to look after the festival properly. It was time for new leadership so I handed over everything I'd done to the Barneys so they could carry it forward.<br /><br />I deliberately stayed away from the festival for several years because I didn't want the fact that it had become so strongly identified with me to be an obstacle for whoever would be managing things after me. I came back during Sirius week in 2007 and have, since then, helped the family look after the campground during the festival; what Frank used to refer to as "general administration."Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17604485147007494462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042413503017463795.post-52762567867829207402013-08-24T22:27:10.994-07:002013-08-24T22:27:10.994-07:00Thanks for your comments. I have had great appreci...Thanks for your comments. I have had great appreciation for everything I participated in at the Festival in the past, and have documented a number of them in this blog. And I do appreciate the hard work people like yourself have put in. However, the spirit ritual did not work this year, and I left feeling as I wrote above. If those who created it, regardless of how much work they put into it, are unable to be discerning and accept criticism, then they will be unable to make it better and more meaningful in the future.Lauren Rainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12157367890138761677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042413503017463795.post-87775831455208130142013-08-24T22:13:08.213-07:002013-08-24T22:13:08.213-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Lauren Rainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12157367890138761677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042413503017463795.post-67112376991312745672013-08-24T19:21:57.581-07:002013-08-24T19:21:57.581-07:00oh, and btw... my gods/goddesses LOVE laughter... ...oh, and btw... my gods/goddesses LOVE laughter... I thought we were supposed to be joyful in our spirituality......I am surprised that laughter would bother anyone....perhaps you were not at the Water ritual we did that wound up being about play, and included squirty frogs and fishes, water balloons and water pistols! If ya can't have fun with your Deities, who the hell can ya have fun with? ;-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16957336103486742419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042413503017463795.post-67180082236135642512013-08-23T14:02:47.999-07:002013-08-23T14:02:47.999-07:00I guess you were unaware that the folks who have a...I guess you were unaware that the folks who have always led the Spirit Ritual WERE the ones who again,worked VERY hard and did a fabulous job again THIS year....The Spirit tribe, led by Ciaran, have always doen a fabulous job; each year moving the Community closer to having a bigger and more important role in the night of Spirit. 2 years ago, we (the Community) did the job of lighting the candles that illuminate the Labrynth...last year, we Stewards (my husband and I are the Stewards of the Water Shrine)held the elements so that folks could touch and receive blessings from each element.....<br />I am sorry for whatever confusion you may have experienced---the directions seemed really clear to me ( and no===for Spirit, we Stewards do not know any more than the "crowd" does. Having access to any and all points of the Labrynth gave us all a much more challenging walk.....<br />btw... ALL the "tribes" do their very best to provide a meaningful and spiritual experience for all--- I have actually been criticized for doing "real magic" in public....frankly---that is all I do---if I am not gonna do the real stuff, I am NOT gonna get my butt out of my chair, put down my Guinness, and move to a ritual area! It would not be worth it for the Community. Sorry for your disappointment, but my Mom always taught me that you will only get out of an experience what you are willing to put into it---maybe you should volunteer to help.<br />Cate Dalton, Water Steward, Brushwood Folklore Center.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16957336103486742419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042413503017463795.post-71046361767516709772013-07-23T18:16:14.756-07:002013-07-23T18:16:14.756-07:00This all sounds fantastic! You can just feel the e...This all sounds fantastic! You can just feel the energy radiating from these pictures. Trish and Rob MacGregorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02846270474176860924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042413503017463795.post-70929444660472991322013-07-22T14:04:53.606-07:002013-07-22T14:04:53.606-07:00Oh, I have experienced this waaaay too often. Folk...Oh, I have experienced this waaaay too often. Folks thinking that ritual IS a performance and not knowing a thing about working with energy or leadership in general. This sounds REALLY deplorable, however... yikes!!!Valeriannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02621130622153365184noreply@blogger.com