PSG Report: Morning meetings not to be missed

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Each day at Pagan Spirit Gathering attendees gather at the main ritual circle for the morning meeting.  Some of what happens is expected.  Notices about workshops changing locations or times are announced, reminders to shut the port-a-potty lids are mentioned, and musicians give attendees a taste of the evening concert.  But on any given day, the unexpected and deeply touching happens.

Pagans who currently serve or have served in the US Armed Forced are honored and given special service ribbons.  There were 30 Pagan veterans stood before a community chanting, “Thank you for your service.”  It wasn’t that long ago those same Pagans would have been looked on negatively for being in the Armed Forces.

Military Veterans and Active Duty members honored at PSG

A woman, recently finding out she has a painful and degenerative illness, asks for help and positive energy from the commuity.  Her voice becomes husky as she makes her request and the community responds instantly.  Tears sprang in the eyes of a woman near me in a demonstration of close empathy.

A mother holds her teen’s hand, explaining that she worked hard all year to earn money to spend at PSG and she has lost her bag containing the money.  A description is given of the bag and, based on past experience, there’s a better than even chance her bag and the money will turn up.

Margot Adler first sings a Solstice duet with Ruth Barrett and then talks about her research into the mythology of vampires.

These are just a few tidbits from this morning’s meeting.  Some of what happens is funny, some touching, or sweet.  Some of what is said is more raw or painful.  But like PSG itself, it is anything but your normal morning meeting.

PSG not immune to gender ritual controversy

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Pagan Spirit Gathering, an annual summer camping festival, brings Pagans from across multiple traditions, philosophies, and faiths together since 1980. This diversity, while celebratory, is not immune to controversy. This year, theological disputes about the place of transgendered people in gender-based rituals have traveled to PSG from the Pantheacon conferences of 2011 and 2012.  The source of conflict at Pantheacon, and now at PSG, comes from two different community ethics:  the value of groups to lead rituals according to the guidelines of their specific tradition and the idea that large group ritual shouldn’t exclude attendees.

On Wednesday night at PSG, a Dianic ritual for “women who bleed, will bleed, or have bled our sacred bloods” was held at the same time as the mens Solstice ritual.  It’s goal was to celebrate women and honor the mythic cycle of the Goddess as she transitions from Maiden to fertile Mother.  Another women’s ritual, to be held on Friday night, is open to any who self-idenity as female.

Although some persons contacted PSG prior to the start of the festival to voice their concern about the Dianic ritual, unlike Pantheacon, no protest was held before, during or after the ritual.  PSG leadership says they are in productive discussion with interested parties present at the festival.

At the Thursday morning meeting, while standing with supportive community members, PSG attendee Melissa read a statement to the community.  It read, “Sisters, Brothers, Tribe.  Today I rise as a woman and ask you to bear witness to my pain.  As a tribe any wound is inflicted on all of us.  My pain today is caused by my exclusion from the main women’s ritual.  It flows from an event occuring in the very community where we all expect to find accectance, love and understanding.  Yesterday I stood invisible, excluded and in tears as a result of this exclusion,  Today I do not seek easy answers, there are none.  I do not seek protest or debate, only the acceptance of my community and acknowledgement of my pain.  Today I ask you to understand that as a trans woman I stand within the ocean of love that is PSG.  My only call to my sisters and brothers is to be included in what we all enjoy as a community – acceptance.”

After Melissa read her statement, Rev. Selena Fox thanked her and said she was happy people felt comfortable sharing such emotional feedback with the community during the daily morning meeting.  She then invited Melissa and others in the community who needed healing to stand in the middle of the ritual circle so the community could send them healing and positive energy.  It’s not unusual for attendees to voice concerns or make requests for healing at the daily morning meeting.

PSG leadership and interested festival attendees said they are not on a side nor do they want conflict.   They are participating in a series of open and private discussions taking place through the end of this week.  Rev. Fox said, “PSG is always evolving.”  All parties are withholding further comment until Saturday.

Pagan Spirit Gathering 2012

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Quick notes from PSG2012.

The weather has finally broke.  After mid-90 degree temperatures and high winds during the start of the festival, we have cooler weather on the way.  We also have rain on the way this morning.  Most attendees have kept cool by swimming in the pond of the creek, but cases of heat exhaustion and sunburns have kept the medical volunteers busy.  We’ve had a few PNC staff needing light medical attention due to heat, but they were quickly assisted and are doing well.

Attendance is record breaking.  We don’t have the official count yet, but over 1000 people are attending PSG.  The tents are tightly packed together, but attendees I’ve spoken with say they are happy with the increased numbers.  “The more people that ‘come home’ to PSG the better,” said one festivant.

The workshops, concerts, and rituals ahve been going smoothly and mostly on time.  PNC will have more coverage of offerings in later PSG reports along with interviews and features.

 

Follow the Moon: Astrology of intention and mindfulness

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by Teri Parsley Starnes

Teri’s interest with astrology lies with helping people see how following a practice of intention and self-awareness leads to a fuller relationship with Mystery. Astrology is a wonderful tool for this. Her weekly column orients readers to the seasonal energy of
each month’s Sun sign in order to set magical/mindful intention for the lunar month beginning at the New Moon.

Each week Teri will write about the unfolding energies that support and challenge our intentions. The ebb and flow of the lunar cycle resides deep in our souls. Through following the phases of the Moon, we remember the natural cycles that guide us.

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