Tag: Pagan Spirit Gathering

Epilogue – After the interview, and PSG – Melissa Murry

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After she returned home, Melissa sent me this statement, upon further experience and reflection:

Melissa Murry:

After the press event and while reading the response from the Pagan community at large who are affected by this, it remains clear that there is still confusion, pain, and healing that needs to be done. I am overwhelmed by the support of Ruth and myself. This shows to me that while we can come from different perspectives and beliefs there is a common ground. And while we don’t have to all agree with one another, that common ground can be a starting point for laying a foundation. That is what happened after this interview when Ruth and I spoke at length for hours. The conversation centered on misunderstanding, miscommunication, hurt, and healing around this event.

I finally began understanding where Ruth was coming from in regards to her perspective. I want to thank her for her time, voice, and passion. She told me that this was the first time a trans-woman had sat down with her and really talked to her about these issues in this way.

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Two PSG Women Speak About Inclusiveness in Public Ritual – Interviews

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I spoke with Melissa Murry late Friday afternoon at PSG, after her workshop presentation. This was her second year at the Pagan Spirit Gathering [PSG], her first year was a joyful experience.  She was concerned with the advance website ritual listing, though it was unclear then that it was a ‘main’ ritual. She expressed to Selena in advance of PSG that this was serious enough to consider canceling her registration.  Selena helped her schedule a late submission workshop on transgendered history in response.

*Note, from the PSG website:  [ A Dianic Women’s Ritual for Summer Solstice – Ruth Barrett

As a community of women who bleed, will bleed, or have bled our sacred bloods, we celebrate the Summer Solstice in a Dianic ritual that celebrates ourselves and honors the mythic cycle of the Goddess as She transitions from Maiden to fertile Mother/ Amazon/ Creatrix/ Manifester/ Maker. She uses her sacred uterine bloods to manifest tangible and intangible reality. We, in Her image celebrate our ability to heal, transform, and create our lives in this season of Her sacred fire. The ritual will also include a working around female reproductive rights. Think about in advance: As Creatrix in your own life, how do you use your sacred bloods? How do you feed and tend your creative fire? In honor of our sacred bloods and the summer solstice, please wear red as all or a part of your ritual garb. Bring drums and percussion toys if you have them. This ritual is for female born and raised women and girls. Facilitated by Ruth Barrett and women of the PSG community. ]

Melissa Murry at PSG Press Conference
photo: Bob Paxton / Circle Sanctuary

What led you to call Circle Sanctuary?
Melissa: I was concerned with the terminology used in the description of the Women’s Ritual as for women who  bleed, who have bled, or who will bleed. That is the definition that was used, but that does not define all cisgender women.  It is new definition that was created and used after Pantheacon to narrowly define the definition of women while the term “woman” is a broad term used in our culture to define self identified women. This is used to inadvertently define cisgender women, and it can be offensive because that use excludes trans-women who identify as women also.

Is it an unclear definition, what is there about it that causes concern?
The definition of that ritual was excluding women from PSG, but in the description for the ritual it was put forward as created and for all the women of PSG. I felt that there was an invisibility that was going to be created for transgendered women, like myself, who don’t fall within that definition.

So you objected to the limiting and exclusive definition of who the ritual was for, combined with the reference to the inclusive language describing a ‘community of women”.
Yes. I contacted Selena through the PSG website. Several people talked to me and eventually Selena called me, and we had over a four-hour conversation about the matter.  I can speak to what I took away from the conversation, but there was some confusion over the concern.  I understood the Pagan spirit Gathering was an inclusive event, and felt the exclusion of  a group of  women was not in line with the spirit of PSG.  Nor was it in accord with the values I believed Circle Sanctuary to have.

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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.

Zoning secured, PSG continues at Stonehouse Park

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Pagan Spirit Gathering still has its festival location – but according to the DeKalb County  Board, they (and any other people attending festivals at the park)  better behave.

From the DeKalb Illinois Daily Chronicle:

“The DeKalb County Board voted Wednesday to keep Stonehouse Park open with a “short leash” attached.

County Board members voted, 13-8, in favor of the permit, but they warned owners that even a single violation could lead to revocation. Paul Miller, director of DeKalb County Planning and Zoning, said the board never has revoked a special-use permit in his 16 years, but if complaints from county law enforcement or neighbors warrant revocation, the board can take action.“

While the owners of Stonehouse Park had hoped to increase the number of people allowed in the park to 4000, a petition circulated by 200 DeKalb county residents asking the park be shut down ended that possibility.

Sharon Stewart, a Pagan who attended the zoning hearing, says that the permit passed in part thanks to local Pagan Spirit Gathering attendees speaking out.  “During the meetings I attended it became abundantly clear we needed local Pagans involved. So, John Dickerman, our Sacred Fire Keeper, Barbara Andree and Ana Bledschmidt with the Crone Temple of Wisdom, and Jim Bledschmidt who will be working with the Sages at PSG this summer came on board and their work was invaluable in this. Then at the meeting last night, my assistant Brian Sather and another local PSG’ers Shawn Skau and John’s wife Caroline were there in support.”

Along with attending meetings, Pagan stakeholders in the zoning hearing wrote letters, met face to face with board members, and worked with the Northern Illinois University Pagan student group to coordinate action through yet more letter writing and email campaigns.

Pagan Spirit Gathering looks to secure zoning permit – possible park closure

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Stonehouse Park, a campsite where Pagan Spirit Gathering (PSG) is scheduled to be held, has come under fire by local residents for loud music festivals and illegal activities.  None of the complaints or arrests have occurred during PSG.  The park could be shut down by the County Board if members agree with  DeKalb County’s Planning and Zoning Committee’s decision to deny the park owners’ permit request.   PSG is now seeking a “special zoning permit that would allow Pagan Spirit Gathering to be held at Stonehouse Park this year even if zoning processes currently underway are not resolved this Summer.”

Originally, the county was looking to reduce the number of people permitted at the park to just 500.  After the first public hearing, Stonehouse Park was hopeful the limit could be raised to 4000.  But those hopes were dashed when 200 residents signed a petition to shut down the park.  If the county zoning board agrees with the petition and denies renewal of the Park’s 2008 permit the property would revert back to Agriculture-1 zoning, which means no public use would be allowed.

Concerns voiced by community memebrs and law enforcement include loud music late at night, underage drinking, and arrests at two events last summer where witnesses say multiple people were selling and smoking marijuana.  Park owners say they have improved procedures at the park and have barred those two groups from Stonehouse Park.

This is not the first time PSG has faced uncertainty due to drug charges at a campground by other events not related to PSG.  In 2009, PSG moved to Camp Zoe in Missouri.  In November of 2010 Camp Zoe was shut down by federal authorities after a four-year-long investigation allegedly uncovered rampant drug use and sales on the property.    In 2011, PSG moved to Stonehouse Park.  Now Stonehouse Park has come under increased scrutiny.

PSG’s Sharon Stwart has been working closely with Stonehouse Park, county officials and park neighbors in seeking a solution to the park’s Special Use Permit possible lower capacity restriction.  Today PSG sent out this message:

 As we reported in March, Stonehouse Park has been in the process of amending their required Special Use Permit with Dekalb County, Illinois.  Pagan Spirit Gathering Manager Sharon Stewart and others continue to be in frequent contact with a variety of local officials as well as neighbors and Stonehouse Park campground owners as part of the campground’s zoning process.

Although the outcome of the campground’s application for amending their existing zoning permit is not yet known, work also has begun on a special zoning permit that would allow Pagan Spirit Gathering to be held at Stonehouse Park this year even if zoning processes currently underway are not resolved this Summer. Circle Sanctuary is making contingency plans and continuing with preparations for holding Pagan Spirit Gathering 2012 at Stonehouse Park.
The DeKalb County Board is scheduled to vote on the petition to shut down Stonehouse Park at its May 16 meeting.  PNC-Minnesota continues to follow this story and will bring you updates as we receive them.