21 June 2007 (Thursday)
Today is the ceremony for the summer solstice, and the 40th anniversary of the
beginning of the summer of love. In a way I've looked forward to this for
weeks. But in another sense, it's been years.
Lorien, Mindy and I finished our masks at Fiona, Dave and Lisa's house. Dave
was at work selling insurance (Fiona sells Avon), but Lisa's children Buddy and
Crissy were there, and shared their masks with us. Our masks were already
smoothed for us, and had basic appliques added for us to paint and decorate.
We also had a teleconference, with half a dozen of us discussing the project.
I believe it's the first time that many people have worked together at once.
Most of the work has been done by one person at a time, and occasionally two.
We also had a shock. We were interviewed individually by Satyrian, who is the
head of the local group that's sponsoring the ceremony. Lorien went first,
then Mindy, and then me. I thought I was prepared, but was deeply surprised by
what happened; perhaps more accurately, shocked. It felt less like an
interview and more like an interrogation. Satyrian had obviously done es
research, or had someone do it for em. E knew information about each of us
that greatly surprised us.
I went into the room to meet with em one on three, for e had an assistant on
either side. E sat in a large chair, significantly larger and grander than the
plain chair I was offered--I recognized that little power play before I sat
down. To add to the effect, I was seated so that sunlight from a window shined
on me while e was covered in shadows. E wore a dark brown robe with a dark
brown mask with huge buck deer horns that made em in some ways sinister, in
others almost comical. Es two assistants also wore robes and masks. I felt as
if I'd entered a Sci Fi or fantasy movie, or maybe a 1960s episode of Doctor
Who.
But then e began with a question that so shocked me I couldn't answer. I
dumbfoundedly said, "I beg your pardon?" Then e asked again, and added some
details in a way to indicate that e knew a lot more about me than I thought e
knew. I quickly thought, "Who am I here?" But from what e said, I realized e
knew about the project (which I had already suspected), and about me. I
decided if e was going to be a ramming deer, I'd be a swooping owl with my
talons out. I answered back sarcastically but not meanly, and made every
effort to twist what e asked me into a way I had control over. E twisted right
back. It was a battle of wits, with mental horns vs. mental beak and talons.
It felt like our words were lines written for a movie, and I found myself
planning my next answer before I was even asked the next question. My mind was
pushed into overdrive.
At one point e stood up very suddenly and sounded mad. I actually wondered for
a moment if e was going to resort to physical violence. I don't know why, but
I stayed in my seat. I kept my words very calm, and continually focused on em.
It's a technique I've used before, and it's worked. The trick is not to
challenge the other person's authority, which invites a fight, but not to back
down, which invites a chase. It also gives you a huge adrenaline rush. Soon e
sat back down, and was quiet for a bit. I thought e was going to laugh, which
is the way such a scene is usually written in a movie. Surprisingly, e didn't
congratulate me for standing (figuratively) up to em or cast me out for
challenging em. E just started talking about typical trivia, like the weather
and sports. The two assistants never spoke. It was quite odd.
Then e said, "Thank you, Priest Harmony. We'll see you tonight." With that I
was dismissed, and acknowledged as a priest. Lorien was upset because e didn't
acknowlege em or Mindy as priestesses, but I think that was part of es testing.
I find it ironic that they, who are actual priestesses in a coven, should not
be recognized by Satyrian, whereas I was when I'm not a regular member of any
religious organization. An irregular member, maybe, but not regular. But the
recognition may be meaningless, and just part of es game. I wondered: if
Satyrian and I were antagonists in a black and white movie with a definite good
guy and a bad guy, which would I be?
The whole scene seemed unreal, the sort of thing you'd wake up from and say,
"Man, what a crazy dream." But it didn't feature any bizarre supernatural
effects, and I haven't woken up, so I'm assuming it was real. And I'm assuming
there is no real good or bad guy here, just a couple of guys and some others
crazy enough to go to a ceremony wearing robes and animal masks.
The evening ceremony wasn't as weird as the interview. As we were required to
use our masked names, I'll use them here. Artariel, Sennyoko and I, Owlian,
rode in a van with Hyperboar, Parrot Rose, Felina, White Fox, and Alley Cat. I
think we went near the same area Fiona took us last summer for a Wiccan
ceremony and bellydancing. We parked, apparently in a spot specifically
designated for us. We couldn't enter the ceremony area, which I was assured
was private property, without our masks and robes, and had to walk in them for
several minutes. I was also assured that a law enforcement official who was a
part of the group would be there, so that I didn't have to worry about any
legal complications. I wasn't sure if that presence would make me more or less
nervous. Artariel and Sennyoko were more concerned with practicing their
"thees and thous," which they used and discussed on the way. We were among the
first to arrive.
As we promised not to reveal who was who, I will merely say that I saw Swinum
and Oxonia, Satyrian's two assistants, and a few others, some of whom were
building a fire. Fortunately, there were no signs of rain, and the temperature
was pleasant. Oxonia put a gold cord around my neck, and someone gave Artariel
and Sennyoko a silver cord. I wasn't told the significance of the colors, but
later noticed that most people who attended had no cord, and slightly fewer had
gold than silver. Swinium and Oxonia both wore gold. My guess was that gold
represented their idea of a priest or priestess, and silver their idea of a
lesser priest or priestess. This guess was later more-or-less confirmed.
Perhaps 60 or 70 people attended, all wearing robes or gowns and all wearing
full masks, with two exceptions. There was an infant and a young toddler who
each wore a half mask, with the top half of the face covered and the lower half
bared. I later learned why--it was so that during the ceremony the sucklings
could nurse from mother, which was done quite openly.
It was still daylight when we began. Satyrian somehow entered without any of
us noticing em. Suddenly the flames rose, and e was there. I'm not quite sure
how it was done, but have a couple of ideas which I won't write here.
I'm not certain how much of the ceremony I'm allowed to discuss, but can say
the summer solstice represents a change in the relationship between the god and
the goddess, and the changing of the seasons. The leaders, Satyrian, Swinium
and Oxonia, talked about relationships, with Swinium more focused on
responsibility and duty and Oxonia on affection and love. It was Oxonia who
referred to this being the 40th anniversary of the beginning of the Summer of
Love. Satyrian spoke primarily about the relationship of god and goddess and
the heavens.
Everyone, including Swinium and Oxonia, were required to refer to Satyrian as
"you," whereas Satyrian refered to everyone else as "thou." I'm still not
clear if I was expected to refer to Swinium and Oxonia as "thou" or "you," but
I used "you," as that would be the most respectful term. They both refered to
me as "thou," which could mean an inferior, an equal, or an intimate.
Ironically, Artariel and Sennyoko were required to refer to me as "you" and I
to them as "thou." I wanted to tell them they could call me "thou" too when no
one was listening, but realized that could make it even more confusing for
them, so I didn't.
Let me take a quick break from my narrative. Lorien reminded me I'm supposed
to report that Lorien, Mindy and I are writing our diaries at the same time, so
I'm reporting it. As Lorien would say, I'm writing this Friday but this is
what happened Thursday. It's ironic that Mindy is the youngest of us, but is
the only one who still writes a diary the traditional way, in a book. Lorien
and I both use computers. Now back to the ceremony.
As the first part of the ceremony was concluded, Satyrian told me, "thou mayest
stay." All of us who traveled together got the same message. Over half the
people there left.
There was a brief moment where we were required to drop our robes, revealing
what we were wearing underneath, which was traditional Gardnerian garb. But we
still wore our masks. Then we removed our masks.
I recognized more people there than I had traveled there with, and got a chance
to visit with some of my local friends. The age range of the revelers was
wide, from the young toddler (the infant and the one I assume was es mother
left) to senior citizen. The majority were probably around middle aged. This
part was a celebration, with music including instruments and singing, and
feasting and dancing around the fire. I even got to play my dumbek with two
other drummers, Sea Horae and Boney Fingers, who is professional level.
Sennyoko played the flute when e wasn't dancing, and Picara played the guitar.
Not surprisingly, Artariel, Sennyoko and Parrot Rose bellydanced, which I had
never seen done live in Gardnerian garb. Several others joined them, although
the dancing was "dance as you will." It was something of a revel or bacchanlia.
Artariel and Sennyoko got a chance to introduce The Cloved Lemon Kissing Game
to the group, and I once again got to kiss and drum at the same time. I think
it was Oxonia who suggested "kiss the drummers." Artariel also suggested I
play "Who Kissed Me?" But taking to heart the phrase, "what I can't see won't
hurt me," I kissed several people with my eyes kept closed and didn't try to
guess their identities. Sometimes I would be drumming with eyes closed, and
would hear someone say, "cloved lemon" or just "lemon." I'd open my mouth, and
take a clove out of the lemon with my teeth--my hands were busy
drumming--without opening my eyes. Then I'd get kissed by whomever.
As sometimes happens when I drum for an extended period of time, or when I've
led or participated in praise and worship, I entered the stage of gestault. It
was no longer my hands who were drumming, it was everyone's. My feet were
dancing; my mouth was singing and eating and kissing all at the same time; my
heart beat was everyone's heart beat. It's a wonderful stage, and I haven't
been there in a long time. It's a natural high that comes from the brain or
the soul, maybe both.
At one point someone who must have been Satyrian told me, "thou art invited."
I wasn't told what to, but from the activity around me, had a relatively good
idea. But Artariel and Sennyoko were not invited, so I told Swinium I had to
respectfully decline, as I was visiting my friends. I got a stern warning from
Parrot Rose that I could only decline an invitation once--after that, I
wouldn't be invited again. I explained my situation, and Parrot Rose later
reported that Satyrian respected my decision as one based on loyalty,
apparently a quality e highly prized. So Parrot Rose told me I might have a
second chance.
At this point, most of the people left, and as the ceremony was over, I'll
switch back to regular names. Lisa had planned to drive back home with es
kids, but as Lorien, Mindy and I weren't staying asked if we could take them
home so Lisa could stay. We agreed. I was concerned that Lorien and Mindy
might be upset that I was invited and they werent, but they said it was
understandable as I live in the area and they don't. Mindy thinks it might
have been a type of recruitment, which is possible. I suppose I'll learn more
about that later. In any case, Lorien drove Mindy and Buddy and Crissy (both
of whom slept), and I back to Fiona, Dave and Lisa's place.
As Lorien and Mindy have both finished their accounts (Lorien is a faster
keyboardist than I am), I'll finish this later.
It is now later. Lorien, Mindy and I gave each other our birthday presents,
and our birthday spankings. Their present to me was one of my favorite movies,
Monty Python and The Holy Grail, which I didn't have on DVD with its extra
features (including 24 seconds of additional footage!). I gave Mindy a program
to enable em to work on the project more directly. Lorien already has it, so I
gave Lorien a CD for making a wedding. I wasn't sure how Lorien would like it
as it's largely geared for a younger audience, but Mindy assured me Lorien
would love it. Lorien agreed.
My back and legs were a little sore, more so than yesterday. Whether this was
from doing more lifting at work on Tuesday than usual, or carrying riders on my
back Monday when I'm largely out of practice, I don't know. Perhaps both.
In any case, Lorien and Mindy decided I needed a massage, and worked together
to give me one. It did seem to help. Lorien read my palm while I was getting
massaged. I told Lorien I don't really have much faith in palm reading, but
still found it interesting.
All in all it was one of the more interesting days of my life.
Copyright 2007 by The Loveshade Family
|
Harmony
At one point e
stood up very
suddenly and
sounded mad.
|
The summer
solstice
represents a
change in the
relationship
between the god
and the goddess,
and the changing
of the seasons.
|
The masked
Satyrian began
with a question
that so shocked
me I couldn't
answer.
|
Then e said,
"Thank you, Priest
Harmony. We'll
see you tonight."
|
We couldn't
enter the
ceremony area,
which I was
assured was
private
property,
without our
masks and
robes.
|
Then we removed
our masks.
I got a stern
warning from
Parrot Rose that I
could only decline
an invitation
once--after that, I
wouldn't be invited
again.
It was one of
the more
interesting days
of my life.