Starfest, Emerald Rose, Kathryn Hinds, Naked Pagans, Gossip, Sarah is in GA
Well, I am back from a very interesting gathering.
The gathering was fantastic as always. There was a great concert by Emerald Rose. Cam and I had fun dancing to our favorite song, Pagan Girl. We attended some great workshops about Stress Management, Metaphysic, Science and Paganism and beading. I had a really great time and enjoyed myself immensely. The main ritual was the bomb! We did a spiral dance and I really enjoyed sharing ritual with Tony, Ben and Becky. I can't wait to unwind again at that sacred place.
While at the gathering I ran into Kathryn Hinds who is an author who gave me all sorts of advice about publishing and some potential contacts to query. She is a great lady and author. I really appreciate her time and attention. Thanks Kathryn!
The other issue that came up during this gathering was skycladness. This gathering tends to attract very conservative people. The gathering itself is clothing option। However, I can count on one hand the number of times I have witnessed people topless or completely nude. Typically this is in the shower house, in the lake swimming or in the sweat lodge. (For the record, my son Connla was not with me this gathering and has not been in the past!). I ended up in a discussion about nakedness at gatherings and how I felt about it. My husband has been around naked pagans in the past usually around the drum circle or in sacred space. This weekend he ended up being asked to eat lunch with a beautiful naked women and it brought up some issues.
That got me to thinking...how much of pagans being naked is for shock value, power over others and attention getting and how much of being naked is for actual spiritual purposes? I am seriously struggling with this issue. On the one hand I completely agree that being naked is natural and a part of some peoples' spiritual path. They see being unclothed as a communion with Deity. On the other hand sometimes I met women and men who disrobe as a matter of shock value or an attempt to get attention or an attempt to have power over the opposite sex. It almost seems like they are saying, "Hey, look at me!!!"
I had hoped to discuss this issue at length and have my perspective heard। Unfortunately, I was disturbed by the violent reaction I got to the discussion. It is almost like if a pagan enjoys getting naked no one better even comment. I was actually told if you couldn't handled looking at naked bodies, then you weren't a pagan!
Tony likened it to smoking. He doesn't smoke and when he is in the presence of smokers he feels like he is forced to smoke. Tony happens to prefer to not see naked people when he is trying to be spiritual. It isn't a judgment on the activity just his personal preference. However, if he suggests this he is labeled a male chauvinist pig who isn't really a good pagan! Doesn't this smack of dogma? Where is the tolerance for other people's spiritual path and where is the compassion in helping others continue to shed the confines of this physical world to obtain spiritual enlightenment? It has made for some serious discussion and certainly caused me to pause and think things over. I am serious, could I please hear from you guys what your opinions are on this issue? Let's not shout and personally attack here, I am just seeking some information and other perspective.
On a completely different note, I ran into someone this gathering asking about gossip they had heard about Tony and I. Evidently Tony and I are accused of having a polyamorous relationship with a man and then dumping him to become monogamous - this is NOT true. Further I am accused of having energy that is anti-God or anti-male energy. This is also not true. I have always been a champion of the God having an equal place with the Goddess and have even done some very specific rituals meant to honor the God above the Goddess during the Sabbat celebrations. I have references if you want them. I have also been accused of prostilitizing. Again, this is not true. I feel I have started something that now has a board and life of its own. I am only someone who gives input into it. I do not think any of our members are trying to convert anyone to witchcraft. Further FWTI does not have a dogma of practice so there is no conversion necessary on that score.
The most disturbing gossip involved a man who was NOT and has NEVER been my High Priest claiming that he was. If you hear about this, please contact me to verify the validity of this claim. I will not tolerate someone taking credit for the work my High Priest did with me. I am no longer his student; however, all teachers deserve respect and no teacher deserves to have lies spread about the relationship they may or may not have had with their student. Do not believe the validity of any reported High Priests to myself or my husband without speaking with us please.
This entire weekend was about community. Dealing with those who have different perspectives. Learning to have compassion and tolerance and learning to leave room for others to spiritually evolve, even if they are doing it at a slower pace than others. It was about reputation and knowing that people are going to talk. The best we can hope for is to carry ourselves with as much dignity and respect as possible. We also have to have compassion and understanding for those who feel so isolated and lack a love of self that being angry and gossiping about others is the only thing they know to do. It was a long and enlightening weekend that ended with me going home to Sarah.
Sarah had moved from FL to GA and Tony and I went to help build furniture from kits, clean the house, unpack boxes, wrangle our Goddess Children and in general do whatever we could. I had to leave and tend my own Family Coven; however, I hope I left her better than when I had arrived. I am glad she is home.
Special shout out to my new Sister Witch Cam. You have become an unexpected reward to my personal spiritual journey. Much love and affection!
