Day 80: A Pagan Retreat in Salem..... Missouri

This weekend, I went with cassiopia on my first visit to Diana's Grove in Salem, Missouri. Overall, the weekend was very good. Not all parts were pleasant -- after all, there is more to "good experiences" than fluffy bunnies -- but it was still all good. In several ways, being there reminded me of P**T***, the super-sekrit Pagan gathering that I have been regularly attending every October for nearly a decade now. cassiopia had her own duties and meetings to tend to, so I was largely on my own, which was fine; I am no stranger to Pagan events!

Over the course of the weekend, I enjoyed good ritual, good food, good conversations, and good connections with people. And puppies! Lots and lots of puppies! Despite being in an area that I have never spent time in before, I felt a fairly strong sense of the land. After the Friday evening ritual, cassiopia and I soaked in the outdoor hot tub, keeping warm in the sub-freezing temperatures. Saturday morning, I arose to the surprise of white stuff all over the ground, changing the landscape. And after the Saturday evening ritual, I got to practice my drumming again in the rhythm circle. I have not the foggiest notion if and when I will ever go back, given the impending move to Oxford, but I am glad to have had the opportunity to visit at least once.

Keeping in line with the goals outlined in this post, the items that I forgot this time were: my spare pair of eyeglasses, a source of music for the car, light reading material, a travel alarm, and the strap for my drum (I improvised with the belt from my robe).

All in all, a very good weekend. I'll try to keep some sense of serenity about me as I dive in to tackle what promises to be a very busy week. Oxford minus five weeks, and counting!

Day 80: A Pagan Retreat in Salem..... Missouri

This weekend, I went with cassiopia on my first visit to Diana's Grove in Salem, Missouri. Overall, the weekend was very good. Not all parts were pleasant -- after all, there is more to "good experiences" than fluffy bunnies -- but it was still all good. In several ways, being there reminded me of P**T***, the super-sekrit Pagan gathering that I have been regularly attending every October for nearly a decade now. cassiopia had her own duties and meetings to tend to, so I was largely on my own, which was fine; I am no stranger to Pagan events!

Over the course of the weekend, I enjoyed good ritual, good food, good conversations, and good connections with people. And puppies! Lots and lots of puppies! Despite being in an area that I have never spent time in before, I felt a fairly strong sense of the land. After the Friday evening ritual, cassiopia and I soaked in the outdoor hot tub, keeping warm in the sub-freezing temperatures. Saturday morning, I arose to the surprise of white stuff all over the ground, changing the landscape. And after the Saturday evening ritual, I got to practice my drumming again in the rhythm circle. I have not the foggiest notion if and when I will ever go back, given the impending move to Oxford, but I am glad to have had the opportunity to visit at least once.

Keeping in line with the goals outlined in this post, the items that I forgot this time were: my spare pair of eyeglasses, a source of music for the car, light reading material, a travel alarm, and the strap for my drum (I improvised with the belt from my robe).

All in all, a very good weekend. I'll try to keep some sense of serenity about me as I dive in to tackle what promises to be a very busy week. Oxford minus five weeks, and counting!