![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
The Weekend in Retreat
Apr. 24th, 2006 10:36 amThis past weekend, I was in Ontari-ari-ario (somewhere south of Ottawa) at a Pagan Men's Retreat. Although it was damp and cold, we somehow managed to have a spiritually deepening experience, not to mention how to maximize our tarping techniques.
On Saturday night, I led a spear-dedication ritual. Each guy spent the day finding, carving, and whittling a staff of their choosing and Brad (our land host) gave us metal spear heads that he designed (he's a blacksmith). The guys also built a portal of 2x4s which was actually meant for something else, but it served our purposes.
That night, to the pitter-patter of rain on the tarp overhead, we gathered around the fire-pit, called out to the Gods, and walked from this reality into the next reality (via the portal). Each man had a chance to issue a boast, announce their binding promise, and use the portal to leave the reality that they were in and walk into the reality that would allow them to fulfill that binding promise (a form of Quantum Magic).
In this new reality, each man received a leather strap and bound their promises to their spears. Then they thanked their gods for witnessing the event and we ended the circle.
We also spoke about what it was like being men in the modern world (the Age of the Wuss). This discussion continued around the campfire long after the ritual was done.
It was a great weekend. It would've been even better had it not rained, but we made the best of it (contrary to popular belief, witches do not melt in the rain). I look forward to seeing these guys during the summer in the other pagan-fests.
Although I'm going to be more careful with what and how much I drink. Red wine/porto hangovers are the worst.
On Saturday night, I led a spear-dedication ritual. Each guy spent the day finding, carving, and whittling a staff of their choosing and Brad (our land host) gave us metal spear heads that he designed (he's a blacksmith). The guys also built a portal of 2x4s which was actually meant for something else, but it served our purposes.
That night, to the pitter-patter of rain on the tarp overhead, we gathered around the fire-pit, called out to the Gods, and walked from this reality into the next reality (via the portal). Each man had a chance to issue a boast, announce their binding promise, and use the portal to leave the reality that they were in and walk into the reality that would allow them to fulfill that binding promise (a form of Quantum Magic).
In this new reality, each man received a leather strap and bound their promises to their spears. Then they thanked their gods for witnessing the event and we ended the circle.
We also spoke about what it was like being men in the modern world (the Age of the Wuss). This discussion continued around the campfire long after the ritual was done.
It was a great weekend. It would've been even better had it not rained, but we made the best of it (contrary to popular belief, witches do not melt in the rain). I look forward to seeing these guys during the summer in the other pagan-fests.
Although I'm going to be more careful with what and how much I drink. Red wine/porto hangovers are the worst.
