Trillium Afterthoughts

[eiblyn]

First off, let me say that for my first Pagan festival/gathering, this was wonderful. The food was great, the people were better and I only froze my ass off half the nights in the tent. Really, I should have packed another blanket (I had intended to, it just got lost in the shuffle).

Having a child-free event meant that I got to go to almost every workshop. I missed the last workshop scheduled because I forgot it was happening. Which kind of bummed me out because I really had wanted to go. But all the other workshops I made it to were very nice.

Even with all the enjoyment and the casual feel of the event I still had some pretty significant religious experiences while there. I did some guided meditation exercises that really stretched those mental muscles that I haven't used as much as I would have liked since elf_baby has been born.

I went to a Shamanic Trance workshop and we traveled to the Underworld twice. Romping around down there, I met up with a new Spirit Totem. Apparently I'm going to be the bug lady because now I not only have Spider watching and helping, now I have Ant too. I'm feeling very blessed though that they both chose to help me and guide me. I also saw a whole plethora of animals while I was down there.

It seems that most of the animals I saw while down there are based in Alaska. Which is sort of amusing to me as a concept. I see the Underworld as Alaska...hmmm. Anyway, I'm thinking I'm going to talk to Lance about my going up to Alaska to visit my mother this summer. Maybe some other things will fall into place there.

I did a tarot reading for someone while there. That worked out well. After all of the meditating and time spent in sacred space, it really seemed to just flow out of me in a stream. I was happy to be finding that place in myself where answers are again.

Other things I realized were not quite as flattering. I do not have as personally connected relationship as I should. I have been busy, but I also have not been prioritizing as I think I ought to. Of course my daughter is and should continue to be my first priority. But I haven't been using my free time well. I am not pious anymore. I want to change that.

I also bought the printed copy of the Dedicants Program for the ADF and a print copy of the Wheel of the Year guide that accompanies it and breaks down each step to do by weeks. I had it highly recommended to me.

More later on some of the experiences and insights I garnered.

Comments

[elenbarathi.livejournal.com]

Woot, sounds like you had an amazing time! Do you know about the Goddess Sedna? "Alaska as the Underworld" sounds about right. You might want to check out the movie Iceman some time, if you've never seen it.

[eiblyn.livejournal.com]

I followed your links. Wow. No, I hadn't heard of her and that is really interesting. I'll have to look into it more. I usually don't end up working with many other deities personally since I've been claimed by Brigid for so long. I added Iceman to my Netflix queue.

[chronarchy.livejournal.com]

Glad you had a pleasant time at Trillium. Wellspring! Summerland!

[eiblyn.livejournal.com]

Oh I will definitely be at Summerland and I'm planning to drag a part of my Clan with me too. As far as Wellspring goes, it's the same weekend as a sci-fi con I usually go to and it's a tough call as to which one I'll be able to enjoy more with my daughter trailing along.

[sleepingwolf.livejournal.com]

Wanted to stop briefly by and say hello. :-)

Blanket packing is rough; I've found the type of blanket matters to a degree, as well; I have a Berber throw a friend gave me and it makes the best sleeping bag insert ever.

[eiblyn.livejournal.com]

Yeah I had a giant down comforter planned, but it somehow ended up staying in the house. I am rather used to having a range of stuff at my disposal that the army pays for and it is all quite nice, but I don't have that option here. If there's one thing the army doesn't suck at, it's camping.

[(Anonymous)]

We must have been two ships in the night because I'm not sure if we actually met. Although we were probably both in the Seithr right where I sought my patron and had a visit from Loki.

[eiblyn.livejournal.com]

Yes, I was at the Seithr. We walked right past each other after it was finished. You were talking to the Seeress afterwards and I was waiting a bit outside the door to talk to her. I'm the one that got the message about the penguins. Also, I think I spent some time talking to your wife...