Eostre 1997
This Easter, I attended an Eostre Gathering. This was the first major Pagan gathering that I'd been to and I looked forward to linking up with others who followed pagan ways. I was not disappointed.

It was also the first time I'd travelled properly in the Kushti Rauni with her laden up with camping gear and supplies. After I had the L.G. Gas tank fitted (and they put it right in the centre of the boot) I wasn't sure I'd be able to pack enough in her. No problems as it turned out, and running on Gas was much cheaper than petrol.

I arrived mid-afternoon on Good Friday. While signs leading to the grounds were quite clear, the venue itself was well hidden and I passed it twice. I registered at the hall, getting a programme and feedback form. The scheduled event (the market) didn't seem to be happening so I unpacked my tent and set up house near the toilet block.

Nothing seemed to happening until that night. At dinner I met more people. The food was quite good, hearty, and filling. I probably ate better that weekend than the weeks either side. I took it easy, chatted, and got ready for the night's rituals. There were two rituals -- one to do with transition, and the other a Luna Rite.

The first involved encounters with earth, water, air and fire. Participants were at first blindfolded and had to find the fool (played to the hilt by Damon). Then they were taken backwards (we never openly see the future do we) through earth and the land of the dead. Next was water, where we were anointed and saw the Goddess in ourselves. Then came air where we waited in a room filled with mystery and vapour. Finally came fire where we passed a final gatekeeper, and many people jumped the burning triangle.

This lead into the Lunar Rite. All participants went to a circle that had been prepared earlier that day. Our way was barred by a guardian baring a sword, and with the Fool leading us, we walked around and around the circle until the way was clear. The following ritual built up a lot of energy, and most of this was sent to Pamina, who was absent due to illness. This was followed by dancing around the circle and lots of mad fire jumping.

I did some of this myself, but ceased after stubbing my toe on the brazier and then spilling kerosene all over me!

It was good night. I went back to the hall briefly to join in at the room party, but I was tired from the trip and retired relatively early. There was drumming into the night, so I was glad I was staying in a tent and not the hall.

Everything was delayed on Saturday, which was the general state of things. Like some rainbow festivals I've attended, things at the Gathering happened on Pagan Time, not Clock Time. This means that it happens when it happens. And so be it.

In the afternoon I attended Colin's Kali Ritual. This was held at a converted outdoor chapel.

I'd volunteered as one of the chanters earlier at lunch. I reasoned that I'd only get out of the weekend what I put in, and this was a good start to participate. The group went first to a quiet spot to reflect and meditate, and then on to the chapel, all the while chanting "Jammu Kali, Kali Kali". The ritual was elegant and one I found very powerful. It was also notable for one other reason.

A number of people chose to attend the Kali Ritual skyclad. Not everybody was though, many were in simple robes, and some in street clothes. I'd brought my good dress that I'd made myself as a robe, and had worn it (minus underwear) the previous night and to the Kali ritual.

I really wanted to attend skyclad, it was really important to me because it symbolised a direct connect between myself and the divine. But as a pre-operative transgendered woman, I was just a little hesitant. How would people react? I didn't want anything to spoil the weekend for me, and I didn't want my being transgendered to become an issue for other people.

Finally, when it came time for me to read scriptures about Kali, I compromised. I unzipped the back and let the dress fall to my waist. Then, when we all stood I let it fall all the way. My fears were groundless. There was no strong reaction. I was just another pagan among those here. I was pleased, and I was also more committed.

I felt really good all afternoon.

I'd been approached to play a role in the Vou Dou rite as the wife of Baron Samdi and I accepted. There are probably still stories going around about the Rite. Think of Vou Dou and you think of Hollywood films and Zombies. But like paganism in general, most bad press has been written by it's opponents, who have a vested interest in presenting it in the worst possible light. Vou Dou deals with slavery and liberation. It's savage because the people who created it came from a savage situation. But this also makes it very immediate and effective.

I undressed for the night, wearing heavy make-up and some lace finery. My job was to sit near the baron and hand him "magic vou dou powder" and wine during the night. The participants entered (were dragged) the tent in a dazed and confused manner, and I let out a mad cackle when this happened. I hear from witnesses that every time someone entered, lightning would happen in a nearby storm. Powerful stuff.

So was the rite. A chicken was sacrificed during it and there was some controversy over this. Personally, I think you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs, and I see very little difference between how the sacrifice was done at the ritual and how a chook gets killed on a farm. It was also included in the food next day, so it is not as if it were killed purely "for effect".

There was a lot of energy going about at that rite. Oaths were made and drunk to, truths spoken, and a number of possessions (both by the spirit of alcohol and other means). I spoke to a possessed person and now, much later, I know who possessed him <grin>. The rite was an intense experience, and in my opinion a very successful one.

I was up much later that night chatting with people, and listening to a second possessed person who was giving a rant about imminent destruction and ground zero. As a SubGenius I could admire the rant for technical skill but it disturbed one person trying to sleep and upset another. It was a second time that I was glad I was sleeping in a tent.

Sunday was another lazy day, mostly because people who'd been partying until the wee hours of the morning weren't up yet. One thing that had to be organised was the "Cherry Ritual". Everyone who came for the first time was a "Cherry", and the ones who'd already been at least once were "Blueberries". The Cherry Ritual was to be designed and performed by the Cherries. In the end, most of the ritual was designed by Kurt and myself. For someone who professes not to be a pagan, Kurt has a keen grasp of ritual and ceremony.

I helped out with the making of the wicker man, and later went on the "Talking with trees" workshop run by Peter. It was educational and surprising. I hadn't expected to be wanted by a tree! It didn't want to let me go, and I had to promise to come back the next day. Another tree gave me two staffs, one to give to someone else, and one to keep.

I finally met Pamina when she arrived that afternoon. It seems that the Luna Ritual did some good. There was also a lot of intense drumming leading up to the night's ceremonies. There were two rites: the Panchtattwa Rite run by Shane, and the Cherry Ritual with me as narrator/high priestess. I didn't go to the Panchtattwa rite as I was preparing for my own ritual.

I had a number of unusual things happen leading up to the Cherry Rite. Suffice it to say that a 1 hour chant to your patron Goddesses gets results! When the ritual began I was skyclad except for a cape and my Venus necklace. It was cold but I felt nothing of that!

The Cherry ritual was a "Rite of Passage" ceremony. We had five stations at four points representing stages of life: Birth, Sexual Maturity, Emotional Maturity, Old Age, and Death. Each of the Cherries moved through those points and accepted that part of their life. Finally they all moved out and joined the Blueberries to form a circle of life. I narrated the whole thing, and was the last to go through these stations.

This was an extremely powerful ritual for me. Accepting one's path, and the point one is on that path, go a long way to making that path easier.

Following the Cherry Ritual was the burning of the wicker man. This was the first I've attended and I loved it! There's nothing like dancing around in mad abandon to get the blood rushing.

The next day consisted of cleaning and packing up, and saying goodbyes (including to a tree). I spent the next two days with a friend in Katoomba. That has a story in itself, but not one for here. I made new friends at this gathering, and look forward to the next group pagan event that I can attend.

The only regret I have was that of the 25 black & white photos I took at the gathering, I wish more than one photo had come out. It was all University equipment I'd borrowed, and as I'm only a student in her first term, I made a mistake in developing and lost the rest. Such is photography, such is life. Better results next time.

Blessed Be.