So. I Went to This Festival.

I am going to attempt to give you the Festival Backstory So Far.  Which means I have to go back in time and tell you about the longest leg of my summer tour. It began in Arkansas and ended in St. Louis. It was May–May!–the merry month of May…

The journey from the airport in Cleveland to the steamy fields of Arkansas took many, many hours. There were stops for coffee and food and  a promise  of a light meal and a glass of wine at the end. The festival was the Gathering of All Paths–a small, almost private festival and I taught several classes there. 

The day after our arrival there was a big commotion at the front gate (which was the landowner’s driveway) that sounded like a fight of some sort.  I wasn’t quite ready to get up but I can hardly ever resist a fight. So I went out to the driveway to find a skinny little man, all dressed in black, preaching.  Hahaha!  Preaching!  I talked to a couple of friends who had somewhat engaged with him. Then we started singing.  We All Come From the Goddess. The River is Flowing. That sort of thing.  I spoke the Charge of the Goddess.  The woman who was his minder told us he was a veteran from South Carolina.  He preached on for a bit and several people sang or talked at him. Then he left.  The festival was fun and very hot. But I met lots of nice people and Gina LaMotte made up a song about the Arkansas Rooster (our preacherman).  There were dogs and children and it was a good start to the tour. Except for the monstrous bugs.

The next festival was Heartland and that was an adventure in itself. Hothothot. I hung out in the dining hall in the evenings and made friends with everyone there. I had never been to that festival and had a good and wild and occasionally naked time.  They swear they want me back and I would surely go. I met a Dowager there, who had an ice-blue stare and was six months old.

Next was a visit to friends in Kansas City, with a book signing and workshop at the very smart Aquarius Books. I spent a couple of afternoons reading tarot for clients and had  delightful time talking hillfolks’ hoodoo with new folks. Sold a few books, too.

I got a very special day looking at farmland and farms in Illinois and then it was on to St. Louis to present at St. Louis Pagan Picnic and hang out with Pam. I taught one class in the rain and the other in the damp and it was all good.  On Sunday, I led the ritual and made everyone dance–which I love to do. Dinner with old friends and off to the airport and home on the Monday.  I am grateful for the friends–new and old–along the way.

Next up–returning to Pittsburgh, city of my heart.