Daylight and the Dark Forest Minstrels

Today was the Dark Arts Festival at the Fort George.  It is their stout beer festival which is the stage for music, local artists of all styles and a community of people that gather to celebrate it all.

I was asked to be a part of the celebration this year and we brought our minstrel ways to the fort.  I have been excited about this for quite some time!  We have been rehearsing and planning our costumes and anxious to share our magic of music, dance and expression... Coming on the heels of such a powerful full moon and having it pour down rain and blow like a dickens was putting a damper on my mood until I snapped out of it and remembered that we are Astorians and this storm could not stop our beating feet!

I had so many incredible moments.... 

Tyler and Olaf in their Union Jack suits with head dresses and face makeup playing music that just gets in you. Tim on the bull horn with his harmonica taped to it making everything all right!

We had a parade route that we took each time we did our "act" if you will.. We visualized us beginning in darkness and ending in light as a visual pathway.  We carved and danced and twirled through the people, burning palo santo and blessing the space...the second time we had staffs and we went through and cleared the energy of the winter to bring space for the light of spring.. And our final parade was the arrival of spring with our fluttering wings and flower pedals showered upon our friends as we all danced in celebration... Each time we did our thing we were greeted with so much love and excitement.  It was truly awesome!!!!

Then, there was all of the down time and wandering and visiting and having people want to have a photo taken or just share a moment of time, all walls down and just say, " yeah" life here really is the best!  Kids coming up with their parents to have their pictures taken with a drag queen dressed in Victorian  drag... My heart swelled and melted.  My perspective has shifted further.....

I think my highlight may have been getting to sit in the still life exhibit and be drawn and photographed... Taking that moment to stop and just lounge in my glory and not hide a thing and just let people take it in... Getting to sit there with Cameron, my goddess momma who has been walking at my side and sharing in this life art experience and we are sitting there, our spirits dancing in that space..... Glorious

And coming into the space at a later time and seeing Teresa glowing, her aura reaching out beyond the seats and calling me to her as I sat next to her and let that meditation wash over me and melt my soul just a bit more....

And then there was the moment when Cameron and Jessamyn took the floor and danced for us all!!!!! Their magic and beauty oozing out of them and bathing us all in their beauty.. It was magnificent....

And all of the glorious people and cheers of heartfelt good tidings. Seriously, I had the time of my life today and I ( god, the song from Dirty Dancing is trying so hard to jump out of my fingers and into this phrase right now)..

Anyway, I love you Astoria!!!! You carry me and love me in ways I have never been able to imagine:) I love you so, 

Daylight