Beltane ’05 in Review

Overview: Rocked all that ass and more.

Let me being with the nickname my Kamp gave me. The Marquis, this will be important later :). I decided to make a couple of decisions to make my Beltane a happier place. I would not wear sun-glasses, so I could both show off my pretty eyes and so I could really connect with people better. I would also not drink so much that I was sick. Both worked wonderfully and I think I will add them to my list of festival things to do. I also promised myself not to spend time chasseing ass and to go with the flow as it were, accepting things as they come. This also paid off well.

Thursday we got there early and waited in line, met Thorsarck and Vashalla and BJ2 at the gates and chatted. Set up our camp with out much fanfare, waited forever for the kitchen to get there :p but we put it up easily. I had my work shift and mostly sat there…I did rub some aloe on a poor woman and handed out some water. I also signed in a woman with a purple pirate hat who saw my camp name and asked if I played. I told her I did and she said she might bring her toys/floggers around and I told her she should if she likes them used on her. Her eyes lit up and she smiled and introduced herself as the Pimp Pirate Princess saying we would have to get together later. Helping people put up tents and carry stuff from the car was fun. Had Caribbean sunrises w/ nick and got reacquainted with the Krew. I don’t know if I have said it before but I am deeply thankful for everyone at Kallisti for being such all around cool people. They make the festival for me every year. I love them all to pieces and want to take them home. It doesn’t hurt that they are all amazingly gorgeous, fun, smart, silly people who are great folks. I loves my Kallisti peeps. So we went to the Revel fire and I wasn’t feelin it too much and I got tired around 10:30 or 11ish and went to bed…or tried to but the girls in the tent next to me were giggling till late :p BTW was cold and lonely in bed where I shivered to sleep and woke up sore from the cold.

Friday I got up and had breakfast and enjoyed the normal entertainment that is our Kamp. I went to a workshop which was supposed to be a “Discussion on paganism.” The leader of the discussion was a guy named Brian who wrote a book called “Wicca Demystified.” He talked about how as pagans there is a growing Pagan laity who don’t want to be priest/esses and don’t want to be in circle but want to go to the large Sabbats and get married in the “faith.” He said we as pagan clergy have to find out how to deal with that. Also how to be an emissary to the non-pagans about our “faith.” Trying to explain to non-pagans about spells, and polytheism, and rituals and how we aren’t the craft and we don’t believe in the devil. He had some really good questions for us to learn the answers to. He also had some great metaphors to explain to people pagany things. Why we are here, what is the divine, what is our purpose, how does magic fit in. I shared some of my own personally crafted metaphor I use when explaining to non-pagans so they will understand and not take offence and that went over well. I had a couple of people stop me after and thank me, which was neat to hear praise from my peers. I am still chewing on one of the things he said and I will post it later for everyone once I get a better handle on it.
I bummed around then looking at shops, buying a new sarong and wearing it. Had some lunch chatted with the Kamp folks. I ran into a lovely woman who I met 4 years ago when she was underage and chatted with her and walked around and caught up finding out we are both in committed poly relationships and had permission to play for the weekend. I gave and received a massage and walked around chatting with her. We made out in Lothorian woods as people walked in and out. Word of warning for sarongs…easy access and pretty but also hiding nothing when turned on :p We spent the rest of the night together and had a bunch of fun and were warm in her nice big tent.

Saturday I did my Walk of Game(the walk of share requires one to have shame) back to the campsite where I was welcomed with hoots and giggles. I had breakfast and chatted with the folks about what they were doing that day. I went to the LGBT and friends society meeting and got on the email list and volunteered for the Samhaine ritual. Yes I know volunteering is dumb but I was in a good mood and happy(shrug). So must go to Samhaine to keep my promise. Went to another workshop about paganism and pagan clergy. Went back to the Kamp for some food and to sit down, chatted with Christina and Vashalla about magics and fun and dancing and past experience. Laid on the hammock and took a brief nap. Ate dinner with the Krew then we went to the big revel fire and chatted and had lap kitties and hair pets and fun stuff talking. Many trips back to the campsite for both allergy/asthma drugs and then for glowy sticks and chairs for Vashalla and getting BJ2. More chatting and back scratching and Thorsark came over to say hi and told me two young ladies were looking for me. One pimp pirate princes by the fire and one Miss R from Friday who was waiting in her tent for me. I said my goodbyes and headed to Miss R’s tent. Needless to say Saturday night was both good and warm.

Sunday I repeated my Walk of Game, after Miss R and I said our goodbyes and thanks.
Had breakfast and waited for everyone to awake and chatted with people. Talked a lot with the Kamp folks and played the “Sucks to be you game.” We were fired upon by the local mobile pirates…drive by flashing bastards :p We packed up just as I lost all will and energy to move…I moved like a zombie for a while. Said our goodbyes and hugged everyone hoping to see everyone soon. Nick and I drove home trying to stay awake and talking a little. Got home to my honey where I chatted with her then passed the fuck out.

Conclusion: I love my Kamp and my peeps and I want to see them again soon. Thinking about proposing for all the Kamp to come over and meet my honey and new house. Loving life a bit more than before the weekend. The weekend was a big Success.

The Marquis