At dusk on Thursday evening the grove elves emerged from everywhere, clad not in elvin garb but in the very practical mode of jeans and tee shirts. [or less !] This was a working night for them --spit and polish, string lights, tote boxes, air cabins and chase out the eight-legged denizens thereof……all those necessary chores to prepare for the coming festivities. In the wee hours, work completed, they sat and talked and passed the mead, then disappeared to their resting places, well pleased with their efforts.

Friday dawned bright and clear with the greater part of the day busy with registration as grove family and friends arrived from near and far.

Workshops started in the early afternoon - both inspirational and fun….The Crone especially enjoyed Selene’s Belly Dancing session. Selene has to be one of the most patient people in the world; she had to work with neophyte “dancers” gyrating and sometimes getting totally confused about where and when to make the next “graceful” move. There were several other workshops during the course of the day: Skip, Diana, and Rowana all presented remarkable sessions, but as the Bardic Crone has not quite mastered the art of bi-location and so she was not able to be present at all of them. But word spread that all were most excellent and inspiring.

Kay and Mary’s Handfasting took place as evening started to fall. It was a moving ceremony-passionate and tender. Loving hands had prepared the altar and fire, and loving voices raised the power that joined the two of them not only to each other but to the entire company present. The “new” couple thank and bless all their cherished family-especially Skip, AC and Vicki, and all who were there on this precious evening.

The festivities moved on to the second annual Jimmy Buffet ritual - held in a dining hall transformed by palm trees, air-inflated sun, and glowing parrot lights. Michael honored the gods and goddesses and orchestrated a jolly crew of co-celebrators. A Bardic Circle served for praise offerings, which ranged from poignant to bawdy, including a HOT rendition of “Fever” with all the right intonations and movements---[Honey, you brought the house down !] Of course, Margaritas and Cheeseburgers were part of THIS Paradise! Food and fun segued into campfire drumming and dancing far into the summer night.

The gods and goddesses smiled warmly on Saturday’s workshops, many held in the open air. Again your cronish bard can personally speak only of one: Celtic Sorcery with Ian. Green leaves filtered the warm sun as Ian wove his own sorcery about us. Soon it was time for the Summerland family to gather in preparation for the Unity ritual. That is when the thunder rolled, the lightning streaked, the winds blew, and the rain fell in torrents, briefly flooding the pavilion that sheltered the suddenly shivering crowd. Several acolytes stepped out into the rain, dancing and chanting to invoke their own Pantheon of power.

The rains passed, the Sun God smiled, and the grove processed to the fire circle, singing in the sheer joy of the day. The procession squigged and sometimes slid down muddy paths into the circle but once there, a sense of peace and unity encompassed all present. Many participated in making the rite come alive, and at one point an inner circle formed as the Sixth Night Grove celebrated the sixth Summerland by inviting all present who were or had been a part of Sixth Night to jointly offer sweet-scented praise to the shining ones.The skies stayed clear, the omens blessed with open hands, and all present were filled with joy and power.

Shortly after the ritual space was cleared and folk gathered for the evening’s shared feast, the heavens opened again, but food and drink flowed freely on buoyant waves of conversation in the shelter of the dining hall.

Well fed diners heeded Walter’s urgent cajoling and bid freely for the various wares brought for the auction. Much good-natured joshing and competition took place as objects disappeared under his verbal gavel.

Then there was time for another workshop, kitchen clean up, as folks prepared for the central event of the night....Aram Cara’s stirring music. It didn’t matter if the audience danced, sat and listened, or mingled with friends new and old…..the music held and surrounded them in Gaelic splendor. Throughout all was the abiding sense of family bonds-beloved heart kin once again together in the clear air of an August night. Still later, the drums and dancing went into the small hours.

Then suddenly it was Sunday morning---time for a delicious breakfast and a feeling that a few more days of togetherness would be wonderful, but not possible…..However, one phrase marked the day and bolstered the let-down: “See you next year in Summerland!”

BRIGHT BLESSINGS FROM THE BARDIC CRONE

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