
The day started with a workshop on labyrinths by Bruce. I've seen people walking labyrinths at Pagan festivals before but I've never been able to make a workshop for an explanation. I thought it was a great exercise in a walking meditation. As I said to the presenter afterwards, I get discouraged meditating when I have a cold (as I did) because I fous too heavily on the trouble I have breathing. Walking the labyrinth required me to focus on my steps. I think I may have to create a labyrinth of my own someday for the days when I need some peace of mind but can't seem to focus through still meditation. I will have to consider how to create a Labyrinth within a Druidic, particularly Irish, tradition.
After the labyritnh we feasted on various dishes. I brought a pumpkin spice bread made by the local Mennonites. Others brought grilled corn and salsa from local farmers. Everyone else brought healthy organic, vegetarian, or vegan dishes. Katrina, the organizer, lead a thoughtful discussion on food and its relavence to Pagans. The discussion was wonderful and many important issues within Paganism were brought up such as whether or not ethical eating is spiritualy important, whether or not factory farmed food comes with negative energies and if they can be negated, whether or not animals should be acceptable sacrifices, as well as how we can use food in magic and ritual. Katrina did an excellent job faciliatting the discussion and provided some of her own insights. I think that food has gone unnoticed by many within the Pagan community. It seems like an afterthought most of the time. "Oh there's a potluck after the ritual... I'll just stop at Walmart and grab a bag of chicken wings." I'm guilty of that myself although I wouldn't buy chicken wings at Walmart. :P The point is, Katrina, a self-appointed kitchen witch, continually forces the local Pagan community to consider the spiritual implications of food and how we can use it to better connect us to deity.
Skip, the archdruid of ADF, presented his workshop on dragons, fairies, and giants (oh my!). Although I think the presentation should have been shortented to a discussion just on dragons or fairies (or possibly only those) it was really interesting. He provided a scholarly presentation that included the value of skepticism, something the Pagan community could use a bit more of from time to time. That said, it was nicely balanced with UPG and whimsy, making his presentation a breath of fresh air.
Finally Catherine Cooney presented a workshop on drums that included meditations, chanting, and a swinging drum circle! I think everyone had a blast hooting and hollering, banging and rattling.
My main concern about the event was that it was so, so small with only 15ish people in attendance. There were several other activities going on in the area that day and, being the last weekend in August, many people were probably trying to fit a lot in. I was dissapointed at the small numbers but, in the end, it was a lovely intimate setting with some wonderful people. All the same I think the group had hoped to achieve a higher attendance. When I joined MVPN a few years ago it was after their now defunct BPUF (Beltaine Pagan Unity Festival). Before that I had been a solitary practicioner and it shocked me to see so many people at the event. Magickal Living was only a small shadow of that due to the attendance. A facebook group had been created to invite others in the community and many who RSVPed "yes" did not show up. Besides Facebook, someone mentioned that they had seen a poster at a local cafe. As I'm no longer a resident of the community I have no idea if any other posters were put up or when they were displayed. My advice to MVPN is to shoot for the BPUF event again. Advertise stronger and sooner. It should probably take place earlier in the summer rather than later so that it isn't when everyone is scrambling to fit one last family cookout or camping trip in before school. It also shouldn't compete with such a large event as the Clinton Art Festival.
That said, if MVPN continues along this vein, Utica could have some exciting future events for Pagans. Unlike the previous BPUFs and even the Pagan Pride Day in Syracuse, NY, Magickal Living demonstrated that more cognitive workshops have a definite place within Paganism and are doable by even the smaller groups. MVPN brought in the archdruid of one of the major Druidic movements which is wonderful. Not only does it show that MVPN respects its elders but that it is willing to look to movements other than Wicca. Katrina gave a very thoughtful presentation that, as I said, inspired discussion about important issues in Paganism - issues that go beyond the typical Wicca 101 same-old same-old that shows up again and again. Shouldn't more Pagan gatherings be that way? Newbies can find those resources very easily now. Why not make more workshops for the experienced and intermediate Pagans? Why not set an example for the new Pagans and show them what they can grow into?
Kudos MVPN.
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