My Favorite Memories from Beltaine 2007
Since my primary function is working with the children of CMA, most of my favorite memories involve the kids. Our children of CMA are just surprising and magickal beings. It has been my privilege and honor to work as a permanent part of the staff now for 3 years and as a volunteer since 2001. It is amazing to me to see these children grow up. To see children that were once my wards at Faerie Mound, now running around as Tweens is just astonishing. The way that they have grown is just heart warming. My Tweens that I worked with in the past are wonderful young men and women who at times shock me with their maturity, and in the next minute remind me of their youth.
One of my favorite memories from this Beltaine involves the Tweens and my husband, Brad. For those you who do not know my husband, and that is probably most of you (he tends to keep to himself), he is not the biggest fan of children. Not that he hates them or anything like that, but being a musician with sensitive ears, the noise that they naturally create can be a little rough on him. He has been the biggest supporter of my work with Youth Services and has been the instigator of many of the ideas for the kids. I guess since he is just a big kid himself. One such idea was to have a water balloon fight for the Tweens. I had gone back to camp to get the balloons for the fight and he asked if I needed help. I said yes – what am I stupid! So, he and I spent the next hour or so, in the Shower house with a group of Tweens filling up water balloons. We filled 2 five gallon buckets. That is a lot of water balloons. The fun that Brad had doing that and the enjoyment that he got out of spending time with those children, and the delight in his eyes while we watched the kids have their water balloon fight – well, that is one very special set of memories to me.
The other memory involves one of my duties as Managing Director of Youth Services. Since I am the blessed one who gets to hand out the Red Glowies at sunset each night, I should realize just how many children we have on the grounds, but it hit me one evening after I had finished handing out the Red Glowies. I was sitting at my camp near the main stage and looking out across the Magickal Meadow. There were all these Red Glowies just zipping here and there and bouncing up and down in time with the music coming from the stage. It was just remarkable. So many Red Glowies, at so many different heights. It was the Future of CMA. Red Glowies everywhere. Our future, our children out on a spring evening with their families and friends being part of our community. It brings tears to my eyes right now.
So at next festival, when you are just sitting around one evening, take a look – you too can see the future, and they are wonderful.
Rachel Allen
Managing Director
Youth Services
My favorite memory was a fantasy come true.
Quite a few years ago when I was dating Sticker Bill we came out for Samhain. He had just retired from the Navy and it was Saturday night when Revel fire was still in the original area (Phoenix meadow). I was dressed in a black sheer outfit and he told me to wait for him in the Med tent. He walked in wearing his Chocker Whites and fulfilled my Officer and a Gentleman fantasy. I will never forget that Revel fire.
Sky Ladywolf
Memories of Festivals Past.
Looking back over the years I fondly remember them differently. From my first event (the first ever on our new land) where sadly I never got a newbie badge because everyone was a newbie that year. The only people I really knew were Ron and Marie in Med camp and spent the event camped next to them and most of my time in the Med Tent helping.
I remember my first ritual – which was a Howling in Lothorian being lead my Medic Jason and the owl which greeted us as we walked down.
I remember John walking around telling everyone it was his last night alive on earth (he was going to be the sacrifice during the Nordic Saturday night ritual) and all the ladies and even a few gents turning him down.
I remember Samrain where my new tied-dyed dress turned my legs purple and blue and people thought I had fallen and was injured.
I remember Sticker Bill on one Samhain walking down to the Handfasting Grove to do a private ritual. Dressed in his hooded white robe he was walking down the path without any other lights and the lone person left from the previous ritual saw this white specter coming at them and was scared nearly to death.
I remember being honored to help with an ascension to Adulthood ritual and being asked to call the West and again having Owls involved.
Other memories include my first fishbowl in Pooh camp and hearing the drums, and the A-OOGA’s throughout the night. Waking up during setup weekend and seeing a coyote walking on the road next to my tent in the moon light. So many memories and so many smiles, tears, and emotions that make festival so special to all of us.
Here’s to making new memories.
Sky Ladywolf