Crescent Shadows On-Line Newsletter of the Hudson Valley Pagan Network, Inc.

www.rosencomet.com/starwood

The Starwood festival, now in it's 22nd year, is produced by the Association for Consciousness Exploration, and the Chameleon Club. While not billed strictly as a pagan festival, the vast majority of speakers, performers,attendants and merchants are pagan. This years schedule included over 250 workshops, rituals, & concerts, and was attended by over 1700 people.The festival ran from Tues- 7/23 thru Sunday 7/28 at the Brushwood center in Sherman, NY. For a compleat listing of workshops and performances click on the link above.

The general format was seminars in the morning and afternoons, with a 2 hr break for lunch / concerts etc. at noon. After dinner,there was a early evening concert, followed by a midnite ritual presented by different groups each nite(ADF, CAW, Freemasons etc) as well as drumming/ bonfire in the round house each nite that lasted till the seminars started up again the next day. Culminating in the grand bonfire Sat nite and closing circle Sun afternoon. Just as with any large trade show or convention there was always too much to do, too many people to see, and not enough hours in the day/nite.

I tried to concentrate most of my workshops in a few specific areas of interest, Celtic / Druid history, working with nature spirits, and shamanic healing with multiple workshops in each. However, I still managed to take classes in, beginning drumming, instant evocation (as opposed to invocation), Demeter, myst walking, and building cordwood homes. For every class I took there were always 2 others that I would have loved to take that unfortunately were scheduled at the same time. The quality of the seminars and expertise of the presenters is second to none. This is probable the best festival offered on the east coast, as well as the most cost effective ($150.00 for early registration covers all festival events as well as camping fee's for 6 days) compared to many 2-3 day events.

While the above (...just the facts, ma'am.) will give you an objective idea about the event it does nothing to describe the feeling of being surrounded by hundreds of like minded people of all ages and backgrounds. I would say on a personal note that the best parts of Starwood were often found sharing potlucks, stories and feelings at various small firecircles way too late into the nite. Even though we come from very different traditions and paths the overriding feeling at Starwood is of coming home.

- kevin

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Last Updated: September 28, 2003
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