Lammas Camp At Oakleaf

Well what can I say. This Blog entry is a bit late in the day, but I stayed longer at the camp than expected so had to burn the midnight oil when I got back to catch up on an order that needed to be out by last weekend.

Ok…the camp itself. I arrived on the Friday thanks to Ian, Martina’s lovely hubby who took a half day off work to get me there. The ground was water logged but we managed to park the ban and off load all my camping stuff, Gazebo and items for sale. He helped me set up the Gazebo and Bell Tent (I'm so glad I decided to take this tent!) and left me to it. I can’t tell you the sense of achievement I felt when I got there and was sitting inside the tent…my own space, my own world and a fantastic sense of Feeling the Fear and doing it anyway! I was not scared, worried, or apprehensive…just a great sense of ‘I’ve done it’ and nothing can stop me now! Friday night I chilled out with friends and socialised with new people. Helped others get their stuff from the cars and put up tents. I was alone but amongst friends…some of who I have never met. Friends waiting to be discovered and connections not yet apparent. The wonderful thing for me at these camps is that there are no social class system. The people there can be millionaires or people less fortunate and on Benefits no one asks and it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that everyone is there for each other and with a common aim and it matters not what ‘Path’ we are on…there WE ARE ONE!

A great chance to meet up with friends.....

this is Aus, myself, Ozzy

(Don't you think he looks like Ozzy Osbourne?) and Rachel.

Saturday was really special, I went to a Handfasting which is the Pagan equivalent of a Marriage. It was a lovely ceremony and the sun shone brightly despite the terrible weather forecast. The only tinge of sadness was that Tony and I were Hand Fasted there last year and had planned to renew our vows this year…even talking about it just a week before he decided to leave. So quite emotional on two levels…one where I was overcome by their love for each other and the other side of the scale trying to put out of my mind what should have been.In the afternoon I heard the drumming, loud and clear…and off I went to the Roundhouse to join in the drumming on my Djembe. Very powerful! Loud, rhythmic and meditative. I swear the drums were speaking out a repeated message. Fantastic!

Sunday was the Wicca Man Ceremony. I opened my stall and made new connections. Then on the afternoon we all wrote out our prayers and put them on the Wicca Man to be sent up to the powers that be to be answered as the Wicca Man burned. The drumming was once again rhythmic, people danced, chanted and called for the return of John Barleycorn! Tony who had joined us the night before was chosen to be John Barley corn…and had the pleasure of drumming inside the circle and dancing with the young hand maidens…what guy would turn down this opportunity! Lol.

Sunday evening we sat around the bonfire and relaxed. I love the Sunday evening…..it’s a winding down night, a time to reflect and be grateful for the meeting of old friends and the making of new.

All too soon it was over. Monday Tony helped me talk everything down, pack it all up and drove me home.
I had an amazing time. Learnt a lot about myself and how I function. Re affirmed my in built bloody mindedness about Feeling The Fear and Doing It Anyway.
Can’t wait until next year!