Volusia Pagan Pride Day 2011 » Memories and Reflections

…10 Things We Learned at Volusia PPD – 2010 Edition…

liquidquick — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 15:14:26 +0000

1) if you’re feeling a bit under the weather, and some nice men and women from EVAC offer you a ride, go with it, because really, how often do we get chauffeured around town these days?

2) demanding the gods remove the rain-clouds may seem like a good idea at first but keep in mind they are the only thing between you and the sun…

3) only at volusia county ppd does it require two rolls of packing tape and a bag of two dozen balloons to result in four frickin’ balloons taped to a couple of signs that nobody really saw any way.

4) european elder is a glorious, tall, sacred tree. american elder is a small, poisonous shrub… did they just run out of names when they crossed the ocean, or is there a political message somewhere in that?

5) no, i don’t care what candle corresponds with what element, just light them all, dammit, and let the gods figure it out later.

6) realizing that this is florida, and our event is held outdoors on a grassy area, perhaps sensible footwear is in order? there’s an easy mathematical formula for figuring this out… ” (Barefoot/Sandals)*Exposed Foot-Flesh = FIRE ANT LUNCH. ”

7) i know we had planned for chocolate wine and four varieties of pudding for our cakes and ale ceremony, so how did we end up with blue sugar-juice and plain ‘nilla wafers?!

8) if you’re manning the grill, make sure you actually have something on it when you notice the video camera panning toward you. flipping air-burgers may seem like a good idea, but the camera tends to pick up those little details…

9) try not to inhale a bug when you’re taking a deep breath in for a chakra chant… it throws off your energy somewhat.

10) just because it says ‘easy-up tent’ on the side, doesn’t necessarily mean its ‘easy-DOWN’ too. especially when you need a screwdriver bit, a hammer, and a blood-pact with satan to push the damn buttons in.

and a bonus…

11) we underestimated just how dangerous the ketchup and relish situation was, so next year we will be developing a two-hour, online certification program for proper condiment usage. under no circumstances will anyone who does not successfully complete this course be allowed anywhere near the slap-chop.

…The Craving for Faith…

liquidquick — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:34:16 +0000

so reflecting upon past ‘phases’ of my life, i noticed that one of the recurring themes seems to be what is essentially a need for faith – a deep seated craving to be part of something bigger and better then my current incarnation. i noticed a pattern that when things were balanced and flowing smoothly within my spiritual life, other areas of my life concurrently flow more smoothly as well. and, conversely, when i’m in spiritual crisis, everything else tends to be chaotically hectic. and i also noticed that throughout previous cycles of depression, weight gain, reduction of faith, rinse and repeat; there is always an element of the lack of spiritual fulfillment. i’m starting to think that this lack is not a symptom, but rather a root cause, as the turning point is always some sort of spiritual reconciliation.

so now i’m wondering if its possible that some folks can be ‘hardwired’ for spirituality? that faith, and the exercise thereof is a physical need just as necessary as food, water, and air. i’m willing to entertain the idea that its all due to how certain molecules are aligned and spewing chemicals in my head… although i hope its more than that. i’m also willing to entertain the idea that each person has a ‘true calling’ and for some its spiritual expression… which would assume that there is something doing the calling in the first place.

what prompted this was looking back into past writing and noticing that even during the critical lows, my spirituality has never completely unraveled into the ‘life sucks, there is no god’ temporary atheism – rather i have bottomed out at the ‘life sucks, god doesn’t give a shit’ level. i have never been able to seriously accept the possibility that there is no god and no substance to faith – i don’t understand true atheism, because i haven’t ever really experienced it.

so i’m curious to see how other people react to crises of faith, and is faith an essential need for your well-being or something that ebbs and flows as your life situation changes?

through the looking glass…
-justin

…VPPD Altar 100% Made in China…

liquidquick — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 02:37:24 +0000

One of the more humorous moments from PPD 2009 came about halfway through the event when Dru Ann and I just happened to find ourselves standing at the altar. We were popping new candles into some of the holders when we realized that everything – absolutely everything – on the altar was made of plastic. there was not one natural item to be found. from the fake plastic greenery, to the fake plastic seashell, to the plastic wand. We had plastic pens, plastic candle lighters, and little plastic cups. We quickly realized that this would just not do, so we reached into our bags of altar items (lets just say Dru and I come prepared for altar making…) and whipped out a cauldron, a bell and dorje, some scales, and other metal-y bits to complement our stash of plastic. All of which was fine…

…until we realized that everything – absolutely everything – on the altar was made in China. *sigh*… ya win some, ya lose some. This year we’re going to try for a little bit more ‘nature’ on our altar.

For anyone who missed it at ppd, Stuart got some great pics of the finished altar. The link to the ppd photo gallery is in the sidebar.

-justin