July 2013:
From the New York Faerie Festival we travelled onwards across northern New York to the Brushwood Folklore Center for some rest, recovery, and relaxation. Brushwood had changed since the last time I visited there in 2004. Starwood was no longer held there, but the clothing optional Pagan sanctuary campground was still an emerald in the woods. It was built up and architecturally crowded with seasonal campsites set up, but more or less abandoned minus a few merchants getting some R & R between festivals as they were prepping up for Blue Heron Music Festival across town. Brushwood however was always and still is a favorite. The hot tub, the pool, the space, the ritual areas – all so magical. I miss attending festivals there. I had a nice meditation in my old Druid Fellowship’s Nemeton – the ADF Nemeton and got to see Isaac Bonewit’s memorial made for him. A few other temples and sacred spaces were constructed nearby and displeasing to the eyes seasonal campers creating a neighborhood wall around the spaces. Really think campsites should be relocated away from sacred spaces in my opinion. We explored Northern New York, Cuba Cheese, Seneca reservation, hanging on Lake Erie’s beaches, and Amish neighborhoods during our journey. A soak in the hot tub and swimming in the pool skyclad was invigorating. Beach days and strolling around the countryside, catching up with chai n’ wifi at the local Starbucks, and hunting for treasures in the thrift shops as we prepared for the Fourth of July.
We spent our fourth of July celebrations with visiting Niagara Falls on the 3rd, drumming, dancing and fireworks at Brushwood over the 4th, and catching up with chores like laundry, figuring out wifi, and fixes needed on the RV before we headed off to Ohio. Still struggling the month with the solar panel that blew up, a leak developed in the roof above the bed in the RV, and had to cancel out the Virgin broadband device and go with Verizon Mifi Wifi which worked spectacularly for the rest of the trip. Virgin sucked. Niagara Falls was awe inspiring.
Young Prince Cian was quickly filling in his map with states that he visited being only 4 months old and having visited well over 15 states, 5 festivals, and experiencing various forms of travel from boats, cars, trucks, rvs, buses, and trains. We crossed through Ohio and made our way to the Wisteria nature Sanctuary for X-fest and Starwood.
For over a week at Wisteria we set up camp, got the solar panels roaring, and erected our festival tents. Unfortunately a horrid rain and wind storm collapsed and drenched half of our camp requiring re-building and purchase of a new 10×10 ez-up. Sales were good, entertainment at Starwood was fantastic and good times were had. Rituals were fabulous as I re-connected with the ADF Druid clans which I was a big part of back in the heyday of the 1990’s.
It was good to run into Oberon Zell again and get a new Brigid statue for my altar as my former one had seen its day. I loved the ritual sites on Wisteria, the large ceremonial circles, and the fairy mound. Etain had experienced her first sweat lodge and loved it. Our vending booth was one of our finest setups yet with a 10×20 area. The freedom to expand and utilize your own space at Starwood is one of my favorite parts of the Starwood experience.
It was great being back at Starwood, one of my all time favorite festivals, albeit different as its no longer at Brushwood. It took some getting used to the change of venues. However was really nice to be back doing what I love … vending, tarot reading, and body painting at festivals in intentional communities that I chime well enough with to consider my tribe.
Much of July was about festivals, re-connecting with my spirituality, culture, friends, and extended family. Re-visiting sacred sites that were very meaningful in the evolution to where I am at today was very empowering. Definite re-connection with the fae the heart of my soul.
After a successful and prosperous Starwood, the bonfires lit and the drum circles done we hit the road driving across Amish country upwards north to the Hopewell Mound Culture site. A very sacred time walking around the ancients. The could formations that day were spectacular.
Driving through Indiana and Illinois, visiting friends and extended family all the way to Wisconsin. Got to visit some very meaningful people in my lives. Chicago was nuts though as the traffic made our caravaning vehicles get lost but luckily with cell phones it was momentary. Not sure how people manage to live in the traffic that is Chicago as it could never be a place for me to hang my hat just on that element alone.
Having perfected a remote office made it possible for us to continue selling things through our web site, off amazon, and being productive the entire journey across the country. Doing festivals were big launches back into business as we re-establish operations that have been pretty much non-existant the last 5 years or so.
Onwards to Milwaukee for more extended family and friend time, kids getting to play with one another, and catching up was had. Really wished we had more time to had visited everyone along the way without the pressure of having to reach one festival to another. Good times nonetheless as we realized this would be a route we’d like to do annually hitting festivals along the way.
Crossing the midwest was fun and always could find roadside attractions to lighten up our journey across Minnesota and South Dakota. Odd how certain charms could be found along the way. Visited the home place of the Jolly Green Giant and camped along a pristine river in South Dakota. Evening fireflies were enchanting the roadways with their magical flickers.
One of the highlights to the midwest was finding a fairy hill in the middle of South Dakota called Spirit Mound where even Lewis and Clark as well as the tribes in the area remarked of the little people living in the hill with sharp arrows that they would shoot at humans. Magic was felt atop the hill.
Exploring ghost towns along the way to the Badlands, we began tromping into the historic grounds of the Wild West. Driving was boring except for the occasional geological formations and the ruins of past times.
The Badlands were pretty cool as a scenic drive weaved us around the Grand Canyon-like hills, valleys, and mesas of this fantastic National Park.
The wildlife as well was always to be seen out and about in these parks, giving some excitement of the wild country we were wandering through.
Onwards to Mount Rushmore for a cool drive in the mountains and seeing the carvings that were done in tribute to past presidents. The scenic beauty of the surroundings were fabulous.
Sleeping at road side areas with howling winds and continuous rains all night made us feel definitely out in the middle of nowhere gave a sense of wonder how the migrating Euro-Americans made their ways across these wastelands in nothing but horse and wagons. To think of the minor difficulties we have today with our gas-powered automobiles what they would of went through back then. Amazing.
Onwards down into Nebraska and Colorado exploring museums dedicated to the mythical beast of the jackalope. Then onwards across Colorado into Wyoming up into the Grand Tetons and eventually into Yellowstone National Park.
Yellowstone always being a favorite and a venue I went to more times than I could count, I got to share it with Etain and Cian for the first time. Seeing the geysers, the mountains, the woods, the wildlife, the bubbling mud pools and the panoramic beauty of the pristine wilderness. Unfortunately its still healing from the wildfires of the past and will probably never be the same during my lifetime as I experienced it as a kid.
Soaking in the hot springs in Montana and driving across the Wild West making our way to Oregon for the Faerieworlds festival. The landscape had its own romantic quality even though a whole lot of nothing to see along the way.
Cian at this point has visited over 2/3rds of the U.S. and having a great time with the expedition. Driving through the Rockies, through a wildland fire, and some wildlife viewing.
Idaho wasn’t very spectacular as a lot of boring driving area, except for the fabulous lake at Cote de’Alene, with a beach day and swim to break up the journey, and our first fender bender with the RV as it was sideswiped by an SUV. Onwards into Washington we saw that Oregon was not far away with the festival only days away and house hunting expedition to follow from that.
We drove through the vineyards and deserts of Washington, took a dip and swim in the Columbia River, visited American Stonehenge, and inspired by Multinomah Falls.
We were finally on the West coast, absorbing the beauty of the Cascades and the volcanically dormant lands that would soon be our new home. As this was the environment that was the closest America has to offer in similarity to that of Ireland.
We made it to Faerieworlds, set up our booth and prepared for vending. Spiral dances and exciting times were had. Bodypainting, tarot reading, and re-connecting with lost extended family and friends … we were home.
It was amazing to see all the friends from Burning Man, Seattle, California, Colorado, etc. that came up for the festival making the reunion even better, especially those who were visiting Faerieworlds for the first time. Cian made his first entrance into this Faerieworlds and loved every minute of it. We reconnected with an acquaintance from Faerieworlds 2 years back that had offered us a place to use as a basecamp on his land while we house hunted. Most excellent.
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