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Oh my Gods, I’m at #Pantheacon.

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I’m buzzing. Vibrating. I know that sounds New Age-y, but that’s really what it feels like to be in my body at this moment.

I’m sitting in the lobby of the San Jose DoubleTree Hotel, and Pantheacon is exploding all around me. There are men in skirts, women in top hats, people whose gender is a complete mystery, elders, newbies (like me), and a general spirit of something happening.

This is the place to be, and I’m here.

*grin*

Oh, and did I mention that there is a strong corseted faction? Because there is, and it’s amazing.

I’m overwhelmed, really. I didn’t know it would feel quite so exhilarating to be near this many strange, and delightfully decorated people. It’s as though my books have been made flesh.

For real.

I’ve spoken with Jim Dickinson, the Project Manager for the Pagan Library in Delaware, Ivo Domínguez, Jr., Author and Teacher, and Candace Kant, Ph.D, the new Dean of Students for Cherry Hill Seminary.

All before lunch.

For the majority of my time as an out-and-about Pagan, I’ve lived on the page and the screen. But this? This is something all together different. This is real. Real, and feathered, and leathered, and bearded, and adorned, and sitting right across from me.

All accoutrements aside, I’m thrilled that my day is scheduled to include:

1. A presentation by Raven Grimassi, Lon Milo DuQuette, T. Thorn Coyle, Diana Paxson, Orion Foxwood, Mary K. Greer, and Jacki Smith (“A Witch, A Seer, and a Crowleyite Walk Into a Bar”) put on by Weiser Books.

2. Introductions to many an ADF member, including Rev. Medb Olson when she leads her presentation, “Group Dynamics for Pagan Organizations.”

3. Ivo’s presentation, “Triple Shadow: The Shadow of the Lower, Middle, & Higher Self.” (He has the most impressive beard, doesn’t he?)

4. Who KNOWS what else!!

I’ve been reminded on many occasion to eat regular meals, drink water, and breathe. I’ll try to remember those.

I’m not going to attempt to do anything now except relish this feeling. There will be time to process later, time to sort through the images, the messages and the emotions and see what it might all mean.

For now, I soak in the energy!

(If you want to follow my up-to-the-minute posts, follow me on Twitter and Facebook. I’ll be posting…a lot.)

I’m Going To Wellspring!

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This May I’ll be attending my first ADF Gathering — Wellspring 2011! I’m very, very excited.

Here’s the description of the event from ADF’s website:

Sound the Horn of Gathering, and light the Fire of the Feast! The Wellspring Gathering brings together the Elders, hard-working managers and membership of A.D.F. for a long weekend of worship and magic, teaching and learning music and fellowship.

We will be having a three part Bardic competition this year to include one of each: a song, a story and finally poetry. We will have a sign-up for the competition at the registration pavilion. The winner will receive a trophy of a necklace for the year(s) they are the winner of the competition. This will be set up as a performance on the schedule of events. This will allow all interested to come during the day time to see the many different talents we have in ADF. The judges will sit in on all the performances and the finalists will repeat there performance on Saturday night at the pot luck/brewers competition.

YES, I said Brewers Competition. Any of you that have a brew to bring to the event please try and get it there before Friday noon (unless other arrangements have been made). If you will not be there and want to join email me (AJ Gooch) and we can work it out. Mead and Beer are always welcome!

The band for the Saturday night pot luck will be The Mickeys a new band for the event. They have been to Brushwood for many events. This is sure to be a great time.

Also this year there will be an altar set at the front of the hospitality area for groves and solitaries to bring an item from their altar(s) to place there for the event. This is to show our unity in ADF and to carry the energy back home. Please mark your item with name and contact information in case it is accidentally left behind. BE READY FOR SOME CHANGES THIS YEAR.

Oh how I would LOVE to win the Bardic competition! I have 3 months to prepare an original song, story & poem for the event. That should be plenty of time!

Are any of my fellow Druids, Pagans or Dedicants-In-Training considering attending? What say you – join me for a song around the fire?