New Leaves

like a woman in lingerie going camping

The title was brought to you by the lovely Dustbuffalo, whom I begged/bribed/and almost dragged to the hippie retreat this past weekend.

Dancing at the fire, you have to have a dress, outfit, costume, birthday suit, plain clothes... really, whatever you want to wear, but it's usually an excuse for people to dress up and accentuate the positive. I was wearing a dark green Victoria's Secret satin slip. It was very tasteful, and had a nice slit in it. Over my shoulder, I had my camping chair, and voila, you have a woman in lingerie going camping.

I had a few nice outfits this weekend. I do think Sunday night's was the best. It was a 2 piece maroon velvet outfit with beaded fringe that swished when you danced.

I think that I have the biggest head after these festivals. And it's all I can do to be a 'good girl'. I find that I don't really care if the lines are corny. If they are coming my direction, I still smile and take it as a compliment.

Here's some fun quotes from the weekend:

"Do you want me to come with you?"
"I have an 8 man tent, and I've been trying to fill it with 8 men all weekend."
"I'm not 8 men, but I can work REALLY hard."
"Oh yes... Oh fuck, Oh yes..." (In response to a deep tissue neck massage, you perverts, i slept on my neck wrong the first night.)
"Your hair smells like the goddess herself"
"hmmmmmm. ahhhhhhh.... hmmmmmm" ( that was me giving a full body massage which i traded for 2 pillows and a neck massage)
"well you can come to my tent for warmth anytime" (in response to chattering teeth)
"if you were any hotter, it'd be criminal" (personal fave, don't care how corny it is. i usually can't get five words out of this guy, i apparently make him nervous.)
"I'd feel better if she was nekkid." (naturalist pointing to me as i crossed the greens. for a while, he was the only naturalist.... then they poured in. bless their wee.... hearts. yes, hearts.)

No adult swim this time around. Decided that was a good thing. Trouble would have come of that.

I worked my ass off this past weekend, and I had such a hard time unwinding at first. But Sunday night made up for it. I stayed by the fire with the staffmaker all night, and we enjoyed what is called "the quiet fire" as put on by the band "Incus". Its drumming, meditation, chanting, natural percussion (using your voice as percussion, or stomping your feet, or sliding, or beating your chest) They do this, and walk and dance around the fire until the sun comes up over the ridge. It was beautiful. They even brought out a cello at one point. There was incense all over the place, and everyone that wanted to be, got smudged. (That means that they got blessed with the smoke of white sage.)

When it was all over, we all joined hands for a moment around the fire, and then took turns hugging each other. It was lovely. I didn't want to go to sleep. I am hoping that at the next retreat, that we are able to lead a quiet fire like that. I am all over it. If I can get the help of a few people, then I know that we can do it.

Next time. I'm napping. My sleep pattern feels like I'm recovering from lag.

Posted by hawkie at September 8, 2004 10:29 AM