Review: Claire M's MoonHenge trip

Subject: Review: Claire M's MoonHenge trip
From: Claire M
Date: 23 Aug 13 - 10:36 AM

Hiya,

(Apologies if the language in this is a bit flowery but I wanted to get in the spirit of things.)

Here starteth the◘ henge review.

Was desperate to go cos I couldn't get to Stone'enge (where the children dance to the pipes of Pan, & nobody knew who they were/what they were doin') so this was organised as a treat for me by member of staff who also loves this kind of thing.
Going to such an event was stupidity itself but though I knew I was going somewhere I knew not of where or what it was & by the time I knew it was too late.

A man walks up & explains why he had ◘henge built, for his late wife, & reads a poem about how the stars don't know of love, grief, things not happening as they should, or human life. I think how I envy them as I adjust my silky red & black, gold-edged dress which fits like paint, wincing as it chafes my unfettered breasts every time I breathe.

I sip from my goblet of strong mead, arranging my legs so I don't slip down in my chair & so my pointy boots don't come off. My Consort is sadly not here, but a fellow fosterling is, with his companion – (my own's husband) --, both looking as if they want to be anywhere else but where they are. I, on the other hand, have loved this w/ all my ♥ for nearly 100% of my life; novels, magazines, & stories I read/write are full of it .

A woman w/ a flowery headdress on top of locks the colour of flames appears in front of me to say she had a vision of a Native American. There's a woman w/ heavy b&w make-up & clothes, she's carrying an accordion. She must be a folk musician but she looks like she should be in a rock band. Why is she looking at me ? I don't want her to look at me; yes I do. I don't want her to start playing; yes I do -- I don't want her to stop once she starts.

I'm as dry as a kex, & so nervous I want to vomit. I thankfully don't. My chair gets stuck in the grass, eventually having to be pushed by said carer, who has been working since ¼ to 7 that morning, & her husband keeps forgetting I can't drive myself.

The flame-haired woman gives me a ☺ & asks my name. Nearly forgetting it, I tell her as I look at her old-fashioned dress in complete awe, somehow knowing she sings, anticipating her high, clear voice that would – like her -- frighten & enchant me at the same time, feeling like I'll pass out. How can I feel as if I've been here before, when I haven't??.

Over pan-pipe music which makes me want to weep, another woman asks the Goddess & Guardians of Earth, Air, Fire & Water, to be w/ us as she opens the Sacred Circle. She lists all the Goddess's names. The Goddess is also in Her male form, the Lord of the Hunt(!)

The flame-haired Priestess starts to chant.
"I see the moon,
The moon sees me
The moon sees somebody I want to see....."

She carries on chanting,. 27 drummers are behind her, including Karen, all w/ big drums they've customised themselves or had customised, according to them mostly aided by spirits.

"Mother, I feel you under my feet," the Priestess sings, "Mother, I feel your heartbeat........" we all join in as much as we can; as she says, we're all one after all. She is right; I just wish this were true of my flat in the care home & that I could share this w/ someone else there aside from said member of staff.

She then says hail & farewell.

The sky is now a backdrop of pink & orange to the wooden "stones", the moon is full & blue, like the song.

The b&w-clad dancers –the Pig Dyke Molly Dancers they are called – they look like human versions of Merlin -- do 3 dances to music I ½-recognise w/o knowing but love regardless; the Witches' dance from Macbeth, as the 3 witches were all supposedly real; a dance about death, & another dance.
They dance in mid-winter, they tell us, to dance the sun up (to halt the work of yon Wintersmith!) I ½ -move my legs, forgetting I cannot join in & why.

I go through the lines of people to partake of wine & hog roast (had already partaken of bbq'd meats at lunch & about 4pm, spring rolls & coleslaw) while the drums carry on, frightened & thrilled equally. Said hog roast, w/ crackling, & apple sauce, is dropped all over my lovely dress.

We get ready to go about 9pm. I want to stay. Why can't I stay with these people? This is where I should be; this is my home; my flat, as good as it is & as well as I am tended to, is simply where I happen to live.
Back in the bus, my friend's Companion gets his belly out & starts to dance to the music outside. Then while driving us back, he does a witch's cackle & starts speaking in a high, scratchy voice, making my friend & I jump out of our skin.

Later I am still dry as a kex as I am today, i'faith – there'd been nobody to make me a cup of tea before bed – beyond exhaustion & desperate for the privy, my feet go into spasm. Serves me right. They're ok after boots come off – wore them too long -- but start up hurting again the next day.

The most important thing is would I go again? YES but I'd need to either go in my manual chair/have one of those big tank-like chairs. Of course i'd have to check concert dates too.

It is rumoured I may not be able to write any more for I shall be hanged from the gallows oh so high for disbelieving in Christ (why, when all religions do basically the same job, & other things can & do do said job for me ??) then a bunch of steely-eyed itingerant minstrels, whom I loved more than life & as much as my parents, whose career has spanned decades, will write a song about it, which I sadly won't hear.

(Goddess be praised, for it has this moment been decreed that said steely-eyed band of minstrels hath been ordered to play @ Derngate on 29th Nov – I'm bowel-looseningly pleased w/ this & have just frightened her fellow fosterling to death screeching my head off.)

Here endeth the◘ henge review.

I ain't got the blues no mo' I said.

Subject: RE: Review: Claire M's MoonHenge trip
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Aug 13 - 11:36 AM

What fun! May the memory carry you a long way.

Subject: RE: Review: Claire M's MoonHenge trip
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 23 Aug 13 - 09:18 PM

I am glad you were able to go!

Subject: RE: Review: Claire M's MoonHenge trip
From: GUEST,Manuel
Date: 23 Aug 13 - 10:44 PM

Claire M, a treat to hear from you again.

Subject: RE: Review: Claire M's MoonHenge trip
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 23 Aug 13 - 11:23 PM

what a great description.

Subject: RE: Review: Claire M's MoonHenge trip
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 24 Aug 13 - 05:34 AM

Good to read that you have been enjoying yourself greatly, and share your experience with us. No sensible person will grudge you that on theological grounds, the only proviso being that you do not hurt yourself seriously. (By the way, Jesus had a lot of understanding for all kinds of "different people" [- your words in another thread -] and defended them against the Pharisees.)

Subject: RE: Review: Claire M's MoonHenge trip
From: Claire M
Date: 24 Aug 13 - 10:49 AM

Hiya,

Thanks!

(Something I forgot to put in.)

I can see the Priestess's burning hair in the purple-black night as she tells of her visions & asks me to partake of yet more mead, singing me songs, like a character in the songs I listen to/stories I make up. I see her not. I see her not!

This is how the mortals of legend who were taken to Fairyland must have felt . I wanted to dance w/ them; I've eaten of their hog roast & drank of their mead; little wonder I yearn to return to it.

As yon steely-eyed band of minstrels warned me, "dance the Dark Morris, you may never dance back......"

My Consort holds no interest – he does not know I've occasionally walked 2 paths – but he must know there's something different; I am too quiet.....

Subject: RE: Review: Claire M's MoonHenge trip
From: Mo the caller
Date: 25 Aug 13 - 11:54 AM

Join the fellowship of those who music moves to do the impossible. I have danced when my feet did not touch the ground - I floated on the music and returned to my abode with my heart full of joy.


(I can't do flowery as well as you, but I'm glad you enjoyed it)

Subject: RE: Review: Claire M's MoonHenge trip
From: frogprince
Date: 25 Aug 13 - 04:29 PM

Claire, what fun to read! So glad you got to have such a day.

Subject: RE: Review: Claire M's MoonHenge trip
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 25 Aug 13 - 09:44 PM

Claire, was it this? I hope this is one of the YouTube videos that can be seen anywhere. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OD2VhQMnQU

Subject: RE: Review: Claire M's MoonHenge trip
From: GUEST,Moon goddess k
Date: 29 Aug 13 - 02:29 PM

Fantastic write up for a fantastic event. There's bound to be more

Subject: RE: Review: Claire M's MoonHenge trip
From: Claire M
Date: 29 Aug 13 - 04:02 PM

Hiya,

It was great, k!   Thanks for finding that,CL; music fantastic. Will show clip to aforementioned staff member & see if she knows who it's by.
Every time the other lady who helped me [who was so embarrassed she wanted nobody to know she was @ anything like that] sees me now she raises her arms & starts chanting @ me. I was glad, too. I hope there is; I hope he [the man who built it] isn't made to take it down.......

Subject: RE: Review: Claire M's MoonHenge trip
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 30 Aug 13 - 12:54 AM

I am delighted that you were able to view the video and that it wasn't blocked. I hate it when I can't see a click that someone has posted on Mudcat or Facebook!

Subject: RE: Review: Claire M's MoonHenge trip
From: GUEST,Goddess Celeste moon owl
Date: 02 Oct 13 - 03:48 PM

Such a fantastic write up for my moon henge.
I was there at the blessing of the field before the oaks were put in and there for the grand opening and I am also the first goddess to be initiated there by moon SHALA goddess of Glastonbury .
I am so lucky .