[Elspode]

We did not one, but *two* rituals for Litha (Solstice, for you non-Pagans) this year. We were invited to do the ritual at Camp Gaea (which is where our annual giganto Pagan Fest is held) last Saturday, and ended up combining our ritual with the drumming festival that was going on, so we managed to work in some groovy drumming to the proceedings. Wish we'd known more about what was going on out there, we could have planned to hang out for the party that surely would have ensued, given the size of the bonfire they lit at the end.

On Sunday, we did our "Wizard of Oz" ritual for our coven Sabbat (we hold open rituals for each of the eight Sabbats, and have anywhere from 30 to 75 people show up on average). We did it in a frequent attendee's back yard, much to the amusement of a couple of neighbors ("I think they're performing Wizard of Oz, Bob"). Thirty people standing in a circle, with several dressed as Dorothy, Glinda, the Tin Man...you get the picture, I'm sure. Our timing was impeccable as it began to rain fiercely as the last word was spoken.

As our post-ritual fun also includes a potluck (and BBQ during the warm holidays), I found myself cooking burgers and dogs in a torrential rainstorm for the next two hours while the other attendees clustered under the covered patio.

Pretty damp for a solar celebration, but we had a great time...