DC Radical Faerie Beltane was a wonderful occasion this year. Our maypole was a motley assortment of all kinds of amazing colors and though it turned out a little kaplowy on top, the center part all the way down to the end wove up perfectly. It's a crazy beautiful thing.

And of course I'm like a shade away from sunstroke...

Cursed day star...

Anyways, the weekend was lovely. The bonfire was fun, even if the wood was smouldering on the fire. The maypole dance was excellent. And the little cluster of people going out for kabobs afterward was great.

Saturday night after the bonfire I went home and watched a ton of anime on adult swim. Hooray for an all anime saturday night again! It was glorious, and I even watched InuYasha twice! Sunday I bought a ton of anime at Best Buy with a tiny portion of my tax refund. I got the complete set of Noein, vol. 4 of Haruhi Suzumiya, and the movie Paprika.

So, tonight, I'm going to chill at home with my boyfriend, and a couple other folks and watch some Noein.

Spring is in the air, and Beltane is on my mind. In so many ways...

I'm planning and plotting and looking to buy another giant cache of ribbons. I was thinking about what I would say to the lovely people in Dupont Circle about the importance of the Maypole, and the *ahem* symbolism of said pole. ;)

Interestingly, dmlaenker pointed out that there is a picture of last year's maypole dance in the circle on the Wikipedia Page linked above. Scroll about halfway down on the right hand side and there we are. If you click on it to see the full size picture you can see my belly on the middle-right in the background.

I'm SO READY for May Day.

Today was a fine fine day, as yesterday was a fine fine night.

We had our Faerie Walpurgisnacht bonfire and it was lovely. Absolutely lovely. It was one of the more ecstatic and unplanned rituals, and those always are meaningful and moving, if chaotic.

Watched Heroes last night. WOW. Freaky deaky. This is one of the best written shows I have ever watched. They've really got their act together.

And now, I've got to write, loads and loads to write and edit and loads and loads to edit.

Wish me luck.

Friday: Had folks over for games and then games. ;) Yum.

Saturday Afternoon: Youth Pride extravaganza. I saw some children vogueing. I had a great time with Phillip and Wayne. A bunch of the people running for city council came by and smiled and nodded as I tried in vain to explain Radical Faeries to them.

Saturday Evening: Walpurgisnacht. Yes, we put a condom on top of the maypole. Yes, we thrusted it through the wreath. YES! With Toning and MOANING! YES!! Oh, it was good. We took off the old ribbons and burned them away. Put on the new ribbons in a fun paired couples thing. It was great. Lots of dancing, lots of food.

Sunday Morning: Potpourrifae arrived en taxi and we traveled forth to Baba's house. From there we met up with Phillip and processed the maypole down to the park. We met up with Faeries who came down from Philly and from other areas. We got 28 people to dance the pole, and probably more cause some people ran in and did it for a while and others ducked out and such. We ran into an older gentleman named Bob who told us that he danced a maypole when he was 8 years old in North Carolina, and hadn't seen one since then until yesterday. We invited him to come to Faeries and share his story. It was really good.

Sunday Evening: Potpourrifae and I went back home and watched some anime for a while and then the latest episode of Big Love. It was a nice endcap.

I slept like a rock last night.

I read a lovely book entitled "The Monastic Way" last night before bed and this morning before work. It's written by a Cistercian monk and it gave me lots of ideas. I've written before about how I appreciate monastic life. This really drove it home. Lovely.

I woke up at 6:00 this morning, got up for 10 minutes, went back to sleep and then woke up again at 9:30.

I got to work at 11:00.

I'm way behind this morning.

Last night potpourrifae and I made a new wreath for Faerie Beltane. It's covered in fake pansies and day lilys and daisys and lilacs and butterflies. It's gorgeous. Tonight we take care of hardware.

I was EXHAUSTED when I got home last night. I went out to A.C. Moore at Bailey's Crossroads with Potpourri last night to get the new ribbons for the maypole and some fake flora to make a faerie fabulous wreath for some hot maypole action. But JESUS it took forever to get out there on the bus, and then getting back was just as bad. MAN.

And you know, I don't care what anyone says, A.C. Moore is not better than Michaels. It was more expensive and had less of a selection, and the ribbon was way more expensive than I've spent in other years. Then again I've usually gone to a fabric store to get the ribbon in previous years. Whatever. At least it's over. :)

Now to figure out some way to make the pole a little safer.

Tonight we're making the wreath.

Come to DC and enjoy the height of the springtime with the DC Radical Faeries!

DC Radical Faeries Present

Beltane 2006

EVENTS:

4/29: Walpurgisnacht Bonfire

Come to Potpourri Sashay's glorious bamboo gardens and share in the feast, light the fire, adorn the maypole with new ribbon, dance the dance of sacred embodiment and partake of the rite of lubation.

Where: 306 Carroll St NW (Takoma Park Metro, Red Line)
When: Potluck Dinner 7:00 p.m.; Ritual at Sundown
Bring: Potluck Food and Suggested donation of $5.00 (no one turned away for lack of funds)
NOTE: Recommended 18 and older


4/30: Maypole Procession and Picnic

Join us at noon at Baba Niko's house for the Maypole Procession, the blessing of those we happen to run into, share in the picnicy goodness, share in bawdy song and poetry, and dance the maypole at Dupont Circle.

Where: 1809 Belmont Rd NW apt. 2 (Adams Morgan, Red Line) to Dupont Circle
When: Gathering for procession noon; step off (about) 12:30; picnic time (about) 1:30 in Dupont Circle
Bring: Picnic type finger food to share (nothing too sloppy); Sexy Springtime Poetry and Songs and Musical instruments to share the muse with others.
NOTE: As this is an event in a public park it is open to all ages.

Additional Notes:
* All events are rain or shine. There is a potential you might get muddy so wear appropriate shoes or go barefoot when necessary.
* The Maypole Dance is during the day, and sunblock is helpful!
* Come as yourself, whatever that means to you.

For further information contact Fritter at: info@dcradfeys.org, 202-265-0112.

The DC Radical Faeries is a community-based organization of men and women who explore queer spirituality. We welcome all queer spirits, straight, gay, bi, trans, two-spirited or searching. We welcome people from all walks of life who want to share and nurture their essential fabulosity. DC Radical Faeries is a 501(c)3 tax exempt religious organization.

Talking about Beltane.

We're having our rites on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. It's looking like it's going to be pretty minimal but evocative.

I think the most fun part is going to be riding the pole.

Yeah baby!