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Greetings! |
As you drive slowly up
the long road to Diana's Grove, you'll notice things you don't see
everyday - butterflies, small creeks, flowers and herbs. When you
reach the barn, someone will greet you with a hug, and say "Welcome
Home!" It's how we've all been greeted for many years at the Lifesong
and Balefires of Beltane festivals… but a new millennium is here,
and with it appeared a new festival. Put aside the noise and mayhem,
say goodbye to traffic, honking cars and meaningless deadlines. Take
the hand of a friend - one you've known for years, or one you've never
met before - and enter a space between.
I was listening to NPR
the other day and was inspired by a report done of the folksinger
Pat Humphries. The reporter (Marika Partidge) tells that she first
heard the song on a camping trip! And that her works have been heralded
by Pete Seeger. (Click here
to listen to Swimming
to the Other Side. Lyrics
can be found here.)
Well that had me hooked and I listened to the whole article. It can
be found online at: http://www.npr.org/programs/atc/features/2002/may/humphries/index.html
As well as a links to download
mp3's of the song done by Pat and other folksingers!
At the end of the program,
I'd found that I'd fallen in love with this woman's music and that
I had a new theme that made sense. The song speaks of loneliness,
fear, searching, longing and how we all are looking to come through
in the end. It echos the sentiment of one of my favorite authors,
Spider Robinson: "Shared pain is diminished; shared joy is increased.
Thus do we refute entropy."
Swimming to the other side
speaks as a theme speaks of the troubles and trials that are the "stream"
of our lives and how we endeavor to triumph against the tide that
challenges us and in this we are all together.
Pomegranate is sacred space,
created with love and intention. It's a planned community of friends,
family and lovers, so come join us! We'll wake to the bright summer
sun, teach and learn from each other, lounge in the creek at midday,
share food and magick as the sun sets and the moon rises. Swim to
the other side with us at Pomegranate.
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What
and Who |
This is year three for
Pomegranate, a festival created to fill the void left by the end of
LifeSong and Balefires of Beltane, in 1999. Pomegranate is a mini-intentional
community. Many people offer time, ideas, and support. The Pomegranate
committee consists of Tess, Sean-Thomas, Rick and Tina. There will
also be some additional adjunct committee-folk helping onsite this
year.
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Where
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Imagine spiraling down
into the lush, green womb of the Mother. Welcome to Diana's Grove,
a private camp that nestles against 20 miles of Mark Twain National
Forest.
What can you expect? Wading
or swimming in a crystal stream; camping in flat, shaded sites; walking
a huge labyrinth cut into the side of the meadow. You'll also find
a year-round, dedicated magical grove; the most elegant outhouses
and barn you've EVER encountered; equally lovely warm showers tucked
in the woods; and a Faerie Rock. Wallow in the mist-filled mornings
and fall into velvet night sky, broken only by slivers of light from
the moon and stars. Diana's Grove is about 45 minutes outside Salem,
Missouri, in the Ozarks. It's about three hours from St. Louis or
Columbia, and five from Kansas City. You may get a taste of the Grove
by visiting their website at www.dianasgrove.com.
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Pomegranate
is for Everyone |
All races, traditions,
alternative family structures, and sexual orientations are welcome
and encouraged to attend and to express themselves freely. If you
don't think you'll be comfortable coming face to face with any of
the above, please don't come.
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About
the Site |
Physically, be prepared
for camping in a tent, walking on mostly flat ground, fending off
bugs with something environmentally sound, wearing your shoes, and
reveling in heat, cold, rain, or sunshine. If you want to cook, bring
a camp-stove and accouterments. Bring what you need to keep your stuff
dry and your person comfortable. We ask that you NOT bring
any generators or other appliances that produce noise. (A boom-box
that can be heard ONLY within the confines of your tent is fine, but
please be considerate of others). Wind, trees, laughter, silence and
so many natural sounds abound in Diana's Grove. Please be gentle and
give them space. All ritual sites are flat and accessible, but if
you require mobility assistance we ask that you arrange for an attendant
or friend to help you.
Diana's Grove embodies
natural beauty and tranquility. That's part of the whole experience.
To preserve that feeling, please DO NOT leave vehicles in the
camping area. We see enough cars in our lives. This is a time to forget
them. Thanks!
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Weather
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This is Missouri. Be prepared
for anything. Expect everything. We're serious. You'll be a much happier
camper if you come prepared. Bring layers, bring rain stuff, bring
sunscreen, bring lightweight and heavy clothing, and anything else
that will help you adapt to a wildly fluctuating climate. In the morning,
it tends to be cooler and misty. Diana's Grove is in a valley. The
staff will be monitoring the weather and will keep the camp informed
of what to expect. (After significant combined gathering experiences,
Pomegranate Committee recommends Rubbermaid™ tubs, trash bags,
tarps, long underwear, wool … and duct tape. With those tools,
you can get through almost any weather!) If we have heavy rain, we
ask your patience and cooperation. It's very important that we tread
gently on the land and not tear up the road or the campsite.
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Recycling
& Sustainable Living |
We do require that you
bring biodegradable, earth-friendly products with you (no CFC's please).
We are each responsible for our impact on the environment. Please
bring low-/no-waste products and plan to take personal responsibility
for any trash or recyclable items. In simple terms, you bring it in,
you take it out. The only trace of our presence should be some flattened
grass.
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Forbidden
Fruit |
We love to bliss
out on drumming, dancing, chanting, and a lot of other wonderful things
(like strawberries!), however, please leave alcohol and drugs at home.
This is the policy of Diana's Grove for all events. It is also a long-standing
tenet for LifeSong and Balefires of Beltane, and which Pomegranate
fully embraces. We want to create a safe space for the WHOLE family,
including anyone who may have issues with substances. Please find
something else wonderful to do that meets your needs, but please don't
attend if you choose not to respect the guidelines of Diana's Grove
and Pomegranate. We also ask that no fireworks or firearms be brought
on site. We love the animal creatures with whom we share our homes,
but Diana's Grove already comes fully stocked with dogs, and isn't
set up to handle any other animals dog, cat or otherwise, so please
leave your furry friends at home (unless they walk upright and have
opposable thumbs).
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Activities |
This year Pomegranate will
open noon on Friday until noon on Monday. Friday offers the chance
to arrive, get settled, and relax, with a small ritual planned by
the committee that evening. There will be workshops during the day
on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday evening brings Sing For Your Supper,
a combination talent show and potluck, followed by the main ritual.
Please feel free to e-mail us with questions or suggestions at garnetpomegranate@wpcs.net.
We welcome any and all
offers to plan rituals or create workshops. If you are interested,
please request a ritual/workshop form by e-mailing Tina at: tinashell@hotmail.com
or lystara@hotmail.com,
or writing to us at Pomegranate, P.O. Box 1521,
West Plains, MO 65775. You are welcome to submit plans
for any type of workshop or ritual you wish, but keeping our theme
of "Swimming to the Other Side" in mind will be a definite plus. Detailed
information on workshops and rituals will be available in the program
when you arrive at Diana's Grove.
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Children
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Children are, of course,
welcome and embraced, however their care and maintenance is the responsibility
of their parents or legal guardians. We do not have a program for
children's workshops or rituals at this time, but we would love to
have volunteers who are willing to create and lead events geared toward
our younger generation. Please e-mail garnetpomegranate@wpcs.net
or write to our post office box if you would like to volunteer in
this area. It is the dream of the Pomegranate committee to someday
present a solid, yearly children's festival concurrent with Pomegranate.
Please help us take the first steps toward achieving this goal.
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Registration |
Registration is limited
to 100 people so reserve your place soon. If you need to cancel, please
notify us as soon as possible so that we can free up your space for
another participant. NOTE: there are NO REFUNDS, EXCHANGES OR CREDITS.
Click here
to go to the registration page which you can print out and mail to:
Pomegranate, PO Box 1521, West Plains, MO
65775.
Registration packets will
be mailed as registrations are received. If you don't receive anything
from us by August 23rd, please call 417-257-3347.
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How
to Reach Us Fast |
For questions not answered
in this flyer, please feel free to e-mail us at garnetpomegranate@wpcs.net.
We will be checking messages daily.
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But
Wait, There's More! |
As an added
bonus, everyone will get a neat sticker in either red or white to put
on the back of the car, on a notebook, or your favorite llama. It will
look like this:
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