PantheaCon 2010 Day 4 Monday
The last day of PantheaCon always has an element of sadness. People are packing and going back home. Virtually everyone is requesting a late checkout and it takes hours to get one of the trolleys to move your things back to your car. Attending workshops becomes a challenge, but I managed to get to two.
The first was “Oracles and Divination in Ancient Egypt” by Richard Reidy, who is the author of Eternal Egypt: Ancient Rituals for the Modern World. Richard’s approach to the practice of ancient Egyptian religion is a bit different to that of Tamara L Siuda (whose workshop I attended on Saturday morning). Richard’s approach is that he limits himself solely to source texts. As I have previously discussed, this seems to me to be largely a matter of taste. While I think it is important to have a well researched core to your own practice, whether or not you choose to “improvise” is a personal choice. Richard is someone who is obviously devoted to his practice, and I felt quite inspired listening to the relationships he had forged with his primary deities over a lengthy period of time. I also enjoyed listening to his thoughts about some of the Demotic magickal texts dating back to late antiquity which we both use – there simply aren’t many people using this stuff, so it’s definitely not something you hear everyday.
The last workshop that Jo-Ann and I attended was the very last one put on by Patrick McCollum called “Creating the Sacred Oil: The Origins of Magical Oils in Ritual.” Patrick was actually involved in eight workshops all up, and he had a very large group for this one. One of Patrick’s missions in life is to prevent craft secrets from being lost – much has actually been lost in just the last couple of generations as pagan elders die off. To this end, he taught us how to manufacture the original Sacred Oil used by witches in ancient times. The workshop didn’t end there, as Patrick told us how to modify the Sacred Oil recipe to turn it into Flying Ointment, but requested that we not upload it to the internet. The composition of Flying Ointment is normally a closely guarded secret, so to be honest, I was quite surprised when he revealed it to the group. But, at least this way, the composition will not be lost any time soon.
After some sad goodbyes to our friends who were still there, including the ever gorgeous Orion Foxwood, it was time for Jo-Ann and myself to drive back home.
Tony Mierzwicki
Wow, I’ve read several accounts of PCon, but none have been as informative and evocative as yours. You really gave a great feel for what the event was like, and made me wish that I could have attended! Thanks for sharing.
Hi Sannion,
Thank you very much for your kind words.
PantheaCon is really an amazing event as you doubtless remember from four years ago when you last attended. There is just so much to choose from, so much to learn, and so many interesting people to meet.
If the gods are willing perhaps you’ll come next year? It’d be great to have more Hellenic recons there (as well as Graeco-Egyptian syncretists)!
Blessings,
Tony
Thank you, Tony, for your various posts on PantheaCon!
This was a very different one for me…Many people remarked how something certainly felt strange about it this year…It wasn’t as populated as previous years, due to both economic and weather/travel difficulties, most certainly, but there was a “something else” about it as well…!?!
I’ve hardly been busier at a PantheaCon as I was at this one, with six sessions that I was either giving, organizing, or participating in somehow, as well as a few others in which I was a “support person” for the one presenting…Plus, a few I needed to attend as a matter of reciprocity (and I take that sort of thing very seriously…If I’m to expect it of the gods, I should be very willing to give it in return to those who assist me–or, at least I think so!).
It was busy, and I only had about four hours of sleep a night; but, I got to everything that I absolutely wanted to, had some amazing and brilliant experiences, put on a ritual that touched many people present far more deeply than I expected (and was in turn rather touched by it in unexpected ways myself), and had a few further interesting and unanticipated brushes with spiritual realities outside of the main conference program.
I was particularly aware of how warm and friendly the environment is at PantheaCon; as it’s the only large pagan gathering that I’ve ever attended with any regularity, I don’t know if others are the same or not. But, the default greeting is a hug at PantheaCon, and that just speaks volumes, I think. At the moment, I’m living in the frozen tundra of the midwest, and people here are physically cold and distant, even when they’re at their most friendly. It’s a wonderful breath of fresh air to be immersed in an environment like that at the Double Tree in San Jose for that weekend.
And, though it wasn’t terribly sunny there, it was warm enough to do our Antinoan Inundation ritual (not on the actual schedule, but perhaps we’ll have it added next year) on Monday morning at 7:30 AM at/in the hotel pool (and the pool is heated, so how bad, like!), which was a good success. It needs some refinement, but it will get better as more people do it and try it and work with it, I think. Like many things in reconstructionist religions, it will take practice and experimentation, but we can’t be afraid of that.
You really were busy! It sounds like it all went really well for you.
You hit the nail on the head regarding the reconstructionist groove. Source texts will only take you so far. There’s no substitute for actual experimentation.
That feeling of warm friendly inclusiveness that you mentioned is actually characteristic of all the pagan events that I have been to. Because PantheaCon is bigger than other festivals, you get more of that wonderful feeling!
As for the reason why, I would put it down to us being in a minority social group by choice. Minority groups always seem to have an element of closeness and mutual support.
Anyway, people are already buzzing about next year’s one, and I’ll look forward to seeing you there if not sooner!