I just spent a week at the Sirius Rising festival. I love all the different shrines and sacred spaces at the Brushwood Folklore Center. I thought you all might enjoy some pictures.
Brushwood has shrines to the cardinal directions:
East and Wind
West and Water
North and Earth
And of course South and Fire
The southern shrine is a little different, it’s the Roundhouse where the nightly bonfire takes place
At night the drumming doesn’t stop and people dance continuously around this circle…
Within the Roundhouse there are several smaller shrines…
There is a shrine to spirit, but it’s a labyrinth and hard to photograph.
There are many other smaller shrines all over the campground…
Later she ended up being festooned with a crown of flowers…
There are also sacred spaces dedicated to specific groups.
The Runestead –
And one of my favorites, the ADF Nemeton –
There is a small shrine dedicated to the memory of Isaac Bonewits.
There is also a small shrine to POW-MIAs.
Also…
Up by the Runestead and the Nemeton is one of my favorite features of Brushwood, my friend Bella Via sculpted a piece called The Watcher and she sits on the path before you reach the Runestead…
She certainly watches me whenever I go up there! To me she embodies a strong woman who has been broken, but who has managed to put herself back together again even stronger than she was before. Bella does amazing work.
Bella Via is pretty amazing person herself!
On the last evening of the festival, there is a huge bonfire. People believe that Brushwood (the land itself) is on top of a dragon and for the last ritual, they call upon the power of the dragon each year. They start by building a huge bonfire. (Picture with me to give you an idea of the size of the thing).
And then a new dragon is sculpted each year (I am not sure of the lady’s name who does it, I met her only very briefly).
This was this year’s dragon, the Ouroboros.
And he is put on top of the rest…
And after the final ritual, it’s all lit!
My partner Kenny performed the Saturday night concert and led everyone down to the ritual afterwards. They all chanted the chorus of his song Mandrake.
Take me down, take me down Papa Legba
Take me now where I stand
I’ll draw your sign at the crossroad
And wait for the shadowland…
It was a pretty amazing experience. If you ever make it to Sirius Rising, you will not be disappointed!
UPDATE!
I FORGOT TO ADD THE FAIRY SHRINE!
Blue Star Owl 