Desert Magic was absolutely incredible this year. We had workshops like Oracular Seidh, Run Valdr and Solve et
Coagula; like Towards a Druid Mysticism and Creating Talismans and Amulets, where we actually got to make our
own out of papyrus or copper sheeting! There were classes in Poetic Invocations and Creating Chants; and
classes on the God Cernunnos and the Goddess Brigid. We even had classes on Skip Ellison's new book, The
Solitary Druid, and classes on Juggling as Meditation and Building Sacred Fires.

We split the Festival Ritual over three nights. For the Opening Ritual, we did the usual up to and including Opening
the Gates, and then Diana Paxson led an Oracular Seidh. Jenni Hunt led an intimate Roman ritual on Friday morning in the Temple of Diana, and on Saturday night we held the ADF Unity Rite immediately after making
our sacrifices to the Kindreds, performing the Final Sacrifice and celebrating the Return Flow. The chants and
invocations created in two of the classes were performed during the Praise Offerings section. Sunday afternoon
we Closed the Gates and ended the festival.

This year was one of our best Bardic evenings ever! Grovie Lily wrote a play based on a Norse myth which
Grove members performed - all about the time that Loki had to dress up Thor as a bride in order to trick the
Giants into giving back Thor's hammer. It had to be one of the funniest things we've ever seen.

At the closing part of our four-day ritual, we spontaneously came up with a new cheer. It's the IE word for
reciprocity, hospitality and the host/guest relationship:
*Ghosti!

There was even a tour of Colossal Cave on Sunday morning for the more intrepid among us. Combine all this
with great food, wonderful fellowship, and hot tubs and pools, and you have an incredible festival!

Click on any photo below to see a larger version.
Photos by Bert Kelher, David Foster (Gannd) and Kirk Thomas

Kirk as Orator awaits the Procession	The Procession	Bert, as Warrior, invokes Thor to protect our rite	Diana Paxson and the Ladies of the Seidh	"Earth Mother Nerthus! We build our fire on your bosom....."
Kirk Opens the Gates	Jeni Hunt begins the Roman Rite	Skip purifies the Temple of Diana	Monica offers to the Mundus	Kirk lights the Fire
Skip scares away the Outdwellers	Ceisiwr invokes the Ancestors	Ben hold aloft the Waters of Life	Ceisiwr explains a point about Cernunnos	Sue gives her class on the Goddess Brigid
Bert's class on Juggling had us all scrambling!	Sue and Ian, of Awen, perform for us	Lots of fun and piratical songs! Aaarrr!	Lily introduces her play	Thor, Loki and Odin ponder Thor's hammer
Loki flies off to ask the Giants	The Narrator kicks Loki so He's going the right direction	Loki flies back to Asgard without the hammer!	"No way I'm marrying some stupid Giant!"	Loki as Handmaiden and Thor as bride Freya
Thor and Loki ride to the Giant's house	The Presentation of the Bride to the Giant	Thor gets his Hammer back and kills Giants!	Julian of Sonoran Sunrise Grove sings for us	Jack from Awen's Breath PG also sings
Craig and Medb of the Grove sing. A lot.	Nora of the Grove sings, "Me and Bobby Mcgee"	Kirk is dragged up to sing the "Masochism Tango" again	Julian teaches about "Solve et Coagula"	Skip answers questions about his new book
Jack and Meredith teach creating chants	And the groups....	get up and perform,	to great merriment,	their brand-new chants!
Ian discusses building a Druidic mysticism	In the Unity Rite, Ceisiwr offers to the Fire	Rodney teaches his Run Valdr techniques	Hmm. Miscreants in the instument cupboard...	Getting ready to Close the Gates!
The Closing part of the Ritual	Dennis closes the Gates	The folks from Rising Phoenix Grove!	Three Cranes Grove!	Four Groves here!
Raven's Cry and Awen's Breath (sort of) !	Amber Oak PG!	Sonoran Sunrise Grove!	Ceisier Serith makes an Oath on the Lia Fal