Lughnasadh 2006

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For Lughnasadh this year, the Grove decided to hold the event at Catalina State Park. Friday would be the men's vigil, with the warrior games held Saturday morning and a skills fair that afternoon. The High Day rite would be held Saturday evening. This was to be a camping event.

However, the monsoon really kicked in, and flooding closed the park. So at the last minute the Grove decamped up to Mark and Julian's house in Oracle. The skills fair was cancelled, but we managed to do most of the rest.

The men were unable to tend the fire Friday night because we had the heaviest rain any of us have ever seen.
The tent stayed dry mostly, but some water came up through the crack in the center of the tarp floor which got some clothes wet. At one point in the night, there was a river three inches deep running under that floor. It felt like a water bed. The sound of tent stakes popping out of the ground in the night was also a bit unnerving.

The games went off well. We had to eliminate the caber competition, though, because it broke halfway through.
Mark had secured a second caber, but it was much heavier, so everyone would have had to start over (to make it fair).

Gannd was our Grove Champion this year, and received the Warrior Torc at the evening rite.

Dennis was the Orator, Gannd was the Sacrificer, Mark was the Warrior and Kirk was the Seer/Bard. Jeff took the role of Sanctifier.

Click on any photo below to see a larger version.

The men's tent even had a porch!	The nearby creek still had water in it later that morning.	The archery contest	Phyllis tries her hand	Mark has a go
Jeff lets loose	Robert does well	Robert's bulls eye	Gannd also does well	Rob's turn now
Even Kirk gives it a try	Julian has a go	Ben has a good try	Mark with stuffing in his nose. Ahem.	Dennis picks up the caber
Who gave that man a rock!	Gand and the Stone Throw	Our Ritual site	The Celebrants prepare	Dennis begins the rite
Sacred Fire, burn within us!	Julian and Mark do a Praise Offering (?)	Andrea's Praise Offering	Nora's Praise Offering	Dennis invokes Lugh
Kirk takes the Omen	The Waters of Life	Gannd receives the Warrior's Torc	Mark thanks Cu Chulainn	Kirk grounds and centers the Folk

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