Sweetwood labor day weekend camp and drum weekend was a beautiful one! Besides Delta and Iacchus, we had four attendees; Mike V., Chris E., Dawn S. and Tom C. Mike arrived Friday night and worked on Saturday cleaning up the outhouse, splitting & carrying fire wood, straightening up some trails to campsites, building the fire in the ritual circle Saturday and Sunday night, helped Iacchus to fill the torches, and putting out the fire and torches after everyone left for the night. Mike also put up some large flags around the shelter, making the place festive. (Thanks Mike!!)
Tom & Delta were looking at some books on drumming by Mickey Hart, so Tom was inspired to make a bullroarer. It's a flat piece of wood with a long string attached. He twirled it around over his head & it made a low mysterious buzzing sound. Fun! Saturday night was so beautiful! Mike built a fire with the logs shaped and stacked into a triangle. It really worked well. We all shared munchies and some very good homemade wild black cherry mead made by Tom…so good!!! Chris and Dawn also brought 2 bottles of Raspberry beer…yum! Mike, Delta and I did a little drumming and then broke off to talk a bit. Delta then started to play her wood flute and Tom played his wood-box xylophone (he made this himself) joined in and we had a magical back ground music for our conversation into the night.
Sunday morning we had coffee up at the house and more good conversation. Tom, Dawn and Chris all had to leave, so Mike, Delta and I hung out during the day doing miscellaneous tasks. Mike came up to the house in the late afternoon and we watched TV about the Egyptians (about Thutmose III). Then a half hour before sunset we went down to the ritual circle. Mike lit the fire he built during the day and we ate, drank and made merry. We had some good watermelon. Delta and I drummed some more into dark of the evening, echoing through the woods and valley. As the Moon rose, the coyotes howled along with our drumming. It was another picture perfect late summer evening night.
Then it got late and we walked up the torch lit path through the woods, out into a gorgeous moonlit evening and went to bed. Mike came up to the house for coffee in the morning and we have a good chat. Before he left, Mike gifted us his self-published book on symbols to add to our collection.
It was so good to see everyone! Laughs and hugs were shared with all.
Sweetwater to All and Never Thirst!
Delta and Iacchus