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RITES of SPRING 31
Special Events and Features

Celebrating the Sacred Earth

Opening Fire Lighting

On Wednesday night we come together from many directions to light the community fires of Rites of Spring. The opening lighting begins at 9:30 PM, with fire twirling, chanting, drumming, and dance. Around 11 PM there is a procession through the camp to light the central Community fire and the Ritual fire at Bear Rock.

Maypole Ritual

Thursday is a day of celebration - we dance the Maypole and share with each other the momentous events of the past year. We then move down to the merchant circle for outdoor performances, games, dancing and possibly even a fashion show of festive attire available from our merchants. A full afternoon of fun and merriment.

Late Nites at Rites

Every night, Wednesday through Saturday, at Rites of Spring we open up our coffeehouse, 'Late Nites at Rites'.

Here you will find excellent coffee, chocolate and company. In the early part of the evening, Late Nites features musical performances, readings, storytelling and the occasional impromptu jam session. As the evening wears on, conversation takes over as the primary form of entertainment and lasts well into the wee hours.

The Guisers Ball Ritual

Guisers were costumed revelers who attended village festivals and fairs, often dressed in the form of animals or fantastic beings.

The Guisers Ball is a one-night opportunity to experience what it might be like to be something other than yourself, even something other than human, to participate in some personal transformational work and to dance to some wonderful music. Our theme this year is:
Explore the Primeval Cave of Dreams and Dance as your Animal or Forest Spirit.

All day Saturday there is an intensive workshop group working on the energy, ritual and the physical transformation of this event. This group is open to Rites of Spring attendees, who will commit to participating for the full intensive - all day.

The Saturday night Ball is more magic than party, let it help you shift your shape!

Weaving the Web of Community

On Saturday afternoon we weave the web of community together. This is Rites of Spring tradition, where together we create in visual form the connections we have been making this week and through the years of Rites of Spring.

Leather and Lace Dance

We have set aside an adult-only event to explore the edges of our sensuality. This is a dance, so bring your lace and leather attire if you like, and dance on that fine line, at the same time keeping in mind that respect is an important principle guiding our community and any intimate acts should be consensual and take place in private locations.

The Art Salon

Our community is host to a great number of talented artists of all sort. Through our Bardic Circles and Rituals we celebrate the wonderful music, words, dancing and stories of our performers. While their work is often visible, less seen and often rarely heard are the visual artists of our community.

We invite you to join us as some of our artists share and talk about their work and how it connects to their spiritual practice.

Artists contact us by May 8th if you plan to bring art to show at the salon. The show is a big hit and space fills up fast.

The Ritual Fire Circle

The ritual fire circle at Rites of Spring is a sacred space for deep community connection and personal transformation. We hold the space for each other with rhythm and song and silence so that those who choose to can allow ourselves to open up to the Sacred around and within each of us. We enter the circle consciously, through a gateway, leaving outside all the distractions of casual conversation, and everyday life. This is sacred space.

Everyone is welcome at the Ritual Fire Circle, to drum, to dance, to offer food and water to others, to tend the fire, to share a poem or a song.... If you are new and want to participate, listen and watch what is happening - open up to the energy and feel of the circle. Then if you need to, just ask those around you about what you can contribute. You are welcome. in this community reaching toward the sacred together around the fire.

Rites Auction of Goods and Services

In the past, we have often an auction at Rites of Spring to benefit various causes or projects. Many of our merchants have most generously donated items for the auction, and other participants have offered services ranging from graphic design, to bodywork, to carpentry, to volunteering as "personal attendants" for the Feast. The auction itself has been a lighthearted and entertaining event.

This year, we're planning to hold the auction as a way to raise funds for EarthSpirit's ongoing work in the interfaith movement, particularly to help send our delegation to The Parliament of the World's Religions which will next be held in Melbourne, Australia this December. We'd like to encourage all Rites of Spring participants to take part in this worthy fund-raiser, either by donating goods or services to be auctioned, or by purchasing them!