Back from Starwood....

[poltr1]

Last week, I took some much-needed time off and went up north to the wilds of Sherman, NY to attend the Starwood Festival at the Brushwood Folklore Center.

In a word: Mind-blowing!

Highlights:
- Little or no personal drama!
- Hangin' out at Ivan's Dome and the Tiki Bar
- Not knowing or caring what time it was
- Meeting some very interesting people
- The pool and the hot tub -- aah!
- The spinach and artichoke pitas at Phill's Mediterranean Grill
- Porta-johns cleaned every morning -- thank you Fred Zuech & Co.!
- Drumming from dusk 'til dawn (and later) at the Roundhouse
- Yust's and Jordan's handfasting
- The Incus concert
- The Raquy and the Cavemen concert
- Rev. Ivan Stang's rant
- The Telesma concert
- The fireworks show on Friday night
- The bonfire on Saturday night

Now I got the post-Starwood blues. When I left the gate, I thought, "Did I leave anything behind besides footprints"? I was feeling bummed out for a few hours aferward. I still am, but not as bad as it was earlier.

Comments

[tollermom]

Ooooh... I'm jealous!

Starwood's on my list of Places To Go Someday. Unfortunately, it's in competition with Heartland Pagan Festival for vacation days, and I know lots of people at Heartland, so I'll probably make it back to Heartland before I make it to Starwood. Of course, Heartland competes with Marcon for my Memorial Day Weekend, so who knows...

And that first bullet point? I'm having trouble making that one compute. Large group of pagan types... little or no drama? Howintheheck do they manage that?? :-)

[poltr1]

One of these years I'd like to make it to Lothlorien.

As for the drama....there wasn't a lot that I was personally exposed to. And the drama I did witness I'm not at liberty to discuss here. (Whatever happens there, stays there. :) ) The key? Communicate, communicate, communicate.

[athenawindsong.livejournal.com]

For the most part, people recognize and allow the festival to be a place to vacation, relax, unwind, and have a good time. Yes, some drama does pop up from time to time, but when an entire population makes a concerted effort to create a "utopia," it's kept to a minumum.

Also, this is one of the largest festivals in the US - people even fly in from Europe to attend. Drama/infighting simply doesn't happen with Starwood being a draw from such a wide variety of locales. Plus, the general idea is *inclusion* because the themed camps are meant to be shared with anyone who drops by - they even offer theme-specific events. It's not unusual to be strolling along checking out the campsites, get greeted by someone and then hang out with them for the rest of the day or the rest of the festival.

[ocean-star.livejournal.com]

I'm really glad you got to go! It sounds like just the thing you needed. :-) We're planning on doing Starwood next Summer. You should try to come to PSG, too!

Post festival blues are horrible, especially after your first time. :-(

[poltr1]

Yes, I'd like to go to PSG one of these years. If I do, can I camp and/or hang with you guys?

I've also heard that PSG is a bit more regimented than Starwood. One Starwood attendee described his PSG experience to me as "Soviet".

[kliklikitty.livejournal.com]

Wonderful!!! I'm glad you had such a great time. The best way to deal with the post festival blues is to hold on to the peace ans enegy that filled your heart and soul. Remember all the good times and that times a lot like them are there to be had again the next time you go.

My last trip to Starwood was sadly filled with personal drama because my first husband insisted on creating it. I chose to hang onto the happy conversations I had with people and the peace of the place.

[poltr1]

The next time I go -- which will be hopefully next year -- I'd like to bring you along.

I'd also like to spend more time in WNY after the festival. I was feeling a little homesick when I made the turn from I-86 to I-90 toward Erie and not Buffalo. I didn't get to visit my favorite Buffalo food hangouts this time, or visit friends other than dagonell and cigfran.

[kliklikitty.livejournal.com]

If I'm free at the time, it would be nice to go back to Brushwood. Finances and commitments permitting tagging along would be a fun for us to get to know each other better.

[poltr1]

I like the sound of that!

Starwood letdown

[agraywitch.livejournal.com]

It always takes me a while to re-adjust to so-called reallife after Starwood. Some years are harder than others.
The 6 hour drive back helps to prevent the Bends :)

Jade and I felt the same post letdown you mentioned for several days.

The lack of drama comes not only from comunication, but from all parties willing to make an effort at it :)