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Gaian Mind at Four Quarters
Author:
Posted: July 16th. 2003
Times Viewed: 5,115
Location: Four Quarters Farm - Artemas, Pennsylvania USA
Event Date(s): June. 26- 29, 2003
Gaian Mind was all about bigger and better than last year, and with over 550 attendees was one of the largest events ever held at Four Quarters. Not only were performers called from as far away as Europe, but it was not uncommon to meet attendees from the west coast or from far northern Canada. I even met a couple from South America. With last year's success, word is getting around that something special is going on here, and the event is growing. This was certainly a challenge for both the Four Quarters and Gaian Mind staff to manage. However, it seems they were more than up for the task.
At front gate registration, attendees were greeted by a welcoming party to make sure they knew the 'Laws of the Land', the unique policies that set a tone of respect for the land and people. For many attending, this would be their first visit to an Earth Religious site, so it was important that the values of this community be made known so that this cross cultural event may be a success. All in all this was successful, with the land left in good condition and the strong sense of tribe already present among the trance dance scene readily harmonized with the community spirit that defines Four Quarters.
Encouraged by last year's reports, many more Four Quarters Members came to see what all the fuss was about, what these kids were up to with all their music and decorations. Some were reminded of the Grateful Dead shows of the past, for the spirit was much the same though the music different. Some also decided that it was definitely not for them, being too intense for their tastes, but none could deny that what was going on was for real and done in a good way. I was pleased to see as many of our elders come out for this as I did, and surprised at how many intend to come back.
More emphasis was made on the spiritual aspects of the Neo-Pagan and Earth Religious traditions this year as well, with opening and closing rituals and a strong Moon Service Saturday night. The message of this event was a spiritual one, and this was not neglected with ritual teams working with the psi-trance performers to integrate one into the other.
Building on last year, the site decorations were something to behold. In the stone circle, tapestries depicting everything from Tibetan Mandalas to religious figures to big headed aliens captured your attention, while huge sweeping three dimensional shapes hung overhead radiating from the fluorescent blacklight lamps. The transformation was both beautiful and harmonious with the land, as if glowing draconic wings were a perfectly natural thing to see looming over your head from the leafy oak grove. Indeed, there were the occasional reports of other things flitting among the trees, for the magic was strong with so high energy an event.
  In the North Crook, glowing sculptures lit the ground while colorful frogs and insects climbed the trees. Suspended hammocks and cargo nets provided fun places to lounge and play, with intimate enclosures including a wire-frame geodesic sphere and an inflatable living room in which to relax and socialize. Ambient sounds echoed here throughout the weekend non-stop, at many points accompanied by live hand drumming that created a beautiful techno-tribal feel. One could wander through this glowing wonderland and see the sights, or laze about for hours enjoying the atmosphere in this beautiful setting. It was a welcome contrast to the throbbing energy above.
The Starving Artist Cafe provided the best feast yet for an event at Four Quarters, with a wide array of international dishes spread out buffet style under pavilions and in the kitchen itself. Meal times were given a full 3 hours so those who purchased the meal plans for breakfast and dinner could take their time and come in when they pleased. The feast was of course open to all, and did not disappoint. There was certainly something for everyone, and plenty to go around. As a new experiment, an a-la cart bar offered snacks and drinks throughout the weekend, so even those who didn't purchase a meal plan or pack accordingly were cared for. This later was moved closer to the music and became a late night fruit smoothy bar, making for yet another fun place to relax, socialize and revive. All the while the Coffee Dragon hospitality pavilion remained an open place to socialize and caffinate, and one merchant even offered fresh Chai. So, there was no lacking for refreshment.
Thursday evening kicked off the festivities with a rocking drum circle. A surprising number of drummers came out of the Gaian Mind crowd, meshing well with drum circle regulars for a fine "unplugged" preview of the fun to come. The drumming was hot, and some drummers played on later nights with the music in the Stone Circle in a telling display of old and new ways working as one. I was amused to note the increased use of drum tracks by the DJs as the weekend progressed, this new mix of sound clearly catching on.
Opening ritual Friday was simply intense, with one of the largest crowd we've ever seen attending ritual. For many, this may have been the first Neo-Pagan ritual they've attended, so Four Quarters wasn't about to disappoint them, coming out in full style. The procession was led by the huge ritual bell custom made for Four Quarters by the magic blacksmiths of Houmfort Ogun. This bell is so large it requires four grown men to carry on its supports and is played with a six foot long iron bar. The bells nature is to produce an ever growing subharmonic pulse that can literally be felt in ones body until the sound seems to come from all directions.
Circle was cast, quarters called, the divine invoked and called to join us. The Stone Singers Choir's singing of "Let the Way be Open" was simply amazing, the energy from focus and expectation in the crowd raising to new heights. The bell began to toll again softly as our priest lead the hundreds of people in a welcome to the land and its living pulse, spoken between the strokes of the bell. And then the party started. That's right, the music began as an integral part of the ceremony. The Standing Stones of Four Quarters hold their own circle always in this temple, and it was within this space the music kicked off with a mighty cheer and booming base beats. Circle was not closed until Sunday afternoon when it was all done with, framing the entire event in sacred space.
 Saturday continued this theme by opening with a more directed Moon Service, building upon the opening from the previous night. After some kicking drumming to warm up the crowd, the ceremony begun. While open and accessible in structure, many of the concepts of our religious practice were introduced in the invocations and speeches. The Ancestors and Spirits were also called and invited to join in this celebration, and a pouring of libation was given in offering to the Earth, Spirits, and People. Then the assembled were led in a guided meditation to center and balance their energies, which set a hushed dreamlike tone for the performance by Archedream that immediately followed, as though a part of the ceremony itself.
Archedream provided an simply amazing show of interpretive dance "The Shaman's Breath", with stunning blacklight fluorescent costumes that looked as if the spirits themselves had taken the stage. They definitely made good use of the materials and lighting, so that invisible figures in black could make a glowing dragon appear to dance of its own power while the other players portrayed their parts. As well as the Shaman, there was a dancer for each of the elements of Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Wood, Metal, and Infinity. The costuming and presentation were so moving that when the Spirit of Infinity moved onto stage the action stopped as the crowd rose up into a standing ovation in the middle of the performance. Each spirit would dance on their own, and then together for an awesome finale. The dreamy music and sights were not a disappointment, and helped to support the feeling and message of trance for the music to come.
The Saturday set was really kicking, with the power only increasing as the night progressed. The main headliners didn't even come on until about 3am, which should tell you much about how an all night event like this goes. Just walking near the music draws you in, and gets you moving. You can't help but dance or at least bob your head to the beat, carrying you further than you would think your tired body capable of. Indeed, it is in dancing beyond exhaustion and loosing one's self in the music that the ecstatic experience can be found, and there was plenty of opportunity to go there for those seeking it. There was a definite peak at dawn as the exhausted dancers danced up the sun, releasing a mighty cheer as the all night vigil met the daylight of Sunday morning.
Energized, people continued on through the dawn, with those who had stopped for a bit of sleep trickling back in as the day warmed up. At last around 11am, the ceremonial bell was rung again bringing the music to a close. With simple words, the divine was thanked, quarters dismissed, and the circle opened, officially bringing this techno-tribal ceremony of sound and sweat to a close.
This was some event that points out an important new direction for the neo-pagan experience. And I can only expect next year to be even better.
Chris Carter
7/15/2003
Related Links/Information...
Web: Four Quarters Farm - www.4qf.org.
Web: Gaian Mind - gaian-mind.com.
Web: GM Festival Flier - http://4qf.org/gaian/gaianindex.htm.
Web: Detail paper on this subject - http://www.cesnur.org/2001/london2001/green.htm.
Article Specs
Article ID: 6606
VoxAcct: 66417
Section: festivals
Age Group: Teen
Days Up: 2,323
Times Read: 5,115
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