Conference hydra::dejavu

    
    
    Yeah!  Me too!  I joined too late for the last one.  Count me in!

sounds good to me -- I also missed last year.

/. Ian .\

    
    
    I would like to go too!
    
    Carole
    

    Sounds great!!!! Count me in.  Could we have it before mid-May???
    
    
    Carolyn

    I would be very interested in attending as well, but would like
    more information.
    
    Debbie

I would also like to attend.  Is anyone willing to host such an event?

		Dave

    I'm new to this conference; could anyone tell me what "Gathering
    '87" is all about?

    re .7:
    
    Each year, at a propitious time, everyone waits 'til the dark of
    the moon; then, they find a derserted crossroad and light great
    fires.  They then create effigies...
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    :-)
    
    Just kidding.
    
    Actually, a Gathering is a social get-together of people who inhabit
    this Conference.  I've been to one and missed one.  The one I did
    go to was very convivial.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.
    

    I will volunteer our place in Westford for a Gathering, especially
    one in May!  It's not too far for New Hampshirites to get to, nor
    for people who live southward.  How does that sound?  (It's about
    3 miles from the place where the 1st Gathering was held.)
    
    Marcia Butchart

    If that's the case, I'm *in*!  I also have a wife and friend(s)
    that would like to come along.

    I would be interested in coming.If its on the 16th of May i cant
    since i'm getting married that day to my soul mate.Is Westford in
    Mass.?
    
                                     MIKE
    

     I've been to both of the other gatherings and will certainly 
     attend the next one if I can.

     Terry

    me too

    Yup, I'm in.
    
    

    	Aye, and mine...

    Westford sounds great to me!! I have never been to a Gathering,
    and am interested to know what kinds of things go on. 
    
    Debbie

   OK I'm in - now what about a date:
   
   I'd suggest Beltaine, but DECUS runs from April 27 through May 1, so
   I won't be back in town until about the 5th...
   
   /. Ian .\

    Wow...what a party!  I'd be interested too.
    
    Jerri

    Okay, we have a definite interest, so now on to the next step--setting
    a date.
    
    I would have liked to hold it around Beltaine, but as Ian pointed
    out, DECUS is held around then.  To try and court warmer weather,
    I wonder:  are people planning to be around the weekend of Memorial
    Day?  If everyone is taking off, I suggest holding it either the
    weekend before or the weekend after.  Here are my 3 suggested dates.
    You can reply to me by mail which one(s) suit you best, and I'll
    publish the consensus in this note.
    
    		May 16 or 17
    		May 23 or 24 (Memorial Day weekend)
    		May 30 or 31
    
    Hope to hear from you all!
    
    Marcia

    What is Beltaine?
    
    Jerri

    I was asked by one respondent to provide guidelines for attendees,
    so here they are:  Anyone who reads this conference and wishes to
    come may do so.  And they can bring with them any and all SO's,
    spouses, kids, friends (Talented or ordinary) that they feel would
    enjoy an afternoon of eating, imbibing, talking, walking, lazing,
    and sharing each others' Arts (there are two nice, quiet rooms on
    my second floor that people who wish to confer privately with each
    other can use; also a large yard from which we have eradicated all
    traces of poison ivy).
    
    Marcia

    Re .23:
    
    Schmooze.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.
    

.21�    What is Beltaine?
    
        May Day in the Wiccan/Druidic calendar.
        
        ====
                 
        The four major festivals were

        Samain (Halloween) - the New Year festival: the actual New Year
		was the following day, but the festival was on the last
                day of the year. It was dedicated to all the gods and the
                spirits of ancestors etc. Hence it was adopted into the
                Christian calendar as "All Hallow's even" or Hallowe'en
        
        Imbolc - on Candlemass (Feb 2) that celebrates the mid-winter
        	dedicated to the God Brigid (a fertility God)
        
        Beltaine (May Day) dedicated to Balanos and associated with planting
        	of crops
                
        Lugnasa (mid July to mid August) the harvest festival dedicated
        	to Lug

        (the names of the gods I quote are the Irish (gaelic) forms - others
        are common in other countries of the Celtic fringe)            
                
        These are the "Public" festivals, there where also Druidic (priestly)
        festivals associated with the Summer and Winter solstices and the
        spring and autumn solstices.
        
        These eight times of the year represent times of great natural power
        so a gathering on (or close to) one of them would have been attractive.

        It is perhaps interesting that these festivals hang on, often as
        Christian religous festivals. However the coming of Christianity
        did not immediately overcome the Old Religion and it lingered
        especially in rural areas. The Christian church adopted many of
        the old festivals as a way of destroying their significance in the
        old religion. (For example Candlemas didn't become a festival until
        the 500's AD)
        
        Lugnasa was a time of relaxation with the harvest in, and a time
        of much of what later folk thought of as debauchery and sinning
        - that is a lot of love making went on (and baby making). Since
        babies are born 9 months after conception they would be born around
        Imbolc, which is dedicated to a fertility Goddess. All quite logical.
        and very convenient since the new mothers had time to recover before
        the work started again at Beltaine with the start of the planting
        season. It is also no coincidence that a festival dedicated to the 
        Virgin Mary and Christ Child replaced one dedicated to Brigid and the
        fertility of the mothers of the village.
                
        /. Ian .\

    Re: .21
    
    Thank you!  Very nicely explained.
    
    Jerri

RE: .23
    
    The Gatherings are simply parties, which give some of us an opportunity
    to meet and talk to some of the people we only know through their
    notes or correspondence.  Mostly their is talk, only some of which
    involves the topics which this conference is devoted to.  People
    are, of course, welcome to bring their skills and equipment to share
    but mostly these have been a chance to learn about each other rather
    than any kind of workshop or demonstration or whatever.
    
    					Topher

    Count me in!
    Addie

    Okay, let me try out a date.  Most people who have responded to
    me by mail have nixed Memorial Day weekend.  Many have also preferred
    the weekend before.  So, to go public about it:  How about Saturday,
    May 16th?  Things will start up around 2 pm, and go 'til whenever.
    Contributions of the edible persuasion are, as always, solicited.
    We have two barbecues, a microwave, a regular oven and the top of
    the stove for people who want to cook their offerings on the premises.
    The one thing we are short on is lawn furniture--chairs, tables,
    all that stuff.  Any loans along those lines will be very welcome.
    
    Marcia

    If that's it, I'm on my way!

    
    
    
    May 16th sounds find to me....
    
    Carole
    

    Hello, fellow Gatherers.  In making the final arrangements for the
    party this Saturday, I had been corresponding directly with the
    people who either put in Yeses in this note, or those who wrote
    to me directly.  But someone pointed out that it would be good to
    have the same info here too; that way, people who suddenly find
    they can go, or whose ENET addresses have changed (making it impossible
    for me to contact them), would have it.
    
    So, here it is:  The Spring '87 DEJAVU Gathering will be at my house
    this Saturday, May 16th, from 1 PM til whenever.  If you wish
    directions, please drop me a line.
    
    As far as food goes, my general suggestion is to pick Your Favorite
    Party/Picnic/Barbecue dish, make enough for 20 or so people, and
    bring it along.  Also bring along your favorite drinking potion.
    
    My own food and drink offerings will consist of:  1 smoked DEC turkey
    (no one in this file), a vat of guacamole and chips, and my own
    home made pound cake with Kimball Farms' ice cream.  I'll provide
    fruit juices, seltzer, Poland Springs water, 1 jug each of red and
    white wine, two six-packs.  I'll also provide cups, plates, bowls,
    dinnerware and napkins.
    
    Things to bring--well, casseroles, cold dishes, salads, munchies,
    chips-and-dips, desserts, things to barbecue, fry, broil, or bake
    are all welcome.  I know dishes of the vegetarian persuasion will
    be a hit with many of the folks.
    
    Now--everybody pray for GOOD WEATHER.
    
    Marcia

    Re .33:
    
    "Pray"?   Something a little less passive is not beyond possibility.
    ;-)
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.
    

    	In re to bad weather:
    
    	There was this California psychic fair which was cancelled "due
    to an unforseen event." (true story)
                           
    	Larry  :^)
    

    
    
    
    As it turns out, I won't be able to make it to the DEJAVU gathering
    this saturday.  I just wanted you all to know that I'm sorry I won't
    be meeting you "person to person" - I was really looking forward
    to it.  Have a great time!
    
    Carole
    

    Some final notes for tomorrow:
    
    It _will_ be tomorrow, rain or shine.  My house is large enough
    that a Halloween party with 80 people in costume fit into it, so
    I don't anticipate any trouble.
    
    If anyone has Frisbees and other outdoor game stuff they'd like
    to bring, feel free.  (I have this rediculous TracBall set.)  My
    yard is sort of tilted, so croquet probably won't work, unless some
    of us practice psychokinesis.  ;-)
    
    I have a Scrabble set, decks of cards and a backgammon board.  Would
    anyone care to bring Trivial Pursuit?  We can try guessing both
    the questions _and_ the answers?
    
    There is a rock, crystal and gem store, _The New England International
    Gem Co_, just 2 miles from my house!  If people are interested,
    we can organize expeditions to it.
    
    Kimball's Dairy is also about 3-4 miles from my house.  They do
    ice cream to die for.  If we are short on dessert, we can organize
    mass Kimball Expedition (yum).
    
    See you all tomorrow,
    
    Marcia

    Also, feel free to bring along whatever "tunes" you have that you
    like.  We have a turntable, a cassette deck and a CD player.  It
    occurs to me that our collection is rather peculiar and eclectic,
    so bring along whatever you'd like to listen to.
    
    Marcia

    
    I for one would like to thank Marcia for her generosity in allowing
    us to use her lovely home for the gathering.  She was definitely
    a most gracious hostess.  It was a beautiful day and everyone sat
    out on the deck eating lunch, which I might add was simply terrific.
    It was fun meeting new people and renewing friendships with people
    we've met at other gatherings.
    
    I really enjoyed looking at the different types of tarot decks,
    and have decided that I just have to have the tarot of wicca.  I
    have the tarot of the witches, but it is not as picturesque as the
    wiccan deck.
    
    Thank you again Marcia.
    
    Hugs,
    fran

    I have a couple of articles left behind by guests from the Gathering.
    One I know the owner of, the other I don't:
    
    One saggy, dull red pillow.  Ed, I know that this was something
    your daughter was carrying around at the end of the day.  Please
    comfort her that it's safe and sound, and we'll get it to you somehow.
    
    One watch, found in the master bedroom.  I suspect that this may have 
    fallen from someone's jacket pocket or purse, since we had jackets
    and purses stored on the bed.  Is anyone missing their watch?  Let
    me know who you are, and I'll get it to you somehow.
    
    Thanks to everyone who came to the party--and thanks, Fran, for
    saying a good time was had by all.  I hope that the other partygoers
    second that one!  As for me, I now don't have to cook for a week;
    I can feast on leftover turkey, grape leaves, apple pie, tortellini
    salad and hoummus.
    
    Marcia

    Just had to say it.  Had a wunnerful time!
    
    I feast on leftover lasagna for the rest of the week!
    
    BTW - AKOV05::GAVIN [or something like that] - Rumor has it the
    the Tarot of the Wicca is out of print.  I got mine at Arsenic &
    Old Lace in Cambridge [I described the place in the Tarot note]
    but I DID see another one at the House of Zodiac in Shopper's World
    in Framingham.
    
    Thanx again Marcia for a truly wonderful time!
    
    dj

    	"Thank you" from us too, Marcia! We all had a great time, and
    Dorian's back and neck were very pleased with your bit of hands-on
    'Magic'. 
    
    	Yup, the little orange pillow is ours. We'll get it eventually.
    
    	And We are having a Summer Solstice Party, not exclusively a
    DEJAVU gathering, but June 21st is a fine time to gather, I think.
    Anyone interested, send mail and I'll give all the details. We plan
    on doing SOMETHING for the solstice at solar noon. If anyone has
    any ideas, let me know.
    
    	There will be live music (bring instruments!) and whatever people
    decide to bring. The house and yard should be big enough for all
    your friends, so bring 'em.
    
    	Ed

    	Well, Networking is where it's at. Our June 21st party should
    be a fine place to meet lots of people of various "mindsets". 
    
    	There's also Tem Noon's cabin, which is another conference that
    you (and others here who haven't tried it) might be interested in.
    It's hard to describe, but it is a place where real and imaginary
    people can converse in comfortable surroundings about most topics.
    And there are short stories, and continuing stories, and poems,
    and investigations into the structure of existence. 
    
    	Hit KP7 to add to your notebook. (Notes spec: ERIS::TOME.NON)
    
    	Ed

    	Preparations are moving along for the Summer Solstice. 
    
    	One thing that we're trying to work out that perhaps some of
    you can help with is: What should we do at Solar Noon? We'd like
    to have some simple little ceremony. Tem is good at making things
    up on the fly, but I'd like something with some roots mixed with
    the inevitable improvisation. Any ideas? Can we use lots of crystals
    to focus some of that powerful summer energy? Is there some kind
    of protection we can set up, so we don't start mucking about with
    Cthulu by accident? 
    
    	And as far as the party goes, Are there enough beer drinkers
    here to warrant a keg? (There are other people coming, but I'm trying
    to get a general idea)
    
    	There will be a video made, and there is many watts of sound
    system and drum sets in the basement. The backyard has enough room
    for frisbees, and we have a bar-bq. 
    
    	June 21st, 12:00 start time
    		   12:45 solor noon ceremony
    		   later - party goes on till everyone leaves.
    
    	Send me mail. I'll do a major mailing with directions.
    
    	Ed