Colorado Burning Man Community

05/08/09: Beltania Day 2: May Pole, May Queens, and Green Men

Saturday, 09 May 2009
Parrish Ranch, Colorado
Rustling out of the tent rather early, dawn of the new morning, and the peacocks making their strange howls. Oh, did I mention how many peacocks are on the Parrish Ranch? Friggin' noisy. The meadows were sparkling with morning dew. I spent a good portion of the morning in the hammock. Pretty early on me and Allison pulled out the bodypaints and started to paint ... she assisted in painting me green as I was going for the Green Man for the May Day celebration, and I painted her as a river spirit. We had fun painting each other and a few others came by for a dose of painting. Painted Joshua and he added to my back a pretty wicked tree. Wandering around in the merchant area, a few soft-serve vanilla ice cream cones for the heat of the day, concerts on the green, frolicking in the woods, splashing and swimming in the river ... Why can't life just be like this? I thought my Green Man came out spectacular as did the River Spirit? Whatcha think? The concerts were good, and before long I was volunteering to be one of the 6 men to carry and plant the May pole with the May Queen straddled atop it. Think the ritual magic act of making fertility. For me, that would the prosperity of career, personal growth, and finances to be abundant this year. (I don't need another kid after all since i'm finished raising my one, so hoping fertility stays dry in that arena from these magical rites. Prosperity NOT fertility, or fertility of the wallet - that's fine. ;)

Leaf as the "Green Man"
hand-painted with acryllic

The May Pole procession was a hell lotta fun as we paraded the May Queen up and down the village streets, stopping every now and then to balance her as she managed not to fall off the pole the whole journey. Of course with princes to here both sides propping her up through her straddle job of the pole ... it would have been quite difficult. A comical and erotic planting of the pole into the hole brought traditional waves of the old days to its own blessing. Then the massive May Pole erected with a beautiful crown that the May Queen did plant, with hundreds of ribbons spiralling down from the top of the pole, hands in all by the attendees. The dance was quite lively, though was interrupted by the over 100 dancers getting confused with the weaving, and whether or not to weave under or over, and the music / drumming / and chanting was interrupted too many times during the course of the dance since it took forever. Continuity people! Keep the dancing flowing and the energy spiralling! Given those pitfalls, it still was an amazing rite and dance and the weave on the pole was spectacular even if the crown didn't fully come down the shaft. Many wore out through the dance and swapped or dropped out. I stayed for the continuous dance and glad I did from beginning to end, what a blessed time. May Days and May Poles have got to be my most favorite rite and specialty, making May Day my most favorite holiday next to Samhain. Magical. Mystical. Orgasmic.

May Day dance and ritual

After the May Day dance and more ice cream, a cool splash in the river, we were soon off to our camp to make dinner. I made veggie bacon BLTAs (Veggie Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, Avacado) sandwiches for me, Allison, and two other guests. Then on to the Absinthe for some dancing with the Green Fairy as we held our own little Absinthe Ritual for fairy sight. The rains started coming down pretty heavy, threatening to interrupt with the spectacular concerts and performances planned for the evening. I'm guessing these "fertile" rains were no doubt prompted by the magic we wove this afternoon. Fun and Frolick in the sun soon led to frisky fodder in the rain. This is the beauty of variety and spice involved with heathenism. So we sought refuge in Damian's tent to do some absinthe ritual fun with him. Then braving the rain, bodypaint melting through the course of the wandering, me and Allison made it to the main stage to catch Wendy Rule, Lunar Fire, and others for some incredible performances. The magic and awe of these performers made the rain invisible as we stripped down to the skin and watched the paint wash off of us. Before i knew it I was paint free - better than several showers at home. Dancing, flirting, and frolick ... the night was alive. After Lunar Fire's performance, and soaking attempts to stay warm by the fire afterwards, I gave in after the music was done to find warmth in the tent and calling it a night. What a spectacular day!

Allison as the River Spirit
handpainted acryllic by Leaf

Allison as River Spirit
Handpainted Acryllic by Leaf

Leaf as the Green Man
face/detail handpainted acryllic by Leaf
back and body handpainted acryllic by James and Allison

Leaf as the Green Man
face/detail handpainted acryllic by Leaf
back and body handpainted acryllic by James, Joshua and Allison
(Tree and symbol design by Joshua)