Tag: Rituals
Tree Blessing
Nov. 16, 2013: I officiated a civic tree-blessing ceremony on the bayou. We had a real-live fire dancer and Big Chief David Montana led us in singing “Indian Red.” Still can’t believe this really happened. It seems remarkable that someone like me, without any relevant credential, would be invited to do something like this. Many […]
Read More → Tree BlessingBy the Light of the Moon
We gather by the side of the road on the edge of an urban forest. I know the others only because they are dressed like me, in white clothing. We talk amongst ourselves, getting to know each other. The signal comes at twilight, just as the sun is setting and everything is growing dark. We […]
Read More → By the Light of the MoonRites of Spring
Another advantage of sickness — it can be a good excuse to go on a sobriety binge. I don’t know about anyone else, but when I’m sick my desire to drink alcohol and caffeine diminishes severely. I don’t want anything to make my recovery longer. Actually, let me make a liar of myself. In the […]
Read More → Rites of SpringMid-City New Year Ritual
For what it’s worth (probably not much) ever since my daughter was born we’ve approached the New Year a little differently. The new year just before she was born happened to be the last time the bonfire on Orleans Avenue raged in all its wild untamed glory. After that the bonfire was tamed and then […]
Read More → Mid-City New Year RitualDead Time
Over the last few weeks I’ve been fiddling with constructing my family tree on ancestry.com. (Thanks to my old high school friend Georgie for getting me hooked.) I managed to trace one line back as far as Torvild Ljøstad, my great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great […]
Read More → Dead TimeRituals & Roundtables
Over the long weekend I was privileged to observe and even participate in some bizarre graveyard rituals to ensure a victorious season for the New Orleans Saints. These were organized in large part by college professors. There were at least three profs in attendance — maybe more. With getups like these it’s hard to tell. […]
Read More → Rituals & RoundtablesCoffee Reduction #7
It’s that time of year again. Early last week I cut my coffee consumption down to three cups per day, then two, and I’ve been down to one for several days now. Tuesday will be a half-cup. By the end of the week I will be a free man. You have to step it down […]
Read More → Coffee Reduction #7Not Just a Game
Just when I thought the whole sequence of events couldn’t get any stranger, in the midst of unpacking I was summoned via text message to Ashley’s grave where I partook in a bizarre quasi-religious sports ritual. It was funny but also deadly serious. And it struck me: It’s not just a game. Meanwhile, up north, […]
Read More → Not Just a GameCelebrations of Fire Against the Darkness
We went to the Celebration in the Oaks last night, the three of us as a family unit. There’s something about lights in the darkness at this time of year. It struck me that this is some of the same magic that drives the bonfire ritual. (And in case you haven’t heard, the bonfire is […]
Read More → Celebrations of Fire Against the DarknessA Samhain Saining
We worked a little magic in Mid-City today. We gathered on the banks of Bayou St. John and collectively welcomed a new person into our community. (What better place for a baptism than a body of water named for John the Baptist?) We sanctified her and gave her a name. We shared a pomegranate and […]
Read More → A Samhain Saining