Ancestral Awakening – Dark Gathering 2023 – Part Three

 

As the full moon shone down over the event, the energy shifted, and became liminal.  This was the time for singing the Traveller’s Prayer – a lament for Summer’s End if you like.  This has now become a tradition within the Gathering that was first started by Sarah Emery way back in 2015.  In order to fill an unexpected lull in proceedings Sarah spontaneously started to sing the Traveller’s Prayer and it immediately captured the imagination with it’s beauty and poignancy – we have continued with it ever since.  This year it was sung by Laura and Amelie (I hope I have spelled that correctly) from Beltane Border Morris.

Close your eyes and let the music take you back to that extraordinary eldritch night…

Now that we had been transported into a wonderfully expectant frame of mind, enter Peter Grey, the Conjure Man for the night.

Peter had great stage presence and there was complete silence apart from the flaming torches guttering in the breeze.  He called upon the spirits of the ancestors, naming local ancient sites and barrow mounds as he did so.  It was totally entrancing, slightly disturbing in parts as he held up a replica skull as a focus item, and yet it was also compelling.  There was a moment which had the hair standing up on the back of my neck when Peter first called the ancestral spirits in and the flames from the torches went mad as a strong gust of wind rushed across the performance space – a sure sign that the ancestors were present.  I get so inspired by these spiritual validations to the Dark Gathering – it makes all the hard work well worth it.

 

Following on from the Blessing we honoured the ancestors with our voices by singing the Ancestor Chant.  Here you can relive this magical time with this footage:

 

It was now time for the finale dances from our Guest Sides, just to remind us all of their brilliance.  Then Beltane prepared to dance Haccombe to Death which is always performed with flaming torches, much to the consternation of any Health & Safety conscious individuals.  I have however, only witnessed one occasion over the years where the fire blanket was put to use, and that was over in seconds after a torch spilled its contents on the ground.  Despite appearances Beltane Border Morris are very safety conscious.

Did you notice some odd lights dancing above the performers in the above footage?  I would like to think they were spirits joining in with our revels.  Ever since we had started the magical part of the evening and the full moon had risen majestically from behind the surrounding hills, we had felt the almost primeval energy pervading the area.  It wasn’t until we saw the photos and footage later on that we noticed all the visual phenomena that was happening around us as well.  I’m sure that there are rational explanations for the optical illusions that appeared, but it certainly went along with the eerie atmosphere of that evening.  Here’s another example of this:

What is that green smoke that is hanging around Ant and my legs – also behind our MC Steve?  Maybe it’s a will o’ the wisp.

Following this was the time for all the thank yous and announcements.  I had a great long list of them which everyone cheered at as I named all the people who worked so hard to bring about the Dark Gathering 2023.  I must have been more tired than I realised, plus somehow or other I had managed to skip lunch because I completely forgot to announce who next year’s Guest Sides were to be – unheard of omission!  Maybe I just had a senior moment – well, I’m not getting any younger… anyway, although once I had realised I sent out a posting about it, I’ll mention here that we will have two fantastic sides attending – Black Powder Morris Black Powder Morris

and Cutler’s Gate.  Cutler’s Gate

As next year is our 10th Anniversary, there may well be a special guest(s).  This is subject to confirmation which I am awaiting.  I always like to keep an element of surprise to avoid the Dark Gathering becoming too predictable.  🙂

Finally it was time for the Fire Dance.  Usually Beltane arrange to have especially chosen folk at the centre of the Fire Dance and this year was no exception.  I found myself, Martin our Gaffer, Peter Grey and his wife, Alkistis as my companions in the centre.  Also rather wonderfully a group of Mexicans who had travelled over from their country just for the Gathering were invited to the centre – so there was a fairly large grouping.  Then the wild dance began.  Only someone who has experienced being at the vortex of that Wild Hunt of a dance can appreciate the potency of the energy raised – especially as I was facing the full moon with flying dancers darting across my vision.  Unforgettable.

Towards the end of the dance, all 30 odd Beltane dancers joined in, swiftly followed by all the Morris sides who circled round and round.  I caught sight of both wheelchair users speeding around the edge of the circle having the time of their lives.  It was brilliant!  Here’s some footage to give you some idea of the vibrant energy of it:

So that was it.  Another action packed Dark Gathering over and done with.  This time in a new venue that had proved to be a resounding success not only for us, the performers and audience, but also for the local community which benefitted from the custom and gave every appearance of thoroughly enjoying it.

Thank you so much everyone and I’ll see you all next year, gods willing.  🙂