May 1, 2017 – Trout Lake, Washington

“Open the gates! Open the gates! Open the gates!”

…Everyone chants as Kirk (the Druid ceremony leader) paces quickly around the altar, slamming his staff down into the stone circle as he goes. Will and I are sitting across from each other and respectfully spectating rather than participating verbally in the ceremony. This is quite different from the druid ceremony with the Abazs family in Minnesota. I think back to that event from a couple years ago – a much more private gathering. Held at night. More romantic. Less flashy.

Not to say that I’m not enjoying myself, because I am. It’s always interesting to experience events like these, especially at a place such as the Trout Lake Abbey – a spiritual retreat center that features Druid and Buddhist constructs, statues, decorations, et cetera. We are somewhere in the middle of the proceedings:

The consecration of time (establishing that the ceremony is starting). Check.

The consecration of space (activating the sacred nature of the place through procession). Check.

Group chant. Centering, grounding, merging. Specifying the focus of the ritual and the Deities involved. Check, check, check. He tells a story about Rhiannon, who in Welsh mythology, was saved from an unwanted suitor by Pwyll. A friend of the unwanted suitor curses Rhiannon in return, making her barren for a number of years. Dramatic and macabre events ensue.

And now we’re on to invoking the Gate Keeper. Kirk is quite the entertainer and doesn’t take himself too seriously, despite the fact that they are filming part of the ritual. He is also very mindful and respectful when it comes to each participant’s desired level of engagement.

More invocations. More chants. The clouds darken as a cold front continues to move in.

Time for the sacrifices. The Gods are hungry, after all. Kirk lights a fire in the altar and one by one, participants throw various items into the fire after praising one of the Gods. Eggs, fruits, chocolates… things of the like. Each time, everyone states: “(chosen God), accept our offering.” Kirk recites the prayer of sacrifice. Performs the Seeing of the Omen. Prepares for the receiving of the returned power. Thanks the entities invoked.

“Close the gates! Close the gates! Close the gates!”

Kirk paces quickly around the altar in the opposite direction as he did before. I should’ve worn something warmer. We then consume the libation as a whole. We form a circle and join hands, ending the ceremony with a prayer. Will dances the may pole with seven others from the group as I watch from a distance.

Then it hits me: I just participated in a random Druid ceremony with a guy from England who randomly ended up in Trout Lake, Washington thanks to some Minnesotans he randomly encountered in Williams, Oregon.

If I believed in the Gods of yore, I would thank them for my blessed, random life.

“Expose yourself to as much randomness as possible.” – Ben Casnocha