- Wednesday 1
- Cincinnati to Bloomington.
Work in Elaine's house. She had her life and her house so tightly
organized. One would almost think there would have been no room, no crack
for death to enter.
Went by way of Indy and picked up the 4 track. Luis has an idea to make
recordings of the rhythms of the loa and orisha and have them available on
the internet on a prescription basis. Like if you feel nervous and think
someone is steeling from you then you would listen to Blanc Dan-i and
Manman Bridgitte.
One of the first steps is for me to learn how to use this recording device.
- Thursday 2
- It is odd, I miss Don DuFrane, the elder of the drum group in New Orleans.
I believe that I always enjoyed seeing or running into him. I am a very
private person so this is unusual for me. His life was drums and the
drummers in New Orleans. Lord, and he loved gossip. Perhaps, for me, this
is a time of remembering.
Ah! I will be working to organize Mr. Norbu's library with the goal of
eventually having the library open to all. Mishlen spoke to him about
this. This is exciting. A time to explore Tantra and the powerful
spirituality of Tibetan Buddhism.
- Friday 3
- RITUAL: Mary, my familiar, wanted to come out of her lace wraps. To look
around a bit. Mishlen remarked on how powerful Mary looks these days. Some
water also to my doll. He likes the taste though it is quite different
from the Mississippi.
- Saturday 4
- Reading is Kalachakra book. Mishlen mentioned that these are the Kalas of
which Grant writes. An AHA! for me.
- Sunday 5
- RITUAL: Tibetan Center...The slow audible rendition of the mantra to Tara
was extremely strong. To me, there was a phase kind of shift in the room.
Mishlen later said she had a vision of Tara. A Devoid Form (form devoid of
atoms) in the terminology of Tantra.
- Monday 6
- Ah! The first book I was cataloguing in the library was a Transylvania
text in English on Tibetan from @1825. Deep sense of doing my will.
- Tuesday
- I have notes on @ four of the Drum/Ritual tapes from New Orleans. I'm
making notes and looking for the most effective of the cuts.
These tapes convey a sense of the Rituals in the Temple.
- Wednesday 8
- Tibetan Center Library...MUDRAS OF THE SHIVITE PRIESTS OF BALI from @
1920. Will wonders never cease. I'm carrying a towel with me to wipe the
oil from my hands before I handle the books.
- Thursday 9
- Made a job call. One way would be to work part time and study, do the
Tibetan Library here. This is quite a chance to become familiar with the
Tantric practices. I seldom or never used the word "tantra" till now.
Usually joked when it came up. I knew that the system covered a tremendous
area in great depth. Now I can at least say the word seriously.
- Friday 10
- Owen's 1350 manuscript on Western Magic is being scanned. Sent the first
half to Australia to be scanned today. To keep a balance of
systems...Tibetan/Voodoo/Western...in my life this is an important act.
- Saturday 11
- Complete Kalachakra book. The "kalas" have a new horizon and depth for me.
I want to reread Grant when I return to New Orleans.
- Sunday 12
- RITUAL: Tibetan Center. Again a Tara Mantra took me over. I miss the
possessions from the Temple in New Orleans. The feeling I get when doing
this mantra is similar to that before possession.
Cataloguing some Buddhist journals from the early 1950s. Again, they
remind me of Grant and his writings. Grant has regularly inspired me and I
enjoy the fuller understanding my present studies have given me of his
work.
- Monday 13
- Library....working with the books when I hear the extremely deep voice
tonal voice. The kind I associate with Tibetan chanting. Mr. Norbu was
playing with his sons child. Entertaining him with high and low voice.
Drove Mr. Norbu to get some meds and food. I realized that he could be
very happy/sad but all of that was like a wind above a vast, deep ocean of
calm. As we were driving I realized that he was not rolling his window
down because I had not rolled mine down. It was very hot, something I
enjoy and am used to. When I rolled my window down, he rolled his down.
- Tuesday 14
- To world harp competition...this was the last round. The three finalists
concentration was amazing. A vow with the tantric initiation is not to
drink alcohol. This bothers me, not that I am so found of alcohol but I
dislike denying that anything can be put to sacred use. This has a
puritanical ring to me.
I was thinking of this while I listened to the contestants and enjoyed
their level of concentration. What if every moment were lived with such
concentration. I would not drink if I were a contestant in this harp
program. It will be interesting to examine just what I get by drinking.
- Wednesday 15
- To a local job site to see about working in Bloomington. If I am to learn
from Mr. Norbu, now is the time. He is not as vigorous as he was a few
years ago when Mishlen introduced me.
- Thursday 16
- Working on StarWood sessions at a coffeehouse. A bag woman sat down next
to me and we talked for a while. I was working on being able to verbalize
my relationship to Annie Christmas; a female Ogun. In talking to the bag
lady I was reminded of the group of women I saw chase off a pack of wild
dogs that had threatened them and their children. They were laughing as
they turned the table and attacked the dogs with umbrellas and sticks.
Interesting...the bag lady was like a female Legba. She opened up a gate
to understanding.
- Friday 17
- Ah! Holding my love this evening. Just lay on the bed together.
- Saturday 18
- Put Tibetan Prayer Flags up on the porch outside of our room.
The wind touches the flags and then everyone and everything in the area.
Marvelous method of transmission.
- Sunday 19
- Mishlen hit a motorcyclist. Didn't see him. A minor wreck but still some
damage to car and cycle. The biker had a broken finger.
Mishlen see daemons trying to stop her from going to StarWood. She would
be the first speaker I know of to address Tibetan Buddhism at the
Festival. Other things have happened also.
I don't know. The lack of serious injury seems to me to point to some sort
of protection. The biker took quite a spill.
- Monday 20
- Ha! I'm getting rum for Marty and for the Voodoo Spiritual Temple Rites. A
few days ago I was thinking about the tantric vow not to drink. The loa
have such a sense of humor. The best way to learn.
- Tuesday 21
- Work on Session Notes for StarWood. I want then to reflect what I have
learnt of the new since last StarWood.
- Wednesday 22 StarWood 1998
- Drive to StarWood. We didn't know we were going till hours before leaving.
A sherif called earlier in the day about the collision that took place
Sunday. We decided to go to the Festival and return his call from
StarWood. Even if we had to return to Bloomington tomorrow, we would have
at least kept our words and made it to the Festival. Mishlen sees all of
these problems as coming from daemons that do not want her to attend.
Possibly. Miriam speaks of this as a time of "revisioning" for all of us.
I have spirits and familiars that automatically protect me and those
around me. This is a long standing arrangement. Perhaps the revisioning is
deep enough that these spirits are confused and are not automatically
acting in our benefit as in the past.
Arrived about 11 PM. Mishlen has allergies so we had a room. Jeff kept it
for us. So good the way he welcomed us. The feeling of being in a StarWood
is unique. So many people together with so few arguments and fights...so
much respect. A combination of spirit and celebration. A sense of
exploration and discovery. Ah...and the feeling of a Mardi Gras; one needs
a strong will to maintain focus. It depends upon what you want from the
experience; there is certainly great joy in being swept away by StarWood
(Mardi Gras).
Ah! We are glad we got this far.
- Thursday 23
- Litany of the Loa Session early in the morning after a few hours of sleep.
A fitting way to begin the Festival and the day. As usual I learnt quite
a bit in presenting this ritual practice. One participant spoke of the
rains of the Masa falling upon Cousin Azaka. Very beautiful. Did the calls
to the loa until I could feel their presence. The way is open now that we
are here and the loa come easily.
The notes I used in the Litany Session are in StarWood MR 1998 on
MoonWeb).
Calls to the sherif on the wreck next. I went into town and made a good
number of calls to him and to the man on the motorcycle. Didn't want
either to think we had skipped. Made about 4 calls but could not get
through, just left messages. The entire summer has been characterized by
legal involvements and now, even at StarWood, the trend continues. But
along with this there is the work; that continues also. It is a matter of
expectations. I didn't expect these daily legal involvements from the
estate and now the wreck.
Bate Cabal Session on a Universal Tradition. Very good...Miriam made the
interesting comment that the universal tradition is the tradition of the
universe.
One woman said that she had puritan ancestors who she found it difficult
to honor. I said that they may have been so fierce because they were
fearful. Perhaps it would be beneficial for her to explore the possibility
of their fear. This can be very difficult, fierce ancestors are much
easier to live with than fearful ancestors. Patience and tolerance can
also be learnt from such ancestors.
After the session I met a psychologist doing work with dying people. He
wants to try using drum rhythms in his work. He is also quite a drummer
himself. This adds impetus to Luis and I and other drummers recording the
rhythms and placing them on the Internet.
All night drumming at the dome. The style of drumming has changed since
last year. The emphasis now seems to me to be on the playing of calls
rather than actual rhythms. Four or five drummers will stand facing one
another in a small circle and play the calls. Continuity seems to be
provided by visual contact. The individual rather than the community of
drummers and dancers is emphasized. Interesting that this has gone to an
extreme...the pendulum swings.
- Friday 24
- Into town to make calls on accident. About eight calls. Some went through.
I am confident we can stay at StarWood and not have the police at our door
when we return.
Session by Luis on Drumming. Excellent and much needed points contrasting
liturgical and performance drumming. It is important to me that I learn
the most through attending my friends sessions. Mishlen would rather I
would not attend her sessions; she said she would tend to speak toward
me...not branch out and Maggie's session is so early. Lyrus spoke on the
Magickal Voice. Breath and the calls...so important. I would benefit from
breathing exercises.
Session by Marty on possession. Interesting points about looking at
acculturation through new words. Where did the Freda in Erzulie Freida
Dahomey come from and what does its inclusion explain. The Barons...why
the coupling of baron/deads and what did this explain in Haiti when the
match was first made?
RITUAL - At Midnight. Ha!!! The last few StarWoods, Erzulie was the
weakest loa in terms of presence. Its as if she could not penetrate the
atmosphere. Miriam did Erzulie ge Rouge. Red outfit, whip, and whistle. A
brilliant surprise and Oh so effective. With Luis here, it is so much like
New Orleans. This may be the best ritual the Temple has done at StarWood.
Smooth and effective.
All night drumming at Dome. Again more calls than rhythms.
- Saturday 25
- Drum Prayer Session. Played Bamboula for an hour or so. So strong. The
people did not want to leave after the session. Luis spoke of the sense of
family such drumming brings. This is something to do again next year.
My notes for the DRUM PRAYER session are in StarWood MR 1998 on MoonWeb.
David gave me a guede cross after the session. We had talked before other
years but this time I feel as if we have meet. His drumming is an
inspiration.
This is the last of Mishlen and my sessions. She spoke and led practice in
Tibetan Buddhism; an important first for StarWood.
We both are celebrating.
Back to Bloomington on Saturday. This gives us a day of rest before the
sheriffs and lawyers of Monday.
Endof Starwood MR.
- Sunday 26
- Oh Lord...Home at about dawn. My neck to my feet are sore. Feeling very
good though. Slept and rested.
- Monday 27
- RITUAL: Took my drum apart. Watered pieces with wine and set them in the
Temple for the night. Did this with the reverence due to a living thing;
due to a friend. The ribs a re lose and in some cases protruding...work
(and a good adhesive) is needed.
- Tuesday 28
- Saw an old Vincent Price movie on Lovecraft and Possession.
How many people in the Magickal Community are influenced by such movies. I
know that I saw it as a child and movies like it as a child. Recognized or
unrecognized, there must be a level of influence.
- Wednesday 29
- RITUAL: More work with the drum. Repairs, the body is starting to feel
more solid. As the body so the spirit and voice.
- Thursday 30
- Called TC. Said I took the doll he gave me with me to StarWood. Man, I
needed the strength and Root Boy wanted to go and enjoyed being out in
public for a time. He sat in the center of the room on the coffee maker.
- Friday 31
- Took Mr. Norbu and a visiting monk out in my small car. Mr. Norbu is
pertly tall and had a time of it fitting into the car. Sort of had to sit
sideways in the seat. This must have been bad with his arthritis. He had
great equanimity."Desire not one thing above another for thereby cometh
hurt. Liber L" It is a teaching to see this in action.