Sacred Harvest Festival 2000

August 16th – 20th, 2000

” Maidens and Dragons “

We rediscovered the ancient symbols of “Dragon” and “Maiden” in a series of rituals that spanned the festival and, taken together as one, retold an ancient myth involving social and individual fear, community coercion, authority unquestioned, sacrifice and finally – well – that part is still a mystery . . . unless you were there!

The Dragon symbolizes the power of initiation and the unknown. When confronted with the Dragon, we shrink in fear of the destructive force of the beast. Yet, it is our fear that is the enemy and a barrier to growth. When we conquer the Dragon, we bring the power within. We breathe power into our experience from our spirit. We burn through our challenges in life. The Dragon often requires a heavy personal sacrifice as the cost of initiation.

The Maiden symbolizes the fertility within our own body and spirit. She carries an energy of curiosity and craving for experience of life. She is bold in her desire for growth. She is passionate yet not fully empowered until the experience of living awakens her. She is the eternal rain flowing, giving life to all the earth. Within us, she is our blood bringing nourishment and cleansing within our bodies and holding the “seed” of rebirth. The maiden and her child like desire for experience and growth is also, too often, the sacrifice we make in order to ease our fear of the Dragon.

Through awakening this ancient mythology and recreating the story, we brought together the Maiden and Dragon in ritual to empower our personal lives and bring their gifts to our community.