For the past 15 years, the Aquarian Tabernacle Church (ATC) has put on a ritual drama called the Spring Mysteries after the ancient rites of Eleusis in Greece. What are the Mysteries? What do they really do out there at Fort Flagler? Who are these Mystai and Epoptai? Do they really dance sky clad late into the night? Read on, my friends, for the mysteries are about to be revealed!
Well, not quite. I, too, have taken the oath of secrecy. But it is no secret that the Spring Mysteries are very popular. Over 300 eager pagans pay $90-$145 apiece to huddle in drafty barracks, slave in a kitchen, mop floors, stand for long periods in the chill April wind and stumble around in the dark — and they can't wait until next year so they can do it again!
Actually, the accommodations at Ft. Flagler are reasonably comfortable. With a rope and bedspread, you can convert your two-bunk cubicle into an acceptably private cubbyhole. A nice warm sleeping bag, a little space to stash your gear and a compatible roommate create a pleasant home base. With 40 people per floor, chances are good for a nocturnal visit from the God Thundersnore, so a pair of earplugs is a good idea. It really doesn't take long to get over the coed bathrooms and meals are healthy and plentiful.
Everybody works at Spring Mysteries. From registration, to cooking, to dishes, to cleanup, we all pitch in. It's not bad duty, even the early breakfast shift. We are with friends, we are caught up in the excitement of the weekend, and the ATC staff is experienced and well organized. Some people volunteered beyond their shift just to keep things moving smoothly.
Spring Mysteries are held over Ostara weekend. This year we arrived on Thursday in sunshine so warm that many of us turned out for the opening ritual on the lawn in white robes and barefoot. There were seniors and children, men and women, gay and straight, couples and singles, and practitioners of all manner of pagan paths. ATC (see their website at www.aquatabch.org) respects the right of each individual to formulate their own belief system and structure, free from imposed dogma or doctrine handed down from others. The only universal deities shared by all were the Goddess VISA with her shrine among the merchants, and the Goddess Caffina at the espresso stand, supplying strong libation for sleepy Wiccans.
It got colder, and heavy cloaks proliferated, but that did not stop the drumming circles around the bonfires. They were often up late into the night, their beat throbbing under the stars. During the day, eagles soared close overhead, deer nibbled grass right up to the parking lot, and a sea otter actually ambled up the drive from the beach to see what the commotion was about.
The day classes were well attended. I went to Blacksun's advanced ritual class and picked up some good pointers for my own circle. He unveiled the new ATC full moon ritual script as well. There were classes on dream work, laughter, Dionysos, scrying, astrology, long-term relationships, stages of spiritual development and ethics. Private shrines were there again with priestesses and priests taking on Goddess- or God-form to listen to our needs, to teach and to challenge us. The popular Aphrodite shrine was busy as usual, with couples sneaking off there to ... worship.
The main reason for the festival, of course, is the presentation of the Mysteries. The Mysteries tell the story of Demeter and Kore/Persephone from ancient Eleusis, a temple city about 12 miles from Athens in Greece. They are presented as participatory drama ritual in which all of us take an active part. First timers, called Mystai, are only allowed to join in the Lesser Mysteries. Those who have seen the Lesser Mysteries before are called Epoptai, and they are permitted to be part of the Greater Mysteries as well. Although reverence was maintained, we did not allow ourselves to get "religious" about these classifications. Very soon we started calling each other the Misties and the Pop Tarts!
It would be impossible to explain in words what we saw and heard and felt. The symbolism behind the performances is so deep that libraries of books have not exhausted it. (One good modern reference is Carl Kerenyi's Eleusis.) More importantly, the drama is interactive and each person experiences it differently each time. My head is still buzzing even a month later! We are very lucky pagans to have such a production available to us year after year.
Additional features of the weekend include an adult confirmation of path ritual, a rite of passage, a parade to the sea complete with scantily clad nymphs and demigods splashing around in the frigid Puget waters, and the famous sky clad rituals. Worshipping sky clad (naked) is not for sexual orgies. Its symbolism is to be free, unencumbered, and equal before the Goddess/God. Actually what we liked most about it is that it was indoors and warm!
Profound as the Mysteries are, equally rewarding are the many wonderful people I have met there. I attended last year and also went to Hecate's Sickle (another annual ATC performance in November), so now I am beginning to recognize many faces and develop new friendships. We will meet again in other circles or communicate via email and continue the magic the whole year through.
And that's the secret of Spring Mysteries: Anyone who comes with a positive intention and a cheerful heart leaves well filled in body, mind, heart, emotions and spirit. I'll be back next year! Blessed Pop Tart!
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