THE BRITISH COLUMBIA ISSUE No 140 Winter 2009 $7.75HEART CIRCLES Spring 2010 Issue (#141) Time to CIRCLE! How does THAT make you feel? As we have been celebrating the 30th anniversary of the first national faerie gathering, many feel this is a good time to contemplate the Heart Circle. While not uniquely a rad-fae experience, heart circles are the mode through which we communicate our thoughts and feelings while in community, whether at a gathering, in someone’s living room, or at the local community center. One may argue that being in heart circle is what defines being a radical faerie. We are calling out to our communities across this globe and asking for writings about the Heart Circle. We are asking for articles of any length to share experiences, insights and stories about this process which is paradoxically our most intimate and simultaneously most public method of human relating. We are interested in ALL aspects of circling to have a critically honest discussion = what works? what doesn’t work? What do you love about heart circles? Why do you HATE them? How do they work best for you? When have they moved your spirit, or caused you to fall asleep? Do heart circles scare you? Is it difficult for you to speak in front of others? Do you feel trapped in a dynamic of having to listen to others’ baggage ad infinitum? Are you too cool to sit in a heart circle? What is the future for heart circles in the faerie community? Submit your writings to submissions@rfdmag.org. If you have ideas about writing, but fear the process, send an email to the same address = we can help! Y O O O o o o - H O O o o o o o o !RFD #140 • Winter 2009 Rain Forest Dreams Between the Lines 2 The British Columbia Issue Vol 36 No 2 #140 Winter 2009 Hello Readers, As always it is great to hear your feedback and most especially to see your perspectives in RFD’s pages. The last few issues have been rich in Radical Faerie roots and we continue that in this issue with a focus on our faerie brothers in British Columbia. This issue’s feature was guest edited by Stitch and it was wonderful to work with him and we hope the readers enjoy the pieces from our brothers north of the border. Meanwhile, it seems fitting to recall the gay political losses and fallout from our success that we are now facing. With the Congress making large strides in hate crimes legislation and the Obama administration passing innumberal executive and administrative orders relating to the GLBT community in a positive way. Yet we’ve also seen set back (California and Maine on marriage) and the attacks on Obama’s nominee’s to serve in the administration. It reminds us on the Collective of the importance of self reliance, speaking truth to power and working on the struggles we ourselves can affect change upon. We hope you enjoy the issue, look forward to your feedback and ideas for future issues and as always appreciate your continued support. Please consider ways you can help our endevour alive. -- RFD Collective The Vancouver Faeries are a series of smaller communities that overlap like the circles of the Olympic symbol; there’s some cross over, but for the most part, lately, there is more divisiveness amongst the group as a whole. There have been attempts of cohesion by individuals like Faerie Bud who rejuvenated Faerie Coffee and groups like the urban Green Body Gathering of the early two-thousands. The idea of being able to help create this issue came to fruition while I was at Short Mountain and had a quick exchange with Sister Soami. My intention for putting together the first Canadian edition of this publication was three fold. The possibility to bring the community together for a joint project. To have our unique BC voices be heard by our brother/ sisters to the South of us and beyond. And the third intention was... heck Vancouver’s hosting the winter Olympics and I had to distract myself from the train wreck about to hit our city! I feel I’ve been successful in fulfilling two of these three intentions. Despite my attempts to include as many Faeries as I could and allow us to work as a community, it’s still fractured and this issue is only a small portion of the voices and images of the colourful Faeries who make BC their home. Possibly a second future publication may be created that will shine light on more of the personalities of the community. Welcome to the lives, ideas, beliefs and visions of some of the Faerie family from BC. Much love and light, and hugs, Stitch RFD #140 • Winter 2009 CONTENTS On the Covers On the front cover: 1993 Gathering Photographer Unknown On the back cover: Green Man created by Luke Warmwater Inside back cover: Keith Gemerek Production Bambi Gauthier, Editor in Chief Michel DuBois, Treasurer Matt Bucy, Typography & Layout Myrlin, Brothers Behind Bars Editor Middle, Health Editor Jason Schneider, Editor Eric Linton, Editor Image Credits David Ellingsen & Michael V. Smith ..........26 Raspberry Showboat ...........16, 17, 29, 31, 33 Stitch .....................................25 Artist Links RFD appreciates the following artists whose work appears in this issue: Keith Gemerek <kgny@aol.com> Between the Lines ..........................................................1 This issue’s feature: British Colombia Faeries Letter from the Queen ......................................................3 Letter from Darlene. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Reflections of a Near Lapsed Faerie ...........................................5 Berns Galloway/Beautiful One Art by Thirsty McBunny, Vancouver ..........................................6 Back to the Land for Faerie Sanctuary .........................................8 Tiger Lily Poetry ....................................................................10 Etienne My First Faerie Camp ......................................................11 Bug The Salmon Prince. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Luke Warmwater Faerie Home Altars ........................................................14 Three Sentence Stories .....................................................16 Happiness is a Faerie Gatherrette ............................................18 Tulip Let There Be Light: Cross-Fertilizing Spirituality ..............................20 Marmot Art by Crow Dog, Saltspring Island ..........................................23 Answering The Call: An Interview With An Elder .............................24 Stitch Prayer for Solace ..........................................................26 Michael V. Smith Faerie Fishboy ............................................................27 David Mielke Myth of Community .......................................................28 Morgain Wheelieguy and Me .......................................................30 Stitch Remembrances ............................................................32 Brother’s Behind Bars ......................................................34 Myrlin RFD is a reader written journal for gay people which focuses on country living and encourages alternative lifestyles. We foster community building and networking, explore the diverse expressions of our sexuality, care for the environment, radical faerie consciousness, nature- centered spirituality, and share experiences of our lives. RFD is produced by volunteers. We welcome your participation. The business and general production are coordinated by a collective. The collective has a listserv for those who wish to get involved at http://groups.google. com/group/rfd-production/ Features and entire issues are prepared by different groups in various places. We print in New England. RFD (ISSN# 0149-709X) is published quarterly for $25 a year by RFD Press, P.O. Box 302, Hadley MA 01035-0302. Postmaster: Send address changes to RFD, P.O. Box 302, Hadley MA 01035-0302 Non-profit tax exempt #62-1723644, a function of RFD Press with office of registration at 231 Ten Penny Rd., Woodbury, TN 37190. RFD Cover Price: $7.75 a regular subscription is the least expensive way to receive it four times a year. Copyright © 2009 RFD Press. The records required by Title 18 U.S.D. Section 2257 and associated with respect to this magazine (and all graphic material associated therewith on which this label appears) are kept by the custodian of records at the following location: RFD Press, 231 Ten Penny Road, Woodbury TN 37190.RFD #140 • Winter 2009 RFD #140 • Winter 2009 Dear Faerie’s, I do welcome you to this issue of RFD. Vancouver has been my home; well let’s just say for a number of years. This has been tireless work for, most likely Stitch. We talked about this back at the Brietenbush Summer Gathering ’09, and here it is the end of September and I am just getting around to writing. This is a bit unusual as these sorts of things are done by some nameless Aide-De-Campe. I just sign or read over and OK it. This time however, they have all deserted me and I’m left to find word for the written page. That is not my forte. I am a blabber mouth and spin words orally. Maybe that isn’t all I do orally. They say a little innuendo is always good. I do hope you enjoy reading about Vancouver and British Columbia, Canada. This is a temperate rain forest, like the Pacific Northwest in the USA. We do get a dry spell in the long summer days. The day length is due to our latitude above the 49th parallel. If you do find your way to this place make sure to let us all know, so we can welcome you or avoid you depending. Love Darlene, the Ambassador’s Wife From the Desk of Darlene The Ambassador’s WifeRFD #140 • Winter 2009 Reflections of a Near-lapsed Faerie by Berns Galloway/Beautiful One In being asked to write about faerie life on Vancouver Island or what it is like to be a faerie here, I have had to ask myself, “Am I a faerie?” This question then requires another, “What is a faerie?” Does attending a few faerie gatherings at Faerie Camp, playing with drag, lovingly exploring men and their bodies, honouring the four directions and celebrating a few pagan rituals make me a faerie? Can I be a faerie without other faeries in my community? Is faeriedom a social phenomenon requiring two or more men? Am I a weekend/holiday faerie, donning my wings when I leave town to play friends in the city? I wonder if I am a near-lapsed faerie whose membership could be expiring from lack of attendance of faerie gatherings. The faerie police could slap me with a stiff fine or handcuff me to the nearest tree and whip me with a boa. There is a wee niggle of guilt for being what might be judged a bad faerie (and doesn’t that notion conger up fun ideas…huummm… different then a good faerie gone bad…). Yet, all I need to do is remember. When I do, there is no question or doubt. Attending gatherings is like church – I don’t have to be there to believe. I can stop wondering and simply remember. I like the idea of being a faerie, despite forgetting at times I am. This is similar to the forgetting I do that I am ONE and connected with everything. When I re-member, my experience of everything shifts, there is nothing wrong with me, my heart opens and all is well. Remembering to bring out my faerie nature can light and lighten me up. I become more playful, more fun and can feel myself wiggle out of my tight layer of clothing (sometimes literally) and adorn myself with magical faerie dust. Rules become less important while embracing an ethical appreciation for life. Some faeries have faerie-godmothers. Mine is Miss Grace Pace. Despite little contact, he continues to be an inspiration. I remember the day he told me about faeries and how intrigued, excited and frightened I was. Hearing stories of men honouring and reflecting themselves in authentic and joyful ways, being more of who they are, and opening their hearts, became a reality for me during my first gathering. Miss Grace Pace’s vitality, playfulness, spontaneity, and lovingly I-dare-you-challenges encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and let my own beautiful Self shine forth. My assumption is, if you are reading this as part of the RFD, you know about faeries and possibly know if you are one or not. I have rather prided myself in holding the label faerie; I like being introduced by other faeries as “another faerie”. I am included, part of, and belong to this magical and mysterious club. I do not know other men on this island who call themselves faeries. They may certainly exist. I have heard rumors. Vancouver Island has its fair share of queer male residents - how many of them are even aware of faeries or would want to be one is a wonder. Faerie life for me is mostly a way-of-life rather than an activity or event. It is a state-of-mind grounded in the body and anchored in something much larger. It is a practice calling for a mindfulness of who I am – regardless of any label of faerie, gay, male… At one gathering of faeries I purchased a faerie bell, which ended up in a box with other jewelry I stopped wearing. This reflection has resurrected the bell now hanging around my neck. Each time I hear its magical tone I have the opportunity to remember the faeries, the options I have about how I experience life, and who I am. ..I simply have to hear its calling. RFD #140 • Winter 2009 Art by Thirsty McBunny, VancouverRFD #140 • Winter 2009 Next >