Number 201 Spring 2025 $11.952RFD 201 Spring 2025 Issue 202 / Summer 2025 RESILIENCE Submission Deadline: May 15, 2025 www.rfdmag.org/upload As we all contend with the global “cri- sis” in politics, climate and return to bias and prejudice, we’re asking our readers consider ways of engaging in tapping into our own collective and inner resilience. How do you tap into a network of re- silience and support while not getting consumed by “doom scrolling” and being in a place of resentment, anger and fear while contending with caring for our personal world and those who matter around us. Someone suggested that like a forest, the network of things is less about the trees above ground by the multitude of mycelium under the earth interact- ing with the roots of hundreds of trees and plants to react to the challenges the environment foists upon a chang- ing land. At times it makes sense to present an above ground “front facing” view of ourselves, brave strong rooted trees facing the elements. While at other times in makes sense to “sink in” to the earth, to merge with our environment as a way to keep up communication but stay incognito. As a community that has in many places made strides as part of being openly proud, vigilant to our place in belonging in community, we’re also deeply aware that the promise of inclusivity has not reached everyone equally, fairly or most importantly in ways that improve on our day to day lives. So, dear readers, consider contribut- ing to our collective glance into self- reliance and collective resilience. We love your ideas especially in how you have built up your personal network, share your images of shaping a strong community and tell us the dreams you want to share via poetry for a vibrant you and us. We want to acknowledge that there are many parts of “us” and we welcome all of those voices even if they differ. We understand the main goal is respect. So sharing what’s significant to you is important in telling “our story”. RFD 201 Spring 2025 1 Rippling Fields Dance Vol 51 No 3 #201 Spring 2025 Between the Lines As the winter turns to spring, we hope all of our read- ers are finding small ways to rejoice. In this issue we asked readers to submit works on the colors of spring, the possibil- ity for change, the fluidity and sexual tension of the turn of the seasonal wheel. Many people celebrated the return of the early spring flowers and the splendid color they provide. Nature offering us possibilities to renew. The restive nature of spring engaged one writer to reflect on our own political restive natures when capitalism draws too much from the hands and hearts of laborers. While an- other writer focused on the mise en scene of the working life of a man in the catering industry and all the variety of people he encountered in a day’s work. We close out the issue with a review of work by Edmund White and a loving remembrance of REB, a rebel with the sweetest heart. In the upcoming issue we welcome you to share your plans for resilience and resistance while also asking about how we need to consider ways of creating safety for our- selves and those around us. RFD is proud to still be in your hands and it relies heavily on your interest and the wonderful words and images you share with the world through our humble pages. From a rain-soaked stormy New England —the RFD Collective2RFD 201 Spring 2025 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, and 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. Features and entire issues are prepared by different groups in various places. RFD (ISSN# 0149- 709X) is published quarterly for $25 a year by RFD Press, PMB 329, 351 Pleasant St., Ste B, Northampton, MA 01060-3998. Postmaster: Send address changes to RFD Press, PMB 329, 351 Pleasant St., Ste B, Northampton, MA 01060-3998. Non-profit tax exempt #62-1723644, a function of RFD Press, Inc., with office of registration at 231 Ten Penny Rd., Woodbury, TN 37190. RFD Cover Price: $11.95. A regular subscription is the least expensive way to receive RFD four times a year. First class mailed issues will be forwarded. Others will not. Send address changes to submissions@rfdmag.org or to our Northampton, MA address. Copyright © RFD Press, Inc. The records re- quired by Title 18 U.S.D. Section 2257 and associated with respect to this magazine (and all graphic material as- sociated therewith on which this label appears) are kept by the custodian of records at the following location: RFD Press, 85 N Main St, Ste 200, White River Junction, VT 05001. Production Managing Editor: Bambi Gauthier Production Editor: Matt Bucy Submission Deadlines Summer–May 15, 2025 Fall–August 15, 2025 See inside covers for themes and specifics. For online issues, advertising, subscriptions, back orders and other information visit www.rfdmag.org. Visual Contributors Inside this Issue Artwork not directly associated with an article. Front Cover "Wolfy WolFang" by Dick Mitchell Back Cover Photograph by Gavin Dillard Front Inside Cover "Morning in Mendocino" by Matt Bucy Back Inside Cover Kurt Walters ................................2 Oscar Zamora Graves ..............6, 8, 18, 44 Richard Vyse ............................14, 47 Stephen Mead .............................16 Kevin Owens ...............................21 Chris Moody ...............23, 32-33, 40, 41,49 Gavid Dillard ...................Back Cover, 24 Dick Mitchell ..................Front Cover, 51 Shannon Hedges. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37, 52 Lucky Soul .......................38, 39, 54, 55 "Spring > European Version" by Kurt Walters. RFD 201 Spring 2025 3 CONTENTS We Are Still Here .........................Luna .................................5 Gathering Guide 2025 ...........................................................4 Spring in Full Bloom ......................Perry McCrackin ......................7 American Spring .........................Robert Birch (ffka Robin Hood) .........9 Spring Fever .............................Duncan Hilton .......................15 Underneath a Caribbean Moon ............Alistar Chance .......................19 Rain Storm ..............................Alistar Chance .......................19 Pink Moon, April .........................D. Scott Humphries ...................20 Rambling in the Garden (for M.) ...........James Kangas ........................22 Poem ...................................Gavin Geoffrey Dillard ................25 The Haunted Pool ........................Manuel Igrejas .......................26 A Field of Weeds .........................Ken Anderson ........................43 the color of spring ........................eli andrew ramer .....................46 Cherry Trees Are Blooming Again ..........Don Perryman .......................50 Garden ..................................Ed of All People ......................53 Husbandry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .David Milley .........................56 Review of Edmund White’s The Loves of My Life: A Sex Memoir ......Leo Racicot ..........................57 REB: Dreaming Deep, Holding the Center ...Shimmer ............................59Seasons Change Jan 17-19 Highland, NC gayspiritvisions.org Imbolc Gathering Jan 27-Feb 5 Paddington Farm, Glastonbury, UK Imbolc Gathering Tropical Full Moon Gathering Feb 6-16 Koh Yao Yai, Thailand asianfaeries.com Breitenbush Winter Gathering Feb 13-17 Breitenbush Hot Springs, OR Breitenbush Winter Gathering Inner Child/Outer Adult Feb 14-16 Vancouver, BC Inner Child/Outer Adult Dance for All People-Northwest Dance Mar 6-10 Snohomish, WA danceforallpeople.com/calendar Ostara Gathering Mar 7-17 Featherstone Castle albionfaeries.org.uk/gatherings High Close Spring Gathering Mar 14-21 Langdale YH, Cumbria, UK edwardcarpentercommunity.org.uk Queer Magic Mar 16-20 Breitenbush Hot Springs radicalfaerieliberation.school/pages/queer-magic Blue Heron Maple Sugar Gatherette Mar 21-24 DeKalb Junction, NY thompsbs@tds.net Folkloric Mar 31-Apr 6 Granada, Spain hadasdelsol.org/events Dance for All People-TN Dance Apr 10-13 La Vergne, TN danceforallpeople.com/calendar Gay Mens Naked Wellness Retreat Apr 11-13 Starland, Yucca Valley, CA starlandretreat.org Sprinig Community Week Apr 13-24 Ternuay, France folleterre.org/en/gather Beltane-Holes and Poles Apr 26-May 5 Ternuay, France folleterre.org/en/gather Beltane Gathering Apr 28-May 3 Wolf Creek, OR nomenus.org Tiny Home Challenge Season 1 & Beltaine Builder's Ball May 4-12 Ramah, NM zms.org Open House Days May 6-Jun 6 Ternuay, France folleterre.org/en/gather Sowing Seeds of Resistance May 7-11 Saratoga Springs, CA billys.org Spring Love Awakening Gathering May 8-18 Paddington Farm, Glastonbury, UK albionfaeries.org.uk/gatherings/glastonbury/ Massage Weekend StarGathering May 9-11 Starland, Yucca Valley, CA starlandretreat.org Dance for All People-UT Dance May 16-18 Spring City, UT danceforallpeople.com/calendar Spring Gathering — Joy as Resistance May 16-19 Evans Lake, BC, Canada bcradfae.ca Welcome Home Gathering May 23-26 Grafton, VT faeriecampdestiny.org Kench Hill Gathering May 23-30 Kench Hill Centre, Tenterden, Kent, UK edwardcarpentercommunity.org.uk Below you’ll find our annual gathering guide for the year. We’ve tried to include all of the listings that we available before press time. Our humble thanks to each community and sanctuary which has provided infor- mation about their events. We especially want to thank www.radfae.org for it’s centralized listings of most gatherings on this list. We urge all readers to check the websites and contact each community beforehand to get details and confirm dates. A few communities didn’t have updated information on their websites—contact them directly for gathering information at the websites below. Amber Fox, McDonald’s Corner ON, Canada - www.akaamberfox.ca California Community of Men - www.calcommen.com Easton Mountan, Greenwich, NY - www.eastonmountain.org Kawashaway Sanctuary – Northern MN - www.kawashaway.org Short Mt. Sanctuary, Liberty TN - www.radfae.org/sms Gathering Guide 2025Gavados Gathering May 27-Jun 5 Gavados, Greece efthimios@aol.com Camp Wolf PAH May 28-Jun 1 Wolf Creek, OR pdxpah.com/camp-wolf-pah Connecting Together Jun 2-9 Beamsley, North Yorkshire, UK edwardcarpentercommunity.org.uk Dreamscape Jun 8-18 Ternuay, France folleterre.org/en/gather Dance for All People-Wolf Creek Dance Jun 11-15 Wolf Creek, OR danceforallpeople.com/calendar Winter Solstice Jun 11-18 Faerieland, Nimbin, NSW, Australia faerieland.org Sex Magick Workshop (169) Jun 14-21 Shimmerback Ranch, Northern CA faeriesexmagick.org A Summer in Berlin Jun 18-22 Berlin, Germany asummerinberlin.city Summer Solstice June 19-29 Ternuay, France folleterre.org/en/gather Brooklyn Gatherette Jun 20-23 Brooklyn, NY bit.ly/3DeAunz Spiritual Gathering of Radical Faeries Jun 27-Jul 6 Wolf Creek, OR facebook.com/groups/269921889816962 TAINT (Two-Spirit, Agender, Intersex, Nonbinary, Trans) Jul 10-16 Wolf Creek, OR taint@nomenus.org GAYLA Jul 12-19 Ferry Beach, Saco, ME ferrybeach.org/gayla.html Sex Magick Workshop (169) Jul 19-26 Queercus, Southwestern France faeriesexmagick.org Lammas Gathering Jul 25-Aug 3 Grafton, VT faeriecampdestiny.org Monsoon Gathering Aug 1-21 Ramah, NM zms.org Dance for All People-Montana Dance Mid-Aug MT danceforallpeople.com/calendar Breitenbush Summer Gathering Aug 13-17 Breitenbush Hot Springs facebook.com/groups/1657985564505474 Massage Weekend StarGathering Aug 15-17 Starland, Yucca Valley, CA starlandretreat.org High Close Summer Gathering Aug 19-26 Langdale YH, Cumbria, UK edwardcarpentercommunity.org.uk 45th Blue Heron Summer Gathering Aug 25-Sep 1 DeKalb Junction, NY thompsbs@tds.net The Power of Words and Silence Sep 5-8 Barmoor, North Yorkshire, UK edwardcarpentercommunity.org.uk Lizard Point Gathering Sep 6-13 Lizard, Cornwall, UK edwardcarpentercommunity.org.uk Sex Magick Workshop (269) Sep 6-13 Queercus, Southwestern France faeriesexmagick.org Twin Oaks Queer Gathering Sep 12-14 Twin Oaks, Louisa, VA twinoaksqueergathering.org Beauty will save the world Sep 13-20 Opatija, Croatia matafaerie.com/beauty-will-save-the-world Dance for All People-New England Dance Mid-Sep New England danceforallpeople.com/calendar Midwest Men's Festival Sep 16-25 McLouth, KS midwestmensfestival.com Autumn in the Hills Sep 19-22 Coldwell near Burnley, UK edwardcarpentercommunity.org.uk Dance for All People-California Dance Mid-Oct CA danceforallpeople.com/calendar Fall Foliage Gathering Oct 10-13 Grafton, VT faeriecampdestiny.org Massage Weekend StarGathering Oct 24-26 Starland, Yucca Valley, CA starlandretreat.org Samhain Gathering Oct 28-Nov 2 Wolf Creek, OR nomenus.org Autumn Gathering Oct 31-Nov 3 Beamsley, North Yorkshire, UK edwardcarpentercommunity.org.uk Samhain & Dia De Los Muertos Gathering Oct 31-Nov 8 Ramah, NM zms.org Dance for All People-New York Dance Mid-Dec NY danceforallpeople.com/calendar Summer Solstice Dec 16-23 Faerieland, Nimbin, NSW, Australia faerieland.org Wasdale New Year Dec 28-Jan 4 Langdale YH, Cumbria, UK edwardcarpentercommunity.org.uk Quarnford Lodge New Year Dec 29-Jan 5 Derbyshire, UK edwardcarpentercommunity.org.uk New Years Gatherette Dec 30-Jan 2 DeKalb Junction, NY thompsbs@tds.net 2026 Gatherings Tropical Full Moon Gathering Jan 29-Feb 8 Koh Yao Yai, Thailand asianfaeries.com6RFD 201 Spring 2025 "Allegory for Spring" by Oscar Zamora Graves RFD 201 Spring 2025 7 Winter in Athens, Georgia, arrives with a still- ness, blanketing the town in silence and muting the usual hum of student life—laughter, footsteps, vibrant energy. The streets feel empty, as if the world itself pauses before spinning back into its usual frenzy. As the semester nears its end, the town trans- forms—downtown bars, once filled with exuber- ant voices, now stand quiet, their walls groaning under the heavy weight of absence. Coffee shops that once buzzed with chatter echo with emptiness. Sidewalks, once crowded with students, lie cold and quiet. Bare trees stand as silent witnesses to the town’s transformation. The silence looms heavy, pressing down like a blanket of ache. The student crowd, once a constant reminder of life’s fleeting possibilities, has gone home for the break. Without them, the streets mourn their absence. I walk through the town, feeling my own invis- ibility in the air. Misunderstanding simmers be- tween me and the world around me, but this winter, it feels more pronounced. Faces I pass don’t linger; the town moves on without me, its energy continu- ing in every laugh I don’t share, every conversation I don’t join. In this sea of fleeting moments, I am a shadow—a witness, not a participant. Despite the quiet, invitations keep coming—holi- day parties promising spiked eggnog and twinkling lights. New Year’s gatherings, heavy with tradi- tion and fleeting warmth, feature couples curled together on couches under blankets. “You’ll come, right?” they ask, their voices dripping with effortless warmth only those in relationships seem to have. I go, of course. Options dwindle during the win- ter months in Athens, especially with friends whose lives seem to move forward while mine stands still. I show up, bottle of wine in hand, wearing an outfit that says: ‘I’m here, but don’t expect too much’—just enough color and style to signal that I’m not com- pletely disengaged. Inside, rooms overflow with warmth—firelight flickers, couples tangle together on couches, their laughter blending with the hum of intimacy. I sit at the edges of these moments, nursing my drink, watching. The glances exchanged between lovers, the unspoken words passed in their silence, unfold in another world. They feel so far from me. Their connection isn’t cruel. They don’t mean to sting. However, the heaviness of being encompassed by unattainable love is unmistakable. I predict failure for some couples; their love, I feel, is winter- bound. Yet, the ache lingers. “Together for a season,” I whisper under my breath. The words ring hollow, like promises long forgotten. Winter’s presence clings to the room, a reminder that even the warmth of others can’t thaw every- thing. The laughter, the ease between them—it all feels like a world apart. No matter how badly I want it, that sense of closeness isn’t something I can touch. I stay at the edge of the room, nursing my drink, the voices of the party swirling around me. Despite the warmth of the conversation, a coldness settles, the familiar weight of being a bystander. A space remains unfilled, a conversation left unsaid. My gaze sweeps across the crowd, seeking someone or something that could help me feel like I belong in that moment. That’s when I see him. He isn’t standing out—just another face in the crowd—but something in his eyes holds me. I glimpsed him earlier, but I hadn’t dared to linger. For a heartbeat, our gazes locked—just long enough for a spark of recognition to flicker, then fade. My impulse to reach out is swift, but I hesitate— just a beat too long—before someone from the crowd pulls him into a conversation that swallows him whole. And just like that, the opportunity van- ishes. I glance around again, feeling the disconnect settle in, the faces blurring into one indistinguish- able mass. What had I expected from that night? Maybe to feel more connected. Maybe even to meet someone who could make all the other nonsense feel a little less hollow. But all I have is a sense of missed opportunity, and that is all. The party’s energy wanes with each passing hour; I depart. I step into the frosty night, the silence of the empty streets swallowing me whole. The air bites at my skin as I walk, thoughts swirling around the stranger—his gaze, his presence—like the winter wind. Something shifts. I sense it—like I’ve let something slip through my fingers, something ir- retrievable. I wonder if love is like the seasons—something that appears when it wants to, only to fade again. Am I out of season, forever waiting for something Spring in Full Bloom by Perry McCrackinNext >