| About 200 turn out for spring festival |
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| Written by admin | |
 Belly
dancing, Tarot card readings and a magic workshop from famous authors
were just a few highlights of Ostara Fest 2008 at Club Rodeo in Harker
Heights on Saturday.
More than 200 people attended the festival, sponsored by Sisters of the
Earth & Sea Eclectic Novelties & Gifts store in Harker Heights."Ostara originated with the Teutonic people in Germany and is named after their goddess Eostre," a festival brochure stated. It is celebrated at the time of the spring equinox. Many of those who attended the festival said the products and the people attracted them to the first-ever festival in Harker Heights. Several of the participants said the visiting authors were the main attraction for them. "To have the opportunity to actually meet them, it's a treat for us to have them in," said Richard Arlington Briggs Jr., of Killeen. Authors Dorothy Morrison, whose latest work is "Utterly Wicked"; M.R. Sellars, whose latest book is "End of Desire"; and Ellen Dugan, whose latest book is "How to Enchant a Man," signed books and talked to festival-goers. Morrison and Sellars gave a joint workshop/lecture about magic. Sellars told the audience before they can talk about magic, they must define it. Audience members described magic as energy, emotion, use of thought and energy, "probability enhancement," and everything people cannot explain. "The change of condition by ritual means" is how Morrison defined magic and told the audience, "but all of you are right." Sellars said magic is manipulating energy. "We are not talking about religion or spirituality right now – we are talking about magic," Sellars said. Sellars and Morrison told a story about a disgruntled publicist they used to work with. They explained that after they severed ties with the publicist, their book sales plummeted, and they had trouble booking gigs to present lectures and workshops. Through a mutual friend, they learned this former publicist had "poppet" dolls of the two authors and was using magic to ruin their careers. "We had tried all the normal protection," Morrison said. But nothing worked, they said. They then got poppets – Barbie dolls will work – to represent their former publicist and used symbolic actions to cast spells, making the publicist stop her own. This included writing the aggressor's name on the poppet and binding its limbs in tape. Morrison used graveyard dirt to bury her poppet in a cigarette carton. Sellars dissolved aspirin in water and submerged the poppet. They both froze the poppet to "freeze" the publicist's actions. They claimed it worked. "To date, we have not had one more problem with this woman," Morrison said. Sellars and Morrison explained simple ways to cast spells using poppets. "We are not advocating people do nasty things to people," Morrison said. They said poppets can be used for good. "It's all about the attention you put into it," Sellars said. They said you can buy cheap dolls and use them to heal ailments by putting aspirin in them or get a debt paid by gluing a check of the amount someone owes you to the hand of a poppet with the person's name on it. Words are important, they said, but being specific is more important than anything else. "Remember, the whole poetry thing is a great thing – the gods like to be entertained – but some of us aren't good at that," Sellars said, noting that people casting spells should say exactly what they mean. They also provided some ethical tips to practicing magic. "My rule of thumb with magic is, you don't do anything in the magical realm you wouldn't do in a physical realm," Morrison said. Festival-goers said they were enchanted to meet some of their favorite authors. "I'm here mostly for Ellen Dugan," Valena Dohn said. Dohn said she became interested in the Wiccan religion about a year ago because she likes the "natural magic" involved, and Dugan's book helped her realize that. "She's the one that got me decided what kind of magic to practice in," Dohn said. "She seemed down to earth in her writing." Festival-goers also said they liked all the vendors at the event. Esther Diaz said it is hard to find Wiccan supplies in Central Texas. "You've got to really dig and look," Diaz said. Diaz and Dohn, who went to the festival together, said things that are hard to come by in the area are herbs and wooden crafts. Vendors at the festival sold candles, wood crafts, knives, swords, herbs, jewelry, books and soaps. Kim Barker sold jewelry and figurines with her mother, Starrlynn. Barker said they had been busy all day selling mostly rings and necklaces. "We've sold a lot of fairies (figurines)," Barker said. This was the first festival they had attended to sell their products and normally sell out of a booth at a flea market in Belton. Jeannine Guzman said she went to the festival for fellowship. "Well, I'm a Wiccan, so going to a Wiccan event helps me," Guzman said. "Wiccans are constantly studying." Guzman, who has been studying the Wiccan religion for more than 10 years, said she can learn from others by hearing different perspectives on Wiccan philosophies. The festival also helped her find other Wiccans locally, she said. Copyright: Killeen Daily Herald |
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