The Mysteries
The Mysteries at Dragonfest is a way of ritually connecting with guides, spirits, the divine, and fellow people who face similar daily concerns. In these rites, we honor both our differences and our commonalities in the lives we live as members of our respective genders/ gender identities. We do this through a variety of methods such as trance work, meditations, and/or magick workings, depending on the tradition or practice of the volunteer presenter. This year’s mysteries include:
Non-Binary/Gender Fluid/Lavender Mysteries
Are you feeling alone in your gender journey? Is Dysphoria and Imposter Syndrome bringing you down? We are here to help. Join your fellow gender deviants in a ritual to bring us together, help us love ourselves, and bloom into our most authentic selves. Open to all ages, identities, and genders or non-genders.
Women’s Mysteries
THESE are the Mysteries, dear Sister, that celebrate all that you are, an ever-changing light among the stars. Take my hand in kinship and Be the majesty of your magic. Come to me Between the Worlds and Be free of norms and expectations. Be.
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom” – Anais Nin
All women, womyn, and feminine-identifying persons are welcome to attend.
Men’s Mysteries
We invite all men and anyone identifying as masculine to join us as we come together in kinship to understand and celebrate how we can use masculinity as a force of good in the world. Bring your favorite toasting beverage and be ready to energize yourself to use your masculinity to enact positive change in the world. All men and masculine-identifying persons are welcome.
Life-Cycle Celebrations
Life-cycle rituals are available at Dragonfest for participants who wish to mark special turning points in their lives. These offerings, put on by volunteer presenters, allow participants the opportunity to recognize these changes in a ritual setting, but who haven’t had the opportunity to do so in their normal lives, or who have, but also wish to do so in a communal setting. Please note that many of these rituals require advanced sign-up. This year’s Life-Cycle Rituals are:
Moon Rite (Girls’ Coming of Age)
The Moon Rite is for all who are or identify as Maidens. Traditionally this includes those who reached their first menses and who feel inclined and prepared to make this step over the threshold into Womanhood but is inclusive to all those who identify as maidens.
Rite of Transition
A coming of age, or coming to a new you; is a ritual for any all who have not been to one or have a new self they would like to recognize and present to the community.
Croning Ritual
For all who are called to celebrate the Beauty of your aging and honor this special time in your life, please join us. Trans and Nonbinary are welcome. Please join this Ritual if you are called to. We ask that you attend either the Croning or Trans Elder workshops.
Saging Ritual
Saging will be offered to anyone who identifies as male and is interested in taking the role of a Sage.
Other Rituals
Opening Ritual presented by OPS
Come lend your energy to marking the start of Dragonfest and create the sacred space that it takes place in! Created by our Ops Directors, this is a chance to kick off Fest in a ritual manner.
Multiple Drawing Down
The Drawing Down of the Moon is one of our most Sacred Mystery Rites. Our High Priestesses or High Priests become a Vessel for the God and the Goddess. The Vessel invokes the Goddess or the God directly into themselves. If you would like to volunteer to be a vessel, or walker, or have any questions, please email our Ritual Coordinators at rituals@dragonfest.org.
Ancestor Ritual
The ancestor ritual will be a time to remember and honor those who have journeyed to the Summerland. There are different types of ancestors. There are our blood ancestors, who are the people from whom we directly descend. There are archetypal ancestors, who represent the place that our clan and family came from. And, some are spiritual ancestors, those who we may not be tied to by blood or marriage, but who we claim as family nonetheless. We invite all who wish to gather to remember, share, and shine a light on someone they held dear.
Main Ritual We invite you to join us for an eclectic ritual that celebrates multiple open practices and spiritual traditions.
Closing Ritual presented by the Teens
Created and performed by Dragonfest’s teens during Teenfest, the sacred boundary that was made during the Opening Ritual to hold Dragonfest’s energies will be released. Come lend your energy and support the Teens as they lead!
Giving Tree
This will be a ritual to help people understand what that means and how important it is to walk in gratitude every day by sharing energy as well as gifts. You can bring a magical tool that you no longer use, a craft, a book, or other things you think need to be given. We must remember that sometimes to be able to receive we must also be willing to let go to make room for the new. Be open and prepared to accept what it is spirit says you need at that time. Please also remember only to receive one item as we want to be sure all who give also receive! Thank you and Blessed Be!