The Stella Natura: Reaping the Flesh of Light Festival
took place on Friday and Saturday, September 25 and 26, 2009. The beautiful festival was held in a
forested park near Nevada City, California in the idyllic Sierra Nevada Mountains.
The event was truly a spiritual experience with many fine performances for a wide variety of interests, including tribal, ritual,
ambient and neofolk. The gathering consisted of a truly great group of people; organizing. volunteering, performing and attending.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Changes' R. N. Taylor wasn't able to attend the festival and he was sorely missed by all there.
The afternoon's concerts had been scheduled for the patio outside the main lodge, however due to the fact that there was no way of keeping the sun
from scorching the patio, it was decided to hold the performances in the lodge itself. This proved to be an excellent alternative as the acoustics and comfort
of the lodge with seating out of the elements and external noise gave all of the shows a very warm and intimate atmosphere. The late evening acoustic
performances were also held in the lodge while all of the other shows were staged in a great outdoor amphitheater.
On Saturday afternoon, following a stellar performance by Novemthree, Nicholas performed to a fine audience of attentive, enthusiastic
and courteous people. The show opened with and was honored by a moving invocation given by Stephen A. McNallen (www.runestone.org),
founder and leader of the Ásatrú Folk Assembly. This was the first time Nicholas had the pleasure of meeting Mr. McNallen and his lovely wife
and he was grateful to have time to spend with them and to make their acquaintance. Plans had been made in advance for Markus Wolff of Waldteufel,
a good friend of Changes, to accompany this performance on rhythm for several of the upbeat songs and his stellar performance gave those songs
a marvelous impact. And for Nicholas it was, of course, great to see Markus again and to also spend time with him.
There were a great many friends of Changes in attendance, and as usual, to name everybody would suffer the chance that someone
might be omitted and offended but suffice it to say it was great to see them all again. Nicholas also met many great new people and it can
certainly be said that a good time was had by all.
[Photos have been posted, click here or link below "Most Recent Show"]
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...And on the following weekend!
Changes performed at A Folkish Winternights Gathering 2009
Robert and Nicholas were honored to attend and to perform at this fine gathering of people.
Paying homage to the Norse Gods, the folk here were strong of heart and rooted in the
spirituality of the heathen Odinist/Asatru celebration. There were many events including, fighting
demonstrations, archery lessons, workshops in Hexology, and rituals to celebrate the coming of Winter.
Besides Changes, who performed on Saturday night, other performances included Wodanorden, who performed
their fine Celtic flavored metal music on Friday evening and Norsewind, performing their great rousing Celtic
"pub" music on Saturday afternoon. Following Norsewind's performance was an enchanting female
vocalist who performed several songs a cappella and sang like an angel.
The festival was abound by fine craftsman, including Hornsmith, a gentleman who crafts fine
drinking horns; Whirling Sun, crafting fine jewelry (and giving several jewelry casting demonstrations);
Zaubereigarten, creating intricate hex signs (and holding the hands-on workshop),
Wolf Tyr Productions, with fine musical merchandise and the list goes on.
The celebration was also highlighted by an abundance of great food, great drink in addition to great company
taking place both outdoors and indoors in a "Viking Hall" setting in Prince William Forest Park, Triangle, Virginia.
Winter Nights or Old Norse Veturnætur was a Norse winter festival that was initially celebrated in pre-Christian Scandinavia
and can be seen as the Nordic equivalent to Samhain, a Celtic festival. The festival marked the beginning of the winter half of the year,
and the start of the Wild Hunt. At this time the breeding cattle would be taken inside from the fields, and the rest of the herds slaughtered
which was a necessity for the Nordic people to live through the winter. It was said by Snorri Sturluson that Winter Nights is one of the
three most important festivals. This festival also marks the end of the summer and start of the winter meaning the end of the
harvest work and it was a time to celebrate.
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PLEASE JOIN US FOR MEMOIRS OF
THE MEN AMONG THE RUINS TOUR OF 2005!
