Union 7 Reunion - Connection in this New Era
2 1/2 years after the world was brought to a standstill, we are all slowly finding our feet again. Some have returned to what they know with relative ease, others have found settling into old habits difficult, and many of us remain at a loss as to where we should be heading. It’s not necessarily a problem that we all are where we are - what becomes an issue is endless numbers scorning countless others for not being at the exact same point in life. The fault lies with people on all sides - in the hurry and desire to go back to a ‘normal’ post-pandemic life, they left behind their understanding and their empathy just to retain a shockingly selective memory. Why did we go to such lengths to protect each other globally only to fall back into a system that divides on all platforms? What was it all for?
My long overdue travels this past summer reminded me that, once you are part of a loving and accepting community, everything around you falls into place, grounding you and realigning your perspective. This realisation came to me courtesy of two music festivals - one union and one reunion. The first was Castlefest - a fantasy-themed pagan-folk weekend in The Netherlands where attendees from all over could dress up/cosplay how they like without fear of scrutiny and join together in a social space that shared a love of music and freedom of expression. The Wicker ceremony was particularly moving, with flames climbing high to the sung text ‘Children of the Earth’ and a sea of raised open arms and teary-eyed spectators. This was a moment sorely needed and strongly felt and, though I had never attended this festival before, I belonged from the moment I donned my gnome costume!
Following that, I found myself on very familiar ground. I had returned to Norway and to Midgardsblot - a Viking-themed metal festival situated by sacred burial mounds dating from the Viking Age back to the Iron Age. There’s a unique atmosphere to a venue like that, with the campsite situated between the mound-adjacent woods and a stunning, temperature-perfect fjord. Old friends and new awaited me there and we rejoiced in our meeting. This festival combines music and education beautifully, with many musicians and lecturers alike providing talks before the stage areas open up and the entertainment begins. The opening ritual blot was exactly what I needed after such a long time to ground myself again - wooden statues of the gods, blood and prayer offerings, drums beating, voices chanting and chests swelling with emotion as we came together and found ourselves to be home once more in each other’s embrace. We all suffered in isolation for so long and, as we gathered together in a global society and open community, we knew who we were again. No fear. No judgement. Just harmony and unity regardless of race, creed, class or orientation. All were welcome.
The world has changed drastically in a short period of time, but many old habits die hard. We cannot thrive in a society that allows outdated and ineffective systems to carry on dominating our way of living. Is it really so hard to pick out the working elements of what came before and adapt them into a more modern, practical and pragmatic method? We cannot ignore the issues, but we can fix them as a community, locally and globally. All that is needed as a foundation is the ability to connect, to help and care for all involved because we are all part of this. Unite in ways that will work and reunite with ways that have proven effective. Let’s strengthen our community and play our part in what’s to come. Stand around that bonfire under the moonlight and find harmony with all those around you - find the right note to add to the chord.
