Private Photos
Sirius Rising 2009
Brushwood's 15th Annual Sirius Rising festival gave us all some time to enjoy the opportunity to participate in creative expression and personal growth. Sirius Rising is alwasy an eclectic weeklong festival that nurtures creative and spiritual potential by bringing together, involving and teaching the community. The experience encourages participation in the universal creation process, opening participants to the unique relationship between the Land, the community and the festival at Brushwood. Everyone interested in participating in workshops, drumming and dancing around the fire, or simply relaxing with friends or family in the great outdoors gets allot from a visit to Brushwood.
Brushwood Folklore Center L.L.C. is a campground, festival and seminar facility located in Sherman, New York (a town in Western New York State). This family-run spiritual center hosts a number of well-known Neo-Pagan events and runs programs of its own. Owned by Frank and Darlene Barney, the campground is on 180 acres (0.73 km2) developed with several permanent structures.
Notable features of the campground include an indoor seminar space, the Roundhouse (a fire circle openwork structure reserved for all-night drumming), the DidgeDome (a wooden skeletal dome reserved for didgeridoo and small drum music), a candle labyrinth, an outdoor Neo-Druidic temple called the Nemeton, a playground area, and a pond with an island in the center called Brushfire Island. There are several wooden pavilions (some with stages and power), a food court, and a poolhouse with pool, hot tub and showers. It is a clothing optional facility, and skyclad participants are common.
Brushwood has hosted the Starwood Festival since 1990, and has hosted the Church of the SubGenius X-Day and the Ar nDraiocht Fein Wellspring Gathering festivals (run by Stone Creed Grove) since their inception. The World Magic Festival, created by Jeff McBride, was held there both years it ran, and several smaller Neo-Pagan community events including Opening Inner Doorways, The Thing in the Woods, Craftwise Pagan Gathering, Lumensgate and Heartsong have been held there. It has also had primarily musical events such as the O.U.R. Music Festival, Strange Days, and the SpiritDrum Festival.
The primary event created by Brushwood is Sirius Rising, a Neo-Pagan festival held the week before the Starwood Festival in July. Sirius Rising features classes on nature spirituality topics and arts and crafts, and provides live musical entertainment in the evenings.
.....................................................................................................................................................................