“The Starwood List”, or What to pack for a Pagan
festival
Rilla..please be so kind as to tell this "virgin" just
what she should bring..I know I need tent, bedding
etc..now tell me what about clothes..ie in relation to
the weather and such...also any helpful tips woudl be
appreciated.
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I keep a list of what to bring to fests...every year
I go over it and cross off some stuff that I brought
but didn't use, and add some stuff that I didn't bring
but wished I had. I suggest that you build and maintain
a list of your own- but in the meantime, here’s mine.
I do tend to pack a LOT of stuff and you may choose to
pare it down a bit if you're not quite so uptight, or you
may HAVE to pare it down if you're flying or have a small
car.
leave it with your car, so as to not have to lug it around and
store it in your tent, but you'll be able to go get it if you
decide you want it.
-----------------
Anyhow, here's my list:
*cassette tapes for the car ride to the fest- Pagan stuff will
get
you in the mood! :-)
*Tent (The bigger, the better... people will happily help you set
it up)
*mini tent-patch kit and seam sealer
(The year you don't bring this will be the year your tent
develops a
leak right over your sleeping bag)
*hammer
(to pound tent stakes)
*At least 2 big tarps
(one to go under the tent, one to rig up above to keep the
rain off. You may also want an extra one with which to rig up
a shady lounging area. If you have a teeny tent and all your
stuff won't fit comfortably inside, bring an extra tarp to
rig up a sheltered storage area for some of your belongings)
*rope
(to string up your tarps, to hang a clothesline, to tie bundles,
it has
myriad uses and I wouldn't dream of leaing home without it. I use
cotton
clothesline (don't get that plastic-coated crap, it's impossible
to tie),
and I usually bring a gigantic hank of it.
*safety scissors or a knife to cut rope with
(you can substitute your athame if you wish)
*one of those little mini travel broom-n-dustpan sets
(to sweep all the dirt, crumbs, dead bugs & other crapola out
of your
tent before you pack up)
*campsite lighting
You will want something to mark the location of your tent. A tiki
torch
or 2 (or more) is good; you can also use a big jar candle or one
of those
citronella candles that come in a bucket. If you bring tiki
torches,
remember to bring plenty of fuel, and a small funnel with which
to fill
the torches. Don't bring anything that might tip over in the wind,
or
unenclosed candles that might set the woods on fire.)
*matches, or a lighter
(I always bring at least 2 books of matches and pack them in
different
duffle bags, because some stuff always seems to get wet)
*camera & film, if you desire
(remember to always ask before photographing anyone- some people
are
really touchy about this)
*bedding
(I bring 1 sleeping bag to spread out on the floor of the tent
and a
second one to actually sleep in. In addition, I bring 1 or 2
thick extra
blankets. Even at the hight of summer, while you’re roasting
in your own
skin during the day, it can get pretty Nippy at night. Better to
have
it and not need it, you know- the extra bedding is something you
can
leave in your trunk if you desire, as a just-in-case. You may
also
want a pillow, air mattress, whatever.)
*condoms(and any other related items you may find yourself in
need of)
*a cooler (if you desire to have perishable food and/or cold
drinks. Ice is
usually available for purchase in camp)
*food and related equipment
(Don't forget to eat. Don't laugh, it's easy to do. The
excitement and
energy seems to sustain you, and there are plenty of more
interesting
things to do than stop to eat. you also may enjoy bringing a few
things
to share. Granola bars are handy to have for a quick snack-on-the-run;
they keep well and you can slip them into nooks & crannies in
your luggage.)
*water, and water containers
(It is vitally important to remember to carry water with you
everywhere, and drink a lot of it at frequent intervals. There
are usually
spigots about, but I kinda like to bring my own water that I'm
certain is
clean. I usually Bring a few gallons, either store-bought water
or recycled
containers that I filled from my own tap at home. Even if you
plan to utilize
the on-site water, you'll want to have 2 empty gallon jugs so
that you'll have
some water at your tent when you want it. Another (optional) nice
thing to
do: there is never enough water at the bonfire circle at night
where
people are getting all dehydrated drumming and dancing... it's
kinda nice to
bring a couple of gallon jugs to pass around and/or leave in the
area for use
by the dancers & drummers.)
*water bottle
(a plastic bottle with a non-leaking cap that is easy to carry
around
with you, to keep your body hydrated. I use a recycled soda
bottle with one
of those pop-top caps. You can also buy water bottles with their
own
carrying straps, or a canteen.)
*meds
(any prescription meds you are on, birth-control pills, also
bring some OTC
allergy meds, ibuprofin/aspirin/acetaminophen for any headaches
or muscle
aches. Remember that you will be carting a lot of heavy luggage,
sleeping
on the ground, probably doing a lot more walking than normal,
dancing,
imbibing, etc. I bring some Pepto-bismol as well (they have it in
tablet
form now), a couple of lip balms, and throat lozenges. Vitamins,
if you tend
to not eat as well or as often as you should during fests.)
*first aid supplies
(I bring an entire box of bandaids. There is so much walking
& dancing
to be done that I always wind up with blisters. You may be going
barefoot,
and a lot of injuries happen that way. Blundering around in the
woods at
night is also a good way to get scratched up. Bactine/neosporin
or other
similar stuff to put on any hurts. I also make sure to have a
needle for
splinters. Tweezers in case of ticks. Something to put on poison
ivy, should
you be so unlucky. Something to use in case of sunburn. Bee-sting
kit, if
you are allergic. Something to put on itchy mosquito bites.)
*kleenex
(if you have allergies; it is also handy for other uses... I
bring a
couple of little travel-packages)
*A folding chair
(it is worthwhile to invest in a good, sturdy, comfy, portable
one.
The ground is often wet; it will be wet in the mornings even if
there is
no rain all week. You will want something to sit on at workshops,
while
schmoozing around the fire, etc. I have a real comfy chair that
folds up quite
small, has a carrying strap, and a pouch to carry small items in.
If you have
extra folding chairs, it's nice to bring a couple to set up by
the fire.
People are always dropping by, and it's nice to have a few extras
hanging about.)
*map/directions to the site, and a contact phone # in case you
get
lost
*festival booklet or any other info you may have received ahead
of
time
*gate pass/registration/proof of fee payment, if such is required
for
entry into the specific festival
*drivers' license or other photo ID
*cash/checkbook/credit cards
(make sure you have some emergency cash, and some small bills to
buy
ice. Many fests have food available to buy, or even meal plans.
There are
also lots of wonderous things to buy at the merchant booths!)
*sunglasses and a HARD case to keep them safely in. A string to
wear
them around your neck. If you wear prescription eyeglasses, a
HARD case to
put them in when you take them off. If you kneel on them in a
dark tent
and bend/break them, you are utterly screwed (yes, she speaks
from hard
experience!) A tiny eyeglass repair kit would not be amiss.
Contact-lens case and cleaning materials, if you wear contacts.)
*toiletries
(biodegradable soap, shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, razor,
anything else you use. Soaps, shampoos, etc are best to bring in
travel/sample
sizes, or put into smaller bottles. Liquid soap in a squeeze-tube
is handiest.
Wet-wipes are also handy to have. feminine hygiene supplies if
you think you
might need them-and your cycle may get thrown off when you're at
festival)
*mesh shower bag
(for your shower items)
*nail clippers
*brush(s)
*comb(s)
*antiperspirant/deodorant (travel or sample size)
*One of those folding travel-pack-thingies with many clear
zipper-compartments is invaluable for storing and organizing your
toiletries, meds, jewelry, car keys, and other small items. I can
never find anything when I'm camping, especially if I'm crammed
into a small
tent. One or more of these organizers are priceless.)
*a washcloth or 2, and towels
(bring plenty of towels. They never dry fast enough. If it's
really
hot, you may want to duck under the shower or pour some of your
water over your
head several times a day. There may be a pool and/or hot tub You
will also want a few towels to park at your tent door with which
to wipe
mud & dirt off your feet. And if it does rain, you will need
several towels
to mop up. You can't have too many towels. This is another item
which it
doesn't hurt to throw several extra in the trunk just in case you
decide you
need them.)
*SUNSCREEN
(and lots of it. Bring more than you think you'll need, and cake
it
on. Remember your face, the back of your neck, your hands and
feet, and
ears.)
*BUG REPELLANT
(and lots of it. I usually bring 2 or 3 big cans- coat my body,
and
spray some around my tent door a few times daily. I also usually
try to have
a citronella candle in a big bucket for my tent site. Protect
your body
and your campsite.)
*A hat, bandanna or something else to cover your head.
(You may need to sit/stand out in the hot sun for hours at a time
for
a ritual, workshop or work shift. Bandannas are also another one
of
those handy-dandy items that can be put to myriad uses. I always
toss a
handful of them in my bag.)
*a fanny pack
(handy for carrying your sunscreen, lip balm, and other small
items
around camp.)
*rain poncho
(you can get a cheap one packaged in a tiny wallet-sized envelope.
As
I said: prepare for rain. You have been warned)
*folding umbrella, if you desire
*waterproof boots
(again, prepare for rain. In addition, if it does rain early in
the
week, the number of feet slogging around camp turns the place
into a mud
lake that can last all week long.)
*plastic bags
(I bring a big wad of plastic shopping bags for trash, for
sorting and
packaging various luggage items (they keep things clean and
water-resistant), and for separating wet items. I also keep an
empty,
flattened plastic bag just inside my tent doorway to put my
muddy/dirty footgear on. When it's time to pack up, you can turn
this bag inside
out and put your wet/dirty footgear inside it, and just pitch the
whole thing
in your luggage. If it rains late in the week and you have to
pack up a
lot of stuff wet, you'll be happy you have plenty of plastic bags.
Some
small, ziplock baggies and some larger freezer-baggies may also
come in handy
to keep your tarot cards or other small, precious items dry.)
*trash bags
(I bring an entire box of trash bags, for the same reasons I
described
above. If we have a true downpour, you can break out your
trashbags
and put everything you own inside them, including your bedding.
This method
has kept my stuff dry through many a rainstorm and leaky tent.
You don't want
wet bedding, trust me. If you are in a small tent, anything that
is
touching the walls will get wet because the rain (and dew) whicks
in. If I'm using
a small tent, I put everything in trashbags. Also, if you have a
small
tent, you may double-trashbag some of your belongings and put
them outside
to give yourself more room. You can fit a big drum in a trashbag
to keep it
dry, too.)
*sandals, rubber thongs, tennies, hiking boots
(I bring at least 4 different pairs of footgear. As I mentioned
before, there is so much extra walking and dancing that if you
wear the same
footgear all week you will almost certainly wind up with blisters.
If
you do get blisters, you'll thank Gods you have sneaks and/or
comfy boots to
switch to. If it's cold, you'll want something other than sandals.
You want something substantial on your feet when shlepping gear,
and
setting up/ taking down camp. Rubber thongs are good in the dew,
light rains,
and in the shower. Leather sandals turn into instruments of
torture when
wet- and even if it doesn't rain, the dew appears soon after dark.
Footgear
tends to not dry very fast, either. Last year my birkenstocks
took 2 days to
dry after I wore them at night (just from the dew), and after it
rained my
tennies didn't get fully dry all week. I was very, very happy
that I
had brought enough changes of footgear that I always had
something dry to
put on, and something to change into if I felt blisters starting
to form.
Yet another item that you can toss a few extra in the trunk just
in case.)
*Several pairs of good cotton socks
(see above. Also, if it gets really cold at night, you'll be very
happy to have a few pairs of socks to keep your feet warm)
*flashlight
(better yet, two or three of 'em. They love to get lost. Bring
extra
batteries.)
*lantern, if you desire
*a pen & little pad of paper
(you may want to leave someone a note, mark down your workshift
info,
circle interesting events in the program, or share your addy with
new
friends.)
*a watch
(I know, I know... but if you want to go to any workshops or
rituals,
you'll need it. If you really balk at wearing a watch at festival,
you can
buckle it onto your folding chair or fanny pack. You may want a
glowing watch
for inside your tent at night, and/or one with an alarm if you
want to get
yourself up at a certain time in the morning or keep track of
some
event you want to be at.)
*clothespins
(useful for hanging your wet things up. I also use them for
suspending
my trash bag from a seam inside my tent, hanging up my mesh
shower bag to
let the stuff dry off, for pinning up the tent partitions just
the way I
want them, and for hanging certain fragile, easily-misplaced and/or
need-to-be-able-to-find-it-in-the-dark items from the inside tent
seams
(ie my feathers, program booklet, book of matches, etc.))
*earplugs if you are a light sleeper
*eyemask if you want to nap during the day so as to better enjoy
the
nightlife- just try to sleep inside a screamingly-bright tent,
that
thin nylon blocks no light at all
*if you drum, a trash-bag tie is the perfect way to be able to
take
off your rings/bracelets and secure them to your drum/chair/fanny
pack.
You will meet very few drummers who have not lost precious
magical rings at
bonfires.
*phone number of your pet-sitter
(in case you want to check in, or if you are delayed in returning
home. Also have a phone card or emergency change for the phone)
*hair elastics
(if you have long hair)
*Travel-toothbrush with case, and travel/sample size toothpaste
*a small pocket mirror
*drums, rattles, other musical instruments
*items with which to decorate your campsite, if you wish
(I bring foil/plastic star garlands, mobiles, windsocks, flags,
pinwheels, etc. You can hang things from the trees with fishing
line.)
*portable altar, if you wish
*jewelry
*body paints, glitter, temporary tattoos (with alcohol pads to
remove
them), mendi, etc if you wish
*ritual items
*ritual clothing
*costume items
*Clothing in general
(It is wise to layer. It may be 110 in the shade, or it may be
absolutely freezing. It is usually pretty hot & humid in the
daytime and cold at
night. I bring at least 1 pair of jeans, a sweat suit, a set of
long johns to
layer under the sweat suit if it gets really cold at night, a few
sweatshirts/sweaters, some sarongs, a few T-shirts, a pair of
shorts
or 2, a thick cloak and/or coat, a few dresses, etc. Everything
goes with
everything else, more or less, so I can mix & match &
layer. You can wear mundane
stuff, costumy SCA stuff, ritual stuff, or whatever you fancy. In
particular- if you go down to the bonfire at night, you will want
to
layer so that you won't freeze your buns off walking to and fro
your camp,
but you want to be able to strip stuff off as you get warm from
the fire
and/or from dancing/drumming.)
*some small magical and/or hand-made gifts for your friends, if
you
wish
*a small offering to give to the festival-site land, if you wish...
a
little stone from your own yard is ideal.
Also, consult any website or snail-mailed info you have available
About the particular fest- they will usually have a list of
suggested items to
bring, and will tell you a little about the facilities (which may
suggest
other items you will want), and sometimes they'll tell you about
some of the
planned activities. For instance, if there is a tarot workshop
you'd
like to attend, you may want to bring your cards. If there is a
Bast ritual (a
fixture at PSG), you may want to bring a whisker from your Cat
and/or
a can of tuna for the altar. If there is a Druid ritual, there
may be
certain items of ritual jewelry or clothing you may want to bring
for that
event. If there is a Santaria ritual that kind of catches your
interest and
you'd like to go, but don't know zilch about Santaria, you may
have time before
you go to the fest to read up on it a bit. Etc, etc, etc.
Also- and this is important- if you've never been to a fest
before, it
can be easy to get overwhelmed by all the energy flying around.
It's a
good idea to practice your grounding, centering, and shielding
techniques
beforehand, and take along any items you find helpful (or even
photocopy some
different techniques out of books in order to have a few cheat-sheets
if you
need them). Check in with yourself often to be sure you're doing
okay, and
if you seem to be having a hard time for any reason, don't
hesitate to ask
someone for a little help.
If you are strapped for room, go to REI or equivalent and buy a compression
sack or two. The ones I have are "Granite Gear" brand. They are a little
pricy, but they are magical. I can put my tent, tarp & rope in one and
squeeze it down to the size of a volleyball. Thick sleeping bag is another
volleyball. Towels and the entire week's clothing allotment is a third
volleyball. That stuff alone can take up two big duffles otherwise. I don't
know what I would have done without them these last few years.
Whew!! :-) How's that for a start?
foxdancer@spiritdancers.org
Starwood
Pagan
Spirit Gathering