Postponed to Mother's Day due to swampy conditions May 6, the Heart of the Beast May Day Parade & Festival celebrates social justice and progressive causes. This year's theme was overconsumption. The parade and especially the ceremony following have a bit of an Earth-based spirituality vibe, so for someone like me, it's a can't miss event.
I'll let the pics do most of the talking, more below the squiggle
Aztec dancers, stills & video
this float provided music for square dancers
Occupy the Hood. Occupy Homes had an entry as well
crazy long 3 part float, got some video of this too, they are actually roasting meat on top of it!
lots of good people-watching in the crowd too, my favorite hat
after the parade , Heart of the Beast Puppet Theater holds a ceremony more fully developing the parade theme and culminating with the Sun coming across Lake Powderhorn and the raising of the Tree of Life. I did not attempt to get a good seat for it this year, but that actually gave me a better view of the lake.
Part of the reason I did not attempt to get a good seat on the hill was that I wanted to spend some time in WHealthy Human Village, part of the Blooming Town section of the festival
Here they are getting the Ger (aka yurt) ready for a day of teach-ins: I was just in time for the morning meditation.
and exactly who/what are they? (from the Facebook page)
WHealthy Human Village is an Occupy project with a focus on the rights of the Mother Earth, respecting Indigenous People, and Environmental Justice. We are committed to ending war on the earth and war between people, and reclaiming our rightful relationship to the planet and to each other.
Inspired by the Occupations around the world, we are bringing forth a vision of an "Occupy" that is a living prototype of the world we'd like to see put in place of the current culture. The "WHealthy Human Village" is currently seeking invitations for pieces of land, upon which we can set up our structures and practice a new way of living.
The ideas for what kind of structures, and what happens inside them will be developed community by community, depending on the needs of the population. The idea is to create a "commons", an area where people can gather to discuss topics, network with neighbors, provide mutual support, host teach-ins, cook and serve food, craft and mending circles, and more.
Occupy has broken the concrete sidewalk disconnecting us from the earth and from each other. It's time now to create a space for a garden, where a new culture can grow, place by place.
Join us! Tell us your skills, your passions, where you live, and if you would like to help create a village. All skills welcome! Artists, healers, builders, knitters, parents, Elders, youth.
I was able to catch one teach-in, on how to darn socks! I actually knew how once, but it was interesting to see another method. I hope I can fit more activities with this part of OccupyMpls into my schedule
Thu May 17, 2012 at 12:05 PM PT: oops, forgot to include the inside shot of the Ger, in my defense, Photobucket has been giving me lots of headaches this week!