"It *REALLY* Is All Good!!"

In my travels around S.E Arizona, I learned of a place called the Chiracaua National Monument. The pictures on the brochure were amazing, and I was *immediately* drawn to go there. When I arrived, I chose to first get a campsite, then go exploring. I knew I was going to stay there for more than one day! That evening I saw three women pull into the campsite across from me.

I had a strong feeling that they were also "family". I was assured of my assumptions the following morning when one of the women came walking across the lane with a purpose to meet me. After a brief introductory conversation, she invited me to come visit her on Womyn's Land just outside of Tucson. I had NO idea what Womyn's Land was. Never heard of the term before. The concept intrigued me enough to want to go visit. About a week after that initial contact, I decided it was time to go check out Womyn's Land.

On my westward journey towards new and exciting adventures, I utilized the brief description of what Womyn's Land is about from my new womyn friend, and began to wonder what it *would* be like to live in a communal situation, with womyn only. And mostly with womyn who love other womyn. I was told there was usually a *token straight girl*, but for the most part, it was just us dykes. It only took me two days after arriving on the land to let myself become fully immersed into a lesbian subculture of Land Dykes. The womyn I met, and grew to love, were different from most all of the other lesbians I had associated with. Spirituality, and Self Sufficiency within a community were key ideals to be upheld, nourished, and expanded upon. Gone was a way of living overuled by Patriarchy, opening the doorway to a much more fruitful existence through respecting the Matriarchy, while exploring and expanding the boundaries contained within.

Hi Honey I'm Home!!!!

Then I had to leave again. It's what Land Dykes do. We come and We go. And we come back again. Or not. Doesn't matter. What does matter is that we encourage and respect each others dreams and do all that we can to provide support. Never mind if we are near or far...what *really* matters is who we are. Rough and crunchy, smooth and sweet, bitter, sour, all you can devour. It's about the movement, and the groove...click with some. With others...butt heads and move. It's *all* good. Or so I believe.

It has been my experience that the largest, most complex, yet most fullfilling Womyn's Land available to us today, is the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival. I first heard about this event when I first discovered Womyn's Land. It took me more than a year to actually be able to participate in *this* subculture, but it was WELL worth the wait, and I absolutely can not envision a time where I won't be participating in the production of it.

I spent about a month camping out with hundreds of other womyn born womyn with many gender titles (but too numerous to expand upon). We ALL worked together to create a magical space, that I can only describe as "The Michigan Experience". And indeed an experience it was for me. After living "off the land" (and many "modern" conveniences in a rustic sort of way), living in a Womyn's Only community, having tons of fun and working to my fullest potential to build the festival, I left the land feeling super charged and ready to take on the world.

I had never felt more awake and alive, as I felt when I was at the festival, participating in the realization of a modern existence. One where we are all equal, and all are recognized and accepted for who we are. Not quite there yet, but working towards it. And what a beautiful process it is.

I was a part of that process. I contributed, and I helped. I gave unselfishly, and I received bountifully. I worked hard, and I played hard, and at all times felt an easiness about this way of life. I left the land knowing that I was leaving something magical behind. I left the land knowing that I was fully capable of creating magic ahead of me. My magic is achieving peace and harmony to create joy.

I have felt peace within myself. pacification, conciliation, order, concord, amity, union, unity, reconciliation, sisterhood, love, unanimity.

I have felt harmony within myself. consonance, accord, symphony, harmonics, concert, music, chorus, blending, unity, accordance, chime, unison, mucsical pattern, musical blend. compatibility, equanimity, unanimity (hee hee...there it is again ;)

I have had the distinct pleasure of being introduced to a world of joy. Mirth, cheerfulness, delight, pleasure, gratification, treat, diversion, sport, refreshment, revelry, frolic, playfulness, gaiety, merriment, levity, REJOICING!!!

by...Lynn Trynity