As the world just seems to get crazier by the day, one way we can find comfort
is with our tribe. These days we don't necessarily stay in the tribe of our
birth, but rather, we go out and find those of like mind, who share our heart's
desire and our passion. We bond with others over similar interests at work, at
play, in worship and in our travels. We bond with groups through pop culture,
crafting, dietary preferences, and sport. We even find our tribe through
academia, and our studies of history and science.
Obviously, Quilters
and Fiber Artists are such a tribe! We have annual and seasonal gatherings. We
form clans based on aesthetic preferences, seeking a kindred spirit of our
preferred medium and technique. Garment sewers and costumers are a parallel clan
with a lot of crossover to the crafting and quilting clans. When we travel
abroad and meet other quilters and crafters, we are immediately accepted as part
of the worldwide tribe.
This weekend I am at a regional gathering of
another such tribe. I am at Starfest in Denver which is a costumer's dream. So
many of the attendees are wearing elaborate and artistic costumes, which are a
combination of purchased items and garments or accessories which they have made
or embellished themselves. I just attended a session on Klingon Kostuming (yes,
with a "K") and then another one on Klingon Kustoms. These people have found
their tribe, and theirs is such a pure joy as they share and partake of their
costuming rituals. Even though I was not in Klingon costume… er…
Kostume….. it so much fun to sit in on a couple hours of Klingfest.
On
a larger scale, we've watched the Boston Tribe go through an attack, a battle,
and a joyous celebration in the streets. It just got me thinking about how we
bond with larger groups of people, and how we can become a brother or sister to
a total stranger when we are taking part in a tribal event. The pure joy and
brotherhood we feel when we are part of a larger group of like heart and mind,
is a euphoria that erases stress, and can actually be a healing
experience.
So this weekend, whether you are with a group of quilters,
costumed sci-fi
characters, or Bostonians… I hope you can partake in the joy of tribal
living with your fellow humans. We are all still trying to comprehend what
happened in Boston, and in our hearts, we are all part of the Boston tribe this
weekend.
The ultimate tribe of course is Humankind, and as we Earthlings
prepare for Earth Day on Monday, I invite
you to review
our charity recipients such as Rainforest
Action Network, and Ocean
Conservancy, who are working to preserve the environment and the creatures
that inhabit this planet, as we travel through our solar system together on
Spaceship Earth.
