2026 Theme: Zain - The Lovers

This year we are exploring the symbolic landscape of Key Scale 17, the Hebrew letter Zain, or "sword", The Lovers card in the Tarot. Here are some correspondences from Liber 777 to give you a small taste of the energies we will be working during the festival.

Zain is the path on the Tree of Life connecting Binah and Tiphareth, Understanding and Beauty. Workshops or rituals that help us understand beauty in various forms would be appropriate. 

Astrologically, we're focusing on Gemini, mutable air, with its planetary rulers Saturn and Mercury. The North Node is exalted. Twin deities or twins in mythology would be ideal subjects for rituals or discussions. 

The full title of the Lovers Tarot trump is "The children of the Voice; the Oracle of the Mighty Gods". In addition to exploring the symbolism of the Tarot card itself, rituals involving oracles, or workshops giving a historical and/or cross-cultural view of oracles and prophecy would be welcome.

Wormwood is the perfume, and ergot is the vegetable drug associated with Key 17. The perfumes of the 3 decans of Gemini are mastic, cinnamon,  and cypress. A workshop exploring the magical and ritual uses of these, or compounding incense with these ingredients would be welcome. 

The colors associated with Key 17 are-

Empress scale: reddish grey inclined to mauve

Emperor scale: new yellow leather

Queen scale: pale mauve

King scale: orange

The animals associated with the key are the magpie, parrot, zebra, and penguin. We invite you to let your inner child play with these colors and associations  throughout the festival, in clothing, makeup, campsite decorations, or other creative ways.