Issue 56 - Pagan Federation Devon and Cornwall

A Dartmoor Walk
Ostara Incense
Recipes
Nuin Fearn Saille Ogham
2009 Camps, Moots & Events
Welcome friend!
To another edition of ‘Dark Mirror’, a little late this
time of year due to the conference but I hope worth it.
I’m also still tinkering with the format!
The picture on the front I took in March this year at
Grimspound on Dartmoor. On that peaceful day the
sun shined across the valley and as I sat there I watched
a young family play hunt the Easter egg amongst the
stone hut circles and closed my eyes for a moment.
I heard laughter of the family and the sheer joy when
the children found the hidden chocolate, it made me
think that this was going on (perhaps not with chocolate) 3000 years or so ago celebrating the new warmth,
spring, rebirth. My imagination for a moment resurrected the village and the spirit of our ancestors.
If you came and stayed later on the Saturday night at the PF conference down in
Cornwall you may of heard me doing my
DJ bit, I hope you enjoyed it?
I may be the first person to start with a
song by Leonard Nimoy and end with
one by William Shatner. Take that Ibiza!
If you have information about events you
would like to see in this magazine please
email me and I’m always looking for
‘Pagan’ articles of this and that to put in.
I would like to say a big thanks to all the
writers in his edition and I hope you all
have an inspiring & bright spring.
BB, Graham. ([email protected])
PF Devon & Cornwall District Officers
District Manager (DM) :
VACANCY
Regional Co-ordinators (RC)
Devon :
Sowelu (01392) 433909 email : [email protected]
Cornwall :
Nigel Fenlon - 07971 854917
Channel Isles :
Oak Leaf – email: [email protected]
The RC’s deal with day to day contact with members. Contact them (and not the District Manager) about membership enquiries or other matters you wish to discuss, by phone, email or letter to the regional address. If you want
to run a Moot or Study Group, contact your RC.
District Administrator :
Community Officer :
Conference Organiser :
Sowelu
Cassandra Latham
Levannah Morgan
The Local Organisers run moots, events and groups. Contact them for details of local events.
Exeter :
South West Devon & Plymouth :
North Devon :
South Devon & Torbay :
North Cornwall :
Penwith :
Channel Islands : Oak Leaf - email :
Viannah - 07742 142066
Patrick - 01752 562769
Trudy - 07988 410815
[email protected]
Graham - 07896 411160
[email protected]
VACANCY
Sarah - 01736 787522
[email protected]
For all the latest news and updates around the Region, try the new look Regional PF Website at:
www.paganfederationdevonandcornwall.co.uk
Dark Mirror is printed by Ian Jamison and distributed by the Regional Council.
The opinions expressed in letters and articles in this magazine, do not necessarily represent the
views of the Pagan Federation.
Walk to Vixen Tor
& Merrivale, Dartmoor.
By Michele Collins.
Tavistock West Moor Moot, Sunday 25th of January.
In the Vale of the Goddess (perhaps Maia, or Mari, or
even Mary) rests the iconic natural granite outcrop of
Vixen Tor. Sphinx-like stone, mist veiled spirit house
of the moorland Goddess Vixana.
For several millennia our Neolithic and Bronze
Age ancestors without doubt used this majestic
rock as a way marker along the river Walkham. In
time this site became sacred, the indwelling spirit
of the rock became Goddess to our ancestors evidenced by Bronze Age kist burials. A standing
stone and remains of enclosure wall can be clearly
seen as we peer into Vixana’s barb-wired enforced
enclosure, erected by the current landowner like a
circle of fear or hate. Towards the road lies the
mire, if you are unfortunate enough to sink into
the bog it is likely your own foolishness to blame,
not an ancient Pagan Goddess. The bog in ancient
times provided a direct link to the Underworld
and Land of the Dead to which Vixana the Fox
Goddess is clearly associated with.
This sacred place has been the site of initiations
into witchcraft by modern Pagans. She welcomes
those reborn to the craft, the new souls born into
this life and she lends an ear for those who request safe passage into the next
world. This site is a place of pilgrimage, of reverence and direct
connection with the deity of the
land. It is also a place of magic
for the Goddess possesses a
ring of invisibility and brings the
mists that draw the veil over
the moor.
Ancient old witch, her powers
became feared in later times and
so repressed as was the female
half of society. Our culture
must move to balance; it must
support and cherish everything
about our humanity. As Pagans
we must aid that striving, acknowledge our own personal
wholeness and accept responsibility for all our actions. Being
half a person is to be less than
human. A few short years ago
sensationalised sheep deaths near the tor associated
with ‘black magic’ heralded phone calls from the press
asking worrying questions about witches... I hope this
abhorrent, barbaric and subhuman behaviour has come
to an end.
As Goddess of Initiation I bring the moot here to connect with Vixana at Imbolc. ‘Visits to sacred sites and
ancient spaces of the Dartmoor landscape to connect
with the Spirit of Place’ is one of the endeavours of this
moot. It is cold, the moor is waterlogged but the day is
sunny and fine and we are circled by the calling buzzards. May Vixana’s enclosure be open to us all once
more in Merrivale, Vale of the Goddess.
A New District Manager
By Keith Tovey
I'd like to say a big hello to the District! You may not
have heard of me before - but I'm your caretaker District Manager (DM) - Keith Tovey. Why me I hear you
ask. Well, I'm also the District Liaison Officer (DLO),
the member of the PF Central Committee that all the
DMs work for and more than that, the one who has to
appoint new DMs. When a District finds itself without
a DM, it falls to the DLO to care take the District until
a new DM can be found. Hence this article in your
District newsletter, your District needs a new DM and
I'm hear to tell you what the PF is looking for – in the
hope that someone in the District has what it takes and
is willing to step up to the plate!
So what do you need to be the DM of a District?
1.) You much have been a member of the PF for over
one year (the PF Constitution requires this);
2.) You must understand how the PF works - either
through having been an DM before or because you've
worked closely with a District and seen it all before;
3.) You need to have a good knowledge of the Pagan
community in your District,
4.) you need to be able to run the necessary admin that
goes on in the background of a successful District
(keeping your District Team happy, ensuring the money
is being looked after, passing on post - that sort of
thing);
5.) You need to be contactable, especially in this day
and age you will most certainly need to be on-line with
a reliable email address;
6.) You need to be willing to attend PF Council meetings in London (both to represent your District's views
and to have your say in how PF is run);
7.) You need to be able to get on with & work with the
DLO.
So what does the DM do?
1.) The DM is the voice of the PF within a District - the
DM is appointed via the DLO on behalf of the PF Committee and the buck ends with the DM - the DM is the
boss.
2.) The DM has (or appoints) a team of Regional Coordinators to (RCs) look after each of the Regions in
the District and these people may appoint Local Coordinators (LCs) to look after the areas within their
region.
3.) The DM looks after the District bank account and
normally appoint a treasurer to do the serious work on
the account.
4.) The DM appoints other people to help with other
aspects of District work - Interfaith Officers, Newslet-
ter Editor, Conference organisers, webmasters, teams
to co-ordinate Earth day events, all sorts. Essentially
the DM heads the District team.
5.) The DM writes the "DMs bit" for the District newsletter and has final say on the newsletter.
6.) The DM chairs the District Council meeting and
normally runs two of these a year. The Council is made
up of the various members of the District team
(especially the RCs) and helps to advise the DM on
how to run the District and focus the Districts energies
on what needs to be done. District Councils also help
to keep the DM on the "good old" straight and narrow!
7.) The DM is a voice for his Districts membership with
the rest of the PF. Just as PF asks for things from a District, the DM asks for stuff from the whole PF when the
District needs help.
8.) The DM keeps the District going and is there for his
or her team when they need someone to problem
solve.
9.) The DM gets post in from PF central and farms it
out to his RCs (or their LCs if that's how they work)
to action. The DM answers queries about the District
and helps keep up the general good name of the PF.
10.) When you’ve had enough of being DM and you
want to step down, it normally falls to the DM to suggest a replacement to the DLO and to train them to
take over the job.
Well, that's an out line of what a DM does - as you can
see, it's a tough job! But, there's a good central team
to help support the DM in PF central and a LOT of experts both in other Districts and on PF's Council and
Committee who have been doing the PF job for a
LONG time and are there as a font of knowledge when
things get complicated. The DMs first port of call when
things get bad is the DLO and likewise it's the DLO
who (as I said above) is writing this article and asking
for a new DM for your District! SO, if you feel that
you can do the DM job and you want to take the enquiry further, please get in touch with me (Keith
Tovey) at [email protected] as soon as
possible and we'll talk things through.
PF really does need YOUR help - the quality of the volunteers that the PF has is what makes it live, breath and
succeed! We cannot run Districts without good DMs so come on, step up to the plate and show me how
many prospective DMs there are in this District!
I hope to hear from you soon!
Bright Blessings
KEITH
Dark Mirror
Correspondence Course
The Dark Mirror Correspondence course is available
free to all Devon, Cornwall, Isles of Scilly and Channel
Islands members. It is suitable for complete beginners
or for more experienced Pagans looking to add structure to their spiritual journey. There is a Wiccan or
Druid version.
Please contact Sowelu for more information at : [email protected]
or via the PO Box address.
Ostara Incense
By Sharon White
Herbs for the festival of Ostara should be chosen to
reflect the deeper significance of the season - that of
new growth, and the triumph of light over the winter
darkness.
'Spring goddess, gentle maiden
stepping from the icy earth,
Letting go of winter's fetters
as the wide world breathes again.'
From Elisabeth Brooke: A Woman's Book Of Shadows
•
1 part benzoin ( a preservative) to 3 parts frankincense.
Frankincense cleanses, purifies, consecrates
& raises vibrations.
•
•
•
•
•
lemon verbena leaves, to create a peaceful and
joyful atmosphere and to invoke the direction of
east, symbolising the new dawn of Ostara and the
coming of Spring.
calendula, which represents the Sun and it's passage through the wheel of the year.
Mugwort, used to honour the Goddess - particularly at Ostara.
orange peel
few drops of frankincense oil
Blend together and burn on charcoal.
The Devon Handfasting
Network
If you would like to find out more, or arrange a Handfasting, then please contact Levannah Morgan, the coordinator.
Email [email protected]
or tel 07778 304687
or write via the PO Box address.
From the IT Officer
Our News page on the web site has been somewhat
'moribund' over the last few months. The original idea
was that it would only be used for news specifically
*about* the PF but discussions have been held about
widening the scope of the page. To this end, I'm looking
to recruit a small team of 'newshounds' to sniff out the
latest, worldwide, stories of pagan relevance and bring
them to a wider audience.
This exercise would require any stories to be precis'd,
for reasons of copyright they cannot just be simple cut/
paste jobs
from other web sites - some thought and effort is involved.
So if you have a hour or so to spend on-line each
week, and would like to help the PF with news dissemination, please contact me at [email protected] familiarity with Wordpress would be useful but is by no
means essential.
For Sale
Hand-held frame drums made with ethically sourced
deer or horseskin.
www.all-as-one.co.uk
or tel. Sam on 07971 179086
Goats Cheese
Simple Seville Marmalade
By Rayne Mathews
By Rayne Mathews
What could be better or simpler than making your
own goats cheese. This recipe produces a soft cheese
that keeps for about a week in the fridge. To make a
firmer, feta style cheese add extra salt. Add the herbs if
you want but the cheese is also delicious plain.
Ingredients
•
•
•
1 Litre Goats Milk (full fat)
2 Tbls Cider Vinegar (good quality)
2 tsp sea salt
This makes about 4lbs of delicious thick Seville with
fine orange shreds.
Ingredients
•
•
•
•
3 lbs Seville oranges
2 medium unwaxed lemons
4 pints of cold water
3lbs of granulated sugar
You will also need
For herb cheese add:•
•
2 tbls finely chopped chives
1 grated clove of garlic
•
•
•
•
A large pan
Muslin, jam bag or similar
Enough sterilised jars for the recipe
Wax discs, covers and labels for the jars
Or a combination of your choice.
Method
Method
Put the milk in a large pan with the salt and vinegar.
Bring slowly to the boil stirring occasionally. As soon as
it boils, remove from the heat and allow to cool to
blood temperature.
When cooled add the garlic and herbs if using, and stir
well.
Pour the mixture into either a cheese cloth or an old
nylon stocking (clean!) and leave to hang over a pan in
the cool overnight.
Using a zester, finely zest the skins of the oranges and
lemons and place in a large pan with 4pts of cold water. If you want chunkier pieces, cut the rind into
strips after juicing the fruit and peel it off in thick strips
(next stage).
Cut the fruit in halves and squeeze out all the juice.
Pour the juice into the pan with the zest and water
and set the pulp and pips to one side.
Cut the discarded fruit flesh into large chunks and
place inside the muslin along with the pips. Tie up securely and place in the pan with the water, zest and
juice.
The next day the cheese will be ready.
Bring to the boil and simmer uncovered
for about 2 hours or until the juice has
reduced by about 1/4.
Remove the muslin bag and drain over
the pan. Carefully measure the remaining liquid (there should be about 3
pints) and return to the pan. Add 1lb of
sugar for every 1 pint of liquid in the
pan.
Gently heat the mixture for about 15
minutes, stirring to dissolve all the
sugar. Then increase the heat and boil
rapidly for 50 minutes.
Leave to stand for 15 minutes, then
spoon into the prepared jars, sealing
them immediately. When cool, label
and store in a cool dark cupboard.
Inter Faith
The Pagan Federation are represented on the Devon
Faiths Forum, who as you may have heard are undertaking some research into the experience of discrimination
on the grounds of religion and belief in Devon.
If you would like to contribute to this research then
please get in touch!.
Investigating
Discrimination.
The DFF are trying to undertake an investigation into
incidents of Discrimination based upon Religion and
Belief in Devon. This will be used to help inform Local
Government policy in Devon over the next few years.
Please contact us with your stories so that your
voice is heard!
We would like to hear from anyone who has suffered
(or believed that they have suffered, or feared) discrimination on the grounds of Religion or Belief in
Devon. Whether this is a major incident that led to
police involvement, assault, harassment, name-calling or
abuse, workplace or school bullying, workplace or
school regulations, attitudes expressed in the (local)
media or in conversation, access to goods and services,
vandalism, we would like to know about it. All contributions will remain anonymous unless you specifically
state otherwise.
We would like you to contact us with;
The name of the person sending the information.
(Please indicate if anonymity is not required) & some
contact information.
The Religion or Belief.
An outline of the events.
A description of how this made the person feel.
A notification if any agencies (Police, Social Services,
Schools etc) were informed.
Any following events or outcome.
Please send this information to us at
[email protected] or by post to:
DFF, c/o The Old Deanery, Exeter EX1 1HS
Many thanks for your contributions – please pass this
information onto anyone else that you think might like
to contribute.
The Museum of
Witchcraft
Phone 01840 250111
[email protected] www.museumofwitchcraft.com
Educational, Entertaining, Enlightening
The Museum of Witchcraft, The Harbour,
Boscastle, Cornwall. PL35 OH
Nuin Fearn Saille Ogham
By Michele Collins
February- Ash Moon (Nuin)
Bird: Tern, Snipe. Animal: Horse, Snake. Stone: Sea
Green Beryl, Coral.
Ash is the shaman's horse from which can
be reached the three realms of existence
and being. As the world tree it extends
through the cosmic heavens of stars and
yet it is rooted in primal matter. Ash
courts the lightning flash, a channel between the fertilising power of the Sky Father and the fecund qualities of the Earth
Mother. The thrones of Kings were made
of Ash so the ruler would be in touch with
all three realms. The elastic nature of the
fast-growing yet strong wood makes excellent shafts for spears and other weapons.
It is the staff at the centre of the sacred
circle, the axis Mundi which links all
spheres of existence, it is also the shaft of the magic
broom.
Nuin has many associations with water, land and water
horses and with Sea Gods. Irish immigrants took Ash
charms on the journey to America as protection
against drowning. Rods of Ash were used to control
horses, nymphs of the Ash were clouds spirits and invoked during rainmaking ceremonies.
On Midsummer Eve eating red ash buds is a protection
from enchantment and also a time to cut a wand of
divination to attract the inspirational fire of heavens.
An Ash leaf under the pillow brings prophetic dreams,
its keys open doors to future events.
(18th Feb-17th Mar)
March- Alder Moon (Fearn)
Bird: Raven. Animal: Red Fox. Stone: Obsidian, Ruby,
Garnet.
Alder offers protection against conflict as it
has remarkable powers of resistance against
both water and fire. Highly prized by metal
smiths this tree makes poor firewood but
the best charcoal. It is strongly associated
with Bran the Underworld and Solar God
whose totem is the Raven. He spanned a
river as a bridge to raise his followers above
the water as Alder makes excellent piles due
to its oily nature and water resistant qualities.
As Sacred King when Bran died his head was
buried at the White Mount of Trinovantium (Tower of
London). Bran’s singing head refers to the uppermost
branch of the Alder used to make magic whistles in order to ‘whistle up the wind’. During the dark winter
months from the Autumn Equinox to Imbolc the the
Sacred King speaks through these sacred whistles to
represent the continuing spirit of life.
An amulet of Alder has the powers to suppress doubt,
it offers personal protection and enables the freeing of
self from magical bindings. Connect with Fearn, Bran
and the Raven to facilitate in Oracular undertakings.
(18th Mar-14 Apr)
April- Willow Moon (Saille)
Bird: Swan. Animal: Hare, Cat. Stone: Moonstone, Peridot.
Willow holds lots of water and is ruled by the Moon.
Witch and wicker words derived from Willow. It was
often used for baskets and wattle and daub constructions due to its pliant nature. It is sacred to all Underworld deities especially the Old Veiled One and is used
as a funeral herb. Ancient burial mounds were lined
with Willow, and supposedly Druids sacrifices were
made at full moon in Willow baskets.
Able to regenerate from a small twig the Willow is a
tree of immortality, death, the Underworld
and Rebirth of the Sun God. The Goddess
Europa ‘she of the broad face’ (the Moon) is
depicted seated on a willow tree. Sun gods
such as Zeus, were born and the auspices of
the Horns of the Moon. . Orpheus in the
Underworld touched the bough of the Willow for eloquence. Carrying a piece of Willow helps to overcome the fear of death.
Planting a willow during your lifetime will
grant safe passage into the Underworld.
The Willow Goddess gifts are of love, fertility and inspiration especially for bards.
Healing medicines are made from its under
bark such as aspirin to lower fevers, alleviate headaches and rheumatism and makes a wash for
sores and skin problems. Used in initiation rites on the
path to knowledge a brew of Willow transforms the
negative aspects of the self. Saille’s flowing, watery elemental qualities aids the flow of events and fluctuates
with the phases of the Moon. It enhances divination
when the moon is in the sky. The challenge of Saille is
to acknowledge the intuitive and spiritual nature within.
(15th Apr-8th May)
Exmoor Pagan Camps
2009
Still Hiding in the
Broom Closet.
By Eileen Blacklock, 2007
Wonderful weekends of community workshops,
crafts, music, feasting, friendship, healing and ritual, all
centred around a private stone circle and communal
fire pit.
Camping in a private field bordered by woods and
streams in the midst of some of the most beautiful
countryside in Exmoor.
May Camp
Arrive midday Saturday 23rd May
Depart midday Tuesday 26th May
Midsummer Camp
Arrive midday Friday 26th June
Depart midday Monday 29th June
Harvest Camp
Arrive midday Friday 21st August
Depart midday Monday 24th August
Ticket only events.
Only 50 tickets available for each camp.
Book early to secure your place.
Cost per Camp
£20.00 per adult
£10.00 per school age child.
Free entry for preschool children.
Well behaved dogs kept on a lead welcome.
Ticket price includes all workshops, events, crafts,
healing and readings along with a communal meal during the weekend.
Information and booking forms available from:
Yarrow on :[email protected]
or telephone
01823 283742
or pick one up at
Taunton Pagan
Moot
The woods were dark when the cars arrived
They parked in the old farmer's yard
From the cars they unloaded the things for the night
Some, they kept covered to keep out of sight
And I couldn't see all of it try as I might
For to see in the dark was too hard
They greeted each other with hugs, quiet words
And as one they walked to the wood
Muted laugher was heard, the night's workings were
planned
Despite covert behaviour 'twas not underhand
But if they had seen me I would have been banned
So I hid behind trees and just stood
The altar was set out on fallen tree trunk
With flowers and incense alight
The candles were lit North, South, East and West
The quarters were called with much vigour and zest
And me? I kept hidden it was quite a test
Not to join them in their secret rite
For this was the night for the Witches to meet
A Sabbat for Pagans to share
The deer in the woods stared with eyes big and bright
But mostly the wary ones ran off in fright
And I stayed where I was and smiled with delight
At the magick abroad in the air
They danced and they chanted long into the night
They shared cakes and ale and some mead
All wrapped in cloaks they conjured a spell
I knew as I watched them that they'd do it well
Not for them a spell kit that some people sell
But an apple some herbs and a seed
Too soon they had gathered and all holding hands
They sang merry meet, merry part
I knew this was time that I'd slip away
I can't tell you how much I had wanted to stay
But I knew I'd come back on the next Sabbat day
They now had a place in my heart.
And so Witches all as you go to you rituals
Look to your left and your right
If a twig's heard to snap and the leaves heard to rustle
Stand very still, don't dare move a muscle
For it could just be me attempting to wassail
Alone in the dead of the night
The Devon, Cornwall &
Channel Isles PF
conference 2009
By Louise Lisse
It is always the same, every year, after Imbolc our
coven starts counting the days with excited giggles. The
reasons behind such gleeful anticipation ? The annual
conference of the Pagan Federation of Devon, Cornwall and the Channel Islands, traditionally held in
Penstowe Manor (or "Pants Down" as we affectionately refer to it). It is the perfect occasion to celebrate
the passing of the Winter in the company of old friends
whilst refreshing our skills, learning about different aspects of the Path and of course dancing the night away.
This year, the organisers had booked a plethora of exciting speakers including Rae Beth, Damh the Bard and
Prudence Jones. The icing on the cake? Merv Davey, a
man whom many associate with post-ritual wild spiral
dances around the manor grounds, also delivered a
talk. On the Friday, we all packed in my battered
Rover and left our little Devon valley for the windswept shores of Cornwall.
Penstowe manor is an ancient lodge surrounded by
quaintly kitsch Spanish style villas. These overlook a hill
crowned with an array of giant satellite dishes reminiscent of area 51. The manor itself offers a variety of
customer facilities including an indoor swimming pool.
A pre-conference dip is often the best way to unwind
after a long drive !
Friday night was spent at the manor catching up with
friends and acquaintances whilst joining in with the excellent occult-themed quiz. Part of the pleasure of attending the conference is the feeling a of a true, strong
community. Over the years we have met many people
at Penstowe, some of whom have become close
friends, and sometimes the quiz questions are inadvertently drowned in joyful chatter ! The morning after found us
slightly less perky as the night
had been short, but the heartfelt, enthusiastic talk delivered
by Dave the Bard woke us up
again. The sound of hundreds of
AWEN calls resonated through
bodies, minds, hearts and souls,
drowning us in the flow of divine
Inspiration. Then Rae Beth delivered a very interesting piece
on green Hedgewitchery, a path
of many political, ethical and shamanic aspects. After lunch and
the obligatory marvelling at the colourful cornucopia of
items offered on stalls, Merv Davy introduced us to the
subtleties of traditional Cornish dances, a fascinating
topic which would make anyone want to visit Cornwall
and find out more. Last but not least, Prudence Jones
offered a very well structured, eloquent lecture on the
significance of the Goddess/ Grail relationship. Following last year' s excellent talks, speakers at the 2009
Conference offered truly fascinating insights into their
area of expertise.
A lovely closing ritual ensued, followed by the mirth of
the final pipe-led dance, a moment that never fails to lift
everyone's spirits.
"What, already ?" enquired my friend as the last notes
and applause dissipated. Time amongst our fellowpagans always seems to fly!
After Dinner (jacket potatoes and salad, a simple but
hearty coven speciality !) we made our way back to the
manor where Damh the Bard carried us in song to the
heart of the hollow hills of Albion. Damh is a regular
visitor to the Conference and has a faithful following
there. This year, he was accompanied by Kieran, a
drummer from Glastonbury, thus adding a new percussive dimension to his songs. His version of Wild Mountain Thyme brought everybody in a huge circle, swaying
and singing with visible emotion before DJ Graham
took control of the music and rocked the dancers until
the early hours.
The next day, we found out that our traditional visit of
the Witchcraft Museum could not take place as the
place was closed but this did not rob us of our traditional meal at the legendary Cobweb Inn in Boscastle.
The town is still suffering from the economic impact of
the floods and needs as many visitors as it can.
A Cornish cream and a roast later, we saluted all our
friends and returned tired but still buzzing from the
Penstowe vibe, our heads filled with songs and memories to the round hills of South Devon. I swear the
Awen was flowing so much we had to have the wipers
on for the whole return journey.
The Devon, Cornwall &
Channel Isles PF
conference 2009
By David James
Did you go ? Did you see ? What did you buy etc.
These are the excited tones of conversation of many of
those people who attended the recent PF conference
in Cornwall. For, as usual, a good time was had (as far
as I could tell) by all.
Held at Penstowe Holiday Park in the small town of
Kilkhampton, which has become its regular venue over
the past few years, this must surely be one of the most
popular of the Pagan Federation’s regional conferences.
Organised by a team of hard working pagans headed by
Levannah Morgan this years event certainly didn’t disappoint.
the human relationship with nature.
Merv Davey talked of Ritual Dance in Cornwall including the Snail Creep, the Farandole and others with their
history, locations and evolutions within the county.
With demonstrations of the Broom dance and others
performed by his wife while he played various different
sorts of bagpipe Merv presented a fascinating insight
into the art of the Cornish Dance.
The last talk of the day was given by Prudence Jones.
Prudence is a most respected academic and often presents some of the most interesting talks on pagan matters that can be heard. Although this was an old subject
for Prudence she delivered a fresh perspective on “The
Goddess and the Grail” with an interesting side journey
into Astrology thrown in for good measure.
For light amusement there was also the regular fancy
dress competition. This year’s theme was “Familiar
Spirit” and was good fun even though it would have
been nice to see more entrants. It was
won by Phil Pembridge who came in
full amour representing his famous ancestor; Sir Talkalot. I’m only sorry nobody turned up as a bottle of Jack
Daniels.
As usual the conference was closed by
a visually stimulating ritual followed by
the serpent dance led, once again by
Merv Davey and evening entertainment provided by Damh the Bard who
was on great form.
Starting on Friday evening with the now regular occult
quiz night with the ever exuberant Cassandra Latham
as quizatrix, the team “Happy Birthday Cassandra”
scooped first prize (I wonder why) in a close run game.
Anyone out there who didn’t know is was Casssandra’s
birthday that Friday ? Certainly not by the end…….
On the Saturday the Conference opened with an interesting guided meditation led by Levannah which settled
the attendees nicely in preparation for the first lecture
by Damh the Bard. This was a great talk about how
Damh gained the inspiration to be the artist, entertainer and pagan that he is. With a splendid reenactment of the Cerriddwen legend (ably assisted by
some very amusing members of the audience) and a
fantastic cascade chant he enchanted us all.
Rae Beth gave a most informative talk based around
her work “The Green Hedgewitch”, in which she
talked of working magic “on the edge” as she calls it,
between our human world and the realms of the wild
spirits, and the casting of spells to heal the breach in
There was an good array of stalls this
year with both new and old faces. Lots of really nice
goodies to spend your money on.
Many thanks to all the organisers and hosts for another
great event.
Hunters Moon
Morris
Cornwall Tour
Sunday 12th April
Monday 13th April
10..30am Bude Light Area &
town
11.00am Witchcraft Museum,
Boscastle
1.00 Bodmin & Wenford Railway
4.00pm Witchcraft Museum,
Boscastle
3.30 Tintagel Town
8.00pm Music Session,
Wellington Hotel,
We will be dancing at various spots
around Boscastle in between the
Boscastle
We are a Border style morris side from Eastbourne, East Sussex.
As seen on TV and National press
Visit
- www.huntersmoonmorris.co.uk
All times
and locations are approximate
welcome. The moots take place in Bradninch near Exeter, please contact Sophie ([email protected])
for directions.
NORTH DEVON MOOT Meet the first Wednesday
of each month at the Owls Vegan Cafe, Maiden Street,
Barnstaple 7.30pm - 10.30pm. Soft drinks and cakes are
available to purchase. For further information contact
Trudie on 07988 410815 or [email protected].
NB : It is always wise to contact the Moot Organiser
prior to attending a Moot. Whilst details are correct at
the time of going to press, these are subject to change
with very short notice.
EXETER PF MOOT Meets at the White Hart on
South Street from 8pm. 1st wednesday monthly.
FFI contact Viannah on 077421 42066
or [email protected]
SOUTH WEST DEVON meets in the Stoke area of
Plymouth, held on 2nd wed of the month 7pm.
FFI contact Patrick on 01752 562769
or Michele at [email protected]
SOUTH DEVON PAGAN COMMUNITY
MOOT
On every 1st Tuesday of the month there will be a
moot held at 'The Lime Tree' pub in the centre of
Paignton, South Devon. It's an easy social occasion
with an open forum.
FFI see www.southdevonpagans.co.uk or contact
Graham on 07896 411160.
TAVISTOCK WEST MOOR MOOT
Meets on 2nd Thursday of the month.
A place to share Pagan news and events, topical discussions and simple ritual.
During warmer months we plan visits to the nearby
moor and sacred sites to connect with the Spirits of
Place. Contact Michele on 01822 617903, or email
[email protected]
DEVONPAGANS is an egroup for all pagans in
Devon or nearby.
Http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/Devonpagans/
We hold regular moots (in a house not a pub!), on the
first Monday of every month. All paths are welcome.
These are mainly social occasions but we do discuss
serious things and have had some visiting speakers on
particular topics. We always end by sharing food and
drink that we have brought. Good fun! All paths are
PENWITH PAGAN MOOT
Meets at The Stellar Maris Centre, behind The Healing
Star, on the second Tuesday each month at 7.15pm.
The Healing Star is next to the car park at the top of
Causewayhead, Penzance. Moots are for news and information, and a different discussion topic each month.
We also hold open rituals for the eight seasonal Festivals, and arrange clear-ups at our Ancient Sites.
For further information please contact
Sarah 01736 787522
(email: [email protected])
Dave 01736 787230
(email: [email protected])
Eve 01736 793905
(email: [email protected])
or visit the moot website
www.penwithpaganmoot.co.uk
If you would like to amend or add a moot please
email me (address below)
Dark Mirror
submissions
Dark Mirror is read by 100’s of Pagans & anything to
do with Paganism is most welcome. Please share your
thoughts, poems, stories, views opinions.
Send your submissions in any format to :
Dark Mirror,
PF Devon & Cornwall,
PO Box314 Exeter, EX4 6YR
Or email me at: [email protected] & put “Dark
Mirror” in the subject line. Issue deadlines are:- 10th
May; 10th Aug; 9th Nov & 7th Feb
Advertising Rates: Small lineage ads from individual PF members are free! We can also display ad
space at the following rates:Full Page = £10, Half Page = £5, Quarter Page = £3
All display ads are run for 4 consecutive issues
Taunton Pagan Moot is just one of many meetings,
groups and Moots run by volunteers for Pagans and the
spiritually minded in Somerset. All are welcome whatever your path or experience:
Exmoor Pagan Camps – weekend camping events
organised by Yarrow. Fun and very family friendly.
May, Midsummer and Harvest Camps now fixed for
2009. Workshops, ritual, crafts, drumming, healing,
divination. Contact Yarrow for more information and
to book tickets. All welcome.
Wiccan Study Group – monthly meeting starting
Feb 2009. Basic intro to Wicca and working with the
wheel of the year. Limited places. Contact Yarrow on
01823 283742/[email protected] to apply.
Free Email/Correspondence Course in Wicca/
Natural Magic - for info contact Oak
The Taunton Moot
We meet every second Monday of the month from
7.30pm onwards in the upstairs meeting room at
Mambo Wine Bar (formerly Millers), Mill Lane, just off
North Street (near Debenhams and opposite the old
main Post Office) Taunton TA1 1LN.
Free admittance to all with a small donation for
speaker’s expenses encouraged. Moot details available
to view on the Wessex Research Group Network
website www.wessexresearchgroup.org and the
Wessex Pagan Federation website :http://pfwessex.org
Consider joining the Pagan Federation to find out more
about local Pagan events, groups and moots and meet
other Pagans in your area.
For further info on the Pagan
Federation's work contact
Yarrow or Oak on [email protected].
Under Wistmans stars
By Graham Barter
Dancing naked their shadows cast images of flickering
flames, as the lord of the night watches with wondrous
eyes. Like little children they emerge from their worries. Shrugged off the useless chains holding in situe of
sin & sadness, tracks of fear laid before.
Playful and yet with passionate knowledge of purpose
they spin along the fields, across the fire with seeds a
plenty, laughing as never before.
The juices of the circle flowing and growing pulsating
their being with sexual ecstasy, without the need of
religious burden. They capture the stars, the jewels
glistening over their bodies enchanted eyes so full of
the moon they’re blind to existence mundane.
And for richer they gather the speed of rotating
trance as colours raise from the earth and
explode adrift the universal love. Rainbows
bridge the emotions as the stars cascade inside their eyes and bring connection to everything and
nothing exists but one brightness insane.
Breathlessness and without pain the divine stretch is
reached and glistens the hearth with palpitations struggling to bring in the night air, and crashes to the
ground they lay as the source is cut but the wheel continues to spin.
A waltzer with unlimited tokens to ride.
The world stops for a while and everything is
still.
The silent breath captures the eyes
through the woodland, and everything is
perfect.
Taunton Pagan Moot
Programme of talks and workshops for 2009/2010:
January 12th 2009 - “An Introduction to the Western Mystery Tradition” - a talk by our friend Levannah
Morgan, local Witch and Priestess, including a beginner's introduction to the Cabbalah. Levannah has been
working in the Craft for many years and organises the
annual Devon and Cornwall Pagan Fed Conference.
and many other sites in the South West.
MIDSUMMER CAMP, EXMOOR – 26TH – 29TH JUNE
– WORKSHOPS, RITUAL, DRUMMING, HEALING,
CRAFTS, NATURE WALKS, MUSIC ETC....BOOK
NOW!
July 13th 2009 – Professor Ronald Hutton – a talk by
the popular lecturer and author of Pagan classics
“The Triumph of the Moon” and “The Stations of the
Sun”. Ronald is a leading authority on ancient and medieval Paganism and magic.
IMBOLC OPEN CIRCLE RITUAL – details to be advised.
February 9th 2009 - “Meeting Birds of
Prey” - Richard and Addy will be bringing
in a Barn Owl, a Falcon and a Harris
Hawk. We will hear all about these
beautiful birds, their training habits and
how they are viewed spiritually around
the world.
March 9th 2009 - “The Twelve Spoke
Wheel” - an inspired talk by Kevin Saunders, Wiccan High Priest, lecturer and
author of both “Wiccan Spirituality” and
“Advanced Wiccan Spirituality” on how a
revision of the wheel of the year could
bring us greater connection with the energies of the seasonal sabbats.
April 13th 2009 - "An Introduction to
Chaos Magick” - discover the origins and
techniques developed by this modern approach to sorcery. Julian Vayne will share
some practical examples of 'empty
handed magick' for us to take away and
try for ourselves.
May 11th 2009 - “Messages From Water” - a very
inspiring audiovisual presentation by Michael Chamberlain to deepen our awareness of the magical and vibrational world of sound and water, as seen in the film
“What the Bleep do we Know?”
MAY CAMP, EXMOOR - 23rd - 26th May – WORKSHOPS, RITUAL, DRUMMING, HEALING, CRAFTS,
NATURE WALKS, COMMUNAL MEALS AND MUSIC. CONTACT YARROW FOR INFO AND BOOKING FORMS – 01823 283742.
June 8th 2009 - “The Wessex Astrum – Sacred Hexagram on the Goddess Landscape” - Pagan author, Peter
Knight, will guide us through a presentation of his sixth
book, having discovered a huge hexagram on the landscape surrounding Glastonbury, Avebury, Stonehenge
August 10th 2009 – “Healing Workshop” - a popular
workshop run by Oak enabling all in the room to participate in both giving and receiving healing.
HARVEST CAMP, EXMOOR – 21ST – 24TH AUGUST
– WORKSHOPS, RITUAL, DRUMMING, HEALING,
CRAFTS, NATURE WALKS, MUSIC ETC.....BOOK
NOW!!
September 14th 2009 - “Crystals – Some History
and Uses for Humans and Animals” - Mechelle has a
great deal of history and family involvement with witchcraft and speaks regularly on many associated subjects
as well as running an excellent Pagan herbs/oils/
incenses etc stall locally, see
www.avalonesoterics.co.uk.
HUNDREDS OF BRAND NEW BOOKS AT UP TO 70% OFF!
Also…
Tarot and Oracle Sets and Decks
Crystal Runes
Dowsing Pendulums
10% Discount on first online order.
Subjects Include:
Wicca, Witchcraft, Druidry, Celtic, Occultism, Shamanism, Divination, Nature, Ecology,
Crystals, Faeries, Angels, Astrology, Novels, Spirituality, Reincarnation, Ley Lines
Authors include:
Ted Andrews, Kit Berry, Rae Beth, Scott Cunningham, Nevill Drury, Cassandra Eason,
Brian Froud, Dion Fortune, Marian Green, Glennie Kindred, John & Caitlin Matthews,
Kenneth Meadows, Doreen Virtue
Buy Online or Telephone 01409 254144
Barnstaple Pannier Market every Tuesday
Devon & Cornwall Pagan Federation Conference
Mind, Body Spirit Fayres
(see website for Calendar of Events)
All major credit/debit cards and Paypal accepted
Prices shown exclude postage and packaging