© Steve Tatler

The Sacredness and Mysticism of Green and Trees Marion Pearce

CEREMONY, RITUAL, AND PRAYER Graeme k Talboys

Silbury Hill Philip Shallcrass THETHE DRUIDDRUID NETWORKNETWORK The Network and The Voice Office 88 Grosvenor Road Dudley DY3 2PR United Kingdom

© 2003 to the TDNTDN or the respective authors where indicated . We gratefully solicit and accept contrib u- tions for this magazine. Artwork and/or ph otography is best sent as a PC based file such as jpeg, gif, tiff, bmp or similar but originals on paper will be accepted but wil l necessitate scanning into the computer. Similarly all articles, texts, poetry, news and events is best received in txt, doc, r tf or pub files for copy and pasting into our doc uments. Type or print will be entered using OCR.. Handwritten work is difficult for us to manage but we are happy to see if we can use it. We cannot pay for any co n- tr ibutions. All postal enquiries must be a c- companied by an SSAE. (Ed)

Cloaks,Cloaks, Tabards, Flags, and much more…. RobesRobes from £65 of the life , the achievements sis, and you are advised to To , The Druids Voice and the character of our d e- check regularly for changes. co ntinuing in its mission to parted brother Dylan Ap It is a dynamic and vibrant boldly go where no Druid Thuin. site, not only due to the co n- Ne twork journal has gone b e- tinual work of Bobcat and fore. Things have moved on with David, but also due to the n u- since the merous voluntary helpers We, here in Britain, find that last issue (2.1) of TDV. This who have come forward to winter is rapidly approaching august and r evered (well it is aid The Druid Network. Each now, after such a wonderful in my house anyway) public a- of these individuals lays summer, that it seems that the tion is now available online claim to the ownership o f autumntide has missed us out for all our members who have their own piece(s) of work completely. There is a d e- and are encouraged to make cided ‘nip’ in the air these an active role in their own mornings and the darkness ‘piece’ of The Druid Ne t- descends quicker than of work. And the expansion late. and immediate success of TDN is down to all these i n- With Samhain approaching, dividuals who have given of it is time for us to take stock themselves and have taken a of our harvest, and for those measure of self responsibi l- of us living in urban areas, ity for their own and that may not mean assessing for the furtherance of our our grain but we can loo k new Order and Network. back to those heady days of There is room for everyone, summer, past Alban Hefin, regardless of perceived ta l- through Beltane, past Alban ents or how little time you Eilir with its symbolic ass o- may think you could devote ci ation of the reception of chosen paper free membe r- to the Network. Why not wi sdom. Perhaps we can take ship. This not only reduced co ntact us and see if you can stock of how much wisdom the subscription cost to the indeed help in anyway, and of we have actually received? member (£12 instead of £20) course, if the network can Perhaps even more pert i- but means that we can follow help you. We appreciate e n- nently would be the question one of our own set policies tirely that commitment is a of how much of our wisdom and beliefs in reducing the two way thing, and as we take we have actually used. amount of paper that TDN stock of The Druid Network’s and TDV consume. Perhaps harvest for the last year, we Samhain is a time of the a n- those of you who have yet to remember al l our friends, cestors, and we should look choose paper free membe r- members and subscribers who back at those who have pr e- ship may like to look again. I have made it the success it is. ceded us to the Summerlands. think Gaia would welcome In this issue we do just that your decision! The website HAIL & WELCOME by allowing our old friend increases in content and in Philip Shallcrass to remind us breadth almost on a daily b a- GEOFF BOSWELL

TDNTDN THE DRUIDS VOICE PAGE 3 THE DRUID WISDOM CAMP

Thursday 15 - Sunday 18 July Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, After the success of last years camp and fo r the 4th year running, Charnwood Grove, The Druid Network and veteran camp organisers Rainbow 2000 are in the midst of creating a camp brewing over with Druidic wisdom and inspiration. Over the past few years we have focused on Bardic and Ovatic Arts. For the 2004 camp, we shall be seeking inspiration in the Druid aspect of the tradition weaving ritual and celebration throughout t he weekend. Teachers from across the Druid community will give talks, workshops and forums ranging from introductions to Druidry , to natural philosophy, ethics, environmentalism, Spirit and Land and politics. As ever, the camp is open to everyone intereste d and respectful of the tradition - regardless of where they might be in their Druidic journey. The days can be spent in poignan t studies of the mysteries, or you can simply sit back in the firelight and tranquillity and enjoy the colour and spectacle of t his magical event. To date our teachers are: Philip Carr Gomm of The Order of Bards Ovates and Druids talking about Druidry in t he modern world; Ronald Hutton, celebrated historian, talking about Druidry and ; Stefan Allen of the Albion Conclave, talking about the solar fire of Druidry; Nicholas Mann, author of Druid Magic, will talk about mythology; Kris Hughes of The An glesey Druidic Order talking about Druidry, the Welsh Gorsedd and in Wales; of The Druid Network and Order of the Yew talking about Druid Ethics; Mark Graham of the Charnwood Grove and Lisa Schneidau of the Scottish Wildlife Trust wi ll be exploring the evolution of the Sacred Landscape; plus speakers talking on globalisation, fair trade, eco -protest, Pagan or ganization and more. As well as the usual mixture of Music, Dance, Ritual, Sweatlodge and buzzing Cafe Scene. The cost of the 2003 camp tickets was : Adult tickets £60, Children aged 13 - 17 £25, Children aged 5 - 12 £20, Children under 5 are FREE. Adult tickets are each subject to a £15 discount (£10 for children) provided you book and pay in full no less than fourteen days befo re the camp begins. A 25% deposit will secure your place. Please note no dogs allowed. We do not anticipate this will change fo r 2004.

FFI, call Helen : 07791 299196 FFI, email Mark : [email protected]

PAGEPAGE 4 THE DRUIDS VOICE TDN conscious awakening to the ness of the Shaman becomes BALLS OF FIRE, underlying 'membrane matrix attuned to a patterned out r e- of the Psi fiel d' of the dream ality by an informational a s- DISKS OF LIGHT allows the Shaman to access sociative process, which d e- It is said that the ancient and experience other realities. te rmines the fixity within a Shamen knew how to travel Each 'pore' of the membrane shared consensual realty. The about as 'balls of fire' trave l- is a Torsion tunnel tha t Shaman accesses a ling as fiery spirits along the breathes in and out, allowing 'Synchromesh' of phenomena, 'Dream Paths' that are etched ingress or egress from or into whereupon he or she will e x- into the sacred landscape ge n- other realities, very much like perience 'Synchronistic ph e- erally known as 'Ley Lines'. gaining access into a vast r e- nomena' which stabilises and These 'Spirit Paths' appear to ality labyrinth. At the greatest fixates the consciousness of indicate that there is a crysta l- point of torsion within the the Shaman within a chosen line structure that covers the tu nnel a knot is generated reality. face of the globe formulating whereby the consciousness of into a lattice work of light, the Shaman will be fixated, When one cuts the Toroidal akin to that of a web of a sp i- thereby experiencing ingress Spher e in half, one has the der. into a particular reality. 'Lemniscate', the symbol of infinity. The internal structure The web of light upon which The breathing in and out of of the Toroidal Sphere is that the Shamen are said to travel the Torsion tunnel is that of a of 'Microcosm ic' infinity, while in the 'dreaming body' consciously engineered Black where as the external crysta l- is said to extend further out and White Hole at a sub - line structure is that of than the planetary body of the atomic level, within the Psi 'Macrocosmic' fixity. The Earth interconnecting ever y- field of the dream becoming Lemniscate illustrates the thing throughout this partic u- as a 'Worm Hole'; the torsion 'energetic informational flow lar universe as well as inte r- being brought about by the of consciousness' f rom past to weaving with other universes. counter clockwise and cloc k- future and back again in a The web interconnects ever y- wise 'spin' at the 'Black and co ntinuous flow. The 'point' thing yet at the same time White Holes' mouth. The knot over which the flow moves separates everything into generated by the torsion, and crosses streams as a form very much akin to gives birth to a particular r e- 'Holographic interference pa t- 'knots' along a string, thereby ality, which can be perceived tern' is where one finds the generating the consensual e x- as a 'Toroidal Sphere'. fixated consciousness within perience of the knot of space a self generated 'virtual rea l- and time. Each knot can be At the centre of the Toroidal ity' of a self feeding knot. seen to be a particular un i- Sphere is the Torsion Tunnel One's consciousness is fixated verse. which is set in to a particular into the eternal present! 'spin' by the 'charge' of co n- The Shaman travels along the sciousness. The outer crysta l- One's very consciousness b e- lattice work 'strings' of the line matrix is that of the knot ing the energetic emotional web as a spider; being the sp i- fixated by 'inertia' becoming 'charge' therefore determining der, the Shaman comes to an as a patterned out reality. The the mind 'spin' of torsion d e- understanding that he or she patterned out reality can be termines the physical fixation weaves and 'spins' the seen to be an associative i n- and 'inertia' of consciousness "torsion' tunnels of the strings fo rmation fractal, which is within a particular experie n- through which he or she tra v- determined by the feed in of tial reality. The fixation of els. consciousness via the Torsion consciousness is stabilised by Tunnel acting as a strange a t- the experience of repeating The web is usually woven u n- tractor. experiential patterns of ones consciously into being and life that sustain and feed the thereby utilisation of via the The dwell point of consciou s- 'energetic charge'. One is in a

TDNTDN THE DRUIDS VOICE PAGE 5 sense in an 'auto -hypnotic Those who observe the Sh a- will often project their worst trance, hypnotised by the self man's 'ingress' into the To r- fears upon the experience, generated phenomena of the sion tunnel will experience some of whom will be som e- Synchromesh of consensual the Shaman disappear in a what traumatised. Their reality. The Ele ctron cloud flash of light, as if walking trauma can also become about the nucleus of an atom through a doorway. Upon phys ical, especially if they can be perceived as a To r- 'egress' from the Torsion tu n- experience the Kundalini rush oidal sphere as well as this nel, the Shaman will suddenly upon the leapers arrival; entire universe among a my r- appear out of a flash of light whereupon their reality b e- iad others interconnected by as if walking out of a doo r- comes fluid and therefore a f- Torsion tunnels. The sub - way. Those sensitive enough fecting the body memory at atomic reality being what one will see such things, although certain points in the Physi o- could call the 'spiritual' reality dangerous, since the exper i- logical system. These me m- of the 'c reator' self. ence might shatter their fra g- ory or energetic centres being ile fixation of consciousness what the ancient Hindu scri p- By tuning into the usually u n- into moving too with the Sh a- tures call 'Chakras'. conscious mechanism of co n- man's ingress and egress, sciousness that which weaves lea ping from one realty into Cows and sheep are a bit of a the web into formulisation another. Of course unpr e- problem however, because from the sub -atomic level of pared, they will be torn apart! they too are affected by the the Psi field of the dream Those about who observe the phenomena. It can be quite thereby generati ng space and phenomena may experience messy, since they know what time, the Shaman is enabled sudden sucking or blowing they are being bred for and to access any point throug h- winds, bright fl ashes of light, thereby their worst fears b e- out space and time instantan e- eerie and indescribable come manifest physically. ously. sounds as well as experien c- ing the 'Kundalini rush'. The There are of course those o b- The Shaman leaps emotively Shaman upon accessing a d e- servers who project their ecstatic into a consciously e n- sired reality will have to a t- hopes and desires. Because gineered Torsion Tunnel, tune to its distinct 'energetic they too have the innate abi l- thereby becoming spun into a signature' or Lemniscate; ity to leap, although not quite stretch as the mind patterns whereby the Shaman will e x- awake to the fact yet, they i n- out as an informational fra c- perience the 'Kundalini rush' , advertently, via their charged tal; as the Shaman navigates which is the experience of b e- desires and unconsciously his or her way, travelling ing torn apart and being r e- se tting up the conditions wit hout moving. At the grea t- built at a desired location. through the dream, find the m- est point of torsion, pre - The energy release will be e x- selves at the right time at the determined by the Shaman perienced by those observing right place in order to meet up accessing the Torsion tunnel, as a bright white flash. with a 'leaper'. the Shaman accesses the i n- fo rmational dreaming te m- Should there be those who are This can be quite bothersome plate of another reality. The sensitive around when a in the extreme t o a leaper to shaman's body will feel as if 'world walker' is about and say the least. However, they it was being torn apart atom will therefore become a f- are often utilised in order to by atom, yet knowing that fected by the 'leapers' appea r- set up the necessary cond i- this is part of the process of ance. Some will just blot out tions to get them to an awar e- re -attunement to another rea l- the experience, which is an ness of their own innate abi l- ity as the Shaman fixates his inbuilt reaction to anything ity. The information imparted or her consciousness within that their fixation of co n- to them is communicated by the consensual Synchromesh sciousness cannot handle. using the collective projected of another place, time period Some will experience visio n- myth, since outright comm u- or universe. ary states whereupon they nication by initiating the e x-

PAGEPAGE 6 THE DRUIDS VOICE tdntdn perience can be exceedingly seen if you look closely in detrimental to the unprepared. We live in a Sorcerers reality many ancient churches. Fo r- There have to be steps to be where shape shifters lurk and esters used to wear green taken, one at a time. other intelligences from the cloth called Kendal Green, as ancient shadows of myth it was manufactured at Ke n- The understandin g of the sometimes come into the day, dal in Westmoreland. The 'leaper' is not just the pro v- made flesh by our focus i n- great British hero who robbed ince of the Human but also of voking them from their the rich to give to the poor, other intelligences throughout worlds through internal Sta r- Robin Hood traditionally a l- the 'Multiverse'. There are gates, whether individually or ways wore green. ot hers who have taken the u n- collectively. As we sleep, derstanding much further and lulled into a consensual a m- Green symbolised eternal have utilised a hard techno l- nesia, fearing to awaken to youth, and resurrection or re - ogy to do so. Some animals the terror and beauty of our birth, as in nature during the leap too, often spontaneously truer selves, we are at the springtime, when all veget a- just as some humans do, often mercy of those who truly tion after its death -sleep of without realising. know, for many fear them. winter springs into new life. Many prefer the sleep of i g- The colour has many myst i- The balls of fire ar e the dwell norant bliss. They sleep, cal connections, perhaps the point conscious operators while those who know play, most famous is as The Green who travel the grid within the and as they brush past us Man, representing the spirit dream, sometimes working within the collective drea m- of vegetation, which was together and observing var i- time, some awaken by acc i- seen widely in spring festivals ous time lines as well as other dent while others are sought and can be traced back to a n- universes. They travel as out to awaken because they cient times. The Green Man 'Seers' akin to fluttering fire are ready to now know and has many variations, in this flies through 'Hyperspace'. remember who they truly are. country he is known as Jack - in -the Green, King of the The disks of light are the co n- May, and the Gree n George cordance of a hive unity of MARK DUNN of the Gypsies. He is also a s- dreamers. They work together sociated with Robin Hood, to leap collectively in perfect who always traditionally d e- attunement. picted wearing green. Then there is the association with As for the 'hard technolo gy' St George and the Dragon in utilised, it takes a Shaman to The Sacredness and medieval plays and mummers 'travel without moving' , for plays. In fact in many old fe s- the Shaman knows how to Mysticism of Green tivals and processions, the navigate the engineered To r- and Trees Green Man would appear, sion tunnel by capturing the dressed from head to foot in ingress into the 'Black' holed green boughs or leaves. The mouth of the Hypnogogic veil Trees were sacred to the ritual significanc e of this is of of trance into the Psi field. , those wise ancient pe o- course to symbolise the death The vehicle in which the Sh a- ple of old, whose religion was of winter and the new birth man 'Navigator' travels is an strongly linked to nature. Pe r- of spring, the never ending extension of him or herself haps this is reflected in the cycle of life. operating it, for the vehicle is mysticism connected with the the Shaman's dream made colour green. Fairies were In o ther countries the legends flesh which t he Shaman rides considered to have worn of the green man is equally as an eight legged spider green and of co urse there is in prolific. In Sweden he is horse upon the spun web ancient mythology, the green known as the “pfingstl”, in within the dream. man, whose image can still be Germany as the Wil d Man of

TDNTDN THE DRUIDS VOICE PAGE 7 Germany, Al -Khaiddr or Ilyas gal and weakening her curse three main contenders for this (Elijah) in the Islamic faith, on her sister. The eunuch title. One is the deciduous and is represented in stories pe rsuaded Ereshkigal to r e- cypress of C hapultepec, in of Tammuz and Ishtar in lease Ishtar`s body which he Mexico. Another is the ches t- Babyloni an myth. revived with the water of life. nut -trees on Mount Etna, But Ishtar had to leave a su b- and the Oriental plane -tree in It is interesting to look a bit stitute in the underworld, and the valley of Bujukdere, near further at Tammuz and Ishtar. this was Tammuz, her hu s- Constantinople, which are Tammuz was the god of band. said to be of the same age. crops and vegetation in Bab y- The last contender is the lonian and Assyrian mytho l- Ishtar was the protectress of Soma cypress of Lombardy. ogy, which corresponds to harlots and the alehouse. This last was said to be forty our Green Man of the crops, Ta mmuz was said to be e m- years old when Christ was greenery, and abundant ha r- bodied in any of the men who born, making it over two vests. He was the husband of accepted a harlots embrace. thousand years old. the love goddess Ishtar. His But there appears to be a great love for Ishtar, and his strong connection with Ishtar Britain and Europe would death, caused Ishtar`s offe r- and fertility which again co n- have been covered in forests ing him to the underworld in nects us with the theme of the in those far of days. In f act her place, made him a cult Green Man, and his conne c- when Caesar questioned pe o- fi gure among women, who tions with the land and ha r- ple in what is now Germany lamented him at an annual vests and of course the ferti l- he was told that you could seven day festival marked by ity of the earth. travel through the Hercynian the wailing and self - forest near the River Rhine laceration. But Ishtar also appears to be for two months before reac h- known as a war goddess by ing the end. That is a vast fo r- Tammuz is the equivalent of the Babylonians who called est. To have such last areas Dumazi, the dying -and rising her “the lady of battles” . Isn`t covered with green trees must husband of Inanna, the that strange being both a love have left a great impression Sume rian love goddess. There goddess and a war one. She of the Celts and there reli g- is obviously more to the became the promoter of te r- ion. In Britain the south east green man than I first ror, the violent agony at the was covered in a forest thought. The concept appears very centre of combat. It was known as Anderida. All that to be wide spread among this aspect of her that a p- is left of this massive verdant many civilisations. pealed most to the warlike wood in th e wealds of Kent, Assyrians, who subjected the Surrey, and Sussex. The west Ishtar is the Babylonian go d- Babylonians. For the Assy r- of the country was also co v- dess of fertility and love. ians Ishtar was the perfect ered in trees and forested. A Ev idently Ishtar descended wife for their national god vast forest stretched from into the underworld of her Ashur. In Assyrian myth Is h- Hampshire to Devon. There is si ster Ereshkigal. She tried to tar`s empathy with Ashur`s a lovely folktale that says that usurp her sisters place and harsh nature is indicated by a squirr el could jump from Ereshkigal put a curse on her her growing a beard and a l- tree to tree in the forest of A r- and Ishtar died. This caused ways carrying a bow in her den and so cover the whole of the springs of fertility on hands. Warwickshire before having earth to run dry with the r e- to stand on the ground. I think sult that animals stopped ma t- While we are discussing that story gives a feeling of ing and men stopped impre g- green, vegetation and trees, just what it must have been nating women. Ea, the water you might be interested in like when vast areas of the god secured Ishtar`s release accounts of what is consi d- country was similarly covered with the help of a magical ered the oldest trees in the with verdant foliage. eunuch, by angering Ereshk i- world. There appears to be

PAGEPAGE 8 THE DRUIDS VOICE TDN It is interesting to see the i m- head he wears a close fitting Auxerre, the inhabitants used portance of trees were in an hood. He also has a double hang animals heads on a pear ancient and rather barbaric cornucopiae and offers a tree which stood in the centre penalty imposed in German patera. These last objects, the of the town. That sounds a law for any one who peeled cornucopiae a nd patera are rather blood thirsty practice, the bark of a tree . It appears symbolic as we have seen but evidently it was a very to me to be very extreme. with other Celtic deities of popular ritual. Amator, the Ev idently according to Sir abundance and fertility. The Bishop of Aux erre, tried to James Fraser in “The Golden altar was dedicated to Mars stop this worship of the tree Bough”: “The culprits naval Oll udius. This appears to me but was unable to. The tree was to be cut out and nailed yet another example of the was destroyed eventually by to the part of t he tree which Celts equating war with new St Germanus, who risked hi s he had peeled, and he was to life strongly suggesting r e- life and the wrath of the pe o- be driven round and round the birth and a belief in reinca r- ple to stop this pagan custom. tree till all his guts were nation. Other strange stories abound wound round about its tru nk.” about peoples faith and wo r- What a horrible way to die, Trees were venerated by the ship of trees. St Martin of and just for defacing and kil l- Celts. They were planted Tours was allowed to destroy ing a tree. They must have close to burial mounds. It was the temple, but the people been held in great store by the said that the tree embodied rose up and stopped him ancient Germans. It certainly the ghost of the person who when he tried to destroy a s a- gives a new perspective in the died. Trees in cemeteries cred pine tree which stood phrase “ a life for a life”. But were held in high esteem in next to it. Isn’t that odd, the to equate a life of a person as Celtic countries. It was said tree meant more than the the same as a life of a tree. to be dangerous to t ake any te mple. But then I suppose they must leaf or branch from the tree or have consider ed the tree as cut them down. An interes t- The church decided to co m- divine, perhaps it was killing ing folktale in Brittany says promise and tried to fuse the one of their tree spirits. that from the yew in churc h- pagan veneration of sacred yards a root spreads into trees with Christianity. I n- But back to the Celts. The mouth of each corpse in the stead of pagan images hung god that the Celts assoc iated graveyard. on trees, images of the Vi r- with trees appear to be the gin Mary were to be used i n- Gaulish god of Olloudios. His The early Christian church stead. Now here the legends name appears to have come tried to suppress the vener a- start saying of miraculous i m- from the Celtic root ollo - tion and worship of trees. O f- ages of the Madonna appea r- vidious, or Great Tree. This fering were placed before ing in sacred trees. Evidently god was worshipped by Na r- trees and sacred trees were the trees were still worshiped bonenses tribe in Antibes. He not allowed to be cut down, and still were considered to is equated with Mars, god of destroyed or burned. There be sacred with supernatural war. This is apt as warriors were heavy fines imposed by powers. were often described with the the church against those who same attr ibutes as trees. practised these ancient rituals. Perhaps one of the few well But the very fact that these known customs signifying the This god is also known in fines took place shows th e veneration of trees is the May Gloucestershire. He appears great hold that the sacredness Day maypole. Here the ma y- on an alter at Custom Scrubs. of trees had on the general pole symbolises the tree. A It is interesting that on this population. tree would be taken from the altar he can be seen dressed in local woods, and decorated Celtic attire. He is wearing a There are stories of the early with greenery, often white long tunic reaching to his church’s struggle again st the hawthorn. This would b e- knees, a cloak and on his pagan veneration of trees. At come the maypole. And so

TDNTDN THE DRUIDS VOICE PAGE 9 the ancient rituals continued, in Mr Pearce why we should a new form, but still connected be sensitive to nature over the earth and nature. light pollution issues.

sources used 1. The Hawk moth only Brewers Dictionary of Phra se mates on dark and Fable moonless nights. The Golden Bough by Sir 2. Robins and Blac k- James Fraser birds have been Pagan Celtic Britain by Anne heard singing during Ross the night. The Religion of the Ancient 3. In USA. Migrating Celts by J A Ma cCulloch birds fly into towers, Cassal Illustrated Encycl o- masts and chimneys pa edia of Myths and Legends after being disorie n- tated by their lights. 4. Bats get confused and frightened and MARION PEARCE won’t come out to feed. 5. Gloworms need i n- ANGER tense dark to find glowing females. 6. Toads sit in the road Anger - Whilst sitting in near streetlights to I feel it rising in a deep, red catch insects and get tide, the Dentists run over. Like blood filling a wound 7. We can’t se e the stars Carved into my very heart; While sitting in the dentist’s unless it’s really dark. my soul waiting room, I picked u p a Hums with its violent e n- copy of Country living mag a- He also advises against par k- ergy - zine and read an article by ing your car under streetlights Beyond reason; beyond co n- Fred Pearce about light poll u- as burglars find it really easy trol. tion, and how nature is co m- to break into it. I would have pletely tipped off balance by thought that this would apply Anger - all the artificial lighting at to porch lights as well!! Buried deep within me night. He recommends that Maybe we would do better to By a child who knew no be t- you shouldn’t buy 300 or just put on our room light and ter. 500 -watt halogen bulbs, 150 shut the curtains. Thinking In unguarded moments, it watt are better as there’s less someone is home usually d e- rises to the surface, dazzle, or just use a 9 -watt ters a burglar. Like a once -hidden corpse bulb in your porch. Don’t As for road lighting, Mr rises make your movement sensors Pearce stated that people To bring vengeance on its ki l- to o sensitive; they frighten speed up when the roads are ler: the wildlife, flashing on and better lit, resulting in more Whispers with its fetid off too frequently. He also accidents ------so much for breath - re commends that you oppose modern living!!!!! The stench of crimes once parish council plans too wrought, floo dlight your local church; Thought forgotten. tell them about the potential impact to wildlife. Here are MOONSPRITE I have known that rotten cre a- some of the reasons listed by ture -

PAGEPAGE 10 THE DRUIDS VOICE TDN Have taken it into the darker Warmth of Life, similar weapons, shields, and parts Stretching, in one case, an impressive Of my spirit and embraced its Paws clawing, stag's head with antlers. D y- crumbling flesh; Raking the earth, lan's rites were very Wiccan Used its foul odour as a Feeling the wet in flavour due to his bac k- weapon, soil, ground in that faith, but he To keep t he world at bay. Smell of Loa m, lived the Druid ideal by fr e- Colour of the quently acting as a calming Anger - grass; influence when disputes arose That cold -blooded killer - Scents to the between other Druid groups. Ashen -faced, vengeful wa r- nose, His scholarship was most ev i- rior that will destroy me; Intruders, dent on the rather splendid Tear apart my peaceful world People! website he ran from his home And shred all I have worked Time to go, in Portsmouth. A few years for Up from the ago, he was responsible for Like cobwebs torn away by ground, organising a maj or the wind... Book in hand, in his home town with the Moving off down the track backing of the city council. And so, I learn to use it - This attracted entrants from Raise the energy and let the all over Britain and was power flow; BRIGHTFORGE judged a roaring success by Turn the raging ocean into a everyone who attended. His positive tide, move "oop North" a while To smash down walls; break ago meant that we in the open cages south saw less of him. He was And set the frightened child Obituary: missed then, and will be do u- Who cowers within them, bly missed now. Free Dylan ap We all return to dust. Blessed be, Dylan ap Thuin. Thuin

HELEN PICK Dylan ap Thuin, founder and chief of the Insular Order of Druids, died recently a s the result of an accident. He was a nice guy, a colourful cha r- STRETCHING FOX acter, and will be missed. Founded in 1993, the Insular Stretching Fox, Order quickly became a re c- Basking in the ognisable feature at Druid Sun, gatherings due to their robes Eyes closed, and regalia. These tended to Panting be much more Iron Age a u- Feeling the Earth thentic than the average beneath his back, Druid, Dylan himself often Breeze on Fur and sporting a reproduction Celtic Sun on face, sword and bronze torc, both Dylan ap Thuin at a Gorsedd Rolling in the made to his speci fications gathering in , 1995. grass, from Iron Age originals, Enjoying the Suns limed hair and body art. Other new day members of the Order bore PHILIP SHALLCRASS

TDNTDN THE DRUIDS VOICE PAGE 11 Winter resting, has our bles s- Also Winter Moon. ing. Everything a cycle SOUL DANCING Life cycle Ring around Also turning Spirals, circles Spirit flowing Spring yearning Energy abound Through and round Summer flowering, Life force flowing, round Everything a cycle Autumn mothering, and rou nd Seasons all abound Winter wisdom, with Spirit Spirals, circle always flowing . Life cycle Magic, circle, Sacred Space Jean Round it flows, this we We draw round, to make this know. place (Spirit Glade) The Seasons turning Soul dancing Spring sowing, Soul prancing Wilson Summer growing, Singing to the tune Autumn reaping, Summer sun shining,

PAGEPAGE 12 THE DRUIDS VOICE TDN material and spiritual a s- hanced engagement with CEREMONY, pects of our lives. In the the other. Rather we work most obvious and overt within the space we have way, we use material o b- created to move onward, RITUAL, AND jects and physical expre s- using the aspect of our sion to create a space in being in which we are PRAYER which we can focus on deeply seated (the mat e- the spiritual. rial) in order to secure our

With Druids (as integration with that a s- For Druids, the rich tape s- with many other pagan pect of our being to which try of their being, both religions), this space is we strongly aspire (the material and spiritual, is delineated by the drawing spiritual). As in all things, hung upon the frame of of a circle. The symbo l- we strive for balance. ceremony, ritual, and ism of the circle is far too prayer. Everything they large a subject to cover Of course, we must are and do is informed by here. Yet the circle is i m- not assume that we are the rhyt hms of the Land, portant for more than its any more familiar or at the Sea, and the Sky. symbolism. The physical ease with our material These are marked by an shape is one in which selves than we are with annual round of cerem o- light radiates evenly from our spiritual. Quite aside nies as well as the lesser the centre and it is one in from the f act that we rituals that accompany which all who form the rarely consider the two daily and mundane life. shape are of equal stan d- aspects to be manifest a- They are the slow beating ing. tions of a unified being, of our spiritual heart. What is more, a ci r- we often treat our mat e- cle is easy to draw. As a rial selves with a great The re is, of course, a physical presence, a si n- deal of contempt. Our a n- great deal more to being gle person simply needs cestors took care of their Druid than performing to turn on the spot, mar k- bodies as much as they rituals. Indeed, many ing the ground with a took care of their souls. Dr uids, whilst recogni z- stick or staff; a group can This was not out of va n- ing the importance of hold hands and spread out ity, but out of a recogn i- these events, do not make evenly. Many exper i- tion that body and soul a song and dance of them. enced practitioners who are one and that the we l- Hedge Druids in partic u- work alone often envisage fare of both aspects is i m- lar often mark the impo r- a circle in their mind, portant. tant times with quiet per i- which is far easier to ods of meditation rather imagine and hold in the The shape of ritual is also than elaborate ceremony. mind th an any other important. They have Yet, however these events shape. evolved complex, multi - are approached, the u n- The creation of this layered forms that entrain de rlying spirit and intent space is a first and simple the whole being, op ening is the same, for celebr a- step that uses the material us up within protected tion is both important and to bring thought and a c- space to the wider exi s- integral to the Druid Way. tion to bear on the spir i- tence of which we are a tual. But the integration part. The objects used, the The act of celebr a- of these aspects of our b e- words spoken, and the tion through ritual is one ing goes much further physical actions - all act of the major means by than this. We do not si m- as triggers. Their cumul a- which we integrate the ply use the one to gain e n- tive effect is profound as

TDNTDN THE DRUIDS VOICE PAGE 13 they become imbued with is wholly cast aside in f a- In terms of effect, ho w- universal and personal vour of a simple medit a- ever, there is a great di f- symbolic significance, tion, then it ceases to be fe rence. Much as each ri t- working as keys to unlock the specific and special ual itself unites the mat e- those aspects of our being ceremony that is essential, rial and spiritual aspects that n eed constant release. be it to celebrating the of our lives, the cumul a- This evolves. The more turning of the year or the tive effect of a lifetime of we enact a given ritual, cycle of life. ritual is to generate a the more we are able to calming and ordering of concentrate on content A further facet of the environment in which and meaning rather than this, is that whilst medit a- the rituals take place. form. We journey through tion alone does not const i- the years from the mat e- tute a full and specific ri t- This is not simply rial and formal expression ual, performing ritual on a the physical environment. into the underlying princ i- regular basis is a form of If you carry out your rit u- ples on which these are meditation. As with all als in a particular place, it based. This is not to say meditation, the more it is certainly has a beneficial that form is unimportant. practised, the easier it b e- effect on that location. Far from it. The formal comes, and the more it is However, the effect is in shape of ceremony is the of benefit. time and it is in sp irit as hea rth from which we well. The continuity over journey and which r e- With Druid meditation, a long period creates a s a- mains as a haven to which we do not try to attain a cred place and space we may return. However, state of disconnectedness. within and from which we must journey away Rather, we focus on pa r- the Hedge Druid or Grove from the hearth if we are ticular symbols and myth can work. And not only to discover its impo r- cycles, as well as deities does this enhance their tance. We must journey and entities, in order to own being, bu t it also away if we are to return. reach a deeper unde r- works through them to If you concentrate too stan ding of the worlds we enhance the worlds they much on form, the ritual inhabit. The rituals that inhabit. is quite literally meanin g- mark the turning of the less. The journey never year, the rites of passage, The place of ritual begins. along with any other itself becomes a centre of reg ular rituals we choose harmony and a source of However, the form does to perform (welcoming power. It is protected. It is have importance because the day, honouring the calm. This has a benef i- it is in the repetition and quarters of the moon, and cial effect on the su r- in the use of specific o b- so on) are themselves roun ding plants and an i- jects that we build up the hugely complex and li v- mals and radiates beyond associations and charge ing symbols that contain that into the surrounding the symbols that unlock pointers to myth and d e- spiritual and material the mystery within. There ity. Enacting these on a planes in both space and is a balance to be kept regular basis is much the time. It also works inward here as elsewhere. Too same in the long term into our personal enviro n- much emphasis on the (although on a much la r- ments, balancing our i n- material aspect and it b e- ger scale) as sitting down ner ecologies. comes a habit, a chore, each day for a short, pe r- something to be cast sonal meditation. Through this action aside. But if the material of long term meditative

PAGEPAGE 14 THE DRUIDS VOICE TDN work, ritual also aligns pomp - robes and par a- of prayer. those who undertake it phernalia, obscure rites with and opens them up and archaic language. Prayer works in to the basic energies of This is not the case. Cel e- much the same way as the universe. This is not, brating can be done si m- more formal ritual, except however, simply to e m- ply and alone or in small that it rarely takes pl ace power ourselves. Druids groups, and it is often within specially created do not work for self fulfi l- more appropriate to do so. sacred space. Rather, it is ment or aggrandizement. Formal events have their the daily conversation we They become conduits by place, but just as we ca n- have with the sacred that which the healing ene r- not always live on a my s- is all about us. Th at it is a gies of the universe can tical high, so we cannot conversation is important be applied to the hurts of always approach our ve n- to remember. There are the world. Nor is this a eration of the worlds in a two sides to it and whilst matter of blind channe l- formal way. We must we are all very good at ling. It must be done with learn to touch and appr e- our side, when it comes to intelligence and right i n- ciate the world in an int i- listening to the answer, tent. mate fashion. Formal many of us have closed courtship must always be ears. The meditative e f- accompanied with info r- fect of ritual is to make mal companionship if a One of the things one supremely aware of genuine relationship b e- we must all learn as Dr u- the connection between tween our own being and ids is how to open our the material and the spir i- the worlds we inhabit is ears to the other side of tual aspects of our being. to develop. the conversation; and to It guides us to the realiz a- learn that our ‘ears’ are tion that the material and This more intimate a p- not always those things spiritual are not separate, proach is often acco m- on t he side of our heads. merely the same thing plished through prayer. Ever heard a little voice seen from a different pe r- Prayer is problematic for inside, somewhere, which spective. That the spirit is many pagans. They see it urges you to do or not do withered in many of us is as belonging largely to something? Ever found a another matter altogether the three religions of the journey starting out disa s- and part of the larger Book (Judaism, Christia n- trously with missed buses work of being Druid. ity, and Islam), none of and forgotten purses and a However, ritual is an i m- which have any degree of headache? And when you portant method by which sympathy for . get to the other end, you our spirit is nurtured. It Nevertheless, prayer is have a dismal time? You also provides us with a much older than these sh ould have listened. disciplined approach rel atively recent, desert through which our ope n- faiths and we all indulge It is important to ness to the universe is in it, quite often without listen, because the world guided by the wisdom i n- realizing. Pleading with a about us is our greatest herent in the structure of recalcitrant car to start on teacher. Druids are not ritual. a cold morning, touching made by read ing books wood or throwing coins (although they certainly Such grand soun d- into water for luck, taking help in the absence of ing intent would seem to our mascot (often a quasi - Druid colleges and me n- imply that all ceremony is totem animal) into an tors). Druids are made by a matter of gravity and exam – these are all forms learning to see (rather

TDNTDN THE DRUIDS VOICE PAGE 15 than just look) and listen the constant presence of my s- world. The reasons for this (rather than just hear). They tical understanding. attitude are historically and are made by engaging with philosophically complex. the world, with the sacred. This is not to say that However, ritual is an exce l- we are not changed by lent means by which we can Prayer is a me thod of enligh tenment. We are. Ho w- alter our mindset and create a training in that, as well as a ever, life goes on. We may new metaphysic that accepts way of keeping up the co n- perceive the world in a new the fact that people are just a ve rsation. It is, in fact, the and more comprehensive way small part of an enormous way in which we attune ou r- with the lessons learned from whole. selves to the everyday. And such brief glimpses of the i n- the everyday is so very i m- finite carried with us into our We cannot unify our selves po rtant, for it is in the ever y- everyday lives. Indeed, that is through ritual without also day that true magic is to be the point of ritual, the point of unifying ourselves with all found – in the growing of seeking the mysteries. They with which we come in to food, in cooking, in compa n- are not ends in themselves, co ntact. As ritual creates s a- ionship, in the simple sights, but a means to an end. cred space, which is a focus sounds, and experiences of for all aspects of existence, our lives. Therein lies the we place ourselves into a ma jesty and wonder of the situation where we have to universe for whilst such as integrate or acc ept that ritual the stars are a great glory, we is pointless. cannot touch them; merely watch them from a d istance. It is one of the mysteries of such experience that whilst It is clear, then, that one Our lives are unified by we recognize we are each i n- of the purposes and results of the actions we take and the finitesimal on a universal ritual is unity. Ritual enables journeys we make. We int e- scale, we also understand that us to unify our lives, as we grate the spiritual with the we do exist and we do have a must bring all aspects of our material, the everyday with place. We are part of the song being to bear on a single f o- the infinite, the mundane with and withou t it, the song cus. We must concentrate all the mystical. It enables us to would be lessened, just as the that we are into a single see ourselves as we really are, absence of a sparrow, or a event. If done properly, this which is a whole being rather blade of grass, or a drop of unification stays with us once than disparate parts. We may rain would lessen it. the circle is closed. It b e- continue to wear different comes habitual in the sense hats but, beneath the hats, we Rit ual also plays its part in that we live within it. become less fragmen ted, less this understanding. It int e- stressed, less uncertain of our grates us with the universe, This is important. Ri t- direction. Eventually we feel but it also enables us to cel e- ual, like mystical experience, no need for hats at all. brate our uniqueness. As Dr u- is of necessity short lived. ids, we celebrate in a partic u- Our physical bodies could not Unity does not confine lar way. As individual Druids, stand the strain of constant itself to each person beco m- we each adapt the form of ecstasy, of constant focus. ing more integrated within celebration to suit our own This was recognized by those themselves. Ritual also acts to circumstance and understan d- who told the Grail stories. help each person unify their ing. Those who achieved the self with the rest of creation. Grail, died as a result. The One of t he greatest problems Our rituals evolve with us. physical bodies of even the facing humanity is a false b e- They allow us to express ou r- strongest and battle -hardened lief that we are somehow selves in our own way whilst knights could not withstand sep arate from the rest of the celebrating the ineffable. We

PAGEPAGE 16 THE DRUIDS VOICE TDN each react to the mysteries fined or confinable to the s a- through to the major celebr a- and to our own development cred space. By marking sp e- tions (such as burial and m e- in ways that we should cel e- cific times of the year and morial ceremonies), the i m- brate. It is a dimension that is sp ecific events in our lives, pulse and the result is the often overlooked in ritual and we continue to open the doors same. celebration. The intent may that release our potential, that be serious and profound. We release our spirit, that release It is important to recognize may be dealing with myste r- our u nderstanding. that the celebrations are, in ies and intense emotional e x- themselves, different aspects periences. But we should take The annual rituals make use of a unified celebration of our joy in that. We should take of myth and of deity, but they very existence. Although each joy in the very fact that we do not make use of it all. Nor one focuses on a different a s- can celebrate and that we do they confine it. The y act as pect of our life and its co n- each have our own way of d o- a focus. They renew our ba t- ne ction with the rest of exi s- ing it. teries, make us think about tence, they are part of a larger specific things, but they also pattern which sees them not All things celebrate their exi s- add to what we learned last as something special tence in their own way; take time round. (although they undoubtedly joy in their very being. Birds are), but as something esse n- tumble on gusty winds and Each ritual is like a beacon lit tial to right living. skim the waves simply b e- upon a hilltop. We can dance cause they can. Dolphins and within its warmth, gather whales leap for the sheer joy within its light, and enjoy it The above text is a draft of of it. Cows play because the while it is there. However, the Introduction to Aria n- sun is shining. Wild flowers when the flames have died rhod’s Dance – a Druid Ri t- paint the m eadows because it down, we go about our lives ual Handbook the forthco m- is a joyous use of daylight. with a memory of them ill u- ing book by Julie White & All things may have mech a- minating the rest of what we Graeme K Talboys. This is a ni stic reasons for being, but do. They are spiritual wa y- companion volume to their that does not mean they are markers guiding us and cas t- acclaimed, the Path through not also celebratory. The ev e- ing light upon the whole c y- the Forest – a Druid Guid e- ryday is also the wonderful. cle of myth that aids our u n- book, published by Grey Each simple action of our b e- derstanding of the many House in the Woods. ing, especially those born of worlds in which we live and unconscious joy in som e- of the life that we live within Arianrhod’s Dance will be thing, is one of celebration. them. available later in the year. The Path through the Forest can Ritual is a way of celebrating We can extend that celebr a- be obtained from the pu b- our own existence; it is a way tion beyond ritual by allowing lisher for £12.95 (inc. of of recognizing our own the lessons we learn to be a p- p&p) by sending a cheque dance. And n o matter how plied to the rest of our lives. made payable to G. Talboys small that dance may be, ri t- Everyday actions and activ i- to Grey House in the Woods, ual allows us to recognize ties should carry with them PO Box 8211, Girvan, Ay r- also that we each do have a the spirit, even cleaning and shire, KA26 0WA part to play. It allows us to shopping. In addition, there consider how we are playing are many practical ways in For further details go to the that part and h ow we might which we can e xpress our joy Grey House in the Woods better be serving the world. (for example, by helping an i- website at www.faulksbooks. mals or becoming involved in co.uk/greyhouseinthewoods Once again, this occurs not conservation work). From just within the ritual. The very small acts of thanks (for sy mbols we use are not co n- a meal or a task completed) GRAEME K TALBOYS

TDNTDN THE DRUIDS VOICE PAGE 17 hold large Goddess cerem o- ual Goddess -loving people Glastonbury nies during the annual Gla s- who make one -off donations. tonbury Goddess Conference, Goddess Temple which are attended by up to Briefly the beliefs of the 400 people. The Goddess Go ddess congregation are as Special News!!! Temple is also used for cer e- follows: monies for individuals, such We are delighted to inform as, Handfastings, Rites of 1. We believe in the Great you that as from 18th June Pa ssage, etc., and for healing Goddess, who is the One and 2003 the Goddess Temple in and Goddess teaching se s- the Many, who is immanent Glastonbury, Somerset, En g- sions. and transcen dent, personal land has been formally regi s- and impersonal, constant and tered as a Place of Worship. Many pilgrims come to Gla s- changing, local and universal, tonbury in order to find the within and without all of We believe that we are the Goddess and the Goddess cre ation, who manifests He r- first Goddess Temple in the Temple, which is located in self through the cycle of the British Isles (Brigit's Isles) to the centre of the town, is a seasons and the Wheel of the be offic ially recognised as a gateway to the God dess Year. place of worship. This is an where visitors come to pray, herstoric event since for the attend ceremonies and meet 2. We believe that the Go d- first time a sacred space has other like -minded Goddess - dess manifests and commun i- been recognised, which does loving people. The Goddess cates Herself through the not rest within patriarchal r e- Temple is also the place whole of Her Nature and the ligious belief systems, but where local Goddess -loving sacred land, through visions within the arms of the Go d- people and pagans come t o- and dreams, senses and e x- dess, who is the divine fem i- gether to explore the develo p- periences, imagination, cer e- nine. ing Goddess religion and mony and prayer. We believe spirituality. The Goddess that no form of words can The Goddess Temple is cu r- ever encompass Her. rently open to the public for prayer, ceremony, medit a- 3. As the Goddess People of tion and worship on Tue s- Avalon we believe in the days and Saturdays from Go ddess, who is Lady of 11.00am -5.00pm and on Fr i- Av alon as She expresses day afternoons. Ceremonies He rself through the lan d- in praise of the Goddess take scape, mythology and cu l- place on these days. While ture of the Isle of Avalon the Temple is open Temple and in Glastonbury. Melissas are in at tendance to look after the space, perform If you would like to support ceremonies, offer healing, Temple is supported entirely this wonderful cause by ma k- etc.. We plan to open the by donations from the public ing a donation to the Goddess Temple more often as we find and the Goddess Peo ple of Temple, to become a friend, more volunteers to caretake Avalon. We have Friends of to help in any way, please the space while it is open. We the Temple who in return for contact Kathy Jones, or Brian hold large public Goddess a small annual donation su p- Charles email brian@net - ceremonies every six weeks, porting the Temple are kept impact .co.uk which are attended by 60 -80 informed of Temple services people. The Temple is open and events. We have Temple to the public additionally for Madrons who give a monthly 3-4 days at this time. We also standing order don ation to the KATHY JONES Goddess Temple and indivi d-

PAGEPAGE 18 THE DRUIDS VOICE TDN Saturday 8 November in advance (£35 on t he door) dresses of all those who will Fairfield Halls, Croydon or £12/£15 for students The attend and an SAE for tickets WITCHFEST UK 2003 price includes coffee, buffet to be sent out to you. Cheques The Children of Artemis n a- lunch and afternoon tea. FFI, payable to The Druid Ne t- tional conference event. This email : [email protected] work. For more information year's event features Emma Tel : 020 7955 7654 about Cor Gawr and other Restall Orr ( giving a main Gorseddau, contact conne c- stage talk on The Dark), Viv i- Saturday 22 November [email protected] or anne and Chris Crowley , Caer Corhrain, Isle of She p- check our Public Rituals Paddy Slade , Janet Farrar pey, Kent. EXPLORING pages. FFI about this event, and Gavin Bone , Raymond THE BARDIC ARTS contact bo b - Buckland , Kate West , with With Touch the Earth and [email protected] entertainment from the go r- friends. This one day wor k- geous Mediaeval Baebes and shop is aim to show how, THE LIVING DRUIDRY Inkubus Sukkubus! FFI : through the Bardic arts, we COURSE 2004 -05 http://www.witchcraft.org can increase our awareness of The second of her five wee k- our environment, ourselves end course run by Bobcat is Saturday 15 November and of spirit. We will explore booked up for November 03 - The New Theatre, The Lo n- poetry, music and sound, and 04. For those who have e n- don School of Economics, story telling. Cost: £20 FFI/ quired or are interested in the Holburn, London Booking contact: Touch the course for the following year, COERCION OR CO N- Earth 01795 874542 or e -mail please note that dates and VE RSION . The LSE's winter [email protected] costs will be finalized in N o- seminar. With a gathering of vember this year. Please speakers and panellists, this is Sunday 21 December email or send an SSAE for another extremely interesting Stonehenge, Wiltshire details. event run by the LSE in ce n- GORSEDD OF BARDS OF tral London. Focusing on how COR GAWR . The Cor Gawr IN THE PLANNING D E- people join religious, with winter solstice rite, led by PARTMENT sp ecial reference to parenting Ted MacKney and Emma R e- We are still planning a long and how children are brought stall Orr, will take place as weekend educational retreat up within religious and spir i- usual at dusk on this Sunday, as an event. It will take place tual movements, the seminar's honouring the rich power of in Cornwall, just off Bodmin guests include John Campbell darkness and the birth of new Moor in a nearby village (the Jesus Army), Abdur a- light. Thi s is a ticketed event within trekking distance of heem Green (London Central as numbers are limited. stone circles. We will have Mosque), Andrew McMillion Cost : £1 per person plus an bed and breakfast facilities, a (formerly of The Family), SAE Please apply to The barn for sleepin g bags and Aaron Wormus (The Fa m- Druid Network office at 88 very limited camping space. ily) ... and Emma Restall Grosvenor Road, Dudley, It will be a weekend intended Orr talking about Druidry/ West Midlands DY3 2PR. to introduce those new to Paganism. The day runs from With your application, you druidry to the concepts and 9.30 am to 5 pm. Cost : £30 must provide names and a d- practices, particularly in ri t-

TDNTDN THE DRUIDS VOICE PAGE 19 ual.. There will be leaders and the ritual begins about 2.15 Winter Solstice : 21 Dece m- guides .and a cost plan to suit ish. The area has seen the ber 2003 FFI, please contact most pockets. The site boasts Cealleach, dressed in a Damh or Cerri : 01273 - a woodland, stone circle, shroud, collecting w ishes and 419129 or email and e- stream a nd fledgling orchard. burning them in a flaming [email protected] Rabbits abound and cider is cauldron, the clash of swords made on the premises. of the Lords of the Waxing Cooked food is available and Waning year in full reg a- New Moot in Shropshire on from the pagan hosts. We are lia, 42 people standing in a the 2nd Wednesday of each also now looking at the poss i- circle at 2001 in hor i- month, starting in April. The bility of a similar event on the zontal rain and loving it, and first date then is 9th April and Worcestershire/Shropshire a spontaneous gig of jigs and we'll meet at 7.45 pm to kick border. If you feel you would reels in the Giant’s Rest after off at 8.00 pm, but of course be interested, please write the Samhain open in 2002 that's Druid time!!! Don't with an SSA E to Geoff at the with bodhr an, guitar and worry if you are runnin g late office so that we can gauge Celtic harp. on the night, just turn up and the interest. join in. Its at The Old Three After the rituals most of the Pigeons Public House, Nes s- GENERAL people go to the Giants Rest, cliffe and in the main bar. and the manager gets in extra We'll be running it like a di s- The Druids of Albion hold staff fo r us, and even stays cussion group using a talking public ceremonies are open especially for the stick, and any ideas of topics (usually) at Muirshiel Visitors Gorsedd during the Winter to chat through would be Centre Renfrewshire Tel; months when he might us u- greatly received. As usual, 01505 842 803. Spring Equ i- ally close the pub on a Su n- FFI - 01691 7 91597 Wendy nox 23rd March, Beltane 4th day afternoon. If you want to & Rob. May ,Summer Solstice 22nd read about the kinds of things June, Lammas 3rd August, we’ve been up to over the last Autumn Equinox 21st Se p- 3 years you can read the old Wessex Gathering te mber. All start 2.00p.m. - newslet ters at http://www. Dates - June 13 - 15 2003 4.00p.m. Their Samhain bardicarts.com in the And e- Isle of Purbeck, Dorset 'A new sletter it out now. Write rida Gorsedd section. We’ll Fa ntastic programme of to them at Druids Of Albion, be placing some archive ph o- wor kshops, speakers and e n- PO Box 8513, Ardrossan, tos up there shortly. Also if tertainments hosted by Ay rshire, KA22 8YE and also you want to be on the And e- Witches and Wiccans with ask about their certified druid rida gorsedd newsletter dat a- speakers including Kate grade distance learning base, just email me your snail West, Anna Franklin, Tam course. mail address at and e- Campbell, TABI, Hunters rida_gorsedd@bardicarts. Moon Morris Group and Ta l- com. There is also a Gorsedd lyessin' Prices: £35 per pe r- The Anderida Gorsedd has of Anderida email comm u- son non -members £32.50 per been holding regular open nity, so if you want to su b- person CoA Members rit uals at the Long Man of scribe to this just drop a line £6 you people, under 3's free, Wilmington since the Spring to: gorsedd_of_anderida - cheques payable to The Green Equinox 2000. Numbers vary, [email protected]. Man (with CoA membersh ip but the average turnout has All of these things are free. no if appropriate) to been about 35 -65 peop le from The only things we ask that Kitchener's Cottage, 18 Royal all over the South East, all people bring is peace, and an Victoria Apartments, High from many different trad i- open mind. So if you want to Street, Swanage, Dorset tions and paths. We meet in join in, here are this year’s BH19 2LN. Email nina. the Long Man car park b e- ritual dates; [email protected] for more info r- tween 1.30 -2 pm and usually Samhain : 2 November 2003 mation

PAGEPAGE 20 THE DRUIDS VOICE TDN ea rlier, and the situation had PAINTING THE to be handled very del i- cately.

LONG MAN So the grove waited, having set a date in September to It was Samhain 2001 when I do the painting, but the date drove past the Long Man of got closer and closer, but no Wilmington and saw that he rea l commitment was gained was looking very grey. S o as from the society. As time I drove, I began to think…. past, so people arranged always a bad move because Spring day things for that weekend we when I start to think things had set aside, and finally the start happening… The energy of the Land sur g- date passed. However, in the ing beneath me, mean time the most extrao r- In torrents of the River, The November meeting of dinary thing occurred. A the Anderida Grove is where Along lines of sight, group of people had actually Spirit moving, we sit down, discuss how we painted the Long Man whilst have experienced the past Forcing Life, our contact at the society was Coaxing, year, and to plan what we are away on holiday! But they going to do dur ing the next. Gentle had used regular paint, and Flame, we all knew that it would Heat and Fir e, It was here that I voiced my have been washed away… thoughts about the Long Suns light on a spring day. Man. We had been using the site for our Anderida open gorse ddau since March 2000, DAMH SMITH BRIGHTFORGE

and since I’d noticed the di m- ming outline, how about the Grove approaching the Su s- sex Archaeological Society Caring, confidential (who own the figure) and as king if they would like us consultations with pagan to do the painting? Well, hypno/psychotherapist. needless to say the idea was received with great enthus i- Past lives, trauma asm. Janel already had a co n- resolution, habits, stress, tact at the society so she said she would contact him the personal time. Fully in- next day. sured. Over the next 6 months var i- ous circumstances made it obvious that the painting Time For would not take place in 2001. Janel did contact the Further information contact East Anglia area. society, but there were Ros Young ‘political’ considerations R.M.N., L.N.C.P. www.timefor.org about who should paint it. The Long Man Morris had painted the figure 4 years Email:: postmaster@@@@timefor....org

TDNTDN THE DRUIDS VOICE PAGE 21 shrine of West Kennett Long showing round its edges, and Silbury Hill Barrow, and the Windmill of an indeterminate depth. Hill causewayed enclosure. They reported their find to Silbury Hill itself is often d e- the National Trust, who d e- Silbury Hill in Wiltshire is scribed as an enigma, its cided to erect a temporary the largest manmade prehi s- meaning and purpose u n- cover over the hole while toric mound in Europe, known. It has been variously they considered more long - erected more than 5,000 thought of as a colossal tomb term options. Scaffold poles years ago and standing over or as a vast representation of were driven into the ground 120 feet tall. Its flattened ci r- a Neolithic mother goddess. around the hole and plastic cular summit is big enough For many y ears it was the sheeting was tied between to accommodate the sarsen venue for Easter fairs for the the poles. Unfortunately, this and bluestone circles of local folk. At present, it is simple covering made no a l- Stonehenge and still leave 15 topped not by a circle of lowance for the fact that it feet of turf all aro und. In sarsen stones, but a ring of might rain. It rained. The fact, the discovery of sarsens fencing. plastic sheeting filled with

around the base of Silbury water and sagged, causing a Hill suggests that it may In the Spring of 2000, a co u- waterfall to ca scade onto a once have had its own stone ple of walkers discovered a small patch of ground, ero d- circle o n top. Silbury is part hole on the flattened summit ing it away and enlarging the of an archaic complex of of Silbury Hill. It was a hole to three or four times its structures that includes the ragged hole in the grass, original size. huge stone circles of Av e- about five feet lon g and three bury, the chambered tomb - across, with white chalk Time rolled by. A year later,

PAGEPAGE 22 THE DRUIDS VOICE TDN the big hole was still there In the 1780s, the local ant i- Atkinson and the BBC did and about half the area of the quary, , saw eventually back -fill their tu n- top of the mound was fenced trees being planted on top of nel. off. On the first anniversary the Hill. of the ho le’s discovery, local By the 1990s, the whole of people and other interested In 1849, another endeavour Silbury Hill was fenced off parties held a demonstration was made to penetrate the and a notice hung on the at the foot of the Hill to pr o- mystery of the Hill with pick fence by the Bath Road i n- test about the lack of remedial and shovel. This time a hor i- forming visitors that the action by the National Trust, zontal tunnel was cut into the monument was “Closed due the official guardians of the mound from the Bath Road to erosion.” Beside the notice site. Last year, the hole was side to the centre. Again, was a hole in the fence with a packed with a temporary fil l- not hing was found. The tu n- well -worn path under it sho w- ing of polystyrene blocks, nel was plugged rather than ing that a percentage of vis i- topped off with a layer of properly backfilled. Plans of tors regularly ignored the n o- chalk that was delivered by the Hill drawn up at the time tice. helicopter. of the 1849 dig show a di s- Ever keen to turn a catastr o- tinct hole in the top of the When the hole re -appeared in phe to advantage, the N a- mound which can only be the 2000, and particularly after tional Trust called in archa e- result of a collapse of the the rain cascade had e x- ologists and engineers to 1776 shaft. They also show a panded it, there was a genuine carry out a survey of the Hill. mound on top of the Hill, pr e- fear among some conserv a- There had been several prev i- sumably a spoil -heap from tion groups that the whole ous attempts to glean info r- the 1776 dig. Hill might become de - mation about the nature and Arial photographs of Silbury stabilised and collapse. This purpose of the Hill. In fact, it taken in 1934 show the hole is actually not as far out as it was the first of these that led still there, though it may have might seem. A sma ller but to the appearance of the pr e- been backfilled and collapsed still substantial mound a few sent hole. again since the 1849 drawing. miles away at Marden Henge The same photographs also had been excavated by Sir In 1776, the Duke of Nort h- show the mound still present. Richard Colt Hoare in the umberland wanted to discover However, 19 35 photographs early 19 th century. As at Av e- what lay at the centre of the show no hole or mound. The bury, a central shaft was sunk mound. Perhaps he was i n- most likely explanation is that into the mound. Nothing was spired by the persistent local the Ministry of Works had r e- found and the shaft was left legend that it housed a life - filled the hole using material open. It filled with water, the size equestrian statue of a from the mound, although no internal chalk became sat u- King Sil, wrought from solid conclusive evidence has so rated and the whole mound gold. The Duke hired a Col o- far come to light. collapsed. With subsequent nel Drax, who put together a ploughing, there is now little team of men and dug a shaft In 1967, Professor R. J. C. sign that this sister of Silbury from the top of the Hill to the Atkinson undertook a tel e- ever existe d. undisturbed chalk at its base. vised dig sponsored by the The shaf t was 8’ square and BBC. Atkinson’s team drove The re -appearance of the 130’ deep. No gold statue was another tunnel into the Hill shaft atop Silbury Hill pr o- found, no skeleton, no burial from the Bath Road side, vided the impetus to examine of any kind, in fact nothing to star ting from lower down the structure of the Hill using indicate why the Hill might than the 1849 tunnel. The modern techniques of geo - have been built nor who built BBC lost interest when no physical survey, and this was it. The Duke and the Colonel burial or spectacular treasure eventually d one. In part, it gave up, roughly back -filled was found at the centre. After was an attempt to find out the hole and left. loud protests from local folk, how much damage had been

TDNTDN THE DRUIDS VOICE PAGE 23 done to the structure of the clearly see you guessed it the Her wisdom, the knowing of mound by the various shafts top of Silbury Hill. This set blood gone cold; and tunnels. In part, it was a me thinking, perhaps Silbury The desolation of the battl e- broader attempt to learn was a platform from which field; more about the construction ceremonies could be o b- The silent passing of the sol i- of the Hill, and whether it served and coordinated at a tary soul contained any previously u n- number of local sites that in the cold, lonely hours b e- known burials, ritual depo s- would otherwise be invisible fore dawn. its, or structural features. In to each other. The top of Si l- She is witness to the bleakest fact, little was learnt that was bury is also clearly visible truths - new. The Hill was built in a from the forecourt of the Life stripped of its prettiness; series of spirals composed of West Kennett Long Barrow its ephemeral charm. chal k rubble held in place by and from many other places. Accepting of what i s left wattle fencing. An antler So it seems eminently poss i- when the world has done its pick found in the collapsed ble that the Hill was intended worst: shaft was radio -carbon dated as a viewing platform and Bare bones scattered in the to 3,300 BCE. It se ems that central site from which to c o- mud. the cascade from the plastic ordinate ceremonies taking And yet... sheeting placed over the in i- in many elements of the Still she spreads her wings tial hole resulted in the 1849 Av ebury complex. and takes to the summer sky, tunnel collapsing and ope n- Sunlight glinting; gold - ing up a new diagonal shaft From personal experience, I fringed feathers, linking with the 1776 central can vouch for the fact that As she tumbles and glides - shaft somewhere in the ce n- the summit of Silbury is an Dancing through the dar k- tre of the mound. awesome place from which ness, to w itness the rising of the She celebrates all that she is; In March of 2003, a new sun and moon. From discu s- The joy of her life. co ntractor was brought in to sion with members of the p a- undertake another survey of gan community, I can also the Hill, focusing on the co l- state that it is a favourite spot CROW lapsed 1776 shaft and hoping on which to conceive chi l-

to find out what has ha p- dren. Whatever else it may pened to it and what might be, it is a wonder to behold. be the best way to fill the hole to avoid future co l- Text and picture © 2003 lapses. PHILIP SHALLCRASS BELTANE Meanwhile, Silbury Hill r e- mains an enigma. It can Calan Mai, for union and now be stated with some creativity to become one co nfidence that it was not a The May queen and her king burial mound. My own th e- wrapped together in the sun ory derives from an error in CROW'S DANCE They fell in love they are the official National Trust humble to each others guide to Avebury, in which it Clothed in her robe of blac k- desires states that Silbury Hill ca n- est midnight They lie amongs t the not be seen from the Av e- touched by the light of a blossomed trees and later the bury henge. I held this boo k- tho usand stars, Beltane fires let in my hand while stan d- She carries her mysteries ing in the South Circle at in the dark centre of her eye. Crying out and sing with joy Avebury, from which I could She is Death's companion - the may pole standing tall

PAGEPAGE 24 THE DRUIDS VOICE TDN The phallic shape so And grab something back dominant mesmerises us all on your return over the Ribbons wrapped around bur ning fire entwine the male and female tight Joy fun and laughter goes The lovemaking and s exual on throughout the night joy carries on thro day to The lovers hold each other night strong with no quarrel or no fight For the goddess her desire Their union joyous and has ended the horned god is revered from us all in full In the distance the horned She can feel his pressing god haunts us with his urge towards him she feels domineering call him pull Within the flowery den they GOLDEN lie of blossom and reddest rose Fiona. Tamplin Golden is the Ash Tree tur n- Together they become as ing; one in a whirl her eyes now Golden seeds, then Golden close leaves, Telling me the year is tur n- Musky incense lingers, the ing; aphrodisiac that captures Autumn comes and as it In their eyes the fire it burns, The Crane comes their intimac y causes It calls to me that with the raptures Tower Sculpture season For all the passion now flows Structural, I must also change. so free a continuous fountain High, They now have conquered Jet stream of white woven At Golden Lammas -tide I all the world climbed eve ry through its branches, knew the chan ge must come hill and mountain Living solid, But safe and slothful ways Movement of motion, still hold me back. The maypole platted in Lift and sing, Many a tear of pain I yet ribbons, red green, white and The function of Life, have shed gold Move and build, And many more to come; but Day turns to dusk, as night Derrick and gantry, still I stay. starts to unfold Pattern and form, Th e bees are weary now Existing shape, Is there a Golden future set ma king honey all that day Torn apart, for me? And flowers now close from Rebuilt on an other skyline, I know not, but I know that a hard day's work and play To fulfil the function of Life, change will come. Steel and cable, As surely as the year must Beltane fires are lit they roar Skeleton and form. change, then so will I up and burn strong Or waste the Autumn of my Time is spent leaping over years in idle tasks the flames and goes on all WAYNE And lose what might yet be. night long To drop off the things on one DANEWOOD side that you no longer Angela Grant require

TDNTDN THE DRUIDS VOICE PAGE 25 matched with anything held of a violent death tends not Respect and in the national tree ring dat a- to support the idea that she base. However, radiocarbon was sacrificed. Perhaps she Reburial in dating places her burial was someone whose pe r- around 500 CE, the post - ceived powers during life Action Roman, early Saxon, made her a particular threat ‘Arthurian’ period. The lack after her death. Maybe she of grave -goods and positio n- was a Romano -British witch, In the summer of 1996 We s- ing of the body suggest that using the term in the sense of sex Archaeology were called the woman was of the native someone capable of working in to investigate a site co v- Romano -British people harm through magic. ered by a planning applic a- rather than Saxon. However unusual her trea t- tion for a trout lake on the The most common burial ment during life and immed i- margins of the River Avon in practice at that time placed ately after death may have Woodford Valley in Wil t- corpses face up and with been, the main point of this shire. The site consists of a n- their heads to the west so article is to highlight the u n- cient water meadows and lies that on rising into the afte r- usual treatment she was a c- a couple of miles south of life they would be facing the corded after her discovery by Stonehenge, just across the rising sun, so this burial was Wessex Archaeology in river from the Ogbury Iron unusual. Other examples of 1996. Age hillfort. The whole area south -north burials are contains a high concentration known, in partic ular from a In recent years the re -burial of archaeology ranging in late Romano -British cem e- of ancient human remains date from Palaeolithic to late tery in nearby Salisbury has become an issue within Medieval. The specific area where almost half the burials the pagan community, fired looked at here yielded Ne o- were aligned in this way. B e- partly by the success of n a- lithic and Bronze Age ing buried face down is rarer, tive communities in Ame r- worked flints and a quantity and it is suggested that those ica, Australia and elsewhere of Romano -British pottery. few buried in this way were in recovering their ancestral Of particular interest to our sacrificial victims, executed remains from museums and story is the discove ry of the criminal s or others who the universities for appropriate body of a young woman bu r- community would not want reburial. Folk within the ied face down in a rough box to walk again after death. Bri tish archaeological co m- constructed from unfixed and The fact that hers is a sol i- munity are also beginning to largely un -worked planks of tary burial in wetlands at a take an interest in the issue. I oak. Having been lying u n- river margin also points to have raised it myself at mee t- di sturbed in wet clay for ce n- there being something diffe r- ings about the planned road turies, the planks and skel e- ent about this woman. She alterations at Stonehenge. ton were well preserved. The was removed from the pre s- The excavation of human r e- body was laid out with her ence of both the living and mains in Britain requires pe r- head to the south. She was the dead. Her burial close to mission either from the about 5’2” tall, between 20 the edge of a river was pe r- Church or the Home Office, and 25 years old, and had haps to allow the flow of w a- depending on whether the su ffered some minor back ter to dissipate some pe r- burial is in Christian cons e- pain and problems with her ceived harmful influence she crated ground. In Britain, the teeth. Dendrochronology might exert on the living, or only burials routinely re - would have given a precise may suggest that she was an buried after excavation are year of death but for the fa ct offering to the gods, a c- those whose original burials that the planks from her cessed through the marginal mark them as C hristian. This grave all came from a single realm between earth and w a- clear discrimination against tree that could not be ter. The lack of any evidence ancient pagans is part of

PAGEPAGE 26 THE DRUIDS VOICE TDN what spurs modern pagans to buried where they were for pr iate to them. To a modern take up their cause. Beyond reasons that were clear and pagan, finding our ancestors that there is the understan d- important to their contemp o- displayed in museum cases ing that our ancestors were raries and with rites appr o- or stacked in cardboard

TDNTDN THE DRUIDS VOICE PAGE 27 boxes in museum stores is cal timber. A record of her not share the same beliefs.” desecration pure and simple. re -burial was placed in the In her article, McKinley did If the same were done to county archive office. not specify if any “rites and Christian bodies removed This information comes from rituals” accompanied this r e- from churchyards there an article by Jacquel ine burial, though I infer from would be justifiable outrage. McKinley of Wessex A r- her words that they did. I We argue that equal respect cha eology that appeared in su ggest that the pagan co m- should be given to burials Wiltshire Studies , the journal munity should communicate that are pre -Medieval and of the Wiltshire Archaeolog i- with archaeological groups pagan. cal and Natural History Soc i- to press for reburial and to ety (‘A Wiltshire ‘Bog ensure that, where reburial The Home Office license Body?’: Discussion of a does take place, a ppropriate co vering the Woodford Va l- Fifth/Sixth Century AD Bu r- rites are performed. Each of ley burial states that “The r e- ial in the Woodford Valley,’ the major branches of co n- mains shall, if of sufficient Vol. 96, 2003, pp. 7 -18). temporary paganism has f u- scientific interest, be co n- McKinley was one of the neral rites that could easily veyed to a museum for arch i- team who conducted the e x- be adapted for the reburial of val storage … or they shall cavation and I’ll now quote our ancestors. As a pagan be conveyed to a place where from her directly, since what who as repeatedly raised i s- burials may legally take she says has repercussions sues of respect and reburial place and there be rei n- for all of us in the pagan with archaeologists, conse r- terred.” The owner of the site co mmunity who care about vation groups and landow n- requested that the woman the reburial issue. After e x- ers over the years, I am d e- should be reburied as close plaining that licences to e x- lighted to present this ev i- as possible to the original cavate human remains are dence that reburial, even near bu rial site. Wessex Archa e- granted to those undertaking the sensitive environs of the ology made an application to the dig, normally an archae o- Stonehenge World Heritage the Home Office, who logical group, she goes on: Site, can take place. It proves agreed so long as the burial “Consequently, the respons i- that rais ing the issue really took place in a legal burial bility - legal and moral - for can produce the desired ou t- site. It was pointed out to the care and appropriate come. Perhaps most encou r- them that it would be ina p- trea tment of such remains aging of all is that the Home pr opriate to bury such a n- lies with the excavators … in Office was persuaded to cient and clearly non - the rare cases of reburial bend the terms of its own l i- Christian remains in a mo d- which may occur it is nece s- cense to enable this reburial ern cemetery. To their great sary to ensure an appropriate to go ahead in a pagan - credit, the Home Office location is used, that physical sensitive way. agreed and said that reburial packaging is of a standard On behalf of the pagan co m- could take place elsewhere which will maintain the i n- munity, I extend my thanks with the approval of Sali s- te grity of the remains, and to Jacqueline McKinley, bury District Council’s D i- that any attendant rites and Wessex Archaeology, the re ctor of Housing and rituals followed during the landowner, Salisbury Cou n- Health. This official having reburial are appropriate to cil and the Home Office. confirmed that there was no the date and proba ble beliefs May the spirit of the Woo d- risk to public health, the of those being reburied as ford Valley woman find woman was reburied in O c- deduced from their archae o- peace, and may her reburial tober 1997 on an island in logical context. In the latter, be the first of many. the newly -constructed lake a the probable beliefs of the Hail and blessed be! little south of her original dead are tantamount and Text and Artwork grave site. She was buried in should take precedence over a wooden box made from l o- those of the liv ing who may PHILIP SHALLCRASS

PAGEPAGE 28 THE DRUIDS VOICE TDN Cat present a practical and For you who have heard or AMERICAN straight -forward invitation to felt the call to the medicine join into the fabric of our path as the direction for your CEREMONIES land and i t’s ancient ways, life, we can only help set adapted for today’s society. your feet upon that path. The RELEASE The sacred powers of this true medicine path is yours land are not dead – nor do alone. It is within you, and Medicine Hawk and Grey they sleep. Through authe n- your knowledge of it ha s Cat announce the release, on tic ceremonies we can all been preserved for you by July 1, 2003, of a newly r e- tread the mystery of Turtle your own totem spirits. You, vised edition of American Island. alone, must learn who they Indian Ceremonies. This b a- are and what they have to sic book, which sold steadily The medicine path does not teach you. for over ten years, is a begi n- cry to everyone. Not ever y- ners guide to the more co m- one answers, and for some it The Gr eat Spirit, Galunlati, mon ceremonies of the may be a long and difficult has set his hand upon this Med icine Path. Published by journey, whereas for others it land. His spirit keepers live the authors and Three Moons may be the short way home. within its trees and rocks, its Media, the book is available If you respon d to the call of streams, lakes and mou n- wholesale or retail from the medicine path, you will tains. Whatever path to spir i- Booksurge http://www. have much to learn and much tuality you are called to fo l- booksurge.com or from The to do. Following this path low, it should move upon the Blessed Bee http:// will take time from your land in harmony with these theblessedbee.com. A cover usual amusements and it will ancient ancestors. picture is available at http:// change your life Although greycat.cc/ceremonies/. R e- the Ancestors have given American Indian Cerem o- tail outlets may go through rough guidelines on how to nies: The Good Red Road , is R.R. Bowker’s Books in follow the medicine path, e x- your tour guide for your first Print or Global Books in act instructions cannot be steps on the Medicine Path. Print or call BookSurge d i- given because each one of us For all our relations. rectly, toll -free, at 866 -308 - walks his or her own path. 6235. Dr. Medicine Hawk Wilburn The medicine path has cu r- has a BS from Mercer Un i- Walking a medicine path rently taken the interest of versity, an MEd from means being truly at one many people as the latest fad Georgia State University and with your environment. If in alternative spirituality. a PhD from Southwest Un i- you live in the city, there is This isn’t necessarily a bad versity. Born of American no reason why you cannot thing. The path is, however, Indian and German ancestry, walk the medicine path right much, much more than a fad Hawk began his journey where you are. You may take or adventure. If you are rea d- along the Medicine Path with the concepts of the Sacred ing these pages in order to the mother of an ele mentary Pipe and the Medicine have a general understanding school classmate, in the early Wheel with you anywhere of American Indian spiritua l- sixties, in South you desire. The authors pr e- ity, you are welcome. Stud y- Florida. He is author of To- sent a contemporary set of ing the medicine path, even tem , Thunderhead, the Life instructions, based on native if only out of curiosity, will and Times of a Half spiritual ways, to help you be help bring to you a greater Breed and Urban Santeria . one with the environment understanding of the ancient Hawk is a sixth grade teacher and our Living Earth. spiritual pr esences here in and university Turtle Island. professo r of education in Medicine Hawk and Grey Southern California, where

TDNTDN THE DRUIDS VOICE PAGE 29 he lives with his son, Ray and Moons Media. Publications and responsibili ty where the Inland Empire wishing to review this book required specifically of the Grey Cat Coven meets reg u- should contact Grey Cat at species Homo sapiens larly at the Temple of the [email protected] and an ele c- toward Nature and toward all Grey Cat. tronic copy will be emailed Her animate and immediately. At the moment in -animate manifestations. Grey Cat, of unmixed Eur o- it is not possible for us to pr o- pean bloodlines, became a c- vide print copies. 2. All planetary nations, go v- tive in in the early ernments, institutions, 1980's. She was trained in corporations, businesses and British Traditional Wicca individuals without and founded her own group, exception shall inevitably be Northwind Tradition o f Charter of Planetary bound to respect, protect, pr o- American Wicca, which has Rights mote and fulfil the rights of continued for 15 years. She is this Charter. the author of Deepening Preamble Witchcraft; Advancing Skills 3. The rights set forth in this and Knowledge ; E CW Press, We, the Children of Mother Charter shall not be Montreal, 2002. Grey Cat has Earth, recognize and subject to any limitations an d more than 15 years of exper i- acknowledge the inher ent shall supersede all other ence in Wicca as a student sanctity, dignity and freedom rights whether assumed or and teacher contributed cha p- of the collective, symbiotic, le gislated. ters to Witchcraft Today Vo l- biological planetary umes One and Twoand is the organism called Earth. 2. Equality author of Deepening Witc h- craft; Advancing Skills and We acknowledge and regret 1. Every living organism on Knowledge. Grey Cat has human exploitation and this planet shall be also been active in the n a- degradation of the Earth's bi o- regarded as equal before any tional Pagan community, sphere, ecological systems, and all law and shall ser ving with the Covenant of fauna, flora, minerals and el e- have the right to equal prote c- the Goddess, the leading n a- ments. tion and benefit of the tional organization of Wiccan law. Covens, and as a board me m- We acknowledge our colle c- ber of Ar n'Draiocht Fein, a tive debt to the Earth for 2. Equality must include the modern Druidic tradition our continued sustenance and full and equal enjoyment founded by . livelihood, and recognize of all rights and freedoms. To She lives in Tennessee. our collective and individual promote the achievement responsibility t o ward of absolute equality, legisl a- The first edition was pu b- maintaining a holistic and e n- tive measures shall be lished by Inner Light Public a- vironmentally supportive undertaken to protect or a d- tions, New Brunswick, 1990, way of living. vance the Earth's ISBN: 0 -938294 -72 -5 sold biosphere, ecological sy s- steadily for a decade before To this end we embrace the tems, species and being allowed to go out of Charter of Planetary Rights. individuals, whether fauna, print. The new edition, co m- flora, mineral or element. pletely revised and with new 1. Rights material, was made possible 3. No species or individual by Three Moons Media 1. This Charter en shrines the may be exploited, unfairly (http://www. rights of the planet treated or discriminated threemoonsmedia.com/index. called Earth and affirms the against. html) and is available in print necessary values of or as an e -book from Three respect, tolerance, restraint 4. The exact measure and n a-

PAGEPAGE 30 THE DRUIDS VOICE TDN ture of any and all over their body, diet ual has the right: possible exploitation, unfair and habitation, treatment and 1.1. to an environment that is discrimination is herein esta b- 3.3. not to be subjected to not harmful to their lished. The exploitation medical or scientific health or well -being, of Nature shall never be experiments. deemed to be fair. Any 1.2. to have the environment reasonable, fair and holistic 4. Every species and indivi d- pr otected for the benefit utilization of the ual has the right to life. of present and future gener a- Earth' s fauna, flora, minerals tions, through exacting or elements for the 4. Slavery, Servitude and legislative and other measures continued preservation of h u- Forced Labour that: man life shall be deemed to be justifiably necessary and 1. No species or individual 1.2.1. prevent pollution and in accordance with may be subjected to ecological degradation, natural law. slavery, se rvitude or forced labour. 1.2.2. prom ote conservation, 3. Dignity, Freedom and Life 5. Freedom of Movement and 1.2.3. secure ecologically su s- 1. Every species and indivi d- Residence tainable utilization and ual has inherent dignity development of acceptable and the right to have their 1. Every species and indivi d- natural planetary resources di gnity respected and ual has the right to for the reasonable preserv a- protected. freedom of movement. tion of the human species,

2. Every species and indivi d- 2. Every species and indivi d- 1.2.4. promote global self - ual has the right to ual has the right to sufficiency, freedom and security, which freedom of choice regarding a includes the right: place of residence. 1.2.5. encourage and reward environmentally supportive 2.1. not to be deprived of 3. No human shall be permi t- and sustainable individual, fre edom arbitrarily or ted to hinder, obstruct or national and international without just cause, remove any species or ind i- economic growth. vi dual from moving through 2.2. to be free from torture or taking up residence in their 7. Prevention of Ecological and cruelty, place of choice, Degradation unless such presence or occ u- 2.3. not to be treated or pu n- pation may be reasonably 1. The following practices, in ished in a cruel, and justifiably deemed to be a accordance with the inhumane or degrading way. threat to the continued spirit of this Charter Rights, existence or livelihood of shall be deemed to be 3. Every species and indivi d- Homo sapiens, or, in the harmful to the natural ec o- ual has the right to event of human encroac h- log ical design, function and bodily and psychological i n- ment, to be a threat to the succession of the Earth's bi o- tegrity, which includes the continued existence or livel i- sphere: right: hood of an ecological system or species dependent 1.1. deforestation, 3.1. to make decisions co n- on same. cerning reproduction without 1.2. human introduction of interference, 6. Environment potentially harmful non -indigenous fauna and 3.2. to security in and control 1. Every species and indivi d- flora to an existing

TDNTDN THE DRUIDS VOICE PAGE 31 indigenous ecological sy s- 2.2. removal of potentially 1.2. uncontrolled burning of tem, harmful non -indigenous human waste, fossil fuels vegetation and the simultan e- and wood, 1.3. hindrance, damage or ous and successive removal ( but not the replanting of diverse indig e- 1.3. mining, manufacture and reasonable and sustainable nous vegetation, use of fossil fuels, harvesting) of indigenous fauna and flora, 2.3. compulsory adoption of 1.4. manufacture and use of reviewed and approved chemical pesticides, 1. 4. practice of mono -culture environmentally supportive herbicides, fungicides and in agriculture and techniques for: fertilizers, forestry where such practice may lead to the detriment 2.3.1. restoration and prese r- 1.5. manufacture and use of of species diversity of bo th vation of soil, potentially dangerous, fauna and flora, and to hazardous and toxic chem i- the detriment of already e s- 2.3.2. cultivation of land, cal agents for whatever tablished ecological purpose, systems, 2.3.3. horticulture, 1.6. creation of chemical and 1.5. cultivation of grasslands 2.3.4. animal husbandry. hazardous nuclear waste, for the purpose of animal husbandry to the de t- 2.4. compulsory re -education riment of species of a ll parties involved 1.7. production, testing and diversity, both fauna and in cultivation, animal hu s- use of c hemical, flora, bandry, and forestation for biological and nuclear wea p- the purpose of harvesting ons. 1.6. denudation of land and wood, coastal dunes as a result 2. The following measures of quarrying, mining, agr i- 2.5. restructuring and rede s- shall be deemed to be of cu lture, animal husbandry, igning of industry and benefit in preventing the po l- forestry and industry, business to remove and pr e- lution of the Earth's vent exploitation and biosphere: 1.7. use and development of degradation of natural ec o- ecologically fragile, logical environments, 2.2. exacting restrictions and sensitive or threatened env i- controls for the safe ronments for the purpose 2.6. reassessment of indivi d- disposal of existing hazar d- of human habitation, recre a- ual habits of consumption ous and toxic chemical tion, quarrying, mining, and disposal of waste. agents, nuclear waste, effl u- agriculture, animal hu s- ent and general waste, bandry, forestry and indu s- 8. Prevention of Pollution try. 2.3. stringent restrictions and 1. The following practices controls on the 2. The following measures shall be deemed to be collection, transportation and shall be deemed to be of harmful to the well -being of safe disposal of fossil benefit in preventing any fu r- the planetary organism: fuels, ther exploitation and degradation of Nature: 1.1. dumping of effluent and 2.4. development and use of general waste in alternative ecologically 2.1. ecologically sound refo r- landfills, rivers, lakes or sustaining and renewable estation, oceans, sources of energy,

PAGEPAGE 32 THE DRUIDS VOICE TDN 2.5. development and prom o- 9. Sustainable Utilization and and sustained tion of renewable energy Development of utilization and dev elopment technologies, Resources of resources:

2.6. prohibition of energy 1. The following practices 2.1. promotion and develo p- technologies which utilize shall be deemed to be ment of a culture of fossil fuels, harmful to th e Earth: recycling,

2.7. exacting restr iction on 1.1. mining of minerals and 2.2. global restructuring and the manufacture of quarrying of stone and redesigning of human biological agents and co m- sand, habitation systems in order to plete prohibition on the reduce and ne g a t e manufacture, testing and use 1.2. clearing of land for the harmful environmental and of chemical and purposes of human psychological impact, biological weapons, habitation, cultivation or e n- t e r tainment to the 2.3. national and international 2.8. collection and safe di s- detriment of the environment, restructuring and posal of existing chemical redesigning of industria l areas fertilizers, pesticides, herb i- 1.3. illegal and uncontrolled with the purpose of cides and fungicides, trawling, reducing and negating har m- ful environmental and 2.9. international imposition 1.4. imprisonment and explo i- psychological impact, of punitive green taxes tation of any animal on industries and businesses species for the purpose of e n- 2.4. careful and responsible who profit from couraging and fulfilling consideration of the enviro nmental degradation human consumption or ente r- Earth's capacity for redressing and pollution, tainment, harmful environmental impact when planning, r e- 2.10. imposition of tax ince n- 1.5. imprisonment and explo i- stru cturing, redesigning, tives for environmentally tation of any species for building and operating sy s- supportive industries and the purposes of medical or tems of rural, suburban, bus inesses who do not sc ientific experimentation, industrial and agricultural d e- degrade or pollute, velopment, 1.6. breeding of any species 2.11. imposition of green fees expressly for use in 2.5. promotion of diversity of on manufactured medical and scientific exper i- species, companion products which directly or i n- mentation, planting and crop rotation in directly result in agriculture, environmental degradation 1.7. hunting and killing of and pollution, sp ecies or individuals for 2.6. promotion of sust ainable the purpose of trading in fur, and selective harvesting 2.12. compulsory reclamation bone, ivory and of trees in re -established and and recycling of waste, medicine, carefully maintained especially packaging mater i- forests and wood -lots, als, by industries and 1.8. cruel and inhumane businesses responsible for slaughter of species or 2.7. control and, where poss i- pr oducing same, individuals for human co n- ble, restriction of sumption. mining and quarrying, 2.13. prohibition of gover n- mental financial support to 2. The following measures 2.8. control and, where poss i- polluting industries and bus i- shall be deemed to be of ble, restriction of nesses. benefit to the reasonable, fair

TDNTDN THE DRUIDS VOICE PAGE 33 trawling, hunting, cultivation and animal husbandry. 2.1. global compulsory env i- 2.1. any person acting in their ronmental and conservation own interest, 10. Promotion of Conserv a- education to minors, tion 2.2. any person acting on b e- 2.2. national and international half of an injured or 1. The following practices governmental promotion threatened species or indivi d- shall be deemed to be of environmental and spe cies ual who cannot, harmful: conservation and protection, 2.3. any person acting on b e- 1.1. culling of any species, half of the Earth's 2.3. national and international biosphere, ecological sy s- 1.2. pouching, including governmental tems, fauna, flora, minerals canned, unfair and inhumane opposition and resistance of or elements, hunting and slaughtering environmental or sp ecies pra ctices, exploitation, 2.5. any person acting in the public interest, 1.3. holding of an animal for 2.4. national and international the purpose of governmental promotion 2.6. any association or organ i- preservation in an unnatural of sustainable, reasonable and zation acting in the and inappropriate fair practices for th e interest of its members. environment for an indefinit e consumption of water and period without the other natural resources, 12. Interpretation of Charter intention of releasing same to its natural 2.5. stringent national and i n- 1. When interpreting this environment, ternational governmental Charter promote the val ues standards for the environme n- that underlie a free, self - 1.4. imprisonment and explo i- tally supportive removal, generated and self -ordered tation of any animal transportation, disposal and planetary organism const i- species or individual, or env i- wherever possible, recycling tuted of equal partners all ronment, for the purpose of effluent and waste, of whom share the inevitable of encouraging and providing process of planetary evolution human recreation, 2.6. stringent national and i n- together. ternational governmental 1.5. international trade in any standards and controls for the 2. This Charter does not deny species with the sole environmentally the existence of any other exception of promoting the supportive practice of agricu l- rights or freedoms that are continued survival of a ture, animal husbandry, re cognized or conferred by species or individual/s, industry, business, and r e- traditional, common, custo m- stor ative and non - ary, foreign, or international 1.6. human intervention with discriminatory human ec o- law whether national or regard to the nomics. international, provided that manipulation of genetic mat e- they are consistent with rial in both animal and 11. Enforcement of Rights and not in oppositi on to any plant, rights and freedoms 1. Any concerned or a g- herein enshrined on behalf of 1.7. cloning. grieved party shall have the Mother Earth. right to demand that the rights 2. The following measures herein enshrined be enforced. shall be deemed to be of Aradian Planetary benefit to the promotion of 2. Any concerned or a g-

conservation: grieved party shall include: Cooperative

PAGEPAGE 34 THE DRUIDS VOICE TDN REVEIWS

had ideas in common. Living Bard and pupils, a sharing, a Philip Carr-Gomm: in phase with the natural clarification of objectives and Druidcraft, the rhythms of the surrounding explanations. There is pract i- landscape. Walking with the cal work. A pathway of cre a- magic of wicca procession of the seasons. tivity leading to freedom Practising magical processes joined hand -in -hand with an and druidry for personal development and intensified integrity. the general good. And today, decades after those two men Witches and Druids both Thorsons 2002 of vision turned their dreams pra ctise magic. Alchemical ISBN 0 -00 -713388 -X into reality, Druidry and Magic is there for UK 12.99 USA 19.95 Wicca can be seen more and each to change the base metal more to complement each of their lives into the pure The cover of Glastonbury's other in ways which encou r- gold of personal transform a- Chalice Well is embellished age men and women, druids tion. Practical Magic involves with the vesica piscis, the and witches, to stand in the the external world two slightly overlapping ci r- centre ground affirming the with its various levels of rea l- cles whose elliptical centre is positive creativity inherent in ity: the Magic of Questing seen by some as the entry to the merging d uality. brings information about the womb of the Goddess, the times and places; the Magic House of Creation. of Making reifies the perfected model in the mi nd This is the outward and vis i- into the realities of the phys i- ble symbol which threads its cal world; and the Magic of way through Philip Carr - Changing gives power to be Gomm's attractive prospectus. exercised with responsibility His two circles stand for for the Law of the Returning Druidry and Wicca. The fo r- Tide involves a grand reflux mer owing more to Ross with the successful launch of Nic hols. The latter to each wish, prayer or spell. Gerald Gardner. Two men who were friends. Both dev o- As we might expect, Philip This is a text to be savoured. tees of the naturist Carr -Gomm writes from the To be read and re -read, allo w- movement. Often meeting at perspective of a ing altered states of perce p- Spielplatz and elsewhere to Druid who is acquainted with tion to take over and dance chat and to consider. Nichols the Wicc a. Each chapter is a among the myriad insights chose the broad high way of lesson among the trees of an concealed beyond the print on white -robed druids asse m- open air school. The Bard the page. bled in daylight to perform tells a story, revives mem o- their ceremonies. Gardner ries of ancient myths, pr o- chose the secret moonlit vokes awareness of their rel e- Francis glades of skyclad witchcraft vance to the present day. covens. Yet even the n they There is dialogue between Cameron

TDNTDN THE DRUIDS VOICE PAGE 35 index of over 100 spells at tal formations are explained the back of the book for and there are sections on An Alphabet of quick reference. ways of healing with stones and how they work; making Spells simple jewellery wi thout Krystyna Boswell harming the stones; crystal by Elen Hawkes meditations including the (Llewellyn ISBN 0 -7387 - various layouts that maybe 0466 -0) used, and how to keep the crystals progra mmed to help Rather more interesting than Crystal you in your work. Written in some pocket -sized sp ell a clear, non -patronising ma n- books, covering everything Awareness ner this pocket -sized book is from inspiration through how as good a start as any for to improve minor health by Catherine those wanting to find out pro blems to dealing with more about the practical uses negative energies – including Bowman of crystals, es pecially for a very modern spell to pr o- healing. tect your mobile ‘phone! (ISBN 0 -87542 -058 -3) Ll e- wellyn, paperback) Krystyna Boswell Whilst you may use as many magical trappings as you like This little book is one of the to cast these spells, you can best I’ve read on the subject. Silver Moon also do them with very little Catherine Bowman demo n- in the way of practical assi s- strates a genuine respect for by Teresa Moorey crystals; definitely not a tance, the author suggesting (ISBN 0 -7126 -5715 -0 “coffee table” glossy full of you use simple everyday o b- Rider, £10.99, paperback) jects and herbs that can be pretty pictures and little else. There are, however, a nu m- found in the house, garden or And local shops, so you don’t ber of useful line drawings need a box full of special and and everything you should expensive par aphernalia. expect to find in a book of The Little Book of this type, starting with fin d- Thankfully no obviously daft ing and caring for your cry s- Moon Magic spells (old boyfriends won’t tals, the importance of reg u- become toads!) but some lar cleansing and how to pr o- by Teresa Moorey sound advice about spell gramme them properly. (ISBN 1 -8441 -3030 -4 cas ting is on hand, too, to r e- Rider, £2.99 paperback) mind you that magic is real. The author reminds the reader of environmental i m- Teresa Moorey’s prolific I liked the author’s view that pact of quarrying for stones – writing has prod uced two to bind someone from doing something I have not seen more books to add to her harm may not be ethical, in mentioned in very many growing catalogue of all that it ta kes their free will other crystal books - and things spiritual and magical. away, so to protect yourself su ggests finding an ethical from their bad intent is a be t- source of crystals, though Silver Moon is a full -sized ter way of dealing with their this may be difficult as many book rath er then a “guide to” bad vibes without bringing shops do not know where the and is actually a work on a s- you down to their level. The crystals were mine d or how trology, though you might spells are short and sweet, much care was taken in o b- not think so from looking at easy to follo w, and there’s an taining them. Different cry s- the cover as the sub -title (“your magical guide to

PAGEPAGE 36 THE DRUIDS VOICE TDN working with the Moon”) in some intriguing responses does not give any clue to this. Ovatic Arts Camp: to questions asked by the The book is well written and group. Geoff felt that the astrology is clearly a partic u- one woman’s me ssage Caitlin delivered to lar passion of the author’s. impressions him was very profound and Background information on had a great deal of meaning the astrological significance This year’s event was held for him. (It has since come of the Moon is given in a just outside Coleford in the true in an uncanny way). ma nner that doesn’t confuse; beautiful Forest of Dean. We Geoff’s final workshop was detailed descriptions of the arrived on Friday lunchtime, with Kris Hughes who spoke character of the 12 Moon pitching our tent just before on Welsh in Druidry and, cr u- signs are somewhat deeper the cloud s started to release cially, how to pronounce than many of the slimm er their burden. So far so good some of those tongue -twisting vo lumes on sale everywhere. (apart from an exploding ai r- Welsh words and names. bed, but that’s another story). Kris was very funny and the Moorey touches on subjects workshop erupted in f its of often ignored in other astr o- Next day I was working in the giggles every few minutes. logical books, giving advice Healing Tent. There was a on how to attune to the key steady stream of folks nee d- On Saturday most of the phases of the Moon; she o f- ing massages, crystal healing camp took part in an event to fers a delightful background and Reiki so the therapists celebrate the Circle of the on the various Moon myths, were kept very busy. I b e- Year. Ei ght groups of folk legends, gods and goddesses lieve the healing tent was a picked at random had a p- associated with the Moon. new innovation, and proved prox imately an hour to put The chapter entit led “Lunar very popular. together a performance rela t- Living” contains suggestions ing to one of the main fest i- for a Lunar medicine chest, Due to our late arrival we’d vals. The experience was from gardening in harmony already missed some wor k- bri lliant: so much creativity, with the Moon’s phases to shops but those we did attend innovation and improvisation. making y our own incense. were excellent. Geoff spent Every group worked hard to Bibliography and further two hours learning Shamanic produce something special; rea ding sections are most i n- dance with the inimitable fantastic costum es had been formative too. An interesting Gordon the Toad. I can’t r e- plucked out of thin air, mus i- and enlightening read. member the last time I saw so cal and dance performances much sparkle in Geoff’s eyes conjured up from the dust, The Little Book of Moon so it must have been good! and so much positive energy Magic, by contrast, is a wee We both attended a workshop exuded by everyone involved. handbag -sized volume co n- by Bobcat and Trudy on taining brief details of the Druidry and Sex, a very a c- As always the camp was well Moon’s phases, relationship tive workshop with a lot of run. The unique horsebox of Moon and tides, creating a input from attendees. We shower proved as popular as Moon altar and various little also attended Caitlin Ma t- ever, the sweatlodge attracted spells and rituals that can be thews’ fascinating workshop quite a crowd and the caterin g carried out at different phases on Celtic Divination. I’d not and ambience in the marquee of the Moon for love, healing heard Caitlin speak before was top notch. Overall, the and even deterring problem and didn’t know what to e x- Camp was an enjoyable e x- neighbours. A fun but useful pect but she was wonderful, perience and one that I would companion to the above. an inspirational speaker. To encourage others to try. close the workshop Caitlin Krystyna Boswell demonstrated a divination Krystyna Boswell method that involves her b e- coming a “channel”, resulting

TDNTDN THE DRUIDS VOICE PAGEPAGE 37 3 333 THETHE DRUIDSDRUIDS VOICEVOICE --- JOURNAL OF THE DRUID NETWORK

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PAGEPAGE 38 THE DRUIDS VOICE TDN work to benefit both the DruidCon, wider society and the env i- ro nment. And Steve Wi l- Glasgow, son's typically iconoclastic "Dru -Vid: The Lore of the 23rd August 2003. Trees", a wonderfully er u- dite, witty and occasionally As far as I know Caer Clud's barbed discourse on the DruidCon was the first Druid co nnections between mytho l- Conference to be held in Scotla nd ogy, folklore, tree -lore, and in modern times. For that matter, Druidry, with many an e n- it was probably the first large - te rtaining digression along IS PUBLISHED BY scale gathering of Druids in this the way. THE DRUID NETWORK TWICE YEARLY. country since a certain P ictish King most unwisely gave cr e- Later in the day there was a IT IS AVAILABLE AS THE dence to Colum the Dove, but very thoughtful, inclusive HOUSE JOURNAL OF THE let's not dwell on past mistakes. and participative ritual, and DRUID NETWORK OR BY SU B- From the moment you walked the co nference drew to a SCRIPTION., AND IS AVAI L- into the rather impressive e n- close with superb and very ABLE IN PAPER AND ON LINE trance hall of the Glasgow Un i- different gifts of music & (PDF) VERSIONS. ve rsity Union and climbed the song from Damh the Bard stairs to the Debates Chamber & and Doug Peters. So war m- FOR DETAILS OF THE ME M- the Bridie Library, it was obvious est thanks and congratul a- BERSHIP RATES FOR JOINING that the organisers, Pauline Ke n- tions to Caer Clud for ma k- THE DRUID NETWORK AS E I- nedy Allan & Ann Rankin, had ing DruidCon such an i n- THER A REGULAR OR PAPER been hard at work for many spi ring and enjoyable gat h- FREE MEMBER, OR FOR THE months in preparation. Nothing ering. Broad, heavy, SUBSCRIPTION RATES FOR was left to chance - even the t a- pointed, and persistent hints TDV ALONE PLEASE WRITE bles were wearing white robes as are already being dropped, TO THE TDN AND TDV befitted the Druidical theme! where Pauline & Ann ca n- OFFICE AT not but trip over them, that 88 GROSVENOR ROAD DruidCon brought together an this should be but the first DUDLEY impressive array of speakers from of what would be a most DY3 2PR a range of Druid groups and we lcome regular addition to UK bac kgrounds - Geoff Boswell, the Scottish Pagan scene. ALWAYS ENCLOSING AN SSAE, Ceri Lee, Steve Wilson, Maddy OR EMAIL Johnson, Louise Turner, David John [email protected] Morgan Brown and Geo Tr e- OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT varthen. I didn't manage to hear www.dru idnetwork.org all of them by any means but Macintyre thought two particularly memor a- THE DRUIDS VOICE IS ALSO ble. These were: Geoff Boswell's AVAILABLE FROM SELECTED impressive and impassioned plea SHOPS AND STORES. IF YOU for greater commitment to Following the success of WISH YOUR LOCAL SHOP TO "Community Druidry". Geoff a r- Druid 2002 in Stourbridge, STOCK COPIES OF THE DR U- gued that those who saw Druidry and DruidCon 2003 in Gla s- IDS VOICE OR ANY OTHER purely in terms of ritual obse r- gow, Geoff Boswell may o r- TDN PUBLICATION THEN vance and personal spiritual d e- ganise an event in Stou r- PLEASE ASK THEM TO CO N- ve lopment were missing the bridge during early August. TACT US FOR RETAIL RATES point. There was a pressing need All enquiries to the editorial (MINIMUM RETAIL ORDER OF for Druids - and other Pagans – to address . TDV IS 10 COPIES). engage in hands -on, practical

TDNTDN THE DRUIDS VOICE PAGE 39 TheThe Lammas Games 2004 Saturday 7 August 2004 : noon til midnight Braziers Park, Wallingford, Oxfordshire

Trad games from cheese hurling to panto-horse racing, Morris dancing … demos of armoury Stav, smithying, bodging iron age re-enactment, archery, birds of prey, wolves … stalls selling all you’d ever need, real ale bar, great food café … Enter our Eisteddfod contest of Bardic arts: win the Lammas Seat Staff … Stay late for premier bands from the Pagan music scene … CELEBRATE LAMMAS and the abundance of A ticket-only event the harvest at our Numbers are limited. CHARITY TICKETS FUNDRAISER! Adult (non-members) £10

TDN and CoA members £8 This year’s charities are: Concessions £8 - The Woodland Trust Children (5-16) £5 - Peace Direct Camping Saturday night : £5 pp - Compassion in World Farming Tickets available online from Jan 2004 from: http://druidnetwork.org http://www.witchcraft.org or with SAE (cheques payable to Children of Artemis) Children of Artemis BM Artemis, London, WC1N 3XX

FFI or stall holder info Co-organized by CONTACT: [email protected]

The Druid Network Children of Artemis Artwork donated by Deborah Holman, http://www.deborah-holman.co.uk