Issue:Samhain Date: 2006 Quarterly News Editorial Charity Registration Update The last three months have been an extraordinary time. On 3 October TDN Committee met with two legal representatives Although here we are composing and publishing the Newsletter of the Charity Commission at their Liverpool Offi ce. As for Samhain, in the country of the country the only leaves that expected, no clear decision was reached at the meeting, however have turned and beginning to fall are the horse chestnuts, the it was possible to establish clearly which areas are causing poplars and the fi rst of the maple. Warm days may feel easier concern and thus delaying their approval of our application. It for those who fi nd the British winters a challenge, but many of was obvious that they have no frame of reference for Druidry as us are disturbed by it. Our rites over the calendrical Samhain, as a religious practice: we don’t neatly fi t into any of their boxes, this moon waxes and we light our bonfi res, will be very much an and established Common Law is mainly monotheistic. invocation to the frost gods, to those of winter, to come to cleanse TDN Committee had spent many weeks preparing the land, hardening the mud and killing back the growth. our case for the meeting, and it soon became clear that they With heavy messy growth still all around, the process had not. While we were ready with in-depth answers to all of autumn’s release, that allows us the quiet emptiness and dark their arguments, again and again they revealed lack of clarity of winter, is harder than usual. Yet Samhain’s chaos is certainly and direction, unable to explain their uncertainty. At times, we with us! Jamie Magpie Wiseman has resigned from the Learning almost felt sorry for them, they were clearly in such uncharted Pages, which will be taken on by myself and various assistants territory – and fl oundering. until a new full time co-ordinator comes on board. Susan Warren The meeting ended with us asserting our intention to is taking over co-ordination of the Sacred Sites project area, pursue registration, as a charitable organisation promoting the with ideas for an indepth study of Druid deity and how we create religion of Druidry. We agreed to supply further information; sacred space. Susan hs also been redoing the Order of the Yew they agreed to look more closely at what we had supplied to webpages, clarifying the purpose of the Order as the heart of them at the meeting. We parted on good terms, both parties TDN. News on changes in the Forums and the website as a having learned much from the other. whole is also in this edition. The Mistletoe Foundation pages Phil Ryder have a new webmaster, Caerthan Wrack, and this we hope will TDN Committee stimulate a new burst of creativity in that direction. Samhain Sonnet With Angela Kestrel Grant stepping aside from much of her TDN work, including the Committee, we have a new And so the wheel returns to Samhain stark Committee team: as well as Phil Ryder, Susan Warren and A time of leaf-fall and the last descent myself, we welcome Mark Bish Rosher and Bill Oakwyse Of stick-tree landscape turned back to the dark Melnyk, bringing the team back up to fi ve. And warmer times recalled like sad Lament. We wish you each a little stillness through the chaos Lugh’s golden corpse seems frozen when above and change of Samhain, and a beautiful cold winter! And warmth has come indoors as death’s veil nears. Emma Bobcat Restall Orr A time to think of those now passed we loved TDN Head This is no time for falsely holding tears. New Website Migration Dates But after tears must come frivolity For we still live and Summer shall return The support team, led by Jamie Magpie Wiseman, have been So let there be misrule and anarchy working hard to set up a new system for our website and we are For this short time come let the bonfi res burn! almost ready to implement those changes. Each one of us returns to Ceridwen Although in the early days you will only notice minor For that is how we come to live again. changes, such as better menus, the change does mean that we will be in a really strong position to do some interesting things Cursuswalker in the future. At the same time it will also become much easier for those who are less technically minded to become actively Affi liated Groups and Groves involved in the growth and development of the website. In other This area continues to grow and offer inspiration to folk form words, making web pages will be a much simpler process! all around the world. We currently have 26 groves affi liated The transfer of the website from the old to the new will from Britain, and affi liations from Ireland, France, Netherlands take place over the weekend of 25 - 26 November. During this and Spain as well as 10 from the USA and 6 from Oceania. In weekend, project co-ordinators will be unable to edit their web addition to Groves, we have 6 Gorseddau and 7 Orders affi liated. pages, and website users may well fi nd a few technical hitches. Enquiries from Groves and individuals seeking to make contact By the Monday, we are confi dent that whole system will be with a local grove are received regularly and confi rm the thriving running smoothly. Thank you for your patience during this time worldwide diversity and community that is modern Druidry. of transition. There are plans in place to offer even more benefi ts for Once the changes have taken place, we’d be inter- affi liating. If you are interested, please contact me through the ested to hear your comments. Let us know at the offi ce, or on offi ce or on [email protected]. [email protected]. Christine Vixen Cleere David Orr Groves and Affi liate Groups on the Web Co-ordinator Web Manager All Change at the Forum The Order of the Yew at Kingley Vale Jamie Magpie Wiseman together with Rhapsody Earth have Eight members of the Order of the Yew gathered at Kingley Vale resigned from their positions on the Forum Team; they feel in September for ritual under the ancient yews of the valley. they need to pour their creative energy into other areas of their Many other members joined us in spirit and the time Druidry, especially in their local area. We’d like to express our spent together was rich with inspiration and sharing for all who thanks for their past contribution and commitment and wish them gathered. With time spent in private meditation and communion well in their future endeavours. As a result, the Network has an with the trees and spirits of the forest, there was also opportunity opportunity to review the running of the Forums as a whole. for individuals to affirm their commitment and service to the Druidry - each in their own way, seeking inspiration from the The Forums have been an important part of the Druid Network, gods and spirits of the place. providing a community for those who feel comfortable on the For those who haven’t been, Kingley Vale is a web and also for those who do not have not have the opportu- profoundly beautiful, powerful place. It is the largest ancient nity to be a part of a local grove, gorsedd or other Druid group. Yew woodland in Europe, just near Chichester. However, there have been an increasing number of complaints Well worth a special trip. concerning voices within the Forum Community that are louder, Susan Warren more aggressive, less accepting or respectful than is honourable. Administrator for the Order of the Yew While this is not an uncommon situation within group environ- ments, it is not acceptable. This is not simply about working Reviews to ensure we have an organization that is supportive and where The Celtic Oracle members engage with each other with respect, interest, com- Published by Lo Scarabeo, Invented by Giordano Berti passion and honour, but is a desire to be a better expression of ISBN 0-7387-1016-4 : US price $12.95 / UK around £6.97 Druidry as a whole. We are thus taking this opportunity to see if it might be Publisher: The Celtic Oracle explores Celtic magic and this possible to adjust the tone of the Forums as a whole. We do not fascinating culture, in particular the ancient Celts of Ireland and want to stifle debate in any way, and moderation or guardianship the islands. Inspired by Celtic legend, this larger-than-average of the space will still be gentle. However, the code of honour that deck bears symbols and icons significant to their unique history. holds the Druid Network’s aims in place will be more promi- nent. It is our vision that members of the Network should engage Review by Trish: This deck has 22 tall slim cards. They are not with each other, with respect for each other’s views, respect for too big and clumsy, even for folk like me they are easy to shuffle! the tradition in its diversity, and ensuring that each person is a The cards are based on the Taliesin poem ‘Cad Goddeau’ (The sound representative of Druidry through their expression of that Battle of the Trees). I am no expert on the works of Taliesin honour.