We've just acquired a nice shiny new nylon stringed guitar.
If anyone would like (free to good home) our old full-sized steel-stringed guitar, please let us know!
Ta very much
Wednesday 17 December 2008
Wednesday 10 December 2008
December Announcements
Good Morning y'all and I hope everyone's recovering from their various lurgies. Is there anyone (apart from Rowan) who isn't ill at the moment? It's an epidemic I tells ya!
Anyway, last night's quiz went rather well, with the fascinating addition of picture rounds courtesy of Womble and Spike. The winner was the amazing Gillian/Sara gestalt (because Sara had completely lost the power of speech last night)
Here is the news - bong!
The next two moots will be:
On 13th Jan we'll be having a pot-luck games night. Please bring a game or a suggest one and we'll vote and play the favourite(s). Naked Twister with baby oil has already been vetoed. (boo! Shame!)
On 10th Feb Daniel will be taking over with a talk/discussion entitled "Reality Bomb". Don't ask me, I don't know either, but I'm fascinated.
Some other things:
As well as being Yule day, 21st Dec is also Global Orgasm Day! I think this is fantastic, it's sex magick on a worldwide scale. The idea is for as many people as possible across the whole world to have an orgasm at exactly the same time thus providing a massive release of positive, joyous energy into the world in one big pulse!
You can find out more here. Unfortunately it's timed between 11am and 1pm GMT, which is a bit awkward, but if your timing's slightly off, well never mind. Every little helps and it's hardly a chore!
We will be having our Wassail party on Sat 17th Jan. For those who've never done this, we bless the apple trees by spraying them with cider and chanting a daft poem. And then we've got to drink lots more cider (No really, it's the law.). Don't forget your hat!
Fri 23rd January will be Seánie's birthday trip to ARA. Please do come along and help me goth it up and pretend I'm young and skinny again! Here's a link to ARA for anyone who doesn't know about it yet.
Some future plans
The March moot has been claimed by Bridget, but after that we're clear until November and open to suggestions. If you want to take over a Moot, or request something particular, please tell us and we'll see what we can get organised.
On that subject, we're considering a couple ourselves: a music night and a poetry night. The poetry Moot would be a bring-your-own, rather than bring-a-favourite.
The thinking behind the music Moot is that we get the musicians amongst us to do a short talk or demo about their particular thing (drums, songwriting, classical violin, folk music, world flutes etc) and then see if we can do a whole group jam session. The neighbours don't like us anyway.
I'm also considering a local history field trip to Radcliffe Tower and its environs. This would happen during the day, one weekend vaguely around Bealtaine.
The response last night was positive for these ideas, but we still want to know what you think or if you have any ideas of your own. Ah, go on. You know you want to!
And finally
Womble is considering a trip to the Clun Green Man Festival, and would like to see if we can do it en masse - sharing cars and suchlike. Have a look at it here and let us know what you think.
I think that's it - hoorah! If we don't see you before then have an excellent Yule and an even better New Year and we'll see you in January.
Love,
Seán
Anyway, last night's quiz went rather well, with the fascinating addition of picture rounds courtesy of Womble and Spike. The winner was the amazing Gillian/Sara gestalt (because Sara had completely lost the power of speech last night)
Here is the news - bong!
The next two moots will be:
On 13th Jan we'll be having a pot-luck games night. Please bring a game or a suggest one and we'll vote and play the favourite(s). Naked Twister with baby oil has already been vetoed. (boo! Shame!)
On 10th Feb Daniel will be taking over with a talk/discussion entitled "Reality Bomb". Don't ask me, I don't know either, but I'm fascinated.
Some other things:
As well as being Yule day, 21st Dec is also Global Orgasm Day! I think this is fantastic, it's sex magick on a worldwide scale. The idea is for as many people as possible across the whole world to have an orgasm at exactly the same time thus providing a massive release of positive, joyous energy into the world in one big pulse!
You can find out more here. Unfortunately it's timed between 11am and 1pm GMT, which is a bit awkward, but if your timing's slightly off, well never mind. Every little helps and it's hardly a chore!
We will be having our Wassail party on Sat 17th Jan. For those who've never done this, we bless the apple trees by spraying them with cider and chanting a daft poem. And then we've got to drink lots more cider (No really, it's the law.). Don't forget your hat!
Fri 23rd January will be Seánie's birthday trip to ARA. Please do come along and help me goth it up and pretend I'm young and skinny again! Here's a link to ARA for anyone who doesn't know about it yet.
Some future plans
The March moot has been claimed by Bridget, but after that we're clear until November and open to suggestions. If you want to take over a Moot, or request something particular, please tell us and we'll see what we can get organised.
On that subject, we're considering a couple ourselves: a music night and a poetry night. The poetry Moot would be a bring-your-own, rather than bring-a-favourite.
The thinking behind the music Moot is that we get the musicians amongst us to do a short talk or demo about their particular thing (drums, songwriting, classical violin, folk music, world flutes etc) and then see if we can do a whole group jam session. The neighbours don't like us anyway.
I'm also considering a local history field trip to Radcliffe Tower and its environs. This would happen during the day, one weekend vaguely around Bealtaine.
The response last night was positive for these ideas, but we still want to know what you think or if you have any ideas of your own. Ah, go on. You know you want to!
And finally
Womble is considering a trip to the Clun Green Man Festival, and would like to see if we can do it en masse - sharing cars and suchlike. Have a look at it here and let us know what you think.
I think that's it - hoorah! If we don't see you before then have an excellent Yule and an even better New Year and we'll see you in January.
Love,
Seán
Monday 17 November 2008
December Quiz Heads-Up!
Hi Everybody,
I've decided to base my quiz questions this year on the Cretan demi-goddess, Ariadne.
That's her in this excellent picture by Chaz Truog.
Normally I wouldn't bother to warn people, but in this case there's going to be one person who'll have an serious advantage.
Fair's fair, after all. We want someone else to win our wine!
Love,
Seán
Wednesday 12 November 2008
November Announcements
Firstly - thanks to everyone who brought a story to share last night, we had an interesting and eclectic mix as always!
The Next Few Moots
Tuesday 9th December will be our annual quiz. Bring along 5 questions on your pet topic (vaguely Pagan-related please) - with answers. One point will be awarded for each correct answer and the winner will get a bottle of our (in)famous homebrewed wine. Standing joke - the loser gets two bottles, har-de-har har.
Tuesday 13th January will be a games moot. In the past we've had Therapy, Scruples and Revelations (an astrology based game) If you have any suggestions for a game to play please let us know. Don't worry guys and gals, I've already vetoed Twister with Baby Oil.
February's Moot (10th Feb) has been claimed by Daniel, and the topic is Reality Bomb!
March's Moot (10th March) has been claimed by Bridget, for a talk on the feast of Esther and Purim.
Other Stuff
Saturday 29th November - Helen's birthday party. for details, please get in touch with Daniel & Helen, or contact us and we'll pass your number on to them.
Monday 1st December will be the Pagan Wheel Moot's Annual Quiz (we nicked the idea from them!) The Pagan Wheel Moot is held at the Waldorf pub on Gore Street, Manchester from 8pm
Friday 14th November: Our very own Rapunzel's folk band Twa Corbies will be on the radio! They're on Oldham Community Radio on their sounds of folk programme at 7pm, tune in (99.7FM) or listen online.
Also, there will be a folk music club starting up in January at the Railway pub in Bromley Cross - they'll be featuring some big name artists each month, including Martin McCarthy in June.
From Saturday 15th November there will be a photo exhibition of Industrial Landscapes at the Lowry - entry is free
And finally
Congratulations to our beloved Joanna & Paul on the birth of their baby girl on 31 October - a very auspicious date indeed!
Love to all
Sara & Seán
The Next Few Moots
Tuesday 9th December will be our annual quiz. Bring along 5 questions on your pet topic (vaguely Pagan-related please) - with answers. One point will be awarded for each correct answer and the winner will get a bottle of our (in)famous homebrewed wine. Standing joke - the loser gets two bottles, har-de-har har.
Tuesday 13th January will be a games moot. In the past we've had Therapy, Scruples and Revelations (an astrology based game) If you have any suggestions for a game to play please let us know. Don't worry guys and gals, I've already vetoed Twister with Baby Oil.
February's Moot (10th Feb) has been claimed by Daniel, and the topic is Reality Bomb!
March's Moot (10th March) has been claimed by Bridget, for a talk on the feast of Esther and Purim.
Other Stuff
Saturday 29th November - Helen's birthday party. for details, please get in touch with Daniel & Helen, or contact us and we'll pass your number on to them.
Monday 1st December will be the Pagan Wheel Moot's Annual Quiz (we nicked the idea from them!) The Pagan Wheel Moot is held at the Waldorf pub on Gore Street, Manchester from 8pm
Friday 14th November: Our very own Rapunzel's folk band Twa Corbies will be on the radio! They're on Oldham Community Radio on their sounds of folk programme at 7pm, tune in (99.7FM) or listen online.
Also, there will be a folk music club starting up in January at the Railway pub in Bromley Cross - they'll be featuring some big name artists each month, including Martin McCarthy in June.
From Saturday 15th November there will be a photo exhibition of Industrial Landscapes at the Lowry - entry is free
And finally
Congratulations to our beloved Joanna & Paul on the birth of their baby girl on 31 October - a very auspicious date indeed!
Love to all
Sara & Seán
Monday 20 October 2008
Update - HELP!
Firebug needed - apply within.
Hi All.
Due to a slight miscalculation on our part we've realised that our costumes are going to make it all but impossible for us to light and maintain the Samhain bonfire. Oops!
Consequently we're looking for someone to be the official Party Pyromaniac, which might mean coming a little earlier to get it going and then keeping it fed throughout the night.
Could anyone who wants the job please apply in writing, blog comment, email, text message, phone call, MySpace message, Facebook message, talking drum, psychic vibration or just plain tell us.
In return we'll love you forever, give you food and drinks - and you get to play with fire!
Thanks!
Love,
Seán
Thursday 16 October 2008
October Announcements.
Sorry I'm a tad tardy with this update, boys and girls (and all stages in between). Not been too well don'cha know. Anyway:
The Next Two Moots:
Our annual storytelling Moot will be held on Tu 11th November.
For those who've never done this before the premise is very simple - bring a story! It can be someone else's or one you've written yourself, it can be well known or obscure, it can be modern or incredibly ancient. All we ask is that it takes no more than ten minutes in the telling and that it's vaguely Pagan-related.
Our annual quiz will be on Tu 9th Dec this year. This is how it works:
Everybody needs to bring five questions on their pet topic (with five answers, duh!). We then go around the room in turn asking our questions and answering everyone else's. When we've done that we go around again giving the answers and checking our own.
One point per correct answer, the winner gets a bottle of our home-brewed wine! (Trad joke, "Second prize - two bottles!" Hoho!)
Other Stuff
Our pal Andrea is having her housewarming party on Sat 25th October. Anyone who hasn't had their invite and wants to go and marvel at how young her boyfriend looks should contact us and we'll pass the message on.
Our own SAMHAIN FANCY-DRESS PARTY is on Saturday 1st November. The theme is Myths and Legends, which gives you plenty to work on. Be there or be square, and here's a teaser for encouragement - the details of Sara's costume are a state secret, but I can tell you all now: it's exceptional! Really. I mean it. I mean, mine's pretty good but her's is just. . .
On Monday 3rd Nov, our chum Martin Singer will be giving a talk on Odinism at the Pagan Wheel in Manchester. It's from 8pm at the Waldorf on Gore Street, near Piccadilly. There's a nominal charge for the room so please take a little extra cash.
Our friend Anne, the "Lawyer Girl", is having a fireworks party at her house on Sat 8th Nov, anytime from 5pm until people go home. Again, if your invitation has somehow not got to you, contact us and we'll pass on the message.
And now my favourite subject, bare naked ladies! The Coven in Wigan is producing a Witchy Nude Calendar to sell in the shop. The photo shoot will be during the day on Sun 9th Nov. Contact the Coven for more information. Sorry boys, it's a girls-only do (at least at the moment).
And Some Advanced Notices
On Sat 29th Nov our small-and-perfectly formed friend Helen the Audio Pixie will be having her birthday party. I'm far too much of a gentleman to say which birthday, but I do believe it's one of those milestone ones. The venue is Daniel and Helen's house. Bring an instrument! (Trust me, I forgot at the last do - never again!)
Finally, Jonathan (sp?) has told us that the Pagan Wheel's annual quiz will be on Monday 1st Dec, venue as above. He says that he's writing the questions himself this year, but he promises to be nice!
And, unless I'm less than my usual perfect self who never, ever makes mistakes or forgets things, th-th-th-th-that's all folks!
Love and inconvenient thespianism,
Seán
The Next Two Moots:
Our annual storytelling Moot will be held on Tu 11th November.
For those who've never done this before the premise is very simple - bring a story! It can be someone else's or one you've written yourself, it can be well known or obscure, it can be modern or incredibly ancient. All we ask is that it takes no more than ten minutes in the telling and that it's vaguely Pagan-related.
Our annual quiz will be on Tu 9th Dec this year. This is how it works:
Everybody needs to bring five questions on their pet topic (with five answers, duh!). We then go around the room in turn asking our questions and answering everyone else's. When we've done that we go around again giving the answers and checking our own.
One point per correct answer, the winner gets a bottle of our home-brewed wine! (Trad joke, "Second prize - two bottles!" Hoho!)
Other Stuff
Our pal Andrea is having her housewarming party on Sat 25th October. Anyone who hasn't had their invite and wants to go and marvel at how young her boyfriend looks should contact us and we'll pass the message on.
Our own SAMHAIN FANCY-DRESS PARTY is on Saturday 1st November. The theme is Myths and Legends, which gives you plenty to work on. Be there or be square, and here's a teaser for encouragement - the details of Sara's costume are a state secret, but I can tell you all now: it's exceptional! Really. I mean it. I mean, mine's pretty good but her's is just. . .
On Monday 3rd Nov, our chum Martin Singer will be giving a talk on Odinism at the Pagan Wheel in Manchester. It's from 8pm at the Waldorf on Gore Street, near Piccadilly. There's a nominal charge for the room so please take a little extra cash.
Our friend Anne, the "Lawyer Girl", is having a fireworks party at her house on Sat 8th Nov, anytime from 5pm until people go home. Again, if your invitation has somehow not got to you, contact us and we'll pass on the message.
And now my favourite subject, bare naked ladies! The Coven in Wigan is producing a Witchy Nude Calendar to sell in the shop. The photo shoot will be during the day on Sun 9th Nov. Contact the Coven for more information. Sorry boys, it's a girls-only do (at least at the moment).
And Some Advanced Notices
On Sat 29th Nov our small-and-perfectly formed friend Helen the Audio Pixie will be having her birthday party. I'm far too much of a gentleman to say which birthday, but I do believe it's one of those milestone ones. The venue is Daniel and Helen's house. Bring an instrument! (Trust me, I forgot at the last do - never again!)
Finally, Jonathan (sp?) has told us that the Pagan Wheel's annual quiz will be on Monday 1st Dec, venue as above. He says that he's writing the questions himself this year, but he promises to be nice!
And, unless I'm less than my usual perfect self who never, ever makes mistakes or forgets things, th-th-th-th-that's all folks!
Love and inconvenient thespianism,
Seán
Wednesday 10 September 2008
September Announcements
Good morning everybody, and thank you to Bridget for an enlightening and sometimes controversial talk on sexual and gender attitudes in Paganism and the wider society. I particularly liked the little penis on legs (you had to be there!).
Anyway, here are the Announcements for September:
The Next Two Moots
Tues 14th Oct will be taken by our own hostess and all-round wonder woman, Sara (Losing the Thread). She'll be having us all decorating candles (and yes, Spike, you can light them!)
Tues 11th Nov will be our annual storytelling moot. For those who've never done this before it's pretty straightforward - you bring a story! Any story will do, be it myth, fiction, personal history, Mr Men - whatever. Please keep it to a maximum of ten minutes, though, so everyone gets a chance.
Forthcoming Events
We will be holding our annual Bramble Ramble on Sat 13th Sep this year. We'll be doing a longish walk to Springwater Park, picking blackberries (or whatever else you may fancy) on the way. We'll have a teatime picnic in the park and then come back here for a civilised evening of drinkies and nibbles. Meet up at our house at 3pm and bring decent shoes - it's a fair walk.
Daniel (Astral Pilgrim) and Helen (Audio Pixie) will be hosting their Equinox party on Sat 20th Sep, from about 8-ish pm at their house. The theme is Come As You Were, so if you can still fit that New Romantic shirt, or (dare I say it?) shell suit, you've got it sussed. Please contact D&H yourself for details or, if you can't, contact us and we'll put you in touch.
Also thanks to Womble (Womble's Rants) for this: there's a folk night (normally a join-in-where-you-can type) every Friday night at the Full Circle Folk Club, in the Parkside Hotel in Prestwich (on Bury New Road facing Heaton Park). Feeling musical? That's the place to be.
(I must have missed my vocation, should have been an advertising exec.)
Looking Ahead
Our annual Samhain party is coming up. It will be on Saturday 1st November, and this year's theme is Myth and Legend. Interpret that how you will - the more imagination the better. I wonder if anyone's brave enough to come as the Roman Diana - at least the costume would be cheap!
Finally.
As a slight aside, if anyone has a stand-alone electric cooker going begging please let us know. Or alternatively, Womble or Spike (Spike's Mutterings). It's not for us, it's for Spike who's in a new flat with nowt to cook on. It's just not the same, living on jam butties!
And definitely lastly! Alan made an announcement towards the end of last night, but I'd had several glasses of plonk by then and I can't remember what he said (This is why we write things down, Seán, you dozy winesack!). As soon as I find out I'll update us, unless you know and can tell me.
Love,
Seán
P.S.
It's like a remake of Airplane! Did you have the guacamole? Emrys did and he doesn't feel terribly well right now. Not well at all!
"There's no reason to become alarmed, and we hope you'll enjoy the rest of your flight. By the way, is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane? "
Anyway, here are the Announcements for September:
The Next Two Moots
Tues 14th Oct will be taken by our own hostess and all-round wonder woman, Sara (Losing the Thread). She'll be having us all decorating candles (and yes, Spike, you can light them!)
Tues 11th Nov will be our annual storytelling moot. For those who've never done this before it's pretty straightforward - you bring a story! Any story will do, be it myth, fiction, personal history, Mr Men - whatever. Please keep it to a maximum of ten minutes, though, so everyone gets a chance.
Forthcoming Events
We will be holding our annual Bramble Ramble on Sat 13th Sep this year. We'll be doing a longish walk to Springwater Park, picking blackberries (or whatever else you may fancy) on the way. We'll have a teatime picnic in the park and then come back here for a civilised evening of drinkies and nibbles. Meet up at our house at 3pm and bring decent shoes - it's a fair walk.
Daniel (Astral Pilgrim) and Helen (Audio Pixie) will be hosting their Equinox party on Sat 20th Sep, from about 8-ish pm at their house. The theme is Come As You Were, so if you can still fit that New Romantic shirt, or (dare I say it?) shell suit, you've got it sussed. Please contact D&H yourself for details or, if you can't, contact us and we'll put you in touch.
Also thanks to Womble (Womble's Rants) for this: there's a folk night (normally a join-in-where-you-can type) every Friday night at the Full Circle Folk Club, in the Parkside Hotel in Prestwich (on Bury New Road facing Heaton Park). Feeling musical? That's the place to be.
(I must have missed my vocation, should have been an advertising exec.)
Looking Ahead
Our annual Samhain party is coming up. It will be on Saturday 1st November, and this year's theme is Myth and Legend. Interpret that how you will - the more imagination the better. I wonder if anyone's brave enough to come as the Roman Diana - at least the costume would be cheap!
Finally.
As a slight aside, if anyone has a stand-alone electric cooker going begging please let us know. Or alternatively, Womble or Spike (Spike's Mutterings). It's not for us, it's for Spike who's in a new flat with nowt to cook on. It's just not the same, living on jam butties!
And definitely lastly! Alan made an announcement towards the end of last night, but I'd had several glasses of plonk by then and I can't remember what he said (This is why we write things down, Seán, you dozy winesack!). As soon as I find out I'll update us, unless you know and can tell me.
Love,
Seán
P.S.
It's like a remake of Airplane! Did you have the guacamole? Emrys did and he doesn't feel terribly well right now. Not well at all!
"There's no reason to become alarmed, and we hope you'll enjoy the rest of your flight. By the way, is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane? "
Wednesday 27 August 2008
Samhain Party
After much discussion and consideration, we've decided on the theme of this year's Samhain Fancy Dress Party.
It'll be Myth & Legend (including Gods and Goddesses for those who fancied redoing the Deity Do).
So now you know!
Feel free to get as creative as you like deciding on your costumes!
Love,
Sara
It'll be Myth & Legend (including Gods and Goddesses for those who fancied redoing the Deity Do).
So now you know!
Feel free to get as creative as you like deciding on your costumes!
Love,
Sara
Saturday 16 August 2008
Linda's Book - plug plug
Linda Sever has a book coming out soon which sounds really interesting.
It's called:
Lancashire's Sacred Landscape: From Prehistory to the Viking Age
Edited by Linda Sever.
It includes a gazetteer of prehistoric sites in Lancashire, a list of pre-Christian place-names and their meanings (this chapter is by Sara Vernon, who did a talk on this subject at the Moot prior to completing this chapter), information on Anglo Saxon and Viking age stone sculptures, and where to find them - and a tour of local fairy and boggart sites. Other contributors include Nick Ford (Ribchester), Aidan Turner-Bishop (Fairy and Boggart Sites), John Lamb (Gazetteer of Prehistoric Sites), Heather Rawlin-Cushing and Derek Berryman (Norse Myths in Stone)
Please email the publishers to find out when the book is coming out - Linda says that the more people mither them about it, the sooner it will be published. You can get in touch with them at sales@thehistorypress.co.uk
If you want to know anything else about the book, you can get in touch with Linda at lsever@uclan.ac.uk
It's called:
Lancashire's Sacred Landscape: From Prehistory to the Viking Age
Edited by Linda Sever.
It includes a gazetteer of prehistoric sites in Lancashire, a list of pre-Christian place-names and their meanings (this chapter is by Sara Vernon, who did a talk on this subject at the Moot prior to completing this chapter), information on Anglo Saxon and Viking age stone sculptures, and where to find them - and a tour of local fairy and boggart sites. Other contributors include Nick Ford (Ribchester), Aidan Turner-Bishop (Fairy and Boggart Sites), John Lamb (Gazetteer of Prehistoric Sites), Heather Rawlin-Cushing and Derek Berryman (Norse Myths in Stone)
Please email the publishers to find out when the book is coming out - Linda says that the more people mither them about it, the sooner it will be published. You can get in touch with them at sales@thehistorypress.co.uk
If you want to know anything else about the book, you can get in touch with Linda at lsever@uclan.ac.uk
Wednesday 13 August 2008
August Announcements
Hi all and thanks to Linda (hotfoot from Greymare camp) for a most informative look at North European goddesses last night. We learned, we shared, we made cheesy statements on the blog!King Puck didn't cause much trouble either, apart from hiding Spiky's Blackberry.
Announcing!
Anyway - to the announcements. The next two Moots go something like this:
Tues 9th Sept: We will be treated to a fascinating-sounding talk by Bridget entitled Weird Gender Magick Shit (I kid you not!)
Tues 14th Oct: Our own hostess, Sara will be leading us in an evening of candle decorating.
And there's more. Lots more in fact (with thanks to Womble for most of 'em)
For those who like a bit of a fiddle (ooer, missus!) there's a local folk night every Friday at the Full Circle Folk Club, Parkside Hotel, Prestwich. Here's a link so the pub can be found.
On Fri 22nd August there will be a music night at The Coven in Wigan. There's a £5 charge for this but it all goes to charity.
On Sat and Sun 23rd and 24th August Saddleworth will hold its annual, ancient and traditional Rushcart Festival. Morris Men, ale and gurning - what more could one need?
Tues 26th August has the Chorley Moot at the Sir Henry Tate Pub. No more details than that I'm afraid, but there's an email address on this page.
And now we come to ARA! (This is favouritism on my part but, frankly I'm writing this stuff when good boys ought to be in bed, so I don't care! Nah nah ne nah nah!)
On Friday 29th August we are planning a glamorous night of gothing-it-up at ARA and anyone who wants to join us would be most welcome. It's possibly the coolest night out ever and they don't even preach at you at all! All the details can be found at ARA's site.
And into September. . .
Monday 1st has it's usual clash of Moots. The Bolton Moot, at the Hen & Chickens, really needs some support; but at the same time the Manchester Pagan Wheel (Waldorf Hotel, Gore St) has a talk on Witchcraft and Wicca by none other than the Wigan Wiccan and High Priestess Extraordinaire herself, Joan Withington. Hell, you decide!
Looking ahead.
Okay, these are after the next Moot, but forewarned is forearmed. So. . .
Our annual Bramble Ramble will be held on Sat 13th Sep this year. Previously we've had a lunchtime do but this year we're trying a change. We're going to meet up at our house at 3pm and walk to Springwater Park in Whitefield - picking as we go - for a tea-time picnic. After which, we'll head back home for drinks and nibbles in the evening. Kids and well-behaved animals (even Spike!) welcome.
Wear good shoes, it's quite a long walk!
On the evening of Sat 20th Sep, our lovely pals Daniel (Astral Pilgrim) and Helen (Audio Pixie) will be holding an Equinox party. The theme is "come as you were", so if you can still fit into that sartorial faux pas from 1986 you're sorted! For further details contact Daniel through his blog with your own email address.
Lastly (phew!)
If anybody has a suggestion for this years Samhain Fancy-Dress Party, we'd love to hear it. One year I'm going to get my own way and have a skyclad evening - unless YOU can do something about it!
That's it. I'm knackered now!
Love,
Seán
Wednesday 30 July 2008
Otherworld
Some time ago, probably on 13th May (Daniel's moot on Welsh Mythology) we loaned out a home-taped video - "Otherworld".
We can't remember who borrowed it though!
If it's you that's got it, please can we have it back as there are other people waiting to borrow it. Please fetch it back at the next Moot (that gives you just under 2 weeks to watch it if you haven't already!)
From this month, we're also starting a Radcliffe Moot loans book, so we can hopefully keep track of who's got what (including what we've borrowed from our friends).
Thanks,
Sara
If it's you that's got it, please can we have it back as there are other people waiting to borrow it. Please fetch it back at the next Moot (that gives you just under 2 weeks to watch it if you haven't already!)
From this month, we're also starting a Radcliffe Moot loans book, so we can hopefully keep track of who's got what (including what we've borrowed from our friends).
Thanks,
Sara
Sunday 20 July 2008
A Grand Pagan Day Out
Yesterday I was at Pagancon in Preston (I know the name doesn't sound too good). My day got off to a shaky start - Linda, who was very kindly giving me and her friend Chris a lift was running late as Chris wasn't terribly well that morning. The journey there was fairly uneventful, a chance to catch up with one another's news.
Pagancon has been at the same venue for a few years now, at Preston Grasshoppers Rugby Club. It's run by Shared Earth - a group of Pagans in and around Preston (check out their Yahoo and Facebook groups). It's brilliant to arrive and see old friends that you don't really see for the rest of the year, greeting them as they arrive in dribs and drabs usually in time for the first talks and workshops and grockling at the stalls.
The stalls at Pagancon are usually really good, a great selection of goodies. This year was no different. I took my birthday money and a bit extra that I'd saved up and could have spent it all a couple of times over. There was Roo the Leathercarver with their excellent pouches, purses and belts. Auntie Joan from Wigan was there with her excellent ceramic statues. I nearly bought one of Pan for Seán that I'm sure he would have loved. Hedgewitch Handprints were back again with their brilliant Pagan T-shirts, bags and knickers (yes, you read that right!). There was beautiful jewellery from Lightray Silver and from Jools, goth and hippy clothes from The Coven, Linda's mate Chris with his hand-chosen and crafted wands and staves. There were bookstalls from New Aeon Books, plus second hand books from Little Wonder and Ken and Sandy Brock. Shared Earth also had a stall selling all manner of odd things, many of them made from bright coloured wool - neon dreamcatchers, pompom hairclips, and my favourite - hairfalls (I now have bright pink hairfalls for our next mad night out!). They also had little things like crystal trees, incense sticks and stuff as well.
There was a good range of talks and workshops too. Linda's was unfortunately short because other things had overrun and she needed to keep it brief so as not run over the main speaker's slot. The guest of honour was that Grande Dame of Witchcraft, Maxine Sanders. She and her husband Alex founded that branch of Wicca now known as Alexandrian Witchcraft.
Her talk was fascinating. She gave us an outline of her history, how she grew up and how she met Alex and began her magical career. Interestingly, she said she does not and never has considered herself to be a Pagan. She is an Occultist and pratitioner of the Craft. Most people today would consider Wicca to be a branch of Paganism as in the "all Wiccans are Pagans but not all Pagans are Wiccan" analogy to "All Catholics are Christian but not all Christians are Catholics".
I know a lot of people who have difficulty getting their heads round the idea that there are Wiccans who most emphatically do not consider themselves to be Pagan. Maxine Sanders position on this contrasts quite sharply with what Patricia Crowther (Grande Dame of Gardnerian Witchcraft) said at the PFNW conference a few years ago. I forget her exact words, but she seemed to consider that you were not Pagan at all unless you were an initiated Witch belonging to a coven that could trace it's initiatory lineage back to Gerald Gardner. If not, you're just someone who's heart is in the right place, trying to do the right thing. That got several people's backs up, mine included.
Maxine's talk was very clear, intelligently put and interesting. If you want to know more about her history in the Craft - she's just got a new book out. The talk was part of the publicity for this new book - clarifying, demystifying and debunking some of the mythology that continues to surround Alex Sanders and the beginnings of Alexandrian Witchcraft. It's called Firechild and should be available from any half-decent bookshop. New Aeon should definitely have it in stock!
Other talks were less good. I'm biased, but I found David Rietti's talk on Power to be dense and difficult to get. His assertion that power has to come from outside oneself, that as individual humans we have no intrinsic power to call upon is one I personally don't believe. He is of the opinion that all power we draw upon for magickal workings comes from outside; from angelic, demonic or elemental entities who have to be placated, cajoled, threatened and/or bribed. That the magician must "put on a show" in order to persuade said entities to allow us to use their power in our workings. And, moreover, that doing so reduces your own humanity over time.
Personally, I think if you're an arrogant, amoral, self-centred git to start with, then dealing with diabolical entities isn't really going to do you much more damage apart from giving you an excuse for being the way you are. "It's not my fault, the demons drained my humanity". Feck off.
Thorskegga's talk on Heathen Magic was interesting - she gave us an overview of the different forms of magic used by Heathens, the scandinavian, germanic and anglo-saxon tribes and those of us modern-day folks who are drawn to this branch of Paganism. She covered Seidr (what we now consider to be shamanic trance-workings and divination), Galdr (magical use of runes, rune-chanting and song-magic), the use of Fylgia (fetches, spirit animals) and curses. If I'm honest, although her stuff is interesting, it was overlong and could have done with better delivery. I imagine Thorskegga would do a fantastic workshop. I think her style would be better suited to a small group and tightly focused subject. I don't mean any disrespect to Thorskegga because I admire her deeply - she's lovely, a great woman and a good friend.
There were plenty of other talks and workshops, including one on Japanese samurai swords and armour from Mike Foster, a genuine enthusiast and collector who really knows his stuff. Kath Glover from New Aeon did a workshop on Haitian Voodoo, which I missed, so I'll have to find out from Linda how that went. David Rietti also did a workshop on Domestic Magick, which I also missed.
Jon Cole from New Aeon did a fab talk on the history of Love Spells - and it's not all sweetness and light and rose quartz at all. We'll have to get him to do that talk at our moot sometime! There was also a talk on alchemy by Shelly Rushton which I'm afraid I only half-heard as I was still busy meeting and greeting old friends and getting something to eat. You try going from seven o'clock till midday without anything to eat and see how easy you find it to concentrate on talks! Alchemy sounds quite complex and involving considerable commitment of time. Apparently, you've really got to keep an eye on your preparations in progress, as it can take days to go from "not-ready-yet" to "ready", but then from "ready" to "darn-you've-ruined-a-week's-work" in moments.
The day ended with the raffle draw and closing ritual. I didn't win anything, but Chris and Kath Glover both got prizes! All the stall holders had been asked to donate prizes for the raffle, so they really were good value for money if you won. The closing ritual was short, but meaningful - we each inscribed a rune on a small black stone and then gave it as a gift to the person next to us in the circle. I gave Fehu to Linda, and received Wynn from a lovely punky girl from Shared Earth who had fab multi-coloured hairfalls. It's a shame Linda and I couldn't stay for the Mental Lentil cookup back at Sandra's house, but we were too tired to stop out and Chris wanted chips.
I'm already looking forward to next year's - which is provisionally booked for the 4th July 2009.
Pagancon has been at the same venue for a few years now, at Preston Grasshoppers Rugby Club. It's run by Shared Earth - a group of Pagans in and around Preston (check out their Yahoo and Facebook groups). It's brilliant to arrive and see old friends that you don't really see for the rest of the year, greeting them as they arrive in dribs and drabs usually in time for the first talks and workshops and grockling at the stalls.
The stalls at Pagancon are usually really good, a great selection of goodies. This year was no different. I took my birthday money and a bit extra that I'd saved up and could have spent it all a couple of times over. There was Roo the Leathercarver with their excellent pouches, purses and belts. Auntie Joan from Wigan was there with her excellent ceramic statues. I nearly bought one of Pan for Seán that I'm sure he would have loved. Hedgewitch Handprints were back again with their brilliant Pagan T-shirts, bags and knickers (yes, you read that right!). There was beautiful jewellery from Lightray Silver and from Jools, goth and hippy clothes from The Coven, Linda's mate Chris with his hand-chosen and crafted wands and staves. There were bookstalls from New Aeon Books, plus second hand books from Little Wonder and Ken and Sandy Brock. Shared Earth also had a stall selling all manner of odd things, many of them made from bright coloured wool - neon dreamcatchers, pompom hairclips, and my favourite - hairfalls (I now have bright pink hairfalls for our next mad night out!). They also had little things like crystal trees, incense sticks and stuff as well.
There was a good range of talks and workshops too. Linda's was unfortunately short because other things had overrun and she needed to keep it brief so as not run over the main speaker's slot. The guest of honour was that Grande Dame of Witchcraft, Maxine Sanders. She and her husband Alex founded that branch of Wicca now known as Alexandrian Witchcraft.
Her talk was fascinating. She gave us an outline of her history, how she grew up and how she met Alex and began her magical career. Interestingly, she said she does not and never has considered herself to be a Pagan. She is an Occultist and pratitioner of the Craft. Most people today would consider Wicca to be a branch of Paganism as in the "all Wiccans are Pagans but not all Pagans are Wiccan" analogy to "All Catholics are Christian but not all Christians are Catholics".
I know a lot of people who have difficulty getting their heads round the idea that there are Wiccans who most emphatically do not consider themselves to be Pagan. Maxine Sanders position on this contrasts quite sharply with what Patricia Crowther (Grande Dame of Gardnerian Witchcraft) said at the PFNW conference a few years ago. I forget her exact words, but she seemed to consider that you were not Pagan at all unless you were an initiated Witch belonging to a coven that could trace it's initiatory lineage back to Gerald Gardner. If not, you're just someone who's heart is in the right place, trying to do the right thing. That got several people's backs up, mine included.
Maxine's talk was very clear, intelligently put and interesting. If you want to know more about her history in the Craft - she's just got a new book out. The talk was part of the publicity for this new book - clarifying, demystifying and debunking some of the mythology that continues to surround Alex Sanders and the beginnings of Alexandrian Witchcraft. It's called Firechild and should be available from any half-decent bookshop. New Aeon should definitely have it in stock!
Other talks were less good. I'm biased, but I found David Rietti's talk on Power to be dense and difficult to get. His assertion that power has to come from outside oneself, that as individual humans we have no intrinsic power to call upon is one I personally don't believe. He is of the opinion that all power we draw upon for magickal workings comes from outside; from angelic, demonic or elemental entities who have to be placated, cajoled, threatened and/or bribed. That the magician must "put on a show" in order to persuade said entities to allow us to use their power in our workings. And, moreover, that doing so reduces your own humanity over time.
Personally, I think if you're an arrogant, amoral, self-centred git to start with, then dealing with diabolical entities isn't really going to do you much more damage apart from giving you an excuse for being the way you are. "It's not my fault, the demons drained my humanity". Feck off.
Thorskegga's talk on Heathen Magic was interesting - she gave us an overview of the different forms of magic used by Heathens, the scandinavian, germanic and anglo-saxon tribes and those of us modern-day folks who are drawn to this branch of Paganism. She covered Seidr (what we now consider to be shamanic trance-workings and divination), Galdr (magical use of runes, rune-chanting and song-magic), the use of Fylgia (fetches, spirit animals) and curses. If I'm honest, although her stuff is interesting, it was overlong and could have done with better delivery. I imagine Thorskegga would do a fantastic workshop. I think her style would be better suited to a small group and tightly focused subject. I don't mean any disrespect to Thorskegga because I admire her deeply - she's lovely, a great woman and a good friend.
There were plenty of other talks and workshops, including one on Japanese samurai swords and armour from Mike Foster, a genuine enthusiast and collector who really knows his stuff. Kath Glover from New Aeon did a workshop on Haitian Voodoo, which I missed, so I'll have to find out from Linda how that went. David Rietti also did a workshop on Domestic Magick, which I also missed.
Jon Cole from New Aeon did a fab talk on the history of Love Spells - and it's not all sweetness and light and rose quartz at all. We'll have to get him to do that talk at our moot sometime! There was also a talk on alchemy by Shelly Rushton which I'm afraid I only half-heard as I was still busy meeting and greeting old friends and getting something to eat. You try going from seven o'clock till midday without anything to eat and see how easy you find it to concentrate on talks! Alchemy sounds quite complex and involving considerable commitment of time. Apparently, you've really got to keep an eye on your preparations in progress, as it can take days to go from "not-ready-yet" to "ready", but then from "ready" to "darn-you've-ruined-a-week's-work" in moments.
The day ended with the raffle draw and closing ritual. I didn't win anything, but Chris and Kath Glover both got prizes! All the stall holders had been asked to donate prizes for the raffle, so they really were good value for money if you won. The closing ritual was short, but meaningful - we each inscribed a rune on a small black stone and then gave it as a gift to the person next to us in the circle. I gave Fehu to Linda, and received Wynn from a lovely punky girl from Shared Earth who had fab multi-coloured hairfalls. It's a shame Linda and I couldn't stay for the Mental Lentil cookup back at Sandra's house, but we were too tired to stop out and Chris wanted chips.
I'm already looking forward to next year's - which is provisionally booked for the 4th July 2009.
Saturday 19 July 2008
Update
Just a little news update: Linda's talk at the August Moot will be on. . .
So now we know! See you on the 12th.
Love,
Seán
Northern Tradition Women's Mysteries
So now we know! See you on the 12th.
Love,
Seán
Wednesday 9 July 2008
July Announcements
Many thanks this month go to Daniel (The Astral Pilgrim) for jumping into an empty space and filling it with discussion. Death and how we deal with it - deep stuff. It started as a quiet moot, with there only being eight of us, but it soon got a fair bit noisier. Funnily enough, eight is supposed to be the Chinese number of death.
Anyway, here are the announcements for July.
Future Moots:
The next two moots will be on 12th August and 9th September. In August we'll have a talk by Linda - she wasn't with us last night so we still don't know what her talk will be about, but it's sure to be interesting. She's never failed us on that score yet.
September's talk will be "The Sacred Feminine" by Bridget. Sounds good so far.
Also:
As previously mentioned, PaganCon will be happening on Sat 19th July in Preston from 10am. Full details can be found here. The deadline for cheap tickets has gone now, but they're still available for £12, or £15 on the door. Talks and workshops will come from such luminaries as Maxine Sanders, Jon Cole (that's Jonny from New Aeon to the rest of us) and Linda Sever (who?).
We will also be holding our annual Lughnasadh Whinberry Walk up Holcombe Hill again this year. We'll be meeting outside the Shoulder of Mutton pub in Holcombe Village, near Ramsbottom, at 11am on Sunday 3rd August. We then walk up the hill for a picnic at the top and come down picking Whinberries (Wortleberries, Blaeberries. Whatever your name for them, they're the ones sacred to Lugh) as we go. We finish with the traditional drinkie at the Shoulder.
This is very much a family event. Kids, dogs and witchcraft familiars are most welcome.
You can find a map to the Shoulder of Mutton here or find it in the Manchester A-Z at the junction of Lumb Carr Road and Chapel Lane, Holcombe (BL8 4LZ if you're using satnav)
As a last teaser, we've heard that Wigan's premier Wiccan High Priestess, Joan Withington will be giving a talk at the Pagan Wheel moot in Manchester on the first Monday of September. More to follow when we know more.
Lastly, there's a new section on the left of this page for our library. Our friend, Brynjar came up with the idea of collecting together the texts of moots, where possible, as .pdf files so they could be used for future reference. We thought it was such a good idea we delegated it to him (he knows what he's doing)!
If you want to get your previous moots into this list let us know and we'll attempt to sort it out.
And finally. . .
If you're going to Silverdale this weekend - see you there.
Love,
Sara and Seán
Anyway, here are the announcements for July.
Future Moots:
The next two moots will be on 12th August and 9th September. In August we'll have a talk by Linda - she wasn't with us last night so we still don't know what her talk will be about, but it's sure to be interesting. She's never failed us on that score yet.
September's talk will be "The Sacred Feminine" by Bridget. Sounds good so far.
Also:
As previously mentioned, PaganCon will be happening on Sat 19th July in Preston from 10am. Full details can be found here. The deadline for cheap tickets has gone now, but they're still available for £12, or £15 on the door. Talks and workshops will come from such luminaries as Maxine Sanders, Jon Cole (that's Jonny from New Aeon to the rest of us) and Linda Sever (who?).
We will also be holding our annual Lughnasadh Whinberry Walk up Holcombe Hill again this year. We'll be meeting outside the Shoulder of Mutton pub in Holcombe Village, near Ramsbottom, at 11am on Sunday 3rd August. We then walk up the hill for a picnic at the top and come down picking Whinberries (Wortleberries, Blaeberries. Whatever your name for them, they're the ones sacred to Lugh) as we go. We finish with the traditional drinkie at the Shoulder.
This is very much a family event. Kids, dogs and witchcraft familiars are most welcome.
You can find a map to the Shoulder of Mutton here or find it in the Manchester A-Z at the junction of Lumb Carr Road and Chapel Lane, Holcombe (BL8 4LZ if you're using satnav)
As a last teaser, we've heard that Wigan's premier Wiccan High Priestess, Joan Withington will be giving a talk at the Pagan Wheel moot in Manchester on the first Monday of September. More to follow when we know more.
Lastly, there's a new section on the left of this page for our library. Our friend, Brynjar came up with the idea of collecting together the texts of moots, where possible, as .pdf files so they could be used for future reference. We thought it was such a good idea we delegated it to him (he knows what he's doing)!
If you want to get your previous moots into this list let us know and we'll attempt to sort it out.
And finally. . .
If you're going to Silverdale this weekend - see you there.
Love,
Sara and Seán
Wednesday 25 June 2008
Religion with Martin Amis
Our friend Andrea has just sent us a rather interesting link.
Martin Amis (yes, him!), who is working as the University of Manchester's Professor of Creative Writing, will be holding a public debate on Religion and Literature in Manchester.
It's on the evening of Tuesday 1st July, and costs a fiver (or a concessionary rate). The full details can be found here.
It certainly sounds fascinating.
Also:
In other news - and we'll announce this again nearer the time - we've decided on the date for our annual Lughnasadh Whinberry Walk up Holcombe Hill. It will be on Sunday 3rd August, meeting at 11am. Further details to follow.
And finally:
While we've got you ("Who, me?"-"Yes, you!") in our sights, if you have any interesting announcements, activities or embarrassing personal habits to share, please do.
We're always on the lookout for speakers and activities at the Moot, or alternatively if there's something you want to happen at the Moot, then please let us know.
We can be contacted through the official channels, like tapping us on the shoulder and asking. Well okay, there's email too.
Love,
Seán
Martin Amis (yes, him!), who is working as the University of Manchester's Professor of Creative Writing, will be holding a public debate on Religion and Literature in Manchester.
It's on the evening of Tuesday 1st July, and costs a fiver (or a concessionary rate). The full details can be found here.
It certainly sounds fascinating.
Also:
In other news - and we'll announce this again nearer the time - we've decided on the date for our annual Lughnasadh Whinberry Walk up Holcombe Hill. It will be on Sunday 3rd August, meeting at 11am. Further details to follow.
And finally:
While we've got you ("Who, me?"-"Yes, you!") in our sights, if you have any interesting announcements, activities or embarrassing personal habits to share, please do.
We're always on the lookout for speakers and activities at the Moot, or alternatively if there's something you want to happen at the Moot, then please let us know.
We can be contacted through the official channels, like tapping us on the shoulder and asking. Well okay, there's email too.
Love,
Seán
Monday 23 June 2008
June Announcements
Hooray, our first proper post!
Here are the announcements from the June moot (minus the things that have happened already - well, duh!)
Upcoming Moots
The next two moots will be on 8th July and 12th August respectively.
Daniel (The Astral Pilgrim) has jumped in to rescue us in an emergency in July - thanks Daniel - so we don't actually know what he'll be talking about. Having said that, his recent talk on Welsh Mythology was pretty good, so expectations deserve to be high.
Linda S. will be taking over the August Moot. She hasn't told us what she's doing yet. We'll find out soon enough, though, I'm sure.
Also
The Loiterers' Resistance Movement's Get Lost festival is still going on in Manchester until 28th June (I think).
Their events are too complicated to post here but if you're interested in Psychogeography, or just want to know what that word means, follow this link.
The Woodspirit Lammas Camp at Silverdale will be on this year from 11th-13 July. Expect a weekend of workshops, talks, music, dance and rather too much alcohol! Our own Sara (Losing the Thread) will be teaching a bellydance workshop this year, plugitty plug.
Let us know if you're interested via the usual email address (it's in that bit on the left, dear!), or just plain ask us and we'll put you in touch with Jacqui and Lissa (apologies for crap spelling) who organise it.
Finally, PaganCon is on again this year.
It's on Saturday 19th July, at Preston Grasshoppers Rugby Club, Lightfoot Lane, Fulwood, Preston. Full details of speakers and such, and ticket prices, can be found here.
I think that's it. See you at the next Moot, if not before.
Love,
Seán
Here are the announcements from the June moot (minus the things that have happened already - well, duh!)
Upcoming Moots
The next two moots will be on 8th July and 12th August respectively.
Daniel (The Astral Pilgrim) has jumped in to rescue us in an emergency in July - thanks Daniel - so we don't actually know what he'll be talking about. Having said that, his recent talk on Welsh Mythology was pretty good, so expectations deserve to be high.
Linda S. will be taking over the August Moot. She hasn't told us what she's doing yet. We'll find out soon enough, though, I'm sure.
Also
The Loiterers' Resistance Movement's Get Lost festival is still going on in Manchester until 28th June (I think).
Their events are too complicated to post here but if you're interested in Psychogeography, or just want to know what that word means, follow this link.
The Woodspirit Lammas Camp at Silverdale will be on this year from 11th-13 July. Expect a weekend of workshops, talks, music, dance and rather too much alcohol! Our own Sara (Losing the Thread) will be teaching a bellydance workshop this year, plugitty plug.
Let us know if you're interested via the usual email address (it's in that bit on the left, dear!), or just plain ask us and we'll put you in touch with Jacqui and Lissa (apologies for crap spelling) who organise it.
Finally, PaganCon is on again this year.
It's on Saturday 19th July, at Preston Grasshoppers Rugby Club, Lightfoot Lane, Fulwood, Preston. Full details of speakers and such, and ticket prices, can be found here.
I think that's it. See you at the next Moot, if not before.
Love,
Seán
Sunday 22 June 2008
Welcome
Welcome to the new blog for the Radcliffe Moot.
We'll be using this for all our news, announcements and anything else we can think of.
Watch this space!
Love,
Seán
We'll be using this for all our news, announcements and anything else we can think of.
Watch this space!
Love,
Seán
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