Witchfest 2010 - paganism on show

It has been a year of big changes for Paganism, with witches and druids in the spotlight as never before. Some of this attention has been good - such as druidry being recognised as a religion by the Charity Commission - and some of it has been bad - including some rather horrid reports by newspapers The Daily Mail and the Telegraph.

Witchfest International, the annual pagan festival run by Children of Artemis - an organisation dedicated to providing accurate information on Wicca and witchcraft - has often been more in the public eye than some other pagan conventions.

For a start, Witchfest is held in a large venue - Fairfield Halls in the centre of Croydon. It is also widely promoted via leaflets and on the internet. It might not be quite so famous as the summer solstice at Stonehenge, but it is a pagan event that mainstream media companies know about and want to cover.

However, CoA has always been very particular about what journalists it allows in to Witchfest. The pagan organisation certainly wants to attract beneficial publicity, but works hard to ensure no one likely to write a scurrilous diatribe against witches gets through the doors.

This means that those who attend Witchfest to learn more about the craft, meet fellow witches and generally have a good time can do so without fear of their face appearing on the front cover of a tabloid the next day alongside some nasty hack piece.

However, the right kind of reporters have always been made welcome and this year a BBC crew was there filming a documentary about three young witches on their spiritual journey.

And Witchfest really is the best pagan event for any young witch just starting out on their path. The programme is packed with talks and workshops suitable for those of all levels of experience - from those who simply want to find out if paganism is right for them, to high priests and high priestesses who have been running covens for decades.

One good example of this was the talk by Rufus Harrington on Magical Orders Past, Present and Future. He covered important movements including The Golden Dawn, the OTO and Wicca, but also described a new magical order he is setting up - The Temple of the Phoenix.

The Temple of the Phoenix will primarily be an online magical community offering training that is compatible with witchcraft, but which also teaches some of the ceremonial magic practised by such groups as The Golden Dawn. The Temple of the Phoenix will also run workshops in London and the north of England and will offer those with the right experience and commitment specialist training in such things as Enochian magic. The website is due to go live next year.

The only problem I ever have with Witchfest is that the programme is so packed with good things it is pretty much impossible to attend everything I want to see. Here are just a few examples of the day's wonderful talks and workshops: Witchcraft Balancing the Light and Dark by Melissa Harrington; Guide Channeling by Moonswift and Gavan; Shamanism and the Eightfold Path of Wicca by James Bennett; Psychic Self Defence by Tylluan Penry; a Children’s Magical Workshop by Tracy Rolfe; a Meet the Witches Q&A Panel with Tam, Kate West, Martin Wyse, Damh the Bard and Tylluan Penry; The Making of The Stone - a new mystical feature film - by Layla Randle-Conde; Physical Psychometry by Inbaal; Fairies by Professor Ronald Hutton; Hexes and Curses the Way Forward by Kate West; Ogham and Druidic Tree Magic by Damh the Bard; and Elemental and Fairie Magic by Laura Daligan.

Other entertainment during the day included Spirit of Albion, a pagan play by Egotrip/Archway Theatre, and Border Morris displays by Wild Hunt Morris (pictured above entertaining the queue at the start of the day).

Wicca is all about balance, and Witchfest manages to get the work and play balance right by offering wonderful evening entertainment to match the daytime lectures. This year's offerings of music and song lasted into the early hours and included: rap rock with Nylon Sky; acoustic pagan folk from Damh the Bard; melodic punk rock from Kitty Hudson; high energy folk rock with The Dolmen; and witchy goth rock from Inkubbus Sukkubus. The Witching Hour Rock Club offered a chance to dance until midnight.

Over the next week or so I'm going to write more about some of the subjects covered in Witchfest talks - there just isn't enough space to go into each talk in depth in a single review of an event.

You can find out more about Children of Artemis and future CoA events at http://www.witchcraft.org/

Previous related posts:
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/10/pagans-protest-at-daily-mail-attack-on.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/08/merlyn-and-golden-ticket.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/11/review-witchfest-international-2009.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/05/review-of-witchfest.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/08/history-of-magic-in-modern-age.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/11/melissa-harrington-on-aleister-crowley.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/11/melissa-harrington-on-aleister-crowley_19.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/10/news-druidry-classed-as-religion.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/07/review-real-witches-handbook.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/11/damh-bard-on-ogham-at-witchfest.html

Merlyn and the Golden Ticket

I've just had a phone call from Merlyn.

No, not the legendary wizard of Arthurian tales (that one is spelled Merlin, with an i), but nevertheless someone who is still pretty legendary in his own right - for doing wizardly amounts of work for pagan group Children of Artemis. In particular, this Merlyn is one of the main organisers of Witchfest, CoA's international witchcraft festival, held every year in Croydon, in south east England.

Merlyn phoned me to ask if I wouldn't mind writing a review of Witchfest for CoA's magazine, Witchcraft & Wicca. Of course, I said I was happy to. Not only do I go to Witchfest every year and really enjoy it, I also review it on A Bad Witch's Blog. I said I'd be delighted to write about the festival for Witchcraft & Wicca too.

While we were chatting, Merlyn gave me an update on a rumour that had been circulating - that Children of Artemis had been dissolved as a company. I wrote about this back in May, when Companies House confirmed the rumour. Now, Merlin assured me, the company was back on track, with a new registration number at Companies House.

He said: "There have been some changes in administration. We dissolved the old company but have registered a new company. This won't affect any of the events CoA organises, or the magazine."

He added that CoA is profitable as a company, everything goes back into the organisation and no individual makes anything out if it. The organisation runs on a tight budget with volunteers and this change wasn't done to boost anyone's income.

However, there has been a new development with membership - something that sounds worth looking into if you ever go to Witchfest with a group of friends or with your family. It's called Gold Membership.

The benefits of Gold Membership are everything you get with regular CoA membership plus you can buy two tickets for one for any Children of Artemis/Witchfest event, up to a limit of five ticket purchases per year - meaning in effect 10 tickets. You always pay the members' price for any ticket, you get two copies of each issue of the magazine and 20% discount on purchases at the CoA stall at events. Gold Members also get a fancy gold membership card and a free black Witchfest wristband.

Merlyn said this package was aimed at families, covens or groups of friends who could club together to make the most of the CoA ticket deals.

I'm certainly very glad to hear that Children of Artemis is still going strong, and I'm looking forward to the next Witchfest, on November 6.

For more details, visit the CoA site: http://www.witchcraft.org/

Links
http://www.witchfest.net/wf_international.htm
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/05/children-of-artemis-is-dissolved.html
http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/006382aa8a5eee95c16da4b5b26e6633/compdetails
http://www.witchcraft.org/members.htm
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/05/review-witchfest-south-2009.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/11/witchfest-international-2008.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/11/review-witchfest-international-2009.html

More on Children of Artemis Limited

A few days ago, I wrote on A Bad Witch's Blog that according to Companies House records, Children of Artemis Limited dissolved as a company on 7 May 2010.

I also emailed Children of Artemis to ask about this. I have just had a reply from the Children of Artemis Team. The email stated: "We have not dissolved, this is just a computer error."

I have since checked the Companies House website and it is still saying that Children of Artemis Limited dissolved on 7 May 2010.

I have now emailed Companies House to ask if it is indeed a computer error.


Links
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/05/rumour-changes-at-children-of-artemis.html

Rumour: Changes at Children of Artemis

OK, I couldn't wait any longer to spread the juicy rumour I heard. Here it is:

According to Companies House records, Children of Artemis Limited dissolved as a company on 7 May 2010.

I was told this rumour yesterday by a friend with his ear to the ground in the pagan community, but I wanted to check it out before posting it on my blog. I looked on the Companies House website: http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/index.shtml and found that the facts were correct as stated there.

I then sent a email to Children of Artemis asking:

"I notice on Companies House records that Children of Artemis Limited dissolved as a company on 7 May 2010. Can you give me any reasons why this has happened and what it means for the future of CoA?"

I have not yet had a reply.

I have no idea what this will mean in practical terms for the day-to-day business of Children of Artemis. Everything looks normal on the CoA website and the organisation is still running events - earlier this week it announced a new masked ball to take place this summer. Also, the company Witchfest Limited is still active on the Companies House website.

If you know any more about this, do let me know.

Links
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/05/fama-goddess-of-week.html
http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk//index.shtml
http://www.witchcraft.org/

Children of Artemis Masked Ball

Children of Artemis has just announced it is to have a Masked Ball on the 19 June at Scream Lounge, Croydon, in Surrey.

The Masked Ball is a new event for 2010 and will be a fun social evening featuring the Daughters of Gaia and DJs from Witchfest.

The organisers say that tickets for the event are limited so it is worthwhile booking early if you want to go. Tickets cost £7.50 or £6 for CoA members. For more information and to book tickets, visit http://www.witchfest.net/masked_ball.htm

CoA is also offering people who attend events a chance to win back the cost of the tickets. If you have bought a ticket for one or more CoA event this year, you have a chance to win a refund of your ticket price. The money paid for any ticket selected in the draw will be refunded.

The special draw will be held at the Masked Ball, everyone who has bought a ticket for either Witchfest International 2010 or The Artemis Gathering 2010 will be included in the draw.


The Masquerade Eye Maskpictured above is available from Amazon.

Witchfest & Artemis Gathering tickets on sale

Children of Artemis have just announced that early bird tickets for The Artemis Gathering, a festival running from 6 August - 8 August, and Witchfest International, on the 6 November, are now on sale.

The Artemis Gathering is an outdoor camping event with a friendly family in 35 acres of Oxfordshire countryside. The festival offers entertainment, workshops, a medieval encampment, witchy shopping, a bar, a cafe, a ritual, live music, DJ Swedish (of The Witching Hour fame), a fire dancers and a Wicker Man fire sculpture.

Early Bird tickets cost £31 for CoA members and £34 for non-members. To book tickets, visit http://www.witchfest.net/

Witchfest International is one of the best pagan festivals in the UK. It takes place at Fairfield Halls, in Croydon, near London and features talks and workshops during the day with live music and a DJ in the evening. There are also stalls, bars and a cafe. This year's speakers include Prof Ronald Hutton, Kate West and Fred Lamond.

Early Bird tickets are £16 for members and £20 for non-members. To book tickets, visit http://www.witchfest.net/

To avoid postal problems CoA is now using an e-ticket system, so you will need to print out the email you receive when you book your ticket, or write the details on a piece of paper, as this is your ticket. You can book either online or print out a postal form.

My reviews of previous witchfests:
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/11/review-witchfest-international-2009.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/11/witchfest-international-2008.html

Pagan events, festivals and lectures

For details of future events visit my events page at http://paganevents.blogspot.com/, but here are this week's events of interest to pagans in London and other parts of England:

Now until 21 March; The Dark Monarch. Art exhibition named after an infamous 1962 book entitled The Dark Monarch: A Portrait from Within by Sven Berlin. It explores how folklore, mysticism, mythology and the occult have influenced British art in the past 100 years. Venue: The Towner Art Gallery, Devonshire Park, College Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4JJ. It is open Tuesday - Sunday from 10am - 6pm. For more details, call: 01323 434660 or visit the website http://www.eastbourne.gov.uk/leisure/museums-galleries/towner/exhibitions/

Monday 15 February; De Sacrificio: On Sacrifice. Lecture by Stuart Littlejohn at Treadwells, 34 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7PB. 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. Entry £7, advance booking necessary. Tel: 020 7240 8906 or email: info@treadwells-london.com.

Monday 15 February; The Evidence for Yetis. Talk by Adrian Hyde at pagan forum Secret Chiefs at its new regular meeting time of every other Monday. Venue: Devereux public house, 20 Devereux Court, off Essex Street, London WC2R 3JJ. Meet from 7.30pm, event starts at 8.30pm. Admission £2.

Tuesday 16 February; Why Kindness is Good for You. Lecture by David Hamilton, author of the book of the same name, at The College of Psychic Studies 16 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2EB. Time: 7pm - 8.30pm. Cost: £5/£8. Advance booking necessary. http://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/index.html

Wednesday 17 February; A Walk Across China. Talk by Gary Dickinson about Aleister Crowley in China at The Moot With No Name. Venue: Devereux public house, 20 Devereux Court, off Essex Street, London WC2R 3JJ. Meet from 7.30pm, event starts at 8pm. Admission £2. For more details, call Atlantis Bookshop on 020 7405 2120.

Thursday 18 February; CoA Imbolg Open Ritual, organised by The Children of Artemis. Venue: The Dog, and Bull pub, Surrey St, Croydon. Surrey. Time: 8pm start. Tickets cost £2 for CoA members and £5 for non-members. For more details, call 0870 442 290 or visit the website http://www.witchfest.net/

Thursday 18 February; Cinema of the Occult: Lovecraft’s Ancient Cinema. Last of four fortnightly evenings of rare film with theoretical critiques by Patricia MacCormack, reader in Communication and Film at Anglia Ruskin University at Treadwells, 34 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7PB. 7.15 for 7.30pm start. Entry £10, booking essential. Tel: 020 7240 8906 or email: info@treadwells-london.com.

If you know of any pagan events and want them listed on A Bad Witch's Blog, email me at badwitch1234@gmail.com or leave a comment below.

Witchfest - 2 for 1 ticket offer

Witchfest England is one of the most popular gatherings of witches in the world, featuring talks, workshops, a market, live music, a late rock club, dancing and much more. This year's event takes place on May 10 at Fairfield Halls, Croydon, Surrey.

It is organised by Children of Artemis, an organisation that aims to promote understanding of the beliefs of Wicca and witchcraft. Witchfest England is CoA's largest annual event.

If you haven't already got a ticket, Witchfest is currently offering a Beltane deal on tickets for Witchfest England and Witchfest Wales – two tickets for the price of one.

The offer is available with the promotion code 262FM and applications must arrive no later than May 5.

The offer includes a two for one deal on Witchfest England and/or Witchfest Wales tickets; a £1 off voucher when you spend £10 or more at the CoA stall; a voucher giving £1 off a bottle of mead at Witchfest England.

To take advantage of the offer, go to http://www.witchcraft.org/forms/tickets/. Choose the event for which you wish to buy two for one tickets (England or Wales only). Fill out the form and buy only half the number of tickets you require. Enter the promotion code 262FM. The confirmation screen should show that the special two for one offer is selected. Pay for your order and wait to receive your tickets (only available before 5 May 2008).

For more information, visit: http://www.witchfest.net/