I want to thank everyone who came along to last night’s moot and made it such fun. I owe HUGE thanks to Tina for telling us the origins of dreamcatchers and to Sam for showing us how to make them. I know both of them were very nervous but they did a fantastic job and everyone had the opportunity to make their own dreamcatcher before going home. It was lovely to see old friends and new working so studiously together. And it was especially good to see some young ‘uns there too – I’m glad this coincided with half term. Thanks also to everyone who supplied us with some items for future raffles – all contributions gratefully received.
And, on a more personal note, I can’t thank everyone who contributed to my surprise presentation enough. I will be thanking you properly asap but just want to publicly say that you guys really, really rock. You’ve restored my battered faith in friends and in justice. Thank you so, so much.
Thank you to everyone who came along to support us again yesterday.
What a fabulous turn out for such a cold, February evening. So many people helped behind the scenes that it might be a mistake to try name anyone (cos I don’t want to leave anyone out) … but here goes:
First of all, thanks to Jeff Gants (our Keeper of the Stones) for tidying up the circle and for supplying the rosemary. Thanks to Andy Norman for manning the gate. Thanks to all those who helped with decorations – especially Tina Lark Dyson and Helene Foxglove who made the magnificent Bride’s Cross and did SO much more. Thanks to Philip Jackson for supplying us with an arch to walk under and a lovely warm fire. Thanks to Nicola Deplacido and her family for painstakingly getting rid of the manky handles on our candle jars and supplying us with new. Thanks to Peter Quinan for doing such a great job of leading the ritual with me and to all those who joined in. Thanks to John Baker for taking photos.
But most of all … HUGE thanks to EVERYONE who made it such a lovely, friendly atmosphere. I hope all the wishes you made come true.
Sorry folks but we’re postponing the Imbolc ritual. We’ve never done so before but it’s silly to turn up in the dark AND rain. We’re planning to do it on Sunday 10th at 5pm instead but I’ll confirm nearer the end of the week when we see what weather we’re likely to get then. So wrap up warm and enjoy an unexpected cosy night in 😉
Edited to add: For those who don’t know, there’s a barrier across the bridge leading to the car park at Thwaite Mill. We will raise it tomorrow evening so you can cross the bridge but whoever is manning the barrier will want to take part in the ritual – so, if you want to park, please arrive BEFORE 7:10pm. Whatever you do, DON’T park in the lane if the barrier’s locked cos you might be clamped. And remember… be there or be square!
Don’t forget it’s our Imbolc ritual on Tuesday (5 Feb). And don’t forget to bring a coin to make a wish (value doesn’t matter) and bring a torch if you can because we are well away from any streetlights. And don’t forget to wrap up warm and wear something sturdy on your feet cos it’s weathering out there. Don’t know what the weather forecast is but the ritual will go ahead whatever so I’m looking forward to seeing you there.
We meet at 7.15pm at Stourton Stone Circle, Thwaite Mill, Thwaite Lane, Stourton, LS10 1RP.
I have the privilege and honour to be able to organise the Mabon celebrations at Thornborough Henge. Along with the many helpers and volunteers who enable the event to take place we also have my friends at Leodis Pagan Circle who write, lead and perform the annual ritual for the Autumn Equinox. For me this is the whole reason for the event and why so many people gather at the close of summer to celebrate the harvest and the turning of the wheel. One last gathering before the dark time.
Almost immediately after last year’s gathering Debs was already thinking of the theme for this year, where her inspiration comes from I can only guess, but year on year she comes up with the goods and once again a wonderful ritual is created.
In the weeks running up to Mabon there is a frenzied rush to get everything in place, no good trying to write rotas or schedules months in advance, too many changes happen, people drop out for various reasons so a month before my time is taken up with chasing up performers, caterers, you name it, they have to be contacted, throughout all this Debs is there with a calming influence even though I know only too well she has more on her plate than me.
The day dawns, Sunday 21st September 2014 and the rain has gone, Sol is in the sky and it’s promising to be a good day. Drag myself out of my cosy bed at some unearthly hour, run across the field to the portaloos, what joy! Gate duty beckons so a quick breakfast and away to greet the visitors. Where is Debs and the rest of Leodis, why am I panicking, it’s only 9am lol. As the morning wears on more and more people come through the gate, smiling and looking forward to a day in the henge, a bit of shopping at the craft stalls, entertainment and workshops and of course the highlight of the day, the opening ritual. The Leodis family arrive, joyous and encouraging, it’s going to be a lovely day. Meanwhile, it’s now 11.20am and I am still on the gate in my jeans and hi viz, where is everyone? All getting their best clothes on ready for our sacred ritual. 11.30 and I start shouting down the radio, I need to get changed, please come and replace me, eventually help arrives and I dash to the tent, frock on, make up slapped on and a quick brush of the hair, phew, in the henge just in time!
What followed took me far away from everything and everyone, the theme of balance struck home, the need for balance in my life, the need for balance for the entire world. I drifted into a kind of meditation, I was aware of the ritual and the deep meaning behind it but I was also aware of the ancestors gathering around us on the earthworks, some coming a little closer, listening to Deb’s words and nodding their heads in agreement. My heart was beating loudly and the emotions welled up within me. Marie’s poem became alive, many things seem to fall into place, the whole point of the weekend was for these few precious moments in time, this wonderful ritual that some special friends were performing.
Spirit was with us that day, the Gods and Goddesses were smiling upon us, the weather was wonderful, our reward for honouring the sacred henge, I felt uplifted and grateful beyond measure that I had a small part in this celebration. This feeling remained with me right through the rest of the weekend and is still with me now, life is about balance, light and dark, warm and cold, good and bad, you cannot have one without the other, I accept the rough with the smooth, I learnt something and I shall keep that lesson with me always.
All too soon we were thanking Spirit for joining us and the circle was opened, everyone went about their business and the Leodis family dispersed, I still had things to attend to but the lightness in my step and the smile on my face must have been noticeable to anyone who looked.
There was a feeling of joy all through the weekend, laughter and music throughout, no one seemed to want the time to end but end it must.
Monday morning, ugh, clean up time. Again a small army of volunteers patrolled the entire area, barely a sack of rubbish was found, everyone had cleaned up after themselves so well, I walked and walked around and around, nothing, people had really taken good care, what an amazing feeling I had that not only did I care, everyone else did too. I couldn’t help but feel that many had been moved by the ritual, some magic was created and had affected everyone present.
Well, a few weeks rest and then back to planning next year’s event, great helpers on board now and with Leodis Pagan Circle with me we shall again create a celebration to be proud of.
