The Radcliffe Moot

February Announcements

2012-02-16T10:41:00.002Z

A day late, but I'm blaming everybody else for forcing me to drink all that wine.

Thank you to Emma for a fascinating talk and discussion. Shame we couldn't have had more people, but St. Valentine beat us to the date.

Next Moots

On 13th March we'll be looking with a wry eye at earth zodiacs with Bridget. We may even see if we can't find one for Radcliffe.

Brynjar will be taking over on 10th April and treating us to a film night. The film in question is Trollhunter, enlivened by Brynjar's copious knowledge of Scandinavian mythology and folklore. It's in Norwegian with English subtitles, by the way.

Coming Up

Sorry for the short-notice announcement, but if you fancy a ceilidh there's one on tonight (16th Feb), featuring the inimitable Rivington Morris. It's at Ramsbottom Civic Hall and costs £8 each.

The Bolton Moot is next week, Tuesday 21st February at the Man & Scythe. We haven't been given any specific details so we reckon it's a social.

Heading into March (and nothing to do with Paganism apart from the fact that I'm in it), Whitefield AODS is putting Little Shop of Horrors on at The Paragon in Prestwich, from Wednesday 21st to Saturday 24th.

For any sparkly friends out there, the first ever Pendle Faery Ball will be happening on the 7th April in Billington, Clitheroe. There will be bands, fire displays and a craft fayre. Tickets can be acquired here.

Finally, get saving up your booze, firewood, singing voice and sillyness for our annual Wicker Man Bealtaine Party on Saturday 28th April. See you there.

Springtime hugs,
Seán x

January Announcements

2012-01-12T09:51:00.003Z

A day late but at least it's better than last month when I forgot to write anything at all. Ooops!

Anyway ...

The Next Few Moots

Next month, Feb 14th rather appropriately, we'll be having a talk from Rainy City Roller Derby Girl, Emma on "Pink Paganism. A path for the not-straight". Asking people if they like musicals, standard lamps or Chardonnay will be banned!

After that our friend Bridget has offered some occult psychogeography in the form of a talk on earth zodiacs and search for the Radcliffe Zodiac. That will be on 13th March.

We're a bit light for April and May, so if you fancy a request or to make an offer, you know where we are. In June, I'm going to be taking over with a little field trip for some local history and mythology. It will involve meeting up at a pub rather than Radcliffe Moot Towers, details coming soon.

Coming Up

If you hadn't realised the Wassail is on this coming Saturday (the 14th January), where have you been? 8pm onwards folks. Any donations of food and drink to share (veggie/vegan please) or firewood to burn will be gladly accepted. Don't forget your hat!

If anyone fancies blowing their hangover away, a group of nice folks have organised a walk around Bromley Cross (where the little stone circle is), Jumbles and Edgeworth. Meet at Bolton train station 11am and finish eventually at the Strawberry Duck.

The Bolton Moot will be happening at The Olde Man & Scythe on Tuesday 17th, 8pm onwards. We think it's just a social this time

We're taking a trip to Ara on Friday 27th of this month to celebrate a certain Dionysian's birthday (How old? Ye gods!). Anybody who fancies joining us will be most welcome and probably cuddled by a drunkard.

Marsden ImBolg Fire Festival, despite worries to the contrary, will be happening again this year. It's not well advertised on the web so no link, but the procession starts at 7pm from the goods yard behind the railway station. Heck, just follow the crowds, it'll all work out.
Could somebody order nice weather this time? We nearly drowned last year.

We've also booked the date for our Bealtaine Wicker Man party. It'll be Saturday 28th April (which doesn't clash with Thornborough Henge this year, so yay!). I know we're jumping the gun a bit but we're arranging around a visit from some lovely friends from California.

Finally

We've recently been told about the Pagan Blog Project. They are looking for contributors to write a few lines every Friday on a subject starting with a given letter. Give it a look, it could prove interesting.

And that's it. Hope to see you at the Wassail.
Keep warm and well!

Love,
Seán

November announcements

2011-11-09T13:46:00.003Z

Hiya and thank you to everybody who came with their stories last night. It was a lot of fun and there was an excellent mix of tales. Just watch out for that Big, Bad Hamster!

The Next Two Moots

The Moot on 13th December will be the annual quiz: thirty questions on Pagan art, herbs, astrology, tree lore, crystals, famous Pagans, witchcraft, gods & goddesses and British traditions. The winner will, of course, receive a bottle of our finest home-brewed wine. Feel free to insert the traditional joke about second prize and two bottles.

The 10th January will have our annual games night. We're open to ideas, so if there's any game you think would be good give us a shout.

We're also open to speakers and suggestions again. Would you like a particular topic or event? Can you do a talk or a workshop?

Coming up

The John Rylands library in Manchester in having a Green Man month all November. It's a beautiful building and there are guided tours if you want them.

If anyone fancies a night at the theatre, WAODS are presenting their production of Little Women at Radcliffe Civic Hall from the 16th to 19th November. It's got nothing to do with Paganism, but I'm in it (in the chorus) so I'm gleefully abusing my position as Moot blog writer to give it a good old plug. Bring tissues!

The Bolton Moot at the Man & Scythe is having a talk by Emma Riddiford called Pink Paganism, a Path for the Not Straight on Tuesday 15th November from 7:30pm. Emma's a good friend of mine and she knows her stuff, which makes it annoying for those of us who can't get there! Perhaps we can sweet talk her into doing the whole thing again for us.

For those who like to rock, there's a day of metal at the Hark to Towler in Tottington, Bury on Sunday 18th December. Be there or still have your full range of hearing!

We've also come up with a provisional date for the Wassail - Saturday 14th January. Pop it in your diary (when you get a new one).

Finally

The Radcliffe moot would like to join with everyone else in sending our condolences and best wishes to the family and friends of John Jewitt, who died on 31st October. John wasn't just the landlord of the Olde Man & Scythe and an impersonator of the Earl of Derby, he was also a really nice man and a friend of the Pagan community. He will be missed.

Love,
Seán

October Announcements

2011-10-15T10:11:00.004+01:00

Okay, okay, I'm late again! I get there in the end ...

Special thanks go to Edwina Hodkinson for taking over on Tuesday night with her very informative stuff on kitchen medicine and herbalism.
If you're looking for a professional herbalist in the North Manchester area you can reach Edwina at edwinahodkinson@yahoo.co.uk or ring her on (0161) 797 2761

The Next Two Moots

Our next moot on 8th November will be our annual post-Samhain storytelling Moot. Please bring a story to tell. It can be just about anything - one from a book, one you've written yourself, a true tale - all we ask is that it takes less than ten minutes to tell. Otherwise we'll be up all night!

The Moot on 13th December will be the annual quiz: thirty questions on Pagan art, herbs, astrology, tree lore, crystals, famous Pagans, witchcraft, gods & goddesses and British traditions. The winner will, of course, receive a bottle of our finest home-brewed wine. Feel free to insert the traditional joke about second prize and two bottles.

Coming Up in October

Megalithic Tours have three day-trips going on in Lancashire this month, including one into Pendle. Details are here.

There's a talk by Mark Rosney on the paranormal, involving demonstrations and experiments. It's called The World of the Paranormal: Part II and is happening at the Manchester New Horizons IVC Clubrooms, on Grosvenor St M1 7HL from 7pm on Monday 17th. It costs £3 each.

Tuesday 18th has the Bolton Moot at the Man & Scythe with a talk by Linda Sever on Heathenry and Northern Tradition.

On Friday 21st there's a gig by the wonderfully scary Tylean at Ara's venue of Sacred Trinity. It's a fiver to get in and there will be a bar. All profits go to the Booth Centre charity for the homeless.

On Saturday 22nd it's the Pagan Federation North West Conference. It will be held in the Green Banks Lecture Theatre, UCLAN, Preston, PR1 7DR. Doors open at 9:30am and there's a closing Winternights ritual by Runic John at 5pm. Talks and workshops will be done by such NW luminaries as (amongst others) Mary Sharrat, Joan Withington, Tasha Woods, Linda Sever, Jez Green and me!
It's a bit too late to get a ticket (probably) but you can pay on the door - £15 for non-members, £13 for members.

If you fancy a bit of culture, some friends of mine are opening a new gallery on Cow Lane, Salford on Friday 28th October at 6pm. Here's the info.

Saturday 29th will see the Radcliffe Moot's annual Samhain party. This year's theme is "Things that go Bump in the Night", so I'm considering turning up as a teenage boy! We start at 8pm and if anyone fancies bringing some firewood it would be most welcome.

Finally, Simon and Bev will be hosting Samhain ritual on Sunday 30th at the Doffcocker Inn on Chorley Old Road in Bolton. Be there for 7pm and all will be revealed!

That's all. Have an awesome Samhain.
Seán
xx

STOP PRESS!

2011-10-03T11:39:00.003+01:00

STOP PRESS!

There's a change to our next Moot on Tuesday 11th October.

Brother Chris "Hail The Badger" Jeffcott won't be around to do his "2012-and-all-that" talk. He's having an operation and then buggering off to Cornwall. Best of luck, mate. See you soon.

Instead our wonderful friend, Edwina has offered to step into the breach with "Something Herbal". Thank you, Edwina. *mwah*!

Love and herbal thingies,
Seán

September Announcements

2011-09-15T10:17:00.002+01:00

Hi everybody, and thank you to all those who could make it to the busiest Moot we've had in quite a while. Extra-special thanks go to Vernon for a very interesting and enlightening talk on Druidry and Unitarianism.

Before we go any further, a little Health & Safety note for our more "manly" men. If you prefer to shake hands rather than hug, please could you remember that some people have delicate joints and easily-dented bones, and be gentle! A proper firm handshake may be the sign of a good, solid bloke, but for some the pain gets in the way of a nice impression.

Anyway, enough of that. What's coming up? Well, quite a lot, actually.

The Next Two Moots

Brother Jeffcott (Chris!) is taking over on 11th October with a talk/discussion of the end-of-the-world phenomenon of 2012 and all that. A load of old cobblers, or is there something in it?

The 8th November moot will be our annual post-Samhain storytelling night. Please bring a story. It can be true or fiction, it can be your own or someone else's, it can be poetry or prose (as long as it's narrative), it can be funny, scary, sad or exciting. All we ask is that it's less than ten minutes in the telling.

Coming Up

September

This coming Saturday 17th will see Bolton invaded by Morris dancers for Rumworth Morris' 35th birthday. There will be six teams from all over the country dancing from 10:45am until 4:15 outside the Man & Scythe on Churchgate, outside the Town Hall and the Market Place.
It'll be particularly good because it will feature the ever rather super Rivington Morris.

The Bolton Moot is also at the Man & Scythe (indoors this time) on Tuesday 20th from 8pm. It's a social, so come and meet the folks.

Fancy some excellent food without your kit on? Of course you do!
The lovely people behind Naked Vegan Cooking have organised a clothing-optional vegan tea party (so you can keep your clothes on if you really want to), at Islington Mill in Salford. It's on Wednesday 21st, will go on from 5pm until 9pm and there will be lots of art made including life-drawing, body painting, photography and so on. All ages, shapes and sizes are welcome. Channel 4 will also be there filming a programme about nudism. A promise has been given that nobody will be photographed or filmed without their consent.

The reason Bolton Moot are having a social is there will be a Bolton Moot Special Event, a ritual for the Autumnal Equinox on Saturday 24th. It's at Simon & Bev's house from 3pm, with the ritual later as it goes dark. Fancy robes aren't necessary unless you want them. There will be charge of £5 per adult to pay for food and drink. More details from Bev & Simon or via us, and we'll put you in touch.

The naked vegans are back on the evening of Monday 26th showcasing the stuff that was made at the previous event. It's from 5pm until 9pm at the Kraak Studio in Manchester and there will be another clothing-optional tea party too. Channel 4 will be there again, and the same photography stipulations have been made.

October

Thursday 6th October is National Vegan Day. Tasty!

If you fancy a bit of Hindu-ness, there's a mela for Diwali at Platt Fields on Saturday 8th, from 3:30-9pm.
If your tastes are a bit closer to home there's always Edgeworth Folk Day, on the same day. It's hard to find any proper information but we think it's at the Barlow Institute BL7 0AP, and it's being opened by Bernard "The Bolton Bullfrog" Wrigley. Now if they'd bother to tell anybody what flippin' time it starts ...

There are two events on Saturday 15th as well. The first is a stone-circle walk organised by Northern Earth and the second is Tockholes beer festival. You can get the full details from Linda Sever, because she hasn't sent them to us yet! Dig, dig!

Our new friend, Phil has sent us some details of a talk by Mark Rosney on the paranormal, involving demonstrations and experiments. It's called The World of the Paranormal: Part II and is happening at the Manchester New Horizons IVC Clubrooms, on Grosvenor St M1 7HL from 7pm on Monday 17th. It costs £3 each.

Some friends have ours are starting up another folk club, this time at Taurus Bar in Manchester's Gay Village. The Village Folk Club's opening night is on Tuesday 18th at 7:30pm and will feature Rae Spoon, Lianne Hall and the club's musical residents Esther and Ruthie. Cost is £4/£6.

For goths who want to help out the homeless (or just like awesome music!), the wonderful Tylean is doing a benefit gig for the Booth Centre on Friday 21st. She'll be performing at Unpretension, at ARA's usual haunt of Sacred Trinity church, Salford. Doors open at 7pm, it's fiver to get in and take your own drinkies (it's a church!). Go see her, you'll have chills!

The Pagan Federation's North West Conference will be happening at UCLAN in Preston, from 10am to 6pm on Saturday 22nd. Tickets are available at £13 or £15 via the following methods:
Paypal www.eventbrite.com/event/1871895891
or by post from BM Brigantia, London, WEC1N 3XX
OR you might be able to pay on the door.
It looks to be a grand day, with talks and workshops from Lancashire's finest pagan luminaries, some from much further afield and, err, me.

Finally!
Our annual Samhain fancy-dress party will be held at Radcliffe Moot Towers on Saturday 29th, from 8pm. This year's theme, because I've been overruled by an executive decision, will be Things That Go Bump In The Night!
See y'all there, and if you've got wood for burning feel free to bring it.

That's it, I give in now. My typing finger's developing a callous!
Love,
Seán

August Announcements

2011-08-11T10:41:00.002+01:00

Almost on time, too! Well done to those hardy souls who risked the riots to get to us on Tuesday night, we're very glad you got home safely.

Future Moots

On September 13th, fingers crossed, we've been promised a talk from Vernon the Druid. Vernon's also a Unitarian minister and hopefully he'll be able to tell us how he puts the two together and why.

Chris will be taking over on October 11th with his views on 2012 and all that. Are we all doomed? Looks like we'll find out.

Coming Up

The Newe Bolton Moot is happening on the evening of Tuesday 16th August at the Man & Scythe. Just a social this month, I think.

If anybody fancies a superb night of gothing-it-up we'll be going to Ara on Friday 19th August. You're welcome to join us.

On Sunday 21st August Linda's organised a local history walk. We'll be meeting up at Chorley Railway Station at 12:30 and travelling to the Pikestones on Anglezarke moor where we can have a bit of a picnic followed by a trip to Tockholes Well where Hawky is organising a drum circle. After that it's tea at the Royal Oak.
Lifts will be organised back to Bolton for anyone on public transport.

Our annual Bramble Ramble will take place on Saturday 10th September at Radcliffe Moot Towers. We're having an evening do this time, so we'll be setting off to collect blackberries around 5pm and coming back to ours for drinkies and nibbles.

The following day, Sunday 11th September, has a Mysterious Lancashire conference at Hoghton Community Centre near Belmont. It goes from 10am until 5pm. Details available from Linda

July Additional

2011-07-17T11:25:00.002+01:00

AAARGH! I FORGOT THE WHINBERRY WALK!

That's what happens when you've got too much stuff in your head. Thank you to Jonathan for reminding me.

Anyway ...

The Radcliffe Moot's annual Whinberry Walk will take place on Sunday 31st July. We'll meet up at 11:30am on the car park of the Shoulder Of Mutton pub. Here's the address:

The Shoulder of Mutton
Holcombe Village
Ramsbottom
Lancashire
BL8 4LZ

We'll then take a gentle stroll up Holcombe Hill to Peel Tower where we'll have a little picnic. After that we'll stroll gently back down the hill, filling our butty-boxes with whinberries (or whortleberries, or blaeberries depending where you come from) and finish with a nice toast to Lugh at the Shoulder.

Whatever happens after that is anyone's guess, but we don't have to be up early!

See you there.
Seán
xx

July Announcements.

2011-07-13T10:51:00.002+01:00

Hooray! We're back!

Actually we haven't been anywhere, it's just that I've had my head filled with so much stuff the writing of the Moot blog kept falling out. Thanks go to Francis for reminding me about it.

Anyway. Thank you to Bridget for last night's talk/workshop on chakras which was very enlightening and relaxing. For the future, though, there's not a lot to tell.

We're a bit unplanned at the moment. The next moot on Tuesday 9th August will hopefully be a talk from Vernon the Druid and Unitarian minister, if we can get hold of him. If not, it's been a while since either Sara or I took centre-stage so one of us will take over.

There are only a few announcements too.

Friends will be most welcome to join us at ARA to celebrate Sara's birthday on Friday 22nd.

We'll be away to Silverdale for the Woodspirit camp during the first weekend in August. Amongst hiding amongst the other treats will be a Dionysos talk by me, a Greek shields workshop by Sara, a talk on Ishtar and Purim by Bridget and, I think, some besom-making with Chris HailTheBadger.

That's about it for now.

See y'all soon.
Seán
xx

May Announcements and Open Ritual

2011-05-11T10:08:00.003+01:00

Oooops! I missed last month, so to make up for it this month's blog is extra-long. That's because we're having our first ever open ritual. Eeep!

The Next Two Moots

Tuesday 14th June. An open ritual to celebrate the summer solstice, presided over by Nadia. See below for details.
It's also Linda's birthday the next day, just in case she's coming.

Tuesday 12th July. I'm going to do a little Womble mithering and she if she can get Dr. Vernon to come over from Wigan (I think he's in Wigan!) and do us a talk on Druidry, and possibly how he squares it with also being a Unitarian minister. He's not been well recently, though, so if he can't make it Bridget will take over with a talk on Chakras.

Coming Up

The Bolton Moot has now moved to Tuesdays. The next one will be from 8pm on the 17th May at, of course, the Man & Scythe.

Don't forget that (according to Harold Camping of Oakland, California) the World is due to end on Saturday 21st May, around 6pm. Just in case he's wrong, though ...

On Wednesday 25th May the Salgofnir's Call heathen moot will be happening at The Angel in Manchester from 7:30.

On Friday 27th May we're going to ARA and anybody who fancies a good old Goth-out is more than welcome to join us. Full details are here.

The Radcliffe Moot would like to officially send its love and best wishes to our friends, Mel and Nick, who are being handfasted on Sunday 29th May.

Friday 3rd June is World Naked Bike Ride in Manchester. Any human-powered transport will do, so come and join the fun being as Bare As You Dare. Details can be found here.

The following day, Saturday 4th June there's a regular litter pick at Eatock Lodges, Westhoughton from 10 until 12.

Finally, I'd like to cordially invite all the Moot's friends to my official stage debut as an adult. I haven't been in a proper play, on a proper stage, in a proper theatre since I was about 12!
I'll be playing Dr MacFarlane in the WAODS production of Hobson's Choice at the Whitefield Garrick from Tuesday 7th until Friday 10th June.
Tickets are £7 each and available via email or by calling 0161 278 8178

The Ritual

All being well we'll be performing this ritual in the back garden, but we'll move indoors if the weather decides to be troublesome.
Rather than being robed or skyclad please could everyone wear some summery, holiday-type clothes.
Please could everyone also bring a small, inexpensive gift representative of the sun and, if possible, some firewood.

The order will go like this:

Opening introduction and lighting candles etc. (Nadia)
Sweeping the circle (a volunteer)
Hand-in-hand to make the circle (everybody)
Calling the quarters (volunteers)

Evokation of the Sun God (Sara)

Chanting and drumming to raise energy for the healing of loved ones (everybody)
The chant will be "Helios, Sol, Apollo, Bel. Rah! Rah! Rah!"

A spiral dance with the song "The sun has got his hat on" (everybody)

Exchanging of gifts (everybody)

A meditation with music (me)

Cakes and wine (Nadia)
Cakes provided by Gillian, wine by us.

Goodbye to the Sun God and the quarters (by Sara and the same volunteers).

Releasing the hands and the circle.

I reckon that about covers it!

Love and spiral dances,
Seán

March Announcements

2011-03-10T10:57:00.002Z

Hello my freaky darlings and welcome back to the Moot blog. It was a little quieter than usual but we seemed to get an awful lot done. Special mention goes to Callieflump, who managed to get to us all the way from Hinckley in Leicestershire.

The Next Few Moots.

We've got some homework for everybody next time. Chris (Hail the Badger!) has asked if we can do anything about the 2012 phenomenon, so at the next Moot on 12th April it will be the End of the World As We Know It! Please could everyone do some research into end-of -the-world dates, theories and occurrences, and let's make it one of our most bizarre discussions yet.

I'm going to try to talk Chris (Hail the Badger!) into chairing the talk too.

Nadia has suggested an open ritual at some point and we've decided that the June moot is the closest we can get to a Sabbat. So we're going to spend the 10th May Moot discussing and planning how to do an open ritual, and actually have the ritual as an early Summer Solstice do on the 14th June.

We've also had some suggestions and requests for stuff on the Mayday Bank Holiday campaign, Chakras and "Paganism for dummies", and Womble has suggested she see if she can talk Vernon the Unitarian Druid into giving us his personal slant on Druidy.

Lookin' good so far!

Coming Up

On Saturday 12th March there's a Rock Nite at Wigan Road Labour Club in Leigh to raise funds for Mad Dave's charity ride, Enduro Africa. It starts at 5pm and it's a fiver on the door. If you want any more details get in touch and we'll pass you on to Womble (Mad Dave's Pagan contact).

There's an attempt going on to create a "Pagan Saint" in the shape of Hypatia of Alexandria (AD 360? - 415). She was a remarkable woman and worth looking up, especially since she was killed for basically standing up against unquestioning church authority.

The day selected is 15th March (the Ides of March)

On Saturday 19th March the Rainy City Roller Girls (including the Bolton Moot's very own Emz) will be involved in a huge double roller derby at Castle Leisure Centre in Bury. It's on from 1:30 to 6:30pm and tickets are £7 in advance and a tenner on the door.

The Bolton Moot are having an Equinox ritual at the Olde Wench and Trinkets on the evening of Tuesday 22nd March. Contact Hawky for more details, or us and we'll put you in touch.

There's also a fairly new Heathen Moot happening in Manchester. It's known as Salgofnir's Call and takes place from 7:30pm on Weds 30th March, at the Angel on Angel St. Tell Damien we sent you.

Manchester's Pagan Wheel is happening on Mon 4th April. It's from 7:30pm at the Waldorf on Gore St and this month's talk is on Perception (tbc).

Saturday 16th April sees the return of Chorlton's annual Big Green Festival, which is on all day in the grounds of St. Clement's church on Edge Lane. It's a good day out, but if you don't do veggie you may need to take your own food!

The Thornborough Henge Bealtaine camp starts for the weekend on Friday 29th April with a big Bealtaine ritual on the Sunday. It's organised by Sacred Brigantia and all the details are here.

Finally, if you're not going to Thornborough you'll be most welcome to celebrate Bealtaine with us at our annual Wicker man Party on Saturday 30th April, 8pm onwards. Expect to dance round the maypole, burn the Wicker Man, sing silly songs and hear some truly dreadful accordion playing!

See you all soon,

Seán

February Announcements

2011-02-09T12:50:00.002Z

Hi everybody (Hi Dr Seán), and thanks to everyone who came to last night's fascinating and informative talk by Bridget on multiple intelligences. Do we feel thoroughly psychoanalysed or what?

The Next Two Moots

The March and April Moots will be on the 8th and 12th respectively, but I'm not going to tell you what we're doing because I don't know!
We need some help, folks. If you want offer to do a Moot, or request or suggest something specific now's the time. Don't be shy now!

Coming Up

Manchester Museum are hosting a photographic exhibition called Stonehenge: Henge Diggers featuring pictures from the 2008 excavation. It runs from 19th Feb right through to 17 July.

Also at Manchester Museum there's an event for the kids during half-term called The Ancients, all about cave painting and designing stone circles. That's on Friday 25th between 11 and 12.

Do any of you ladies want to try your hand (foot?) at Rapper dancing? (Click here to see a video) The fabulous Sisters In Arms all-female Rapper group will be holding a one evening workshop at Islington Mill in Salford from 7-10 pm on Thursday 24th Feb.
Contact Jen for more info: sistersinarms@virginmedia.com

On Saturday 5th March Shared Earth in Preston are holding a Harry Potter Party from 7pm at the Grasshoppers Rugby Club. This is a fundraiser for Pagancon and costs £15 a head with all your food and entertainment laid on. Tasha's your contact for this one: ferndrake@hotmail.com

Also on the same evening our friend Mel is having a birthday meal at the Chinese Buffet in Bolton from 7pm. We like Mel.

There's another of those free Manchester Museum lectures happening on 23rd March. It's called The Artificial Ape: Technology, Evolution and Humanity. Unfortunately it's on at 3 in the afternoon, but if you're not working or getting the kids from school or something it sounds really good.

Finally, don't forget about Scratching Fanny of Cock Lane on Monday 7th March. It's a talk by Bolton Historical Society at the Parish Hall on Silverwell St from 7:30pm until 9:30.

Camps

Finally, finally, we've got the general dates of some of this year's camps. Karen of Shared Earth has most of the info but what we know so far is:

Thornborough Henge - Bealtaine, but final arrangements have yet to be made.
Pendle Witch Camp - 17 to 20 June
Oakleaf Lammas Camp in Ripon - 29 to 31 July
Woodspirit at Silverdale - 5 to 7 August
The Mercian Gathering at Nuneaton - 2 to 4 September.

Th, th, th, that's all folks.

Love,
Seán

January announcements

2011-01-14T10:00:00.002Z

Yay, slightly late again! Sorry.

Special thanks this month goes to our volunteer Moot secretary, the lovely Womble, who worked all the announcements out for me. I didn't even have to think!

The Next Two Moots

On the 8th Feb Bridget will be doing a wonderful interactive talk on Multiple Intelligences.

After that we're open to offers. If you want to do a Moot, or even request something don't hesitate to ask us.

Coming Up

January
We're having our annual Wassail party on Saturday 15th Jan (that's tomorrow folks), 8pm at Radcliffe Moot Towers. Don't forget your hat!

On Weds 19th there will be a Full Moon Fire Party at Lockside Road, Preston Dock from 6pm onwards. I don't appear to have a postcode, but we can put you in touch with people who know where that is.

Spikey's 40th birthday curry is at the Nawab, on Market St, Westhoughton from 7:30pm. Please could you let him know if you're coming so he can let the restaurant know how many are going to invade.

The Bolton Moot is at the Olde Man & Scythe at 8pm on Sat 22nd. Beware, the cider is dangerous!

We're going to Ara to celebrate my birthday by dressing up as kinky goths and dancing in a silly way. Please do come and join us on Fri 28th. Doors open at 9pm, bring your own drinkies.

February
Marsden's ImBolg Fire Festival is happening on Sat 5th. All details are here, and it's excellent.

Manchester Museum on Oxford Road (M13 9PL) are giving a lecture called "Cursus Awareness: the other Stonehenge Monument" from 3:00-4:30pm on Weds 9th. We've heard some very good reports about these lectures.

March
On Sat 5th Shared Earth (we think) are hosting a Potter Party at Preston Rugby Club, starting at 7pm. It's a fundraiser for Pagancon, with entertainment and a buffet laid on. Tickets are £15 a chuck and available from Tasha who can be contacted here.

Finally, Bolton Historical Association are giving a lecture at the Parish hall on Silverwell St. It's on Mon 7th from 7:30 - 9:30pm and it's called ... (wait for it) ... "Scratching Fanny of Cock Lane".
No, really!

See you tomorrow (if you're coming)
Love,
Seán

December announcements

2010-12-16T10:07:00.002Z

The last moot of the year and quite a success, if a short one. I'd like to thank everyone who managed to get to us, and for letting me get to bed as early as possible considering the horrible time I had to get up the following morning.
I'd also like to congratulate Sara for being the Moot's official clever-pants, and winning her own wine (again!) *sigh*

The Next Two Moots

On 11th January we'll be having our annual games night. We're not sure exactly what that's going to involve yet, but Ed's said he may be able to get something called Once Upon a Story to us, and Womble's offered to bring along Mind Trap. Sounds good so far.

On 8th February Bridget will be presenting a talk on Multiple Intelligences. She did this before, several years ago and I can vouch for the fact it's very, very good.

We've also been asked for something resembling a "tree-recognition" moot. We're thinking about that as a summer-field-trip type option.

Coming Up

From the 7th - 24th December the Triangle shopping centre in Manchester (what used to be the Corn Exchange) is hosting a photography exhibition called The Way Through the Woods - ancient and evocative landscapes of the North West. It's open from 10am to 7pm and, even better, it's free.

On Friday 17th December Stone The Crows Border Morris team will be performing a traditional Mummers play. They'll be starting at 8pm at The Gables in Leyland, going on to the Royal Oak at Whittle-le-Woods and finishing at Top Lock, near Wheelton.

The Bolton Yule Moot will be happening at the Man & Scythe on Saturday 18th December. It starts at 8pm but it's likely that the pub will be pretty busy, so Hawky has suggested people try to get there a bit earlier. Purple Emma has promised to sit in the front room of the pub from about 4pm and snarl in her scariest way at any muggles who turn up.
Actually, that would probably work on me!

Leiwolf (Ashley) Crook is organising an open Yule ritual at Clayton Brook (between Chorley and Preston) on the evening of Sunday 19th December. Details from Lei, but if you don't know him we can put you in touch. It'll have to be through Facebook, though.

Megalithic Tours are running a Solstice Sunrise trip to Castlerigg stone circle on the morning of Tuesday 21st December. Details are available from Linda Sever, and if you don't know Linda the same deal applies as with Lei.

One the same evening we've been told there's a full moon fire party at Lockside Road, Preston Docks. It's organised by Pele's Pyromancers (I think) and starts at 9pm.

Looking Ahead

Our Wassail Party is now booked for Saturday 15th January, and if anyone fancies helping me to celebrate my birthday we'll be having an evening at Ara on (we think) Friday 28th January.

Lastly, Marsden ImBolg Fire Festival is on Saturday 5th February, starting at 7pm. We understand there's a very good train service, which sounds a lot better than trying to drive across the moors in fog thicker than a Heathen's favourite real ale.

And that'll do for now. See y'all soon.
Seán

November Announcements.

2010-11-10T09:39:00.002Z

Good morning you lovely people, and thanks to all those who made last night's Moot and told their excellent stories.
Here's what's coming up.

The Next Two Moots

On the 14th December we'll be having our annual quiz. Twenty-five questions (because Sara said so), set by me (because nearly everybody else said so) with multiple choice answers (because I said so!). There's even a small prize for the winner.
If you fancy a question or two on a specific subject, thus giving yourself a slight advantage, you have but to ask.

On 11th January there will be our annual games night. We're open to suggestions, folks.

Coming Up

Tonight Wednesday 13th November, if you've any energy left, there's a Heathen Moot by a group called Salgofnir's Call. It's at the Angel Pub in Manchester and starts at 7:30.

If you're feeling environmental there's a litter-pick going on at Eatock Lodges in Westhoughton on Sat 13th November. It's from 10:30am onwards and here's a postcode so you can find it: BL5 2SQ

On Fri 19th November we'll be gothing it up at Ara. It's on the 3rd Friday this month because of an event in the church. Anybody who fancies it is most welcome to join us.

For die-hard folkies there's a folk music workshop at The Crown at Worthington on Sat 20th November. It costs £25 but there's food laid on and it goes on all day (literally) from midday to midnight.

For the more lightweight of us there's the Bolton Moot at the Man & Scythe that same evening, 8pm onwards.

Finally for November there's an astrology workshop run by Shared Earth in Preston happening on Sunday 28th from 11am to 4pm. If you want to go you'll have to get in touch fast (by 14th Nov - tomorrow!) with your birth details and £10 for a chart to be made up. Food is usually laid on at these shindigs and you can find full details here: shared_earth@yahoo.co.uk.

Last of all, Jonathan hasn't told us yet but Manchester Pagan Wheel usually has a quiz night in December. That moot will be at The Waldorf on Monday 6th December.

And that'll do for now. See you in December.

Love,
Seán

October announcements

2010-10-13T10:42:00.002+01:00

And on time too!

The Next Two Moots

On 8th November we'll be hosting our annual storytelling moot. Please bring a story. It can be pretty much anything you deem suitable: a chunk of a novel, a myth, your own work etc. Our only request is that it be no more than ten minutes in the telling, so everyone gets a turn.

The 14th December will see the return of our annual quiz. 20 questions (or thereabouts) from yours truly on such subjects as folk customs, mythology, Paganism and aliens (thanks Spikey!). We may even have a picture section courtesy of the wonderful Womble. The winner will receve a bottle of our very own homebrew - insert joke about runners-up and two bottles here.

Coming Up

From 10am until 5pm on Saturday 16th October there will be a Mediaeval Fayre happening on Churchgate in Bolton. It will also include a street play of the beheading of the 7th Earl of Derby, aka John from the Man & Scythe, which we believe is happening around 2pm. On top of all that the Man & Scythe is hosting a cider festival at the same time.
Shops, an execution and booze - that seems to have all the bases covered!
Seán's note: James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby, was beheaded in October 1651 which is stretching the definition of "mediaeval" a bit. I won't tell anyone if you won't!

On the evening of Saturday 23rd October the Crystal Cauldron in Reddish near Stockport is hosting a Samhain Fancy Dress Ball. The theme is The Wizard of Oz and tickets are £15 a chuck (£7.50 for kids, under-5's go free) which sounds a lot but that does include a buffet and disco.

On Saturday 30th November it's Womble's birthday. It's also our own Fancy Dress Samhain party from 8pm that night and it's free! This year's theme is Horror Film Heroes (interpret that as you will). Any donations of firewood will be very gratefully received.

The Manchester Pagan Wheel will be on Monday 1st November at the Waldorf on Gore Street. We've been told that's it's probably going to be a social although there may be a surprise speaker.

If you've got an arm and leg to sell you may be able to afford a ticket for the Rocky Horror Show which is on a the Palace Theatre, Manchester from 15th to 20th November. Tickets range from £19.50 to £34.50. Mind you, if you sold an arm and a leg how would you get your fishnets on?

Finally, we've been informed that Wednesday 27th is Lancashire Day. What that actually is can be discovered here. Strange but true!

Eeh, by 'eck, whippet, black puddin', flat cap tha know'st. I'll go to'th foot of our stairs!

Love and glottal stops,
Seán

September Announcement.

2010-09-29T10:14:00.002+01:00

My mother often said I'd forget my head if it wasn't screwed on. She may have been right.
With that in mind, here are the announcements from September's moot - and the really cool thing is that it's still September (just)!

The Next Two Moots

On the 12th October PhD student and all-round extremely clever person, Hannah Kate will be giving us a talk on the Mediaeval Origins of Monsters (y'know vampires, werewolves and such). Mystic Seán predicts this is going to be a popular one. I know I'm looking forward to it.

9th November will see the return of our annual storytelling moot. Bring a story! It can be anything you like, something you've written or something you enjoy. Do try to keep it below ten minutes in the telling, though, so everyone gets a turn.

Coming Up

Saturday 9th October will see the first Pagan Federation North West Conference in quite some years. It's at the Castle Centre in Kendal from 10am to 6pm and tickets are available from: BM Brigantia, London, WX1N 3XX (£10 for members and £13 for non-members). You may also be able to pay on the door, but it's not recommended

If you can't manage that but fancy a mad night out, The Lowry in Salford has Sing-a-long-a-Wicker-Man on that self-same evening. No, really. The details are here.

During the afternoon of Saturday 16th October there will be a Mediaeval Market and Street Play on Churchgate in Bolton. Come and watch John, landlord of the Olde Man & Scythe get his head chopped off - fun for all the family!

Finally, our annual Samhain fancy-dress party will be on Saturday 30th October, 8pm onwards. This year's theme is Horror Film Heroes - come as a favourite horror film character. So far we haven't been threatened with naked werewolves!

That'll do for now unless, of course, I've forgotten something!

Love and brainache,
Seán

August Notifications

2010-08-24T17:17:00.003+01:00

A thought occurred to me this morning: I've been so busy and preoccupied that I completely forgot to write the moot blog.

EEEEK!

Oh well, only two weeks late ...

The Next Two Moots.

As he's feeling better now, we've rescheduled and on the 14th Sept Mark the Compost Elf will be giving us his talk on Dryads.

Following that Linda's mate Hannah will be telling us all about monsters - vampires, werewolves and so on - on the 10th October.

Other Stuff.
(Fortunately there's not a lot)

The Whitworth Rushcart is happening on Saturday 5th Sept and will even feature the fabulous Rivington Morris.

We'll be having our annual Bramble Ramble on the following Saturday 11th Sept, setting off from Dionysian Towers at 3pm. Bring a picnic and we'll have an afternoon and early evening picking, eventually finishing off with a few drinkies back at ours.
All that and blackberries too! What more could you need?

Looking a little further ahead - The Pagan Federation is rebuilding in the north west and having its first conference for quite a while. It's on the 9th October at the Castle Street Centre in Kendal, Cumbria and features workshops and talks by Chris and Vivianne Crowley, Jez Green, Laura Spicer and many others.Tickets are £10 (£13 for non-members) and available from:BM Brigantia, London, WC1N 3XX

July Announcements

2010-07-14T13:52:00.003+01:00

Hi everybody who braved the weather last night to get to us, it was excellent to see you. And to those who couldn't make it, you missed a strange and chaotic evening.
Unfortunately one of those people was our speaker Mark the Compost Elf, who isn't well but has asked if we can reschedule. I shall ask him if he fancies September as soon as my head's cleared and we can all send him nice thoughts now so he gets better.

This month the blog has been mostly written by Womble who did us some excellent diary sheets last night and from which I've very lazily copied and pasted the lot.

Forthcoming Moots

Tuesday 10 August 2010 - 8pm
Social barbeque at Sara and Seán's house

Tuesday 14 September 2010 - 8pm
Mark the Compost Elf?

Tuesday 12 October 2010 - 8pm
Open - any offers?

Other Events

Sat 17 July 2010 - 8pm
Ye Newe Bolton Moot
Man & Scythe, Bolton

Wednesday 21 July 2010 - 8pm
Rivington Morris Dance Out
The Crown, Worthington, near Standish (very good real ales pub)

Friday 23 July 2010 - 8pm
Trip to Ara.
http://portal.lerch2000.co.uk/index.php/aralnk

Saturday 24 July 2010 - 12pm to 9.30pm
Howfenfest.
Free local music festival in Central Park, Westhoughton
http://howfenfest.co.uk/

Saturday 24 & Sunday 25 July 2010
All day
Manchester Mela at Platt Fields Park, Fallowfield.
http://www.manchestermela.co.uk/

Monday 26 July 2010 - 9pm
Full Moon Fire Party. Lockside Road, Preston Docks.

Wednesday 28 July - evening
Rivington Morris dance out in Garstang.
http://www.rivingtonmorris.org.uk/

Saturday 31 July 2010 Midday
Lughnasadh Whinberry Walk
Meeting at the Shoulder of Mutton, Holcombe Village, BL8 4LZ.
http://www.theshoulderofmutton.net/

Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 August 2010
Todstock free festival, featuring local music talent. Central Vale Park, Todmorden
http://www.todstock.co.uk/

Friday 20 - Sunday 22 August 2010
Woodspirit Camp at Silverdale
A weekend of camping in beautiful woodland by the North Lancashire coast, for Pagans and Pagan-friendly Muggles! Activities include: Bonfire, BBQ, Circus skills, Drumming, Firedancing, Tree Spirit Journeys, Mummer's Play, Ritual, Children's Teddy Bear Hunt, Tai Chi, Incense Making and many other talks and workshops.
Speakers include: Linda Sever, Sara Fitton, Mark the Compost Elf, Joan Withington, Seán Fitton, Rufus and Melissa Harrington and music with special guest Damh the Bard.

Looking ahead

The Pagan Federation is rebuilding in the north west and having its first conference for quite a while. It's on the 9th October at the Castle Street Centre in Kendal, Cumbria and features workshops and talks by Chris and Vivianne Crowley, Jez Green, Laura Spicer and many others.
Tickets are £10 (£13 for non-members) and available from:
BM Brigantia, London, WC1N 3XX

Or if you don't fancy that you could always go to The Lowry that evening for Sing-a-long-a Wickerman. No, really!

And finally ...
Womble has suggested that many of us may find this website's free festivals interesting:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/free-uk-festivals
I reckon she's right.

Th th th that's all folks,
Seán
xxx

June Announcements

2010-06-15T11:27:00.004+01:00

Hooray! It's only taken me a week to get round to writing this. Sorry! I've been insanely busy, riding naked around Manchester and buggering off to camp and play drunken music. All those who feel the need to smack my bottom please form an orderly queue.

Thank you to Daniel for an excellent talk on the Wheel of the Year. Are we questioning dogma yet? Let's hope so

The Next Two Moots

Mark the Compost Elf has offered to take over on the 13th July with a talk on dryads. Don't miss it, he knows his stuff. (Incidentally, for those who haven't met him - picture a Compost Elf. Looks a lot like Dobby, right? Well, Mark looks exactly like Dobby doesn't!)

Womble has suggested a social barbecue night for 10th August. Sounds good to us!

September and October are still available if anybody wants them. Just give us a shout.

Coming Up

Pendle Witch Camp is on this weekend 18th-20th June. Details from their website.

If you can't manage that there's always the Manchester Day Parade on Sunday 20th

Sara's dancing at the Kasbah Club's Hafla on Saturday 26th June. Tickets may still be available at £10 each

Pagancon in Preston is on the 3rd of July, with a workshop by Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone the day after (although that costs extra).

Horwich carnival is also happening on that day, starring the inimitable Rivington Morris.

Our own Daniel will be speaking at the Pagan Wheel in Manchester on Monday 5th July. Details from us if you want some.

Further Ahead

For the campers, Oakleaf is on from 30th July- 1st August and Woodspirit from 20th-22nd August. Maybe we'll see you there.

Love and lateness,
Seán

May Announcements

2010-05-12T10:49:00.003+01:00

Hi folks, and thank you to everyone who made it last night. You came up with some fascinating insights and expressions of the paths we're all on. Very enjoyable and enlightening.
I've also made a personal discovery - British wine may be utter rubbish, but it doesn't leave you with even a slight hangover. Not sure if that's enough to make it worth getting again though!

Upcoming Moots

On the 8th June Daniel will be giving a revision of his talk on the Wheel of the Year. There's a lot more to it than you might think, especially if you're willing to question received wisdom.

After that we're a little blank. Womble's suggested a Barbecue night and I've got in touch with Mark the Compost Elf, but we haven't got specific dates yet. No worries, though. We've got a month to get organised.

Coming soon

On the afternoon of Saturday 15th May Rivington Morris are dancing out in (Would you believe?) Rivington! Or if you don't fancy that there's a bellydance flashmob going on somewhere in Manchester. If you want details ask, and we'll tell you when we know ourselves.

Also, that evening the Newe Bolton Moot is happening at the Olde Man & Scythe on Churchgate from 8pm. Be there or be more sober than me!

For those who fancied joining us for a good old goth-up at ARA on the 29th May, it ain't happening. It's happening on the 21st instead! We'd love to see you there.

AND on the 29th May Clarian Faeries are having a special woodland moot at Clarian Woods (a little north of Bury, I think) from about midday Saturday to Sunday teatime. It's NOT a campsite, it's a woodland, but you can camp there in small tents. You just need to be aware that you will be roughing it.
If you fancy that contact Clarian Faeries for details, or us and we'll put you in touch.

Other Stuff.

This year's Pagancon in Preston is on Saturday 3rd July. Details on the website, and it costs £15 per head if you pay on the door.

World Naked Bike Ride is on June 11th in Manchester and the Woodspirit Camp at Silverdale will be on the weekend beginning 20th August this year.

Our friend, Joanne (Jo Brown, Jo Frejya, Sexy Jo, Firey Jo) is opening a shop in Silsden, North Yorkshire selling oils, statues, bags, trinkets and suchlike and she's looking for crafty suppliers of handmade goods. If you make stuff and you'd like Jo to sell it please get in touch either with her directly or through us.

Finally . . .
If you would like to see yours truly make a complete fool of himself on national television please watch the Naked Office on Virgin 1 (Freeview 20) at 9pm on Tuesday 18th May. In my defence I'd just like to say, it was really cold!

Love and shrivelled bits,
Seán

April Announcements

2010-04-14T10:57:00.003+01:00

Hi all, and thank you to Linda for her very interesting talk last night. The book is officially out on Monday 26th April. It's available on Amazon if you must, but we suggest you go to your nearest independent bookseller instead and ask for:

Lancashire's Sacred Landscapes
Edited by Linda Sever
Published by The History Press
(and if anyone can give me the ISBN, I'll be terribly grateful)

NEXT!

The next Moot will be on Tuesday 11th May and we're handing over to you this time. The subject is "What's your path?" and we'd like everybody to tell us!

Daniel will be taking the Moot on June 8th with revision of his Wheel of the Year study. Is it interesting and radical or is it heresy? Come and decide for yourself.

The Moots for July to October are now open to offers. It has been suggested that I rope Mark the Compost Elf into doing one, so I'll be elf hunting soon and will let everyone know how we fare asap.

Coming Up
We have an absolute raft of announcements, so let's take a deep breath and dive in.

On Saturday 17th April (as well as Tasha's birthday party) there's the Halliwell Cultural Festival taking place at Bolton Rugby Club. Various genres of music and dance will be happening, including several sets from the wonderful Rivington Morris. The whole shebang starts at 10:30am and finishes at 5pm, but that will be followed by an English music session, then a ceilidh and another session late for the real hard-liners.
On the same evening will be the first social of the New Bolton Moot, (Facebook link, sorry!) at the Man & Scythe on Churchgate. 8pm onwards.

On Sunday 25th April Manchester will be having its annual St George's Day parade. The start is at midday from Albert Square and will include . . . Rivington Morris!
ALSO - UCLan Pagansoc in Preston are having a trip to Long Meg. Contact Linda if you fancy joining them on the bus.

On the next evening 26th April Clarian Faeries will be holding their April Moot in Westhoughton, and there's a real treat this time in the shape of Wiccan High Priestess, Joan Withington giving a talk on the various branches of Wicca. Contact the Faeries for details of where to go.

For anyone who's into life drawing Nexus Art Café are having life sessions on Tuesday evenings from 7:30pm. It costs £4, and get there early because they lock the doors when they start. On Tuesday 27th their model will be me!
Talking of which (and shamelessly plugging my own career) look out for The Naked Office on Virgin1, coming out soon. The episode about a company called Farmshed will feature a rather familiar face, and other bits too!

For those rare souls who aren't going to Thornborough or Grey Mare for the weekend we are holding our annual Bealtaine Wicker Man Party on Friday 30th April. There will be fire, a wicker man to burn, live music, a maypole, THAT film (with songsheets) and many other summery goodies.

On the 1st May the Faerie Ball is happening in Garstang. Tickets are £20 each but that's all-in, and you need to get them before the 17th April because they need to know what you can and can't eat. Contact Clarian Faeries for your tickets.

On the bank holiday Monday 3rd May (as well as it being Andrea's birthday) Moses Gate Country Park will be holding its annual Frog Parade. It's a great family event to celebrate summer, ecology and all things froggy including the dunking of the Frog King. It all starts from 10:30am at Smithy Bridge which is opposite the Farmers Arms pub on Radcliffe Road, Darcy Lever.

Hawky of the New Bolton Moot is organising a special Picnic in the Park (another FB link, I'm afraid) on Saturday 8th May in Queens Park, Spa Road, Bolton. Starting at 2pm it'll go on all night, but it's not just a picnic, it's also specifically to protest Bolton Council's felling of mature trees to "take the park back to its Victorian roots".

And there's more!
These last few things aren't happening until after the next Moot, so here are some dates for your diary and we can give you details should you need them.

May 15th - Bellydance flashmob in Manchester OR Rivington Morris performing in Rivington.

May 28th - A possible trip to ARA (oh look, it's almost Daniel's birthday too)

June 11th - World Naked Bike Ride
AND that weekend, Jim's Manning Ceremony/Linda's birthday camp at Silverdale.

July 3rd - Pagancon in Preston. Tickets are £12 in advance.

That's it! My typing finger hurts now!

Love,
Seán

March Announcements

2010-03-10T10:52:00.003Z

Hello you wonderful moot people. A special thanks goes to Daniel for last night's talk/discussion on psychometry (or even psychoscopy!) Most interesting.

The Next Two Moots

We've press-ganged Linda into taking over on 13th March, with a talk about her book, Lancashire's Sacred Landscape which is due to be published this month. Hurrah!

On the 11th May we're going to make you do the work! "What's your path?" will be the subject for discussion so please have a think and then you can tell us all about it.

Cruel? Noooooo!

News

Sadly, the Bolton 1st Monday moot is now defunct. Our hostess hasn't been terribly well of late and has decided to let it die a natural death. But don't despair, because it no longer clashes with Manchester Pagan Wheel and there's other good news on the horizon.

Coming Up

On Friday and Saturday 12th & 13th March there's a food and drink festival going on in Wigan, which will include a presence from The Coven and Maria's famous vegan cakes.

The evening of Saturday 20th March will see Daniel and Helen's Equinox party. A little less noisy with instruments this year because they've got neighbours now, but we can still have a good time . . . just quietly. Details from the Pixie and the Big Fellah, or via us.

Clarian Faeries will be holding their next moot in Westhoughton on Monday 22nd of March and it's going to be all about orbs. Are they spirits or are they dust, or what? Bring a digital camera if you can. Details from Mel and Nick or (again) via us.

On Saturday 27th March the Big Green Festival will be reappearing in Chorlton. It's good fun.

The amazing Rivington Morris will be making their beclogged presence felt at the Halliwell Cultural Event on Saturday 17th April and the St. George's Day parade in Manchester on Saturday 25th April.

Now the good news I mentioned: There's a new moot starting up in Bolton. The inaugural meet up will be on Saturday 17th April, from 8pm at the Olde Man & Scythe pub on Churchgate. There's also a Facebook group if you want to keep informed.

Finally, Bealtaine!

We'll be having our annual Wicker man party on Friday 30th April. There'll be a bonfire, a wicker man to burn, live music, a maypole, nudity (if someone takes their clothes off) and all manner of general revelry! 8 'til late!

On the evening of 1st May there's a Faery Ball being held in Garstang. Tickets are £20 a chuck, but that includes live entertainment, dancing (I think) and a 3-course meal with a really good veggie option. Details of the night and how to get tickets are available from Clarian Faeries, who are also providing the blessing ritual.

Lastly, the great Spencer Tunick is coming to town. Woohoo!

He'll be shooting around the Lowry and various parts of Salford and Manchester on Saturday and Sunday 1st & 2nd May. If you want to get naked and join in, here's where you register

Public nudity? It's a disgrace!

Love and chilly bits,

Seán

February Announcements

2010-02-11T09:23:00.002Z

Good morning everybody and welcome to the announcements page!

On behalf of everybody who came on Tuesday I'd like to thank Bridget for her fascinating talk on Esther, Purim and the Pagan roots of many Jewish traditions. Oy gevalt, 'twas extremely good.

The Next Two Moots

On the 9th March Daniel will be doing a talk (and possibly some practical stuff) on Psychometry.

Linda will be taking over on 5th April to tell us all about her new book, "Lancashire's Sacred Landscape: From Prehistory to the Viking Age" (she's the editor) which is due to be published this month.

We're also considering making you (Yes, you!) do some work in May with a moot entitled, "What is your path?". Or something like that!

The moots from June to October are now open to anyone who wants one. So, if you want to do a moot or request something specific please let us know and we'll see what we can sort out.

Coming up.

I'd like to express my gratitude to Linda, both for supplying many of the events mentioned here and also for writing them down. I couldn't keep up!

Today (11th Feb) and on Monday 1st of March there will be some rather interesting talks at Manchester University. Today's is called "Viking Excavations in Iceland" and the one in March is "Wrath in Anglo-Saxon Britain" They'll be held in the Samuel Alexander building, but we recommend contacting the university yourself for any further details.

Pan Tavern will be holding their roving moot this month at the Man & Scythe on Churchgate in Bolton on Saturday 20th Feb. 8pm onwards, I believe. This could prove most interesting.

On Tuesday 23rd Feb Clarian Faeries will be restarting their own moot in Westhoughton. If you're interested let us know and we'll put you in touch with Mel and Nick. And if anyone could remind us of the subject I'd be most grateful.

If you're in Preston on the 26th Feb pop into Blackwell's. They are hosting our own Linda's book launch that evening. You never know, you could spot a famous author!

All being well (we still need to confirm this though) the Bolton Moot will re-open on Monday 1st March at the Hen & Chickens. Fingers are crossed for Michelle's return to excellent health.

On Friday the 5th March Shared Earth are having a ceilidh at St. Mary's Hall in Horwich to raise funds for this year's Pagancon.

Chorlton's Big Green Festival is on again this year, starting at 11am on Saturday 27th March at St. Clement's church. More details to follow next month.

Looking ahead

Just a couple of dates for your diary
On Sunday 25th April there will be a St. George's Day parade through Manchester featuring the amazing Rivington Morris and on Sun 16th May the National Trust will be doing a guided walk around Alderley Edge.

Phew. That's it!

Love and dyslexic typing,
Seán

Sad news.

2010-01-21T18:36:00.002Z

Due to a family bereavement the Clarian Faeries Moot on the 25th January has had to be cancelled.

I'd like to take this opportunity to offer Mel and Nick our deepest sympathies on behalf of Sara, myself and all the attendees at Radcliffe.

Love,
Seán

January Announcements

2010-01-14T11:21:00.003Z

Hi folks

Well done to those two brave souls who managed to get to us (walking and on public transport) on Tuesday night. That was the quietest moot we've had for quite some time.
And to those who decided not to risk the roads and pavements - frankly, I don't blame you one bit. They were terrifying then and they're still scary now. We'd rather have all our friends in their proper shapes than mangled in bits all over the north west.

The Next Two Moots

Anywho . . . here's what's coming up.

On the 9th February there'll be a talk by Bridget on the not-as-Jewish-as-you-might-think Book of Esther and festival of Purim.

Daniel has claimed the 9th March for a night of psychometry. Hopefully we'll have safer conditions by then.

We've also got plenty of open spaces from April onwards, so if you want to request or to do a moot just ask!

Coming Up.

It's the Wassail on Saturday (16th Jan)! Please feel free to bring apple-based produce if you can, and we're happy to take any old firewood off your hands. Please definitely do bring your hats and voices. 8pm in our back garden. See you there.

On the 22nd January we'll be taking a trip to Ara to celebrate your host's birthday. Anyone who wants to join us will be most welcome. Here's what it's all about

Pan Tavern are having a roving moot in Wigan on the 20th January and an ImBolg ritual in Chorley on the 2nd February. You can find out the details here.

Our lovely friends at Clarian Faeries are starting their own moot in Westhoughton. The first one will be on the 25th January (Monday) and all about wassailling traditions. If you don't know them already you can contact them via their website (or just ask us and we'll put you in touch)

Finally, Marsden in West Yorkshire will be holding its annual ImBolg fire festival on the 6th February. It's certainly worth a look.

See y'all at the Wassail, I hope.

Love,
Seán

December Announcements

2009-12-11T11:02:00.002Z

Aaargh! Late again. What's my excuse this time? You'd never believe me if I told you. Well, you probably would actually - but enough of that. To business!

The Next Two Moots

We need you to bring your brain to the Moot on Tuesday 12th January, because we'll be playing some Psychic Games. We haven't decided exactly what they'll all be yet, so please feel free to think of one or two of your own. And just so we all know, giggling is good for telepathy!

Bridget will be taking over on Tuesday 12th February, with a talk (and maybe a bit more) about the festival of Purim and the Book of Esther. "But they're Jewish!", I hear you cry. Wanna bet?

The rest of our Moot dates are free now. So if you want to do one or request something, now is the time to ask. In fact, please ask - or we've got think stuff up ourselves!

Coming Up

We've suddenly found a stack of stuff going on in December and January. I'm not going to put a lot of links and things up this time. If you're interested, ask - and all shall be revealed (actresses and bishops are springing to mind for some reason!)

Friday 11th Dec - A Horned God Ritual in Borsdane Woods (I know that's today. Sorry!)

Saturday 12th Dec - A pot-luck Yule supper bring-along at Mel and Nick's house.

Friday 18th Dec - A Solstice ritual at Sentry Circle near Allerton.

Sunday 20th Dec - Yule open rituals by Shared Earth in Preston, and Pan Tavern in Chorley.

Saturday 16th Jan - We'll be Wassailing our apple trees. Please come along with a hat and apple-based produce

Friday 22nd Jan - (Assuming I've got the date right) A trip to Ara to celebrate your host's second 22nd birthday, slightly early. It's also Spikey's birthday the day before, so cards at the ready!

Monday 25th Jan - Clarian Faeries in Westhoughton are starting their own moot. You'll be able to say "I was there. . ."

Saturday 6th Feb - The Marsden ImBolg Fire Festival. More on that closer to the time.

News

Finally a little news
The bad news first: The Bolton Moot will be closed for January and February. Our lovely hostess, Michelle Screechowl is going into hospital for a rather serious operation very soon and is going to be out of action for quite some time. All being well the Moot will re-open in March, but until then we can send nice thoughts her way as often as possible.

The good news: Well, it's not good that he's gone away, but it's good for him. The lovely Jonny (ex of New Aeon Books) has managed to wangle himself a job at the British Library and consequently has just moved to London. Congratulations!

And that'll do for now. Have a wondrous Yule, stay warm (unlike my hands at the moment) and we'll see y'all in January.

Love and hot drinks,
Seán

November Announcements

2009-11-12T09:41:00.003Z

Hello and here's hoping everyone is recovering from Samhain. Thank you to everyone who came on Tuesday and read/told/was press-ganged into reading a story. Much fun was had by all.

Before I start on the announcements properly I'd like to mention that we've acquired a large collection of boxes, tubs and bowls (and one tea towel) over the last few months of moots and parties. So if they're yours (Nadia!) please come and take them home. Ta.

The Next Two Moots.

Next month's moot on the 8th December will be our Annual Quiz. Please bring five questions on your chosen topic. Don't make them terribly hard please - it's all in fun.
The idea is that we go around the room in turn asking our five questions and answering everyone else's. Then we go round giving the answers, one point each. Whoever gets the highest score wins a bottle of our home-brew (insert traditional joke about 2 bottles here . . . )

On Tuesday 12th January we'll be having a night of Psychic games. We have a small collection of such games but please feel free to bring ideas of your own.

Next year's calendars are made, so if you've asked to chair a moot etc. now's the time to remind me what and when. Especially if I had a glass of wine in my hand when you asked me!

Coming Up

It seems that we're hunkering down to hibernate for the winter so we've only got the one announcement this month, which is our trip to ARA on Friday 27th November. It'll cost you a fiver to get in, bring your own booze. As this is Bridget's coming-back-out party please do come along show her how we all love and appreciate her - even if she can be bloody hard work sometimes!

If you've got anything to announce please do add it to the comments.

There's also a new website I'd like to make everybody aware of. It's for Pagans in the North West and across the rest of the country to get in touch and announce their doings. And it's completely free too.
It's called Pan Tavern, created by our new friend Tia and it definitely deserves some patronage. Go on, you know you want to!

See y'all soon.
Love,
Seán

October Announcements

2009-10-16T12:31:00.002+01:00

A little overdue (like my library books were), but we get there in the end!

The Next Two Moots

Tuesday 10th November will see the our annual storytelling moot. Please bring a story, preferably with some vague relationship to Paganism and no more than about ten minutes in the telling. After that, go nuts! Write your own, or bring something profound/silly/sad/jolly. Whatever you want. Mr. Men books are deeply occult and therefore completely acceptable.

On Tues 8th December will be our annual quiz. We've decided to do the 5-questions-each thing again this year, so have a think about what you want your subject to be and let us all know. That way we can avoid clashes and repeated questions.

Also: We have calenders ready for the new year now. So, if you'd wanted to book yourself a moot for February onwards tell me again and I'll write it down. Ta!

Coming Up

Saturday 17th October (tomorrow) appears to be the busiest day of the year so far! Take your pick from these:
The Paddle Festival at Burrs Country Park in Bury goes from 10am. Normally I wouldn't push sports activities much but ours gorgeous, brainy and extremely talented friend Clairey Fairey will be teaching hoops (free) and poi (£5 but you get to keep the poi).

At the Man & Scythe in Bolton, the 7th Earl of Derby will be having his head cut off - a day out for the whole family! It's a historical celebration going right back to Bolton's events in the English Civil War. I don't have a proper time for this but there are contact details here.

That evening there's a chance, if you fancy it, to meet the Horned God himself. Hopefully Old Horny will be making an appearance at Borsdane Woods in Hindley, near Wigan. It's an evening of discussions, meditation, ritual and (of course) a visit to the pub. It all starts at 7:45pm, meeting here. For any further information contact this gentleman. Take something warm to wear!

Finally something's happening at Manchester Monastery in Gorton that day too. If anyone can remember what it is please could they tell us!

Sunday 18th October has a Gift and Craft Fair at Reebok Stadium in Horwich, featuring our marvellous friends at Clarian Faeries. It's £2 each but accompanied kids go free.

On Saturday 24th October there's a Mind, Body Spirit open day at Westhoughton Community Learning Centre. I don't really know a lot about this and apparently there are too places wiith that name, so if you know more than me please tell us!

Woohoo! Our annual Samhain Party will be on Friday 30th October, 8pm onwards at our house. The theme is Harry Potter. Ah, drunken debauchery! Whatever next? If you can't make it home we can put a few people up on air beds and sleeping bags in the living room. But be warned - we will make you help with the cleaning up the next day.
Hope to see y'all there!

Mel and Nick are having a post-Hallowe'en Rocky Horror do at their place in Westhoughton on Friday 7th November. If dressing up kinky if your cup of tea, send us your contact details and we'll pass them on to the lovely hosts.

Finally, on Friday 27th November we WILL be going to ARA. There's a special reason for this too - it's the coming back out party for our superb friend Bridget. If you don't know who that is, you'll find out by being there!

That's it!
See you all soon I hope.

Love,
Seán

September Announcements

2009-09-09T13:36:00.003+01:00

Hi y'all and a huge Thank You to Daniel for his emergency rescue of last night's Moot with Pagan Theology. That fair got us going!

The Next Two Moots
Due to unforeseen difficulties Tina wasn't able to do last night's moot, so instead she's swapped with Linda and will be doing Reflexology on the 13th of October.

And then we're back to our annual Moots, so we'll be having the Storytelling session on the 10th of November. Get thinking now folks and you'll be able to come up with a doozy by then.

Coming Up
For those who like their music and dance traditional, Rivington Morris will be performing as part of the Gorton Rushcart celebration on Saturday the 12th of September and with some other teams at the Olde Man & Scythe and around Bolton on the 19th.

Also on the 19th is Pixie and Daniel's Equinox party at their house. Bring food, drink, instruments but most importantly yourself! If you need the details please contact them, or if you can't then give us a shout instead.

Looking Ahead
Our Samhain fancy-dress party this year is going to be on Friday the 30th of October. The theme has been decided too - Harry Potter. Wands at the ready!

We're also going to ARA (yes really this time!) on Friday 27th November. It's a special party to celebrate the end of a great friend's chemotherapy. If that ain't worth a night out, then nothing is.

And Finally
The Knitting Noras Naked Knitting charity calender for Christies is out on the 18th of September. Watch THIS SPACE to find out where you can buy it.

Lastly, I've had an email from Ceri of Lune Pagans in Lancaster asking me to advertise their Moot. Happy to oblige:
The moot is on the 2nd Friday of the month (that's Friday 11th September) at the Three Mariners Pub, Bridge Lane. Start time is 8:30. There's a Yahoo group if you want any further info, or you can just turn up and look for their sign.

And that's that. Short and sweet this month.

Love,
Seán

August Announcements.

2009-08-14T10:57:00.002+01:00

Hi folks and thanks to so many people for turning up on Tuesday night. I believe we managed to squeeze 23 lovely Pagans (if you count Trev - an honorary Pagan) into our living room, and so I'd like to declare August 2009 as the Official Biggest Moot Yet. We need a bigger house!

Special thanks go to Rook for a fascinating and very informative talk on the origins and uses of Tarot, and to Lesley for suggesting and contacting him. From the reaction I think we all enjoyed it immensely. I certainly did.

The Next Two Moots

Rook took over on Tuesday because we've had to reschedule things due to family illnesses and such so:
The Reflexology Moot by Tina (and Daniel & Helen?) will now be on Tuesday 8th September, and Linda's Moot will be on Tuesday 13th October. We still don't know what Linda's going to do yet!

Coming Up

It's a bit short notice, but if you're going to Andrea's '70s themed housewarming party - see you tonight!

We're taking a trip to ARA on the Friday 28th August. Anyone who fancies joining us there is likely to get seriously cuddled and danced at. Jane has promised to come round here first and do our make-up and will be crashing for the night - which means we've room for one more in the taxi, so long as you can cope with sleeping on an air bed in our living room.

(ADDENDUM! I've just discovered ARA's happening on the 21st so we can't go! Bugger, bugger, bugger! Anybody fancy Jilly's on the 28th instead? Or another option?)

We'll be having our annual pre-Equinox Bramble Ramble on Saturday 5th September. Meet at our house at noon, bring a picnic and we can make a whole day of it.

Monday 7th Sept sees Jonny (ex of New Aeon Books) giving a talk on Voodoo (please excuse spelling!) at the Manchester Pagan Wheel Moot. This is at the Waldorf on Gore Street, it starts at 8pm and there's a small charge for room hire.
If Manchester's too far you could always support the Bolton Moot at the Hen & Chickens on the same night.

Finally, for the folkies amongst us Gorton Rushcart is happening in Gorton (oddly enough) on Saturday 12th September. There will even be music and dance from the famous Rivington Morris (plug, plug).

Looking Ahead

We're considering having our annual Samhain fancy-dress party on Friday 30th October. Any suggestions will be most welcome.
We've also been told that Circle of Pagans in Liverpool will be having their do on the Saturday at Casa Bistro. More details to follow, I'm sure.

That'll do for now. See you soon.

Love and the destruction of germs,
Seán

July Announcements

2009-07-17T09:44:00.002+01:00

Well, at least I'm nearer to prompt than last month!

A big Thank You goes to Chris for an excellent moot on Tuesday, and for the idea of us all making a set of Moot runes. Inspired!

Future Moots

On the 11th of August we'll be having a reflexology session. This was originally planned as a joint venture between Tina and Daniel and Helen. Due to circumstances which I'll explain later it may be only Tina, but I'm sure she'll do a grand job.

Linda will be taking over the 8th September Moot. We don't know what she's doing yet, but then neither does she. So that's okay.

We don't have anything planned for October so far. Any suggestions?

Coming Up

Sadly, Daniel and Helen have had to cancel their trip to ARA this month - explanation in a bit! For the same reason Daniel has also had to reschedule his upcoming talk on Welsh Mythology at the Pagan Wheel.

The Woodspirit camp at Silverdale is on though, and tickets are apparently still available. It's all happening from the 24th -26th of July, so if you want to go get in touch with Jacqui or Lissa asap or tell us and we'll give you their email addresses.

Our annual Lughnasadh Whinberry Walk will be on Saturday 1st August. We're meeting at 10:30am by the Shoulder of Mutton pub, in Holcombe Village (which may or may not be open - it was shut last year after a drugs bust) - thats BL8 4LZ for those with SatNav.
The plan is that we stroll up Holcombe Hill (which is a lot easier than it sounds) and have a nice picnic at the top. The we work our way down picking whinberries (or whortleberries, blaeberries, bilberries, Vaccinium myrtillus - if you're not from Lancashire)

We've also decided to have a trip out to ARA ourselves on the 28th August. Details are all here and the postcode is M3 5DW. Eeh, aren't we high-tech now!

Other stuff

It's a rather topical reason why Daniel and Helen aren't around at the moment. There's been an incidence of swine flu at young Dylan's school and since Dylan isn't terribly good at fighting off infections they have had to batten down the hatches and stay out of the way for a while. Don't worry, they'll be back!
Similarly, our friend Screechowl has also had it. She's suffering post-viral nasties at the moment, but she's well on the way to recovery.
So, please join us in sending out some huge love. Every little bit is welcome.

On a more positive note, our lovely friends Carol and Mel are taking their business, Clarian Faeries out on the road. They'll be making regular appearances at Westhoughton and Bolton markets. Contact them via the website and then go find 'em - and buy stuff off them too!

See y'all soon.

Love,
Seán

June Announcements

2009-06-16T12:50:00.002+01:00

EEEK! I'm a week late with this. Mind you with what I've been getting involved in recently I think I'm doing well to remember anything. Fortunately there's not a lot to report but, please, if I've missed anything tell me.

Moots

The next two moots go like this: on Tuesday 14th July Chris will be teaching us some pyrography - excellent for your wooden wands and pentacles - and on Tuesday 11th August there will be a team effort of Daniel, Helen and Tina teaching and demonstrating some reflexology. Foot-washing facilities will be available (if someone reminds me).

Coming up

Not an enormous amount, actually! We've decided to have a quiet family Solstice (it's either that or collapse) so we'd like to wish everyone a Happy Summer right now. *big hugs* XXX Mwah!

On Sat 27th June Rivington Morris will be performing in Bolton for a charity Victorian day. You'll find us on Churchgate somewhere. Or most likely propping up the bar at the Old Man & Scythe!

Pagancon is on the weekend of 4th/5th July (Details and tickets here). That's unless us Subgeniuses have got it right and it's really X-Day and the end of the world. Praze "Bob"!

If you're going to the Woodspirit camp at Silverdale this year, 24th-26th July be sure to come and say hi!

Finally - we will be having our annual Lughnasadh Whinberry Walk on Holcombe Hill sometimes around Lughnasadh. We just haven't decided when yet.

Love and rushing around,
Seán

May Announcements.

2009-05-16T10:22:00.002+01:00

It's taken me a little while to write this stuff down but well, better late than never!

The Next Two Moots

Next month, Tues 9th June we'll be having a social barbecue in the back garden - please bring anything you feel is appropriate and we'll work it all out between us.

On the 14th July, Chris has promised us a session of pyrography.

Please stock up on burn remedies for both of those Moots now!

Other Stuff

We're having a night out at ARA (come hell or high water!) on Friday 22nd May. Anybody who wishes to join us for a good old Gothfest will be more than welcome. I've got to go - I've made a new shirt specially for it (and trousers if I can ever follow the pattern properly!).

Monday 1st June sees both the Bolton Moot and the Manchester Pagan Wheel. We're informed that Manchester has a talk by Mark Black entitled, Metaphysics.

Friday 12th of June is Manchester's bit of the World Naked Bike Ride. All details are in the link. Please get your kit off and get on your bike (or if you can't, then come to Manchester and cheer us on). You'll even get to see my wobbly, white flesh - lucky you!

The evening after that (Saturday 13th June) will hold Bridget's birthday party. Because of her present treatment it's impossible to plan ahead with any certainty, so before you go please ring either us or Bridget on the day to make sure this is still happening.

We will be having our Solstice picnic on the weekend of 20/21 June, but we're not organised as yet. So, full details to follow
On the same weekend The Coven are having a Solstice camp at Silverdale. Contact them for more info.

Finally (for this bit) there's a charity Victorian day going on around the Parish Church in Bolton on Saturday 27th June. Most importantly it's going to feature the Rivington Morris, and some rather familiar faces!

And There's More . . .

Does anyone fancy a group trip to the Tate Gallery in Liverpool? Tina's organising this so if you're up for it either speak to her directly or tell us and we'll do it for you.

Emrys has told us that Urbis in Manchester is having an exhibition on the history of video games. There's a small fee, but apparently you get to play with them.

Lastly, Linda has informed us that Cresswell Grags are open to the public again, at the weekends, from the end of May. If you like your art good and prehistoric, that's the place to be.

That's all folks. I'm off to sew my trousers!

Love,
Seán

April Announcements

2009-04-15T09:46:00.004+01:00

Good morning everybody (he says through a mild hangover).
Thank you to everyone who could get to us last night, and especially to Daniel for making us all think!

We assume by now that everyone knows about the demise of New Aeon Books in Manchester. For those who don't, New Aeon has sadly gone into liquidation after 15 years of business, three addresses and one IRA bomb. It's definitely the end of an era, although some feel that there may be a phoenix hiding in New Aeon's ashes.
Meanwhile, please find and support your local Pagan and hippy shops, like Crystal Poppy and The Coven.

So here are the announcements for April:

The Next Two Moots

The next moot, on Tues 12th May will be a poetry Moot to celebrate our post-Bealtaine creativity. Please bring a poem you've written yourself, preferably on some kind of Pagan theme. It can be an ode, sonnet, villainelle, dirty limerick, free verse - whatever you want - and it doesn't have to rival Yeats or Whitman. Go on, give it a go. You know you really want to!

On Tues 9th June we'll be having a social barbecue Moot. Please bring along some food! We're open to offers of fuel and equipment too.

Coming Up

There's a moot we've recently heard about going on in Chorley. If anybody fancies that the next one is on Tues 28th April. Send an email to Jo for more info.

For anyone who fancies going the the Clun Green Man Festival is happening across the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Closer to home (and the day after World Naked Gardening Day), our annual Bealtaine Wicker Man party will be happening on Sunday 3rd May from 8pm. We'll have lots of Maytime goodness including a bonfire, a wicker man to burn, a maypole (sort of) with live music, and the original film with singalong sheets as well. Kids are welcome and we'll even let you keep your clothes on - if you really want to!

The next day 4th May (Bank Holiday Monday) sees the Frog Parade. Please check it out, it's great fun. It starts at 10:30 from Smithy Bridge, opposite the Farmers Arms pub on Radcliffe Road, Darcy Lever. For more details ring 01204 334343 or email: rangers@bolton.gov.uk.

Womble has told us about a talk on the Pendle Witches at the Octagon in Bolton. Assuming tickets are still available it's on the 7th May and costs a fiver.

If anyone fancies a weekend of Bealtaine camping, there's one at Silverdale on the weekend beginning 8th May. It costs £25 per person and we have a phone number for more details. I'm not happy about putting private numbers on the web, so if you fancy going let us know and we'll give you the number ourselves.

Finally for May - On Friday 22nd we are definitely going to ARA. We're going to ARA this time if we have to bloody walk! Anyone who wants to join us in a good old goth-fest will be very welcome, and probably cuddled a lot. Now whatever am I going to wear?

Advance Stuff

The Pagan Wheel Moot on the first Monday in June is hosting a talk entitled Metaphysics, by Mark Black. More details from us if you want 'em.

Please, please, please come to Manchester to support your local leg of the World Naked Bike Ride. Your humble host is one of this year's organisers, so if you want to join in please tell me. We're riding on the evening of Friday 12th June. More details to follow.

The University of Bolton is holding a Folk Music workshop from 10 -4 on Tues 23rd June, taught by the tutor of Britain's only Folk-Music degree. It's primarily for staff and students, but any extra places will be up for grabs, I think.

Bolton will be holding a Victorian fete-thingy around Churchgate on Sat 27th June. Stars of the show will include the famous Rivington Morris - they take no prisoners! - who have at least three connections to our lovely moot that I'm aware of.

And well in advance - this year's Pagancon will be on Sat 4th July, at Preston Grasshoppers Rugby Club. Apparently Janet Farrar's going to be there - calm down boys!

Finally!

Lastly, I'm going to be plugging this until people start hitting me out of boredom - partly because I'm involved but mostly because (especially in light of recent events) it's important, worthwhile and fun.
The Bolton Knitting Noras are producing a charity Naked Knitting Calendar, with the proceeds going to Christies. Everyone is giving their time and skills for free - including the photographer, Laurie Jeffery. He's good! He's very, very good!
Please pre-order your copy. Right now!

Okay, that's enough. Can I go back to bed now please?

Love,
Seán

Pace Egg Mumming Play

2009-03-23T11:39:00.002Z

Hi All,

As promised, I've been in touch with the Bury Pace Eggers and found out when they'll be performing. Unfortunately it's not on the Easter weekend, but the one before - which clashes a bit with the Big Green Doodah in Chorlton.
We'll be watching the earliest performance we can and then shooting off to Chorlton. Hope we can see you there.
I'm still working on the Frog Parade stuff, but I'll get there in the end.

Anyway, here's a copy of the email Francis Roe of Bury Pace Eggers sent to me:

Hi Sean

Pace Egging will be on Sat 4th and Sun 5th April. We'lll be at
Ramsbottom Market from 10.30 on the Saturday.then from 12 noon at the
Square between Bury Market and Millgate shopping centre. We'll be
around the Rock and the Square between 12 and 2.00pm, plus the
following pubs:

Two Tubs               1.00
White Lion             1.15
Knowsley              1.45
Trackside              2.15

On Sunday, it's just the following pubs

White Horse, Walshaw           12.30
Pack Horse, Affetside            12.50
Red Lion, Hawkshaw                1.20
Wagon and Horses, Hawkshaw 1.40
Lord Raglan, Nangreaves            2.05
Footballers, Higher Summerseat             2.35
Hamers, Higher Summerseat                  2.45

Looking forward to seeing you. I shan't be there myself on the Sunday.
Paul Sanderson will be in charge for the day.

Good wishes

Francis

March Announcements

2009-03-11T11:46:00.002Z

Hi Everybody!
Now that I've got my shed painted and the hangover's calming down, here are the announcements from last night's Moot. I'd like to thank everyone who could make it for coming and giving us such a full house and a fun night.

The Next Two Moots
Daniel will be re-exploding his Reality Bomb on Tuesday 14th April. This is the talk/discussion/rant which was postponed from last month due to illness.

On Tuesday 12th May we've decided to have a poetry Moot. (Okay, I decided and everyone else made pained moaning noises!) Unlike previous poetry nights this one is Bring Your Own! *he says grinning evilly and cackling*

Other Stuff
Pay attention now, there's a lot of it! In fact there's so much that there's an evens chance I'll forget something. If I do please feel free to shout at me and I'll sort it out asap.

Daniel and Helen are holding their Equinox party at Yates Towers on Saturday 21st March, from 8pm onwards. If you can play an instrument, please do bring it. If you can't - so what! Bring yourself.

I'm considering a trip to ARA on the night of Friday 27th March. I've not actually made a proper decision yet - we may not be able to afford it - but if you're interested in coming along, let us know.

Jonathon has told us of a new pub Moot starting on the 1st Wednesday of the month. It's at the Queens in New Mills, Derbyshire and the first meeting is on the 1st April (I know, I know!). Apparently the lady running it is also the landlady of the pub. Pretty cool!

The Chorlton Big Green Festival is on Saturday 4th April at St. Clement's Church on Edge Lane. I'm plugging this a bit because there will be some lovely people there including the Vegan Society (including our own Linda, and Morag too I think); Bolton's marvellous Knitting Noras who will be advertising their naked knitting charity calender as well as teaching folks how to knit; and a performance from the rather good Anglo-Franco-Mancunio-Boltonio band, the SR Gents (check 'em out!)
If you don't fancy that the Horwich Morris are performing in Edgeworth that day and may include a certain tall, dark, fiddle-playing young lady of our acquaintance.

Jonathon has also told us that the PF's Sarah Males will be giving a talk on Shinto at the Pagan Wheel (Waldorf, Gore Street, Manchester) on Monday 6th April. Fingers crossed!

For those of a nudist disposition, you might like to know that Saturday 2nd of May will be the 5th annual World Naked Gardening Day. Don't do it on your own, the neighbours might not understand!

We've come to a final decision for our Bealtaine Wicker Man Party. It will now be on the evening of Sunday 3rd May, as the next day is Bank Holiday Monday. Be in good voice: there will be singing - and dancing, and eating, and drinking, and film-watching! 8pm onwards at our 'ouse.

The next day, Monday 4th May will have the Frog Parade at the gravel pits in Darcy Lever, which are part of Moses Gate Country Park. This is great fun for all the family, but we haven't got any more info yet. As soon as I know anything proper I'll tell everyone else.

This weekend also sees the Clun Green Man festival. I know Womble is thinking of going to some or all of it so if anyone wants to arrange a group trip she's the best person to speak to. If you don't know how to get hold of her, tell us and we'll do it for you.

We don't know much yet about the Bury Pace-Eggers either, except that they'll be performing over the Easter weekend 10th - 12th April. Wheels are in motion to find out more (thanks Punzie and Og).

We're also still waiting for a message from Jane, who wants a good-old Pagan housewarming. Details will be forthcoming soon, I believe.

Finally, Linda has told us about the Northern Earth Walks Weekender at Kilmartin, Argyll. Camping for the whole weekend will cost all of £8 per tent. It's on 16th and 17th May touring ancient sights, but details are limited to a Yahoo group. If you're interested either contact Linda, or tell us and we'll put you in touch.

I'm tired now!
Night, night!

Love,
Seán

Litlle Update

2009-03-03T09:25:00.001Z

Hi y'all.

Just a little note to say that Bridget's talk on Esther (ie. who is she really?) is postponed until such time as she's feeling better.

Meanwhile I'm open to suggestions. If anybody fancies taking over this month they'll be very welcome. Otherwise, Sara has suggested I do a talk on the Mad March Hare.

What do YOU think?
See you on Tuesday 10th.

Love,
Seán

February Announcements

2009-02-11T09:42:00.002Z

Hi everyone and thank you to those who could make it here last night. Considering so many people were ill we had rather a good turnout and quite a lively session. Hello to our new people Chris and Jane (sorry if that's spelled wrong!), we hope you'll come again. If you were ill (or otherwise unable to make it), we hope you'll get better soon and we'll see you in March, if not before.

For those who were expecting Daniel's Reality Bomb talk we can only apologise, but a postponement couldn't be helped. With so much lurgy around, Daniel and Helen didn't want to risk taking yet more germs home to little Dylan, which is fair enough.

So anyway, here are the announcements.

The Next Two Moots

The Moot for Tues 10th March is planned to be taken by Bridget, giving us a talk on Esther (as in The Book of Esther, Old Testament) and what she's really about.
Sadly, Bridget isn't terribly well at the moment, so there's a possibility this may not happen as planned.
We're assuming it's going ahead for now but if anyone would like to offer an emergency talk/discussion/workshop/whatever as an alternative, we'll be very grateful. Otherwise we'll come up with something ourselves should there be a problem.

Daniel's back on Tues 14th April. This is the rescheduling of the Reality Bomb talk, for which we wait with great eagerness!

Announcements

The only announcement we have been told about for February is the Slaithwaite Moonraker Festival on the Saturday 21st. It starts at 6pm and you can read more at the bottom of this page.

Unusually, we don't have anything coming up for a couple of months, so here are a couple of advance announcements:

Saturday 4th April is the date of the Chorlton Big Green Festival. Details can be found here.
On that same day the Horwich Morris will be performing in Edgeworth. You can get details by asking Womble, or failing that ask us and we'll ask Womble!

I've also taken the executive decision of setting our Bealtaine Wicker Man Party for Saturday 2nd May. I know this is a pain in the fundament for a lot of people but I can't really come up with a better date. It's not carved in stone yet, though.

And Finally

We will be on Facebook! Womble has requested that we get a Facebook group going so events can be posted more easily. I'll sort that out just as soon as bloody Farcebook lets me log in again. All I've had all morning is this:

Account Unavailable Your account is temporarily unavailable due to site maintenance. It should be available again within a few hours. We apologize for the inconvenience.

I'm getting paranoid now! See y'all soon.

Love (and hugs full of germs)
Seán

January 2009 - Announcements

2009-01-14T09:26:00.005Z

Well, last night was a bit odd!
Perhaps it had something to do with the void moon (last aspect was an opposition to Neptune at about 6:30 am and it remained void until about 6:30 in the evening when it entered Virgo) but whatever it was, it could well be recorded as the Moot that almost didn't happen.

Special thanks go to Anne and Jonathan (sp?) for managing to get to us. To the ten other people who sent their apologies we can only say thanks for letting us know. We hope that the illness/difficult situation/date clash/etc. improves asap, and we'll see you soon.

A quiet Moot is just so weird! Anyway, here are some announcements:

The Next Two Moots

On Tuesday 10th February, Daniel will blow our minds, man!, with his (recently successfully tested) Reality Bomb. And. . .

On Tuesday 1oth March, Bridget will be teaching us all about Esther. Yes, the one from the Bible. A nice Jewish girl . . . or is she?
It's also Gillian's birthday that day, so be sure not to forget her.

Other Stuff

The Wassail is on this coming Saturday - the 17th - 8pm onwards, in our back garden. Be there or be a rectangular thynge, and don't forget your hat! In fact, I'm about to cut the firewood for it once I've published this.

Finally, keep Friday 23rd clear in your diary for my birthday night out at ARA. Here's a link to ARA for those who may not know it. Come and help me pretend I'm still young and thin by gothing-it-up in a 17th Century church!
It's also Spikey DaPikey's birthday two days before, so I think we're on a double celebration. WooHoo!

And that appears to be it! So, many blessings and huge hugs to whoever's reading this and we'll see y'all soon.

Love,
Seán

Guitar Offered

2008-12-17T14:43:00.001Z

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

December Announcements

2008-12-10T10:31:00.005Z

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

December Quiz Heads-Up!

2008-11-17T11:18:00.003Z

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

November Announcements

2008-11-12T09:33:00.009Z

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

Update - HELP!

2008-10-20T14:42:00.003+01:00

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

October Announcements.

2008-10-16T10:48:00.004+01:00

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

September Announcements

2008-09-10T09:17:00.005+01:00

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? "

Samhain Party

2008-08-27T18:08:00.004+01:00

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

Linda's Book - plug plug

2008-08-16T16:33:00.005+01:00

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

August Announcements

2008-08-13T20:50:00.005+01:00

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

Otherworld

2008-07-30T14:49:00.003+01:00

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

A Grand Pagan Day Out

2008-07-20T15:00:00.005+01:00

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.

Update

2008-07-19T20:20:00.002+01:00

Just a little news update: Linda's talk at the August Moot will be on. . .

Northern Tradition Women's Mysteries

So now we know! See you on the 12th.

Love,
Seán

July Announcements

2008-07-09T18:28:00.005+01:00

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

Religion with Martin Amis

2008-06-25T18:29:00.007+01:00

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

June Announcements

2008-06-23T10:24:00.005+01:00

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

Welcome

2008-06-22T09:16:00.003+01:00

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