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How is it October already? Feels like the Summer just passed us by in a blink of eye! We have been so busy on these never ending to-do lists that we hardly noticed the time just flashing by.
This newsletter is packed with announcements, so please make sure to ready it thoroughly so you don’t miss out of anything!!
Remember that we have our Facebook group that you are very welcome to join if you are missing your CoA/Witchfest friends and to stay up to date with all the gossip: https://www.facebook.com/groups/witchfest
Looking a witchy podcast to listen to? Have a look at Witching Around, a new podcast releasing episodes monthly celebrating and exploring modern day Paganism! | |
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Witchfest International 18th Nov 2023
We just secured the sword for the famous VIP members bar raffle, and oh boy it is a beauty! This year we a stunning Anglo-Saxon replica! If you would like to take part and have a chance of winning this stunning reproduction, consider becoming a VIP before Witchfest International.
We will have some of your favourite familiar faces like Prof. Ronald Hutton, Sorita D’Este, Rachel Patterson, Pete Jennings, Barbara Meiklejohn-Free, Flavia Kate Peters and more, but plenty of new talent too, so do keep an eye on the website as new speakers and their bios get added to it.
We are happy to announce that the Community Sponsored Tickets initiative is now live. So if you know someone that really wants to go to Witchfest but can’t afford a ticket, or if you have fallen on hard times and wish you could join us, now is your chance. Have a look at the link for more information: https://witchfest.net/community-free-witchfest-international-tickets/
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Become a Witchfest VIP Today!
Becoming a Witchfest VIP card holder not only supports our organisation and work, but also has some cool perks for you! From early entry to events, entry to the VIP members bar at International, discounts on specific shops, special offers and discounts to Witchfest events and Witchfest sponsored events. Want to become a Witchfest VIP card holder? There are varied options to choose from donations so you can tailor it to what you can afford.
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Witchfest Market Frome will Return to the Cheese and Grain on the 2nd of March!
Witchfest Markets returns to Somerset with a Free to Enter Esoteric Market at the popular Cheese & Grain Somerset venue!
You will find Witchfest Markets are the perfect location to find unusual and interesting gifts with a witchy twist, where there are gifts both for yourself and others. The doors open at 9am and close at 3pm, giving you plenty of time to browse. You can buy treats for yourself, and gifts for others, have lunch, meet friends and meet new people.
You will find a multitude of food and drink options. An on-site Cafe serves delicious food and drinks, and has a licensed bar. A street food vendor is right outside, and there are numerous nearby food outlets.
Witchlets offer free entertainment packs for the young at heart to keep your younger family members entertained, while you shop, so there is something for all ages.
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Wicca Introduced 2024 is scheduled for April 20 and 21st of April!
This is the course for anyone interested in learning more about Witchcraft or Wicca. The Children of Artemis will be holding a 2-day weekend introductory Wiccan course in London running from 10.30am until 6.30pm each day.
With an option to socialise with new friends at a pub afterwards, the course will include a complete overview of this enthralling subject, expertly taught by experienced tutors from CoA Central. There will be a wide variety of practical demonstrations, talks, discussions and group activities.
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Artemis Gathering returns in 2024 with a few changes!
Last Artemis Gathering, was in many ways, transformational. We had to share with you that the event was in trouble, that potentially that would be the last one ever, so enjoy it to the fullest, and boy did you guys do that.
As the organising team we normally get approached with problems, complaints, negative feedback. That weekend most of you approached us to share stories that represented how much this event is so important to each and one of you.
We had no idea that our little camp touched so many people so deeply, we are so used to seeing the complaints, it was nice to see a side we are rarely shown.
So, we got to work, what could do we to save the event? We haven’t worked out all the kinks yet, but, we have a venue and a date and most of the bare bones of the event confirmed. It will be a bit more “festival” type event than we are used to, but I am sure it will be worth it. We can tell you we have Prof. Ronald Hutton and Damh the Bard confirmed, and our fire crew are looking at the what they can offer us.
I know it doesn’t look like much yet, but believe me, it has not been easy to get here. So after a bit of a re-brand and polish, a move and rejig we can say Save the Date! |
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Witchcraft & Wicca Magazine Issue 38 is Now Available!
And is it new magazine time! And thank you so much for the all the amazing article submissions, we really appreciate you sharing your knowledge, views and opinions with us. We hope you love this issue as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you. What is even more awesome, is that the magazine is now free to read! So feel free to share it with all of your friends!
We are always looking for submissions! So, if you want to send your articles to us, just drop us an email at [email protected]
Articles should be around 1500 words, music or book reviews 150 words, and any images you want to send us should be 300dpi and free of copyright!
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Witchfest Witchlets – For Pagan Families
Witchlets is in the process of cementing its social media presence as its own entity and we invite you to come support the page. Below is the official mission statement. There’s lots happening over the next few weeks, and lots to announce so join them in their Facebook Group!
Their aim is to encourage inclusivity for Pagan families by creating a reliable centralised platform of education resources, petitioning the DoE for change within the school system, and being an organisation of advocacy and fair chaplaincy for all pagan families across the UK.
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The Veiled Market
Tell all of your friends about Veiled Market and lets make it the main place to shop for our witchy/pagan/heathen/alternative community. With your help, we can bring our platform to more and more people, so that we can support more and more pagan small businesses. It is important to remember that whichever traders membership option is chosen Veiled Market is much cheaper than running a web site, and has a very simple setup and good support.
In this difficult economic times it is critical that small traders can sell their creations 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. It is equally important for both buyers and sellers that the platform is affordable. Veiled Market is the answer to both these problems, without the cost and complexity of running your own website, or paying high fees to one of the large online markets. If you are a creative artisan check it out, the price and facilities may surprise you. If you love buying items from pagan markets and are interested in an online option, you should definitely have a look there are some amazing things to buy there.
We are on the major social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and have created a Facebook Group so that your traders and buyers can interact a bit more closely: https://www.facebook.com/groups/veiledmarket
Help us shout from the rooftops about the platform! Showcase your purchases on social media and tag @veiledmarket so we can share in your joy! Share the platform with your friends and family, interact with our social media posts so we can reach more and more people! With your help, we can make Veiled Market the official selling platform for pagan and alternative businesses!
So head on over to https://veiledmarket.com/ and lets get buying! | |
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Wild Witchcraft Conference – 23rd March 24
Join us for Lyceum Witchcraft’s 4rd Wild Witchcraft conference at Merchistoun Hall, a beautiful Grade II listed building located in four acres of beautiful wooded grounds in Horndean Village, Hampshire. (UK) During the day, there will be ample opportunity to socialise with like-minded people and enjoy the grounds (subject to weather). Please bring a packed lunch with you. | |
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Become a Witchcraft & Wicca Magazine Author or Artist
Our magazine is always interested in the views of our members and subscribers, and anyone with an interesting point of view or insight into any related subject. We are interested in Witchcraft, Wiccan, Pagan, Heathen, Druid, Shamanic, Occult, Mythology, Legend, History and much more so if you have a story to tell get in touch. We accept articles ideally no more than 1500 words. We are also interested in witchy/pagan artwork or photographs, so you artists and photographers get in touch too. Use the link below to send submissions to us.
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Talking about our Online Shop
In 2016 we started on a journey to offer more varied, hand crafted and specially chosen items for our online shop, the range has expanded massively since then. We have the pleasure of working with some lovely small business, including artists and small publishers.
The most recent items added to our shop are our new loose incense blends Norse Journey and Pagan Fire.
Witches Shop is adding new products and re-stocking your favourites items all the time, so feel free to browse, and indulge yourself in some witchy retail therapy, link below!
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LucyFurr BrightStar our Handmade Brand
LucyFurr has grown so much this last few years, it now has a new home of its own. We have handmade loose incense, wax melts, clothing and so much more.
Returning to the shop are our soy candles! We are adding new fragrances slowly starting with Dragons Blood and Pumpkin Spice.
The shop is ever growing, and the range ever changing, so make sure to hop on the LucyFurr HQ shop to stay up to date with all the lovely items we have available for you. If you want to see the complete new range then check the website!
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Witchfest Youtube Channel
We all know how disconnected we felt during the pandemic, and the lack of witchy events was a big side effect of all that. So we brought some of your favourite speakers and witchy knowledge to YouTube.
We will start uploading more videos very soon, so make sure to subscribe to the channel! If you wish to make a submission for our channel, just contact us at [email protected]
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Pagan Seminary – Training for Pagan Chaplains
Another big lesson we got from the last two years, is how important it is to have someone to talk to about our beliefs, specially as we are living in a time of unexpected challenges.
Having a Pagan Chaplain available to you in these moments can make a very big difference.
The Pagan Seminary aims to provide accredited training for those that wish to fill this role and become a Pagan Chaplain to support their community wherever they are needed.
If you are interested interested and want to know more, Lyn Bayliss will be very happy to help!
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Advertising your local Gathering or Moot
If you have a local meeting, whether a Gathering or Moot, whether it is online or physical when circumstances allow, you can have it featured in a future edition of the Witchcraft Times. All you need to do is send details to us using the contact link, and we will place a free advert here for you at the earliest opportunity
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Online Local Gatherings (Please note that due to Covid-19 some Gatherings are not meeting physically, so please find below a list of the ones that are currently meeting online)
• Witches of London CoA Gathering: This Friendly social evening is open to all Pagan Paths as well as those who wish to seek a coven plus those covens that wish to recruit will be welcome. We will be meeting on the third Tuesday of each month at the back bar of the Cittie of Yorke at 22 High Holborn, London. WC1V 6BS Starting for 7.30 onwards. For more details you can email [email protected] or go to the official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/coawitchesoflondon/
• West Wiltshire CoA Gathering: Local Gathering in West Wiltshire. We will meet on the first Tuesday of every month at the Stumble In, 29 Market St, Bradford-on-Avon BA15 1LL at around 8PM.Everyone is welcome to come along we have the little room reserved for us so feel free to join us. For more details you can like the page https://www.facebook.com/coawwiltshiregathering/or email [email protected]
• CoA Divine Moon Moot – Meeting on a Saturday from 12 noon The Bell, Birmingham Road, Walsall, dates and location can vary dependent on the activity we have arranged for the meeting, so please do check our Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/coadivinemoonmoot/ or email at [email protected] for the exact date and more details.
• Witches of Zoom – remote gathering – Remote Uk based Witchy Gathering meeting on the 3rd Wednesday of every month over Zoom! More details at https://www.facebook.com/ZoomWitches/
• Bishops Stortford CoA Gathering: Is held at Castle Public House, Bishops Stortford, Herts, on the third Monday of the every month from 8PM. Come along and join us, we have a different subject every month. For more information you can use the Official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/coabishopsstortfordgathering/
• So Moot it Be: The meeting is held on the last Tuesday of the month at the Good Intent Pub, 3 John Street, Rochester, ME1 1YL. We meet up at 7.30pm to start at 8pm, so there is plenty of time to mix and meet with your friends. For more details you can check the facebook group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/somootitbe
• Dundee Pagan Moot – pagans and pagan friendly folk welcome. Meeting dates vary and will be updated on the group page. Find us on https://www.facebook.com/groups/DundeePaganMoot/
• Morley Moot: We meet the fourth Tuesday in the month at 7-30pm for 8pm, Morley Working Mens Club, Fountain Street, Morley, LS27 9EH. Children 14 and over welcome accompanied by parent or guardian. Contact David Speight on facebook, join the group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/morleymoot/ or email [email protected] | |
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Support your local Gathering, or consider starting one
In the age of Facebook everything seems to happen online, actual meetings are so last year, or are they? Human contact and real life meetings are important, no matter how good a web site is, it cannot substitute for the real thing. The pandemic is just a blip in history, so do not give up on the dream of starting your own, or start it online and go real world when things get better. If you are lucky and have a local meeting in your area already, make the effort to attend. You will enjoy the experience and help to ensure the meeting survives. If people fail to turn up for a meeting the organisers become disillusioned and close it down, so it really is “use it or lose it”.
You should remember that local pagan meetings are frequently the first port of call for people new to paganism. The impression they get at that first encounter will help decide whether they continue on the path, or not, so it is a massive responsibility to get it right. We should be welcoming more people into our community and we can only do that if there is a local meeting that people can attend.
If you are not so lucky and there are no meetings in your area, it is simple to start one yourself. All you need is just one official point of contact and you can be added to our gathering listings, just contact at [email protected] for details.
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