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WELCOME to Witch Camp Australia. This is a general information page where you can obtain links and find out what's happening with the Witch Camp Australia project, as well as viewing the galleries and write ups of past events. We encourage you to get in touch by contacting us.
SUMMARY:
The Witch Camp project stems from a desire to see the Australian Pagan Community develop through active involvement in ritual events such as retreats and workshops. These are principally based in the Sydney region because our key members are located there, but we are open to lending support to others interested in developing the skills necessary to host Witch Camp projects throughout Australia.
NB. The term 'Witch Camp' describes exactly what our events are: a camp for witches. There is the American based Reclaiming Tradition who uses this term as well, and also a UK based version, but our events are not modelled on either of these.
WHAT IS WITCH CAMP?
At the time the project was initiated we had many different intereptations of what a 'Witch Camp' could be. Tim's vision was a simple one – "Hosting retreats that provide an educational or workshop basis for Witches."
From October 2007 we held a series of planning meetings to discuss what a Witch Camp could be. Tim Hartridge and Tori Collins initiated these meetings, promoting them through the WitchesWorkshop eGroup and its sister group on Facebook. Over the months we worked through numerous ideas, attended many planning meetings and held our first 'Rehearse a Witch Camp' event over the Australia Day Long Weekend, January 2008 - see our Witches on Facebook group for feedback, minutes and photos. Following this retreat, Witch Camp Australia emerged.
Witch Camp Australia is dedicated to hosting educational community-based events. Our organising members draw on many years experience in the Australian Pagan community hosting a variety of projects. These include: WitchesWorkshop.com, the annual Eostre Gathering, Nuit's Veil and Dark Circle Covens, Pagans in the Pub, Witches' Meet-ups, L'Esbat, public Full Moon rituals and the BBC ritual event for the TV show 'Around the World in 80 Faiths'..
HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE?
The Australian Witch Camp project had two events in 2008 and three are planned for 2009. The Vinum Sabbati Witch Camp Aprl 2009 and Witch Moon Witch Camp May 2008 were particularly successful and have become the models on which we plan for retreats – see links on the left for the next Witch Camp. Anyone interested in participating is very welcome.
You are also encouraged to join our WitchesWorkshop on Facebook group and read about upcoming projects found on the Discussion Board. We also host the well known Yahoo eGroup WitchesWorkshop (which turns 10 years old next year) and would encourage you join that as well.
COSTS & WHO CAN ATTEND?
Cost to attend is expected to be kept at a reasonable price, but must cover accommodation, facility hire and teaching fees. Each Camp is likely to be different, using a variety of locations and different facilitators. Generally the Camps are designed to be inclusive and are for people who have a sincere desire to learn and deepen their experience in pagan and magickal practices.
TEACHERS TEACHING TEACHERS
The Witch Camp group provides the opportunity through our events for people to become Student Teachers and Teacher/Facilities of workshops. The Witch Camp group holds the expectation that a standard of practice be established for anyone wanting to teach at the Camps. This is both a competency standard and an ethical standard. It will be the business of the Witch Camps to present teachers properly accredited by the organising group.
PAST EVENTS:
REHEARSE A WITCH CAMP
Long weekend 25-27 January 2008.
Our first 'rehearsal' camp - how things have change!
You can see the pictures and feedback from the first here - pics and reports
See - Witch Camp Planning Meeting on discussion board
WITCH MOON WITCH CAMP
9-11 May 2008.
See other reports and pics from the Retreat - pics and reports
See also - the discussion board
The Witch Moon Retreat was designed to teach the techniques of shape-shifting, ecstatic trance-dance and circle casting used in our coven rituals. Wearing catskins, fox pelts, horned antlers and totemic masks, Witches of old have long employed the outer symbols of the inner ways of knowing - the animal powers or Familiar Spirits. Have a look through our Handbook covering the rites of Witchcraft we used initiate our journey in a 'participation mystique' of the forgotten powers.
VINUM SABBATI Witch Camp
Long weekend Easter 9 – 13 April 2009.
Reports and pics from the witch camp are one our Facebook group.
This was a very different witch camp from any previous, ritual initiations in the hidden chamber and gathering upon the crossroads. We under took a ritual seance the first night followed by a tradition Esbat (Full Moon rite) the following evening. With a number practical preparations such obtain of a Canari pot ('soul' pot) and an introction to drumming in ritual. All this culminated in the Vinum Sabbati rite and Coven initiation of over twenty people.
Preparations for the Vinum Sabbati were outlined in the Liber materia < see link.
NEXT EVENT:
NOX RITUAL 'short' Witch Camp
Short Weekend workshop Imbolc, Saturday August 1, 2009.
BABALON'S RISING Witch Camp
Long weekend October 2-5, 2009.
CONTACT: Witch Camp Team
NOX RITUAL Short WITCH CAMP
A short weekend workshop and ritual night.
Imbolc, Saturday 1 August 2009
nocturnal and forgotten powers
womb of space
the void
nadir of dreams
and the way of trance
in the whirling dance of the mercurial djinn
in deserts of solitude
something comes
in the silence
psyche
what is written in the sands?
The NOX ritual is a visionary trance-dance meditation ritual used for the purpose of personal initiation. Blending meditation and the creation of sacred space through ritual, sufi whirling and zaar trance rhythms.
There are times in our lives when all external wisdom fails and the only way forward is to discover a new path and new strengths within the Self. This is when we know we are ready for change and we can confidently undertake the journey of Initiation. The NOX ritual is a reconnecting bridge across the desert of No-knowledge, it is a passport to the retrieval of Soul-knowledge. It can provide us with the tools that will enable us to undertake this crossing as a necessary step toward Self-Initiation.
< See the introduction to the NOX Ritual Workshop here >
Witch Camp Australia is a teaching and training model developed with the intention of broadening people’s experience of the many varieties of Witchcraft practices. The Witch Camps each have a central theme which forms the basis of the educational component and the ritual practicum. The camps are usually hosted at retreat centres with comfortable bedding and are fully catered. The retreats are suitable for participants at all stages of their journey who hold an interest in the ways of the Witch.
We invite you to join us for our unique experiential workshops and introduction to contemporary and traditional Witchcraft practices. To register your interest, please email us: info@witchesworkshop.com
Read about the preparations used in the Vinum Sabbati Witch Camp in Liber materia.
Download this double-sded DL flyer (800KB) for basic details and information about the retreat and pass it along to your friends.
This Handbook contains an introduction to Witchcraft as well as a number of rituals. By familiarising yourself with the material in the Handbook you are taking your first steps toward the work we will undertake at the Witch Camp.
WITCH CAMP AUSTRALIA
WITCHESWORKSHOP
Workshops and networking.
Witches on Facebook
Keep up to date with information about workshops and events.
WitchesWorkshop egroup:
This community was especially setup to keep Australian members informed about workshops, meetings and events which occur around the country. We currently have more than 1700 members. This May 2008 we celebrate 9years of serving the Australian Pagan community.
Nuit's Veil Coven– Sydney
A training coven embracing a contemporary interpretation of traditional witchcraft using a fusion of wicca, thelema, shamanism and alchemy.
Babalon's Rising Coven – Blue Mountains
A private Coven in the Blue Mountains region providing contact and training for Pagans, Witches and Ceremonial magicians.
Tim Hartridge © 2009 Witch Camp Australia