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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, Saturday August 29, 2009.
CASTING THE WITCH'S CIRCLE
workshop series starting September, 2009.
DRAWING DOWN THE MOON 'short' Witch Camp
1pm – midnight, Sunday 4 October, 2009.
ANATOMY OF A WITCHES' COVEN
workshop series starting October, 2009.
BABALON'S RISING Witch Camp
New date TBA, 2010.
CONTACT: Witch Camp Team
CASTING THE WITCH'S CIRCLE
Workshop series run over 4 weekly sessions
Whether you want to work as a Solitary or in a Coven group this workshop covers the study and practice essential to Circle work. Originally used by our local Sydney Coven as training prima, it is a hands-on approach to understanding the transformative power of the four elements in the Witch's Circle. This workshop will give you the confidence to understanding of how to use ritual and the principles of spellcraft and by the end of the workshop you will have formed a deeper connection to the psychic reality.
DRAWING DOWN THE MOON - a 'short' Witch Camp
Day workshop & Evening ritual
A one-day intensive in the fundaments of Coven Full Moon ritual work, followed in the evening by mystery rite known as Drawing Down the Moon. This is a practical hands-on workshop designed to introduce you to Coven based Witchcraft and the fundamentals of ritual work and focuses upon the inner workings or mystery rites employed at the Full Moon.
ANATOMY OF A WITCHES' COVEN
Workshop series run over 8 weekly sessions
For those ready to continue their magickal work or wanting greater depth, this workshop series offers you a psychology understanding to the transformative power of working in covens, as well as has a hands-on practical experience. The aim of the work is to demonstrate the progressive stages of training used in a Witches' Coven given expression in Alchemy and Myth. The workshops are both practical and psychic, and will help you to build upon your experiences while developing a better understanding of the psychic anatomy of a Witches' Coven.
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
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
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