Witch Moon Retreat Program
FRIDAY – SUNDAY, 9–11 MAY 2008

The Witch Moon retreat can take only a limited of number people, so we encourage you to register as soon as you can to avoid disappointment. These events are run only as time permits and so we can't guarantee future dates at this stage.

Registration
The entire weekend is $180 and covers your Accommodation, all meals and workshop materials. Please read through the full details below and complete the 'Registration' process in two steps.

Step 1
You can register by making a direct debit deposit of the whole fee $180 or a part deposit of $90. The balance must be paid three days prior to the event, Tuesday 6 May. Please note all deposits are non-refundable.

BSB 032003 A/C 407347
Account name: Victoria Collins/Tim Hartridge
Description: Witch Camp
*Please email us once you make a payment. Thank you. Please also note deposits are non-refundable.

Step 2
Your next step is to register your contact details with us. It is also a chance to tell us something about your interests. This information will be kept confidential. Click on this link to complete your registration.

Program
OVERVIEW
The Witch Moon retreat is designed to teach the techniques of shape-shifting, ecstatic trance-dance and a variety of unique ritual practices. 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. We invite you to join us in the traditional rites of Witchcraft and initiate your journey in a 'participation mystique' of the forgotten powers.

The Witch Moon retreat will employ lunar rites of scrying and vision questing, casting the circle and shape-shifting dances – the psychic soul-foods of the Witch. The theme of the retreat is inspired from the Moon card of the Tarot, Atu XVIII, and provides us with a type of 'occult-key' to unlock the forgotten powers. The images found in the Moon card depict fundamental Witchcraft practices such as shape-shifting, spirit guide encounters, communion with ancestral spirits, and the way of the animal powers.

Familiar Spirits
The role of the Witch's animal-familiar spirit is often overlooked by many contemporary forms of Witchcraft. Employing our intuitive and instinctive senses, we will explore techniques that enlist the aid of spirit guides and our animal-familiar to work magick. This instinctive creature maybe personified in totemic images and evoked through the primal tools of the Witch - drum, dance and trance. More info...

From our experience in group ritual work, this retreat may help to trigger the inner experience necessary for psychic development. Those new to the use of Tarot in magickal work will have the opportunity to use path-working methods unique to our Coven practicum and use our symbol immersion techniques. We will assist participants in reaching new levels of ritual practice and confidence in group work. The Witch Moon retreat will aid your journey to restore the forgotten powers and awaken the Witch-within.

ARRIVAL
The Witch Moon retreat will be run as a workshop-style event commencing Friday evening 9 May and running through until mid-afternoon Sunday 11 May. You must be able to attend the whole event, although arrival times are likely to be staggered.

You are welcome to arrive from 5pm on the Friday evening, but we would like everyone to be at the retreat by 9pm. If transport is likely to be a problem we may be able to assist if needed. An evening meal will be available from 6pm through to 9pm. For details on directions - see this MAP link.

A Witches' Workshop retreat
From Friday evening we will begin to introduce you to some of the fundamental principles of Witchcraft ritual. Throughout the weekend we will explore a practical application to the use of the elements in Circle work, offering a hands-on approach. You will begin exercises in breath work and ritual dance designed to trigger trance experiences.

Ritual Practicum
During the weekend we will introduce you to our ritual practices from a simple Circle Casting rite to more complex and personal ceremonies of transformation and shape-shifting. Over the course of the weekend we will steadily build on a number of ritual techniques and their uses so that you acquire confident proficiency. Because our ceremonial work is frequently done as a group, the 'coven' acts to assist in supporting one another, amplifying the psychic experience of the rituals.

The retreat workshop material is structured so that we will alternatively move between theory and practice. We each work with a support buddy, allowing for direct feedback. The workshop has been designed to introduce ritual practices that move us from individual experience into group work and back into personal experience for personal integration. Overall our 'coven' teamwork will move us steadily toward the goals of the weekend of transforming theory into practice.

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Accommodation& Food
ACCOMODATION
Rainbows Reach Retreat is situated about 1.5hrs north of Sydney on a beautiful private bush land property of the southern Central Coast of NSW. Accommodation is a fully self-contained 30 bed lodge with 9 bedrooms containing single bunks and double/queen beds (blankets & pillows provided, BYO linen). There is a large lounge and dining area with a fully equipped kitchen, plus two double bathrooms.

Our hosts are Barry and Gillian Vaughan who specialise in alternate spirituality, healing, workshops and a natural lifestyle. They are pagan friendly and the Rainbows Reach Retreat is an entirely eco friendly, solar powered property giving you a total experience of being away from it all in a sustainable living retreat.

MEALS & DRINKS
Your food will be a lovingly prepared vegetarian menu with lots of variety and plenty to eat the whole weekend. While we do use both alcoholic and non-alcoholic 'withes' brews for the rituals we ask that everyone refrain from drinking before the evening ritual. This is so that you'll be entirely present in the experience and allow the effects the magickal work to do its job. There will be a variety of teas, coffee and juices throughout the weekend.

Our retreats are generally small groups, where we all take part in the smooth running of meal preparations and clean-ups, as well as ritual set-ups and packing-up. We encourage a supportive bonding over the weekend and consider it important that we close off the retreat and all leave the camp site together.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO BRING
Most of your practical needs are taken care of so that all you need to bring are items of a more personal nature. Here's a short check list:
Toothbrush & toiletries, bed linen (your pillow and blankets are provided), ritual attire and any drums, any special dietary needs.

WHAT NOT TO BRING!
Because Rainbows Reach Retreat is run on Solar power you can't use energy draining appliances such hair-driers. It will simply overload the system and cause a black-out.

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Transport
GETTING THERE
Here's some helpful links and suggestions to getting you to the Witch Moon Retreat:

1. If you are driving to Rainbows Reach Retreat we have a Google Map which can create instructions for you on how to ge there from anywhere. Simply click on this LINK.

2. Want to offer others a lift? Please let us know on the Registration form.

3. If you require assistance getting to Rainbows Reach Retreat simply contact us via the Registration form immediately and we'll try and organise transport for you. It is expected that you will help to cover your share of the petrol costs to the driver.

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Occult, forbidden lights
Move in the royal rites
Diaphanous, they dance
Above the souls in trance
That have attained
to their untold inheritance.
excerpt "The Sabbat" Aleister Crowley