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We invite you to join us in a weekend of transformation, change and celebration.
This retreat is open to men and women and will be facilitated by Suzanne Naseby (WytchyWays) and Tim Hartridge (OzPagan/WitchesWorkshop). Let us take you on a journey to the enchanted Heart of Winter this winter season and create for you a Yuletide celebration you'll not forget.
Mid-Winter fires and feasting ...
Together we will enjoy a sumptuous Yuletide Feast with all the trimmings - fine foods, mulled wines and indulgent winter puddings - at our country retreat. Mid-Winter is an evocative time of year. Even here in Australia our minds turn to images of cosy home-fires, hearty foods, warming toddies and soft candlelight. It is also a time of the year when those with knowledge of an old Craft will hold sacred rites, chant the old songs and dance the rounds of the Yuletide wheel of change.
Winter Rites: the power to create change ...
Come and hold vigil with us on this Winter's night as we welcome the return of the Sun's warmth and light! Around the Solstice fires we will turn the Wheel of the Year. In sacred ceremony we will break the frozen ground that blocks your progress, and we will build the fires of change. On this, the darkest night of the year, you will be guided in the old ways with chants and spells to fulfill your heart's desire. From our dreams we'll share the inner stories, from the tarot we will unlock the door to our inner wisdom. In ceremony and dance we will hold the rites of an old Craft and raise the power of the life you were meant to live.
A truly magickal Winter's Night ...
Come and experience the real season of Winter with us. Be enchanted by the songs and sounds of the Wayward Minstrels, our resident medieval troubadours, we'll dress in our finery and dance traditional rounds. Come join us for a time well spent in experiencing the old ways and recharge your body and soul with symbols and customs of an age past.
And so begins our story and ritual of descent to witness the depth of Winter and the journey of our Snow White "Daughter of Bones". |
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DAUGHTER OF BONE holds the seeds of our dreams,
Tap our bones and tap the golden seams,
Come charge our dreams in Winter fires
At the midnight vigil and fulfill your desires.
Before us the Daughter of Bones lies stilled,
Spirit of dreams yet unfulfilled,
Covered with her snow white shroud,
In struggles which defeat the proud.
Place your hand upon this blade,
Then speak and let the vow be made,
To stand and hold the vigil here,
I charge to now to say, "I swear"! |
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“This weekend has been a mind-blowing, life-changing event. The energy in the rituals was beyond the scale of anything else I have experienced before; the loving, caring community environment made me feel at home.” Rebecca, NSW
“A perfect weekend retreat brilliantly organised and all comforts taken care of. I just wanted to congratulate you Suzanne on the terrific job you did with planning, organising and presenting EVERYTHING - no mean feat!!!! ... I appreciated the work that went into it and after it! Thank you dear Suzanne - I loved it.” Gail, NSW |
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The Wayward Minstrels are by name and by nature traveling people of the road. Musicians who will play for all who will pay us in food, drink or clothing. Following in the footsteps of the Goliards, Troubadours, Trouvres and Minnesingers, Wayward sing of unrequited love, the pleasures of wine, food and travels in foreign lands.
Formed Wayward in 1999 and attended the St Chartier Festival as well as several medieval festivals in France, Belgium and Germany. In Australia Wayward have performed at festivals such as The Abbey Medieval Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, St Albans Folk Festival and Ironfest. The years 2004, 2007 and 2008 saw Wayward back in Europe playing at events in Belgium, such as the Historia Mundi time line event, historic events at Gent Castle & the Walraversijde Museum, as well as at Archeon in Holland, Burg Wallenstein in Germany, and the Stiklestad St. Olav Festival & the Trondheim St. Olav Music Festival in Norway. Wayward are at present working on a new recording as well as heading back to Norway to play at Stiklestad and Trondheim. Nick and Ricarda also play with The Gruntled.
For more information on Wayward and to hear samples of their music go to: www.myspace.com/waywardminstrels
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DATE
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Fri 1st , Sat 2nd & Sun 3rd JULY 2011
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TIME
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check in from 3pm Friday - retreat ends 11am Sunday
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VENUE
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Forgotten Valley Country Retreat
Wisemans Ferry - NSW
We can arrange transport from the airport to the retreat centre
see the website for more venue info www.forgottenvalleyretreat.com.au/
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COST
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$550 for a single - $950 for a couple
FEE INCLUDES:
• 2 nights twin share accommodation for you and your friend in 3 star B&B style rooms in comfy private cottages featuring spa baths and fire places in the lounge rooms and your own kitchen - all linen provided
• All delicious meals prepared by local restaurant owners Jenny & Kevin Moulton from the Fickle Wombat in St Albans. These meals includes: self catered full country breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings, hot buffet lunch on Saturday and a hearty Yule Feast with all the trimmings on Saturday night - special diets catered for
• A beautiful Wiccan Winter Solstice Ritual based on a rich tapestry of Yule traditions
• Live entertainment by the amazing Wayward Minstrels who will lead medieval dancing on Saturday night after the feast
• All workshop materials
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BOOKINGS
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To make a booking please fill in this registration form & either pay in full or pay $100 deposit either using the PayPal button below or email me for information about alternative methods.
Using the PayPal buttons allows you to use credit cards, debit cards, bank transfers and PayPal payments. |
Pay $100 - DEPOSIT
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Pay $550 - SINGLE
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Pay $950 - COUPLE
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MORE INFO
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send an email or phone: 0408 200 727
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 About Suzanne Naseby:
Suzanne is a Wyld Wytchy Woman who is happiest when she is sitting in a cave or a tree or on a rock by the sea! She founded Wytchy Ways in 2001 and since then has been offering divine workshops & retreats. Suzanne has co-created these wonderful events with such inspiring teachers as Starhawk, Thorn Coyle, Wendy Rule and Lucy Cavendish.
Suzanne is a shamanic witch, an artist, a spiritual teacher and a psychotherapist.
Praise for Suzanne's work:
"What a woman you are!!! A perfect weekend retreat brilliantly organised and all comforts taken care of. Thank you dear Suzanne - I loved it." Gail
“… the ritual performed at Avalon (specifically the initiation) was a dream come to life. THANK SUZANNE for taking the time to create such a magical environment and setting for Saturday nights ritual.” Sonja
For more information about Suzanne's therapy practice: www.spiritbeing.com.au
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 About Tim Hartridge:
Tim has been a practicing Witch since his early teens, and became involved in coven-based Witchcraft in 1973. An active Pagan advocate, he has appeared in TV, radio and print media interviews. He was a founder-member of the Sydney-based Dark Circle Collective (established in 1984) and continues to run it's local coven. He presents regular workshops in Witchcraft and runs the very popular Aussie based WitchesWorkshop E-group launched in 1999. It is currently the largest Australian Pagan e-group with more than 1800 members.
Praise for Tim's work:
“Thanks so much for the workshop; it was the most interesting thing I have ever done in my life. Not just that, thanks for making the whole thing accessible, I keep thinking how lucky I am to have been able to do something like that." Trevor
For more information about Tim: www.witchesworshop.com
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