How to Become a Witch, Amber K. [new books to read .txt] 📗

You are at Merchant’s Row at Dragonfest, one of the largest Pagan festivals in America. It looks and feels a little like Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley transplanted to the Rocky Mountains, with a medieval undercurrent of the Society for Creative Anachronism and a strong dash of Sierra Club.

In every season of the year, in every part of the country, in countries throughout Western Europe and North America and Australia, Pagans gather in force: they gather to camp in the out-of-doors, to meet like-minded people, to perform ritual and celebrate together, to attend workshops on magick or healing or anything Pagan, and to shop among merchants and artisans.

Once, Witches and Pagans were so deeply closeted that they held no festivals. If you were fortunate enough to be in a coven, your coven brothers and sisters were the only Witches that you knew. Your religious community was very small, very tight, and limited to the knowledge and perspectives of a handful of people.

Then the festival phenomenon began. On private land in the country, at remote spots in the national forest, or in out-of-the-way state parks or retreat centers, Pagans gathered for the first time to meet others not of their immediate group.

Today, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of Pagan festivals. Most are still outdoor camping events held on long weekends. A few are held at hotels—perhaps the largest being PantheaCon, held each February in San Jose, California. Here, three thousand Pagans gather to enjoy more than 150 workshops, rituals, and concerts. Other large festivals in America have been going for decades: Pagan Spirit Gathering recently moved from Ohio to Missouri, EarthSpirit Rites of Spring in Massachusetts, the United Earth Assembly in Oklahoma or Texas, and Spring Mysteries Festival in Washington State are some examples. However, there are also many smaller gatherings; every year, a few new ones are organized, and a few disappear.

Local Councils of the Covenant of the Goddess frequently hold festivals, such as Magickal Mountain Mabon in New Mexico. These smaller, more localized events are a good way to meet Witches living near you.

The Pagan Federation International (PFI) hosts conferences, “pubmoots,” and other events in the British Isles, Europe, Canada, and Australia. National and regional associations sponsor gatherings in their own countries as well, and you can get information on these if you are connected with PFI.

The first things you will notice at a Pagan festival are the diversity and the friendliness of the people. You will meet Witches, Druids, Asatru, Dianic feminists, eclectic Pagans, and a sprinkling of Buddhists, Jews, liberal Christians, and people whose spiritual paths defy description. Ages range from babes in arms to graybeards and crones. People dress in jeans and T-shirts, or elaborate ceremonial robes, or nothing at all.

The one thing that all these people have in common is that they are friendly—to each other, and to new visitors—and tolerant of different lifestyles, beliefs, and religious practices.

Courtesy and respect are the watchwords. Rudeness, intolerance, discrimination, or sexual harassment will usually be handled quickly and effectively by volunteer staff—or, in extreme cases, a council of elders will be called to deal with the situation.

You are responsible for your own meals and lodging at most festivals. “Lodging” may be a pup tent, a hammock slung between two trees, or a fancy hotel suite.

The structure of the program is similar at most festivals. Workshops will be offered during the day by volunteer teachers, occasionally by nationally known Pagan authors and leaders, and cover a great variety of topics, from arts and crafts to ritual to magick to healing arts to various exotic religious paths. Each lasts an hour or two and is likely to be a wonderful introduction to some unusual subject.

Various rituals will be presented: an opening ritual to welcome people and establish camp rules, rites of passage from child blessings to handfastings to cronings, a main ritual that reflects the theme of the festival, special rituals for Witches or Druids or whomever, silly rituals just for fun, and a closing ritual. For entertainment, there will be bonfires with drumming and dancing, concerts by fine musicians and singers, or open bardic circles around a fire, where everyone takes turns leading a song or telling a story. Between scheduled programs, people cook meals, socialize, or shop at merchant booths. Attendance at anything is strictly voluntary; although some festivals prefer that you sign up for the workshops you plan to attend, most do not.

What to Expect at a Pagan Festival

Almost anything one can say about Pagan gatherings will have exceptions somewhere. However, the following are true of most Wiccan or Pagan festivals:

Festivals often require that you preregister and pay in advance. Many events are limited in size by the park, retreat center, or hotel they are using.

There will be a fee for attending, but it is usually modest.

You will supply your own shelter and food at most festivals, but not all. It will cost more if it’s in a hotel or if the cost of housing and meals is included.

There will be a registration table where you check in and get a printed program. Here you will probably be asked to sign up for a work shift to help with routine tasks that enable the festival to happen.

There will be merchants and craftspeople selling their wares; bring money (preferably cash; some accept checks or plastic).

Festivals are a great place to meet renowned Pagan authors, musicians, leaders, and teachers.

There will be first-aid personnel and a medical tent in case of illness or injury.

The festival organizers will generally do their best to make facilities handicapped-accessible.

Helpfulness, honesty, courtesy, and respect will be expected from every participant.

There will be a few rules of expected conduct sent to you before the festival. You may be asked not to bring animal companions. You will be told not to bring guns or illegal drugs.

Usually you wear whatever you like or whatever’s comfortable, although nudity may be restricted in some times and places.

Private sexual activity between consenting adults is