Derbyshire Pagans Lammas Camp & a brief what happens in case you were wondering

Lammas Camp

​Time spent in a field with marvellous views of the Derbyshire countryside with a like minded bunch of folk is never wasted.  When you’ve had enough of sitting around relaxing soaking up the atmosphere and having a brew or two (or whatever’s your tipple), there are workshops to learn something new or swap ideas in, crafts to create and drums to beat.

​The central sacred fire is kept going throughout the weekend and is a good place to sit around, drum and chat or dance around as the night gets cooler.  It has the ashes of many other sacred fires, from far away and this country, sprinkled into it to lend their energies to our camp, as our fires ashes will be collected by those who like to to lend the energies of this camp to their own fires.​

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​The ‘Beating of the Bounds’ starts off Lammas Camp Thursday evening, when we go round the field beating our drums and clearing the space ready for the weekend, please join in and if you don’t have a drum clap your hands or just walk with us to where the fire is to be lit with an Opening Fire Ceremony.

Friday evening let your hair down and show your moves off in the dance temple, well marquee ;0)  There’s likely to be entertainment before hand as well to get you in the mood.  And of course you can dance round the fire other nights if the drummers get a good beat going ;0), we do have an 11 o'clock drum curfew to keep the neighbours happy though.

Saturday is the Lammas Camp Ritual, if this is your first Pagan camp don’t worry we don’t get naked or anything ;0)

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We've had quite a few lovely Handfastings at Lammas Camp (I've not got photos of all of them but here's a few) and there is to one this year as well, on Friday, which I'm sure will be wonderful :0)

If you'd rather relax than spend time cooking and washing up take a look at the food menu which is next to the ticket forms, very good prices, they cater for vegetarians and vegans too, and have snacks as well as main meals, ice cream, hot chocolate …
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Remember to have a browse round the stalls and treat yourself something different and individual to the normal stuff :0)  Have a look in my shop on here as well, if you see something interesting let me know and I can bring it with me.

The camp site it’s self has archaeological interest with barrows dating back 4000 years – take a look here.
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In the mean time here's some more photos of past years camps to remind me/us of lovely times shared in the Lammas field, come and join us and make some memories :0)  

Tickets can be found on my Morning Star Craft website

New Website again

Yes I've remade my website again and hope this one will be a lot simpler for me and anyone visiting a lot easier to use.  It's still the same address MorningStarCraft.co.uk and still has a Lammas Camp page for 2019 tickets as well as my items for sale.

I'm still tweaking and messing with it but it is now live so if you want to take a peek please do and let me know what you think.  It has a blog on there as well, yes I know I don't write much on this one so how am I going to manage two?  We'll see how it all goes, there are some posts already on there if you want to have a mooch round.

One of the things I impressed myself with is that I've made a favicon for it :0)  What's a favicon you might ask, I did too.  It's the little icon you see at the top of tab pages on the computer, you know like facebook has a f in a blue square and gmail has an envelope with red on the edges.  Mines a purple star, thought it fitting as Morning Star Craft and cos well purple ;0)

So off to twiddle some more, post some more items for sale, add a bit more to the Lammas Camp page, try to get google to find it and all that stuff, need coffee first though I think.

Hope to see you there
Dawn

Samhain Shindig and Tree of Life Willow Pentagram

Gosh October already, can definitely feel the change in the air.  Doesn't seem very long since the Autumn Equinox and now it feels as though Samhain is almost upon us.

The leaves and autumn colours are looking lovely in their russet reds and golden yellow colours mixed with the green, the rose hips and honeysuckle berries in the garden are still bright red and the Sunflowers are just hanging on with their big yellow discs.  I suppose the darker earlier nights mean you can get the candles lit earlier ;0)

I'm going to wrap up warm for my run to the post office, when I've wrapped up the latest orders to be on their way to their new homes, though yesterday at the carboot there were still people strolling round in shorts brrr. 

This is one of the items I'm posting today, a Tree of Life hanging Willow Pentacle.  The Willow is from the tree in my garden, love it when it has the little furry catkins on. 

I've got some more pentagrams woven together, just need to get on decorate them. 
What would you decorate a pentagram with?  In the past a few of the things I've used are moons, hares, crows, ravens, goddess, owls as well as beads, shells, ribbons and such like. 

Tree of Life Willow Pentagram

If you're wanting to warm up with a bit of partying and dancing or just warm your knees around the fire our Samhain 2019 event is on the 27th October at Eyre Chaple in Newbold, Chesterfield.  It's the same place we have the drum group on the 1st Thursday of each month and just down the road from The Old House where we hold our moot ever 2nd Monday of the month.  Any like minded or folk with friendly interest are invited along to any of our events.  

The Samhain Shindig will start with ritual, hopefully outside if it's not too wet or windy, or inside if it is.  There's to be drumming in the ritual as well so bring your drums if you have them.  Afterwards it's food share and prize giving for best fancy dress and pumpkin decorating.  You could win free tickets to our Lammas Camp in the summer, give you something to look forward to in the cold of winter ;0)  Then it's party time with music and dancing or hanging around chatting and chilling by the fire.

  

If you'd like more details please have a look at our facebook page Chesterfield Derbyshire Pagans

Lammas Camp 2018 Chesterfield Pagans

Lammas Camp is fast coming up only a few weeks now.  Early Bird tickets go on sale at Imbolc and we think oh it's ages away yet and then Early Bird finishes and we think oh no not long now, better get cracking and so a list has been made of the workshops confirmed so far, other will be confirming soon hopefully.

Lotions and potions parts 1 & 2 - Tan Harvey

Talking with Trees - Simon Sheriff

Goddess, Kundalini, sunrise and Family yoga classes - Danielle Baker I will also have a sacred space to guide and support you through physical, emotional and energetic healing. I combine different therapies involving touch, sound, crystals, smell and breath work to promote a holistic approach to recharge and repair your body, mind and spirit!

Power Animal Workshops - Cherill Royce-Dexter 1 Importance of Animal Spirit with guided meditation 2 Animal Spirit Guides at the four quarters The importance of Animal Spirit guides is a talk first, followed by a guided meditation to take you to meet your current Animal Spirit guide.

The second talk will be a recap on talk number 1 but a longer guided meditation to take you to the four directions to gain wisdom from the Animal Spirits who are there for you at this time. I will also show you how to call upon your animal spirits to get help and guidance in everyday situations.

Tarot Birth Reading - Lara Ramsdale A workshop teaching how to perform tarot birth readings using traditional cards, and discussing symbology and the co-ordinates of your birth. Finding your soul challenge for this lifetime and examining your life circumstances, as fated by yourselves and the gods.

Lara will be offering FREE tarot birth readings/tarot readings when she is available for all three days of camp.

Runes I & II - Darren Ramsdale & Suzanne Martin Workshop 1: Basic Runes discussed, practical demonstrations of Runic techniques. Workshop 2: Advanced Runes - Practical techniques for more advanced application.

Darren Ramsdale will be available throughout the three day camp for advice on all matters spiritual and Rune related, and can also make bind runes with the appropriate rituals to take home for personalised solutions and aid, for a small and negotiable price.

It's the 2nd to 5th August this year at our usual place in Kniveton near Ashbourne.  Even though the ticket prices are at the normal rate of £26 per adult for the weekend it's still very good value, workshops, rituals etc are included.  There will be fire, drumming, dancing, in glorious countryside and if you don't want to cook we have fantastic caterers with a menu for everyone vegan, veggie or meat eater.

Check out more info at my MorningStarCraft website on the Chesterfield Pagans tab.

Paganism, Shamanism, Rock n Roll

Been playing some more with the same stuff I made the feather necklace from and paying homage to Hasfest our small festival that pretty much started off the madness that is Lammas Camp These bracelets have Paganism, Shamanism, Rock n Roll on them which was the motto of Hasfest and which we will be giving a nod to at this years Lammas Camp by playing psy trance dance and rock in the marquee Friday night and dancing ourselves silly, of course if your not into that it’s also nice to sit by the camp fire and watch the stars :0)

Also made a few other bracelets in the same sort of style while I was on the roll including a purple feather one, which could have been dropped by a passing unicorn if unicorns were feathered, a Pegasus unicorn crossover ;0)

Chesterfield, Derbyshire Pagans 11th Anniversary Moot

Gosh 11 years since our first ever moot!!  We had a change of pubs during those years to over the road at what was the New Inn, where we used the land at the back for many happy Hasfests and Samhain Celebrations, to now back where we started at the Telemere Lodge, still every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7.30ish.  There have been a change of faces as folk come and go but there are quite a few of the original people still there and new folk are always very welcome :0)

We had a visit from the Priest of Avalon this month to give a talk on Remembering our Local Goddesses and very interesting it was too.  He also runs the Nottingham Goddess Temple.  There was of course cake and other goodies as well as plenty of chat.

We've had some great talks and workshops this year, starting in January with wool spinning history and the connection spinning has with many goddesses especially Norse ones and sheepy facts. Uses of essential oils, herbs, incense making, chakra chanting, tree knowledge, dream catchers, shamanism and the medicine wheel and of course Lammas Camp planning and workshop talk.

Still to come this year, in November our regular Goblin Market where you can bring things of a spiritual/pagan nature that's still in good condition but you no longer have a need for to swap/sell/trade or your hand made goods of a spiritual/pagan nature to sell so that folk can get some individual unique items for Yule gifts. Then in December the ever popular twig twiddling :0)

If you're interested in coming to one of the moots please do come along they are open and free to all and held in the private back room of the Telemere Lodge, Hasland 2nd Tuesday of each month around 7.30 pm start.  See our facebook page for more info Chesterfield, DerbyshirePagans

If you have knowledge/skills you would like to share at one of the moots as a talk/demo/workshop please do let me know, we are all friendly and eager to learn new stuff :0)

We are holding Samhain Celebrations at Eyre Chapel in Newbold, Chesterfield on Friday 30th October around 7.30 start, bring a drum or rattle if you have one.  Ritual to start then party afterwards, food share, bring your own drinks x

Derbyshire Pagans Lammas Camp 2012

One week to go until our annual Lammas Camp, there looks to be lots of great workshops again this year, including Power Animals, Tree Walk & Lore, Meditations, Asartru, Shamanism, Bellydancing, Tai Chi, Pewter Casting, Bangladeshi Veggie Curry cooking and Shamanic drumming and dancing.  A sacred space is being created with Steve Niner which will be ongoing all weekend.  There is to be a relaxing/healing area where we hope some of the healers attending camp, as well as us, will be offering healing to those requesting it.

Thursday we will beat the bounds and lighting the Peace Fire with ashes from other Peace Fires.  Bring your drums and rattles as there will be drumming round the fire in the evenings, curfew is 10pm apart from Saturday when it is 11pm, let's not upset the villages:0)

(Thanks to Pat for photos x)

Saturday will be Ritual in the evening.  Sunday will be the Goblin Market.  There will also be stalls most of the weekend where you will be able to purchase unique handcrafted items as well as some of the more usual items.  Some of my items will be on sale as well;0) Morning Star Craft or facebook Morning Star Craft

Details of this event you ask:- 
Derbyshire Pagans Lammas Camp - 2nd August (from 2pm) until 5th August or just come for the day
NEW HOUSE ORGANIC FARM
Kniverton
Ashbourne
DERBYSHIRE
DE6 1JL

Tickets available from: Zeta Tickets

Hasfest Pagan Event 2012

Beribboned Burning Man

Cosmic Goddess

Burning Man burning

Fire Tower

Got over the post camp blues now, mud washed away and eagerly waiting for Derbyshire Pagans Lammas Camp in August and seeing everyone again.

Everyone I've heard has said how lovely Hasfest was yet again and how they felt included and involved, even the residents in the houses that back on to the site have said they enjoy us arriving which is very good to know.  The Grove has been well received and is well worth the scratches and bruises we got a few weeks back clearing it and getting it ready.  An altar has been made and the children especially have filled it with offerings, it is a lovely space.

Friday evening the rains came!  Mud galore but that didn't stop most of us flashing fluro in the rave tent and dancing like mad fools, well apart from the younger ones who tried to maintain their cool;0)  The rest of the weekend luckly was dry.  The Sonic Jam went down well as far as I can tell from the noise coming from the marque;0).  The Burning Man and his large appendage went up well and the fire was huge, very warm for dancing and drumming round, the jumpers must have been very hot!!

Derbyshire Pagans Lammas Camp and Hasfest 2012

Things to look forward to this summer :0)

Hasfest 2012 18th, 19th and 20th May and of course Chesterfield/Derbyshire Pagans Lammas Camp (which promises to be even bigger and better) 2nd - 5th August.  Tickets on sale for camp at Imbolc from Chesterfield Pagans site or at any of the Derbyshire moots, Hasfest still free:0)

Lots of fun, fire, dancing, drumming, meeting folks, learning/workshops and shopping (must get some things made to sell so I can buy things;0)

For info on last years happenings see here: http://chesterfieldpagans.org/2011/05/25/photos-of-hasfest-2011/, http://chesterfieldpagans.org/events/

I'll be at both with my stall as well, here my web site link if you would like to have look before;0) www.MorningStarCraft.co.uk or my facebook page www.facebook.com/MorningStarCraft

Elderflower Wine

I've started wine making!  Got to wait months though to find out if it's any good, and drink it, it's quite exciting, sad I know.  Hoping it might be ok to take to camp though it says several months in the book and Lammas Camp is only two month away.

As the Elderflowers are now out and smelling good I thought I would start with Elderflower wine as I remember my Grandma making it and Elderflower Champagne, and it tasted good and cooling on a summers day and at christmas time it reminded you of summer, mind you the corks exploding occasionally in the cellar gave you a bit of a shock.

James and I picked some of the flowers on the way back from the allotment yesterday.  When I got back I left them in the bag as I read that if you leave them 24 hours and then give them a good shake the flowers fall of the stalks, but this didn't happen and I didn't want to leave them any longer in case they started to go brown so ran a fork through them and combed them which does work pretty well.  We picked more than enough, only needed a pints worth, so I might make some cordial as well.

So now they are soaking in 8 pints of boiling water with 8oz of chopped raisins and the zest of a lemon, this has to stand for 4 days and be stirred occasionally.  I've sort of combined two recipes together as I was getting confused with all the different ideas for Elderflower wine out there, the rasins apparently give it body.

So Thursday it will need straining and then 3lbs of sugar and the juice of the lemon and the yeast need adding.

Hasfest 2011

Had a brill time at Hasfest, Labyrinth, Burning Man, workshops the lot.  Wish I'd made more Chalices and Smoking Incense Bottles though and things with hares on, I love hares as well don't know why I didn't do more! Knees are a bit achey from too much dancing round the fire though.

Now looking forward to Derbyshire Pagans Lammas Camp.