Allotment doings.

It's just been lightening spectacularly.  Red sheet lightening brightening the sky and bright fork lightening shooting across accompanied by deep rumbles, but still no rain.  Just as well I water the allotment earlier, should have done the garden as well.

The artichoke is growing well, lots of heads on it, looking forward to harvesting it and seeing what it tastes like, it looks pretty good when you first come onto the allotment.

The slightly cooler weather has brought the slugs out in force, they were chomping their way though the strawberries and have taken bites out of loads, hoping that the frog I disturbed in the strawberry patch will come back.  I don't know where the frog goes to keep cool, not seen any ponds or puddles around our end of the allotments.

There was a dark black spider with bright red spots on his back up by the brassicas, don't know if we have poisonous spiders now, but he sure looked as though he wanted to be.

Sweetcorn is poking it's furry end out of the middle of the leaves, the courgettes are growing, will be able to pick some soon I hope, have just pop the first few pea pods (it's like eating sweets),  there are small tomatoes on the plants in the well ventilated green house (most of the glass is missing lol).  The strawberries are still producing and the raspberries are snidered with juicy plump fruit, yum:0)

Derbyshire Pagans Lammas Camp 2013

Lammas Camp is fast approaching again, 10th anniversary this year!  Chesterfield Pagans are getting ready to hoist marquees, build fire, and generally get camp ready for lots of lovely people to come and enjoy themselves, meet new folk, maybe learn a few things from each other, and chill out.

Camp opens at 2pm Thursday ends 2pm Sunday, people welcome to arrive anytime in between or just come for the day.

Where's it at you ask - New House Organic Farm Kniverton Ashbourne Derbyshire DE6 1JL
and how much is it - £17 for the whole weekend with free workshops and entertainment, excellent value, bet you can't find better anywhere.  If you just want to come for the day that's just £3.  Full ticket list and prices can be found here http://www.zetatickets.co.uk/lammas/01-08-2013

Workshops planned for Lammas Camp 2013

Power Animals - Part 1 & Part 2, the sequel
Working with Crystals the Native American Way
EFT - with psychic development
Meditation
Chrystos
Drumming Workshop
Blue Stone Pipe Ceremony
Goddess Workshop
Wand Making
Scraffito for kids
Cord Making
Pewter Casting
Dancing for Fun - kids/adults
Who's Life is it Anyway
Bellydancing Workshop
Mind Expanding Space Stuff Astronomy I & II
Runes - Beginners & Advanced
Birth Tarot
Crystal Legends
Dry Stone Walling
Story Telling

Dates and times aren't finalised yet, but to keep up to day with what's happening see our event page on facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/310669572378016/ or https://www.facebook.com/ChesterfieldPagans, there is also our website http://chesterfieldpagans.org/ which has loads of info about lots of stuff.

Some workshops may ask for a contribution towards any materials you use.  You also need to bring some pennies for spending on the stalls if anything catches your eye, including my MorningStarCraft stall ;0)x

Other things happening over that weekend -
Belly dance performance
Music
Tree Planting Ceremony
Labyrinth & dance

Beating of the Bounds 8pm ish Thursday
Fire Ceremony 9pm ish Thursday
Drum cerfew 10pm Thursday and Friday 11pm Saturday, guitars can be played for longer as they don't carry over to the village as well

Two lovely people are getting Handfasted on Saturday :0)

Camping is basic, there is running water, no showers or hot water, long drop toilets, beautiful scenery, things to do or just chill.

Ribbon Wrap Bracelets

Soft ribbon of many hues with beads and charms - fairy, leaf, mushroom, flower and butterfly.  Wraps around the wrist about three times, ends can be left dangling for a floaty feeling or tucked in, has an adjustable slide fastening to make putting on easier.

 

Lovely shades on this ribbon with a complimenting silk cord, beads, flowers and silver coloured charms - goddess, feather, sun, leaf and a faux pearl to represent the full moon.

Try two or more for an even more sumptuous look

They make great anklets too.  Ask for one without the sliding fastener though if wanting to wear like this as it makes it easier to wrap around ankles without.

  

They also make lovely necklaces, three in one, fab for holidays;0)

Hasfest, Shamanism, Paganism, Rock n Roll

Whoo it's the start of Hasfest tomorrow, Chesterfield Pagans Shamanism, Paganism Rock n Roll free festival.  Fire, burning man, stalls full of shiny things, music, drumming dancing, workshops, ritual and good people.  See our facebook page for more info Hasfest event.
These are some of the bracelets I'm taking along, hope people like them, also taking smoking incense bottles,   engraved chalices and other jewellery - beads, copper and silver creations.

Triple hare, pentagram, leaf bead ribbon bracelet, with sun & moon toggle clasp

Fairy, butterfly, charm beaded ribbon wrap bracelet

Goddess, beaded charm wrap ribbon bracelet

Green and orange lamp bead ribbon bracelet

Leaping moon hare, charm ribbon wrap bracelet

Message from Hasfest HQ

HASFEST 5 is fast approaching, so here is a brief rundown of planned events and details for all you good folks

FRIDAY EVENTS
Hasfest will begin on Friday night with the opening party, for the past few years this has been quite a bangin affair , however this year we are taking a different route. Opening the weekend with a sonic earth ritual based around bass, beats and fire, expect heavy slabs of dub , dark ambient textures, blessed out beats, outlaw space cadets and of course the unexpected. The party will be held in the grove from 8.00pm onwards ....

SATURDAY EVENTS
Stalls....a fine array of quality shiny goods for sale
Workshops.... Some fantastic workshops this year including :- journeying, belly dance and as many pop up workshops we can cram in 
Goddess and blessings tree for your libations, blessings, honouring and wishes.
Following the awesome success of the Sonic Jam of last year, we will, on Saturday afternoon be staging another Sonic Jam so bring ya instruments
The mission is to put the Rock and Roll into Hasfest, everyone is invited to come together with drums instruments or vice to create a massive noise. Last years Sonic Jam was described as a dark tribal Joy Division- which is cool. Some amps and guitars are available so please come along and let's get it on 

SATURDAY NIGHT
A Belly dance performance by Hipsteria, Blackart Belles and Terra von Dare.
8pm onwards Burning Man with Fireside drumming and dancing.
For the highlight of the weekend the primal fusion of Rhythm Flame and togetherness ...bring rattles drums didgeridoos etc
Camping
Be aware of the following if camping
Toilet s and sinks only available during pub opening
No standpipe or drinking water Bring bottles of water during pub hours
There are no showers
Because Hasfest is not a ticketed event the number of stalls and people wishing to camp is unknown until the event .We will always endeavour to accommodate everyone , but please be aware that space is limited and pitches may be cozy.
Please be polite and courteous when pitching as it is only for one or two nights.
Anyone with a caravan motorhome or large tent please see a crew member before pitching
Stall holders please see a member of crew so we can provide a good position for trading
Please be aware that if space become a problem we may ask that vehicles are parked off site
All rubbish /waste must be taken home with you
Campers must leave site by 4.00pm Sunday

GENERAL INFO AND TIPS
Once again, the owner and staff of The New Inn have allowed this event to happen for free, and shown tremendous support and respect. So please support them by taking advantage of their fine beverages and well priced food .
Hasland village is under a mile away and has a large number of shops a late night garage and several fast food outlets.

HASFEST SURVIVAL GUIDE
If you are camping bring adequate drinking water and it may be wise to give some consideration toward toilet functions, also please remember bin bags for your rubbish as this must be taken home.

PLEASE PLEASE have a good time but be responsible , not only for yourselves but for your children and animals 
Please show respect for the area , the local residents and our host THE NEW INN and please be courteous and tolerant with fellow Has festers

The crew give up their free time and money to work hard each year to ensure we all have a free, relaxed, awesome weekend, please help them to make it happen. 
A big big thank you to you all 

SHAMANISMPAGANISMROCKANDROLL

triple hare, pentagram, leaf, ribbon bracelet

triple hare, pentagram, leaf, ribbon bracelet, a photo by Dawn* on Flickr.

Spring Equinox

 

Blessed Ostara, Spring Equinox, the balance of day and night, coming of warmth and new life, even if it is still snowing here today! 

The Black Birds in the garden are gathering nest building materials I can see them hopping about with leaves and things in their beaks, the Robin's chest is still as bright as ever, and the Ringnecked Doves have been checking out the Silver Birch again.  The Hazel is full of yellow catkins, yes even though the weather is still cold, spring is stirring:0)

Hasfest Free Pagan Event, Shamanism, Paganism, Rock & Roll 2013

Time to look forward to warmer weather (it's snowing here again at the mo) and sharing good times.

This year Hasfest is to be 24th, 25th and 26th May 2013, Friday is setting up day and music in the evening, ritual, fire and drumming, workshops on the Saturday and then taking down on Sunday.  The address is New Inn, 229 Mansfield Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S41 0JJ.  

Free for everyone to come to and participate in, music, stalls, dancing, drumming, ritual, fire, meeting people, chilling...

Grove Altar

Labyrinth & Green Lady

Drumming and fire

Hasfest looks set to be as great as usual even though this may be the last year it is held due to developers wanting to build houses on our grove and across where we have the firepit and all areas surrounding it.  There has been a protest about the development as the residents in the area don't want their green space built on either and we were hoping to help them in their fight against the plans, as a Pagan community, by asking people that had enjoyed Hasfest in the past, the Samhain Rituals that we have held there and the Handfastings that they have attended there if they could find time to write a couple of sentences as to what the grove means to them to put before the council in a presentation, but compared to amount of folk coming along and enjoying these free events there has been very little response.  The lack of response is very disheartening  making the people who work very hard to put these events together, just to bring like minded people together and hoping create a sense of community, if it is really worth continuing at all, as a lot of time and their own money goes into preparing everything and getting it all ready.  So hey, best make this a good on and go out with a bang rather than a whimper!

If anyone is reading this who would like to help by sending in a short paragraph (or more) of what the grove and that area means to them there is still time as the council has put the date of the hearing back again.  Cherill is the person who is getting the presentation together and her email is -  cherill 57@btinternet.com   
(there are no spaces in the email address, I've put one in to stop her getting spammed by bots) or contact her on  facebook/Hasfest

Shamanism, Paganism, Rock & Roll:0)