Clan Dolmen Chronicles: The Lockdown Issue

Clan Dolmen Chronicles the lockdown issue 2020

In this issue Up to date music info from.

Dolmen Productions: The Dolmen Crow Dancers, Sensational Infernals, Trash Fash Warriors & the Infernal Theatre & Introducing Connach Jameson Plus, the latest in music from: Esme Knight Amy Hopwood The Boarding crew, Husbands n Knives Hyttis The best in Reading from a variety of authors and publishers.

Dancing with fire: a look at Clan’ Dolmen’s regular fire dancers; what it means to them from both a spiritually and from an entertainment perspective.

Plus, regular features and articles, and a look at the last physical event of the year The International Left Hand Path Consortium www.facebook.com/groups/272811573540633/?ref=br_rs https://www.facebook.com/Clan-Dolmen-110124449082503/ https://www.facebook.com/clandolmenchronicles/

Clan Dolmen is a pagan organisation of mixed spiritual paths established in the early 90s by Taloch Jameson, which over the years has grown from one small circle in Weymouth Dorset, to several clans not only across the UK but worldwide.

The Spiritual ethos of Clan Dolmen has remained the same throughout and is based purely upon the Freedom of the Individual.

It is the collective belief that in an age where technology can often dwarf our humanity, it is important that we take control as individuals and embrace our own spirituality in order to maintain the equilibrium within an ever-changing world.

Although the Clan is not a political organisation preferring instead to focus upon the spiritual, this does not prevent either individual members or the Clan as a collective from playing an active part in humanitarian and environmental issues.

There are no hierarchy or titles within Clan Dolmen as it is our aim to encourage each man and woman to discover their own unique and authentic journey so that their spiritual connection is founded upon that which works for them as an individual rather than a spiritual rule book set for the masses.

The key to our success is the Round Table which is made up of around twenty people from a variety of spiritual paths who uphold the spiritual ethos of the Clan. They not only organise their respective moots but also the festivals and events hosted by Clan Dolmen.

Our Moots are regular meeting places which are held once a month in several areas.

Although these are organised by and largely attended by Clan members, non-members are always welcome to find out more about the Clan and enjoy the company of other free-thinking people as well as the activities organised by the Moot.

There is a membership in place that enables those who wish to be part of this evergrowing Clan to enjoy reduced ticket prices for Clan Dolmen, festivals and where stated ‘member only’ Ceremonies and Courses. Although we host many Ceremonies which are open to the general public, to avoid crowding and to allow our members to celebrate free from pressure we also hold a number of ‘members only’ ceremonies throughout the year.

‘ALL ARE SPIRITUALLY UNITED WITHIN CLAN DOLMEN’ www.facebook.com/groups/272811573540633/?ref=br_rs https://www.facebook.com/Clan-Dolmen-110124449082503/

CONTENTS 1… Elecampane: The English Sunflower – Andrew Cowling 2… The Boarding Crew – Defoe Smith 3… Good Witch, Bad Witch: Morality in Witchcraft – Jonathan Argento 4… The Remembering – B Milner 5… Homemade Loose incense and Magickal Blends – Bekki Milner 6… The Infernal Theatre – Dolmen Productions 7… The Power of Reflection – Bill Duvendack 8… The Time I Was A Dolmen Mascot – Sophie Barrett 9… The Dolmen – Dolmen Productions 10… Aromatherapy – Copaiba Oil – Betty Timmer & Signy Esmeijer 11… Books Reviews and Information from Tarn Nemorensis, Draco Press, Sean Woodward, Black Moon Publishing, Sirius Ltd Esoterica, Laurie Pneumatikos, Moon Books: Scott Irvine/Rachel Patterson, Veneficia Publishing Ltd, Mark Vine, Michael W. Ford, Richard K Page 12… Internal Gods and the Afterlife – Richard K Page 13… 2020 Eclipses and Moons – Bill Duvendack 14… Husbands n Knives – Punk/Riot Grrrl Band 15… The Magick of Spoken Charms – Tarn Nemorensis 16… Crowdancers/ The Spirit of Crow Dance/Crow Dance in Modern Day – Taloch Jameson/Dolmen Productions 17… Experiencing The International Left Hand Path Consortium – Tarn Nemorensis 18… Memories of The International Left Hand Path Consortium – Laurie Pneumatikos 19… Belenus – Marisha Kiddle 20… Connach Jameson – Connach Jameson/Dolmen Productions 21… Queen of Heaven, Queen of Hell- As above, So Below: -The mirror mysteries of Diana. – Tarn Nemorensis 22… Esme Knight – Esme Knight 23… Amy Hopwood – Amy Hopwood 24… Diary of the Hedgewitch - Rachael Moss 25… Hope – Scott Irvine 26… Hyttis – Andreas Huettenmueller

27… Trash Fash Washiors – Dolmen Productions 28… Kuan Yin-A Historical Perspective on a Religiously Promiscuous Goddess – Lou Hotchkiss Knives 29… Dancing with Fire – Fire Demon/Fire Spryte/ Dragon Lady Esme Knight/ Chris & Dee Moor Photos in this issue: Wim van Harberden, Duncan Knifton, Bekki Milner, Taloch Jameson, Andrew Cowling, Rachael Moss, Laurie Pneumatikos All Dolmen artwork Sem Vine, Pia Bartmann, Ren Lawson, Taloch Jameson/Dolmen Productions Unless otherwise stated all other images are owned by the authors or from the public domain Cover Image courtesy of Duncan Knifton/International Left Hand Path Consortium/Royston Fowler Further information on Clan Dolmen can be found a https://www.facebook.com/Clan-Dolmen-110124449082503/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/272811573540633/ All information is accurate at the time of publication and all articles and images are assumed to be the work of those being credited Editor… Diane Narraway email: clandolmen@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/clandolmenchronicles/ Part of the Pagan and Heathen Symposium http://pagansymposium.org/ ADDITIONAL LINKS Clan Dolmen Cornwall - facebook.com/groups/460165050682366/ Clan Dolmen Essex & Kent facebook.com/groups/clandolmengroveessexkentmoot Clan Dolmen Hampshire - .facebook.com/groups/333325700362318/ Clan Dolmen Isle of Wight - .facebook.com/groups/751767741696777/ Clan Dolmen Portland - .facebook.com/groups/148075512033935/ Clan Dolmen Weymouth - -facebook.com/groups/435089566582005/ Clan Dolmen Virtual Camps 2020 - facebook.com/groups/586436548637158/ Clan Dolmen Wytches & Cunningfolk-facebook.com/wytchesandcunningfolkcamp/ Email: clandolmen@gmail.com

Elecampane: The English Sunflower I like to use it for chronic lung conditions, most commonly bronchitis where the condition has become ‘stuck.’ It can also be used for other longterm respiratory ailments such as emphysema, bronchiectasis, silicosis and chronic cough in older people. In the past it was a remedy for tuberculosis and whooping cough.

A favourite herb of mine, particularly for chronic lung conditions.

The Latin name Inula helenium has a complicated origin. It is thought that the Latin Helenium, previously from the Greek Helenion was corrupted to Inula.

All tales involve Helenium of Helena who was happily married to Menelaus and was carrying handfuls of the herb when she was taken away by Paris who had fallen in love with her.

Alternatively, it is said that the herb sprang from where her tears fell upon the ground, that it was Helen who first used it against venomous bites or that its name derives from the island of Helena where the best plants grew.

Elecampane is a distortion of Enula campana, so called because it grew in the Campania region of Italy. Alternative names such as Horseheal and Scabwort indicate its use in treating animals (scabwort in sheep and skin diseases in horses).

All through history the root has been used as a lung herb, especially good for chronic conditions, and as a digestive tonic. It is particularly useful for treating children and older people.

Nicholas Culpeper (1616- 1654) described it thus: ‘very effectual to warm a cold windy stomach and stitches in the side, caused by the spleen, and to relieve cough, shortness of breath and wheezing in the lungs.’ Which aptly summarises how it is used in modern herbalism.

As an expectorant it facilitates the removal of mucous which helps to keep lung tissue in good condition. It is also a warming herb which is relevant in chronic lung conditions that can be seen as wet and cold. A small dose of cayenne pepper in the medicine helps address this too.

It is also a useful part of an herbal mix for treating asthma as it can act as an antispasmodic, relaxing the tissue of the bronchial passages.

It is known to have antimicrobial action; a property with obvious relevance in lung conditions as recurring infections are usually a problem where the underlying condition is chronic.

Along with elecampane my herbs of choice for chronic lung problems include common thyme, marshmallow, white horehound, hyssop and Echinacea.

Elecampane is mildly bitter and with its warming property this makes it an effective remedy for livening the digestion. This is very useful adjunct to its role in chronic lung conditions where poor appetite and sluggish digestion are often apparent.

The Romans chewed cubes of elecampane root between the many courses of their meals to aid digestion of the heavy menu.

It has been used as a religious herb by Druids and is an herb of Consecration, being used in the rituals of initiation. The herb is ground and then burnt on blocks of glowing charcoal; the smoke being used to purify candidates for initiation. Candidates

should also have previously taken elecampane daily as a cleansing tonic, preparing them for breathing freely as part of the sacred of the rite.

Elecampane root contains Inulin (up to 44% in the autumn), a non-digestible polysaccharide (carbohydrate) discovered in 1804. It acts as a prebiotic in the digestive system, facilitating maintenance and development of a healthy gut microbiome, (the vast collection of microorganisms inhabiting our gut); an aspect of us which is being increasingly recognised as a factor fundamental to our general good health. Other foods which contain inulin include wheat, bananas, onions, garlic, asparagus, Jerusalem artichoke and chicory.

Like many herbs, elecampane was recommended for a range of other ailments which it is not used for now. For instance, Dioscorides (40 -90AD) asserted that it would ‘aid digestion and cause mirth.’ Pliny

(23 – 79AD) recommended that ‘the root, being chewed fasting, doth fasten the teeth.’

Culpeper also used it for destroying worms in the stomach, improving eyesight, curing pestilential and putrid fevers, (even the plague), fastening loose teeth and avoiding their putrefaction when chewed, for spitting of blood, removing cramps or convulsions, gout, sciatica, pains in the joints, ruptures and bruising.

I often wonder if we as herbalists have narrowed down our uses of herbs too much and have discarded many of the properties ascribed to them in the past to our disadvantage.

Andrew Cowling Photos by Andrew Cowling

Good Witch / Bad Witch MORALITY IN WITCHCRAFT

There’s a lot of rather sloppy ideas running wild in relation to morality in Witchcraft. The laziest version asserts that there is a polarity between Right-hand path, a ‘good’ white witchcraft and the Left-hand path, a ‘sinister’ black witchcraft.

An idea originally posed by Madame Blavatsky, founder of the Theosophical society and further developed by the author and magician Dion Fortune. Taken at face value, these rather simplistic distinctions seem based upon dualism, more common within monotheistic religions like Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.

So how did it get applied to Witchcraft?

In the 1970s many witches in the media presented an ongoing battle between ‘good’ white and ‘evil’ black witchcraft and of course, they were the good guys.

This rather played into the hands of conservative Christianity - which views all witchcraft as inherently evil, irrespective of whether its black or white. This combined with Doreen Irvine’s ‘autobiographical’ ‘From Witchcraft to Christ’ and ‘Michelle Remembers’ (the equally unbelievable ‘recovered memory’ account of childhood ritualised abuse) prompted the ‘satanic panic’ of the late 1980’s.

In the UK, the ‘Doorways to Danger’ project funded by the Evangelical Alliance supplied literature and videos to every secondary school warning of ‘ritual abuse’ and ‘satanic’ witchcraft. The irony here was, that as a direct result, children were abusively removed from families by child protection agencies for fear of potential abuse, based upon the dubious testimony of evangelical Christian past-life regression therapists. No evidence of ritual abuse was sustained in court, neither was anyone convicted for such a crime. It’s a sad period of history that the authorities would rather forget.

Perhaps the problem lies within fledgling Wicca which was keen to promote a case for witchcraft and a curious but pragmatic instruction ‘an’ it

harm none – do what thou wilt.’ A vague

enough statement, that has been variously (or perhaps hilariously) interpreted by some stateside witches last year - as never ever harming and certainly never cursing the Trump administration. I’m assuming these ‘witches’ have never read Aradia? The very notion of ‘non-harm’ is an impossible goal, our very existence is harmful to something, whether we eat meat or not.

The second part of the statement with its Thelemic overtones, encourages a personal responsibility to do what you must – so what would Crowley do? It’s hardly a recommendation to pursue peace, purity, and light! Similarly, the ‘Law of threefold return’ sounds like a good idea, but most people use it as a form of instant karma. If it were it true, aggressive capitalism would be as dead as Soviet Bloc communism, sadly this is not the case! Karma is a Vedic idea whose goal is escape from Samsara, the endless cycle of rebirth, to achieve enlightened Nirvana. It’s an engaging idea, but it’s not witchcraft.

Is there such a thing as a good witch? Or what makes a witch good? If we pose the same question about a knife, we have to conclude that a good knife cuts as required. A ‘good knife’ is fit for purpose, irrespective of whether it’s used to protect or harm. Clearly, a good witch - is a sharp one! This leads neatly into a further question. Is magic good by virtue of its intention or its outcome? Of course, this wouldn’t be an issue if the two were the same.

We have all meant well - only to create a bigger problem (or perhaps that’s just me).

Traditionally morality has been defined by following one of three differing instructions.

1) Always do whatever God says - still sadly a dangerous view.

2) Always follow your duty to do the right thing, irrespective of the outcome.

3) Always take the action that potentially produces the best outcome for the majority.

It’s not hard to find fault with each of these ideas.

Perhaps an observation of practice is the best distinction between the Left- and Right-hand paths.

Most descriptions of the Right-hand path use a structured model of officers and precepts or rules, not unlike the organisation of a church, temple, or Lodge. However, interpreted, there is a sense of convention in this approach. In its more organised format Wicca would appear to fit here, I’m sure some witches would be horrified at this comparison.

The real problem with rules, is they prohibit an alternate perspective, inhibit innovation and creativity, and ultimately lead to division. It certainly accounts for the ever-increasing sects within protestant Christianity and maybe within Paganism too. Perhaps a Right-hand path is just too safe!

Does a Left-hand approach offer a better alternative? Most acknowledge this path favours personal autonomy and breaks with convention, so far so good, but also deliberately breaks taboos in magical working. For many conservative witches, sex magic, particularly same-sex workings are a bridge too far. Are taboos, like rules, made to be broken? Is there a specific magical value in this process?

Assuming non-abusive consensual adult agreement - who is to judge? As, most magic is results- based, if it works, use it!

Perhaps the real value of Left and Right-hand paths is that they are simply two sides of the same person, different approaches to the same goal. Even the most eclectic pagan camp requires some rules. What individuals or magical groups do in their own ritual space is their own business.

If there is a morality in witchcraft it is better served by taking full responsibility for your actions and ‘only ever working magic, you are prepared to have worked on you.’

I have long given up on taking seriously those who claim to be white witches, only working exclusively for good. There is simply no historical precedent for this view. Witches cure and curse, harm and heal.

Jonathan Argento

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HOME MADE LOOSE INCENSE Whether you use it in spell-work, ritual, or just to make your house smell nice, it’s always good to have some kind of incense blend to hand. Be it to represent the elements of fire or air, adding oomph to a spell, or using the smoke to cleanse yourself or your sacred space, here is how you can blend your own loose incense to burn on a charcoal disc.

You can make blends for purpose, focusing on the magickal properties of the herbs and resins, or for scent – usually incorporating a base note (musk, wood, and heavier scents), heart note (spice and full bodied florals) and top notes (citrus, and light florals).

Resins The main element, and usually the base note of your scent, will be resin. The most commonly available are frankincense, myrrh, dragons blood and benzoin, each with their own magickal properties to throw into your blends.

Herbs and flowers The remaining ingredients for your incense blends will be dried herbs or flowers – again, for either their scent or magickal properties.

Process Gather your herbs and resins, and a good pestle and mortar. I prefer stone over anything else, but even a wooden one will do the job. You will also need some dishes to hold your ingredients before you blend them, and a jar or tub to store it in afterwards.

In this example, I have used pine needles from a yule wreath, patchouli, mugwort and juniper berries, with a benzoin resin.

Start by crushing your herbs. Some will crush down finer than others (pine takes a lot of work!), and how fine you make it is personal preference.

Setting them to one side, you can then crush your resin separately – I prefer to leave some sizable chunks in my resins, crushing it just enough for the herbs to stick to it.

Optional: You can add drops of essential oils to your mix – which will help the blend stick. Be sparing with it and avoid the more volatile or flammable oils.

Blend the herbs with the resin, and store in an airtight jar. Charcoal discs (and suitable heat proof burners) are available at most pagan or new age shops and online – just light one up and place a pinch of your incense carefully on top – loose incense always produces a lot more smoke than sticks or cones.

As always, take care with anything flammable – charcoal discs in particular are deceptively harmless looking but get really hot!

Bekki Milner photos by Bekki Milner

Infernal Theatres latest video release does not fail with the psychological horror touching the nerve as Victor Vassago, in his endearing manner holds a Dinner Party.

Preparing the fresh caught meat provided by his loyal clown Pendilino Dandor, he displays his incredible knife skills and cooking technique. Guest include a deceased Marilyn Munro & young Norman Bates. What can possibly go wrong?

www.patreon.com/thedolmen www.thedolmen.com www.facebook.com/theinfernaltheatre Experience the Infernal theatre here ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZWzOdyDxlU&feature=youtu.be&f bclid=IwAR37Cq9RhyvOSSR2xeN1R9jlsRRVDxATInERZ52pMFVo9lTFLDArLY1iKg

The Power of Reflection A lot of people are spending a lot of time alone right now, and one of the most powerful things you can do is to turn your attention inward in the name of personal reflection and growth.

However, and this is the important part, right now, it is more or less enforced through wise choices by people that are looking at the best for everyone. Here’s the catch. Even when freedom of movement goes back to normal, it will still be a time of reflection and inner work.

So, if you have thought all of this personal work will stop when freedom of movement is restored, think again. Nothing could be further from the truth. Why? The reason, as is true with many things, is astrological.

In the middle of May, the two most beneficial planets in astrology are going retrograde.

Venus and Jupiter both retrograde May 13th. Whne planets retrograde, it is a grea t time to go inward and make the appropriate changes in the name of your personal growth.

The difference between then and now, is that theoretically, this reflection will be by choice. We all know, that after this period, you might choose not to do the appropriate work for the sake of not burning out from the amount of personal work currently being done. However, that is exactly why your work should continue during that retrograde period. If you do maximize your gain during the retrograde period, you will be fantastically set up for a stellar 2021 C.E. This is all broad information, so let’s break down the individual planets, so you know where to focus your energy.

Beginning with Venus, which will retrograde from May 13th until June 25th, in the sign of Gemini. Put in context, this is the shorter of the two. Venus is known as the Lesser Benefic and is generally considered the second most beneficial planet looked at astrologically. It corresponds to love, beauty, art, creativity, creative expression, the appreciation of all of those things, the manifested goddess, and money. It is also the planet of jealousness, and

all things associated with a woman scorned. It is the ruling planet of Taurus and Libra, to show the wide variety of correspondences embodied in the planet. Since it is retrograding in Gemini, we do see elemental compatibility, since both Gemini and Libra are air signs. This means the retrograde period will be more dynamic than normal. When Venus is retrograde, the dominant theme is an inward reflection and work involved with reassessing your inner femininity. That might be a bitter pill for toxic masculine people to swallow, but that doesn’t make it untrue. However, that line of thinking, re-evaluation, and the like, can also be applied to your own creativity. During this retrograde, re-evaluating your creativity could be just as helpful and effective as taking a second look at your inner sexuality, specifically your feminine side and how you express it. The Gemini influence tells us the main vessel for this will be personal communication, whether through the personal computer, telephone, or brief conversations with people. Also of note is that many times during a Venus retrograde, exes and people from your past may come back into your life. But here again, the Gemini influence tells us that may be shortlived.

Proceeding to Jupiter, the Greater Benefic, we see this will retrograde from May 13th until September 13th, in the sign of Capricorn so that this duration will be significantly longer.

However, that also means the intensity will not be as much as it is during the Venus retrograde.

And, exes and people from your past are generally not going to come back during this time, so you can rest easy in that knowledge.

There are some other traits to take the edge off of things, too. Jupiter corresponds to prosperity, the expansion of consciousness, living large, rulership, spirituality, large living spaces, philosophy, good fortune, and leaders, to name but a few. It is the ruling planet of Sagittarius and a co-ruling planet of Pisces, so we see it aligns with fire and water energies.

Jupiter retrograde also occupies a special place

in astrology. Due to its size and beneficial nature, it is generally considered that when Jupiter is retrograde, it is not that much different than when it is direct! There is still one major characteristic of Jupiter retrograde, which is that generally, that denotes there is a duality of some sort present. For example, if Jupiter is retrograde in a natal chart, it can mean someone came from a divorced household. Or, perhaps the native was raised in the city but spent their summers in the country.

However it plays out, it is simply worth noting there is a duality of some kind present. When it comes to the transiting (daily) sky, this takes on a much different nature. On the one hand, this could mean that there is a duplicity of some sort occurring. For example, think of the symbolism of duck medicine. On the surface of the water, the duck looks like it isn’t doing anything to move across the surface of the water, but under the surface, those webbed feet are paddling a million miles an hour. On the one hand, this serves as a warning that during this time, things may not be as they appear.

However, this also means that now is a great time to get a lot of things done behind the scenes while everyone is preoccupied with other matters. In any event, your inner life can be addressed, continuing your process of growth.

Now that you know this information, you can see what I mean by the opportunities present

through September to continue your inner growth. True, the height of this only lasts until late June when Venus goes direct, but it will continue more gently through September. If you know you are going to be tired of internal work by mid-May, when Venus retrogrades, then I am the bearer of bad news, because you may be done with it, but it is not done with you so it will be brought to your door until Venus stops dancing. Even then, Jupiter continues to linger in the background until mid-September, telling us there is more to the story than meets the eye. The light at the end of the tunnel is that both of these planets will be direct just in time for the holidays and the beginning of 2021 C.E., which sets the stage for a great start to the year. And another piece of good news is that Venus only goes retrograde about every two years, so you won’t have to worry about those people from your past coming back up every year, just when you are starting to forget about them and move on‌ Bill Duvendack bill@418ascendant.com

I heard everyone calling me up on the stage in the pub.

They called me ME Sophie - The Dolmen mascot.

Finally, after what seemed like such a long time I was home, home with my Dolmen family.

Next day was the day of the Weymouth Pirate Parade. I was so excited to be back with my Dolmen family after so long. I put on my purple flowing dress and my pirate hat with the bows and stars. Pulled my black eyeliner across my face. I heard my Nan calling me from the van, she wanted me to tighten her corset, but Nan being Nan, complimented me on my outfit (Thanks Nan) About an hour and half later we were ready to leave the campsite.

You soon understand that fitting 8 people dressed in corsets and hats and carrying drums into a taxi is not an easy task.

When we arrived in the centre of Weymouth Taloch called me to the front of the parade with him. That was a moment I will never ever forget.

We started drumming. I love that sound.

So, the parade begins.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity for writing this story, I loved doing it.

Sophie Barrett aged 12. (The Dolmen Mascot)

We went all over Weymouth town centre, drumming and shouting. There were several times that day, when I felt as if my hat was going to blow off my head into the harbour. But my lovely Kayley assured me that if it did she would catch it for me.

She is so funny and kind.

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Then the fun starts in the evening.

As I am only a child, not allowed to drink, my grandparents bought me sweets. I was so excited and full of sugar; I went a little crazy when I was dancing, swept up in the sound of the Dolmen music. Taloch and Kayley called me up into the stage, introducing me as the Dolmen mascot in front of loads of people. We all carried on dancing, when the Dolmen see people are having a good time they just don’t stop.

I woke up the next morning with a child sugar hangover, but It was worth it. I will never forget the day I was Sophie the Dolmen mascot. You can be a Dolmen mascot to, you just need to let loose and have a bit of real pure fun with the people that mean sooo much to you.

The Dolmen are a relentless organic Celtic rock band born from the county of Dorset, England. Their mission has been to infiltrate the minds and souls of a growing audience with their tribal rhythms and powerful spiritual renditions.

The Dolmen was founded by prolific song writer & lead singer, Taloch Jameson and after a few changes over the years, the current line-up has been solid since 2010 when drummer, Chris Harris, joined to complete the experience. Josh Elliott, lead guitarist, joined The Dolmen family in 2009 and Kayleigh Marchant, bass guitar & vocals, became a member in 2008. After breaking into Europe, The Dolmen then found Anja Novotny, flutes & keyboard, in 2015.

Their latest album ‘NUADA’ released in 2016 is emblematic of their success, and testament to the band's artistic evolution and enthusiasm, described by Van Muylem of SNOOZECONTROL “as an exceptional trip”. The release of ‘NUADA’ has also found The Dolmen nominated in the ‘Bastaard Fantasy Awards’ for best album internationally and nominated best live act internationally, of which they won in both categories.

Contact: Marloes Visser +31 6 24 630631 Manager@thedolmen.com TALOCH JAMESON: Lead vocals, 8 & 6 string acoustic and electric guitars; multi-instrumentalist Founding member, lead singer-songwriter and soul of The Dolmen: Born and raised an Islander off the coast of the UK, his music and rough edges reflect the dual heritage from which he was bred. Drawing from folklore, legend and historical account to actively preserve the traditions and memory of a rapidly fading Celtic age, his personal spiritual ethos, mentoring, music and writings on individual freedom of thought and peace have inspired people all over the world. A familiar figure on radio, television and other media across the UK and mainland Europe, he is also the founder of Clan Dolmen International (formerly The Dolmen Grove). Taloch has never lost his cultural musical roots, and as the driving force of the band, sets the tone of The Dolmen with the poetry, passion and fire of the Romany and indigenous Native American tribes from which he springs.

JOSH ELLIOTT: Song writer, vocals; multi-instrumentalist specializing in electric guitar; banjo and various string and wind instruments Joining The Dolmen at a fairly young age, any doubts about Josh’s abilities were soon put to rest. An accomplished guitarist with classic licks and soaring leads reminiscent of the greats of vintage Rock, he nonetheless shares the band’s passion for tradition and love of folklore, creating a seamless union of the modern with a heavy Celtic seasoning. His first compositions alongside Taloch resulted in the acclaimed album, “Crabchurch Conspiracy”. Based on Dolmen lyricist and collaborator Mark Vine’s book of the same name, the work is an historical and musical look at the tragic consequences of the English Civil War and its effect on the countryside and people of Dorset. Since that time, his contributions to the band have been epic, his achievements significant, and his music nothing less than magic.

KAYLEIGH MARCHANT: Bassist, songwriter and vocals An audience favourite in her own right, with at least one solo album under her belt, the gorgeous Kayleigh’s driving bass and rhythms perfectly express her unique spirit and energy. Proceeding from a background in dance, theatre, and performance, she has been a lover of Celtic and Celtic-inspired music from an early age, beautifully dovetailing with The Dolmen philosophy and vitality from the very start. An essential part of The Dolmen identity and a true rebel soul, her song writing, and vocal abilities have had a tremendous influence over the band and her many fans. On stage, it is invariably Kayleigh who insures each concert is a festival of party fun.

CHRIS JONES: Drums, percussionist, accordion and vocals Powerful and tribal, Chris brings to the band his unique style of Celtic drumming from the Highlands of his youth. As the pulse, the heartbeat and kinetic energy of the band itself, his contributions over the years have led to the perfection of The Dolmen sound that is unique amongst Celtic Rock today. Recently taking centre stage as a vocalist, his live rendition of “The Wild Wind Howls” has become a much-anticipated audience favourite. Taking up the accordion and other instruments with equal ease, he is a wonder of musical diversity, of traditional and progressive sound, and an integral element of The Dolmen.

ANJA NOVOTNY: Whistles, Bagpipes and Flute Yet another multi-instrumentalist and accomplished musician, Anja made her debut with The Dolmen after a successful career on the European festival circuits.

Based on the Continent, Anja tours with The Dolmen mainly in concert on the mainland, bringing her blazing talent to life in her brilliant stage performances

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with flute, whistle and bagpipe. Like the natural element of Air her music embodies, have brought joy and light

Betty Timmer & Signy Esmeijer

to the stage

B00KS: reviews/new releases & What’s Available significant step up from other books bearing the same title.

Troy Publishing- Charles G. LelandGypsy Sorcery and Fortune Telling.

It may seem odd, maybe slightly peculiar to review a book that was originally printed more than 100 years ago. The original version of the book was printed in 1891- the decade when the first automobiles were being made commercially, Argon and X-rays had first been discovered and The Picture of Dorian Gray and the first Sherlock Holmes Story had just been released.

However, there’s a certain necessary fondness for a Leland book. They capture odd pieces of history, small spells and charms found in scattered villages, some myths that date back thousands of years and some that date back probably just a few decades. It’s for his work’s occultic significance, looking back of myths past, and how they influence pagan myths going forward, with new religions such as Wicca-with not only this fine book, but also his Aradia translation- that truly means his books will continue to stay within the modern occult and pagan scene.

This particular edition is a most beautiful hardback edition by Troy Books Publishing, bound in a beautiful burgundy faux leather, with gold accents.

As with most of the hardback books from this publisher, it’s simply a beautiful book. Those who know me, know that I am easily swayed by a hardback book with a shiny embossed font- but Troy Books clearly put love back into bookmaking, and it shows. The original illustrations are kept and printed in an excellent quality, making this feel like a

Their version of this book comes with an introduction by Gemma Gary- author of books such as Traditional Witchcraft, a Cornish Book of Ways, and The Devils Dozen. Her introduction gives life to the man behind the work, exploring his motivations behind this collection of sources as well as the way he goes about recording them- pulling his sources from his own library, but also his personal first-hand experiences.

Leland collected Gypsy lore from many places and presented them within this text- the text isn’t going to tell you how to read palms or necessarily how to cast spells, but it does provide a wealth of information on the people who did do these things.

It explores eggshell spells and myths, pregnancy charms and fortune telling. It looks at the folklore behind Gypsies and Fairies, studies the underlying shamanic current of witchcraft- and it even explores that magical virtue of garlic- as if we ever needed an additional magical virtue to make us like Garlic.

Although the work is dated, and full of the prejudices and racism that you can expect from a book of this age- the knowledge collected is still considerable all these years later. If you can look past the racism of times past to get to the underlying knowledge, it’s worth a read. The main focuses are within Transylvania and Hungary, however other ethnicities and locations are mentioned in this book, providing an extensive view on the folklore of these cultures.

I feel that you can’t go wrong with purchasing this version of Leland’s Gypsy Sorcery and Fortune Telling. It’s a beautiful edition that’s sure to last longer and be well loved- and if you’ve never happened to purchase this key piece of occult history yet, now might be a good time as it can be on your bookshelf in all of its faux burgundy leather and embossed gold glory

Tarn Nemorensis

SEAN WOODWARD TYPHONIAN RITES OF AMENTA Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law!

These words received by Aleister Crowley in 1904 echo down the generations, asking us to question our actions, our true nature and in turn the very context of magickal expression and understanding within which the words themselves and Thelema became framed.

As the figures gather this night, sometime in the late 1950’s, the hustle and bustle of the London streets outside becomes eerily distant. The attendees seem a little on edge, looking from one to the other, noting the detail of robes and masks, of stature and movement. Something is not quite right. Even before the ritual begins it seems that another has joined them, that another walks amongst them unseen. It is the night of the New Moon and the darkness seems to have hidden the arrival of one both familiar and yet separated by decades, outside the restrictive circles of time.

Still they remain focussed as the words are intoned and a small, Tibetan bell, sounded. Before them is their leader. Does the Master also sense that there is something different this evening, that a shade of the future walks amongst them even now, having admired the cut of his three-piece suit when he crossed the street outside? He hesitates for a moment, looking about the room and then continues.

Typhonian Rites of Amenta not only reveals the answer to this and other questions of a Nightside nature but gives details of the methods and mechanics associated with these rites. Whilst some may be familiar with the sigils of Aleister Crowley’s Liber Arcanorvm or Kenneth Grant’s Nightside of Eden, here they will find new cartographies and new ways of exploring the Tunnels of Choronzon-Set. For as Dr. Plimer writes in the Introduction, “The questions Sean invites us to ask are: who were these brave esotericists, and who amongst us will retrieve and then continue this great work? The answer is given: the ‘Typhonians,’ for it is we who bathe in the rites and light of that lunar sphere, utilising the magick of the New Moon and that of the Nightside Tradition.”

Lavishly illustrated throughout by the author, the book includes his exclusive new album Typhonis, with the signature ritual musick tracks, Ilyarun and Aossic.

ERZULIE OF THE DEEP The subject of Sean Woodward’s Erzulie of the Deep should not be confused with her sister Loa, Sirene. In this devotional booklet we follow the story of a young boy who is wronged by his family, offered up for adoption but who finally sees justice.

These are themes which are dear to Erzulie, for she is a protector of children and is also an instrument of retribution. The booklet merges this narrative with devotional prayers and examples of the author’s own shrines of Erzulie, which become ever more elaborate with the passing of time and the acknowledgement of the mysteries that she brings to us.

It is fitting therefore that Hadean Press have also created an Altar Edition, which is a compact and hand-bound volume, complete with leather covers and fine marbled end papers. This is the booklet that now rests below the shrine of Erzulie depicted in the book itself. As only a small number of these have been created, it is sure to quickly become a much sought-after item.

The Guides to the Underworld edition of the booklet is less compact but much more legible. It is a product of the Voudon Gnostic initiatory process and whilst focussing firmly on the Erzulie of traditional Haitian Voodoo, it is wrapped in the nuances of the esoteric.

KEYS TO THE HOODOO KINGDOM “ I’m not going to lie to all of you. This review was a real challenge. Writing book reviews is much more difficult when the work is meaningful, poignant, and strikes to the heart of the subject in such a profound way.

In my head every line is basically repeating READ THIS BOOK! IF YOU KNOW WHO BERTIAUX IS THEN READ THIS BOOK. TAKE IT UP AND READ. TAKE IT UP AND READ! However, it wouldn’t be fair to Sean Woodward or Keys to the let it stand there. Fair warning, review that follows is lengthy and detailed. If you’re short of time or feel an attack of TL;DR coming on then let this tag line sum it up for you: If the VGW made you Huh? Then Keys this will make you go OH! Seriously, I consider this text to be essential reading. Keys does for the Lucky Hoodoo Grimoire, what Syzygy does for the Monastery papers. Like Palamas, Woodward lays his personal gnosis out bare for the reader to experience. Woodward opens a window into how a dedicated and long established practitioner interacts with the spirits, designs their magical universe, and woven their story. Here is a channeled work that merges creativity and personal gnosis into a map for other seekers to follow.

As with other works in the Esoteric Voudon current Keys operates on numerous levels. At its most base, Keys to the Hoodoo Kingdom is a work of personal gnosis, Woodward takes us through his own journey through becoming a Lucky Hoodoo. From his earliest exploration of magic as a pre-teen to the primal spirits encounters with some of England’s most ancient and sacred spaces. From bookstores to bayous, and back to sacred stones Woodward’s journey of connections and interaction with the Hoodoo is an inspiration to those setting out on the path.

In Keys to the Hoodoo Kingdom Woodward masterfully reaches to the heart of this current’s gnosis, by creating his own grimoires and developing his own mythos. Reading Keys in a passive manner might seem like Woodward is presenting notes for an incomplete fantasy novel, which is a criticism that can be laid at the foot of many more esoteric publications. A deliberate and perhaps even spiritually active reading of Keys opens the reader up to the intense personal universe of the Hoodoo, a magical universe of the magicians own experiences.

One of the goals of work with Bertiaux’s systems is to develop your own occult universe. To meet the Spirits, work with them, and become a gnostic artist weaving your own mythos out of the aether. The Monastery of the Seven rays is a toolbox to understand how this all works but we get to fill in the creative bits. Think of it as an occult erector set or a spiritual GURPS if you’re familiar with role playing games. The VGW is perhaps best described as an advanced guide to a developed occult universe. A collection of Bertiaux’s methods to complete this great work. If this is the case, then Keys to the Hoodoo Kingdom is the players guide.” www.seanwoodward.com www.facebook.com/seanofficial www.gothicbandcamp.com www.facebook.com/SiriusLimited-Esoterica1929069654044439/

Black Moon Publishing The Book of Babalon: A novel by Anna McKerrow Babalon is a UK feminist organisation with a membership numbering in the hundreds of thousands. Fronted by the charismatic Scarlett Woman, Babalon treads a careful line in an increasingly conservative UK, where a government coalition with a religiously conservative Irish party means that reproductive rights in England may be under threat.

Scarlett’s organisation venerates Babalon, goddess of sex, blood and the destruction of patriarchy. It promotes witchcraft practices as a key method of political and spiritual resistance to its members via rallies, meetings, training, conferences and the BabalonApp, where those identifying as women can access support services, witchcraft resources, online chat, news and feminist media.

Told by three women - Maid (Trix, discovering her sexuality) Mother (Robyn, mother of two, finding herself after a broken marriage) and Crone (Scarlett Woman, the leader of Babalon) - this is a story of power and empowerment: where personal, sexual and political power comes from, where it intersects and how different women come into their power in different ways. It also considers the difficulties inherent in an organisation paying lip service to inclusivity, and the dynamics of power in an organisation run by a woman who considers herself the conduit for a goddess.

A powerful and topical book, THE BOOK OF BABALON mixes witchcraft and feminism into something new, original and absolutely of the moment.

Babalon is present in the world, but not in any one woman. It goes beyond that - in sexual freedom, in empowerment and body sovereignty. Babalon is the Whore in us all. That is Her power, Her legacy.

Please note that this book contains graphic sexual content, mentions of rape, physical and sexual abuse, abortion, miscarriage, occult ritual and content of an extremely adult nature.

Through this new volume of Sabbatica "Katabasis" Black Alchemy & Necromancy, we explore descending to the underworld and connecting with the spirits of the dead, and how in context we can experience a deep level of transformation such as psychic, and spiritual. A deep process of black alchemy, in which the adept dies in a spiritual way and is reborn transformed from the womb of the universe, as an isolated individual always moving in different realities of perception through an amalgam of mysterious currents, understanding the myriad mysteries of death and the dead.

(If ordered before its release free shipping post) Further information and prices info: kerval111@gmail.com * Bill Duvendack: Alchemy and Necromancy Occult Siblings * Lukasz Grochocki: The Gates of the Dead * Sean Woodward: Necronauts of Leng * Raven Orthaevelve: Mayan Glyphs and Their Uses in Necromancy * Zemaemi Djehuty: Writing To, and Receiving Letters from the Dead * Raven Stronghold: Mictlantecuhtli, the Underworld & the Death * Sorsha Runarius: Doomspeak-The-Bloodline * Waylon Szerszynski: Corpus Mors * Edgar Kerval: Working with the Spirits of the Dead Art: Chris Undirheimhar, Edgar Kerval, Sean Woodward, Lukasz Grochocki

AVAILABLE FOR PRE ORDER info:kerval 111@gmail.com www.facebook.com/Sirius-Limited-Esoterica-1929069654044439/

Welcome to a little guessing game I like to call: ‘Who, in the name of all that is unholy, wrote that?‘ While you may recognize some of the names of familiar authors featured in this book, others have taken a vow of anonymity, presumably to protect the guilty. This book is what happens when twisted minds open up just enough to allow us a peek into their gruesome imaginings.

“One of the greatest books I’ve read in a long time! Very Demented! And that’s a good thing in a wickedly devilish way!”

Blake Turner www.darkmoonpress.com

MOON BOOKS SCOTT IRVINE ISHTAR AND ERESHKIGAL Ishtar and Ereshkigal are the daughters of the Moon God Sin and sisters of the Sun God Shamash, and members of a family of deities called the Anunnaki, who arrived from the heavens to the earth many thousands of years ago. Ishtar, as Inanna, was the original goddess of love and the forerunner to all of the fertility goddesses that followed.

Ereshkigal was the original ruler of the underworld and the goddess of death. As the queens of heaven and the underworld, Ishtar and Ereshkigal represent the opposing forces that allow life, death, and rebirth to occur in the world.

“If your wanting to know more about ancient gods and goddess then this is the book for you, so much information packed into this book, it’s very well-written. I liked the way the author brought himself in to the book. A must for all.”

“Enjoyable. Had no idea so many of the Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Norse god, and goddess stories I knew about are interpreted from older stories going back thousands of years. I particularly enjoyed the ritual to the sisters, nice touch. Well done Scott!” www.johnhuntpublishing.com/our-books/jhp-books/ PAGANISM 101 is an introduction to Paganism written by 101 Pagans. Grouped into three main sections, Who we are, What we believe and What we do, twenty topics fundamental to the understanding of the main Pagan traditions are each introduced by essay and then elaborated upon by other followers and practitioners, giving the reader a greater flavour of the variety and diversity that Paganism offers. With introductory essays from leading writers such as Emma Restall Orr, Mark Townsend, Brendan Myers, Jane Meredith, Alaric Albertsson and Rachel Patterson and with supporting vignettes from those at the heart of the Pagan community, Paganism 101 offers a truly unique insight.

“The big thing that makes this book stand out from other Paganism 101 kind of books is the very fact that there are 101 Pagans writing it. With such a diverse community, it is hard to give a straightforward description of Paganism. But in having 101 Pagans write about a variety of aspects of Paganism and Pagan paths, it is possible to get some kind of feel for that diversity and also some kind of feel for where the links between Pagans and their spiritual paths might be found. Five stars is not enough!” www.johnhuntpublishing.com/our-books/jhp-books/ NAMING THE GODDESS is written by over eighty adherents and scholars of Goddess and Goddess Spirituality, and includes contributions from Selena Fox, Kathy Jones, Caroline Wise, and Rachel Patterson. Part 1 is a series of critical essays focusing upon contemporary Goddess issues. Part 2 is a spiritual gazetteer featuring over seventy Goddesses.

“An incredible book that inspires, awakens and enlightens. Rich with knowledge and history, it will leave you wanting to connect to the goddesses- both within and on higher planes. Beautifully written and completing captivating from the first page to the last.

Highly recommended”

With contributions from best-selling authors such as Morgan Daimler, Elen Sentier and Jhenah Telyndru, as well as a new generation of up-coming writers, Seven Ages of the Goddess uncovers the history of the Goddess, from prehistoric origins through to the present day and beyond. Edited by Trevor Greenfield, publisher of Moon Books and editor of Naming the Goddess and Goddess in America.

“Travelling from the Stone Age right through to the possible future of goddess worship, Seven Ages of the Goddess brings together some really interesting goddesses and their histories. A veritable cornucopia of talented writers draw on personal experience, historical text, folklore and even dip into fairy tales to take the reader on a most wonderful journey. A fascinating read.”

Rachel Patterson, author of Moon Magic, The Cailleach and Arc of the Goddess www.johnhuntpublishing.com/our-books/jhp-books/

RACHEL PATTERSON GRIMOIRE OF A KITCHEN WITCH Publication date - 28th June 2013/Hit Best Seller status 2020 This book is essentially a Book of Shadows, a Kitchen Witch’s Grimoire. It covers what it means to be a witch, how a Witch works, what a Witch does and how a Witch celebrates the turning of the seasons. It is packed full of information about all sorts of subjects from a breakdown of rituals and magical tools to reading auras and rites of passage, along with meditations, recipes for oils, incenses and spells and a huge amount of crafts to make for each Sabbat. The information herein does not follow any strict tradition; it is an individual interpretation of witchcraft melding together Wiccan training with Kitchen witchery, ways of the Old Craft and a bit of hoodoo thrown in for good measure. Magic and the Craft are fluid and flexible, it is ever changing, and we are ever learning.

Available in paperback, ebook and AUDIO format.

Endorsements: Nimue Brown - Author of Druidry & Meditation, Druidry & the Ancestors, & the Hopeless Maine Saga “I think if Terry Pratchett’s witches wrote an introduction to magic, it would look a lot like this book.

Pragmatic, playful, wise, and sprinkled with humour, the author covers a lot of ground and isn’t afraid to use a wooden spoon!”

Cat Treadwell - Author of A Druid's Tale “This is certainly a very friendly book, providing a helpful guide to Kitchen Witchery and for those stepping onto the path, bringing practical spirituality back into the home.”

Colette Brown - Author, Shaman & Clairvoyant Tarot Reader “This book is packed with so much information that it makes you feel as though you have a major learning tool in your hands. Yet it is written in such a way that allows you to feel that the author is talking directly and personally to YOU!. This conversational feel allows information to be passed on without any sense of preaching, dogma or ego. The writing style is friendly but also precise.

Although written from the kitchen witch perspective, this is a great book for all who follow an earthy path and as a shaman, I enjoyed it more than some of the shamanic books out there. The book unfolds into more and more explanations, stories and advice without ever assuming knowledge but also never assuming that the reader is anything less than intelligent and sentient. So, it is never preachy, starchy,condescending or obtuse. I particularly enjoyed the sections on animal guides and elementals. The meditations and lessons are well thought

out and the little extras like Hoodoo and planetary influences are informative and fun. There is just so much packed into this book.”

Reviews: “From the moment I turned the first page I felt like I was sat listening to a lifelong friend. 'Grimoire of a Kitchen witch' has succeeded where so many other books have failed. The balance between simple to understand yet technically correct have been struck with awesome precision and still, the author never once sounds condescending or as if they are talking down to you. The trickle of humour was enough to raise random chuckles to the puzzlement of the rest of my family, but it just added to the relaxed and friendly vibe that this book has.

I have learnt and gained more understanding from the 2 hours I spent reading than I have in the past few years, this book is a must for any level or pagan path...i'm on the edge of my seat waiting to see what comes next.”

“I bought Rachel's first book, and loved it, so it was with excitment that I bought this one on its launch!! I can’t recommend it enough!! The feeling is very friendly and comfortable as you start to read and feels like a real life "how-to" bible (for what of a better word!! I have bought quite a few books on this subject over the years, and I must admit having met Rachel in the flesh, it makes this book even more alive and friendly, her personality shines through :-) I am not rushing to finish the book as I want to savour it, plus I feel this will be an excellent reference guide for many years to come!! Check this book out and her first one, you will not be disappointed!”

“Bought this book on the strength of Pagan Portals - Kitchen Witchcraft: Crafts of a Kitchen Witch,I have to say it's a great book, very informative but leaves room for you to do your own research if you want to look deeper into a section,the exercises are good and again is written in a very friendly,fun, accessible way. Very good for beginners and intermediates alike, one that I will keep going back to over and over again, has to be my new favourite book :) Looking forward to the next one.” www.johnhuntpublishing.com/our-books/jhp-books/ PRACTICALLY PAGAN - AN ALTERNATIVE GUIDE TO COOKING Publication 29th May 2020 A book to take you through the seasons. Cooking with produce when it is at its best (and cheapest). Recipes for all, with menu ideas to reflect the energy of each month of the year. Family style, no fuss cooking to nourish the body, spirit, and soul.

12 sections with recipes for each month to reflect the product that is in season, which include meat main, vegetarian/vegan main, soups, standard and vegan desserts, bread and of course...cake; both standard and vegan cake options.

Reviews: “Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. .....I'm reading an advanced copy of Rachel's new book 'Practically Pagan - An Alternative Guide to Cooking' right now. Even though I'm not Pagan, I'm really enjoying it. My practice as a gnostic can benefit.......I'm sharing this right now on my bookstagram page @aprilsbookishlife and goodreads as well as my facebook group The Broom Closet Spiritual Learning Group where I also shared your latest blog post. I'll be slowly working my way through your book this week, but I can already tell it's fantastic. Thank you Rachel, Moon Books and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to review it.”

“Very interesting approach to cooking. The chapters are set up by months and indicate what produce is generally available at that time.

Several of the recipes sounded great and I made Chans and Spinach Curry. It contained easy to find ingredients (most I had at home) and it was easy to make. Very good and will be a nice addition to my menu rotation.”

“Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Besides reading, my other main interest is cooking. Although there are no pictures in this recipe book, it didn't really matter to me. I enjoyed reading the comments as to what Rachel Patterson thought about each recipe. Whether it was a favourite or as to why she had slightly varied a recipe. Several of the recipes I'm already familiar with, having cooked them over the years. I've not had bacon roly poly for years, but the idea of baking rather than steaming, now has me wanting to try. The chocolate puddle pudding is something that I aim to make soon, as well as the Florentine rice tart. There are not many recipes containing meat, but then I don't eat as much meat as I used to. Whether one is Pagan or not (I'm not), this recipe book is worth a read.”

“Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. I really liked this book, as it had lots of recipes I wanted to try, both some more basic and some with a fun twist. It's also arranged by month, which I found really fun, as there's some pagan info for each month in addition to focusing on what produce is in season at that time.”

“Practically Pagan - An Alternative Guide to Cooking by Rachel Patterson is the type of cookbook I really enjoy.

Although there are no pictures, at least not in the version I read, the recipes are straightforward, and pictures aren't as necessary as in some more elaborate books ... I highly recommend this to cooks who want to serve hearty meals using in season ingredients when possible. This is about day-to-day and month-to month, maybe better season-to-season, cooking and living rather than the periodic "look what I made" special dinners. I love those kinds of cookbooks too, but I find myself using them once in a great while, while I can see myself referencing this book regularly. www.johnhuntpublishing.com/our-books/jhp-books/

A truly heartfelt spiritual journey that would melt even the coldest heart. Both beautifully written and genuinely compassionate, this book explores the comparisons between the author and her goddess. It provides a unique and heartfelt insight into what it means to be on a devotional path.

Fi Woods approaches this from an original standpoint with both love and empathy being present throughout and for anyone exploring their spiritual path this book is a must. www.veneficiapublishing.com

A short pocket size book, of inspirational short poems, all of which were inspired by nature, folklore and myth.

A beautiful addition to any pocket

“Whispers in the Wood is a lovely collection of illustrated ‘brief poems’, including Triolets, Tanka and Haiku, inspired by Martin Pallot’s walks in nature throughout the changing seasons. The wonder of a ‘brief poem’ is how a good poet can capture a moment in time into such descriptive, evocative – and few - words. And Pallot, is a very good poet. Whispers in the Wood is not a bookcase book, it is a pocket book: a book to carry in your bag, to take into the woods or by the sea or wherever you may be going; a book to put in a work desk drawer to immerse yourself into when you are stuck indoors and badly need a break. This is a book to draw out whenever you need or want 5 minutes inspiration, peace, and tranquil thought. And it would also be excellent for inspiring thoughts, jottings, and writings of your own. When I was younger I used to carry small books to dip into as the mood took me. Whispers in the Wood is such a book and I may now have to get back into the habit. Highly recommended - also would make a great affordable gift!”

June Kent (Editor ) https://indieshaman.co.uk/

www.veneficiapublishing.com

Dialectic is a beautifully crafted poetical journey which narrates the path through the double-edged nature of all enquiry and spiritual path-hood. It incorporates the musings, meditations, doubts, insights, odes, and adorations of the poet through the valleys of life, death and rebirth presented in five themes.

"A beautiful book, inside and out. Geraghty rivals Robert Graves with his ability to breathe fresh life into classical forms. His words work wonders: he speaks, and a procession of gods, ghosts and maenads take the stage, revealing with heartbreaking clarity the mysteries that lie within the forgotten recesses of the human heart.

Jack Grayle https://www.theblackthorneschool.com/courses/ www.veneficiapublishing.com

Folly Lane Tales is an illustrated book of nonsense from beginning to end. Poetry that is appealing to children of all ages. Quirky, and highly entertaining. A beautiful and highly entertaining way to introduce children to the magic of poetry. www.veneficiapublishing.com

An anthology of original, fictional stories; compiled and edited

by Diane Narraway and Cheryl A Waldron and centred around the Major Arcana.

The book features contributions from several different writers, from a variety of different countries. Some of the writers are tarot readers, some are not We leave it up to you to decide who is and who isn't. www.veneficiapublishing.com

“This is a remarkably interesting and novel joint venture, which should equally enable old hands at the Tarot to see the cards anew and newcomers to appreciate them for the first time.”

Professor Ronald Hutton, Author/Professor Bristol University” A surprising collection of compulsively readable vignettes which re-imagines the tarot's major arcana as the magical and mundane adventures of a motley cast of marginalized (and thoroughly relatable) characters."

Jack Grayle https://www.theblackthorneschool.com/courses/ "A fabulously presented book, lovely quality and a fascinating read. The tales (truths?) are varied and mesmerising, taking the reader on a journey of discovery. The artwork with each card / story is excellent, giving a unique perspective on each of the Major Arcana cards. A book to treat yourself to, or to buy as a gift".

Sheila Miles Nominated for this year’s Booker Prize - Inside the Seventh Wave is a psychological thriller set on an enigmatic island where myth and reality collide - Jack Powys sets out to place all the island stories into one volume but soon finds himself drawn into a world where nothing is as it appears. www.veneficiapublishing.com

“‘I do not profess to be an expert, but I have at my disposal a certain knowledge of common poisons. I grow rhubarb in my garden, the leaves of which contain notable quantities of oxalic acid and can be “lost” in a salad.

Possible symptoms include convulsions and coma, if you’re lucky.

Rosary peas are pretty and contain abrin which can cause nausea, vomiting, seizures, liver failure, and occasionally death: one single ingested seed is enough. I do not grow these anymore but keep a jar of dried seeds for emergencies. Then we have mushrooms - Amanita would blow his guts out or maybe I could use magic mushrooms and send the nuisance on his first trip.

I opted to do the soup, deciding to drop a rosary pea neatly into his broth.”

Excerpt from Inside the Seventh Wave (Character - Claude Mayfield )

www.veneficiapublishing.com www.facebook.com/veneficiapublishing/

The Crabchurch Conspiracy mark vine In 1645, several royalist plotters within the twin towns of Weymouth and Melcombe on the Dorset coast conspired to deliver the ports back into the control of King Charles 1. It has been suggested that he needed a safe south coast port at which to land a huge French army which he hoped would deliver a decisive blow and end the resistance of the Parliamentarians whom he had been fighting for almost three years.

The conspirator’s plans were almost successful, but their intended victim, Colonel William Sydenham, commander of the Parliamentary garrison and MP for Melcombe, managed to get most of his force into that town, though he lost a much loved and respected brother and fellow soldier, Francis, in the initial assault. Soon, a two-week-long internecine bombardment was taking place between the factions.

In the third week, what appeared to be the coup de grace arrived in the shape of the archetypal cavalier general, George, Lord Goring and his 6,500 strong army, which meant that Sydenham’s tiny but stubborn garrison of just 1,300 souls, were now outnumbered six to one. It would surely only be a matter of time before Melcombe too fell to the King’s Army.

Underestimating Colonel William Sydenham, the eldest son of a local Dorset landowner, was Goring’s first and biggest mistake, for not only did Sydenham succeed in retaking Weymouth, but he also withstood the full might of Goring’s military response, delivering a “miraculous victory” and ending the King’s aspirations of getting the upper hand in Dorset.

“This is a work which brings properly to life the most dramatic and horrific sequence of experiences which this town has ever known, and which put it, at moments, at the heart of England’s destiny.”

Professor Ronald Hutton “In a beautifully crafted tale that sees historical facts effortlessly mingle with descriptive prose, set in and around the prominent coastal towns of Dorset an intricately woven tapestry of deceit unravels.”

Diane Narraway

Michael W. Ford Book of the Witch Moon by Michael W. Ford With introduction by Peter J. Carroll (author of Liber Null/Psychonaut) Presenting the forbidden works of Chaos, Vampiric and Luciferian Sorcery. A grimoire which explores the dark feminine current of HECATE, Witch Moon explores ritual and dream Lycanthropy, Chaos Sorcery and Luciferian Ritual practice as well as the darksome practice of Vampirism and Predatory Spirituality. The Nine Angles and the Trapezoid workings, inspired by Anton LaVey and presented around the cult of Daeva-Yasna, the persian demon-sorcery of Yatuk Dinoih. Contains the Rituals of Dream, ritual and astral vampirism as an initiatory tool, other Cabalistic workings presenting the Qlippoth.

Contains the Grimoire based on Ancient Egyptian Vampirism, LIBER AAPEP, Luciferian Magick practice, The Chaos Cult Workings of Choronzon as Vampire, The Rites of Hecate, the Infernal and Luciferian Sabbat, and the foundations of Satanic practice in Magick.

Magick of the Ancient Gods - Chthonic Paganism and the Left Hand Path by Michael W. Ford THE GODS OF ABOVE AND BELOW FROM THE LEFT HAND PATH Perhaps you have sought for the hidden mysteries of the old gods, only to find a one-sided “white light” interpretation, the shadow often being diluted to suit general public consumption. If you have sought the Pagan gods in their balanced form – being of both light and darkness, you will be able to pass through the veiled tests of “good” and “evil” to understanding human nature and spirituality. Magick of the Ancient Gods presents techniques adapted from ancient hymns, spells and rituals from long overlooked Greek, Roman and Eastern religious lore as well as the role of the Olympian and Chthonic Gods in spirituality. The Left Hand Path offers instruction and guidance towards working with these Gods and Goddesses to become “God Manifest” or transforming the self into a living deific power.

6 x 9" Standard Softcover Black & White, Hardcover Edition, 298 Pages. Also available Special "Phosphorus Edition" 6 x 9" Full Color Illustrations and additional material (see below).Illustrated by Mitchell Nolte Fallen Angels: Watchers & the Witches Sabbat by Michael W.Ford ….

The Luciferian Witchcraft Tradition holds a cycle of initiatory ceremonies in which the Aspirant applies in philosophy and equally challenging workings which open pathways to knowledge and insight. This book explores the history, lore, and academic studies of the names of the Fallen Angels or Watchers from the Book of Enoch, including a deep study of the symbolism associated with this shadowy cult of angels. The Luciferian Ceremonies of invoking and utilizing this knowledge towards your personal Apotheosis and a balanced approach to Magick is found within. The darksome rites of the Witches Sabbat, the Path of Cain is explored with keys to the symbolism and ciphers of the Devil's Sabbat and Black Witchcraft. Those who can see beyond the test of the Left-Hand Path will discover initiatory gates open towards balance between the Angelic Path of Apotheosis and the Demonic Sorcery of Cacodaimonic Alchemy within the Adversarial Current.

This is a grimoire which explores the deep Left-Hand Path symbolism and meaning for the practical Luciferian as well as Sigils, methods and invocations of the Watchers and the dark rituals of the Nephilim. The techniques of the planets, lunar cycle and techniques of practicing Luciferian Witchcraft are presented here. The knowledge and symbolism of the Horned God, Baphomet, the Adversary, Cain, Lilith, The Djinn, Hecate as well as the Rites of the Devil's Sabbat present a layered gateway to forbidden knowledge and the rational philosophy of Luciferianism. Beautifully illustrated by Mitchell Nolte depicting the Watchers according to their offices of power. https://www.luciferianapotheca.com/collections /books

Richard K page Is an occultist and advocate of the Left-Hand Path, better known in the Luciferian circles from his book Luciferianism: Alter Ego which has received consistent 5***** reviews like the one below across the globe.

The short passage across an excerpt from his in-progress book Luciferianism: Ero which will be the third Instalment in his Luciferian trilogy succeeding the second instalment Luciferianism: Ego Sum, is typical of the kind of thoughts and principles that each book offered from Richard K Page contains. Luciferianism: Ero is due for release in 2020.

Richards works usually jump between current science, ancient principles, and practical application of each for the modern occultist.

His work is often regarded as humble, easy to understand and written in a way that makes you feel that you are in conversation with the author in the room. This style of writing gives his work a very distinct flavour of personality and opens new keys to the reader in interpreting other complex esoteric concepts which you may have previously struggled with.

Internal Gods and the Afterlife Considering the eternal spirit; our life after death.

Some of you may not believe in this because you are measuring your view of it, on the premise of a quantifiable substance of which you are the observer.

mother to create new life when impregnated with more spirit. When the individual dies, the spirit returns (becomes) to the source soul, diluted again for repurpose and the matter returns (becomes) to the

Let me hopefully, give a new perspective. The word spirit we use to describe a substance which is very much a measure, alcohol. Alcohol (holy alchemy) is the refined essence of a thing that was once more substantial, it lived, it died and then we extract the ether of it to consume: the apple, barley, grape, potato or whatever no longer exists. The essence is therefore “de-stilled”, no longer still, and for a short time changes the way we think, the way we act, and then it becomes a memory. Nothing more.

In the substance of that memory lies a notion of happy times, or sad times. What we leave behind in life is a memory for most, or a mark for others which shapes eternity.

mother and is also repurposed. Yet some spirit remains like the body remains, others who we leave behind become ‘under the influence’ of that spirit.

What we leave behind ‘inspiritus’ is the inspiration to do good or evil, depending on our exhibition of our spirit.

This mark or memory is your sphere of influence, whether you are running a state, or passing a message to your children. It shapes the mind and affects lives and choices for generations to come.

Generations that may never even know we even existed.

The soul is in many religions a source of spirit. I am Gnostic Luciferian. In Gnosticism, the soul is a product of the sun, sol (soul), the pagan and original Christian god of the heavens. Provider of all life on earth, the energy source father which is absorbed into matter (the mother.) For a short period, and while it is there, this matter has life, a third state of unified existence. The soul is divided into spirits contained within these divine vessels, and the divisible would become the individual spirit; a unified life no longer divisible, except through the

The legacy of our lives may be unremarkable in a world stage, but ‘his-story,’ referring to the source soul and its influence, through the individual continues creating and defining the ultimate shape of humanity and of this planet, and its small part in the universal theatre. When you die, you may not see or any longer engage with your small influence, but the earth does and that is how the spirit is eternal. This concept is compatible with modern science, as it was when written of in ancient texts, and given names and allegories to explain it. You are responsible for the spirit you leave behind, that responsibility is the essence of free will and it is the Anubis which weighs your heart, and from which you will be judged. Anubis being the essence of the collective memory and effect, even the unseen “gods” of antiquity are present eternal, when viewed as a universal archetype rather than a manifest anthropomorphism of an artistic icon. These are the true gods referred to by our ancestors. They exist, they are quantifiable, measurable, and observable. But you need to shake off the notion that they are responsible for their own presence, only that we create them by our very nature.

Richard K Page

.solophi.com/

The Magic of Spoken Charms Spoken charms seem to be a facet of magic and sorcery that has fallen out of mainstream usage.

Whether it’s power has been shuffled to the back of the pile because of the ‘write it yourself’ ritual revolution, or just because sometimes it sounds a little too much like a bad 70’s witchcraft movie, spoken charms are a thing that just isn’t hitting the spotlight.

I’m a big fan of spoken charms, personally. They have so much power behind them- each letter combines to make a new sound, a new word, a new meaning. Then these are all strung together, like a vocalised sigil. Just the concept of language is magical- that we can make a series of noises or write a scribble of letters and suddenly the thought and emotions from inside your head are now in somebody else’s is truly amazing!

And then you combine that with magic. Just the act of saying a spoken phrase again and again within a magical context is enough to exercise those magical muscles. Much like how raising a circle was difficult at first, but now seems easy as pie, so too, do spoken charms. At first, nothing may seem to happen, but as you get used to the way that magic works behind spoken charms, you can refine it, practise it, and use it more efficiently.

Spoken charms can be used for a variety of reasonsto sway the spirit of objects for use in your workings, to raise energy, to call out to spirits or to use it as the whole spell within itself, the possibilities are endless.

There are no rules when it comes to spoken charms.

They can be patterned and strict, or nonsensical and free flowing- both have been used throughout history for different effects. It mostly comes down to what you want to use. I’m personally a big fan of rhymes, for example. This is for a couple of reasons- it’s a lot easier to remember things in rhyming couplets, and it sounds pleasant to the ear.

The less you have to think about remembering the words and are just able to say them while focusing your intention on that and the gathering energy, the better the charm will be. Rhyming charms also have the advantage of being able to be snuck into songs without much hassle, which makes for good covert witchcraft. (And fun times around the campfire)

However, there are particular syllabic rhythms that work well that can’t use patterned rhymes but are also wonderful for spoken charms. Repetitions of sentences of differing numbers of syllables can be especially useful within charms because they start to imitate breath work, which is beneficial for trance magic. Old sowing and working songs would make good use of this, using breath work to ensure that the workers would stay as mentally healthy as possible while working, as well as providing regular oxygen to their muscles.

The most common spoken charm is one that attempts to fuse an action with that of another.

Here are some example of how these are used in a variety of circumstances: As the sun does spin in the sky, so his heart shall want for mine.

As the silver moon does wane, as shall my daughters pain.

As the corn does fall to blade, so to shall his life fade.

This type of charm is found throughout Europe, from Mari to British, to Italian charms. The tying of an action to another one in an ancient practice- it provides a time frame for the magic to work with, and often invokes a greater power than yourself, like the motions of the planets or the dying of a plant.

It shifts the energetic lifting off of you.

Swaying charms, are charms used to ‘sway’ a spirit of an object, also known as entreating charms.

They are used to evoke the spirit of an object to ask it to be favourable towards you. This is useful when

dealing with animals bones, stones, sacred waters, and other such objects. This type of charm is only useful within your practice if you already have an underlying animistic understanding of the world.

Without it, you’re just shouting at an inanimate rock.

Nonsensical charms are either charms that are intentionally nonsensical, accidently nonsensical, or just seem nonsensical. Intentionally nonsensical charms are mostly used for breathwork. They’re words strung together, often around a common theme to fall into the intention, but they don’t actually form complete sentences. But they do engage the breathwork- so it’s more breathwork with additional magical words thrown in- but they do work brilliantly. This type of charm is also particularly good to use as a cursing counterattack, as often they’re so all over the place, it can be quite hard for the person to dismantle your magic.

Accidental nonsensical charms are charms often brought up during trance and recorded. Words, much like imagery, that rises to the surface during trance can be used for magical workings in the future. Sometimes they are specific summoning words for spirits you work with, or unique ritual

words given to you. They sound nonsensical, even to you, but you know they work as words of power, so often, you just don’t question it.

Charms that seem nonsensical are often deliberately constructed that way, much like a sigil. Many will use the ‘delete repeating letters’ method of sigil making to create deliberately nonsensical charms.

It’s a handy way of creating covert witchcraft.

Charms are an incredibly expansive subject, and something that’s so easy to create. You can have a play with a few different types of charms and see which ones you like, and which ones feel terrible the moment they leave your mouth. You can write them yourself, source them from a book, or even pick a few lines of poetry to make into an effective charm.

Charms are an endless pool of magic to dip into, and an effective type of magic to blend with other types of magic. They’re incredibly useful and in my opinion, should always be a thing studied for potential inclusion into a witch’s repertoire.

Tarn Nemorensis

https://www.facebook.com/groups/5 86436548637158/

CROWDANCERS The Crow Dance serves as a tool with which one’s psychic ability is used to connect with the nature of the earth and the universe in order to transfer knowledge and the wisdom to use that knowledge for a positive result in the great evolution of life.

Connecting to the source of our being is essential to human existence, yet the ability to make this connection has all but been destroyed within the human race, replaced by religious tyrannies that forcefully took responsibility for the souls that never belonged to them.

We became victims of not only our own superstitions but those planted by others.

Through fear we sought to obey as best as we could, yet only to be completely let down, until now. The path of human evolution seriously shows us that we will destroy not only ourselves spiritually, but the entire evolving nature of all life on this planet and the attached realms which function simultaneously with us.

The Crow Dance is for all people. It is tribal and resonates with times past, when we beat our spirit drums, and wore sacred feathers and beads of meaning in our hair and in our clothing, when we painted our faces and bodies with those sacred signs that we perceived in our dreams, and danced in communion with the nature of all things. The Crow Dance has started, as was planned years ago for this time, and it will do whatever the guiding spirits of universal love shall deem it to do.

Taloch Jameson www.facebook.com/crowdancers/ www.thedolmen.com www.patreon.com/thedolmen

The Spirit of Crow Dance Taloch Jameson on the Spiritual Quest of the Crow Dance There is a long history behind the Crow Dance, both for me personally and also as an adaptation of its oldest form - the universal Round Dance that can be found in cultures all over the earth since time out of memory.

Firstly, looking at the fundamental foundations upon which the current ritual and Dance has been built within my workings over a lifetime.

We must start with Crow, a bird that has been prevalent throughout the sacred histories of many cultures as a messenger of the gods, a traveller between realms, an escort that guides souls to the afterlife; a numinous bird that aids in the manipulation of the magical arts.

In Crow, as psychopomp, as spiritual advisor, we have a bird that serves as a symbolic go between for the world of the here and now and the world of the ancestors, a bird that brings both the living and the dead together in unity.

Secondly, dance is a basic practice of humankind. We know that in all cultures people have been known to fling their bodies about for pleasure. It is essentially a physical expression of emotion and energy. It is most natural to dance and in fact, “to dance is to live”, so to speak, as dance is a manifestation of the energies animated into the physical realm.

But also, in ancient as well as varying cultures today, dance was and is used to generate energy for purposes outside that of an expression of pleasure as dance can also be used as a tool to enhance ones’ psychic capability.

Everyone is familiar with the dances of the Native Indians of America or those of Australian and other tribal cultures who have just about managed to keep a hold on at least some of their cultural beliefs and practices.

And not unlike the famous Ghost Dance of the Native American, Crow Dance has its purpose beyond that of normal recreational pleasure. It is used as a tool to help transport ones’ consciousness into a trance like state whereby an individual can exchange information or parley with those in alternative realms of existence.

In ancient times there was a simple and commonly held conviction that those who were skin walkers would one day become spirit walkers; that in fact it is only the most

transparent of membranes that veils these worlds, separating one from the other.

Communion between worlds was once more common, accepted in many cultures as a normal fact of everyday existence.

Through a variety of leadings, workings, and personal connections, the Crow Dance and Ritual has emerged as a curious chain of association within these earliest Ghost Dances of the American Indians, to manifest within my own magical life over a period of years.

A bit of history may help explain the concept of the Dance in the past and its subsequent visitations within my practices over the space of years: When Wovoka, the great Paiute prophet, ‘introduced’ the Ghost Dance in the late 1800s, he was actually re-introducing an organic spiritual practice that Native Americans from sea to sea had been engaged in for millennia.

In fact, there have been more Spirit Dance ‘movements’ among Native Americans than is generally discussed in history – before Wovoka, there was an emergence of a form of the dance in the 1870s. Before that was a movement that built in intensity at the time of the American and British war in 1812.

But long before these (and in fact long after), it was practiced and revived in evolving forms at times of great stress or need among the Native American Nations, to ‘bring back’ the wisdom of the Ancestral Spirits who had been ignored, resulting in imbalances in the interconnected web of the material world, the Otherworld, and the human soul. The Native American forms of the Ghost Dances were not understood by everyone and in fact, in history it has been misunderstood more often than not, even by its own practitioners much to the sorrow of Wovoka in particular- like any religious fervor.

It is a ritual and a dance for the entire World – for all the Worlds. It is not necessarily to destroy enemies, it is to bring balance against ‘enemies’, in whatever form “enemies’ or threats may appear and in whatever way is most wise to deal with them to ensure survival, which the Ancestors will impart to us as a result of the ritual if we will listen and honestly interpret their messages. This ritual has appeared in the history of humankind over and

over again, like the rolling waves of a great sea, emerging at the insistence of the mysterious Spirits who cannot allow us to ignore them any longer.

Yet, too, this organic and living Dance is at the heart of the Great Myth of all humanity, and that is its real Power. Its meaning has its roots in the Perennial Philosophy of the true seekers, it is the self-same magic found in the

ancient spiritual Round Dances in the deserts of the Middle East and the sacred dances of the mountains of Tibet. Stonehenge itself, a great circle, can be interpreted as a symbol of the dancing ancestors a people brought with them in their migrations and has been so recognized as such by more than one indigenous visitor to that obviously sacred site.

Crow Dance in modern day.

Over the past few decades there has been a gradually increasing number of spirits whose awareness monitors the world’s technological advances and the destructive effects that such may incur regarding the wellbeing of our earth and its life forms. Within the spiritual community of the Dolmen Grove there are many of us who are part of this policing of the earth and obviously because we feel the way we do it becomes embroidered in the tapestry of our spirituality.

As I mentioned above the Crow Dance is not unlike the Ghost Dance of Wovoka with regards to its true purpose. The point of this spiritual dance is one of liberation of the soul so that the individual may connect and share with fellow beings, to commune with the realms beyond to enhance and generate a united energy that can be released back into this world that at present is suffering severe pain.

The Crow Dance serves as a tool whereby one’s psychic ability is used to connect with the power of the energies of the earth and the universe in order to transfer knowledge, and gain the wisdom to interpret and use that knowledge for a positive result in the great evolution of life.

Connecting to the source of our being is essential to human existence and yet the ability to make this connection has near but been destroyed within the human race all too often being replaced with religious tyranny that by force, more often than not took responsibility for souls that never belonged to it.

We became victims to superstitions planted by others and through fear we sought to obey, only to be completely let down until

the current path of human evolution looks seriously like we will destroy not only ourselves physically and spiritually but all evolving natural life on this planet. Given that they are intimately entwined, such destruction also damages Otherworld realms, the world of the Ancestors that functions simultaneously within and without us. This would be a disaster without precedence in the history of our world.

The Crow Dance is for all people. It is universally tribal and resonates of times past when we beat our spirit drums, wore sacred feathers and beads as symbols in our hair and on our clothing; when we painted our faces and bodies with those sacred signs that we perceived in dreams and danced in communion with the nature of all things.

The Crow Dance has emerged again, as was planned years ago for this time. And it will do whatever the guiding spirits of universal love require it to do.

Crow brings the message.

Taloch www.facebook.com/crowdancers www.thedolmen.com www.patreon.com/thedolmen

EXPERIENCING THE INTERNATIONAL LEFT HAND PATH CONSORTIUM UK 2020

Because the Consortium That Was- was the Good Type of Interesting.

The event started as all events should start reallywith art, dance, magic, and music.

Crow Dancers The first thought that comes into my head is the unclaimed phrase ‘May you live in interesting times.’

At the International Left Hand Path consortium, both meanings behind this phrase- the Good Type of Interesting and the Bad Type of Interesting- were at work.

Little did we know that the Bad Type of Interesting was on the doorstep from the moment the consortium was opened.

Speakers were unable to get to the consortium and speakers that they could get back home. People was frantically talking on their phones to their respective Consulates- desperately trying to book emergency flights back home before their countries were locked down against the oncoming pandemic.

The Art exhibition was a display of artistic delight, with all manners of Royston Fowler mediums explored around the topic of Prometheus Unbound and other Left Hand Path subjects. Ritual was opened with the magic of the Crow Dancerssublime chanting and song, deep drumbeat to match the rhythm of your heart, providing everybody there with the unique opportunity to trance and work magic within the music.

The magic from that night continued through the rest of the consortium- a whole host of excellent speakers, speaking on everything from group ritual to vampires, to personal demonic and Luciferian workings.

We had speakers that sadly could not make it, but also surprise speakers that arrived to experience the wonder of the ILHPC. The organisers were not going to let the oncoming apocalypse stall their efforts for a cracking Consortium, and it showed. We had talks to inspire, talks to intrigue, and talks to fuel our thirst for knowledge.

There were many topics probably thought controversial to other occult conferences- but that’s somewhat what the ILHPC is known for.

Diane Narraway

Trains to London were already being slowly delayed because of travel restrictions- visitors were booking extra hotel rooms to make sure that they could get back home on a train that wasn’t going to take 18hrs. Covid 19 hadn’t officially hit yet but was already causing madness. The list of speakers was changing by the minute- speaker times already changed and published… and out of date by the time the ink had dried.

Char Isma

I’m the very proud owner of the printed guidebook for the consortium that would have been. I’m almost saddened to not have a guidebook for the Consortium That Was.

There was burlesque alongside ritual, and brunch before blood magic. It’s all fair game.

Taloch Jameson

The Dolmen

Miss Klora L’ Forme The stalls were filled with many amazing thingsbeautiful scrying mirrors, crystals, tarot, clothing, jewellery….and mead. There’s always mead.

Esme Knight

The Ball on the Saturday evening was a blastalthough I must admit, I’m somewhat glad I didn’t have to wear a mask, as that seems so frightfully commonplace now!

However, everybody looked amazing in their Evening Wear, swaying and headbanging along to the music of Esme Knight, and later, The Dolmen.

Needless to say, that we all probably stayed out later than we should have, considering the 10am start the

Merlyn

Laurie Pneumatikos

next day!

But fun was had, magic was made, and that’s what counts!

The different topics for talks were vast, full of interesting information that you would be hard pushed to get elsewhere. Candomblé, Body Modification as an act of Spiritual devotion, Blood Magick, the History of Vampire Lore… all topics not found at a standard occult convention. All topics that are incredibly interesting and truly worthy of spotlight!

The music was amazing, the performances magnificent, the art thought provoking and beautiful. A good time was had by all, and I personally can’t wait for the next one.

Humberto Maggi

Bill Duvendack

Lou Hotchkiss Knives

TRULY, MAY WE LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES. Tarn Nemorensis https://www.facebook.com/internationallefthandpathconsortium/ www.veneficiapublishing.com

Memories of the International Left Hand Path Consortium U.K. 2020

Once again, I am thankful that we all got a chance to get together and celebrate the black flame that burns within us!

The UK celebration was the fourth successful International LHP Consortium featuring speakers, writers, publishers, artists, and musicians from all over the world. The first ILHPC was hosted in Indianapolis, Indiana in 2014, the second, in Atlanta, Georgia in 2016.

The third was held in St. Louis, Missouri in 2018.

way! Not even a global pandemic stopped it. Not long after it was over, the world literally started to shut down, and we all had to go back to our lairs and hunker down, which made memories of the event all the sweeter.

First off, my husband and I arrived in London, hung out and walked around the city for a few days before taking the train to Weymouth. After just spending one day at the British Museum, we realized that we needed to return and plan to spend at least three or four days there and another three or four days at the Museum of Natural History.

The mission of The International Left Hand Path Consortium is to provide a platform for writers, publishers, artists, When we arrived in Weymouth, Diane and musicians from different spiritual Narraway, our esteemed host, picked us paths to broaden their knowledge, to up and graciously provided a room for network, and to work together on real us in her home for the night. Staying world projects. The project was with Diane was like hanging out with conceived when a group of us noticed Bilbo Baggins in his hobbit hole. When that there were many intelligent people she said we were just going to have a joining internet forums who had little cheese and fruit, I was a bit taken genuine questions about the occult and aback when she proceeded to fill the a hunger for knowledge about various table with every kind of cheese, fruit, esoteric paths. And while the forums and snack known to man! The are a way to read about and discuss following day, she dropped us at our various spiritual paths, oftentimes they lovely AirBnB home which was built in were filled with drama, disrespect, and the year 1650 and overlooked the ocean. fraud. One of the alternatives to being a There was a trail leading down toward solitary of course, is to join a magical the beach, which featured the ruins of fraternity. And while some do great an old church and a pirate’s graveyard.

Laurie Pneumatikos work, others tend, like the forums to be It was enchanting as was the entire overrun with drama. Some of the magical fraternities I event itself! was associated with, only existed in cyberspace, and so I never got a chance to meet any of the people I interacted The first night of the event kicked off with a spectacular with, in person. art exhibition, the lovely Miss Char Isma Dance, an astoundingly powerful opening ritual, then live music While internet forums and magical orders have their from The Crow Dancers - a deeply spiritual, tribal band, functions in our society, I felt like we were missing out conceived by Taloch Jameson. on real world opportunities to come together, meet each Their music serves as a tool through which one’s psychic other face to face, and work together on projects to help ability is able to connect with the nature of the earth and raise awareness and facilitate the intellectual and spiritual the universe, in order to transfer knowledge and wisdom evolution of mankind. The ILHPC is the perfect setting for a positive result in the great evolution of life. for networking and project conception as it brings people together from all over the world for a fun-packed Our hosts had also provided a delicious buffet style meal three days. It is akin to herding cats at times, but when for all in attendance as well as a cash bar. Everyone it happens, it is an electrifying event! worked together to create a magical evening and it was a smashing success!

The 2020 event was a resounding success in so many different ways! It was almost as if the stars and planets lined up perfectly just to make sure nothing stood in the

Professor Ronald Hutton

The following day the doors opened to the art exhibition, the vendors which included clothing, oils, incense, local handmade jewelry and delicious mead!

And of course, the speakers. The bar became the coffee vendor and we were all treated to an array of diverse and enlightening presentations.

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to see all of the presentations but all that we did see were fascinating and informative.

Professor Ronald Hutton is a professor of history in the University of Bristol and a fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He has published sixteen books and eighty essays on a wide range of subjects, including ancient and modern Paganism in Britain, and Siberian shamanism. In his presentation, he discussed the Western magical tradition of learned ritual magic and the possibility of this tradition descending continuously from the ancient world to the present, and if so where it came from.

Taloch Jameson, founding member, lead singer and songwriter of the pioneering pagan rock group The Dolmen, and the tribal band Crow Dancers, is an esoteric scientist and life-long practicing Wytch. He has authored several essays and pamphlets about achievement and personal balance by the integration of the mind, body, and soul. He talked about Portand, England: The Isle of Wytches.

During his presentation, he pointed out that Salem Massachusetts is where many of them emigrated before the Salem witch trials.

he presented on specifically LHP planetary rites and rituals as well as the lesser known traits of the planets.

Humberto Maggi, who presented at the St. Louis International Left Hand Path Consortium, was kind enough to join us in the UK to talk about Ana Adnan Quimbanda; the Brazilian LHP, its origins and main features. It led to a fascinating discussion about the origins and practices of this twentieth century amalgamation of Iberian witchcraft traditions, and ancestor cults of African origin.

Ana Adnan ignited our imaginations on magic and time travel through storytelling, reminding us that magic truly is about creativity imagination.

Lou Hotchkiss Knives shined a fascinating light on Isobel Gowdie, a confessed Scottish witch from the1697 Scottish witch hunts.

Sam R. Geraghty who recently published Dialectic: esotericism poetry and beyond discussed Hesiod and Milton’s Paradise Lost as well as his inspiration for his book.

Sam R Geraghty

Richard K. Page, a hilariously irreverent philosopher, presented his research and personal experience in Gnostic Luciferianism.

Richard gifted me a book that he wrote called, Luciferianism Alter Ego. It is in interesting gnostic perspective on Luciferianism that takes the reader from the philosophical to the practical aspects of the Luciferian lifestyle. It was a good read and I highly recommend it.

Shea Bilé, who dazzled us with his amazing Sean Woodward, Grand Master of the Black performance art in Atlanta in 2016, and Snake Cult and writer of The Keys of the presented again in St. Louis in 2018, then Richard K Page Hoodoo Kingdom and Typhonian Rights of joined us in the UK with an excellent Amenta, took us on a journey into the a Voudon gnostic presentation titled “By Horn, Hoof and Crown: Acts of experience focusing on esoteric Voodoo.

Devotion in Modern Diabolatry.”

Bill Duvendack, who has presented at all of the International Left Hand Path Consortiums, and has been a friend, brother and even bodyguard, braved all kinds of obstacles to get to the UK and even more, to get back home to Poland! Bill is the author and co-author of several books on magic, Luciferianism, and other esoterica.

We are thankful he Sean Woodward made it! This year

The Saturday evening, we returned for the traditional Ball. It wasn’t advertised as a masked ball this time, but many of us showed up in masks, some in full costume.

Hubby went as Baphomet and I went as Cthulhu in a blue sequined dress. The beauty of these events is that everyone can dress as outrageously or as conservatively as they want without judgment.

Taloch Jameson & Char Isma

Again, our hosts had provided a scrumptious buffet of cheeses, meats, fruit and island seafood for the second night of this momentous event!

On this night, we were absolutely blown away by the performances of Miss Klora L’Forme Shea Bile Burlesque Dances, by singer Esme Knight and the astoundingly magical Evening ritual, which was a ritual within a ritual. This was followed by The Dolmen whose performance was a powerful, magical, enchanting continuation of the earlier ritual, and which opened primal aspects of the psyche like no other. It was a magnificent, unforgettable night!

Sunday morning started with a uniquely informative presentation by Verónica Rivas titled ‘The Terrifying Feminine: The Dakini Principle in the Tantric Goddess Kurukulla.’

Veronica Rivas It was fascinating to learn about this lovely Goddess in the Buddhist pantheon.

Charlotte Rodgers, contributor of various essays and author of four books including ‘The Bloody Sacrifice’ and ‘A contemporary Western Book of the Dead’, gave a fascinating talk about Blood work in life, spirituality, and art. She also exhibited her unique, primal art pieces that she makes using the remnants of dead and forgotten things found in nature. She later gifted me one of the most hauntingly powerful pieces in her collection, a more compassionate variation of the Hand of Glory which she had made from a Sheep’s jawbone, shells, beads, and a trilobite. I am truly humbled by her generosity!

Charlotte Rodgersy

Diane Narraway followed with a fun and humorous presentation about ‘Vampyres: their origins, mytho logy and their cultural and fictional portrayal.’ Diane is a multitalented hellion of a wytch who not only writes, edits, publishes, puts together and hosts

events, but can perform a ritual like no other.

While her presentation was thoroughly researched and prepared, she Diane Narraway presented it in an easy, informal style as she added bits of naughty humor. FUN! I also presented for the first time at the International Left Hand Path Consortium! The other three times I gave up my spot to more worthy individuals. Sadly, Covid 19 kept a few of our speakers from attending, so the audience was stuck with me for an hour. We made the best of it as I encouraged a more interactive format.

Our guests enjoyed giving their input and I enjoyed receiving it. Each of these events has its own ambiance as it incorporates the vibe of the surrounding culture, and the dynamism of those in attendance. Each of these events is a gift from the Universe as it brings together so many intelligent, thoughtful people in the spirit of love and understanding to celebrate their diversity as well as their commonalities.

I would like to express my deepest thanks to Diane Narraway and Cheryl Waldron for hosting this event as well as everyone who volunteered their time and resources to make this amazing event happen. A special thanks to Cheryl for putting her heart and soul into this event and sadly, was unable to attend due to illness, with a big thank you to Midge who stepped in for her on the day, as well as a special thanks to Royston who ferried many of the speakers from the AirBnB houses to the event and back again.

Memories of the ILHPC UK 2020

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Belenus Belenus who is also known as Belenos/Belinus/Bel/Beli (meaning bright or shining) amongst other similar names, depending on era and place of worship, is one of the oldest and most worshipped of the Celtic gods. The goddess Belisama in Gaul is sometimes shown as the consort of Belenus.

He is well known as a sun god and is often depicted as a flaming sun. Belenus can also be depicted with a horse and wheel, in the guise of the roman god Apollo galloping across the sky bringing the sun. This was due to ancient Romans; and the Celts desire to undergo Romanization.

The first mention comes from the Cisalpine Gaul’s and other Celt provinces in Noricum, now known as Austria and can be back to around the 3rd and 4th century BCE. Ausonius, a Gallo-Roman poet of the late fourth century, speaks not only of the druids of Bordeaux, but of one called Phoebicius, priest of the temple of Belenus and a descendant of Bayeux druids.

Beltinne which means the fires of Bel, an annual event held usually on May the 1st, is today known as the modern Sabbat: Beltane. In the observance of the coming of summer, Fire was considered as a purifier and healer, and would have been jumped over by the members of the community, who would also exchange goods.

Running through the Beltane fires is still practised today.

Farmers would also have driven their cattle between two bonfires to cleanse and protect them before being put out into the fields, and a sacrifice would be offered to Belenus to ensure the coming Summer would result in a good harvest.

Inscriptions have been found all over Europe and the Celtic areas of Britain along with figurine offerings at Belenos, Sainte-Sabine shrine in Burgundy and also in Inveresk, Scotland. Belenus was also known as the patron deity of Aquileia, where he is associated with pastoralism, springtime, healing and sometimes the sun.

It is stated in Historia Regum Britanniae written by Geoffrey of Monmouth in 1136, that Belenus (Named after God Belenus) was a legendary king of Britain and built London’s first ever fortified Watergate in 390BCE; now known as Billingsgate.

Unfortunately, texts about Celtic people and traditions were not written until 500 years after they first appeared, so a lack of true knowledge about them has been omitted, instead the customs have been handed down by previous generations, and over time have been altered to the era and location that is celebrating them.

Marisha Kiddle Belenus Image by Alex Cassford

Connach Jameson Hi! My name is Connach Jameson and I am a singer, songwriter from the Sensational Infernals.

Music has always been my passion for as long as I can remember because I enjoy it all, the song-writing, the practising, the recording and of course, the performing! I love performing and sharing my music with you guys!

From birth, I constantly listened to the early Crow Dance album written by my father, Taloch Jameson. I believe that from listening to music and being part of a musical household impacted on my writing and my ear to music. I have learnt/learning different instruments including guitar, bass, electric guitar, drums and can read fluent drum music.

With Music, I can escape from the real world and express my feelings into a song. I am working on a song currently which I am hopefully going to release later on this year. I have a single called ‘Standing at the Crossroads’ which I wrote aged 10 and released it when I was 11.

I have now saved enough money to buy the equipment I need for a studio where I can now write and play music. Now I am older, I can understand the technical side of music which expands my knowledge and can keep learning all the time. I am excited for the future, once all this virus is out of the way and to finally meet you all on my journey. www.patreon.com/thedolmen www.facebook.com/thesensationalinfernals/ www.thedolmen.com

Queen of Heaven, Queen of Hell- As above, So Below: The mirror mysteries of Diana.

Diana is a hard Goddess to write about in many ways. She’s so thoroughly expansive in her worship and titles that you’d need a book to truly explore even some of the ways that she has been worshipped, as Mother, as Queen of the Dead, Queen of the Crossroads, Queen of witches... So, I’m taking just a small chunk- her mirror mysteries.

Diana’s original cult was in Aricia, on the shore of Lake Nemi. A beautiful lake surrounded by forests and hills. Her original sanctuary is based here, in the bottom of a crater, of a small, and thankfully extinct volcano. On a calm day, the waters of the lake show a near perfect reflection of the sky- and the Romans called it Speculum Diana- The Mirror of Diana.

The moon and the lake were part of a sacred symbology and cosmology that were the founding bricks for the sanctuary. Within this humble crater, they had access to the Overworld, the Middle world and the Underworld. They had the sky, the sea, and the land all in one place. Diana was known to rule over them all- she was the Goddess at the crossroads between all planes of existence. She existed within each one-Diana trivia encompassed all of life, as the caves and lake led to the underworld, the Earth was within the circle of the crater and the moon travelled across the Heavens.

Her legends within the cult also point to her promise of rebirth, as she had with her consort. All of these facets lead back to the travels of the moon upon her mirror.

Her Mirror mysteries play a large part in her role as Goddess of the Hunters. The Moon controls the dew that sticks to grass and plant life- and the dew is what holds the scent of animals of prey. Too much moisture, or too little would ruin the hunt, as the hunting dogs could no longer find their target.

The lake was seen to ‘feed’ the moon, fresh water rising from the lake to be used by the moon- both working together to give aid to the worthy hunters.

Her mirror served as the give and take of a relationship- the finding of a perfect balance.

The most perfect balance, however, was found within the reflection of the lake itself. On full moon nights, the moon would be perfectly captured within the lake, shining and beautiful. Here, worshippers who huddled at the Lake’s edge could so clearly see, here she was present in both the heavens, and within the depths of the underworld.

She was in all places. She was the Good Queen of heaven and the underworld. The light to shine through the darkness, to guide wandering spirits wherever they needed to go. The moon shone perfectly in the sky and reflected perfectly in the waters below. All that Diana did would affect all of the universe- it was all within her power. She was The Shining One, the guide- the lamp in the darkness- Lucina.

She would wander as the moon, collecting souls as she travelled the night sky before descending into the underworld. And within the lake, as she descended, she would also rise, bringing rebirth and new life. As each time she disappeared into the dark moon, she would arise again as the new. As above, so below.

Everything worked in harmony of each other.

On nights where she would disappear from the sky altogether, on the dark moon, there was a different side that would arise. The lake would be truly nothing but inky blackness, the temple torches like fireflies aglow on the lake. Here she was Trivia of the Shades, The Goddess just as likely to make you take the path, at the crossroads you wish you hadn’t taken. Her name within this role may never be known, her true name never said out of fear- although sometimes substituted with Proserpina and Hekate. Hekate within her descent to the underworld, and Proserpina once there. But an accepted term for the moon at the time was Silens, and an accepted title was Dea Muta. Both referring to the moaning, wordless silence of corpses. Iona Inferna was another namecolloquially translated to Queen of Hell. Here there was nothing but darkness, and so when invoked, Worshippers would use the name Trivia, as to make sure that other facets would temper her as Queen of Hell.

The Darkest nights were the most dangerous nights, where the only light you had were the ones you could make yourself. Animals would be on the prowl and the roads were treacherous. The wilds of the forest became a sacred place of violence and death for the unwary traveller. The underworld is known also to be a place that is dangerous, that is easy to lose yourself in, to fall off the path- one accidental dunk in the river of memories and there would be no coming back. As below, so above.

The torches reflected in the lake at this time were a powerful reminder- sometimes, only your own knowledge can be the thing to save you. Only your torch can light the night. As the lake captured all that was sacred- the moon, the temple roof, the sacred fire- so to, did it capture the torchlit processions. The knowledge of fire was sacred, and here we see Diana-Vesta, Diana Lucifera. The reflection that knowledge and the ability to work with oneself, was divine.

Diana’s mirror was an intrinsic part of her worship in Aricia. A powerful symbol, a useful tool, and a symbolic reminder of the Goddess’ power. In working with the mirror, the worshippers saw all of the mysteries of the cosmos in front of them. Birth, death, and rebirth. The hunt for food and the fear of being the hunted. All were shown in her mirror.

Queen of Heaven, Queen of Hell.

As above, so below.

Tarn Nemorensis

Esme Knight is primarily a musician; Esme's original material is a mix of dark and sassy rock songs blended with modern gothic folk ballads.

Following years of bands, collaborations, and cover gigs she decided to focus on her original material and her debut solo album "Forever Wild" was released June 2018 to wide acclaim.

Moving to Nottingham in 2008 from London where she she began her work with the Pagan community and founded Pagan Pride UK, championing accurate representation for modern Pagans, and hosting the UK's largest Pagan event attended by over 3500 people every year.

Her community work earned her International Women's Day award and recently Pagan Pride UK's annual festival in Nottingham won the Pagan Federation's 'Best Large Outdoor Event 2018'.

www.facebook.com/ esme.d.knight

Diary of the Hedgewitch More than ever now it seems so clear that the one constant in life is change, moments are so transient, and even the beat and pulse of a regular rhythm, an anchor in turbulent times like the mothers heartbeat to a newborn, can sometimes jolt us in surprise.

Winter, relentlessly wet, dull, suffocating, with heavy clouds squashing the world, seemed to end abruptly. Suddenly the sun blazed, igniting; birdsong reverberated all around, splashes of yellow sprang up on verges as primroses flung open their petals, bursting into the world. Gatherings of daffodils thrusted shoots from the earth to nod their heavy golden heads; the manes of dandelions tossed their faces up to the sun. Bluebells ring out through woodland floors. The thrum of bees eagerly vibrate their tune as they gorge on sweet nectar and pollen. Buds unclench, leaves unfurling.

Swallows return in graceful flight, dark arrows with flashes of red against the blue skies, slicing the air.

All that was contracted over the winter bursts forth, expanding into a seemingly limitless world.

Whilst creatures pair up and celebrate life with the creative dance of reproduction, and Pan's chords tremble in the dewy breeze, the human race is faced with Pandemic. We confront the Panic aspect of Pan as, instead of glorying in the quivering unravelling into spaciousness of spring and all the fecundity and fertility of the season, fear, sickness, and death prevail. Our world retreats and, instead of expanding like the rest of life, bursting outwards, it contracts deeper, and expands instead into the vastness of the small..

Our lives have seemingly become limited, restricted where, usually at this time of year, the world seems to seethe with endless possibilities, and we uncoil from winter's clutches into a bright world full of promise. But this year we uncoil inwards, instead of grasping for the stars, we dig the soil.

Where autumn is normally the time for reflection and contemplating death, now it is the season of rebirth that we are coming face to face with our most primal fear, and we find ourselves out of sync

with the rest of nature. Bewildered, lost, and fragile.

Reborn innocent, like April's fool.

Startled by the light, and our desires drawing us out into the verdant virility, we are instead forced to delve down into the earthliness, back into the dark deeps within where the primal prowls, and where the writhing, twisting roots cleave their way. We find ourselves there in the dark, the part of us we've ignored in the business of the everyday; fragile, confused, brooding and abandoned.

We are drawn back into our evolution, and the throbbing DNA in our cells. Our lives condense, the small matters more, and by looking inwards, downwards, and backwards, slowing, and becoming still, pausing as spring gushes forth uninhibited, we step a little outside of the rhythm; the pulse that continues on regardless, and we are greeted with different perceptions, stepping outside of time. We face ourselves naked once more.

Unsure as the trembling shoot that uncoils tentatively into the brazenness of spring, we will emerge anew into a world transformed, stronger and, in many ways, more connected and appreciative of the world around us.

Rachael Moss Photo by Rachael Moss

MAY

JUNE

JULY

I heard you calling my name through the vast distance of time; so, I came and did not like what I saw. During my absence, the world has changed into a hell on earth. War, disease, and famine rage across the once peaceful planet I remember when gods and goddesses were revered, and the ways of the universe were understood. Now the world is possessed by power and greed subduing the will of mankind to obey and suffer under the rule of a few that control governments, religions, large corporations, and the media. A religious hate war has been created a millennium ago, dividing nations fed by the prejudice of the media and the promise of weapons.

The flow of money is controlled so that it floods into the pockets of the rich, while the working person fears that unemployment, suffering, low wages, zero-hour contracts and part time jobs will become the norm. Governments are at war with its citizens, bullying them into submission with fear and lies. Those out of work are frustrated at the lack of opportunities and the onslaught of hate spread by the media and their followers. The spectre of Poverty reaches out to all communities, in all the towns and villages across the land. The wealth of the arms manufacturers and dealers feed the governments into war for the riches that oil brings them. The outlawing of natural remedies by the drug companies as it forces the masses into addiction rather than cure. Everything is controlled and influenced by the combination of power and money combined with the forces of evil giving birth to the demon of Greed. Celebrities are the new gods and goddesses, fed by the media to do their bidding, while they with their own inflated egos, bathe smugly in their fame and the adoration of the duped masses.

Your call has woken me from my deep enchanted sleep where the despair of the world was hidden from me. I am ashamed to have been away from you for so long and I promise I will put an end to this madness. I searched for my fellow Guardians of the Quarters who should have been looking over

you in my absence; the Lord of Knowledge Lugh with his Spear of Lightning, the Lord of Plenty Dagda and his Cauldron of Abundance, and more importantly the Great Mother Goddess herself Bridget, the Lady of Song and the Stone of Destiny and the power that brings in choosing and crowning the true leaders of these green and pleasant lands; the lands of Blake’s Jerusalem: ‘And did the Countenance Divine Shine forth upon our clouded hills?

And was Jerusalem builded here Among these dark Satanic Mills?’

I found that like me, my companions had been enchanted millennia ago by the few who control the world today. Dagda has been busy feeding the hungry controllers from his magic cauldron at the expense of everyone else. He was forced to obey to keep alive his daughter Bridget who is being held captive in the dungeons of religious dogma by his masters. Lugh had escaped the clutches of enchantment and had fled into the hidden depths of the universe; forever running to evade the chasing curse that would befall him. I have taken it upon myself to free you from the clutches of illusion and find Lugh so together we can free Bridget, releasing Dagda from their duty to the controllers. With Bridget’s Stone of Destiny, a new King and Queen can be crowned that will guide and protect the sons and daughters of Albion. I leave you with the words of William Blake, ‘Bring me my bow of burning gold!

Bring me my arrows of desire!

Bring me my spear! O clouds unfold!

Bring me my chariot of fire!

I will not cease from mental fight Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand, Till we have built Jerusalem In England’s green and pleasant land.

Nuada, the Lord of Battles

Scott Irvine

Hello everyone, We are Carola and Andreas Huettenmueller, better known as the duo “Hyttis" from Northern Germany. When we decided to take a trip to the nearby medieval market about 9 years ago, we had no idea what the consequences would be for our future lives.

These days we tour ourselves, inspired by the medieval and folk bands throughout the region and beyond with our bagpipes and drums.

Because we have been together for a "lifetime", it made sense to make music together. And in our opinion music should always be loud enough to be heard, so we opted for the large bagpipe (Grosse Sackpfeife); a historically inspired German design and the drum which is oriental in origin; the Davul. We interpret well-known and less well-known bagpipe melodies and dances with originate from countries such as Brittany, Turkey, or Sweden. The closeness and the exchange with the audience is important, and precious to us! We never want to do without that again!

Since the bagpipe is an "outside instrument", and so loud that it should only be played in closed rooms with hearing protection (laughing), when the weather is nice we like to practice in the nearby forest. This hasn't bothered anyone yet, and we even get applause from joggers or walkers.

We recorded our CD "Marktmusik" in the nearby "HĂśrwerk" recording studio in our hometown Bookholzberg.

An unforgettable beautiful experience! Our CD was realized with the help of crowdfunding. In the meantime, of course, many new melodies have been added to our repertoire... so we plan to produce a second CD. We hope and look forward to a new market year in 2021 - to our discussions with you, to the cozy pubs, to the street music, to Glastonbury, to the many festivals with dance and friendship, and of course yummy food and drink!

Until then, please stay healthy!

We look forward to seeing you all again. Yours HYTTIS

Kuan Yin-

A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE ON A RELIGIOUSLY PROMISCUOUS GODDESS .

At some time around the first century AD, in the northern part of India, a ground-breaking Sanskrit text was composed, one whose repercussions would forever change the face of Buddhism. The Sutra of the Lotus Blossom of the Fine Dharma, better known as the Lotus Sutra, was to become one of the key scriptures of the Mahayana school of Buddhism.

Compared to its sister tradition, Theravada Buddhism, which insists on the importance of an ordained body of monks and teachers to spread the Buddha’s message, Mahayana or “Grand Vehicle” offers a spiritual path accessible to all through practices of personal devotion. The adept is assisted in his or her journey towards enlightenment

by Boddhisattvas, enlightened beings who refrain from entering Nirvana in order to come to the aid of others.

The Lotus Sutra is a revolutionary text. It boldly states that enlightenment is accessible to all women, animals, even criminals; more importantly, in chapter 25, it introduces a bodhisattva whose loving influence would later spread across the globe like wildfire - Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva of Compassion, whose name means “the Lord who hears the cries of the world.” It was said that Avalokitesvara had vowed that he would not rest until all sentient beings were free from suffering, and that he would tirelessly travel the various realms of existence in order to assist and comfort those in pain.

When the Lotus Sutra was translated in Chinese in AD 406, the name Avalokitesvara became Kuan Shih Yin, or, as we know her now, Kuan Yin or Guan Yin. Although Avalokitesvara was traditionally assumed to be male, sometime between the fifth and the eighth centuries, female representations of the bodhisattva became common place in China. It would seem that, as the cult of Kuan Yin grew in importance and reached new territories, the appearance of the bodhisattva was transformed through contact with other local deities, such as the Chinese T’Ai Shan, the Old Mother, the creator of all living beings; and the Queen Mother of the West, a Taoist goddess (it is worth noticing that, in China, mother goddesses are generally sky-deities). As Buddhism gained influence and started competing with Taoism for the hearts of converts, it gradually adopted the divine feminine in the form of the female Kuan Yin. In AD 635, Christianity in its Nestorian form entered China, and gradually the followers of the new faith adopted representations of Kuan Yin and renamed them Mary. As the religion spread and the inevitable persecutions followed, some Christians, forced to practice their faith in secret, would carve a small cross underneath statues of a Kuan Yin, thus re-consecrating them to the Virgin.

In the centuries that followed, a multitude of texts related to Kuan Yin appeared, creating a body of stories which firmly established the bodhisattva as the embodiment of universal compassion, motherly love and metta; the Buddhist concept of loving kindness. One such story is the beautiful tale of Princess Miao Shan, a virtuous young woman whose desire to join a Buddhist monastery was virulently opposed by her monarch father, who would rather have had her married to a man of her rank. After Miao Shan disobeys her parents and

finds refuge amongst nuns, her family tries by several cruel means to bring her back home, only to have each attempt thwarted by divine intervention.

In the end, Miao Shan’s father has her murdered, but a giant tiger emerges from the forest and takes her body away. Because of her many virtues, Miao Shan is said to have been one of the many incarnations of Kuan Yon on Earth.

Fast forward to the 21st century. The cult of Kuan Yin has spread all around the globe, touching the lives of people from many cultural and religious backgrounds. In Japan she is Kannon, in Tibet Chenrezig, , in Hong Kong Kwun Yum, in Thailand Kuan Eim. Such is her popularity in China that newspapers often relate readers’ personal stories of the bodhisattva’s miraculous interventions. Just as compassion knows no boundaries of ethnicity and denomination, Kuan Yin, having already made her mark on Buddhism, Taoism and Christianity, naturally found her way to the altars of Western pagans.

Preferring simple acts of devotion, prayer and kindness to material offerings, her energy is one of boundless love and compassion. A mother, teacher, and protector, she is the kind of deity to whom you can turn to when all hope seems truly lost. You can connect with her by reciting one of her many mantras, the most popular of which is Om Mani Pedme Um (a personal favourite of the Dalaï Lama), or by chanting the Dharani of Great Compassion. For modern pagans, exploring Buddhist meditation and ritual techniques can bring many benefits. Self-knowledge and meditation are sine que non conditions to the practice of any advanced magick, whilst the emphasis on compassion allows us to recognise the trappings of the ego and effectively manifest our Will.

Kuan Yin’s devotion brings peace to one’s heart and enables us to truly open our hearts to others. Her role of protector of all sentient beings has made her a great favourite amongst vegetarians and vegans worldwide- simply Google “Kuan Yin vegetarian” and you will find a multitude of restaurants and tea houses where meat is definitely off the menu.

The Lotus Sutra mentions thirty-three different manifestations of Avalokitesvara/ Kuan Yin. Some are male, some are female, and some animal, all to suit the needs of various beings. As such, the gender versatility of her manifestations has attracted

the attention of scholars of gender studies over recent years.

An ever-loving présence, Kuan Yin has been walking alongside humans for almost two millennia.

There is much to learn from her relationship with humanity over time, and much joy to be found in her company, so why not take the plunge, and open your heart to universal compassion? Who knows, she may very well change your life.

Some resources to get you started: “Kuan Yin, accessing the power of the divine feminine” by Daniela Schenker : a good introduction to the goddess, from a Western perspective. Easy to read and accessible.

“Kuan Yin, myths and prophecies of the Chinese Goddess of compassion” by Martin Palmer, Jay Ramsay and Man-Ho Kwok : written by a trio of specialists in the fields of anthropology, poetry and religion, this excellent in-depth study of the history and myths of Kuan Yin also comes with a thoughtprovoking oracle based on a hundred poems collected in temples all around China. A must-have.

“Avalokitesvara” : this lovely Chinese movie about Kuan Yin is available on YouTube with English subtitles. It will no doubt bring a little tear to your eye at the end.

“Kuan Yin oracle” by Alana Fairchild : the cards of this deck are beautifully painted and the knowledge easily accessible. My only reservation is that some of the representations of the Goddess featured here are overly westernised and sexy, which some might find culturally insensitive.

“The Lotus Sutra” : Nothing like going back to the primary source-material. If you are prepared to study, there is much wisdom to be found in this text. Chapter 25 is dedicated to Avalokitesvara.

Lou Hotchkiss-Knives

Dancing with Fire INTRODUCING INTERNATIONAL FIRE DANCERS AND SPINNERS : FIRE DEMON (AKA Miss Klora L’Forme) The Fire Demon started her fire journey after becoming fascinated with poi at Glastonbury festival in 2008...After practising, self-teaching (online courses) and getting confident with some moves she set them on fire !

“I love the sound of the fire moving past my ears, it takes me to a zone where all other thoughts are silent” She has since then taken lessons in body burning, fire eating and fire breathing . And has self-taught Fire fans , Snake poi , Fire whip, double fire whip:

“A lot of the principles (excluding fire breathing) are the same as poi so I found it to be a natural transition to find bigger things to fire spin” The fire demon before she was named “The Fire Demon” took up burlesque in 2015.

The two went perfectly together and gave her more inspiration to keep practising and performing.

She performs fire at her own burlesque events, private events and most recently at Clan Dolmen Events with The Fire Sprite and The Fire Dragon (Esme Knight of dance the fire.)

After Running fire workshops at the camps, she teamed up with The Fire Spryte to become a mentor.

“We work on duo routines together; poi moves and ideas for future shows. The fire sprite is already so skilled at such a young age in all her chosen areas of poi, baton, and staff work. Its inspiring to work with her” Basic fire workshops will be held at camps for anyone wanting to know more about fire spinning. Follow Fahrenheit 666 on facebook for more information and updates: www.facebook.com/Fahrenheit666102270514809597/

ESME KNIGHT Esme Knight is a Dragon Shaman and a fire performer, combining the tribal aspects of fire worship and rituals from around the world with dance, trance, meditation, and movement.

A Pagan and practicing witch, Esme has been teaching for over ten years, hosting workshops and events on the various practices of the craft, as well as founding Pagan Pride UK and working for accurate representation of the Pagan community.

‘Dance the Fire’ shares Esme’s journey with the Sacred Serpent; the spirituality surrounding Dragon lore and Fire Worship of many shamanic cultures, through talks, workshops, music, dance, and fire performance. The path of Dragon Shamanism has been developed by Esme through her own study over a number of years to harness the power in the human form, using trance and movement to raise energy for ritual, healing, and personal development.

Surrender to the drum, still the mind and cleanse the spirit.

Esme Knight is a fully insured fire performer and tutor, performing professionally with fire since 2014. Performing with fire brings drama and mystery to her story-telling and emphasises the passion of dance.

Dance the Fire workshops are intended to explore and develop our connection to fire as a sacred element, allowing participants to work closely with fire in a spiritual setting that they may not have had opportunity to do before, while maintaining a safe environment.

Esme has a strong dance background; trained in classical Russian ballet from a young age, she then went on to study many styles of dance incorporating the different cultural expressions to understand our connection to spirit through dance and movement.

She performs regularly at Clan Dolmen events in both ritual and fireshow, raising energy and entertaining alongside Fire Demon Locana AKA Miss Klora L’Forme; a talented fire-poi and burlesque performer. And gifted 13 year old FireSpryte; a natural at staff and baton.

They also perform together as Fahrenheit 666.

Dragon Shaman & Fire Performer: https://www.facebook.com/dancethefire/ https://dancethefire.art.blog/

FIRE SPRYTE: Hello, my name is Naomi Syme. A.k.a. Fire Spryte. I’m thirteen and I’ve been doing majorettes since I was six years old, which helped me so much when I got my fire baton.

During my journey of fire dancing sometimes I use light. In fact, I started doing poi when my Nan’s friend Sarah gave me my first set of poi which were light poi.

Ever since, I first picked up those light poi I’ve had a passion for doing poi, and I started to learn poi during the workshops at Clan Dolmen camps. It was always so much fun, and still is.

After a while, I saw Anna doing a show with fire poi. I loved it so much that I went up to her and asked if I could have a go. But since fire was the way my Mum died and that I didn’t think I was that good a poi, I was really nervous. But after a while, I got really into it.

So, my Nan brought me my own fire poi. I got really excited and Anna started to teach me how to dance with my poi better than I had or believed I could.

I got really good and started to perform at camps. And I love it so much because I dance with the best dancers I know, Esme Knight the Dragon Lady and Anna the Fire Demon.

They’re are amazing fire dancers. I also perform locally with the Fire Demon as Fahrenheit 666.

Recently I started doing fire staff which wouldn't be possible if it weren’t for Taloch Jameson. Taloch bought me my fire staff at Yule, which I'm super thankful for. When I got the staff, I was super excited to see what I can do with it and couldn't wait to try it out.

Dancing with fire is not only a really cool hobby, it is also part of my spiritual journey.

When I dance I forget about everything else just becoming part of the fire. This is my magickal journey and I am happy to share it with you.

According to everyone I know at camp, due to the coronavirus I, am the first person to be the May Queen for 2 years.

I really miss going to camps and ceremonies, but COVID-19 lockdown has given me the opportunity to perform alone for Clan Dolmen

virtual camps I to look forward to performing with the Dragon Lady (Esme Knight) and Fire Demon (Miss Klora L’ Forme) at next year’s events.

Follow Fire Spryte: www.facebook.com/Fahrenheit-666102270514809597/ www.facebook.com/FireSpryte

CHRIS & DEE MOOR After watching a Turkish fire show on holiday, Dee and I thought let’s give that a try.

After training with the London Fire School for performing arts we were ready.

After much practice and mistakes our bodies covered in plasters, we fell in love with Aloe Vera.

Safety to ourselves and the public is paramount, however in 10 years I have only received one burn whilst performing; my mistake was trying to put PPE on in the dark.

We have performed at many Dolmen Camps and are proud to play a small part of the entertainments team with magic and fire.

We do about 20-30 shows a year, most around November 5th, not many, but fire is just a small part of what we do. The venues we work at vary from weddings, evening parties, festivals and one very interesting adult venue ........ (which we didn’t know about until we arrived).

We spend a lot of time choreographing our show to music and we have many favourite moves. I enjoy fire breathing while Dee loves fire fans.

My idea to name our show “Captain Fire and Flame Girl” went up in smoke quickly lol!

5 years ago, I started to perform with fire cages which are very dangerous, but spectacular to watch. We had to jump through so many hoops to get insured for this part of the show. The explosion of sparks is our finale and definitely our favourite part of the show.

Regardless of what we do, knowing you all and being part of the Dolmen Clan is the most amazing experience, thank you for being part of our lives.

Booking Chris & Dee More via agent: Julie on 07894 682626. www.facebook.com/groups/272811573540633/? ref=br_rs https://www.facebook.com/Clan-Dolmen110124449082503/