MERCIAN GATHERING - pagan festival with Ritual, Talks and Entertainment

"By coming to the Mercian Gathering you state that you are no longer a spiritual consumer, but a dedicated participant" Damh the Bard

- To honour the Old Gods
- To create a sacred space for people of all paths to come together

in a spirit of fellowship, reverence and learning
- To raise money for our chosen charities

At the Mercian Gathering, various tribes and types of Pagans gather as one to celebrate the harvest, to thank the Gods for their gifts and honour the Earth with dedicated seasonal ritual. We use the labyrinth as a pathway of transformation, first activating it with the harvest dance on Friday, drawing everyone together into a weekend of shared spiritual aims. Then, on Saturday, we move into purification and offering as we flame the labyrinth and attach our tokens to the wicker man before burning him and sending him to the Gods with our sincere prayers and blessings. On Sunday we will return through the labyrinth to take our blessings to the everyday world. It is a spiritual act, not a spectacle, and we would prefer that people didn't take photographs (we have an official photographer and pictures will be available on the website).

We seek to share our knowledge and insights with each other through talks, workshops and conversation. It is a weekend of learning where we respect the beliefs, needs and wisdom of others in an unselfish way. We can all learn, and we can all teach.

We are not a festival - we are a purely Pagan camp, concerned with performing ritual and sharing knowledge. There is no beer tent at the Mercian and there never will be, and we discourage you from bringing alcohol on site. Drunken behaviour will not be tolerated. We are not a commercial venture, and we do not have many stalls, all day entertainment or any outside caterers. As Pagans we aim to tread lightly on the Earth, consuming as little energy as possible and leaving no litter to mark our passing, taking personal responsibility for our own actions.

Before you book a ticket, ask yourself if you are prepared to come in a spirit of reverence for the Old Gods, with a willingness to participate in rituals, talks and workshops, behave with unselfish respect and open friendship for others, and are willing to act from a sense of personal honour.

The Mercian Gathering is organised by the Hearth of Arianrhod and staffed entirely by volunteers. No one, except our charities, makes a penny from the event - by 2011 we had raised over £28,000. Everything is free on site, including healing sessions and archery.

The Goddesses and Asteroids Vesta and Juno.

The first millennium BC saw a slow collapse in religious support for the dominant Goddess energy of the Ancient Near East and Mediterranean. Slowly She succumbed to enforced marriage to masculine deity and eventual complete subjugation and slavery. A poor shadow of this former glory crept on in astrological symbolism through the identification and naming of the asteroids Vesta and Juno. However, times are changing and the powerful Goddess of 3,000 years ago now rises swiftly in the Collective. Evidence can be seen from the Arab Spring to geophysical changes. But Vesta and Juno are emerging on a personal level too, to find out more of how they work in your life, come to this talk.

Alison appears on BBC radio and American TV. She has two books published on the future of the human race in the 21^st century and a deck of astrology cards. She is also a current masters degree student and founder of the Midlands School of Astrology.

Gail Eaton and Natasha Kenyon

Shamanic Workshop

Graham Butcher

Morning Stav Workshops

These are opportunities to learn and practice the 16 Runic Stances together with other revitalizing exercises. See Ice and Fire for more details.

Tim Entwhistle

Creating and Consecrating Your Own Talismans

Talk. What really is a Talisman, and how does it work? This workshop demonstrates that whatever your path you already have the resources to produce you own talismans. Methods for effectively integrating elements, sigils and other correspondences that generate a powerful focus for your talisman are presented. Different ways of 'charging' and 'sealing' your talisman will also be introduced..

The Warks Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the charities we raise money for with the Gathering.

CHILDREN'S YOGA
Creative yoga session with Laura for those aged between 2.5 and 12, which will stretch the imagination as much as the body!

ADULT HOOPING
Whether it's your first time or your hundredth time spinning with us at the Mercian, there will be something for you to learn once you get inside the hoop - come and join Laura for a fun-filled workshop!

YOGA
A Hatha Yoga session with Laura to help you breathe away tension, stretch tight muscles and relax into your Mercian Gathering experience for 2011.
Please bring a mat or a blanket/towel with you to the session.

Neil’s illustration have been seen on TV, magazines, T-shirts, mugs, prints, cards and books. His first collaborative book was with his ex-wife, Alicen, in Faeriecraft, published by Hay House, 2005. His works have been exhibited throughout the United Kingdom and also more recently in the United States.

A Shamanic Experience: Reclaiming the Voice and Honouring the Ancestors

Lynn Gosney has been on a Shamanic path for many years and shares her knowledge having run her own centre in Kent England for over 20 years. She is well known and respected both for her work as a practitioner, natural healer and musician, she is a beautiful vocalist and songwriter and use her gift to bring healing and connection through her work.. She regularly facilitates popular Shamanic workshops and Sweatlodge throughout the UK, in Europe and the United States. Lynn is honourable and conscientious and works with people in a nurturing and loving way her aim is “to empower ” for more information on Lynn, her work, music and Centre see www.touchtheearthuk.com

Kimberly Morgan

Aspects of the pentacle

Gary Brienholt

The Green Bard

Storytelling and Bardic workshop

Dave the Flute

Flute Making Workshop

Sam Pearson

Guided Meditation Workshop

John Crow

The Missing Witch

Chrissey Derbyshire

Why We Tell Stories

Stories are often belittled in the modern world. They are 'just for children', or 'just for less developed peoples who haven't made the scientific advances that we have'. So why do they remain? What is it about stories that makes them stay embedded in our heads and hearts long after we think we've outgrown them? This talk explores the enduring importance of stories to everyone who roughly falls under the category of 'human being'.

Lynne Server

Psychic Questing, working with the Sacred Landscape

Runic John

tba

Kate and Corwen

Workshop tba

The Wise Woman

Talks and Apothecary Shop

The Cambridge Puppet Masters

A performance of Old Tup

The Witchmen

Morris Side

"By coming to the Mercian Gathering you state that you are no longer a spiritual consumer, but a dedicated participant"

Tickets include all camping with your tent (you bring the tent), talks, workshops, entertainment etc. etc. You will be sent an information pack with a location map and other information you should read carefully. Tickets will be dispatched from onwards...be patient, it takes Sue time to work through them, so they won't ALL be sent out then. You will have them by mid August but it is unlikely you will get them immediately.

LOST TICKETS- All tickets will have been sent out by 5th August. If your tickets have not arrived, please phone us to let us know by then. It's no good phoning the day before the Gathering! If you have not let us know 14 days before the Gathering we cannot replace the tickets or refund the money. If you have lost your tickets after they have arrived, we charge a £5 replacement fee per ticket. No entrance on the gate without a valid ticket. Phone 07855 378515 [March 1st to September 1st only]

NO REFUNDS IF YOU CANCEL FOR WHATEVER REASON. By the time of the camp the money will have been spent on the facilities or donated to charity. In the unlikely event of the Gathering being cancelled all money will be credited for a later event.

Stalls are booked by space (in square feet) and that booked space must be large enough to contain the stall, caravan/camper/tent and car or van. Stall passes come with two tickets and all other personnel or family must be paid for.

If you only have a few things to sell, we have a Sunday market in the marquee where Mercian ticket holders can set up a small stall for free - just bring a pasting table or blanket.

[Please read before you email to ask questions that are already answered here]

VENUE - secret except from ticket holders. It is on a farm near Nuneaton, Warks, UK.

OPENING AND CLOSING TIMES - opens 10.30 am on Friday and closes at 8 pm on Sunday. No extra camping Thursday or Sunday night - please don't ask

Tickets include- all camping with your tent (you bring the tent), talks, workshops, entertainment etc. etc. Your paypal confirmation is your receipt. Tickets will be dispatched from March onwards...be patient, it takes Sue time to work through them. You will have them by August but you will not get them immediately.

WHAT TO BRING - You will need a tent, sleeping bag, some food and a camping stove as the cafe is not open 24 hours. Please also bring personal toiletries, towels and any medication you are taking and fresh clothes. You will need some money for purchasing food from the cafe or goodies from the stalls, and a notebook is a good idea. You may wish to consider bringing a small fire extinguisher or a bucket you can fill with water in case you set fire to your tent!

CAMP ETHOS - the focus of this camp is spiritual exploration through the sharing of knowledge and participation in ritual It is not a music festival and there is no beer tent; please don't bring more than a couple of cans on site. Drunken behaviour will not be tolerated.

VOLUNTEERING FOR THE GATHERING - You can find out how to do this and download a volunteer form here (this takes you to the forum. Click the Mercian logo and scroll down to the volunteer forum.)

SUNDAY MARKET - if you only have a few crafts etc to sell, we have a Sunday Market in the afternoon in the marquee. You can bring in a blanket or pasting table and set up for free.

STALLS are booked by space (in square feet) and that booked space must be large enough to contain the stall, caravan/camper/tent and car or van. Stall passes come with two tickets and all other personnel or family must be paid for.

CHILDREN - are very welcome. We run workshops and entertainment especially for children and their parents. We do not, however, provide a crèche.

DISABLED PROVISIONS - We are in a farmer's field, it is on grass, and some of it is bumpy and may get muddy. If you are genuinely disabled, you can camp in the Events Field (still a field!) in the disabled area with a pass, where there will also be a disabled toilet. Please note, this is for one tent only (caravans must have caravan pass) and does not admit your group of friends and all their tents! Please do not take up space in this area unless you are genuinely disabled as you may be robbing a disabled person of the opportunity as there is limited space. If you have special requirements please let us know in advance.

PARKING - cars can be parked on site next to your tent. If you are planning to come in daily, you must park on site, and not down the road in any farm gateways.

TALKS AND WORKSHOPS - workshops start at 2 pm Friday till 6 pm Sunday. The day’s events are displayed on a board in the information tent and outside each marquee.

NO DOGS- people smuggling dogs or other animals on site will be asked to leave immediately and their money will not be refunded. Please don't ask if you can bring a pet- there are no exceptions.

RUBBISH - please take all your rubbish away for recycling. The Information Tent will give you a black bin bag.

NOISE - 11 pm curfew. Please respect your neighbours in the field - who may have sleeping children - and the neighbours of the farm.

FIRES - sorry, no personal fires; do not dig pits. Barbecues and fireboxes are okay. Please remember not to use your camping stove inside your tent as this can be dangerous.

TOILETS - there will be portaloos in the camping field and a really nice toilet block in the Events Field where you will probably be spending most of your time. There will be a disabled portaloo on site - if you are disabled you can camp near it if you have booked a pass.

CAFÉ - the café provides light meals, including vegetarian and vegan options, a barbecue in the evenings, snacks and drinks. It is not a commercial venture; we run it ourselves. There is a limit to what we can supply and the hours we can open. Any profit the cafe does make is donated to charity. It is staffed entirely by unpaid volunteers who do their best - sometimes in difficult circumstances - so please treat them with consideration.

PICK UP SERVICE - there will be a free pick up service from Nuneaton train station on the hour from 11 am till 7.00 pm on the Friday. A return service from the camp to the station will operate Sunday - book your return lifts at the Information Tent. NB Our volunteer cars do not have child seats fitted. If you need one you will have to bring it with you.

FIRST AID - please enquire at the Information Tent, which will be manned during the day, or otherwise at the Dagda tent on the gate or see Don at the showers. There are also first aiders walking around the site wearing high-vis vests marked with a white cross and the words 'first aid'.

MERCIAN CREW - The Mercian site crew and fire marshals wear green high-vis vests with 'Mercian Gathering' on the back and carry walkie-talkies. You will see them patrolling the site day and night. Ask the guys if you need any information or help, or if there is an emergency such as an accident or fire, or even if the loo has run out of toilet rolls!

SECURITY - the excellent Dagda come in to provide security for us and man the gate. They wear yellow high-vis vests with 'Dagda' on the back. You will see them patrolling the site with walkie-talkies and they are in constant contact with the Mercian crew. They can also be found at Fort Dagda on the gate. Please contact them or one of the Mercian crew in case of any trouble or disturbance.

RITUALS - the rituals of the camp honour the Old Gods, the season and the spirits of the land. A ritual is designed to transform the individual that takes part in it. Remember that you only get out of a ritual what you put in; don’t just be a spectator, but join in. The opening ritual is provided by the Hearth of Arianrhod. We activate the labyrinth and invite the Gods and spirits of place to join us in our celebration of the harvest, and ask them to help us in our learning experience during the weekend. You will be invited to decorate the wicker man with your offerings and prayers during the course of Saturday. On Saturday night we flame the labyrinth and travel through it as an act of purification. This is followed by a procession to the wicker man when we burn him and send him to the Gods with our prayers and offerings for the coming year. [If you do fire poi, fire staffs, fire juggling etc. please bring your stuff and help lead the procession.] The closing ritual is thrown open to our visitors to formulate during a Sunday morning workshop, and then perform, so please get involved in that. Please do not photograph the rituals.

Tickets include all camping with tent (you bring the tent), talks, workshops, entertainment etc. etc.

Phone: 07855 378515 [1st March to 30th August only, and when Sue is not at work, in the bath or asleep...]

(check the info is not already on this page under General Information or your reply might say RTFW)

For information on volunteering click here which will take you to the forum, then go to the volunteering board.

Share your experiences, arrange car shares or ask questions of the other attendees and organisers on

* The Beacon is an independent organisation affiliated to the Christian Spiritualist Society (Registered Charity No: 507420) which runs meditation classes, spiritual development circles, Tai Chi classes etc. with room rental available to people from all spiritual paths. The Hearth of Arianrhod do not own the Beacon and we do not run it - we rent a room there once a month, and this is our only involvement. We donate money each year from the Gathering to this charity as we feel the Beacon is a valuable resource for the spiritual community.