Goddess Conference 2008
Honouring the Wild Maiden 2008 sees the beginning of a new nine year cycle for the Goddess Conference during which the focus and theme of our Conference will move through each of 8 different faces of the Goddess, which are expressed through the eight directions of the Wheel of the Year, beginning with the Imbolc Maiden Goddess, and ending in the Centre in the ninth year. In 2008 we begin our new cycle by honouring the Wild Maiden Goddess, She who is Awake, Alive, Untamed and Untameable, filled with Love. She is the Renewer, the Quickener of the Seeds of the future which lie dormant within us. In our 2008 Conference we are focusing on our Natural Human Wildness, which is deeply rooted in Her Wilderness, rather than on wild behaviour that is a reaction to imposed authority. We will be reclaiming and reconnecting to the Wild Authentic Untamed Self, which emerges from the Mother Void at Rebirth, filled with the energy and vitality of Life as it sweeps into incarnation. We will be communing with the Tribal Spirits of animals and birds as a means of expressing our Innate Wildness. In 2008 Kathy Jones, your Conference Webster, is joined by a scintillating Spiral of Spinners: fantastic Roz Bound on Registration, glorious Queen Bee Koko Newport with the Melissas, dynamic Jennifer Cooper with Artists, Craftspeople and stallholders in the Small Town Hall, compassionate Lynne Orchard and Georgina Sirett-Hardie once again organizing the Coventina’s Day Spa where conferees can be pampered by healers, masseuses, reflexologists, etc., sparkling Annabel Allen, Rosie Elflain and team looking after Young People, as well as fabulous dedicated Priestesses Gabrielle O’Connell, Jacqui Woodward-Smith, Katinka Soetens, Kriszta Veres, Ren Chapman, Rose Flint, Sally Pullinger, Sophie Pullinger and Tegwyn Hyndman who design and facilitate Conference Ceremonies. On arrival Conference participants choose to belong to one of Nine Wild Tribes named as Wolf, Cat, Horse, Dolphin, Deer, Fox, Snake, Owl and Swan, to assist in ceremonies and be supported in smaller Circles of 13 within each Clan. The main Conference colours in 2008 are white, pale green and animal prints of all kinds, and you may like to dress in the appropriate colours and Tribal prints for Conference ceremonies. Please note that the Goddess Conference is ethically opposed to the use of animal skins, feathers and parts in the fashion industry and in natural medicine. We accept the reverential use of animal skins and feathers in ceremony and give thanks for the gifts that all creatures of Mother Earth give to us. Please bring your voices, drums, rattles and other instruments to join in making music at various times during the Conference and on Sunday’s Goddess Procession. The Goddess Conference is a wonderful opportunity to learn about different aspects of the Goddess, to renew your commitment to Her, to fully experience Her loving, healing nature, to make your pilgrimage to the Wild Maiden within Avalon’s sacred landscape, to enjoy yourself in the company of like-minded Goddess-loving people, to meet old friends and new. We look forward to seeing you here in Glastonbury and ask for the Maiden’s many blessings on our Conference. Programme (Provisional) The full programme will be given to you on arrival at the Conference.
Tuesday 29th July Glastonbury Goddess Temple, Lammas Abundance Ceremony
7.30-9.00pm The Courtyard, Glastonbury Experience
Open to conference participants and the public. Donations to the Goddess Temple are welcomed. Wednesday 30th July WELCOME TO THE GODDESS CONFERENCE
Morning 9.30am REGISTRATION for the Conference begins in Glastonbury Town Hall with apple juice & cider in celebration of Avalon, Isle of Apples and Welsh Afallon with Ruth Morgan and friends. With magnificent painted Goddess wallhangings by Thalia Brown and Willow Roe, and Lydia Ruyle’s beautiful Goddess Icon banners. Time to add your personal offering to the central Maiden Goddess created by Foosiya Miller and to light prayer candles at the main altar.
Also time to view GODDESS ART & CRAFTWORKS in the Small Town Hall and the Glastonbury Experience from amongst others Barbara Meiklejohn-Free, Conferees and musicians, Dorrie Joy, Foosiya Miller, Goddess Temple, Goddess Within clothing, Gwen Davies, Karen Mander, Pixipod, Ronnie Hudson, Wytches Corner and Xavier de la Huerga. Helen Drever will offer another of her amazing art meditations Unsealing the Lips of the Goddess, and in the Miracles Room of the Glastonbury Experience Wendy Andrew, Hannah Willis and Yves Sturgeon present a beautiful new Wild Hare Exhibition. During the Conference Arete: Fay Hutchcroft, Kay Dayton, Patricia Gould will provide the opportunity to paint Pilgrim’s Cockleshells to place in the landscape as part of their Shrine for the Modern Pilgrim Project. 11.30am-1.00pm WELCOME CIRCLE for all Conference participants, introductions and first gathering in Nine Wild Tribes with Tribal Priestess facilitators. Afternoon 2.30-5.30pm
Anique Radiant-Heart - Living the Goddess – Sing songs from her new CD to ground and open our hearts.
Katinka Soetens - Connecting to your Tribal Animal Spirit
Wild Tribe Meetings - To practice for the evening’s Opening Ceremony.
Followed by meetings of the Brighde Priestess Circle, Lesbian Circle, Men’s Circle, Orchard of Avalon and any other groups who want time to meet at the beginning of the Conference. Please let us know who you are. Evening 7.30pm OPENING CEREMONY: Invocation of the Maiden Goddess and the Nine Wild Maidens facilitated by Conference Ceremonial Circle, Tribal Priestesses and performed by the Nine Tribes. With participation for all, circle dance, music from Lydia Lite & Oshia Drury, drum and dance with Loes Moezelaar and Isabella Verbruggen and poetry from Rose Flint. Thursday 31st July AWAKENING TO THE WILD
Morning 9.30am-1.00pm begins with Ceremony with trainee Priestesses of Avalon.
9-30-12noon Young people’s workshops 8-18 years, Thursday, Friday & Saturday mornings. Sign up at Registration.
Presentations by:
Wendy Andrews - Luna Hare’s Magickal Journey
Susun Weed - Spirit and Practice of the Wise Woman Tradition
Kellianna - Freeing the Wild Voice - a chance to for us all to sing
Starhawk - Let it Begin Now with Spiral Dance. Another world is possible! Afternoon 2.30-5.30pm A Cornucopia of fantastic Workshops to choose from:
Alisha Dancing Tree - Mooning Maidens (for 9-14 year olds) exploring moontime mysteries
Corry Gott - The Warrior Healer: techniques for protection and embodiment of the action spirit
Heide Goettner-Abendroth & Cecile Keller - Ritual for Mother Earth
Hemitra Crecraft – Maiden Spirit - Reclaim the power and mystery of your moontime
Janet Childs - Seed Song: Rhythm of the Heart - a meditation, music and art workshop
Kellianna - SpiritSong Workshop - Freeing the Voice, Sounding the Spirit
Lydia Lite and Oshia Drury - The Elemental Wild Child - using rhythm and voice
Mike Jones - Wild Fire - a workshop for men
Starhawk - Holding Power Well - exploring issues of power and leadership
Susun S Weed - Amazing Artemisias - shamanic journey into Artemis’s sacred woods Evening 7.30pm An Evening Concert – MAIDEN PERFORMANCES
Come and enjoy a wonderful evening of song, poetry, music, humour and dance by some old and new Conference performers, including Bridie’s Babes, Diana Milstein, Flying Lotus Dancers, Isabelle Verbrugger and Loes Moezelaar, Jacqui Woodward-Smith, Jennifer Cooper, Conference Maidens, Oshia Drury, Rose Flint, Vocalana and Wendy Andrew. Friday 1st August THE CALL OF THE WILD
Morning 9.30am-1.00pm begins with Ceremony with training Priestesses of Avalon.
Presentations by:
Kathy Jones - The Call of the Wild
Jocelyn Chaplin - Trusting the Wild Rhythms
Jacqui Woodward-Smith - Reclaiming the Soulskin
Julie Felix - Songs of the Wild - Celebrating Julie’s Maiden 70th Birthday
The Wolf’s Call - the Presence of the Wild Afternoon 2.30-5.30pm THE HEART OF THE MYSTERIES
FIVE RHYTHMS - DANCING IN THE WILD SELF with Kay Chambers
Based in Gabrielle Roth’s famous Five Rhythms which connect to the five elements of the Goddess’s nature, we call the power of our Wild Spirits into our Bodies and Souls. For beginners and experienced 5 Rhythms dancers. Evening 7.30pm THE HEART OF THE MYSTERIES
RETRIEVING OUR SOULSKINS - AN EVENING PILGRIMAGE INTO THE LANDSCAPE OF AVALON
A Ceremonial journey into the Wild Landscape of Avalon seeking and finding our Soulskins, communing with the Wild Maiden Goddess, embodied by the Wild Maiden Priestesses. Plus EXPERIENCE THE NIGHT during our WILDS OF AVALON NIGHTTIME VIGIL
An opportunity to stay awake through the night or sleep beneath the stars in the Wilds of the Isle of Avalon, with companions in a special magical place in the Glastonbury landscape. With Lynne Orchard and Tribal Priestesses.
Please bring a warm sleeping bag to sleep inside the communal yurt and waterproof ground covering if you would like to sleep outside. Saturday 2nd August GODDESS IN COMMUNITY - CELEBRATING THE MAIDEN
Morning 9.30am-1.00pm Ceremony to open the day in the Town Hall with Priestesses of the Goddess and Avalon.
Presentations by :
Heide Goettner-Abendroth - Matriarchal Spirituality, Past and Present
Ava Park - Creating and Running Your Own Goddess Temple
Young people’s presentation
Blessing the Maidens - A Special Ceremony to honour the young Maidens in our company.
Lady Olivia Durdin Robertson – The Eternal Maiden Afternoon 2.00-4.30pm
The Goddess Abundance Fayre is replaced this year by a shared Conferees stall during the Conference, which is for people attending the Conference who wish to sell their own goods. For further info, contact Jennifer Cooper. Another fabulous choice of four great Goddess workshops and two Goddess films:
Ava Park - The Maiden As Merchandise: A Community Ritual Returning Respect to Young Women
Helen Anthony - Tapping into the Spirit of the Wild Plant Queendom
Roz Bound - Write Your Wild Self free! Write, listen and be heard
Vixen Dreamwalker - The Enchanting Power of the Maiden
2 Films: From Girl to Woman (Woman Wisdom) 60mins
The Year of the Earth. Matriarchal Spirituality at International Academy Hagia (Germany) by Heide Goettner-Abendroth, Uschi Madeisky & Gudrun Frank-Weissmann) 90mins Evening 7.30pm GORGEOUS GODDESS GALA MASQUE & VEGETARIAN FINGER BUFFET
Come dressed as the Goddess or God you are, masked or veiled. Treat yourself to a delicious Vegetarian Finger Buffet specially prepared for us by Cafe Galatea, with free wine and soft drinks. Listen, dance and make merry with the fabulous Kellianna from the USA, international superstar Julie Felix and the lush tribal techno sounds of the glamorous Daughters of Gaia - Barbara Meiklejohn-Free, Karen Kay and Cara Bamford. Sunday 3rd August GODDESS PROCESSION & THANKSGIVING
Morning 10.00am GODDESS PROCESSION through the streets of Glastonbury to Chalice Well and to the top of the Tor with a fabulous FRUIT FEAST. Please bring fruit to share. Meditation in the Town Hall for those unable to walk/climb. Afternoon 2.30pm GIVE AWAY - Bring something lovely to give away to another person.
Thanksgiving Weaving the Web of Connection
CLOSING CEREMONY CLOSE OF CONFERENCE 4.00pm | 
 |
