Goddess Conference
2003

The Nine Morgens of Avalon

Following the success of last year's rewoven Goddess Conference, in 2003 we will once again be making collective and individual pilgrimages to the Goddess throughout the course of the Conference. We will be journeying physically, emotionally, psychically and spiritually into the Heart of Her Mysteries as they present themselves here in Avalon in the sacred landscape and within the forms of the Nine Morgens, who are the Nine Ladies of Avalon.

In legend the Nine Morgens are Nine Sisters, Faeries, Fates, Goddesses, Ladies, Crones or Crows, who rule the Isle of Avalon. The most famous is Morgen La Fey - Morgen the Faery or Morgen the Fate, who in Arthurian legend was Morgana, the maligned half-sister to King Arthur. However She is so much more than this, and She has eight Sisters of whom little is known. During the Conference we will be exploring the true nature of the Nine Morgens as Goddesses of transformation, as Sisters working in circle, as Healers, Muses and Guardians of Avalon. Our purpose is to bring them forth from the mists of our forgetting, so that we can recognise and honour these ancient Goddesses of Avalon once again. We will also be exploring the themes of Sisterhood and Cooperation between women, and between women and men.

Our Pilgrimage journey includes Conference favourites - baking Lammas bread, singing, dancing, the Goddess in the Cart procession and all the fun we usually have, and there are new experiences of Her Mysteries which we hope you will enjoy. As usual participants will be supported in Pilgrimage Circles of 13 and we ask for your cooperation in welcoming Conference newcomers as well as old friends, so that everyone has companions on this journey of exploration into the Mysteries of Avalon. We ask for the blessings of the Nine Morgens on our Conference.

Provisional Programme

(The full final programme will be given to you on arrival at the Conference)

Wednesday 30th July - WELCOME TO THE CONFERENCE

Afternoon 2.00pm REGISTRATION for the Conference begins in Glastonbury Town Hall with apple juice & cider in celebration of Avalon, Isle of Apples, with magnificent Goddess wallhangings by Thalia Brown and Willow Rowe, and Lydia Ruyle's beautiful Goddess Icon banners. Time to add your personal offering to the Nine Morgen Goddesses specially created for the Conference by Foosiya Miller and friends, to light prayer candles at the central altar, and to book into the cornucopia of workshops on offer.

Also time to view beautiful WOMANSPIRIT EXHIBITIONS in the Town Hall, Assembly Rooms and Glastonbury Experience, organised by Tyna Redpath and Helen Drever, with artwork from Clare Campbell, Ember Vincent, Foosiya Miller, Jill Smith, Karin Schluter, Louise Amelia, Monica Sjoo, Ronnie Hudson, Sam Lauren Smith, The Wicked Fairy and Wendy Andrew, plus a special exhibition Blue Moon Woman by Kay Allen in the Miracles Room.

4.30pm WELCOME CIRCLE for all Conference participants with Kathy Jones and Tyna Redpath - your Conference Organisers and Mistresses of Ceremony, introducing everyone and gathering in Pilgrimage Circles of 13.

Evening 7.30pm OPENING CEREMONY: Invocation of the Nine Morgens of Avalon by Priestesses of Avalon, with ceremony, circle dance, song and participation for all, with Lydia Lite & Oshia Drury, plus a special performance by Shawna Carols' Goddess Chant Choir, composed of women and men from Pamela Gerke's Sacred Fire Choir, as well as members from across the USA and Glastonbury's own VocalAna...all under the direction of Avalon's Sally Pullinger.

Thursday 31st July - PREPARING FOR THE MYSTERIES OF THE MORGENS

Morning 9.30am Ceremony opening the day with the Priestesses of Avalon. Presentations by Kathy Jones with Priestesses of Avalon on Pilgrimage & The Nine Morgens of Avalon
Rae Beth on Morgen of the Faeries
Julie Felix sings Songs of the Goddess - Old and new Goddess chants and songs.
Pilgrimage Circles of 13: Make Lammas Bread Goddesses. In the footsteps of our foremothers we shape bread dough into images of the Goddess, which will be baked in the afternoon and eaten in the evening, as we share our intentions in journeying to meet the Nine Morgens in Avalon, focused by Tyna Redpath.

Afternoon 2.30pm PREPARATION RITUALS
At the beginning of our pilgrimage to the Goddess, journeying with our Pilgrimage Circle of 13, we prepare for participation in Her Mysteries in the coming days by cleansing ourselves with Her natural elements - air - smudging with incense, fire - feeling the heat of Her passionate flame, water - cleansing ourselves in Her waters, earth - decorating our faces and bodies, and space - walking meditation, praying to Her for inspiration.

Evening 7.00-8.30pm GODDESS CONCERT: The Year is a Dancing Woman - Songs & Chants with Ruth Barrett, and For the Love of the Goddess, an audio visual performance by Jana Runnalls.

9.00pm CHALICE WELL CANDLELIGHT CELEBRATION
An evening of magic and mystery
A wonderful opportunity to visit the candlelit gardens of Chalice Well at night. Here we can experience the Mystery of the Nine Morgens within the Landscape, beside the Waters of the Sacred Well. We will share the Bread Goddesses we made earlier in the day and drink from the holy Red & White Spring Waters in the magical beautiful valley which nestles between Chalice Hill and the Tor.

Friday 1st August - HONOURING THE MORGENS

Morning 9.30am Ceremony opening the day with the Priestesses of Avalon
Presentations by Letecia Layson on Priestessing on the Edge of Chaos: Embodying the Fates in Everyday Life.
Caitlín Matthews on The Spells of Women: Throughout the history of North West Europe, ninefold sisterhoods have formed the basis for women's magical societies. Caitlín explores the myth of the ninefold and how the spells of women have shocked and enchanted Europe.
Penn Kemp with her Poems for Peace from many Voices
Alessandra Belloni - Songs of the Black Madonna and the Tarantella: Virtuoso Tambourine playing. Another chance to hear the amazing voice and powerful rhythms of this stunning musician.
Pilgrimage Circles of 13: An opportunity to share our ideas on Sisterhood and Cooperation in our support groups.

Afternoon 2.30-5.30pm
Choose ONE from seven special 3 hour workshops which will allow us to engage more deeply -

STEP INTO SISTERHOOD: A Gorgeous Goddess workshop with Clare Campbell and Samsara Tanner for young women under 17. Step into and celebrate your own Sparkly, Beautiful, Wild and Wonderful Goddess Self

or ENTER INTO THE SACRED GROVE: A Ceremonial Chanting workshop with Jana Runnalls, honouring and celebrating the energy of the Goddess and birthing a new dream of Mother Earth

or LIVING WITH THE DARK GODDESS with Australian priestess Jane Meredith - How do we live with the Dark Goddess in everyday life? Explore your personal relationship to Her in safe surroundings

or MORPHOGENESIS, COMING INTO BEING with priestess Letecia Layson. Learn how to work with the energy of the Fates, one of the names of the Morgens, in your own life

or THE WAY OF THE CHALICE with Lynne Orchard and Natasha Wardle. Explore the deeper meanings of the Chalice as Self, Grael and Goddess, held within the sacred gardens of Chalice Well

MORG-ANA¹S ROOTS IN AFRICA with Monica Sjöö. Slide show/discussion looking at our roots in Africa, at Amazon women, Tanit of Carthage, & Asht¹art in Lebanon, and at present day Goddess activism

or THE YEAR IS A DANCING WOMAN with Ruth Barrett & Falcon River - exploration of the Goddess and woman-centred Dianic Wiccan tradition founded by Z Budapest, with ways to ritualise seasonal festivals with magick and chant.

Evening 7.30pm
THE MYSTERIES OF THE NINE MORGENS:
Journey through a CEREMONIAL CYCLE which includes opportunities to:
LISTEN TO THE ORACLES OF THE NINE MORGENS in the Assembly Rooms
CIRCUMAMBULATE THE MORGENS to the Drums and Songs of Lydia Lite, Oshia Drury and Temple Drummers in the Town Hall
COMMUNE WITH THE MORGENS in the Stillness of THE GODDESS TEMPLE and in the BLUE MOON WOMAN exhibition in the Courtyard of the Glastonbury Experience.

Saturday 2nd August INSPIRATION OF THE MORGENS

Morning 9.30am Ceremony to open the day in the Town Hall with the Priestesses of Avalon.
Presentations from Lydia Ruyle on Muses and Morgens: Dakinis, Shaktis & Yoginis - sharing stories, banners, visual images of the creative feminine spirits of the world.
Sally Pullinger & VocalAna present Songs from the Wheel of Ana
Lady Olivia Durdin Robertson on Journeying with the Morgens
Carolyn Hillyer creates The Deep Deep Bones and the Wild Wise Core - An earthy ceremony to dance our raw spirit and strengthen our sisterhood song

Afternoon 2.30pm
INVOKING THE LADY OF AVALON - A Ritual of the Nine Morgens - Focalised by Jane Meredith and friends.

5.00pm FIELDS OF LIGHT: A Celebration of Light with Sally Morningstar and the Magpie Hedgewitches in the Glastonbury Assembly Rooms.

Evening 7.30pm GORGEOUS GODDESS GALA MASQUE & ORGANIC VEGETARIAN FINGER BUFFET
Come dressed as the Goddess or God you are, masked or veiled. Treat yourself to a delicious organic vegetarian Finger Buffet specially prepared for us by The Spiral Gate Organic Cafe. Listen, dance and make merry to Conference favourite Julie Felix, and back by popular demand the fantastic Seize the Day playing with Hearth, with Shannon Smy, Theo Simon, David Williams, Rich Whistance, Rich Osborne, Tina Bridgeman and Matt Tweed.

Sunday 3rd August - PROCESSION & THANKSGIVING

Morning 10.00am
ANNUAL GODDESS IN THE CART PROCESSION through the streets of Glastonbury with Lydia Ruyle's Goddess banners with singing and percussion - bring instruments and voices, to a CEREMONY with Priestesses of Avalon, and a fabulous FRUIT FEAST on top of the TOR. Please bring fruit to share. Open to all.

Afternoon 2.30pm
GIVE AWAY - Bring something lovely to give away to another person.

CIRCLE DANCE
THANKSGIVING CIRCLE
CLOSING CEREMONY
CLOSE OF CONFERENCE 4.00pm

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