Page of Pentacles

Suite 1 -1428 East King Edward Avenue,Vancouver, BC V5N 2V4

C.C.C.C.C.W.W.W.W.W.A.A.A.A.A.B. C.B. C.B. C.B. C.B. C.

Canadian National Pagan Conference - Edmonton May 20th to 23rd #2-June 2005 c.e.

This conference sprang out of an idea suggestedby Richard James of the Wiccan Church of Canada in Toronto in March of 2004. The ideainterested some members of the PaganFederation of Canada in Ottawa who started topoll people around the country. An enthusiasticdiscussion group began, involving largely westernCanadian voices. The original couple of organizers, Gina and Kit, chose Edmonton as thevenue after both Calgary and Edmonton teamsput in bids, added Hawk in Edmonton to theBoard and it was off and rolling.Important decisions were reached through aprocess of discussion: a) this was to be aconference NOT a festival – held at the U of Alberta conference centre, there would be norituals beyond opening and closing, no costumes,posing nor Bardic competition, and an emphasison discussion and information-sharing; b) thiswas put on by a national corporation as a nationalevent, not directly linked to any regionalactivities; c) this was for discussion, very muchNOT a national decision-making body; d) and itwas about OUR Paganisms, not American orBritish. The theme was “Canadian Paganism –Past, Present, Future”.This was the first such Conference and itattracted 116 adults, from every province exceptPEI and Newfoundland and Labrador. About half came from Alberta, one from New Brunswick,one from Nova Scotia, two from Saskatchewan,four from BC. It attracted Druids, Asatruar,Wiccans, reconstructed ethnic religionists andCeremonial Magicians. About half were olderlong-time Pagans although there were teens andup-and-coming young activists as well. Therewas a substantial academic presence, due to theacademic stream of presentations on Saturday.Notable individuals in attendance included KevinMarron, Donna Read, Prudence Priest, SianReid, Gina Ellis, Jenny Blain, Richard James,Frater Bythor, Shelley Rabinovitch and FritzMuntean. Organizations represented includedAquarian Tabernacle Church of Alberta, Circle of Ashtoreth (AB), Congregationalist WiccanAssociation of BC, Evergreen Tradition (AB),Four Seasons Fellowship (NB), Gathering forLife on Earth (BC), Grove of Danu (AB), ArnDriocht Fein in Alberta, PanFest (AB), MaritimePagan Gathering Festive Association (NS), SpiritHaven Tradition (MB), Star Sapphire Tradition(BC), Wiccan Church of Canada (ON),Wintergreene (QC), Covenant of Gaia Church of Alberta, Pagan Federation/ Federation PaienneCanada, Kaleidoscope Festival (ON), Order of Bards Ovates and Druids members in Alberta andBC.Friday evening was registration and the openingritual (which strongly emphasized the sharing of traditions and the obligation on each of us, asguests of the host committee to treat one anotheras allies – important given the number of factionsrepresented there that don’t get along, from

several provinces).On Saturday starting at 8 with opening remarksand the keynote address by Kevin Marron, whosebook “Witches, Pagans and Magic in the NewAge” in 1989 was the first survey of Canada’sPaganisms – he started us off by talking abouthow we were twenty years ago, when he wasdoing his research. This was followed bynetworking panels on Asatru, Wicca, MultiplePaths, Druidry and Reconstructionist Paganism;the academic stream in which papers werepresented on francophone Paganism andtranslation, childrearing, comparison of Wiccaand New Age periodicals’ language, Paganismand Heathenry in Canada and UK, conserving thehill of Tara, Pagan ideas of citizenship, anddemographics; panel discussions on Paganpublishing and a national periodical, Pagancharities, prison ministry, and gender issues; aone-hour lecture on Occult History in Canadaand finally two films on reconstructionist ethnicpaths and on reviving Greek Paganism.Sunday began at 8 with panels until noon. Panelsdiscussed Pagan environmentalism, parenting andteens, dealing with the media, organizingfestivals, relating to the mainstream, andorganizing Pagan churches. After lunch there wasa round table discussion of institutionalization of Wicca, followed by a discussion of Witch Wars,the evening banquet and a showing of DonnaRead’s biopic of Marija Gimbutas, “Signs Out of Time” and a discussion with Ms. Read afterward.Monday was the wrap-up and overview,evaluation, Annual General Meeting and ClosingRitual.As well as the officially sanctioned events therewere unofficial gatherings at the lounges in theresidences where we drank a few beers and sangbawdy songs (Prudence Priest and Jane Leverick both know an amazing number of songs andchants!), the rituals in people’s rooms (ever triedto have eleven adults dance the Spiral Dance in asingle dorm room? It can be done!), and a greatdeal of networking and general conversation. Aswell, a three-week-old baby who came to theevent was blessed and Named at the beginning of the banquet on Sunday (and I was honoured tobe able to write the ritual and act as Priest).It was impossible to take in all of the panels.Saturday was generally triple streamed, Sundaydoubled up in the morning. There was anenormous amount of information presented, ahigh level of discussion, and most people wentback to their home communities with contactsand ideas for projects as well as good informationabout what had worked or not worked in otherparts of the country. What was the mostimpressive about this conference was the qualityof people in attendance – highly intelligent,committed and active leaders of the Pagancommunities with a minimum amount of posingand bull.I was on four panels: publishing, parenting,media, churches, and I participated in thediscussion in gender issues and Witchwars as wellas delivering a lecture on occult history andwriting and Priesting the baby Naming andblessing.At the AGM we selected Halifax to be the 2006host city, Winnipeg in 2007, added SydneyLancaster and the Halifax bid chair Kelly Maloneto the Board, determined that the name of theannual event will be the “Canadian NationalPagan Conference – Gaia Gathering” and that itwill happen on Victoria Day long weekend, andgave the Board some procedural instructions tocome back to the Halifax membership with forconfirmation. There was a fast and effectiveAGM that established the Western way of operating – with Boards, votes, and so on – asthe Conference norm. The Halifax conferencewill be a great experience, launching off after thisfine event!What concrete results came from this event forCanada’s Pagans in general and for the CWA-BCin particular? People met one another and both

formally and informally discussed issues of common concern, told each other news andstories, shared songs and confirmed that we are adistinct Canadian Paganism. Our localcommunities were introduced to the nationalscene, the gatekeepers who had wanted to be theonly route into their local Paganisms have beenbypassed and now the big frogs in little pondswill have to produce to remain leaders.At the closing ritual there was a wonderfulmoment when people were asked to introducethemselves again and say where they were fromand it began with “I am Mike, a Pagan fromCanada” and so, all the way around.

CHILD BLESSING MAY 22

2005 ce

Circle swept – PriestessCircle cut – PriestSaltwater blessing – Grandmother of childDirectional Calls: Child is held by Priestess/ Priest while directions are being calledMother :

Guardians of the watchtower of the East Guard this CircleOpen the way for the Power of Air Bless us, and bless this child with clarity of thought and wisdom.With the first breath of life she began this great adventure, Let that first breath of life fill our circleWith the blessings of air.

Father :

Guardians of the watchtower of theSouthGuard this CircleOpen the way for the Power of South Bless us, and bless this child with courasge and determination. May the power of fire make her willful and strong, passionate and tender.

Grandmother :

Guardians of the watchtower of the West Guard this CircleOpen the way for the Power of Water Bless us, and bless this child with love. May she love easily, and may she be loved easily.

Friend :

Guardians of the watchtower of the NorthGuard this CircleOpen the way for the Power of Earth Bless us, and bless this child, with health and strength of body. May her parents have the material things theyneed to support her and care for her as shegrows.

People who called directions NOW come tocenter, bringing a representative item from thedirections.PS: Air –

I bless this child with the power of theair

(wave feather over her, or bring flower closeto her nose)P : Fire:

I bless this child with the power of fire

(bring candle close to her or touch her with redcloth)PS: Water:

I bless this child with the power of water

(touch finger to water and then to child’shead)P: Earth:

I bless this child with the power of earth

(touch finger to the salt and then touch it tothe child’s tongue) –

taste life.