The Carlford Coven

     The Carlford Coven celebrate all eight Sabbats: Usually Samhain, Yule Imbolg and Eostra/Ostara are celebrated at the Covenstead. From May last year Beltaine, Litha, Lughnasadh and sometimes Mabon (weather permitting) are celebrated at a private site by a tidal stretch of a river in Suffolk.

          A funny thing is happening to our open Rituals, every gathering at the Creek consists of twenty two participants, in equal numbers male and female. This happened at Beltaine and again at Summer Solstice, then again at Lammas and they are by no means the same persons.

        The twenty second Rune is Ing; two plus two equals four, the number of the Elements and representing ‘stability’ within our Group.

          The weather was warm and dry; the fire and Altar candle burned well. The Altar flower arrangement was of blood-red roses and ears of grain. Also upon the Altar was the Harvest loaf made of barleycorn flour and some Strong Suffolk Ale.

          We had Maid, Carlin & Crone on West as our sprightly ‘John Barleycorn’ wearing a shawl of barley stalks and a barley crown skipped around the Circle with his consort ‘Lady of the Harvest’. They were closely followed by Three Reapers who came from the West, but all were outwitted by the Grimmest Reaper of All.

          A Mugwort Smudge-stick had been used at the start of the Ritual for sanctification, herbs gathered from the edge of the harvest fields. Likewise the sheaf of grain was composed of wild grown rye, barley & oats from the locale.

          Bats flew overhead and an owl was calling as we burnt the old corn-dolly and claimed the new one from the middle of the sheaf.

          Thanks to all our Guests and regulars who once again contributed so magnificently to our Feast Table. 

Garfield SDHT

  The Solstice Gathering

      Twenty two people attended this open ritual, some of them for the first time, plus two dogs and a two year old child, who behaved impeccably and joined in with all the invocations.

          The weather was warm, dry and still, allowing the candles to burn brightly upon the Altar which was adorned with offerings of flowers, grasses and herbs to the Goddess.

          On this occasion the Goddess was invoked into our Goddess statuette on the Altar, and the God into the 'Fire' it's self. We celebrated the journey of the Sun in this eclectic ritual.

           The female witches looked particularly impressive and everyone knew their lines well and treated the occasion seriously. Despite the uneven and steeply sloping ground, the spiral dance to the Sun went smoothly, accompanied by some sympathetic drumming and chanting. Our 'Boons' were cast into the flames in a long-ship and the Solstice smoke rose straight aloft.

            Moniack (a mead made with honey by Highland Wineries at Moniack Castle, Inverness) was enjoyed from our Silver-bound horn and a circular flat bread was shared.

            The quarter pennants gave a festive air and once again our feast tables were full of home made offerings and first fruits.

Garnet of the Scarlet Dusk Hedgewitch Triangle.