The Druid Camp 2007
Having moved through the cycle of Bardic and Ovatic themes in 2005 and 2006, the focus of our camp in mid July 2007 was the Druid facet of the tradition; in other words, ideas about deity, community, ethics, beliefs, rites and practice. Through ritual and workshops, fascinating talks and long walks, in company and solitude, the journey was one of discovery, laughter and wonder.
Yet even before camp began, there was drama and learning. The wettest summer in British documented history (or so we are told) meant that our usual venue near Monmouth was completely unusable. At very short notice, the search was underway for a new site, but where fields were sodden, farmers hadn't been able to cut the hay. The camp was very nearly cancelled.
At the last minute, an extraordinary venue was found, near Westbury on Severn at the northern edge of the Forest of Dean. High on a hilltop that, despite no written history that could be found, must have been an important place for our ancestors, at the start of camp the ground was dry. The River Severn wound around the hill below us, the blessings of her goddess Sabrina adding to the whispers of the ancestors, it was her that we honoured specifically during our opening rite on Wednesday afternoon.
Throughout the camp, there was ritual, all of it providing opportunitites for people to get involved, exploring and experiencing Druidry in practice, honouring the gods, the ancestors and the land. As usual the Saturday afternoon ritual was created by the whole camp. This year the focus was the different gifts, challenges and influences offered us by the gods, from birth, through vitality, creativity and experience, to death. One person represented 'everyman', and the photograph here below is her journey with the gods of summer.
There were so many great talks and workshops. The following are just a handful of what were on offer. We were honoured to have Philip Carr Gomm speak about his Druid Plant Oracle divination pack. Ronald Hutton came to talk about the differences between Wicca and Druidry. Bobcat led a discussion on the Druidic metaphysics, the soul, spirit and consciousness. Carolyn Hillyer gave a workshop on connecting with ancestral flows through chants and drums. Kris Hughes spoke of the important of heritage. Little Raven, with Brochfael in his Iron Age garb, gave a great talk on his vision of the Brythonic tradition. 
Glennie Kindred utterly charmed many with her understandings of plants, cycles and rituals. Mark Williams shared his understanding of the gods. Rob Wilson spoke about the crucial issue of connection to the land and the ancestors. Amidst the talks, walks and workshops, the beautiful Jade Hamzelou played her harp and sang in the cafe; there was circle dancing with Diamid and the camp band; Graham Butcher taught Stav, the Nordic martial arts.
With the dark moon approaching, on Thursday night, a group gathered with Mark Graham for a Druid sweatlodge. At the other side of the site, many of the camp dressed up and danced to the wild drums around the fire, honouring the dark gods, before moving into the marquee where DJ Jon played us a session of trance dance tracks.
On Friday lunchtime, in the cafe, Ronald Hutton, Sarah Allen, Mark Graham and Bobcat entertained the crowd, with a Question Time for the Gods. Cathi Yarrow played the compere, taking questions from the crowd, to put to the haggish, mercurial, sensuous and pugnacious gods.
On Friday night, Paul Mitchell gave us a wonderful gig of his biting satirical songs, with lyrics that challenge and ridicule not only the secular world but also our own traditions and community: 
it's a beautiful reminder that not only must we live with honour, but if we take ourselves too seriously we have rather lost the point. After Paul, Carolyn Hillyer and Nigel Shaw gave a magical performance of their music, with tracks taken from their albums Exile and Drum Songs from the Heathen Hills.
In the evening, we were honoured by stand up comedy from Will Hodgson and Anna Keirle, who rendered the marquee into a shaking heap of laughter. And then came The Dolmen. Too loud for some, but gloriously uncompromising for others, their Pagan folk rock hit home, blessed by the charisma of the lead singer, Taloch, and the tight skilled musicians who backed him.
We thank Simon Storey, Star, Tony Faulkner, bish, Tania Hobbs and Shannon Pinemarten for photos on this page.