The 'BACK TO BARDIC' Druid Camp 2008 :
Profiles
On this page we shall offer a little information about a number of those who will be coming to the camp to perform, or to offer workshops, talks, ritual and practical sessions. The first ones to give us information are (listed in alphabetical order) -
Your hosts are Mark Graham and Emma Restall Orr, both of whom will be offering events during the camp. Mark Graham will this year be giving a sweatlodge, probably held in partnership with a visiting Native American teacher called Wombi. |
On Sunday morning she will host a meeting of Honouring the Ancient Dead for thosw interested in the work of this important organisation. More information on Emma can be found on The Druid Network Profile page. |
Chez is an artist whose practice is heavily influenced by her Pagan path. Through her work she explores the idea of ‘self’ and the environment as a way of understanding the world, her work being a visual conclusion of this experience. At Camp she will offer two workshops, combining her knowledge of sculpture and art, with a Pagan ethos, to guide others to explore their own stories in art. The first will focus on Cave and Primitive Art and the second will look at more contemporary stories in art. There will be the opportunity to explore your own ideas and stories through sculpture, painting and drawing during both workshops. |
Jade Hamezelou played for us last year, and we are very glad to hear that this year she will be giving an evening performance and also offering a workshop on harp and song. If you have a harp, bring it along ... |
Robin Herne lives in the mean streets of Ipswich and works with the torrid underworld
of drugs, drink and the sex industry in East Anglia... yes, it's Suffolk Noir. He has been a member of Clan Ogma,
a polytheist druid group, since 1993. He honours Ogmios the Honey-Tongued through writing poetry, storytelling, churning out badly-researched articles for Pagan magazines,
and giving talks at moots, conferences and Interfaith gatherings. He also honours his other flaith (patron), Vindonnus, through archery (having recently managed to hit a barn door) and lupine shenanigans. At this year's camp he will give a workshop on medieval Irish and/or Welsh poetic meter, talk about polytheism and storytelling, talk of the ethics of satire and praise (the Fianna motto) or something else equally inspired, depending on the moment.www.freewebs.com/clanogma |
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For more information about this wonderful soul, check her own website on jademoon.moonfruit.com |
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 Stefan Allen Seniuk, Head of the Albion Conclave of Druids, will give a profound workshop at this years Druid Camp, exploring the Druidic inner mysteries - not to the outer world of nature and the elemental forces, but how the gods themselves reveal the inner world of the human condition and the Druids spiritual journey towards enlightenment. These teachings relate directly to the soul journey of the initiate. When Christianity finally usurped the old ways, these hidden/occult teachings became termed as Gnostic; however this sacred wisdom is very ancient indeed, far pre-dating Christianity. |
 John Storyteller is a born and bred denizen of Birmingham. He has worked in social care for over 30 years, the last 15 with people living with dementia. John began telling stories in the summer of 2000 when he accepted an invite to the audience at a storytelling cafe to do a floor spot. Over the last 4 years he has been developing both of these areas in telling stories to people living with dementia, which in turn has led to him walking closer and closer with the spirit of the stories he tells. At this years camp John will be give a workshop on finding, meeting and walking with the spirit of story; he will also be performing tales of the folk of these islands, allowing the tales to walk with and amongst his audience. www.johnstoryteller.com |
James Watson is the founder of Native Awareness, School of Primitive Survival and
Earth Living Skills and from an early age has sought the comforts of nature. He looks forward to
passing on several ancient primitive survival skills, such as fire by friction and silent and invisible
movement, as well as conveying the concept of “seeing through native eyes”. Developing the physical
senses of awareness, so they work with the natural rhythms of the earth, transcends the physical to
that of spirit. Native Awareness believes to heal and protect the Earth Mother, we must return to the
knowledge of our ancestors, the ancient peoples of the earth and develop a new found relationship with Nature. www.nativeawareness.co.uk |
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Graham Butcher has had a life-long interest in body, mind
and spirit training. Fifteen years ago he met
Ivar Hafskjold and began training in Stav, following this path ever
since. In 1996 he established his own school of Stav,
Ice and Fire. As well as the usual Stav sessions in the mornings, he wil give a workshop exploring the relationship between the Runes and Norse Mythology. This consists of explaining who's who in the Norse pantheon, what they did, who they did it to and what it teaches us about the meanings and associations of the runes. It is a fun way of introducing Norse mythology and deepening an understanding of the runes, a combination of rune lore, mythology and story telling.http://www.iceandfire.org.uk |
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Emma Restall Orr will give a few talks at this Camp, one on the nature of the Awen based on her novel 
Kris Hughes is Head of the Anglesey Druid Order and the Grove of Mona. He is an author
and a teacher of the Druid tradition mainly on the Isle of Anglesey but also at various seminars
and camps throughout the UK. At Camp he will doing two talks/workshops. The first is Songs of the Mighty: the Gods of Britain - Dead or Alive? This will explore the validity and nature of the British Gods. The second will be
Sex with the Gods: singing the songs of creative sexuality, passion, sensuality and eroticism. He may even run his popular incense making workshop too.
As well as giving us a performance on Saturday night, the wonderful musician and singer Sian James will give a talk on Sunday morning on Welsh traditional folk songs, covering llatai songs (messenger songs, macaronic songs, Plygain songs - an ancient form of carol singing), plus a little chat about the Welsh harp and its history. She will, of course, be singing examples of these songs. 
Kevan Manwaring, author of The Bardic Handbook and The Book of the Bardic Chair is former holder of the Bardic Seat of Bath, a performance poet and novelist. At this year's camp he will be giving us a talkshop of setting up Bardic Chairs and performance of bardic tales and verse.
Jamie Blackwater is Arch Druid of the Order of Gwyddon, High Priest of the Anglesey Order of Druids, an Artist, Rune master and an Hereditary Witch. He currently spends most of his time running workshops and teaching one to one courses in Magical Practices. His workshop at Druid Camp be " Drawing and Painting as a Magical Druidic Tool."
Michelle, from Magicfolk, has studied in the Dion Fortune tradition for over 15 years and trained with Gareth Knight - one of the world's foremost authorities on the Western Mystery Tradition. She has trained in and taught martial arts for over 24 years, including Kung Fu, sword-work, and more recently Tai Chi, and has a particular interest in the universal energy experienced or related to healing, physical strength, or nuances within or around the body. Michelle has also spent a lifetime in theatre where many vocal techniques were explored. Since a young age she has been a musician, and with her husband founded the UK psych-folk band Magicfolk. At camp, Michelle will give a workshop on the Power of the Voice, explorin the voice and its capabilities in order to find its own ‘power’ - its own natural individual sound. The workshop looks at the voice both from a physical point of view and from an internal energy perspective, incorporating breathing techniques in conjunction with soft coordinated movements. Working in a relaxed group, one can explore both the involvement in a group sound, as well as more about one’s own voice.
Following last years mind blowing set, where the audience played at least as big a part in the entertainment as the man himself, Paul Mitchell returns to Druid Camp. This isn’t satire, it’s spermicide! Paul sings songs about the Pagan ‘community’ and the characters he’s met along the way. Some rude words, a chance he might be singing about you, and hopefully lots of fun. It’s probably best not to go along if you are incredibly serious about your Paganism. His latest CD, “Arch Druid – Live & Dodgy”, includes performances from last years Druid Camp.
Check him out on 
Jade Moon is a much respected performance poet, and will give workshops and performance at Camp this year. She will also do some storytelling and poetry work with the children. 
Brendan Myers is from rural Canada, his father emigrating from Ireland, thus Celtic culture and folklore has been a part of his life since childhood. He has been studying and practising Celtic spirituality for almost 20 years. With a Ph.D. in philosophy and environmental ethics from NUI Galway (Ireland), he has worked as a university lecturer, a musician, a labour union leader, an environmentalist and a simple country gardener. Amongst his published books are "The Mysteries of Druidry" (New Page, 2006), "The Other Side of Virtue" (O Books, 2008) and "A Pagan Testament" (forthcoming from O Books). This year, Brendan will present OBOD's prestigious Mt. Haemus lecture on recent research in Druidry. At Camp he will run workshops on ethics, virtue and heritage.
Paul Newman will be telling stories, singing songs and holding improvisation workshops at this year's camp.
A previous winner of the Spear of Lugh, Paul is also hosting this year's Eisteddfod. 
Rob Wilson is a Druid Priest and teacher from the chalk downs of Kent where he shares his inspiration and helps others to express their spirituality creatively, wildly, deeply, all rooted in this sacred land. At camp this year Rob will be offering a workshop based around his four earth pigment paintings of birds that hold an aspect of the souls journeys, the Clan of Birds: a Creative Soul Journey. During this workshop he will use creativity, ritual and meditation to explore the essence of the soul’s journey through the images of these paintings.