Druid Camp 2009 : 'The Ovatic Journey'
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.
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 running his regular sweatlodge on the Thursday of Camp. |
On Sunday morning she will host a meeting of Honouring the Ancient Dead for those interested in the work of this heritage organisation. More information on Emma can be found on The Druid Network Profile page. |
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Dawn Morgan grew up in a family that danced, training to teach five rhythms dance 15 years ago - a fantastic fun and very accessible way into free, expressive, improvisational movement. She's now studying for an MA in Dance and Somatic Education. |
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James Watson is the founder of Native Awareness, School of Primitive |
Nathan Hughes is a medical herbalist and healer based in Stroud where he works from the magical space of Ruskin Apothecary, set in a beautiful valley aside a lake. Nathaniel also teaches widely on the subject of opening ou |
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Kate Fletcher was raised on porridge and song in a large family of musicians, it is no surprise Kate has followed the family trade, performing, composing and teaching music for much of her life. Her interest in English Traditional Music extenda to other ancient musical traditions found on the fringes of Europe. As well as a musician, Kate is a music teacher and sound therapist. Kate will be leading a workshop on Voicework focusing particularly on the the voice in Trance.  She'll also be giving us a talk on Pilgrimage with her partner Corwen. Corwen ap Broch is a folk musician and instrument maker, specialising in the ancient musical instruments of Northern Europe. However he'll be wearing his Pilgrim Hat for our camp (literally!) as he and his partner Kate talk to us about Pilgrimage, sharing their experiences from 2000 miles of Pilgrim trails. Kate and Corwen hope to motivate us to dust off our rucksacks and hit the road in our own Sacred Journey.
www.ancientmusic.co.uk |
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Theo Wildcroft is a student teacher in the Anusara yoga tradition -
animistic |
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Rob Wilson is a Druid Priest, an active member of the Druid Network and runs Roharns Grove in Kent. As a Druid he strives to help others find a deep connection to nature, finding the freedom to allow the soul to sing its story without fear and inhibition. |
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Angela Grant (Kestrel) is a Pagan priest, an animist and a polytheist and has been associated with The Druid |
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Joanna van der Hoeven will be offering Bellydancing workshops throughout Camp this year. W  ith its earthy, fluid movements designed and adapted to fit the curves and contours of a woman's body, bellydancing has long been a favourite with women of all ages and sizes. Using movements that open up the pelvic area, this form of dance allows women to get in touch with their bodies, opening up their womb energy. Joanna has been bellydancing for over three years now, and has performed both solo and with Zahara Bellydance throughout Suffolk. |
The Colour and Craft Area The aim of this special area is about exploration into colour and texture and using the senses to bring materials alive.  We will be offering workshops and space for you to come along and create something to outwardly embody your ovatic journey at camp, either through mask making, body painting, adding a small piece to a patchwork banner or transforming clay earth with your hands, or perhaps even your feet. and so much more!
You don't have to be an artist just jump in and explore, create and feel free with us.
Facilitating the area is Siobhan (aka Ceinach) and with the expert help of Suzy (aka Woodsmoke). |
The Divination Area  Following on from last year's 'interesting' talk on the Runes, this year I have been asked to organise a Divination Area for camp.
I have arranged a variety of readers in various disciplines to advise and demonstrate the various methods, who will be available at various times throughout the camp, as well as talks and workshops, including Anglo Saxon Runes with Geoff Bleckinsop, Tarot with Kris Hughes, Nine Sticks with Big Dave, an open forum sessions on Ogham led by Blue Crow and Runic diviniation with Phil Woodward (that's me in the photo) where we will examine the meanings, methods and mythology of the tree Ogham system long associated with modern Druidry, with the focus on participation and exploration. Please bring along your Runes, Ogham sets, ideas and inspiration. |
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Emma Restall Orr will be offering a workshop at this year's camp on memory, madness and mysticism.
Gordon MacLellan, "Creeping Toad", is one of Britain's leading environmental educators, working with groups to find ways of celebrating the relationships between people and the places where they live, work and play. An animist pagan, writer, storyteller and puppeteer, Gordon works both in Britain and around the world.
Dawn creates a grounded, clear space of permission playfulness and clarity. Her second time at Druid camp, and she'll be working with the mystery, the ecstatic and healing nature of movement. People have always danced to pray, to celebrate, to heal themselves and each other. Her sessions will be open to everyone, whether you think you can dance or not - come and play in the waves of your own energy and share a journey that may take you beyond yet within the here and now. Dawn will also lead the ritual dance at the Camp ritual on Saturday. 
Andy Letcher is a freelance writer, academic lecturer and folk-musician living in Oxford. He lectures regularly at Oxford Brookes University on subjects as diverse as neo-Paganism, shamanism, and theory in the Study of Religion. He is the author of the critically acclaimed Shroom: A Cultural History of the Magic Mushroom and Mad Thoughts on Mushrooms: Discourse and Power in the Study of Psychedelic Consciousness, published in the Anthropology of Consciousness. Known for his iconoclastic style, he challenges us to question received wisdom about psychedelics and psychedelic history. A prolific song-writer, tunesmith and exponent of English Bagpipes, he fronts psych-folk band, Telling the Bees. At camp, he'll be talking about his book Shroom - an exploration of magic mushrooms and their use within our heritage and culture. 
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.
r connection and instinctive knowing of plants. Whilst some may believe that we know about herbs through trial and error, he works on the principle that this is only a tiny part of the story. The other part is a direct communication with the plant, an ability we all have but have often forgotten.
Gay Jones has over 20 years experience in personal development, shamanism and animistic practices. She has trained in Native American, Mayan, Norse and Celtic traditions and has developed a broad understanding of the relevance of core shamanism to today's world. Gay leads personal development groups, creates ritual space, acts as celebrant for handfastings, naming ceremonies & death rites. A natural intuitive, she uses shamanic tools to teach journeying, facilitate soul retrieval and energy body healing. At Druid Camp, she will drum shamanic journeys for both beginners and the more experienced to connect with spirit guides and power animals to support change in this reality.
and heart-focused. Whilst Western paganism often suffers
from being too cerebral and sedentary, Theo is one of many British
body workers now exploring our most ancient shared Indo-European
animist heritage in breath, sweat, dance, and massage.
These sessions are a challenge. Come and explore a wilder natural
yoga. Be part of re-discovering a physical practice of our land and
our seasons and cycles. The sessions will be exploratory, adventurous
and light-hearted. The full range of ability and experience will be
safe and welcome. Bring your favourite yoga mat; beg, buy or borrow
one from your friends and please, come and laugh, sweat and find your
devotion with us.
Ferdiad (Kenneth McGowan) is a massage and bodywork therapist, aromatherapist and reiki healer. Therapeutic touch represents one of the oldest and most instinctive healing arts and is an important way of reconnecting the mind with the body. At Druidcamp 2009, he will be offering massage workshops to explore the healing powers of touch: suitable for complete beginners as a useful, not to mention popular, skill to share with your family and friends. Participants should wear loose, comfortable clothing and bring along something comfortable to lie on, such as a folded blanket or large towel, plus a sheet or towel for modesty. Oils will be provided. Ferdiad will also be offering sessions in the Healing Area.
To know the spirit of tree, stone and bones of our ancestors it to take the responsibility of being a priest of nature. Rob shares this wisdom 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 practical workshop, Yew Bones and Stone Stories, to honour our ancestral memory, to sing their stories alive. Here we become the contemporary Bone Singers, the new tribe of individuals that still honour the blood roots of Yew bones and Stones stories; The wild Ovatic Priests of the wildwoods, of caverns and womb-tombs. 
Having engaged in modern paganism for over 20 years, Paul Mitchell has found his meditative practice waxing and waning, flowing and changing over the years. At Camp he will offer those relatively new to meditation some ideas on getting to grips with the art of being still. He'll talk through ideas for structuring more formal meditations, as well as ideas for simple daily practice that beginners might be able to fit into their everyday lives. Participants will be sitting down a lot, so should bring something to be comfortable sitting on. Bring a piece of fruit as well. 
Network since its inception. She is a student of medieval Welsh and Irish literature and language and is at present reading fora Masters degree in Celtic Studies. At this year's camp,
she will be giving a talk on Welsh prophetic poetry including the connection with the myths of Taliesinand Myrddin, the only clearly datable poem, the Armes Prydein Vawr (Great Prophecy of Britain), and a few words on the various people named as the Mab Darogan or Son of the Prophecy.
Andy Birkin originally from Lancashire he now lives in Sussex and is a
member of Ashdown Grove he is a Polytheist and Animist and explores the
Brythonic Tradition.
Andy will be running a workshop on Knowing the Ancient Gods, how to find out
more about them, how to begin to know them, and experience them for
yourselves through a guided meditation. 
Graham Butcher, our resident Stav master, will be running the usual Stav sessions each morning before the camp meeting: runic stances and gentle exercises as used in Stav training to start the day. He will also offer a workshop on the galdre stances to raise energy levels, using this energy for healing purposes and cleansing our energy field. The session will enable participants to experience a simple method of develop awareness of psychic interference and how to effectively block it out. He will also be doing some sessions in the divination and healing areas. 
The Healing Area Co-ordinated by Sue Copeman, this will be a space where camper can come and have one-to-one sessions with practitioners of various healing arts and skills.