We are very pleased to announce that our trustees have been hard at work researching the archives of Doreen's written material to collect together her poetry. The first printing of "Charge Of The Goddess" contained a selection of her poems we have attempted to do a thorough job of researching the material and have been astonished at her prolific output of poems. A new extended edition will be published in mid 2013 which will contain twice as many poems as the first, lots of previously unpublished material, some new images and several of Doreen's short stories. Watch this space for more news as we have it . . .
Monday, 15 April 2013
We are very pleased to announce that our trustees have been hard at work researching the archives of Doreen's written material to collect together her poetry. The first printing of "Charge Of The Goddess" contained a selection of her poems we have attempted to do a thorough job of researching the material and have been astonished at her prolific output of poems. A new extended edition will be published in mid 2013 which will contain twice as many poems as the first, lots of previously unpublished material, some new images and several of Doreen's short stories. Watch this space for more news as we have it . . .
Midsummers Day Event in Brighton 2013
Midsummer 2013 is going to be quite a day in Brighton United Kingdom. We have organised a day's programme packed with activity, of course including the special event unveiling of the commemorative plaque to Doreen Valiente. All of this is free all you have to do is get to Brighton for the Merry Meet at 12 midday. All the information is on the map below and you can download the flyer for the event too.
In the evening we are helping to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Greenmantle Magazine, in Brighton which will start at around 7pm. Tickets are 5 Pounds each and they are limited to 200. To ensure your place please purchase them from the Greenmantle website which is http://greenmantle.org.uk
Please download the flyer for the day here
Monday, 1 October 2012
Castle Bytham Spirit Circle - 30th September
We were invited to give a talk and mini-exhibition by the good folks who own Castle Bytham's Castle Inn pub in the heart of rural Lincolnshire on Sunday 30th September. We had an excellent time with our hosts and a full to capacity audience who came out in amazing support considering it was a Sunday night and, basically, in the middle of nowhere.
The atmospheric setting was perfect as Ashley Mortimer gave an introductory talk about the Foundation and Doreen's legacy before sketching out an overview of the history concerning Doreen, Gerald Gardner and the Craft and Ashley was lucky enough for the second timne recently to have his talk enhanced (and corrected!) by Philip Hestleton who Ashley says "added an air of propriety" to proceedings!
In the audience were a number of local authors including Rick Falconr, Shani Oats and Daniel Griffith as well as many other great people who showed great interest and support for both the event and the Foundation.
After an exhibition of some of the artefacts from the collection Ashley gave a talk Doreen had first given to the Henfiled and Steyning Round Table in 1971 on the general subject of Witchcraft and he ended the formal part of the evening with an emotional reading of a previously unpublished poem by Doreen entitled "What Witchcraft Means To Me".
A late night with lots of further talk and discussion gave us a great deal to think and talk about and another successful event brought more new people into understanding the legacy, the collection and the work of the Foundation . . jolly nice beer too!!
The atmospheric setting was perfect as Ashley Mortimer gave an introductory talk about the Foundation and Doreen's legacy before sketching out an overview of the history concerning Doreen, Gerald Gardner and the Craft and Ashley was lucky enough for the second timne recently to have his talk enhanced (and corrected!) by Philip Hestleton who Ashley says "added an air of propriety" to proceedings!
In the audience were a number of local authors including Rick Falconr, Shani Oats and Daniel Griffith as well as many other great people who showed great interest and support for both the event and the Foundation.
After an exhibition of some of the artefacts from the collection Ashley gave a talk Doreen had first given to the Henfiled and Steyning Round Table in 1971 on the general subject of Witchcraft and he ended the formal part of the evening with an emotional reading of a previously unpublished poem by Doreen entitled "What Witchcraft Means To Me".
A late night with lots of further talk and discussion gave us a great deal to think and talk about and another successful event brought more new people into understanding the legacy, the collection and the work of the Foundation . . jolly nice beer too!!
London Conference - 15th September
A Day For Ronald Hutton was the CFPS's conference for 2012 in aid of the Doreen Valiente Foundation. A busy weekend in London resulted in a busy event, well attended, well received by all and a great opportunity to discuss the future of Witchcraft with an expert panel made up of some of the others speakers on the day and other eminent experts on the Craft.
The Doreen Valiente Foundation launched its new membership scheme and as well as a rare chance to see Gerald Gardner's original Book Of Shadows on display the event was rounded off by ROnald Hutton's excellent talk and an evening of music with Damh the Bard and The Dolmen.
You can read more about the event on the main website.
The team were worn out by monday morning but were very excited to see so many people supporting the event and the Foundation and we cememnted new partnerships and co-operations with the Pagan Federation, Pagan Pride and Nottingham Pagan Network (who provided events staff for us) and Greenmantle magazine with who we have teamed up to deliver news and information/inspiration to our members.
The Doreen Valiente Foundation launched its new membership scheme and as well as a rare chance to see Gerald Gardner's original Book Of Shadows on display the event was rounded off by ROnald Hutton's excellent talk and an evening of music with Damh the Bard and The Dolmen.
You can read more about the event on the main website.
The team were worn out by monday morning but were very excited to see so many people supporting the event and the Foundation and we cememnted new partnerships and co-operations with the Pagan Federation, Pagan Pride and Nottingham Pagan Network (who provided events staff for us) and Greenmantle magazine with who we have teamed up to deliver news and information/inspiration to our members.
Talk & Mini Exhibition - Nottingham Pagan Network
On the eve of our trip to London for the Day For Ronald Hutton conference we were pleased to be able to give a talk and exhibition of some of the collection for our friends at Nottingham Pagan Network who held an open to all evening at the Lincolnshire Poacher in Nottingham.
The venue lent itself to intimacy and with a reading of a previously-unheard poem of Doreen's by Caz Galloway (who has been busy assisting with the transcribing of Doreen's poetry for a fortchcoming re-edition of "Charge Of The Goddess", expanded to include many more of Doreen's poems and some short stories) Ashley Mortimer gave a talk on Doreen's life and legacy to an interested and receptive audience.
Nottingham Pagan Network tell us that there were a lot of new faces in the audience and it was clear to them that Pagans and non-Pagans alike were showing great interest in Doreen and the work of the Foundation by attending this evening.
With support from Rick Falconer, newly published author of a book about the Golden Dawn, the evening was a success and we were only sorry we had to pack up in time for our early start the follwing morning.
The venue lent itself to intimacy and with a reading of a previously-unheard poem of Doreen's by Caz Galloway (who has been busy assisting with the transcribing of Doreen's poetry for a fortchcoming re-edition of "Charge Of The Goddess", expanded to include many more of Doreen's poems and some short stories) Ashley Mortimer gave a talk on Doreen's life and legacy to an interested and receptive audience.
Nottingham Pagan Network tell us that there were a lot of new faces in the audience and it was clear to them that Pagans and non-Pagans alike were showing great interest in Doreen and the work of the Foundation by attending this evening.
With support from Rick Falconer, newly published author of a book about the Golden Dawn, the evening was a success and we were only sorry we had to pack up in time for our early start the follwing morning.
Saturday, 7 July 2012
CFPS Education in Nottinghamshire
July 2012 - CFPS speak to A-Level Sociology class
The Centre For Pagan Studies were invited into a Nottinghamshire school to speak to students studying comparative religions as part of their Sociology course. Cuorse tutor Paul Aspden invited Ashley Mortimer of the CFPS to spend an afternoon explaining about paganism and modern pagan beliefs to a class of sociology students. After a successful afternoon and a good grilling from the students Mr Aspden has requested further assistance from the CFPS to prepare a module specifically about paganism to be taught as part of the 2013 course. Ashley has been invited back to speak again to more students to explore more ideas about paganism and pagan religious practices, Ashley says "Its so important that we continue to educate the wider community about modern paganism, where it came from, how it works and what Pagans actually do - unlike other religious groups we have no "recruitment drive" and schools like South Notts Academy are realising that there's great benefit in exposing their students to paganism purely for education without the fear of it being turned into evangelising, though, as is common when speaking about paganism, there was a definite current of empathy from the students". CFPS and Pagan Pride are to collaborate further with schemes like these and invite enquiries from other schools and education establishments.
The Centre For Pagan Studies were invited into a Nottinghamshire school to speak to students studying comparative religions as part of their Sociology course. Cuorse tutor Paul Aspden invited Ashley Mortimer of the CFPS to spend an afternoon explaining about paganism and modern pagan beliefs to a class of sociology students. After a successful afternoon and a good grilling from the students Mr Aspden has requested further assistance from the CFPS to prepare a module specifically about paganism to be taught as part of the 2013 course. Ashley has been invited back to speak again to more students to explore more ideas about paganism and pagan religious practices, Ashley says "Its so important that we continue to educate the wider community about modern paganism, where it came from, how it works and what Pagans actually do - unlike other religious groups we have no "recruitment drive" and schools like South Notts Academy are realising that there's great benefit in exposing their students to paganism purely for education without the fear of it being turned into evangelising, though, as is common when speaking about paganism, there was a definite current of empathy from the students". CFPS and Pagan Pride are to collaborate further with schemes like these and invite enquiries from other schools and education establishments.
Saturday, 16 June 2012
Update - June 2012
Following a weekend get together we're pleased to say progress is being made on the following things:
Things are really ramping up at the Centre For Pagan Studies, Ashley will be giving more talks and exhibitions throughout the rest of the year, much more work cataloguing the artefacts is planned and John & Julie are looking forward to returning to Blighty for the conference which Brian & Trish are working hard on in conjunction with Paul & Tallis of Greenmatle magazine. We're pleased to say that Esme Knight, founder of Pagan Pride (main event in Nottingham, Sunday 5th August 2012) has joined the team bring expertise in museum management and operational organisation.
We said it would be a good year . . . now its becoming so! Watch this space . . . . . . . . .
- The 2012 Conference with Ronald Hutton (Sunday 16th September 10 am – till 11pm at Conway Hall, London information here) with some exciting plans to be announced on the day
- A forthcoming book of Doreen's poems to replace the out of print "Charge Of The Goddess". The book will be a much more complete collection and will include Doreen's short stories too.
- Advancing plans for the museum and preparing for site location, funding etc
- More cataloguing of the artefacts, including photographing all the items and a database of everything is now underway
- More discussion and planning for a day to honour Patricia Crowther in association with PF, Pagan Pride and NPN
- Doreen's Biography - now in the research phase by author Philip Hestleton
Things are really ramping up at the Centre For Pagan Studies, Ashley will be giving more talks and exhibitions throughout the rest of the year, much more work cataloguing the artefacts is planned and John & Julie are looking forward to returning to Blighty for the conference which Brian & Trish are working hard on in conjunction with Paul & Tallis of Greenmatle magazine. We're pleased to say that Esme Knight, founder of Pagan Pride (main event in Nottingham, Sunday 5th August 2012) has joined the team bring expertise in museum management and operational organisation.
We said it would be a good year . . . now its becoming so! Watch this space . . . . . . . . .
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