Heidi leads Autumn Equinox at Chalice Well
Our founder, Heidi Couture led The Autumn Equinox & World Peace Day Ceremony at The Chalice Well in Glastonbury, Sunday, September 23rd.
The Chalice Well celebrated its 5-year anniversary as a World Peace Garden as well as held its Autumn Equinox Ceremony. Heidi led those gathered into a meditation assisted by sound healer Milagros Phillips.
They ritualised the balance of this time of year by pouring water from the White Spring into the Wellhead of the Red Spring. They also wrote prayers for peace and processed up to the meadow to the Peace Pole and projected their intentions out to the planet.
Thanks to Matthew Holbrook for the photographs. See his page of the events of the Equinox around Glastonbury.
Heidi on Glastonbury Radio
Our founder, Heidi Couture has become a presenter on Glastonbury Radio. Glastonbury Radio is a local radio station with a worldwide audience. Whether you're a Glastonbury-lover, or you find this station interesting and different, then tune in now to hear what's happening on the mystical Isle of Avalon.
Heidi does two shows:
AVALON ATTRACTION with Heidi Couture focuses on the mystical attraction that brings folks to Glastonbury, some indefinitely! Featuring well-known local teachers and authors, focusing on the myth and magic of all that is Avalon/Glastonbury!
This airs Wednesdays 5:00-6:00pm UK time, but check the Glastonbury Radio website for when you can listen in your part of the world.
Also:
GLASTONBURY TODAY is, a LIVE 2-hour news/magazine show. Tune in each Tuesday at Midday - 2 p.m. UK time(repeated 6 - 8 p.m.) to hear chat, music, guests and local restaurant reviews. E-mail Heidi at the studio at studio2@glastonburyradio.net LIVE to interact with the show!
Heidi would love your support by listening to her shows on Glastonbury Radio, from the esoteric capital of the world!
Previous News Items
IMBOLC: Awaking the Goddess
Recently I joined WES, after two good friends of mine, Leandra and Linda suggested it, and I decided that when I did join, I would try to be an active member. As part of that decision, and with Leandra's invite, I decided to attend my first Sabbat ritual with WES. That ritual was the wonderful Imbolc ritual, an awakening of the Goddess, lead by Leandra Walker.
I decided to take my 12 year old daughter with me, making it her very first ritual ever. I didn't know what to expect, but having taken Christopher Penczak's witchcraft series of classes with Leandra, I knew I had nothing to worry about.
We entered the Unitarian Universalist church in Leominster and found our way upstairs to the back of the sanctuary, with its plush red carpet and inviting woodwork. Leandra was there with her white ritual robes on, setting up the altar and preparing for the ritual. As people arrived and began to mingle, a natural circle started to form around the altar in anticipation.
Before the ritual started, Leandra sat us all down and explained the meaning of Imbolc, and what to expect in the ritual. We each then placed the candles we had brought with us under and around the front of the altar. Leandra lit the God and Goddess candles, and then 12 more candles on the altar symbolizing the cycles of the moon. The ritual then began.
As the circle went up, one could feel the energy gently closing us inside its protective barrier. In the quarters we welcomed Gwidion in the East and Cerridwen in the West, Cernnunos in the North, and Brid in the South. The Celtic gods and goddesses blessed us with their presence and added their warmth to the circle. Leandra then called us to dance and chant, using drums and whatever we had, to make noise and awaken the Goddess. So we danced, twirling around, moving clockwise around the altar, chanting;
The light is growing
The spring is coming
Awake! Awake! Awake!The light is growing
The wheel is turning
Awake! Awake! Awake!
Many of us stumbled over the words, mixing up the verses, changing the wording, and giggling about it all as we danced and twirled around the circle. Breathless and joyful, we stopped, and then retrieved our candles and did our individual candle spells for the ritual. I looked over at my daughter, her face aglow with the light from her candle, and all I could see was her hopeful, happy smile.
After the ritual closed, we all came together to share food and drink, and I got the chance to meet several of the people who were there, and discovered, I knew a few more than I thought. I left for my car that evening with a warm happy glow in my heart, knowing I made the right decision in bringing my daughter, and in becoming a member of WES.
Blessed Be!
-Beth Washington
Powerful Samhain Journey at WyldWoods
The US WES Samhain Journey Within held on October 21st was a deeply meaningful experience for participants and ritualists alike. WES founder Heidi Couture and Peter Wood crossed the Atlantic to help facilitate the event.
WyldWoods was transformed by Willy to help participants feel like they were truly journeying into the Underworld. WES would like to thank all our wonderful ritualists who helped create the transformative magick that participants experienced.
Here is what some participants have said:
"I am in absolute AWE of the whole night, the experience touched me deeply and the work and dedication by all the ritualists, WOW. I truly felt at home and I couldn't have felt more safe. Thanks to all of you!!"
"Thank you to everyone who made last night's ritual such a wonderful and inspiring event. My personal path had been a little foggy of late. The ritual helped to clear away much of that fog."
"Thanks to everyone at WES who made this event a spiritually transforming experience that will feed us throughout the months of introspection ahead."
"I want to thank everyone that participated in making my experience truly amazing and life changing."
"I felt safe and loved."
"It truly was an experience to cherish and learn from."
The UK Samhain Journey is on November 4th, don't miss out!
Kellianna at WyldWoods
Mabon was celebrated at WyldWoods with Pagan Chantress Kellianna.
We came together around the glorious altar and were filled with song. We then gathered around the fire for intense ecstactic chanting, dance, and magic. "My whole body was buzzing ..."
It was just the right combination of ritual, performance, and experience.
See more pictures.Inner Mysteries Intensive
Review by Mystral
See more pictures."The weekend with Janet and Gavin has been a deeply spiritually enlightening experience. At whatever level of psychic experience or knowledge you may find yourself at the present moment, be assured that Gavin and Janet will take you on a journey of self discovery and self empowerment of your higher self.
With their wealth of experiences in the occult and magic practices, Gavin has been able to impart his wisdom of the astral planes and the workings of the spiritual cosmology through guided meditations, sound knowledge and understanding of the human psyche in relation to one's perception of spirituality and by embracing the gifts of our spiritual guardians.
Best of all is the warm, loving and beautiful Heidi who has made this spirtiual journey a reality for all of us in the most beautiful and appropriate setting, Glastonbury."
Goddess Conference 2006
Our founder, Heidi Couture, was a Priestess at the Glastonbury Goddess Conference this year. Heidi co-created a Taste Ceremony with Avalonian Priestess Pammy. There was also a silent procession to Chalice Hill where groups were divided according to their Sun Signs. Heidi led the Water signs, while proudly waving the "Golden Drops of Love" flag. Once on top of Chalice Hill each group participated in the Ceremony by singing the part of Jana Runnalls Elemental Chant that corresponded to their element. See more pictures.
Click for the full BBC coverage of the procession and conference.
Avalon Intensive
Janet Farrar and Gaven Bone will lead a three day intensive workshop at the Chalice Well in Glastonbury. This participation oriented workshop will give people an experiential basis for work within Magical Groups.
Plan ahead and book your reservation for this rare 3-Day intensive workshop on September 1-3. This event is sure to be sold-out! New early bird price.
Happy RE-Birth-Day Janet!
From Heidi Couture: Janet Farrar celebrated her Birthday directly after the Summer Solstice at Tara. Close Pagan Friends and Family were there to toast Janet into her next glorious year. A toast of gratitude was held at the bonfire, where we all had the opportunity of telling Janet how much she means to all of us.
Midsummer Happenings
On the evening of the 17th of June, WES presents "A Midsummer's Night with Wendy Rule" at Glastonbury, the heart of Avalon. Calling all fairies, gobblins, elves, sprites and magical folk. It will be a night of music, magic, and dance. Details.
Hang out at WyldWoods on Sunday June 18th. Help site the sun's rise and/or the sun's set. Between will be casual time to enjoy and explore the land and chat or chant. Details.
In Ireland, WES has organized an appearance of Wendy Rule at the Solstice Celebration at Tara on the 21st of June. Details.
Wild Weather and Wendy
Wendy Rule was amazing in the beautiful woodland of WyldWoods. A small but hardy crowd was treated to a powerful, intimate, exciting concert and show of nature.
Wendy Rule invoked the elements and they responded. We had rain and sun, high winds and hail, thunder and lightning, and a rainbow.
Wendy called on the wild and free and we had a wild man howling on the ridge. We had music and dancing around the maypole.
During the hail storm we huddled close together under cover, while Wendy sang a few of her more intimate songs.
Standing around the fire, which had worked its own magic all afternoon, in a powerful moment we joined our voices with Wendy's to open the circle in a spirit of love and adventure.
For more pictures see the previous events page.
WyldWoods Filled with the Joy of Beltane
WES celebrated Beltane at it's first event at WyldWoods. As we gathered deep in the woods, we were greeted by the greenman and carved masks of the ancients.
The maypole, cut in the ritual grove, pierced the wreath, which was secured astride the celebrants varied ribbons. The pole, raised by many hands, was set deep into the earth in the hole opened by our efforts to recieve it.
Thea led the casting of the circle, hand to hand, and together we called the directions and invoked the God and Goddess with chant and dancing. Each of us taking equal responsibility for making and holding our ritual space.
The twenty foot maypole, now standing proud in the woods, was woven round and round with the hopes and wishes of each of the celebrants. To the rhythm of drumming and the song of the flute we wove. As a diverse community of infants to elders, men to women, friends to strangers, we worked together to help each other manifest our individual and collective dreams.
As the final ribbon was tied, not far off flames arose from the ground. Led by the horned one, we leapt the fire. Whether we leapt singly or in pairs, whether we leapt sedately or in flying cartwheels, we helped free ourselves, and each other, so that we might leap over the constraints that bind us and prevent us from embracing our bliss.
After each of us had leapt the fire, some more than once, ecstatic dancing began. First there was one dancer, lithe and sensuous. Then another, wilder and more vigorous. They danced their separate dances and then they danced together. Soon another dancer joined them; and then another and another until the clearing was filled with movement; the movement of spirit freed, the movement of spirits joined; the dance of a community come together.
Eventually we reformed our circle, round the fire pit and the pole, hand in hand, our work for the day done. We proceeded to open the circle with the strains of the familiar chant.
The rest of the afternoon was full of feasting, friendship, frivolity, feeding each other, talking in groups, and walking into the woods in pairs.
For more pictures see the previous events page.
WES's First UK Maypole Reaches Lofty New Heights
Choosing to relocate from the beach to the cliff tops, high above the old town of Hastings, a joyful Beltane celebration was had by all. To the south of us was the English channel, to the East was the Fairlight fire beacon, to our west was the ancient strong hold known as Hastings Castle, and in the north our maypole stood driven deep into the cliff top.
Janet Farrar adorned the tip of our pole with roses, reminding us that Beltane is all about love and the Sacred Marriage. Our pole reaching high in the sky, symbolized yet another magical merger combining sky and earth. We choose the larch tree to be used as our maypole, because it is one of the only five deciduous conifers and thus as its needles form it symbolizes the greening of spring. The ancient earth Goddess is said to dwell in the tree itself or by its roots, and the souls of unborn children inhabit its branches like frail birds, while the Sun and Moon take their seats near the top.
Before erecting the pole, Gavin Bone carved ancient Anglo-Saxon runes up the entire length of the pole, representing the Gods and Goddesses sacred to the land.
Peter Wood welcomed the crowd to this first UK WES Beltane Celebration. Janet Farrar crowned our May Queen and Heidi Couture instructed the Maypole dancers and explained the magickal significance of the traditional Red and White ribbons. Kellianna led our Beltane chant as she created a steady beat with the frame drum. The sign of a good weave is not perfection it is the intention of what you are weaving. What you are bringing into the fruits of summer.
The celebration ended with a concert by the enchanting Pagan Songstress Kellianna in the West Hill Café.
For more pictures see the previous events page.
To see what else the WES friends and family were up to this weekend in England see the handfasting page! Congratulations to Heidi and Peter.
WES also has events scheduled for late spring and summer in Massachusetts and Glastonbury England. Starting with a concert by Wendy Rule at Wyldwoods on May 21st. Then on June 17th Wendy Rule performs in Glastonbury, the heart of Avalon, for a Midsummer's Night Extravaganza. Plan ahead and book your reservation for the rare 3-Day intensive workshop on September 1-3 led by Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone at the Chalice Well Gardens in Glastonbury. This event is sure to be sold-out!
Beautiful Beltane
Beltane represents the Sacred Marriage, between God and Goddess, Sun and Moon. The union of a new Global Pagan community that stretches beyond oceans as well as ones own self-imposed limitations.
Beltane represents Passion. WES has a passion for building a loving Pagan community. We choose to direct our Passion by producing events for Pagans everywhere. Events that represent a wide variety of Traditions, paths and interests. For it is only within our differences that we will finally discover that We are All One.
On April 29th we celebrate Beltane on the Cliffs of Hastings overlooking the ocean with our good friends from Ireland, Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone. Following our ritual will be an amazing performance by our own Kellianna.
Across the Atlantic in Massachusetts, Thea leads a Beltane Celebration in the WyldWoods of Westborough.
WES has events scheduled for late spring and summer in Massachusetts and Glastonbury England. Starting with a concert by Wendy Rule at Wyldwoods on May 21st. Then on June 17th Wendy Rule performs in Glastonbury, the heart of Avalon, for a Midsummer's Night Extravaganza. Plan ahead and book your reservation for the rare 3-Day intensive workshop on September 1-3 led by Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone at the Chalice Well Gardens in Glastonbury. This event is sure to be sold-out!
Blessed Eostara
As we pass the fleeting moment of balance of the spring equinox we step from the dark part of the year into the light. The growing power of the sun, it's warmth and it's light, spurs us on to the adventures of spring. We escape from the doldrums of the dark cold months just past. It is a time to embark on new journeys. A time to start new friendships, a time to step out of your old ways, a time, perhaps, to get married, a time to see who you really are or who you can be.
One of these new starts is the member's forums here on the WES website. They are now operating. They are an integral part of fullfilling the cross cultural melding which is so much a part of the mission of WES. Go to the "Members Area" to access them. Willy has already posted the Eostara issue of his regular 'Report from the Swamp" giving a taste of early spring in Massachusetts. We hope to see posts from many of you from many places.
WES has many events scheduled for this spring in both New England and the UK. We hope to see you at Beltane on either side of the pond (perhaps we will see some of you on both sides.) Wendy Rule will be appearing in May in the U.S. and in June in the U.K.
WES International
Opening ©2003 Moira Ashleigh - Gallery
With the founder's move to the U.K., WES has also moved into new realms. We are now a global community, fostering multicultural paganism.
We hope to have WES ritualists, teachers, friends and family from all over this beautiful planet. Our goal is to expand our worldview by engaging in Cross-cultural Pagan communication, education, experience, and celebration.
WES already has several scheduled events in both New England and the UK. We hope to see you on either side of the pond soon!
Trance Prophesy Intensive, Last Event at the Ashburnham Goddess Temple
Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone's Trance Prophesy Intensive held at the WES Goddess Temple in Ashburnham, Massachusetts on September 12th went tremendously well. Janet and Gavin were open - embracing and hilarious, while being incredibly instructional and demonstrative. It was a moving and cathartic day for all and the opportunity was a brilliant spot in time and space. This special workshop marked the last event at the WES Goddess Temple in Ashburnham. Details
