“The Inner Mysteries Weekend led by Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone– an impression”

by Morgana

(PFI Weekend, Belgium 7-8-9 march 2003)

 At first I was going to call this a report and yet “an impression” is far more likely  to convey the totality of the weekend.

I should start by saying that this particular weekend intensive is one that Janet & Gavin have held in other places including Australia. When I saw the programme they had used for Australia I was immediately interested. And in the summer of 2002 Freya and I started plotting..

 Yes, Janet & Gavin were certainly interested in coming over to Belgium to give the weekend and to be sponsored by the PF International. And so it was that we all began to gather for the “Inner Mysteries Weekend” on a sunny but cold March day in a place just south of Brussels, in Belgium.

The 40 participants included Belgians, Dutch and Germans and included newcomers to paganism as well as experienced witches. Half of us knew each other, whilst others were newcomers not only to paganism but to Wicca too. A mixed bunch certainly.

 As we made our introductions Janet & Gavin proceeded to draw a Wiccan circle whilst debunking several myths surrounding traditional Gardnerian and Alexandrian practice. In fact this was going to be a weekend where a number of myths were going to be de-mystified. And yet I never had the feeling that the core material of Wicca was thrown out of the window.

No,  we started looking at what we already have and hold it up against the light.

 One rule for example, which most witches stringently adhere to, is that the Athame must be blunt and should never be used to draw blood. However as Janet told us IF you were rich enough, a few centuries ago, to own a knife you would most certainly use it to prepare meat such as skinning a rabbit. It would most certainly be a sharp knife!

 Witches are practical folk and since we had a drawn a circle we put it to use and did some work for a fellow PF member who had been operated on in hospital that morning. Having closed the circle and thanked the elemental spirits we proceeded with a snack and a drink and got to know each other better.

 The following morning we made a prompt start at 10am with a discussion about the Chakra’s and their relevance to the drawing of the Circle and working as an individual. During a Chakra exercise Janet gathered a ball of energy, which was passed around the circle. Later we had to give our impression of what we had felt – amazingly many people had the same impressions and several key words emerged. And even more amazing was the list of key words, which Janet read from a piece of paper which she had written down before we did the exercise! It was also this kind of exercise that contributed to a group feeling, which continued to grow throughout the weekend. 

And once again the energy we had collected was bundled and used to support the efforts for world peace. (It was also International Women’s Day – so not surprisingly one of the ladies did the honours.)

 In the afternoon Gavin introduced the concept of “Deity”. In fact the whole weekend was devoted to exploring personal deity. This was something, which both Janet & Gavin feel is sadly lacking, in modern witchcraft. In Voodoo and Santeria, the Afro Caribbean syncretic religions, the Orishas are most certainly alive and have never been forgotten. Our European Gods and Goddesses are, in contrast,  still very much forgotten and need re-awakening. The pagan religions of Wicca, Druidry and Asatru etc should be looking at the ways in which deity is being invoked.

 Drawing Down the Moon for example, as the central focus of an Esbat, should be an experience in which the priestess is a conduit for the Goddess (and likewise the priest can also invoke the God.) We should not be afraid of total possession. The Gods are real and have a character but they have no physical body. We should allow them to come through and communicate with us. The adage that the Gods only exist as long as we remember them is most certainly true. And Europe has a wonderful rich pagan history so we should be including trance possession in our training. Janet & Gavin gave us several ways in which we could practice this. Janet later led us through an inner journey to meet a Living Goddess.

 In the evening session Gavin led a shamanic journey so that we could meet our Power Animal. The dance, which evolved, from this journey moved slowly into the drum circle that rounded off a most invigorating day. Gavin later explained the difference between Totemic (mythological), Messenger and Power animals. Power animals are our guides because they represent our primordial selves, the ID of Jungian Psychology

 On Sunday we looked at Wiccan cosmology. The Circle is the main pattern of Wiccan philosophy, with a central axis rather like the Northern Tradition with the World Tree “Ygdrassil”. We can move along the periphery of the circle or go up and down the axis. The Underworld has always played a major role in the Mysteries. In the Craft it can help us to heal ourselves and rediscover our natural talents.

 Janet led a inner journey in which we met Isis. This was a most powerful experience and many participants were moved as they recalled their own sorrow. And yet it was a cathartic experience as one participant later noted, “I cried constantly for an hour but now I feel great…” 

And finally Gavin helped us to create our own sacred space – our own Astral Temple. We could go back, when we went home and continue to add things as we needed them – and occasionally tidy up too…

 And then it was time to close the circle properly, to tidy up and say our farewells. For newcomers and experienced witches alike this was a wonderful weekend – mainly because it was so personal. Janet & Gavin didn’t imply that one way was right or wrong but left us to decide what is right for us. To allow us to worship the Gods who choose us and to serve them in the best Pagan Tradition.

 I would personally like to thank Freya and Dio for organising this weekend and to Janet & Gavin for inspiring us in a humoristic and yet dedicated way. 

Morgana, March 16, 2003