Webweaving
You have met your shadows (both real and not so real). You have let some remain intact, and you have banished others. Best of all, you have built some new ones, and will continue to do so for the rest of your life. There are shadows that you will master quickly, those that will take a tremendous amount of work and will, and those that you may not conquer in this lifetime.
An individual can derive only so much from reading books. During the early eighties, book sales exceeded over nine billion dollars per year. Unfortunately, only a very small fraction of them were magickal in nature.
It is estimated that there are over two thousand five hundred book publishers in the United States that pump out over sixty thousand books per year. It is my estimation that the average magickal person reads about three or more books per month on any given enlightened subject; if, that is, they can get their hands on them.
Magickal people also buy in bursts because of the nature of what they are learning. If one is studying the tarot, one may buy five different books at a pop, then go back two weeks later for a few more. This usually happens once you get past the “this is how-to for beginners” part and you are interested in eating up as much advanced material as you can possible find.
To date, my personal training has been fairly balanced—33 percent through books, 33 percent through practical application and experimentation, and 33 percent through webweaving (a Witchy word for networking). Oh, the 1 percent—well, I personally think that there is some guide up there or out there who is pulling this all together for me!
Often a book or article can be a catalyst in your spiritual growth, but nothing beats the one-to-one sharing of thoughts and practices between two human beings. Since a book cannot socialize, the next most logical step is to find a warm body that does!
Solitaries may practice by themselves, but that does not mean they live in caves without phones or monasteries without contact with the outside world. For any human, magickal or not, interaction with our own kind is essential.
One advantage a solitary has over group-oriented magickal people is that they are not in danger of breaking any oaths when sharing information. You won’t be giving away any secrets or hidden knowledge. There will be times during your networking that someone will say to you, “I am sorry, but I can’t give you the answer because I would be breaking an oath to do so.” If this happens, you should respect the fact that the individual has taken a vow and does not wish to break it. Simply back off and switch the subject.
The word “secret” is also double-edged. There are those people who will flaunt that they “have secrets.” Tread lightly with these people. Dimes to dollars such a person doesn’t know jack you-know-what and is simply trying to impress you.
Many people shy away from networking with others at first, because they feel there may be real danger in associating with strangers, even if it is only by mail. But, if done with the necessary precautions that you would use when entering almost any unfamiliar environment, you should have few difficulties.
Webweaving Guidelines
Acquire a Post Office Box
If you live in a small town or rural area, I advise that you rent a box in the next town over, or perhaps in the city in which you work. Boxes from the U.S. Postal Service require that you produce some type of “official” identification, such as a driver’s license, voter card, etc.
You must fill out your real name and address; however, you may indicate under what names mail may be delivered to you. This is where your magickal name may come in, if you choose to share it with the world. Often individuals do not wish their real names to be known due to family ties, job security, etc. Under postal laws, it is acceptable to have your mail delivered under an alias, as long as your correct name and address are on file.
I personally do not advocate having magickal mail delivered to your home, especially in the beginning. I would like to tell you that the world is full of wonderful, loving people—but I’m not a fool, and neither are you. Witches, Pagans, and other magickal people are basically gentle, caring folk. Like any society, however, there are infiltrators that do not belong or outsiders looking to make you an easy target for harassment.
Likewise, do not give out your phone number or your place of employment. If you happen to run across that rotten grape on the networking vine, you certainly don’t want to give them the advantage of ruining a life that you have so carefully built.
In the years I have been webweaving I can think of only four instances where I have encountered real problems. What should you do if a webweaving difficulty arises? First, determine the cause. If it is something you have done or said, correct it. If someone is attacking you unjustly through the mail, politely tell them that you are ending correspondence with them, and henceforth you will be returning all mail. If they write again, give it back to the postmaster and have it marked unaccepted. Don’t even bother to read the envelope or postcard and don’t open it.
Now and then, a verbosely rabid individual from one of the “standard” religions may catch you in their personal mailing campaign. One’s first reaction is to bombard them with your knowledge and educate them. Don’t bother—trash it. These people don’t want to be educated, they just want to take their frustrations out on you.
Psychic attack is a rare reality, but, as the comedian says, “It can happen!” If you feel that such a thing is happening to you, contact some of your more experienced webweaving friends. I’m not ashamed to tell you I did. Witches do take care of their own.
Another alternative to the box at the post office is a franchise business called Mail Boxes Etc., USA. Although the fee per box is higher than the average U.S. postal box, they do offer a variety of services that the postal service does not. It is sort of a one-stop shop for all your mailing needs.
They also can provide you with a suite address, hold your mail indefinitely, and have a twenty-four-hour open door service for you to pick up your mail. You can even call them and ask if you have received any mail, or a particular piece of mail, so you don’t have to make a trip only to have your box turn up empty.
Do correspond with as many people as your budget and time allows. With the increase in postal rates, you may have to be more selective with your correspondences, but I heartily urge you to build a strong web of contacts.
Contacts
Webweaving contacts often fall into the following categories:
1. Those people that merely want pen pals and write little on spiritual developments. This is great, as long as you can afford it. These people ground us and help us to remain linked to general society.
2. Those individuals who are interested in specific skills and want to both share and learn new techniques. Topics you might hear about are divination, telepathy, or a specific Craft tradition that is generally well known. I have found, however, that Witches do not often trade spells, unless one specifically requests it. They do like to share rituals, however.
3. Those persons who are interested in the “training” process of fellow magickal beings. A note of gentle warning here: never forget that we are all teachers as well as students. So often I hear or read, “I am desperately looking for a teacher! Please help me.” When you are ready for a teacher, one will be provided for you. It may be a person, a text, or even the wind. It really isn’t necessary to advertise for one.
Synchronicity plays an important role in Craft activities. All things do happen in perfect timing if you relax and let your life flow. The more stressed over an issue you become, the more likely it is that things will take longer to develop. Wisdom and knowledge are acquired when you are ready to accept and understand.
If you write to twenty people and tell them you are looking for a teacher, the first thing they will probably think is either that you are a sucker and try to scam you (it happens), or that you haven’t gained the wisdom to understand you are constantly in a learning environment and the universe will be your teacher.
Don’t feel bad if you have already done this. I did it. But I was lucky enough to find two people who were patient enough to encourage me along my own learning path. I also ran into some real nut cases.
Patience is difficult, especially when you are studying something as wonderful and powerful as Witchcraft. Patience is both a posture and a practice.
Be careful of individuals who pour on the metaphysical knowledge and jargon, or give you a healthy list of credentials. It is one thing to provide simple references for safety (for example, list one or two networking contacts who can vouch for you and don’t mind being contacted), but it is quite another to snow a person under with ten pages explaining where they have been and how they have received those last twenty titles, none of which you could possibly check, even if you wanted to make the effort to do so.
Most likely this person—the one with the list of titles as long as your wand—is on a self-inflicted ego trip. Don’t help feed it. Learn to read between the lines or skim through the volumes of personal data you have been provided. Follow your intuition. If what they are saying to you does not ring true, either don’t respond or send a polite “no thank you” letter. Those networking friends that are firmly rooted in sensibility will not use a cabinet full of titles. It simply isn’t necessary.
Another group of people out there are those that are looking for mates/sexual partners and make no bones about it. To me, the Craft is not a handy-dandy dating service, although I am sure there have been wonderful alliances because of it. Usually, you will find these ads under the “Personals” columns in some newsletters, though not all Craft publications carry this type of advertisement. These inquiries are pretty straightforward.
I always know when I’m holding one, because somewhere in the letter is the statement, “Do you look anything like the pictures you draw?”
The answer is . . . (drum roll, please): No, that’s why I draw them in the first place. A psych major would tell you that they are a product of wish fulfillment. If I did look like that, I sure wouldn’t be working for a living!
Seriously, though, you may get a few of these more personal inquiries. If you are interested, just be careful. If it is the farthest thought from your mind, politely write back and say no, if the letter was a nice one. If it should have been published in a sex magazine instead of reaching your mailbox, trash it.
Meeting Witches Face to Face
Before you plan to meet anyone as a result of webweaving, check them out as thoroughly as you can. Have they personally met any of your other webweaving contacts? I suggest speaking to them on the phone first before setting up a meeting, if you are really serious.
When you do decide to meet, choose a public place, such as a restaurant, a library, or even a museum. Let someone in your family or one of your close friends know where you are going and why.
If you are new to the Craft, do not fashion preconceived ideas of whom you will meet. Quite often they will not live up to your expectations, especially if this is your first time. Also, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that someone is an adept just because they have been involved in the Craft longer than you have. When someone starts spouting to me about how many years they have been in the Craft before we’ve had a decent general conversation, I get suspicious. You can be a Girl Scout for eleven years and still get lost in the woods.
Do not attend any type of closed meetings or rituals unless you have met and feel you can trust the participants. Often you can meet like-minded individuals at your local occult or metaphysical store. Many of these places offer standard classes and good fellowship. Just don’t go running off to a full moon ceremony in Bakker’s woods just because you’ve never been to one, and here’s your chance—even though you met this guy (or gal) night before last beside the crystal display at Shop ’n Craft.
What I’m saying is, don’t put yourself in a position you won’t be able to get yourself out of. Don’t endanger your safety. A huge number of people disappear in the United States each year—don’t you be one of them!
Behaving Yourself When You Are Invited Out
Should you be so inclined to attend a coven or group function, please follow the rules of good etiquette that Mother taught you. Don’t be horrified or insulted that I mention this, but surprisingly enough, this subject shows up in many pagan publications. Unfortunately, it doesn’t hit home until you witness bad manners first hand.
Why am I discussing this at all if this is a book about practicing solitary? Because eventually, you most likely won’t be. Most people are not social hermits. If you are visiting a group of Witches, please watch what is going on around you and take your cue from the other people. Being in a circle carries responsibility, even for a visitor.
Do try to be good. If the group does something that astounds you, don’t gasp, please. I know it is a scary experience to be with a group of people who you mostly don’t know, doing things you may not understand, and feeling like a third wheel. We all have experienced this. But that is no excuse for bad manners. If you are at someone’s home, bring something to give the hostess, whether it be a bag of chips, a roll of paper towels, or a few candles. Remember to clean up after yourself. Your behavior also decides whether or not you will be asked back. At sometime, the circle may be at your house.
Designing the Introduction Letter
When first writing to any individual, whether it be answering an ad, requesting information, or contacting an editor of a press, make your first impression polite and one page only. As with all correspondence, you should indicate the date you wrote the letter, and your return address on the letter itself. A remark about the weather or astrological phase or holiday is interesting. To some people it may mean nothing—to others, a great deal.
Remember to place the correspondent’s address on your letter. For instance, if you are writing to me, you would place my entire address on the letter. This ensures proper placement in its envelope when it comes time for you to mail it. If you become a rabid letter writer, as I did, this keeps you from getting things mixed up.
If you have read about the person you are writing to in a particular publication, please tell them so. Include the name of the publication, issue number, and date. Why? Because if they have their name posted for whatever reason, they have probably paid money for the ad. By telling them where you heard of them, they will know how successful their ad has been.
Above all, be straightforward in your writing. Save the theatrical prose for a different endeavor. In the beginning keep the personal information to a minimum. One of the most amusing letters I have ever received contained the sentence, “I am much like you; I am a warlock.” I’m sorry, but I laughed until my sides hurt on that one because the individual was drawing a conclusion about me and telling me, without knowing it, that they didn’t know diddly about the Craft.
First of all, I’m a she, not a he. And secondly, there is no such thing as a Warlock in the Craft. A male Witch is just that, a male Witch. Either that person got me confused with the old television show, or they mixed their magickal systems somewhere along the line. And believe me, there are times when I really wished I could twitch my nose, making my dishes wash themselves and my laundry float to where it belongs instead of piled on the basement floor!
Include a self-addressed stamped envelope, or SASE for short. This is a courtesy you should always extend. If you have developed a high volume of webweaving contacts through running a press for a nonprofit organization or other activity, it is really insulting to receive a request for information or for help for a predicament, and the writer has not had the decency to enclose a SASE. The people at the receiving end of your letter may be paying for postage out of their family budget.
On the same note, don’t let anyone take advantage of you in that way. In the beginning you may feel you are doing your spiritual duty, but when it starts affecting your regular expenses, you are only hurting yourself.
If you have requested and received specific information, please send off a thank you note to the individual who answered your correspondence. A simple thank you is not very difficult for one to write, and means a great deal to the person who has tried to assist you. It also lets them know that there is no problem with the mail and that you have received what you asked for. A simple post card will suffice. I usually add, “This is a letter you can trash when you are through reading.” When high volumes of mail are involved, they will kiss you a hundred times over!
Editors of presses, journals, and newsletters in the pagan community work long and tiring hours for little pay (if any) to serve their subscribers. There is nothing more frustrating than receiving a letter for help, sitting down at the typewriter and writing for over two hours to assist that person, and then never hearing from them. You haven’t the foggiest idea if they even received your letter.
Another pet peeve of mine is to receive a note, scrawled in one or two lines with barely discernible writing on a torn scrap of paper, looking like yesterday’s grocery list that ran through the washer. Editors are professionals and they should be treated as such. Besides, if they can’t read your note, do you expect to receive what you asked for?
Webweaving Files
If you plan on extensive webweaving, start some type of filing system early on. Put each individual’s name or organization on a manila file folder along with the address, date, and method of first contact. Later on, you can add pertinent information on the front of the folder, such as birthday, type of correspondence they are interested in, family members or animals that they are fond of, etc. This comes in very handy if you become well-acquainted. To remember their birthday or some other special occasion will mean a lot to them.
If you have placed an ad in one of the various newsletters, keep track of the number and type of responses you receive from each ad. This will enable you to determine if you have wisely spent your money and what type of contacts you have received from that press or newsletter. Add a department number to your address that corresponds to the press you are using. For example, if you place an ad in Llewellyn’s New Worlds of Mind and Spirit, then use Department LNW under your postal box number. When the letter comes in, you will know exactly where it came from.
Webweaving can be rewarding and enlightening for any magickal person, solitary or coven-oriented alike. Many people you correspond with will become a type of extended family to you—there when you need them, full of happiness, hope, and envelopes full of caring for many years to come.
Workshops
Many pagan organizations, occult shops, and metaphysical stores offer a variety of workshops and classes. Some are good, some are mediocre, and some are downright not worth your money. Here are some things you should consider before you open your purse or wallet and count out that hard-earned cash.
Local Workshops
Visit the store on several occasions before you sign up for any course. Since this is local, it shouldn’t be a problem. Get a feel for the place and the owner to determine whether or not you would be interested in what they have to offer.
Some stores offer free classes with a donation basket passed around afterward to cover the expenses of the speaker or trainer. Give what you can afford. If you have spent an hour and a half there and learned a lot, five to ten dollars is acceptable, depending upon the cost of living for that area.
Some courses are ongoing, so if you are on a tight budget, pace yourself. Other stores set their schedules up in advance with detailed course construction, or have arranged to bring someone in from another part of the state or country. In these instances, they will usually set a price for the course and ask for early sign up and a deposit.
Do not feel embarrassed to request a detailed outline about the course, or a press release about the instructor or speaker. Will all the materials be provided under the fee you are paying? There are some stores that will goad you into the class, and you will find yourself paying out the you-know-what to purchase the “needed materials” to get the “full benefit” of the class. These shop owners push particular products and books before, during, and after the classes. My advice is: don’t take any extra cash with you that you are desperately going to need before the next paycheck. If you have to think about a purchase and come back for it, chances are you will decide that you really didn’t need that fifty-dollar crystal after all.
If you do decide to attend a pre-paid class or workshop, please remember to consider group etiquette. MindWalker and I have been to workshops where one or two unhappy people used the entire class time telling the group about their experiences or problems. Not all speakers are capable of shutting these people up, especially if they are on the road for the first time. This doesn’t mean they don’t have wonderful information to give you, it just means that they are learning—unfortunately, at your expense.
Also, if you are more knowledgeable on the subject than the instructor, or at least you think you are, don’t interrupt and show off your expertise. It spoils it for everyone else and you end up looking like the ass, not the instructor.
If you find the course was a waste of your time, sit back instead and observe. You can learn a great deal from the reactions of the other participants. It may have been an unfortunate expense (and you will know better next time), but you won’t be wasting your time.
When the event is over, tell the shop owner and the instructor, speaker, etc., what you thought about the class. Often they will give you a review form. Use it! Give them both good and bad impressions, but don’t make it one-sided; nothing is totally terrible or completely perfect. This gives the shop owner and the speaker a chance to review their own work later and pinpoint where they can make improvements.
Don’t hog the instructor as soon as the group breaks. If you really think you have something to discuss in-depth with them, arrange to contact them either by phone or through correspondence. There is nothing more irritating to the poor soul who just wants to say thank you and buzz out the door, then someone blubbering big time with the instructor for over twenty minutes. It can put a damper on everyone’s whole afternoon or evening.
Out-of-Town Workshops
Again, request a detailed outline about the course and ask for a press release package on all speakers and instructors. Will all course materials be provided with your fee? Are your room or any meals covered under the initial fee? If not, is there a discount provided for these items if you stay at the place of the seminar (assuming, of course, there are accommodations there)? Is the site of the seminar or workshop easily accessible for the type of transportation you have chosen? What kind of area is it in?
Once you have made the decision to go, consider the following:
1. Do you have an adequate budget to cover all expenses, even emergency ones?
2. Will the hotel accept your credit card or personal check if you do run into trouble?
3. Is there a friend who may want to attend with you? It is nice to have someone along who is willing to share the expenses and share the fun.
4. If there is an emergency that requires the cancellation of your plans, can your money be refunded?
5. Will there be a ritual held? Do you need special garb?
6. Is one of your networking friends nearby that you could possibly stay with, or at least spend some time with while you are on your trip?
7. If you have any writing or photographic expertise, contact a few pagan newsletters and ask them if they would like a review of the seminar or workshop for publication. Many editors cannot attend many of these functions and will welcome your expertise.
Courses
Educational courses are events that last from six to twelve weeks, or longer. They meet regularly, have a paid instructor, and promise some type of enlightenment (whether it be skill or knowledge). They can be held at a metaphysical/occult bookstore, a college campus, or some other community establishment. At times, they are offered at someone’s home.
Ask for a copy of the syllabus to ensure that you are going to like what you are paying for. Check out the teacher’s references by speaking to individuals who either know the instructor, or who have taken the course before you.
If you can, meet the teacher in person first. Do you like their personality? Do you feel that they will be able to present the course in a manner you will understand? There is no sense paying good money for something or someone you are not interested in. If something happens and you cannot attend the course or must drop out, what is their policy on catch-ups and refunds? If you must sign a document, read it, including the fine print.
Please keep in mind that your instructor or teacher is not god, nor do they usually aspire to that particular pedestal, nor are they there to be bashed about their own ideas. Give respect, and you will receive respect.
Excellent friendships and a wealth of knowledge can await you at these various functions. Just remember to keep your wits about you, and have a good time!
Festivals
When you feel you are ready to take the plunge into a totally magickal environment, it is time to go to a festival! There are many held throughout the United States and Canada during the year. They usually last from three days to one week, and several fall on or near our solar holidays.
Once you are on the mailing lists of several magickal presses and newsletters, you will receive announcements of gatherings or they will be advertised within the body of the press.
Most festivals require payment in advance (and give you a discount if you do so) and have a limited number of spaces available. Some do, however, allow you to pay at the gate. Unfortunately, the fee is usually astounding (sorry guys, especially if you can only make it for one day). The desire to spend your money quickly dissolves. I realize that this is done to keep a high volume of people from drifting through the festival grounds, but it does prevent some people from participating due to family responsibilities, job considerations, and travel expenses. Some of the larger festivals run programs to help pay for expenses of pagans who cannot afford to attend by working out some type of services-for-stay system. Check this out; festivals need many helping hands.
The Rules
There are rules involved when you participate in a festival and questions you should ask before, during, and after you attend.
Are accommodations provided? If so, what? Should you bring camping gear? What do you need to pack?
Are children permitted? What facilities have been provided for their care, if any, and what rules must you follow to ensure their safety?
Some festivals provide childcare during specified hours, but not the entire day or evening. Are you prepared to take that responsibility in the off hours? I know this statement sounds stupid; of course you know your children are your own responsibility, but you would be surprised at the number of parents that allow their children (including the little ones) to run free, without discipline or care, in the festival environment. Most of the individuals who attend are extremely tolerant of children and will go out of their way to ensure their safety and happiness—a different atmosphere from the local amusement park where you don’t know who the hell is roaming around with goddess-knows-what on their minds. That is no excuse, however, for letting your children blunder into a private ritual with you nowhere to be seen. And no, this advice is not coming out of the mouth of a spinster. I’ve got four children, and I know what children are capable of.
Does the festival allow pets? If so, what are the rules governing them?
Do you need to bring your own food and cooking gear? What type of clothing is required? What is the weather usually like there, if you are travelling a long distance?
Perhaps there will be a ritual where you may wear your favorite magick apparel. Is nudity permitted? If it is, prepare yourself to see it if you are not used to it. This may also influence your decision whether or not to take your children with you.
As long as I live I will never forget the first festival I attended in Maryland where skyclad was acceptable. MindWalker and I took some friends with us. Not long after we arrived and signed in, we took a walk down Merchants’ Row. MindWalker and my friend’s boyfriend were walking behind us and we were yapping madly about all the wonderful things at the stands.
My friend dropped something and I bent over to pick it up. Behind me, MindWalker was laughing and I could vaguely hear him saying, “Wait until she sees this!”
Now, what you must understand is that I am from Pennsylvania—the twilight zone of rural America where wearing clothes in public is a prerequisite to living there. It is not a topic one finds up for discussion.
Imagine now, I am on my knees, picking up whatever it was, and as I slowly raise my eyes, I see male legs encased in fur chaps. Okay, I think, not unusual, I had seen other people in costume. No big deal. Naturally, my eyeballs keep travelling upward as I am rising. At mid-crouch position, I stop dead. I think my eyeballs have just popped from their sockets. My friend has noticed too, and I heard a sharp intake of breath. One of us, I’m not sure which, said, “Oh, my god!”
Which is exactly what this young fellow was dressed to portray, right up to a fantastic horned headdress, with nothing between that and the chaps!
By this time, our two men were practically rolling on the ground behind us in the throes of tear-running laughter, and my face was redder than a sunset in Florida. I must certainly admit, however—it is a fond memory of the god.
Most festival sites have a medical area, but be sure to check that out. What type of services are available?
Other questions you may have are: Can you get ice? Is there refrigeration available? Are there showers? Are there cabins or dorms? Are they co-ed? (Many of them are.)
Check out the surrounding area in relation to the festival site. Is there a town nearby where you can purchase food on the way in, instead of lugging it from New York to Tennessee? Before you go, get yourself a map of the state and be sure you know what routes to take if you are driving. Mark off any sites that you may like to visit while you are in the area, or friends you would like to see. Before you enter the festival site, drive around the nearest town and determine where the pharmacy and hospital are. If you are not the camping type, or you discover you do not like the festival, see what kind of alternative accommodations are in the area (such as a motel/hotel of good reputation). You may also look to see what restaurants are in the area, as well. Maybe on the day you leave the festival you would like to relax and be waited on before your journey home. Locate the nearest gas station for fuel-up, and, of course, garage capabilities should you have car trouble, goddess forbid.
Make sure you have read the rules about alcohol, drugs, and weapons. Aside from what one usually thinks of as a weapon, be sure to ask if ritual implements such as athames or swords are acceptable. It is a little disconcerting to be at a festival where there is someone walking around with a knife that could easily carve a dinosaur strapped neatly to their thigh. Especially if the grip has finger holes.
A few festivals allow alcohol in moderation. If you think you are going to party, party, party, however, you may be sadly disappointed. Most festivals are attended by magickally filled people who do not desire the use of drugs or alcohol.
Also, if you are a smoker, please be polite. Many festival people do not smoke. Be sure you put your ashes out well and stick the butts in your pocket. If you drop them on the ground, someone is probably going to tell you about it. Conversely, if you are a nonsmoker, don’t infringe your beliefs on the polite smoker, either. After all, maybe they have never driven drunk in their life, and you have. Keep the motto: to each his (or her) own.
If you plan to take a nonmagickal partner or friend with you, please explain the rules before you are in the car a hundred miles from home. There have been some instances where nonmagickal partners/mates and/or friends have caused real problems because they have been drunk, disorderly, or violent.
I will never forget one High Priest from a northeastern group who told me not one, but two stories about violence he had witnessed at festivals because individuals had been either uninformed about procedures or had become drunk. Granted, these two instances occurred once in the ten-plus years that the individual had been attending festivals on a regular basis, and you should never fear attending a festival just because it can happen. The odds are you will never encounter such an occurence yourself. Choose your companions wisely. Gatherings are safer than city streets. Vendors can leave their wares out unattended and no one will touch them through the entire gathering.
Many covens and organizations will have a banner staked or posted by their tents or cabins. Although this is not a prerequisite, you may wish to design one to take with you. Even solitaries can have a personal crest.
Merchants’ Row
Most festivals have a Merchants’ Row where vendors can display their products. You will find everything from tools and clothing to literature and body painting. If you are a magickal craftperson, you may wish to make arrangements to set up in this area, complete with your camping gear. Have business cards prepared to exchange with others and to hand out to potential customers. Even if you cannot have your own place on the row, you can still do business and network.
Merchants’ Row is a wonderful place. People are willing to talk to you about all sorts of things from mundane to magickal. Many items are high quality and lots of them you can’t find in the department stores.
There are only two possible drawbacks to Merchants’ Row. First, you never seem to have enough money with you; second, there are some festivals that limit what the merchants can sell to you. Usually this happens at the smaller gatherings.
There are a few festival committees who forbid competition. I think that this is ludicrous and an example of bad pagan business. I had a friend who couldn’t sell her crystals at a particular festival because there was another woman there selling hers at a lower quality and higher price. Absurd!
Other festival committees control the number of vendor types, meaning they don’t want an overabundance of leather workers and no jewelry makers. This is sound business sense when the space available for merchants is limited. These usually work on a first-come, first-serve basis.
If you would like to be on Merchants’ Row, write months ahead of time to reserve your space, make the deposit (if required), and thoroughly check out the rules.
Merchants’ Row usually closes up around supper time and does not re-open until the following day, as these people join in the evening’s festivities.
Main Circle Events
Most festivals have one or more evenings of main circle events where everyone participates, no matter the tradition, sect, or magickal style.
The main event, which is usually scheduled at the midpoint of the festival, has been planned in advance by the festival committee. You will encounter varied traditions throughout your stay; try to take advantage of as many invitations to join in their celebrations as you can.
Leaving the Festival Site
When you are preparing to leave, clean up your camping/bunk area and leave it better than you found it. If you can, find some of the people who were responsible for the festival events and thank them for their hard work. When you get home, be sure to write them a note extending your thanks and telling them what you liked about the gathering. This will assist them in planning future festivals.
Festivals are wonderful places to meet people, raise your vibrational level, and find answers to questions that perhaps, for a long time, you have been looking for. The week after attending a festival, you may feel wired and accomplish many things due to the interaction with such intense magickal energy. Often, one wishes one could return as soon as they have reached home!
Summary
Webweaving, workshops, and festivals can be truly rewarding experiences. Remember to plan well, check out all your sources, and above all, be courteous in your exchanges.
Being a solitary Witch may be a lonely endeavor at times. There will be instances when you feel the need to be with your own kind, either for support or just for companionship. You may often look at the world around you and think, “If only they knew what they were missing!” I know I have.