12 years with the Druids
Published: Wed, 07/29/15
The Druid camp was started 11 or 12 years ago by Mark Graham and Emma (Bobcat) Restal-Orr. Bobcat had met Ivar just before I did and had invited him to do a talk for her group. As we got organised teaching Stav Emma maintained an interest and we got to know each other to some extent. She is a very interesting person and for a long time was Radio Four’s favourite pagan. Over the years she has been a guest on various programmes including Beyond Belief.
Apparently Emma was quite keen to have Stav represented at the first Druid camp but was overruled on the grounds that it was not Druid enough. (Not that anyone seems to be able to define what Druidry actually is anyway so I am not sure how that conversation went.)
The first camp was a success even without Stav and the following year there were so many bookings that there was a scramble to find more facilitators. This time Emma got her way and I received an email from her inviting me to get involved with Druid camp. I had no idea what I was letting myself in for but it turned out to be a lot of fun, met a lot of lovely and interesting people and taught a Stav session each morning, took a workshop (can’t remember what it was about, probably something to do with runes) and spent quite a bit of time working in the healing tent.
I have not missed one since and I will be leaving in a few minutes to drive to Westbury on Severn so that I get there in good time for the facilitators meeting, opening ritual and so that I can get my tent up before the rain which is forecast for later this afternoon.
This year’s theme is going to be ‘Defence against the dark arts’ with the emphasis on self-defence in the morning sessions and a workshop on how to defend ourselves against various malign influences. I will also so some rune reading. Apart from that I will be looking to rest a bit, have fun, catch up with friends old and new and come home on Sunday restored in body, mind and spirit.
One thing I did manage before going was getting the first batch of Stavcamp DVDs dispatched. Over three hours of material including two talks from Ivar and teachings on the stances and training. Jordan Brocks did a great job of both recording and editing.
I will be making the set available for purchase after I get back next week. In the meantime, if you have not seen the short promo video you can view it here http://stavcamp.org/index.html
regards
Graham