For CloudCatcher WitchCamp

In 2011 Jane Meredith, I, and one other stood together and seeded a magical spell for CloudCatcher WitchCamp at the culmination of the Australian Reclaiming Community (ARC) WitchCamp. This magical spell grew into something quite potent. We formed an organising team of five people committed to seeing this CloudCatcher WitchCamp become a reality. Another profoundly beautiful Reclaiming camp - EarthSong WitchCamp - was also birthed from ARC Camp.

Over the Easter weekend of 2012 - for 5 days and 4 nights - we gathered for the inaugural CloudCatcher WitchCamp.

Last year - Easter 2020 - was the first Camp that needed to be cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Earlier this year - Easter 2021 - we were also the first Reclaiming WitchCamp to hold camp entirely via Zoom. It was so successful and so intensely magical that when I think about it or hear others mention it I keep thinking we were actually there - on the ground, in the flesh-to-breath with one another. The organisers of that Camp pulled off a mighty feat!

I wanted to share something I wrote last year for the spirit of CloudCatcher themself. I’ve edited it to include what happened this year.

For CloudCatcher WitchCamp~

(2012)

four siblings
born of Mother Nut
arrayed within her shining dark
a queen, a king, a sister true
a desert god - so red, so stark
a newborn camp
within her rim
a serpent dance, a cloudy hall
Asar dismembered, carried on
the witches held within their thrall

(2013)

a necklace forged
in earth below
by dwarves who know the secret arts
a goddess, witch, who knows her worth
whose amber tears reveal her heart
a rainbow bridge
the stars to earth
a father wise who knows the runes
a trickster with red flaming hair
steals what was won by Freyja's boons

(2014)

a red fruit glistens
on the tree
a serpent speaks to you, to me
a witch calls out from ancient hills
draw down the moon, by trinity
by my mother
Diana bright
by the Lucifer who bears the light
and i myself Aradia
the three who work within the night

(2015)

hear the drums
and see the frenzy
witness vines leap forth from snakes
he's here, he's come, the roaring god
and when he comes the whole earth shakes
throw off your shackles
behold the truth
that you are born with mighty power
let go, let god, allow, surrender
and help to topple the rotten tower

(2016)

she sings and dances
in carterhaugh
a maiden known to us as Janet
and by an elf her womb does quicken
a trick of fate, the weight of planets
the faerie queen
has laid a binding
upon the shade Tam Lin we love
he says hold on through all his changes
and as we change we too are love

(2017)

the land, the place
is always dreaming
perhaps we too are dreaming here
an ancient memory moves our bodies
the old people smell us and dance near
there are broken things
and violent histories
that ripple through the land and earth
so many must come and listen
and silent, remember death and birth

(2018)

so strange and queer
a winged-foot traveller
arrives from afar, a cave of bees
dripping honey and silver-tongued
he brings us laughing to our knees
the golden weavers
of honey roads
that tie together all of life
we play, we cry, we conjure magic
to call in wonder and banish strife

(2019)

an ancient story
from fertile crescent
a grief-struck goddess moaning loud
seven gates of power have opened
Inanna has descended and she is proud
the earth and heavens
are vast and wondrous
Erishkigal is not a fool
the sisters deep below recover
the truest sacrifice and oldest school

(2020)

a laughing flame
a darkened forest
the riders come - white, red, then black
the morning is wiser than the evening
Vasilisa walks down shadowed tracks
a little doll
a mother's wish
bring strength to tasks that weigh on hearts
and though alone, we can not gather
the magic never ends, nor starts

(2021)

the blackest void
the endless being
of God Herself’s infinity
of sex and self and passion rising
of pride and power’s history
the ocean yearns
for us to deepen
to taste and drink the truth of love
of wisdom, knowledge and of law
of liberation - below, above

(…)

the ancient magic
the oldest promise
born from life and blessed by death
is held within the spiral, dancing
and knows the kiss of every breath
you see? you must!
it's never over
be done with stories that damn and hinder
a witch is wise, and brave, and beautiful
a witch knows rage, and grief, and fear.

x

(Photography by Luke Brohman)