In the second year of the Aurora Borealis Witch Camp we continue with our five year theme of working with the Elements of Magic: Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit. Last year we honoured our ancestors and the land we love, Earth:

The land we love, Earth who nourishes us. We learn to live in balance with the land.

This year we turn to Air with a focus on communication and song:

The Air who lifts and inspires us with whispers.We re-learn to trust, to play, and to sing our songs for healing and justice.Alone we are a gentle breeze, together a howling gale.

Our breath connects us to our ancestors, to those who have gone and to our descendants and those who are yet to come. The story we’ve chosen to work with is Millicent and the Wind by Robert Munsch. You can get familiar with this contemporary story by visiting the delightful book online. Click here to read the story. Click here to listen to the story.  For more information on the structure of Witchcamps, please see our first post here: http://abwitchcamp.tumblr.com/post/125820091036/aurora-borealis-witchcamp Participation in Ritual:

Reclaiming Rituals are participatory and ecstatic. People are invited to participate in ways they are able. Chairs are welcome in ritual, so if you expect you will want/need to sit, bring a lawn chair.

Prior to ritual we will have group conversation (called a “Ritual Conspiracy”) to learn the intention of the ritual, practice the chants and discuss any concerns. There will also be sign up sheets for ritual roles and invocations (volunteer to call a direction, etc).

Witchcamps have been happening for some time across the globe following the fairly new tradition, Reclaiming.  from www.witchcamp.org:

Reclaiming WitchCamps are intensive retreats for the study of magic and ritual, usually held in a campground setting.

WitchCamps are offered to [those] at all levels of experience. Many of the camps are family-friendly, offering classes specifically for children and teenagers. Newcomers can learn the basic skills of magic and ritual, working with the elements, movement, sound and the mythological and historical framework of [our] Tradition. Advanced paths offer the chance to apply the tools of ritual to personal healing and empowerment, or a focus of taking the craft out into the world, creating public ritual, ongoing groups and healing issues surrounding leadership and power.

At Aurora Borealis (Alberta) Witchcamp we wholly participate in the Reclaiming Principles of Unity, and the following values:

Aurora Borealis WitchCamp Values

~ Environmental Activism: We commit to the work of healing our relationship with the land. ~ Social Activism: We see and feel the structures and effects of inequalities in our communities and work to diminish and heal the effects of structural oppression. We believe in the power of inclusivity and group intention, we also respect individual paths. ~ We understand Intersectionality as recognizing that some people face multiple forms of oppressions. We respect the lived experiences of those in our community. ~ Anti-Oppression Framework: We see oppression as being linked and structural. We lend our magic to spells of liberation. ~ We celebrate all forms of gender identities and expressions. ~ Indigenous land and Treaty membership: Witchcamp takes place on indigenous land on Turtle Island. Land that was violently taken by settlers and colonizers which has directly benefitted the majority of us. We recognize this history of violence and commit to healing the relationship between colonizers and indigenous peoples. ABWC takes place in Treaty 6 and each person in attendance will therefore be a member of this treaty for the duration of their stay. ~ We commit to upholding conversations and taking appropriate action to negate the harm of and occurrence of cultural appropriation. ~ Holistic and sustainable nourishment anchors the Hearth of Aurora Borealis Witchcamp. Food is locally sourced and organic wherever possible. We recognize the regenerative power of Hearth magic and we engage with the politics of food. ~ Regarding Ableism: We acknowledge the multiple barriers and stigmatization many face including physical accessibility to spaces, mental and emotional disorders, neuro-diversity, and others. We believe in working to change ableist behaviour and language. ~ Transparency: in our budget and organizational processes ~ Intergenerational magical community is important to ABWC. We heartily welcome babies at camp! Currently we do not have the means for kids path, we hope to develop this in the future. If you want to bring children, please know that you are responsible for them.