Happy Summer!

Happy Summer Solstice!

(Image courtesy of www.owlsdaughter.com)

Well, its been a busy, productive and eventful time since Beltane 2012 on the 24th November we all met over dinner, good company (and some exceptional locally produced cider) and recapped on all that we've achieved this year and where we are headed. The MFPG Inc has taken off and been so wonderfully supported by so many individuals and organisations that we wanted to shout out a big thank you to all of you that continue to help shape and evolve the Gathering into what it is.
A space for like minded people to come together and celebrate the Beltane Sabbat and this land. Meet old friends and greet new ones.
We are so pleased that 2013's ritual will be hosted by the lovely Seline Cardamon-Cairns and her group of fine folk. Thankyou to you for offering, we are so looking forward to that and we can't wait!

A number of things on the agenda are moving this blog to a web page which will be easier to navigate and install certain features on. The design element is still ongoing and we hope that in the first half of 2013 we will have a new web 'home'.

The MFAPG Inc is now a part of the local market and if you support local growers, bakers and makers then the monthly Harcourt Market is for you!
You can find more details here:
http://www.harcourtmarket.blogspot.com.au/
The next scheduled market for Harcourt is Sunday the 16th December 2012-we hope to see you there!!
Last month was its very first and it was fantastic! May we also recommend a gorgeous potter by the name of Truly who makes the most stunning pottery-you can find out more about Truly, her pottery and where she sells here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Made-by-Truly/128869757172264
Here is one of her beautiful mugs! (We couldn't control ourselves and each purchased an owl and skull insignia mug)

(Image courtesy of 'Made by Truly')

Some of our activities planned for 2013 also include not only supporting the protection of flora and fauna unique to Mount Franklin, but also that of Central Victoria. As a both individuals, coven members and Inc members we are committed to sustainability and care of our ecology . We hope to build new networks and partnerships which support and enrich our goals of self sustainability, environmental protection, supporting and buying local and fresh.

Please remember that we know how many of you are exceptionally talented folk and we are always happy to support and promote what you do and what you create! If you would like a spot on the blog please send in a blurb about you and your art and some photos and we will showcase it for you!

We are all peering at Hawthorn at this point :P! <Checking inbox-empty!> For those of you who don't know Hawthorn, makes beautiful ritual and decorative pieces from wood and if we can be cheeky here is his FB email hawthornmagicktree@facebook.com.
Hopefully he will forgive us :)

After a beautiful moon last month we all feel light, refreshed and ready to begin anew. The dross and the drains which can attach themselves have been cast aside and we look towards the Solstice and 2013 with renewed vigour. The garden flourishes, our trees bear fruit, the bees are dancing and all is well and happy in our hearth and homes. We hope likewise that they are the same for you, in your places and spaces. Go out and smell the roses, put your feet and hands upon the earth and listen to the wind whisper in your ear while the sunlight streams as it ascends to its zenith.
We leave you with one of our favourite artist and theorist quotes that has resonated with all of us of late and served as a timely reminder for many things....

“Everything that is dead quivers. Not only the things of poetry, stars, moon, wood, flowers, but even a white trouser button glittering out of a puddle in the street... Everything has a secret soul, which is silent more often than it speaks.”

Wassily Kandinsky 1866-1944

Happy Summer to you all!

Items for Sale and General Info

A reminder that we have a limited amount of T-Shirts left for sale. These are $30 each and we no longer have any small sized ones left, just M, L, XL, XXL. If you haven't seen them previously they are as pictured:

If you would like one please contact us via FB or at the snail mail address on the left. Please request size, quantity and include $6.00 postage.

We also have The Wheel of the Year posters for sale by Tania Poole. 

These fantastic posters give a pictorial journey of the Sabbat Wheel. It is in full colour and measures approximately 60cm (H) x 40 cm (W). Each poster costs $12.00 plus $5.00 postage.

We would also like to support the Township of Harcourt in commencing its first ever Farmers Market which supports local produce: "Makers, Bakers & Growers". Harcourt's premier market begins Sunday 18th November 2012.

For those of you who are not aware, Harcourt is a small Central Highlands town located approximately 9 km northeast of Castlemaine and is roughly about an 1.5 hours from Melbourne. Set in a lush valley at the foot of Mount Alexander, Harcourt was once the premier apple growing region in Australia (a title yielded to Tasmania some time ago). Still the apple centre of Victoria, the local area is fast getting a name for wine and cider production, including apple and pear varieties. Around the area are many small holding producers of dairy, fruit and vegetables, bakers, berry growers, organic produce (including meat), eggs and goats milk cheese/milk products. The Central Highlands are also blessed with a plethora of artists-painters, sculptors, potters and craftsmen and women. Please support eating local, fresh and seasonal.  Support those talented people who create and make and support those people who get up and get things like this fantastic project moving!!!!

A new article from Des

Head over to Des' new blog to read an article entitled "Selling Spirituality". It's sort of a follow-up to his earlier article about Men in Wicca, only easier to find: http://deryckrj.wordpress.com/2012/11/08/selling-spirituality/

Usual suspects 2012

Here is a group photo of what we call the 'usual suspects' involved in running the Gathering every year. Sometimes it changes, most times it stays the same core group of people. Sometimes we have stand ins for those missing/awol/overseas!!!/or simply unable to make it. However it is grouped and whomever is involved, we can't do it without you and we cannot make it the Gathering it is each year without the extraordinary support of everyone, from the organisers to the community that celebrate each year with us. 

This year we cannot thank enough the ongoing support from the following:
Parks Victoria (http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/)
Fi & Tex from Big Tree Enterprises (5473 4098) in Guildford-who created our eco friendly T-Shirts this year
SHARE -Sustainable Hepburn Association (http://share.asn.au/) and 
Jon & Jenny at Appletown Party Hire in Castlemaine who are so awesome every year with helping us with the Marquee (137 Mostyn Street Castlemaine VIC 3450‎ (03) 5472 2836).

To the the original indigenous people to whom the Mount meant so much to and who knew it as Lalgambook, we thank the descendants of the Gunangara balug clan and the Jajowurrong People.

To the steadfast community that come together in the spirit of friendship we bid you hand to hand, heart to heart, merry we've met and merry we've part!

Lastly, but by no means least we thank our kith and kin departed and present, felt and unseen at this time of the year as the cold winds die and herald in the promise of warmth, heat and renewed vigour throughout the land.

To our Northern Hemisphere friends and family we wish you a blessed Samhain and here in the Southern Hemisphere we wish you a joyous Beltane.

31st Mount Franklin Annual Pagan Gathering Beltane 2012 

Happy Beltane!

Just a quick post to wish everyone who made it to the crater and to those who couldn't make it a very happy Beltane. The 31st annual Gathering was highly enjoyable, with such a relaxed atmosphere!

There are just a few thanks I would like to make:

• To my fellow organisers, for the organising that this year included the process of incorporation, amongst other things. There's a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes, even while the event is running, and it's that, along with the cooperation of the community who attend, which makes for a successful gathering.
• To Linda and Michel for providing the maypole, the bonfire pit, fire drums, spare bedding, a delicious stew and for continuing to be so tirelessly dedicated to making this event run smoothly and well for such a long time now. 
• To Josie and Chris, for acting as the Maiden and her consort, to Cat and Scarlett for being the raven and horse, and to Mick and Alex for being Punch and the 'obby 'oss. EDIT! Also a big thankyou to Danny for offering his rhythmic services to the ritual - a job well done!
• To Appletown Party Hire, for the marquee that we've used now for the past several years as MFAPG headquarters. In particular to Jenny and Jon for being so helpful, we really appreciate the service they provide and we cannot recommend them highly enough. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Appletown-Party-Hire/144926867505 
• I think we should acknowledge the hard work done behind the scenes by some wonderful creative  people, notably Tania's body paint artistry on the consort, a certain talented tailor (if that's the correct term) for creating the maiden's outfit (whose anonymity shall be preserved), and in particular Mel, who created the maiden's garland but also wrote the ritual and worked some amazing magic.
• On a personal note (if you'll allow me this indulgence), I would like to thank primarily Mel, for taking up the slack left behind by my incapacity, which involved a lot of extra work she wouldn't otherwise have had to do. And also to the many other people who offered their help, support and good wishes to me this year, while I'm recovering from surgery. I feel immensely privileged, and I thank you all very much.

A couple of other matters. The question has been asked by several people now about the T-Shirts that were made for this year's gathering. The answer to the question is yes, we can indeed sell you a shirt at any time, all you have to do is send us an email (at mountfranklinpagans@gmail.com) with your request and size, and we will send you an email back with instructions on how to pay, and so on. 

So finally, thanks to all those that attended, the fire procession looked fantastic, and the energy raised during the ritual was exhilarating and a most wonderful thing to experience. See you next year!

Des.