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Post by wortmistress on Feb 27, 2007 20:40:07 GMT -1
Hello, my name is Wortmistress and I live in North Wales. I follow a Trad. Craft path and have been visiting this site for many months. I finally decided to join recently as my path revolves around local customs, genus loci and of course, the Druidic influence must be honoured. I am 35, female, poet, singer-songwriter, almost vegan(I eat honey!) and first heard of Blackbird via an excellent article in Pagan Dawn re: Mead making! I have had the Hiraeth for over 10 years and took the plunge to move here last May. Since doing so, my path has evolved beyond belief and I have met many wonderful souls who have imparted their"wisdom" along the way. I am active in my local moot (Llandudno) and choose my singing as a way to honour the ancestors and the Old Ways. I hope that I can learn and pass on knowledge here with a sense of respect and pride,
Tangnefedd,
Wortmistress
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Post by Sìle on Feb 27, 2007 21:09:15 GMT -1
Hello and welcome Wortmistress.
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Post by arianrhod on Feb 28, 2007 0:54:36 GMT -1
Welcome here....I'm new myself and find it worthwhile being here
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Post by Craig on Feb 28, 2007 6:56:13 GMT -1
Ah.. so you are the mad woman who likes my dodgy doggerel - well there's no accounting for taste ;D
Well you'll be in good company here, they're all mad you know, completely bonkers - I am the only sane one here.
Hope you find what you are seeking, and let us know if you can't winkle it out. Look forward to hearing your music.
Blessings,
Craig <O>.
PS: Not 'chris'.
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Post by wortmistress on Mar 1, 2007 12:35:31 GMT -1
Hi Craig! Thanks! Why the hell have I got Chris on the brain??(LOL) Don't diss the doggerel, me likes! I have recorded the poem, and if you pm me with a "safe" address to send it to(I'm not a fruit bar I promise!), I will send you a copy with a demo of two other songs in gratitude for your kind words!!
I realise that this site leans more towards Druidry, but as a Trad. Crafter, I feel that I can offer a great deal, especially as this site focuses more on Welsh Culture. Look forward to chats...
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Post by littleraven on Mar 1, 2007 14:55:40 GMT -1
I realise that this site leans more towards Druidry, Does it? Says who? but as a Trad. Crafter, I feel that I can offer a great deal, especially as this site focuses more on Welsh Culture. Look forward to chats... Trad. Craft is one of the most problematic titles for someone on a non-Christian path. Basically someone whose parents were Wiccans can now claim 'fam trad', 'hereditary' and indeed 'trad craft'. Little Raven |
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Post by Craig on Mar 2, 2007 6:42:15 GMT -1
Ho Worty,
You can use the e-mail address I used to contact you before. Thanks.
I think that you will find that this is less druid, but more focused on the pre-christian British, Brythonic or Pretannic paths. Which is why we have such a broad spectrum of modern 'pagans' here, and more interesting messgae boards than the strictly druid or witch focused ones.
Blessings,
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Post by coedwen on Mar 2, 2007 14:52:34 GMT -1
Hi Wortmistress I'm also in North Wales  I was wondering if you could tell me anything about the Llandudno Moot  Is it open to anyone? I'm quite new to this sort of paganism. I've been learning a lot recently, a lot from Stephen but I notice he seems to view things quite differently from most other pagans I've met. So I would like to meet with some other experienced pagans in the area to get a more balanced view. Blessings Coedwen |
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Post by Blackbird on Mar 2, 2007 16:29:48 GMT -1
Dear gods  As LR and Craig said, we're not a druid site per se... we've got a huge variety of folks here, but actually a minority who would call themselves druids... Glad you liked the mead making article I shall be enjoying a few glasses of vintage metheglin tonight ;D |
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Post by wortmistress on Mar 3, 2007 12:22:24 GMT -1
Hi Wortmistress I'm also in North Wales I was wondering if you could tell me anything about the Llandudno Moot Is it open to anyone? I'm quite new to this sort of paganism. I've been learning a lot recently, a lot from Stephen but I notice he seems to view things quite differently from most other pagans I've met. So I would like to meet with some other experienced pagans in the area to get a more balanced view. Blessings Coedwen We hold the moot every 3rd Tuesday, at The Snowdon pub, Tudno Street, just off Upper Mostyn Street. 8pm onwards. Next one 20th March- I'm always there and I'll be the red headed "babe" with a green acoustic guitar!! Not everyone who attends is Pagan. There are quite a few Wiccans, a few Heathens, me, and locals. We tend to chat amongst ourselves but I'm always up for a good chat about The Old Ways. Is that Steve from Ruthin?? |
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Post by wortmistress on Mar 3, 2007 12:27:49 GMT -1
I realise that this site leans more towards Druidry, Does it? Says who? but as a Trad. Crafter, I feel that I can offer a great deal, especially as this site focuses more on Welsh Culture. Look forward to chats... Trad. Craft is one of the most problematic titles for someone on a non-Christian path. Basically someone whose parents were Wiccans can now claim 'fam trad', 'hereditary' and indeed 'trad craft'. Little Raven Sorry. I have trawled the site and on first impression it appeared to have a Druid slant. Saying that I am glad now that is it more geared towards Brythonic chat! Yes, I agree with the comment on the Wiccan "Trad" thing but I assure you, I am not Wiccan, and only use the term "Trad. Crafter" as it is recognised amongst those who follow a pre - Gardnerian. path. I do not call myself "Witch" although everyone else does - personally, I just follow the path of the heart.... |
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Post by Francis on Mar 3, 2007 17:09:38 GMT -1
Stephen but I notice he seems to view things quite differently from most other pagans I've met. So I would like to meet with some other experienced pagans in the area to get a more balanced view. Oy!! - Who are you calling unbalanced!!!! ? Stephen |
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Post by wortmistress on Mar 3, 2007 19:49:40 GMT -1
I wouldn't take it personally!! I'm intrigued on how you"view things quite differently"!!
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Post by jez on Mar 4, 2007 18:35:54 GMT -1
Yes, I agree with the comment on the Wiccan "Trad" thing but I assure you, I am not Wiccan, and only use the term "Trad. Crafter" as it is recognised amongst those who follow a pre - Gardnerian. path. I do not call myself "Witch" although everyone else does - personally, I just follow the path of the heart.... So in what way do you see your path as Trad. Craft? -- Jez |
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Post by wortmistress on Mar 5, 2007 8:41:13 GMT -1
Where do I start !I follow a path which honours the ancestors(be they land spirits, or local ancestors), shamanic techniques are used for "travelling", I do not honour a God or Goddess, just the spirits which reside in the land. I work with(physically and magically protect) a piece of land where I live. I work with herbs a great deal(hence "wortmistress"!) and any work that is done in a magical sense tends to be based on folk magic rather than ceremonial magic. I honour the four Fire festivals, local festivals and a few plant based private ones. I have no specific moral code(as in Wiccan Rede) but try to live my life in harmony with my surroundings as far as possible. You could say I do what needs to be done!This is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg and this path chose me in a sense! I hope this gives a wee bit of insight!
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Post by littleraven on Mar 5, 2007 9:36:05 GMT -1
When people claim 'Trad. craft' as their path, it will automatically set alarms bells ringing amongst those who have been around the pagan scene a long time. Very many people who now claim Trad craft do so on no more substance than having read the Cochrane Letters.
The meaning of witch has changed in the modern period and what would have been called a witch in the past is often nothing more than herbalist, midwife etc. With trad craft it would generally be expected to see such things as having been formally accepted into a crafting 'family, or at least one of the families offshoots.
The traditional crafters I have known have been *very* secretive, and not a one would have publically claimed the title 'trad crafter'. So you have to understand that by claiming the title, some people will want to know the hows and whys of it.
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Post by jez on Mar 5, 2007 9:40:21 GMT -1
I just wondered if you had links with one of the groups.
When you say you honour no gods, do you mean that you see individuals who I would say were local deities as 'less' than gods or that you do not deal in any way with deity?
--
For instance, I find Thunor to be a very active presence in the land around me, and while I would normally honour the local wights when I worked in my garden, I would never neglect His beer...
--
Jez
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Post by wortmistress on Mar 5, 2007 11:07:31 GMT -1
Hmm! I sometimes appeal automatically to something akin to The Great Spirit, a knee jerk reaction in times of need! but I honour the local spirits which are as important as any Gods from other traditions. I don't have links with any formal groups, although I have contacts with a few "well known" Crafters.. As you say, these groups are very secretive. However most of what has been published as Trad. Craft bears little relation to what I practice. As I stated earlier, I only use the term Trad. Crafter to set my path aside from the assumed Wicca path which I do not follow. I am not comfortable with the term, indeed with any label, I just do my thing with honour and pride. I haven't read the Cochrane papers and again, although I know people who follow this, from what I have been told, it is a different path to mine. I totally understand and appreciate your candour regarding this: I have a hard time discussing this with people I know let alone strangers! I am happy to give a rough outline of my beliefs and practices, but what I do privately remains so, even from my husband!
Tangnefedd,
Wortmistress
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Post by jez on Mar 5, 2007 11:39:32 GMT -1
I am happy to give a rough outline of my ... practices Wortmistress No-one here would expect that, least of all me -- Jez |
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I was wondering if you could tell me anything about the Llandudno Moot 
