I’ve been putting off writing about this for two reasons. One, I’m stupid busy at work, having finished up completely on one project and catching up on my new project. Second, I’m still processing what happened over the weekend!

Last weekend (March 21-23) I drove down to Canberra for the weekend to attend the Mabon Autumn Gathering. It’s the first time I had been to this event, I didn’t know anyone, but I was still so excited because I knew it was going to be a fantastic weekend.

And it was!

We stayed at a Scout Camp which air conditioned cabins and comfy beds (admittedly I slept on two mattresses) but this really is my kinda camping – the type were my fat body is comfy, and getting out of bed doesn’t involve kneeling on my bad knees!

The people there were wonderful, and the vibe was just…magnificent. Lilitu, from Lilitu’s Books and Music hosted the weekend, made some delicious meals!

Rites to Hecate, workshops on Reclaiming and Ceremonial elements, a workshop on using your voice in ritual (LOVED!) crystal bowls and twin flames – I want that weekend to happen again! Screw the real world, let me go back! Even the workshop on Quantum Cosmology – science proving that what we do is real. Because of what I’m learning at uni, I was very excited to be able to follow what was being said!

The Mabon ritual was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. When we were planning it that afternoon, I raised my hand to volunteer.

That’s not something I do. Ever. EVER! I’m normally the girl who shies away and tries not to make eye contact so she doesn’t get picked! Need someone to help call Water? I’ll do that! Who wants to anoint/smudge as we walk into circle? I’ll do that!

So although I’m still processing A LOT of what happened that weekend, as so many things came full circle, and so many things that need to be dealt with came to the surface, I realised just how much I have changed in the last year or so. Certainly since I went to the AWC (Australian Wiccan Conference) in Sydney in 2012, I’ve chaaaaaaaaaaaaaanged. I’m confident. I’m confident in who I am, what I practice, how I practice.

Holy shit – no seriously – THIS IS A MEGA BIG DEAL! Sometimes I wish that my path had been more traditional, that I had learnt from a teacher, or that I had found my path within the more organised path structures. And then I think…I like who I am. I like how I practice. I like that what I do works for me.

I’m not ready to go into what exactly I need to process, but going there to find women who reminded me of my mother, my mother-in-law, and an aunt…that threw me. And I mean, that REALLY threw me! Their physical appearance, their personalities, their mannerisms…seriously full on.

It’s like, everything Herne has been telling me for the last few weeks happened and was reinforced over this weekend. “You wanted a physical sign?! Here you go! X, Y, Z! Bam! All at once! LISTEN TO ME!” Okay! Okay! I’m listening! I’m paying attention!

Now I’m processing that information…slowly…in between stressing at work, writing an essay and trying to catch up on uni.

Gathering – fantastic! If there’s one in your area, go to it!

[NB: Out of respect I’m not showing a group photo. It’s one thing to share it around on Facebook, but as some aren’t out of the “broom closet” I’m certainly not posting it up here.]