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Burning climax to pagan festival

8:59am Friday 27th April 2007

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DOLMEN Grove druids and witches are staging one of the biggest pagan festivals in England this weekend - complete with a giant wicker man made in a Weymouth garden.

The figure plays a leading role in the Beltane Spirit of Rebirth Festival at Burnbake camp site near Corfe Castle when it will be burned as the high point of a fire ritual on Saturday night.

Chris Walsh, arch-druid Melkin of the Dolmen Grove, which is based in the Dorchester area, said: "This is the first time we have organised a Beltane festival though we've done others at different times of the year.

"We've held rituals at Maumbury Rings but we couldn't have this one there because of the fire ritual for one thing. The wicker man is an important part of it.

"During the day people write down their thoughts and wishes on paper and pop them into the wicker man. At the end of the evening he will be set alight and all the things that were on people's minds go with it.

"It will be quite a spectacle."

The ritual will be the end of the figure, which has been constructed of wood and greenery in the Lanehouse back garden of one of the Dolmen Grove Druids.

Mr Walsh said: "It will be really big when it's on the site because we'll put it up on legs so it could stand about 20 feet tall. It will be lit by firing a burning arrow into it."

He said the event is one of the biggest pagan festivals staged in the country and marks one of the most important dates in the pagan calendar - Beltane at the end of April.

He said the festival was expected to draw up to 500 people. Entry is by ticket at the gate during the three-day event.

Well known pagan leaders including Rollo Maughling, arch-druid of Stonehenge, will be attending along with guest speakers.

The UK's leading pagan folk band the Dolmen plus Damh the Bard and others will provide entertainment and the Pickled Witch Market of stalls will be set up on site.

Find out more at www.thecoranieid.co.uk or call Chris Walsh on 07918 143682 for more details.

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Moonlight, Weymouth says...
10:30am Fri 27 Apr 07

Looks set to be a brilliant festival with good weather too. Should be great :-)

BB

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Silvrwlf, MS, US says...
4:00pm Fri 27 Apr 07

Ech, once again, you are having what looks like will be an amazing festival, and I'm stuck across the pond. I hope your Beltane is bright and beautiful.

Blessings!

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john, dorset says...
4:08pm Fri 27 Apr 07

wow, two stories on one page, shame on the editor for not printing real local interest stories.
but then if dolmen grove members have personal connections with the echo, how handy!!

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Tim, Raleigh, NC USA says...
4:56pm Fri 27 Apr 07

Simply becasue it is not of interest to you it isn't a legitimate local interest story? Curious. Personally, I have no interest in what the local Vicar has been up to, or who's garden took first prize this year. I'm cerain, however, that those stories would be of interest to someone local to you, prehaps even yourself. In that same vein this story is of interest to others local to you as well.

Besides, if you don't like the news carried in this particular paper then don't read it.

Bight blessings.

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john, dorset says...
5:31pm Fri 27 Apr 07

well,well,well
interesting, just heard dorset has oil?
i am local and buy and read MY local paper every day and am upset with the non-news that is dished up by 'friends'. get with the program editor.

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Paganwolf, Midlands UK says...
5:51pm Fri 27 Apr 07

Looks like being an outstanding Beltane celebration

Wish i'd known about this earlier, would love to have gone.

Blessings

)0(

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God, says...
6:37pm Fri 27 Apr 07

john wrote:
wow, two stories on one page, shame on the editor for not printing real local interest stories.
but then if dolmen grove members have personal connections with the echo, how handy!!
Interesting John, Interesting.

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Dove, Dorset says...
6:50pm Fri 27 Apr 07

At least it will explain to neighbours why there's a green man popping his head over their back garden. Well done for making such a brilliant one.

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jenny, dorchester says...
7:31pm Fri 27 Apr 07

i was born in dorset and have lived here for all my 49 years. it is interesting to note that i have only known about the dolmengrove putting on these public rituals in the last year or so. before that i worked regulary with a much more well known figure of the pagan world called kevin carlyon. his successful rituals at maiden castle and cerne abbas are world reknowned. i would love to know if any of the dolmengrove members have had the pleasure of working with this great man.
blessed be to all witches
jen

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quiz, says...
8:12pm Fri 27 Apr 07

Does this breach local bye-laws on burning and smoke zones?

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heather, says...
1:42am Sat 28 Apr 07

Paganwolf wrote:
Looks like being an outstanding Beltane celebration Wish i'd known about this earlier, would love to have gone. Blessings )0(
Me too :(
Have a good one.
Bright blessings, heather.****

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Kara, Wabash, Indiana USA says...
11:54am Sat 28 Apr 07

Your Plans sound wonderful, Enjoy the holiday, Bright Blessings to all from Wabash Indiana, USA, Sadiemoon

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jen, Rochester, NY USA says...
2:47pm Sat 28 Apr 07

Im sure if they printed about a fest at the local C of E church John would have thought how lovely, sorry to see you have fearful bigots in UK too.... Merry part and enjoy the festivities! Jen Rochester, NY

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Boniface.'., San Antonio, Texas says...
4:38pm Sat 28 Apr 07

Happy Beltane! It great to read what other Pagans are doing in their local areas. Have a great holiday!

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Katherine, Memphis, TN USA says...
6:34pm Sat 28 Apr 07

The festival sounds wonderful. Have a great Beltane and Bright Blessings from Memphis USA.

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Chaz, Derbyshire says...
12:56pm Mon 30 Apr 07

I went to this occassion, the first I have been too. It was excellent and I believe very worthy of coverage by a local paper. That John feels it is not newsworthy is just an expression of his lack of understanding concerning what are the rituals that stem from belief systems much older than Christianity and as such part of the fabric of this nation. They also help promote care of the world we live in and as such are extremely valid especially considering the way we are damaging our planet at this time.

well done to all the organisers of this event and thank you to those who made me so welcome.

Chaz

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wykewitch, Weymouth says...
12:03am Tue 1 May 07

jenny wrote:
i was born in dorset and have lived here for all my 49 years. it is interesting to note that i have only known about the dolmengrove putting on these public rituals in the last year or so. before that i worked regulary with a much more well known figure of the pagan world called kevin carlyon. his successful rituals at maiden castle and cerne abbas are world reknowned. i would love to know if any of the dolmengrove members have had the pleasure of working with this great man. blessed be to all witches jen
I've only been a part of the Dolmen grove for a year, so I don’t know if they have worked with him. They have not been public for long and have a private temple they used to work in to maintain animosity. Many members today still wish to remain behind closed doors and would not like to work in open ritual. If Kevin has not worked with the Dolmen Grove whilst it was a "hidden" grove, maybe it's because they wished not to be prominent and therefore did not work publicly with prominent folk.

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wykewitch, Weymouth says...
12:05am Tue 1 May 07

quiz wrote:
Does this breach local bye-laws on burning and smoke zones?
no

it was done in an isolated dorset campsite with the full permission of the land owners

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wykewitch, Weymouth says...
12:09am Tue 1 May 07

Judging by the number of dorset folk that patronised the festival, I have to say there was alot of local interest in this news story. I'm sure everyone on the Echo staff are very professional and their object is to find stories that sell papers, not to give their "mates" a platform. There have been Dolmen grove stories offered to the Echo which have been dropped or refused.

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wykewitch, Weymouth says...
12:14am Tue 1 May 07

Thanks for all the kind comments about this artical from pagans worldwide. It will be going ahead next year and you will all be welcomed. We will also be holding another pagan festival later this year. If you want to find out more please call the number at the bottom of the artical. :D

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Do\'set Man, Dorset says...
7:42am Tue 1 May 07

What a truly wonderful weekend the Beltane Festival was. Warm, gentle folk welcoming in the summer. A beautiful, quintessentially ENGLISH experience.

You missed out John,
but with a closed mind, I suppose you always will.

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Paganwolf, Midlands UK says...
12:44pm Tue 1 May 07

wykewitch wrote:
Thanks for all the kind comments about this artical from pagans worldwide. It will be going ahead next year and you will all be welcomed. We will also be holding another pagan festival later this year. If you want to find out more please call the number at the bottom of the artical. :D
Be assured Wykewitch, I will be there.

thanks also for making this known to those available to those outside the immiediate area.

Sounds like a great time was had by all

Blessings

Paganwolf )0(

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The Dolmen, Weymouth says...
3:03pm Tue 1 May 07

Bright and Beautiful blessings to everyone and especially all those in other lands looking in on this, A truly excellent weekend as stated above celebrating the May festival of rebirth, the people were beautiful to the heart, and although many tread various forms of old path they stood together united in friendship, and love of earth and life.

John, you do your homework and you will find that the Dolmen Grove are very active with LOCAL matters and events and although the Grove has only released some of its activitys to be seen publicly over the last year it has stood for thirty years in Dorset, and has members around the globe.
Dolmen Grove members have attended and have held many events rituals and celebrations at places such as Stonehenge Avebury and numerous other British sites bringing attention to our ancient pagan heritage,
The Grove saw the rising of the Glastonbury Order of Druids 19 years ago and supported its founder and still do today, Rollo Maughfling Arch Druid and his wife Donna Arch Druidess who still run the Order.
The Grove also is home to the Stagcult believed to be the earliest form of spirituality known in this country and many parts of the ancient world. It also celebrates and preserves the spiritual knowledge of the Dorset Horned God The Ooser.

How often do you see a massive Wiccaman being built and burnt in tradition to the old customs of Britain. Whats so bad about that as a bit of local news.
We are all Human and surely we all love to laugh and enjoy ourselves the news should not just be grave and serious it must have some light hearted as well as historical content.

And as for knowing contacts in the paper,
Here is a surprise for you John, Dolmen Grove events if being of interest to the public have been covered by many papers, and apart from the ridiculous jealousy and twisted reactions of closed minds, enjoy excellent local public responce to their charity events.

On Sunday night a bus full of Gove members left the festival and went to London.
Joining with other Pagans they Marched over Westminster Bridge and down into Parliment Square, where they claimed their right to practice the ancient spirituality of Britain and raised a May pole amid other things,the fist time this has been done for over a thousand years.
Do you honestly think we have an in with all the local rags who took an interest.

Vote Stonehenge as a New 7 Wonder of the World.

Peace x x x



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Falcon, Midlands says...
10:09am Fri 4 May 07

Hi All

This was my first time at an event and i have never enjoyed myself so much, just love, happiness,friendship and peace what more could anyone want. Many thanks you guys at the dolman Grove and cant wait to see you at the next one. Oh nearly forgot the music was pretty dam good.

Love and Peace

Falcon

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BURNING ISSUE: The wicker man which will be set alight on Saturday Chris Walsh, Melkin, is pictured right with two other members of the Dolmen Grove BURNING ISSUE: The wicker man which will be set alight on Saturday Chris Walsh, Melkin, is pictured right with two other members of the Dolmen Grove

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