PAST CAMP WELCOME PAGE – October, 2018!
Wild Maine Witchcamp: Sunday Oct 7 – Friday Oct 12, 2018
Full sliding-scale registration has closed, but min. cost-covering registration is still available for now! Please head over to the registration page to get signed up.
Lif and Lífþrasir: Amid The Warring Forces of Ragnarok, How do Life and the Love of Life endure?
The fires of war, greed, heirarchy- and the ensuing flames of an unparalleled unraveling are consuming our Mother. In our story, Lif (life) leads Lífþrasir (Lifthrasir, lover of live) into the trees. Will you join us as we follow them into this sacred forest?
Wild Maine Witchcamp rejects any interpretations of this myth that reinforce white supremacy and colonizer culture.
What is Wild Maine Witchcamp?
The Wild Maine Witchcamp is a gathering in the Reclaiming tradition, with specific values of inclusivity, physical & financial accessibility, and a deep connection with the Maine land as well as the earth in general. Camp will be located in a beautiful forest on a stunning piece of coastline, with tall trees and beautiful beaches.
Physical accessibility:The main part of camp is wheelchair accessible, and much of the surrounding area has only a very gentle slope. We anticipate making all camp-wide activities physically accessible for everyone. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.
For folks new to Witchcamps: This is a week long gathering that weaves together nature connection, earth based spirituality, and a culture of activism in these most interesting times. During the week we will explore the story of Ragnarok with specific emphasis on the experiences of Lif and Lifthrasir, intermingling their embodied and relational experiences with the ritual and participatory arc of the week. In the mornings we will meet as Paths (like classes) led by Path Teachers, then in the afternoon there’s a more free form optional offering time, and in the evenings everyone will come together for big group rituals. These rituals are a big part of how we move through the story, and each one will be collaborative and participatory with lots of community involvement both in the facilitation of the rituals and the planning before hand. There will be many opportunities to connect with each other, the land, the earth, as well as plenty of opportunities to have alone time and meet our own personal needs whatever they may be.
For folks coming from other Witchcamps: There are a few things that make our camp special in it’s own way…we have a generally accessible location with flat ground and wheelchair accessible buildings, we are on the beautiful and amazing ocean, and we are a “pay what you can, no one turned away for lack of funds” camp. We also have a strong theme of activism and connection to the natural world around us. We are also a very new camp and welcome feedback and suggestions from folks who have experience with other camps.
Theme/Story
This years Story is the Nordic tale of the Ragnarok, a story about the unraveling of the very fabric of life, and the brave people Lif and Lifthrasir (embodied as both humans and other than humans, as we’ve interpreted it) who seek to preserve the fabric of life by going into the trees. We choose the story because it called to us given our current reality, and because of the relational elements of community mutual aid and support between people and trees in the story, and because a story of bravery and courage and seeking in a time of need felt particularly appropriate these days…and because the trees are beckoning.
Optional Offerings
Each afternoon will be filled (often over flowing) with one-off optional offerings. Frequently focused on specific skills or topics of conversation, these offerings are a free-for-all and everyone is empowered to offer something!
Ritual Planning
Also in the afternoon, campers will be encouraged to help plan the camp-wide rituals. A Ritual Facilitation team will be supporting this collaborative work. We are striving to have our rituals as camper-led as possible.
Evening Ritual
Each evening, we will gather as a camp for an evening ritual. Facilitated by everyone, and with the support of a Ritual Facilitation team, these rituals will guide us through the camp’s story.
Facility and Communal Logistics
Camp will be located near Tenants Harbor, just South of Rockland. The site has a heated and centrally located dinning hall/kitchen space and a wide range of cabins and classroom spaces located near by. The land has a gentle slope towards the ocean and the central areas we will use are wheel chair accessible. Camp is a collaborative endeavor, not an expensive retreat, and to keep costs low everyone will be pitching in to help camp go smoothly, from sweeping floors and washing dishes to making announcements, handing out name tags, and keeping the coffee pot going. During the week there will be chances to provide feedback and we will be changing plans on the fly as needed in order to support the whole community in a good way. There will be a lot going on, and we will also do our best to structure in open times so things don’t feel to busy.
And FOOD!
As attendees from past camps know, Wild Maine Witchcamp’s Kitchen Witch (or witches) ensures our meals are unforgettable.
Each day we will have beautiful food cooked by an amazing and talented kitchen team. We use as much local organic food as possible, bolstered by Maine’s thriving farming community. We also do our best to accommodate everyone’s food needs. Please be in touch with us if you have any questions or concerns regarding special dietary requirements.
