Beltane 2023
On a sunny evening we danced round the maypole, jumped over the fire and celebrated the fertility and greening of the land.

The past year has seen us out in the woods celebrating and stirring up magic. Beltane was the first seasonal celebration with no rain since Autumn last year. 

We’ve gathered a few more witches on the way, lost a few who realised they didn’t have witchblood flowing through their veins no matter how hard they tried, toasted the Gods round the fire more times than I can remember, had a tree blow over just missing us in the October gale, got drenched with rain and battered with wind at Samhain and had a squirrel in a nest landing in the circle – it survived!

Samhain 2023

Lughnasadh

Thanks to those who have booked on to our only open event of the year. You will shortly be receiving final details about the first evening meeting. We look forward to welcoming you into our woodland circle very soon.

If you are thinking about joining us and have yet to book, follow the link to reserve your place around the fire. Sales end on Wednesday 20th April.

Celebrating Ostara and the return of Spring. On a warm, still, calm night in the woods we welcomed the return of Spring. The Gods were honoured, the work was done and we gathered around the fire to celebrate.

Introduction to Witchcraft Circle 2022

Our ‘Earth Magic and Witchcraft’ development circle returns for 2022.

Taking place once a month, in the evening, for three months, beginning in April 2022.

Get out into the woods, discover the magic of the earth, learn some basics of witchcraft and meet like minded folk round a fire.

It can be an introduction for those who are starting out on their own who wish to learn more the craft and develop their own personal practice, or a chance to catch up and meet others if you are a more experienced practitioner.

For anyone looking at applying to become part of our coven it is an essential first part of your training.

  We like to spread this over three months to give time and space for personal reflection, exploration and reading. The coven members will be available for any questions.

  The course is based on our own tradition and our own personal views of witchcraft. We encourage everyone to explore and study on their own.

  You need to be prepared to engage with the course, as it will involve discussions and practical work.

Run by Elderthorn, an established witchcraft group. For more information see our website.

http://www.elderthorncoven.com

The first evening meeting will take place outside, what ever the weather. It will be in a woodland in the Stockport/Tameside area. The exact location will be emailed to you when you have purchased your ticket. There are no facilities or toilets and it is a short walk from the car park.

Next Course Dates

Wednesday 27th April 2022

Wednesday 25th May 2022

Wednesday 27th June 2022

 Cost

£19.50 for all three sessions, payable in advance.

 Venue

First meeting -Outside space

Meet in car park. In Stockport/Tameside area.

Details given after booking.

&

Earth Spirit Healing Gardens

5 Stamford Street

Stalybridge

SK15 1JP

 Time

7.30 – 9.30

 How to Book

To pay online here:

Click on the SELECT A DATE, choose one date and then click TICKETS then choose your payment method.

Or pay in person at

Earth Spirit Healing Gardens,

5 Stamford Road, Stalybridge

https://www.earthspirithealinggardens.co.uk/

 Please Note

• Places are limited and on a first come first served basis
• If you do not attend or cancel less than 7 days before the event the charge is non refundable (This is because it is unlikely that we can resell your place so close to the event, this way, if people cancel, the course can still go ahead.)
• Eventbrite fees are non refundable
• Attending the course does not necessarily mean acceptance into the coven
• You must be over 25yrs of age, not suitable for children under any circumstances.
• The course is based on our own personal practice and experience and is not intended as training into any other tradition.

On a full moon night, with storm warnings and high winds, there was only one place to be – in the woods with a roaring fire!

Thanks so much to all of you who have taken time to contact us over the last few weeks. We’ve had more messages than usual and we will hopefully contact you all in the next few days.

We will be going dark for the first three months of this year, using the time to reconnect, reintegrate and deepen our group mind after the interruptions and ravages of Covid during the last two years. So we will be hiding away in the darkness of the woods, and will not be accepting any new members.

Our very successful Introduction to Witchcraft Circle will be repeated this year hopefully starting the last Wednesday in April. Applications to be added to mailing list are now open. Please send a message ( we will need an email) or email if you are interested and you will receive updates when details are finalised and bookings are open.

Taking place once a month, in the evening, for three months, beginning in April 2022. For anyone looking at applying to become part of our coven it is an essential first part of your training. The course is based on our own tradition and our own personal views of witchcraft. We encourage everyone to explore and study on their own. You need to be prepared to engage with the course, as it will involve discussions and practical work

Next Course Dates:April 2022 -TBC

 Cost: £16 for all three sessions, payable in advance.

Venues: Woodland in Stockport/Tameside area & Earth Spirit Healing Gardens, Stalybridge.

 Please Note

• Places are limited and on a first come first served basis
• If you do not attend or cancel less than 7 days before the event the charge is non refundable
• Attending the course does not necessarily mean acceptance into the coven
• You must be over 25yrs of age, not suitable for children or animals under any circumstances.
• The course is based on our own personal practice and experience and is not intended as training into any other tradition.

You can contact us via email: blackthornmoon@hotmail.co.uk

Or complete the contact form to register your interest

Following our tradition, we met in the woods to celebrate the turning of the year and to work magic at the full and dark moons.

Covid stalked the land and we were not left untouched. We only had a full group once, on one rainy cold night in November. Healing became our main focus and sent out to all who have been affected by the seemingly endless pandemic.

Here’s hoping it is on its way out in 2022.

Thanks to all those who attended our 2021 Introduction to Witchcraft Course.

It was wonderful to meet so many other like minded people and to give some of them their first experiences of being out in the woods at night.

A belated welcome those who chose to join the coven in May 2021.

We plan to hold another course in Spring 2022: dates TBC

Our ‘Introduction to Witchcraft’ development circle returns for 2021.

Taking place once a month, in the evening, for three months, beginning in May 2021.

It can be an introduction for those who are starting out on their own who wish to learn more the craft and develop their own personal practice, or a chance to catch up and meet others if you are a more experienced practitioner.

For anyone looking at applying to become part of our coven it is an essential first part of your training.

  We like to spread this over three months to give time and space for personal reflection, exploration and reading. The coven members will be available for any questions.

  The course is based on our own tradition and our own personal views of witchcraft. We encourage everyone to explore and study on their own.

  You need to be prepared to engage with the course, as it will involve discussions and practical work.

Run by Elderthorn, an established coven. For more information see our website.

http://www.elderthorncoven.com

DUE COVID RESTRICTIONS, the first evening meeting will take place outside, what ever the weather. It will be in a woodland in the Stockport/Tameside area. The exact location will be emailed to you when you have purchased your ticket. There are no facilities or toilets and it is a short walk from the car park. We hope to have snacks and drink depending on restrictions in place at the time.

Next Course Dates

Wednesday 26th May 2021

Wednesday 28th June 2021

Wednesday 25th July 2021

 Cost

£16 for all three sessions, payable in advance.

 Venue

First meeting -Outside space

Meet in car park. In Stockport/Tameside area.

Details given after booking.

&

Earth Spirit Healing Gardens

5 Stamford Street

Stalybridge

SK15 1JP

 Time

7.30 – 10.00

 How to Book

Book through Eventbrite here

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/introduction-to-witchcraft-circle-tickets-32797187270

Or visit Earth Spirit Healing Gardens and pay in person.

 Please Note

• Places are limited and on a first come first served basis
• COVID RESTRICTIONS: all current guidlines will be adhered to, the first meeting is outside.
• If you do not attend or cancel less than 7 days before the event the charge is non refundable (This is because it is unlikely that we can resell your place so close to the event, this way, if people cancel, the course can still go ahead.)
• Attending the course does not necessarily mean acceptance into the coven
• You must be over 25yrs of age, not suitable for children under any circumstances.
• The course is based on our own personal practice and experience and is not intended as training into any other tradition.

As soon as the restrictions were eased in September we were out celebrating Autumn Equinox. It rained all night but the ritual was done, the Gods, the land and the season were honoured.

We were out in in the woods for Samhain, a wonderful evening, the clouds cleared around midnight and the blue full moon revealed herself to us, shining through the trees on to our fire.

A few of the coven met up for the first time since Ostara for our annual Midsummer Night’s vigil.

Getting back in our woodland circle was something we’d been look forward to for weeks so we built the fire even bigger than usual in order to stick to the social distancing rules and sit well apart.

The night was still, warm and inviting as we watched the light melt away from the wood leaving the trees in the special midsummer half light darkness.

Sitting cocooned in our sacred space we settled down to watch and wait for the sunrise. The dawn chorus began around half an hour before sunrise time, as the sky very slowly began to grow lighter.

We have watched countless sunrises and usually the clouds obscure the sun, this morning was the clearest we had ever experienced. The first rays of the rising sun hit the exact centre of our circle, we set the circle space up a couple of years ago and didn’t know we’d chosen the exact spot where this would happen.

Magic!

The sun lit up the tree trunks, the bracken, the grass and touched everything with golden light.

A truly memorable special time.

We will be out and about celebrating our tenth anniversary this week, the coven began in December 2009.  Some of the original founders are still with us, others have joined over the years, others have left all adding their own unique energies and personalities. 

 

We’d like to thank everyone who has been involved with us over the years for their contributions – friends, coven members old and new and our blog readers.

Looking forward to the next ten years…

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have developed our ‘Introduction to Witchcraft’ development circle to run once a month, in the evening, for three months and this is taking place again this year.

 It can be an introduction for those who are starting out on their own who wish to learn more the craft and develop their own personal practice.

 Also, for anyone looking at applying to become part of our coven it is an essential first part of your training.

We like to spread this over three months to give time and space for personal reflection, exploration and reading. The coven elders will be available for any questions that may arise during the three months.

The course is run by our coven and is based on our own tradition and our own personal views of witchcraft. We encourage everyone to explore and study on their own so please be prepared to do this.

 You need to be prepared to engage with the course, as it will involve discussions and practical work.

The Next Course Dates

Wednesday 10^th May 2017

Wednesday 14^th June 2017

Wednesday 12^th July 2017

Cost

£20 for all three sessions, payable in advance.

Venue

Earth Spirit Healing Gardens

5 Stamford Street

Stalybridge

SK15 1JP

 Time

7.30 – 10.00

How to Book

Follow the link below for online booking or visit Earth Spirit Healing Gardens and pay in person.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/introduction-to-witchcraft-tickets-32797187270

Please Note

• Places are limited and on a first come first served basis
• If you do not attend or cancel less than 7 days before the event the charge is non refundable (This is because it is unlikely that we can resell your place so close to the event, this way, if people cancel, the course can still go ahead.)
• Attending the course does not necessarily mean acceptance into the coven
• You must be over 25 yrs of age
• The course is based on our own personal practice and experience and is not intended as training into any other tradition.
• By booking a place on the workshop, you are agreeing to the above terms.
• Apologies for the notes but over the years experience has taught us many things about running events and thanks for your understanding