Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Pagan
Midsummer Celebration at The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic

Midsummer Celebration at The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic

Last updated on: June 25, 2018 at 6:13 pm by Ian Chambers

Midsummer Celebration at The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic 2018-06-25T18:13:54+00:00 Ian Chambers

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Boscastle, Cornwall, UK. 23rd June 2018.

The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, Boscastle, Cornwall, UK. Straw decoration by Victoria Musson. Photography: Ian Chambers 2018

The Midsummer went off in a traditional manner at the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic in Cornwall, UK, with a celebration that marked the fire festival in a beautiful way. Nestled on the horn of land which is Cornwall, tucked away in the North Cornish coast and hidden in the valley by the craggy, rolling scoops of hills, Boscastle is a place where two rivers conjoin before winding out into the harbour to meet the sea where the mighty Atlantic beats against the shore. Perhaps it is the natural, raw, elemental nature of the area, or perhaps it is the presence of pockets of witchcraft that persevered into the modern world, or maybe it is the popularity of the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic. For me, it is the special character of liminality which is embodied by Boscastle, where land meets sea so dramatically, where sea meets sky in glorious splendour, and sky, in turn, descends to clothe the land in its ethereal mists. During my first visit, many years ago, I was entranced by the eddying, swirling, fascinating space where the river and sea met and mingled their fresh and salt water elements in an alchemical process. North Cornwall has held a place in my heart since our first encounter, and Boscastle was no exception at Midsummer, 2018.

To celebrate the midsummer, the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic hosted the wonderful Victoria Musson, who was also one of the speakers at the first Welsh Occult Conference the previous month. Hailing from the Midlands, Victoria is one of those people who exudes natural magic imbued through her connectedness with landscape and nature. It is clear that Victoria has the natural world, the very earth, instilled within her soul and it is in working with nature that the Midsummer spirit was crafted so beautifully in the form of the God and Goddess.

The God and Goddess at Midsummer, by Victoria Musson. Photo: Ian Chambers 2018

Commencing with the onset of the Summer Solstice on Thursday, 21st, Victoria honoured the festival by decorating the exterior of the Museum. With exquisite craftsmanship, Victoria brought together the spirit of the season in the most natural and sympathetic manner, creating sun wheels and decorating the Museum’s wishing well, as well as erecting four solar cross figures across the bridge which spans the river. Representing each of the elements, each decoration was accompanied with a description and it was a joy to see, and hear, visitors and children reading aloud the significances of the elements, the meanings behind the symbols, and the general embracing of this most natural of festivals.

With some glorious summer weather, azure skies and the scorching rays of Helios beating down, it could not have proved a more auspicious celebration. Kicking off at noon with dancing from River Moor Coven this was followed by the raising of the Golden Cockerel and dancing around the midsummer tree.

Elemental Tau Cross figures crossing the bridge. By Victoria Musson. Photo: Ian Chambers 2018

The main feature, however, was the God and Goddess figures who were lovingly fashioned from straw and hay by Victoria, emerging from the natural materials as true representatives of those forces which interplay at this time and embody the year’s growth, the promise of harvest; the boon and sacrifice at this time. As the solar ‘king’ rises in his zenith, reaching peak prowess and vigour, raining down fecund rays, yet punishing as darts of war, the solar ‘head’ is offered up for the promise of that to come in its due turn. These, then, were the sacrificial pair who would carry to the baptismal fire our hopes and wishes. Pertinently, the figures were made with cavities in which wishes had been placed over an eight day period outside the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic. Safely bestowed in the empty space of the Gods, these hopes were duly offered up. The night king would now draw close and show is dark face, as the Lord of the Dead takes sovereignty for the final half of the year leading ever onwards toward the mound, gathering up all in his Wild Raid.

And so, as the sun waned and the sky took on a flame orange tint to its hue, the figure of the God and Goddess were relocated to the liminal space where the river and sea meet, where earth and water combine, and the air will carry the hopes and wishes of the gathering as the flames lick at the Gods as they undertake their journey toward the shadows.

The Gods at sunset, Boscastle. Photo: Ian Chambers 2018

The many visitors who had gathered for this wonderful culmination of the day gradually converged upon the river and the Gods, while the mighty Helios made his way towards his underworld home. There was a pause in proceedings, the tension and atmosphere rising, before dancers entered the now cooling waters and began lithely moving with flames. The fire dancers did a tremendous job and the temperature plummeted as the sun began to hide His face, the ‘head’ now bowed for the final sacrifice and baptism by fire.

Fire dancers, Boscastle. Photo: Ian Chambers 2018

As the Gods vanished and sank to ash, washed away out to sea and the most remarkable sky, people began dissipating. The dancers carried on their dance, however, and those few who remained, including Victoria Musson, enjoyed the most wonderful performances.

Fire dancers, Boscastle. Photo: Ian Chambers 2018

In all, it was a wonderful event and a tremendously beautiful weekend. It is great to see the Museum marking the fire festival and it is heartwarming to see such a good turn out, especially to appreciate the work of the wonderful Victoria Musson.

With thanks to Victoria and the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic.

About Ian Chambers

Ian Chambers is a traditional witch engrossed in the study and practice of the Art as conveyed by means of the mysteries. By diligent study, research, exploration and direct application of myth and magic, the author has dedicated his life to the Work with many sacrifices along the way. Walking the lonely path, the Covenant of the Wanderer, a Child of the Land of Nod, raising the lantern by which the path of the Chapel Perilous may be illumined and the Castle perceived. You can read more about the author here.

Previous Post

June 14, 2018

Interview With Mat Auryn

Next Post

July 6, 2018 Visualisation - Eyes Wide Open

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 1734 Ancestors Apophatic Sorcery Atramentous Press Beltane Betrayal big dipper Book Book Review Brigit Candlemas Ced Ced Tarot child of promise Christmas Climate Community Compass Conferences Conjuration culture Cultus Sabbati Dance Death Devil Dionysus Double Easter Environment Esotericism Events Experience Fairy Fate Folklore Greek Gods Greek Magical Papyri Green Man Grimoire history Initiation Interviews Jewish Mysticism Judas Kabbalah Legend Lilith Mandrake Books Llewellyn Lore Lucifer Magic Magic in History Series May Day Meditation Merkabah Monkey King Myth Necromancy New Books NEws north star road Oberon Obituary Occult Offerings Opposer Pagan Pax Deorum Pax Diaboli PGM Philosophy Poetry Politics Praxis Punk Witchcraft Ralph Harvey Reviews Richard Gordon Rita Morgan Ronald “Chalky” White Sabbatic Witchcraft Sabbats Sun Wukong Taoist the Regency The Witch Compass Three Hands Press Tradition Traditional Witchcraft Trickster God Tricksters Uncategorized via Negativa White Dragon Winds Witch lore Witchcraft Witchcraft Lore Witches' Sabbath wyrd Yule

Select a Month May 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 July 2024 June 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 December 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 December 2021 July 2021 May 2021 April 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 December 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 June 2017 October 2016 September 2016 July 2016 June 2016 April 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz