Come work moonlight magic in the Salem of the South at Coven Oldenwilde's free, family-friendly Samhain XVI at the French Broad River Park at 508 Riverview Drive in Asheville, North Carolina.
Enter and take a "boat ride" through beautiful woods beside the river Styx to the torch-lit circling site.
Dance to mystical music in an eerie blue light show! Revel with hundreds of others of like mind!
Encounter the Mast Beast. Will it grant you abundance this New Year?
Get free fortune-telling readings from great volunteer readers using all kinds of divination systems! Buy an author-signed copy of The Goodly Spellbook: Olde Spells For Modern Problems by Lady Passion & *Diuvei ($25/copy).
The Mast Beast (a.k.a. Wild Oss, Obby Oss, Hobby Horse) appears in many a British village at certain magical times of the year, summoning the untamed animal Spirit in the ancient tradition of "guising" that continues today in the masks and costumes of Halloween. (Pictured above is Knobbin, the Wild Oss of the Dorset Knobs Mummers.)
To learn more about the history and construction of the mystical Mast Beast, read this excellent articleExcerpt from "The Mast Beast":
The head of the beast, most commonly an actual animal skull but sometimes a wooden replica, is mounted on a pole (the "mast"). A cloth attached to the head covers both the usually bent over body of the operator and the stick which supports the head, concealing the operator and suggesting the shape of the animal. There are surviving intact Mast Beast traditions from Cheshire and Kent in England, and from South Wales. Interesting parallel traditions exist in the Nordic countries, in the form of the Yule Goat, and further afield in South Eastern Europe. by English mummer Corwen ap Broch.
- All ages welcome to our annual free labor of love — donations greatly appreciated!
- No prior magical experience necessary to fully participate.
- Please, no pets or familiars.
- Suggested attire: Fancy black/warm clothing with a cloak or cape. Masks, makeup, costumes — be Witchy creative!
Needs List
- Volunteers:
- Helpers to decorate the site beforehand and break down afterward. Earn a ticket to the Covenstead Afterparty!
- Drivers of vans, trucks, or whatever you have to shuttle attendees from the parking area at nearby Carrier Park.
- Characters: Silent psychopomps to guide "boat rides" and Fortune-tellers.
- Photographers: Got a digital camera or camcorder? We would love to post a gallery (or a link to your gallery) of your best photos or video after the rite. (The light will be dim that night, so close-ups will come out best.)
- Mast Beast Skull: A goodly horse skull is traditionally used (see these instructions). $299.00 ... DONATED (THANK YOU!)
- 300 6-inch BLUE glow-sticks (find good price on Ebay). Order and ship to
this addressCoven Oldenwilde
113 Clinton Ave.
Asheville, NC 28806-2456. 250 DONATED (THANK YOU!) — NEED 50 MORE - Many strings of "drippy" white Xmas-style lights.
- Lots of tiki-torch fuel (and tiki torches). 2 TORCHES DONATED (THANK YOU!)
- Bags o' candy (old-fashioned types best).
- Long outdoor extension cords (can be marked & returned to you after rite).
Coven Oldenwilde is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Your donations are tax-deductible.
When & Where
- Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010, from 8 - 10 pm, at French Broad River Park, 508 Riverview Drive (intersection with Amboy Road — the "dog park," same site as our Samhain rites in 2003, 2004, & 2005), West Asheville, NC.
- Parking at or beside Carrier Park on Amboy Rd. (Volunteer shuttle drivers are needed!)
- Taxicab numbers (all 828 area code): 258-8331, 253-3311, 252-1913, 232-1112.
- The park is wheelchair-accessible, and handicapped-parking spaces will be reserved in the limited parking area in the French Broad River Park, close to the entrance to the ritual.
- Affordable nearby hostel and hotels: Bon Paul & Sharky's Hostel; Super 8; Sleep Inn West. If you're staying the weekend in Asheville, we also highly recommend a visit to the spas and sauna at Shoji Retreat.
Map & Directions
See Google Map at right, or print out these directions.For More Information
- Contact Lady Passion & *Diuvei:
- Phone: (828) 251-0343
- Cell (on Oct. 30 only, please!): (828) 335-2486
- E-mail: oldenwilde@oldenwilde.org
- View gallery of the past 15 Asheville Annual Free Public Halloween Samhain Witch Rituals!
At left, participants in spiral dance at Samhain 13 in 2007 are joined by hundreds of orbs.Larger version of this photo
Larger version of this photo
Original, raw version