Choosing your Clan
Make sure that you read over all of the Clan descriptions carefully. There are many wonderful possibilities. On your registration form, you will need to list four Clans as possible choices for the weekend. We will try to give everyone their first or second choice, but it is important that you indicate four preferences since we assign the Clans primarily on a first-come first-served basis and some will fill up quickly.
Number your preferences from 1 to 4, with 1 being your first choice. Registration forms which are filled out incompletely will only delay processing time, making it less likely that first choices will be available.
So that Clan Leaders can best meet the needs of all of the members of their Clan, whatever their level of experience, we ask that everyone answer all of the questions on the registration form.
All of the Clans at Twilight Covening are designed to provide deep and fulfilling experiences. Some Clans, indicated with an asterisk (*), include work that relies on past experience or is especially challenging. If you would like to apply to join one of these Clans, please let us know why and include a description of your training, skills and practice with his kind of work in your application along with information about the kind of support system you have in place outside of Twilight Covening (coven, teacher, therapist, etc.). If you do not include all of this information, we cannot assign you to one of these Clans.
To fully complete the ritual of Twilight Covening, you should arrive by dinner time on Friday and must plan to stay on site until Monday afternoon so that you don't miss your Clan's final meeting or the closing circle.
Clan assignments will be finalized and mailed after the registration deadline of September 20. We will have a master list in the office; please call if you have not received your assignment by October 1st.
Clans 2012
Bottlenose Dolphin Clan *
The bottlenose dolphin shares human's ability to use symbolism. Tarot cards use symbolism to open our intuition and help us touch our deepest inner knowing. The many modern decks that have appeared allow us to explore more than the well-known symbols from western ceremonial traditions. New symbols, ranging from simple numbers or colors, to animals, plants and other archetypal images can carry entire stories in a single picture or shape. This clan will help you take your Tarot skills to a new level. We'll move through the history of the Tarot and by exploring many decks, making our own cards, and doing readings, we'll discover the ways symbols connect them all, as all the seas connect to each other. This clan is for people already familiar tarot who want support and guidance to expand their confidence from simple reading to deeper practice. Like Dolphins, we will both dive deeply into mysterious depths, and joyously leap above the surface to share what we have learned with our fellows.
Susan Curewith Arthen and Tchipakkan, leaders
Butterfly Clan
We all go through many transitions in our lives, formal and informal, easeful and challenging. A major life transformation can be seen to have phases much like Butterflyís metamorphosis: Preparation, Letting Go of the Old/Dissolving, Inner Work/Reforming, and Breaking Out to the New. In this Clan we will take the opportunity to visualize and shape that process through creative self-expression - integrating magical tools such as writing, music, movement, and art-making. In doing so our personal transformation may also become fuel for healing ourselves, our communities, and the planet. This Clan is geared for people of all ages who are in any stage of a transition that involves your place in the world.
Morwen Two Feathers, leader
Catamount Clan
Solitary, keenly aware, and mobile, the catamount once ranged across our landscape, a silent predator without peer. As mountain lions, we will observe and learn about our surroundings, and use solitary shamanic exercises to open ourselves and experience being a part of nature in a real, not metaphorical, way. We will confront deep instinctive fears, spending most of our days outside away from paths and people, and sleeping one night in the leaves. Our exercises will range from the practical to the magical, sitting silently alone in the woods and building awareness of our inner selves and our place in the world. Practice in concealment and camouflage with natural materials will give us the opportunity to use our senses in new ways, both inward and outward. We will also learn the story of the land on which we live and how we are a part if it. People with health or mobility or physical touch issues should not apply for this clan. It is physically demanding, and we will get dirty and wet at times.
Carolyn and Rowan Hawthorne, leaders
Chrysalis Clan
The labyrinth is an ancient pattern that has been used for centuries in magical and spiritual contexts to bring about profound transformation. It can be a tool for when we become 'stuck' and need to reach deep within ourselves to find the inspiration to move forward. Just as the caterpillar journeys to its own center and emerges transformed, this clan will use journaling, labyrinth construction, walking and facilitation, meditation, and experimentation with music and sound in order to journey to the stillness within and emerge with the tools we need to facilitate our own metamorphosis. This clan is for anyone feeling stuck, beginning a cycle of transformation or just wanting to work deeply with the labyrinth. The work will be physically active at times and we will spend much of our time outdoors regardless of the weather. You do not need previous experience with the labyrinth to join this clan.
Chrysalis clan will share a cabin.
Tracy Andryc and Chris Lafond, Leaders
Crow Clan *
Slough off your ego and join a murder of crows. Experience the magic of being the "unseen hands". Crow clan will work with maintaining heightened awareness in connection with others while facilitating ritual energy flow. We will use trust exercises and non-verbal communication to develop a focused but anonymous presence within ritual space, trancing in instead of trancing out. The Crows will provide support for the Fire releasing and Visioning rituals. Not recommended for persons with physical touch issues or mobility challenges. Clan members must have previously attended Twilight Covening.
Crow clan will share a cabin
Moira Ashleigh and Duncan Eagleson, leaders
Deer Clan
This Clan offers the opportunity to expand and deepen our relationship with the natural world without romanticizing or objectifying or analyzing it. Through respectful attention, we can make connections with the beings that surround us. To that end, we will spend most of our time outdoors, stilling our minds and extending our senses. We will use techniques such as gazing, energy swapping, and aura cleansing to clear our minds, increase our awareness of our surroundings, and enable us to sense and be with the other beings present.
Miriam Klamkin, leader
Golden Eagle Clan *
In this advanced clan, we will use the techniques of the shamanic journey to strengthen our relationships with our inner council of helpers and guides, expand our personal spiritual geographies, and discover new resources for growth, healing and transformation. In a safe and sacred circle we will enter trance with drum, rattle, and ritual, explore multiple levels of the shamanic universe and learn a variety of classic shamanic practices. Open to all who have been in the Eagle Clan or who indicate comparable experience on their application.
Jane LeCompte and Andrew Arthur, leaders
Grouse Clan
Circle Dancing has been a major part of ancient cultures. These dances were used to celebrate all aspects of life. Through these dances, was the way to deeply connect to spirit, community and to achieve a meditative state through movement. Circle Dancing is joyful, energizing, peaceful and fun. Using Sacred Circle Dances from many cultures old and new, we will connect to spirit, meditate and experience the great joy of being in our bodies.
Karina Fireheart, leader
Ibis Clan
Ibises were sacred to the ancient Egyptians, and considered them a manifestation of Thoth, who was credited him as the author of all works of, astronomy, astrology, the science of numbers, mathematics, geometry, land surveying, and sacred science. This Clan will be working with techniques to create our own contemporary ritualized landscape, incorporating aspects of astronomically aligned megalithic structures and sacred geometry inspired by variety of cultures and times. During this process, we will work with the land itself in constructing a 'sacred site", utilizing archaeological / anthropological studies and elements of comparative mythology, we will incorporate common aspects of sacred, or ritualized, landscape, infused with sacred geometry, observational astronomy, and internal/personalized mythology, to assist in generating shifts of personal and group consciousness.We will be spending considerable time outside working with the land, both day and night, with an all night vigil on Saturday.
Ibis Clan will share a cabin.
Wolf Grathwohl, leader
Llama Clan
Magic lives in the fibers we wear, that cover us at night, that decorate our homes and wash our bodies. We will explore breathing magic into the fibers we spin and weave and the ways we can fill our fiber art with intention and meaning. We will use garter stitch to help deepen meditation, and create patterns from visions. We will use chant to fuel our lacework, and lacework to fuel our chanting. A basic facility with knitting or crochet is required. Please bring a drop spindle, or indicate on your application that you will send a materials fee of $20 upon acceptance and we will have one for you at Twilight Covening.
Katie Birdi, leader
Lion Clan *
The lion is a social cat, living in a cooperative pride yet retaining individual responsibilities. Communal life allows the pride to thrive, yet each lion must maintain their own strength and skill to contribute. Musicians work together in a similar fashion; we hold responsibility for a larger entity, and to do this, we need developed skills and a sense of our own accountability. Many of us feel a call as drummers and identify with each other as kindreds. But without regular practice and discipline, our skills may fall short of what is called for in a ritual. This clan is for experienced drummers/percussionists who are ready to do the work to deepen specific skill sets that are hard to develop without focused time. We'll use Ghanaian Ewe drums to develop sticking techniques, polyrhythmic foundations and layering, advanced drum dialogue, and take a serious look at the role of the musician not as a soloist, but as a part of a dynamic, connected ensemble. This group assumes prior experience with percussion and will proceed musically at a fast pace. It will not provide basic rhythm or drum technique instruction.
V Josselyn Price and Donovan Arthen, leaders
Luna Moth Clan
Luna Moths remind us to pay attention to perception, even in our own personal darkness. Adults live for only a week, have no mouths, and fly only at night. Their entire lives are shaped around their species' survival. What have you done to survive? What patterns do you carry that no longer serve you? Luna Moths will anchor themselves in gratitude, centered around daily practice, while focusing intensely on a piece of Personal Work. Energy exercises, meditations and journeying will be used to sharpen your self-perception, take a look at what you carry, transform what needs to be transformed, and begin to leave behind what no longer serves you. Those interested in Luna Moth should come to Twilight with a defined piece of Work to do. Moth Clan is NOT a prerequisite for Luna Moth.
Luna Moths will share a cabin.
Kelley Braheney, leader
Lynx Clan
Seeing the smallest motion and hearing what is hidden, the Lynx knows the feel of its environment and relies on all of its senses to hunt at night and to avoid danger. How actively do you pay attention to what all of your senses are telling you, especially the inner non-physical senses? Learn and practice tuning in to your inner psychic vision, while still being aware of the world around you. Learn when the voice in your head isn't your own thinking. Tell the difference between worrying and a gut feeling or intuition that is telling you something new. At any moment you can quickly tune in to what is around you with all of your physical and intuitive senses so you can choose if some action is needed. We will spend part of our clan time walking around the woods and water.
Eric Arthen, leader
Microbe/Clabber Clan
Clabber, a traditional English word for curdled, fermented milk, derived from the Irish Gaelic clabar, meaning 'mud.' Our human bodies are made up of 90% microbe cells and only 10% human cells. Clabber, and other fermented foods, teem with the some of the very same microscopic life. We have evolved from these lifeforms - they are literally our ancestors. When we open to the 'unseen beings,' or honor our ancestors, this vast realm of microbial life is part of what awaits us. They live in the air, on the surface of vegetables, in milk and everywhere. We will engage with some of these food-preserving bacteria in the kitchen, calling them, singing their praises and honoring them as the ancestors and collaborators that they are. We'll make yogurt, kefir and (non-vinegar) sauerkraut, kim chi and flamboyant mixed pickles. You'll go home with a selection of what we make, including living cultures to grow, eat and share. Materials fee of less than $10. Bring your home- or local farm-grown organic vegetables to add to the mix!
Sarah Stockwell-Arthen, leader
Narwhal Clan
The narwhal's horn was the model for the unicorn horn, and commanded high prices in days of yore. In this clan, we will explore early period archaeological, and epigraphic findings from a variety of cultures, with the view of re-creating and testing what some of the rituals and ceremonies might have been. For example, what rituals might have accompanied the tattooing of Ötzi ( the 'Ice Man') in order to treat his arthritic joints. We will look at fire kindling and extinguishing rituals, hunting, divination, protection, weather working, birthing/funerary and other ceremonial venues, and compose possible ways that these milestones and events may have been magically augmented or celebrated. This will be a hands-on experiential Clan. Handicap accessible.
Jane Sibley, leader
Reindeer Clan
Immersing ourselves in the old ways of the Norse, we will learn the traditional lore and uses of the runes, create and charge personal talismans using bind-runes and symbols, work with the three elements of the northern world, trance journey to the rhythm of the shaman's drum, familiarize ourselves with the plant and animal spirits of the northern climes, and share the rich poetic history and mythology in the story-telling tradition as we enter the dark time of the year. Clan members are invited to share a cabin to enhance the experience of being immersed in our traditional culture.
Rose Starwind, leader
Seal Clan
The seal dives into the ocean depths to seek out that which sustains her. Like the seal, we live in interrelated realms. Some we know well, others remain mysterious. Our dreams connect these worlds, forming a web that links our sleeping and waking landscapes. In Seal Clan, we will dive into our own depths to search the realm of dreams for wisdom and insight.
Seal clan will share a cabin.
Juniper Talbot, leader
Spider Clan
The mandalic form of the Spider's web is one of the most beautiful and powerful creations of any animal. Comprised of the strongest bio-material found in nature, the web is focal point of transformation, serving as both nursery and death trap. The spider can feel distant reverberations in the web and has many eyes for deep seeing. In this clan we will explore the act of creation in ritual and magic. We will observe patterns and energies in the world around us and translate them into symbolic forms. Experience as a visual artist is welcome but by no means a requisite.
Martin Bridge and Kaye, leaders
Wyvern Clan *
The Wyvern has been both feared and revered throughout history; a duality familiar to many. The Wyvern clan will take the knowledge gained through the Gryphon clan work and our own experiences, and incorporate it into a weekend-long ritual within the ritual of Twilight Covening. We will be working intensely together to manifest the rituals of Dark Eros in a supportive and magical environment. We will explore the duality that is light and dark both by turning deeply inward and presenting ourselves to our community. This clan is designed for those who want to work to develop a deeper understanding of Dark Eros work, and focuses more on ritual than technique. Prior participation in the Gryphon clan or previous intensives with the leaders is a requirement. The work will be both intense and rewarding, but will require both trust, and comfort with physical contact --- please choose wisely.
Cerillian and Suzanne Mancinelli, leaders
* Indicates a Clan which requires an application for admission. These Clans require past training are more likely to induce intense experiences that may trigger fear, vulnerability or other unexpected responses. If you would like to apply to join one of these Clans, please write a paragraph about why you are interested in this Clan at this time and include in your statement a description of your training, your skills and practice with this kind of work and a description of the kind of support system you have in place outside of Twilight Covening (coven, teacher, therapist, etc.).
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