Choosing your Twilight Covening 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. Some Clans may also be cancelled due to lack of demand in a particular year.

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 it calls to you right now and include information about your training, skills and practice with this 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 1.

Twilight Covening Clans 2018
October 5-8, 2018

Boar Clan
In the ancient heathen religions of northern Europe, the boar was associated with the Vanir gods, deities of nature, fertility, agriculture, and livestock, and was considered a symbol of nobility. In modern heathenry, practitioners have assembled a set of Nine Noble Virtues as an attempt to recapture the values and ideals that were admired among our spiritual ancestors. In Boar Clan, we will examine the literature and mythology of the heathen peoples, identifying the role that the Nine Noble Virtues play in these vital and fascinating tales. Then, through guided meditation, discussion, and Clan activities, we will internalize these Virtues, gaining an understanding of their value in our daily lives and a sense for how we can put them to work to deepen our own spiritual practices as well as our connections to our communities and to spirit, and to our gods themselves, for those of us who work in such terms. While a familiarity with heathen mythology and literature is helpful, this Clan is open to heathens and non-heathens alike, as these Virtues codify a universal set of values.
Ulfr, leader

Crane Clan*
When cranes gather in a flock, they gabble and toot in a cacophonous, ever-changing web of harmony. Long ago, the cranes and other waterfowl taught the Lithuanian people to join this web through Sutartinės, a flowing, weaving song-style that builds and reinforces a communal connection to the wider tapestry of nature. In Crane clan, we will explore a trance practice based in Sutartinės-singing and lead ourselves towards an experience of the ever-changing harmony between the self, the community, and the world. This clan will involve a lot of singing, and some optional gentle movement. If you are confident and comfortable in round-singing, you have the requisite music skills for this clan. Please say so on your registration form.
Lynn Rowan, Will Rowan, leaders

Earthworm Clan
Our community exists within a larger culture whose values and practices are leading us to a future of probable environmental catastrophe. The Permaculture Movement is one paradigm that is trying to reroute our collective trajectory by revising our Agricultural, Architectural and Social Systems. At its core Permaculture seeks to observe, understand and mimic natural systems and processes as well as acknowledge the wisdom of indigenous cultures who were able to live in balance with their native ecology in perpetuity. While veiled within the teaching and practices, the elders of the movement drew on a deep spiritual, even mystic relationship with the natural world. In this clan we will explore the Ethics, Principles and Practices of the movement from a Pagan Perspective while connecting with the spirit of nature that informs it’s foundation.
Martin Bridge, leader

Heron Clan
With intense awareness and patience, the Great Heron snatches what it needs from the water. There are beautiful, poignant, humorous and magical moments around us every day. Unfortunately, we often barely notice and soon forget many of them. We will hunt for such moments in the woods, by the pond, alone and among people. We will observe while being still and being in motion. Then we will capture the essence of the moments by writing concise prose descriptions and very short poems. We will learn the basics of Haiku and how it provides a great focus on nature. You do not need any experience with poetry and after the clan you can continue the observation practice without writing poetry.
open boathouse doors
the crackle of robins
In the rafters
Eric Arthen, leader

Honey Bee Clan
Honey Bees dance in circular patterns to tell the colony of nearby flowers containing nectar which they transform into life-sustaining honey. Since ancient times, people have gathered in community to dance in circles. We dance to celebrate our lives, to honor the Divine, to follow and attune to the rhythms and cycles of nature. We dance to deepen into meditative states that connect us to Spirit and the Mysteries. By dancing in a circle, the very symbol of unity and wholeness, we create sacred space to strengthen our connection to All-That-Is and to our community. By learning and dancing Sacred Circle Dances of many cultures and traditions, old and new, we will dance our path to the source of the golden honey of sweetness that will sustain us through the dark time. Much of our time will be held outdoors.
Juniper Talbot, leader

Luna Moth Clan
Luna Moth Clan is an intermediate energy Working clan - that will use Gratitude - drawn from places of “Darkness” - as a focus for our energetic Work. How do you Hold Space in your own body? How do you Hold Space in the World? The clanwork will be mostly experiential, engaging in various meditative and JourneyWork techniques, including some that will require gentle movement. Through the daily practice of Gratitude and Compassion the burdens we carry can illuminate and transform. Though not a "Buddhist Clan", the Work is heavily influenced by the Eastern Bodhisattva traditions. *Participants should have a piece of personal work they are doing and wish to deepen or are ready to finish this weekend. This Clan will share a cabin.
Kelley, leader

Magpie Clan*
From our first moment to our last, breath is essential to our survival, but breath is also something we can change and control. Using extended breath patterns and trance states the Magpie Clan will open to a deeper connection to Nature, while softening the edges between our human selves and the unseen world. Magpie encourages us to open and explore those liminal places where we can sense our connection to the Universal web, as magpies we will work toward valuing our total self, both light and shadow aspects. Our clan will come away with tools and a shared vocabulary to use in our own magical practices, as well as our everyday lives. This clan is not appropriate for people with physical touch issues. Be prepared to work late into the night and early in the morning, in a physically active clan. This clan will share a cabin.
Moira, leader

Manta Ray Clan*
Our stories hold truths, patterns, dreams and desires. What stories do we share, which do we keep secret? What stories do we whisper to ourselves? In Manta Ray we will explore the magic of story weaving, story-telling, and how our stories can nourish or deprive. We will explore our individual stories, moving softly and gently like the Manta, but with clear purpose and magical intent. We will then create stories for and with each other, weaving tales based in the deeper truths we discover. Manta clan will include walking meditation and periods of silence.
Rose Starwind, leader

Mouse Clan
Living parallel to the larger culture, resourceful, prolific, adaptable, protective and successful, Mice live all around us. In this clan we will examine our magical toolboxes, identifying our tools, learning how to use them properly, and adding tools that might be missing. As witches, we should be well versed in how to meditate, ground, charge, give offerings, protect ourselves and our spaces, make intentional objects, create spells, and know when to do these things for maximum effectiveness. This clan is open both to newcomers and long time witches.
Katie LaFond, leader

Octopus Clan
The Octopus is a clever but vulnerable creature, able to explore its surroundings, attune to shape and form, and creatively re-imagine found objects. In this Clan we will explore the magic of artistic creation as a tool for embracing our experiences and transforming them into physical pieces that can be kept and worked. Fetishes have been used throughout time, both as a means for personal storytelling and housing spiritual energies. The talismans we make with our own hands can function as containers, reminders of lessons, touchstones for intentions. We will work primarily with wood and other natural resources; basic materials will be provided but suggestions for optional tools & supplies will be communicated in advance.
Kaye Kittredge and Mark Girard, leaders

Ombwiri Clan
Ombwiri function as guardian angels or ancestor spirits for a number of tribal groups in central Africa, particularly in Gabon. When providing a rhythm or song for a ritual we act as sonic guardians, providing safe space for others to do their work. In this Clan we will explore what it is that creates a strong soundscape (rhythmic or melodic) – a sonic ritual container enabling people to safely "go out." We will focus heavily on the responsibilities of those who choose to stand in the position of "guardian/musician" in a ritual setting, be it voice, drum, rattle, didjeridoo, or any other instrument.
Josselyn Price and Steve Trombulak, leaders

Ptarmigan Clan
The acrid smoke arising from a small forge and the sound of a smith's hammer beating on orange-hot iron waft through the fall air, as the members of Ptarmigan Clan explore ritual smith-craft, including hands-on work at the anvil. We will explore the transformative power of fire and the process of change through the influence of one's will, Voyaging to the hammer's beat, and following the path of the Cosmic Smith. We will kindle sacred/New Fire not only for our Clan use, but also for the Community. Northern European forge-craft traditions and magic will be a part of this weekend, and this clan is open to all. Handicap-accessible.
Jane Sibley and Ed (Happy Cat) Wilson, leaders

Tortoise Clan
Aging and health challenges can deprive us of the identity and physical abilities we've counted on all our lives. Where do we find our power in a fast-paced culture where the old are seen as irrelevant and the word "aging" is too often prefixed with "anti-"? Giant Tortoise moves slowly but lives a hundred years or longer. As our bodies slow down and we let go of more physically active roles, what gives our lives new meaning, fulfillment and joy? In this Clan we will employ meditation, shape-shifting, mirror work and other techniques to feel our way toward a vision of who we want to become and how best to share the gifts of our maturity. We will spend some of our time outdoors, but this is not a physically challenging clan.
Miriam Klamkin, Sue Arthen, leaders

Turkey Vulture Clan*
Turkey Vulture appears as two things. In the air they are graceful, beautiful, peaceful. On earth they look fierce, raw, ugly, terrifying. They don’t kill to survive, they eat what is already dead. In Egypt, vultures are considered protectors of the living and consumers of the dead. In the Turkey Vulture Clan we will call on the Fierce Feminine Archetype to reclaim our Power. Like the cycle of the moon, which goes from light to dark, and back to light again, we honor the cycles of our lives which mirror those of the moon. We will study the phases of the moon, and commune with the dark goddess to recognize those dark moon times that help us rest and prepare for new growth and rebirth. As the weekend continues, we will all claim our crowns of sovereignty to walk in our power, spirit and soul. This Clan will include components of discussion, visualization, ritual and interaction to help us tap into our own pure knowing. We encourage the participation of persons of all genders and welcome the opportunity to help make the feminine archetypes work for you. Some of our workings will be done during the witching hour. Participants will be encouraged to share a cabin.
Lanna Lee Maheux & Michele Abazorius Whitaker, Leaders

Unicorn Clan
We live in a culture that rewards compliance to societal norms and expectations. The dominant culture dictates to us what is acceptable or unacceptable in our behavior and self expression. How many ways do we compromise both inner and outer beauty in the name of acceptance? Has our “mundane drag” become a uniform of conformity? In what ways have we tamed and chained the wildness of our spirits to accommodate the expectations placed upon us? In Unicorn Clan, we will explore the expression and embodiment of our spiritual and magical self through the use of attire, adornment, presentation, and cosmetics. We will explore our concepts of self, beauty, and gender, and push beyond our boundaries of comfort and compliance to enter a space of authentic expression. This clan is open to all genders and gender expressions. You must be willing and able to hold safe and supportive space, and you will be invited to be open and vulnerable in return as we move outside our comfort zones. This Clan will share a cabin.
Trey Wentworth and Giariel Foxwood, leaders

Wolf Clan*
Wolves are creatures of twilight, living between the spaces of night and day and seeing the world with eyes adapted for the shadows. In Wolf Clan, we too will explore the shadow times and traverse dark landscapes. A wolf pack is a family, and we will rely on each other as we practice moving through the woods, breathing into liminal spaces, and occupying the places between human and other. Our work will focus on finding connection to each other over distance and practice communicating beyond human words. We will move together, work together, tell stories together, and howl together, exploring what it means to provide service to one’s self, the pack, and the community as a whole. This clan will be very physically active, including moving through the woods during the day and night. Be prepared to work late into the night and early in the morning, offer ritual support to the community, and interact closely with the other clan members. This Clan will share a cabin.
Donovan Arthen and Wolfhame  Katrick, leaders

Wyvern Clan *
The Wyvern has been both feared and revered throughout history; a duality familiar to many. The Wyvern clan is 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 within ourselves by turning both inward for personal work as well as outward to support our community. This clan is designed for those who want to develop a deeper understanding of Dark Eros work, and focuses more on ritual than technique. Prior participation in the Gryphon clan is a requirement. The work will be both intense and rewarding, but will require trust, comfort with physical contact and a willingness to honor both ourselves and others.
Cerillian and Zanne, co-leaders

Wyrm Clan
Where does your magic lie? Is it a serpent, coiled in slumber, or is it a dragon, unfurled? Wyrm clan will journey through the chakras taking a shamanic path using guided meditation, gentle movement, and subtle shapeshifting. In our work we will bring mindfulness into our bodies, and awareness to the obstacles blocking our energy meridians. What stands between you and spirit? We will transform these blocks into allies as we strengthen our connection to the greater web of magic. This clan will share a cabin.
Sarah Lyn, leader

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