A Summer Witches' Sabbath

It was a bit longer than a week ago, as of this writing, that I was enduring the summer heat in an open park under the sun. Something that anyone who knows me personally would say that this is the exact opposite of my idea of fun and leisure.

Last week was the Strigarium, an annual festival dedicated to neopaganism and witchcraft in Northern Italy, happening every second weekend of June. My Faerie-Faith Priestess was supposed to lead a public ritual and present a conference there, and invited me to go with her.

To be completely honest, I was always wary of public pagan spaces. I’m a bit of a traditionalist, approaching Witchcraft as a Mystery Tradition, and have always related to other who viewed paganism with a bit more of an academic and religious rigor. I always had the impression of public festivals as a place for LARPing, where neopagan traditions were not seen as spiritual paths to be lived, but as an aesthetic accessory.

Partially, I was not wrong. Between cosplayers, witchy and viking costumes that would be the wet dream of witchtok, and many references to Lord of the Rings, it was indeed a festival that also catered to the aesthetic and lifestyle version of neopaganism.

With that being said, I was happy to stand corrected at the end of the three-days festival. Yes, it is true that the event was not 100% focused on spirituality, as it was open to the general public. But there was a sense of joy and self-expression that was beautiful to witness and experience. It was, quite frankly, like stepping into the land of faerie for a bit, letting go of ordinary life.

The market was mind-blowing, with the amazing craftsmanship of artisans, curated books and ritual supplies. I found the perfect Goddess statue for my Faerie-Faith altar, made of hazelnut wood with a Colombianite stone representing the Goddess’s womb. I also found a handmade rose and lotus flower incense, which I have been giving as an offering to Aphrodite and Antinous until now; and ethically sourced peacock feathers, by a local farmer who was also an initiate of Kimbanda, an Afro-Brazilian Tradition that managed to arrive in Italy.

That was the beauty of the event. Although many things on the surface felt indeed superficial, as I went deeper into it, I interacted with those who were part of our magical community. Whether they were initiated witches, occultists, or solitary pagans, once you looked beyond first impressions, you could find people who were there for the same reason you were.

I learned a lot by talking with people there, and by following the conferences. Obviously I participated in my Priestess’s ritual. It was a public ceremony dedicated to the solar aspect of the Goddess, since we were close to the solstice. It was moving to see the experience of people who were having their first contact with this world, particularly a girl who was there with the support of her mother. A kind of support that many pagans and witches know is very rare.

I also followed her conference on Diana, and the evolution of Her worship from ancient Rome to the Dianic Traditions of today. Before that, I also followed a conference on Hekate and the Deipnon, by a Priest of an American Wiccan Tradition that arrived in Italy. There were also many workshops on divination, tarot, book binding, Celtic Harp, herbalism etc…

It was a very diverse event that had something to offer for everyone: Joy and fun for those looking for it, and knowledge and community for those who were more deeply within the pagan world. It was a lesson in being less judgmental of other people’s needs, and to focus on my own spaces: Keeping the integrity of what I do shouldn’t mean expecting other people to have the same goals as me.

As the Charge of the Goddess says:

Let My worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals.

Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you.

So I learned to not let Reverence be the judge of Mirth, and not let Honor be the executioner of Humility.

- Love is One, and One is All
Minos Nerites D.A X of Kêpos tou Érotos,
The Garden of Eros