THE NORTHERN WITAN 2019 - PRE EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

Introduction

'The Northern Witan a Symposium of Traditional Witchcraft and Folk Magic' is a series of five lectures presented by practitioners and scholars exploring themes relating to to Witchcraft and Folk Magic. The accompanying market is open to the public. The event is graciously sponsored by the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic. The event will take place in Derby (England) on Saturday the 16th of March 2019.

The Northern Witan 2019 Speakers

Shani Oates: Maid of the Clan of Tubal Cain and prolific author on many esoteric subjects.

Stuart Inman: Magistrar of the Clan of the Entangled Thicket and virtue holder of the 1734.

Gemma Gary: representing the Cornish Craft, author and one half of the publishing house Troy Books.

Victoria Musson: a natural fibre artist, traditional crafter and rural folklorist. Well known as Mrs Midian and for her connections with the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic.

Simon Costin: Director and owner of the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic and the National Folklore Museum.

What is a Witan?

The Witenagemot, Witanmoot or Witan is a historically attested if controversial Anglo-Saxon term, used prior to the Norman settlement to describe an assembly of advisors. These advisors would gather at a 'thing' or other significant place, to advise their Overlord or in the case of the Lords, to advise the King.

The word moot is sometimes used today in Pagan circles to describe an informal and often social meeting. Witan is used in a more formal context deriving as it does from the gathering of the advisors. Whether the etymology of Witan is linked to the word wit and therefore wise, is at times questioned but the generally accepted roots are linked to wisdom.

Witan may mean Wiseman or wise counsellor and this leads to a rather interesting usage, in which the person attending a Witan (shortened) is a Witan themselves. We can therefore suggest by implication that Witanmot is a gathering of wise persons.

It is in this latter context that we choose to use the Anglo-Saxon word Witan to describe our symposium, which is itself derived from the Greek. The Witan is a gathering of the Wise to discuss the Craft of the Wise.

WEBSITE: https://www.northern-witan.com/