The very first Wild and Sacred Men workshop took place at Castlefest in 2022. I have to admit it was a bit clandestine, promoted only by Margo as part of her men/women union workshop. I took the men with me and later on, we rejoined the women. No one, myself right there and then included, would have guessed it was my first time leading men’s work. It was solid and I knew I had it in me to bring more of this through.
Many things changed since then. One week ago Wild and Sacred Men was present at Castlefest (August 2024). In this blog report, I’d like to share a bit about my personal experiences at this festival this year.
What's Castlefest anyway?
Now Castlefest is a fantasy festival with a strong spiritual component. Every year there is the ritual burning of a wicker and there is a field dedicated to nature-oriented spirituality, the “Heathen Gang”. And despite that the festival is predominantly about entertainment, there really is space for serious sacred work.
Castlefest holds a special place in my life, because I have been there since the first edition. As a fifteen-year old I volunteered and found myself part of a like minded community physically for the first time in my life. Back then it was a cute little festival with little rules. We all could mess around with steel swords, it took a few years before there was any professional security and there was no distinction between backstage and the volunteers’ tent.
Nowadays it has grown into a mature four-day festival that welcomes about 50k visitors.
Castlefest is also the place where the relationship between Margo and me took a romantic turn. Ever since 2005 I have only missed one edition, when I was doing karate in Japan.
In 2023 Wild and Sacred Men was officially endorsed and had its own physical place at the festival. On top of that, I got to deliver a lecture on men’s work at the Castlefest Academy.
But can I weasel my way out?
This year (2024), I have been working really hard for an extended period of time. My primary desire was to be home without having to go anywhere. I had only two of such days after returning from Path of the Wild Man Avalon journey. So honestly, I wasn’t very keen on being at Castlefest. Having to facilitate 9 workshops nearly freaked me out. I was fantasising about calling it off and enjoying my much needed time of sitting in my yard, watching the flowers.
But I knew I couldn’t. I had wished for the opportunity to contribute to the world’s healing through men’s work, so here that opportunity presented itself. And thus I had to show up and be of service. At first I was in it, thinking "I'm not doing this for myself", but not after long, I ended up immersed with so much magic, that I could only be happy to be present.
This year Castlefest’s theme was Corvus; the raven. It has to do with ancestors and transformation.
Delivering workshops
I facilitated different workshops: WARRIOR, Unleash the Wild Man, Rising in Brotherhood and one Sacred Union, for men and women.
Obviously 45 minutes, despite sometimes running out another 45 minutes is way too short for a decent workshop, but like last year, I was surprised by how fast trust could grow and how deep this allowed the men to go in such a small amount of time.
A few brothers kept returning for more. And I even had family members participating. And I saw they were moved as well.
It is always so nice to offer safe space for expression, connection and joyous play.
Other ceremonies
Next to Wild and Sacred Men’s tent was the Priestess Temple that was run by women who completed the Path of the Priestess. Most of them I know very well and so we did many things together, such as eating and connecting ceremonies.
Every day a different group initiates the “drum circle”. I’ve put quotation marks, because what started as a simple drum circle has evolved over the years into increasingly more elaborate ceremonies. On Friday, the priestesses had the honour of organising it.
They had asked us men to provide the grounding drums. We were painted with black stripes, while they themselves were clad in black and had their faces painted in more detail.
They performed a dance about ancestors and light kindled in darkness. They were in it with all of their energy, which made it pretty impressive.
At some point the priestesses were handing out raven pendants. Secretly I was hoping I would get one too - secretly, because my role was to support, not to collect. I didn't get one, but the lady next to me did. She was so visibly touched and grateful that I was grateful myself that she got it instead of me.
On the last day of the festival, one of my family members who had participated in one of the workshops, sought me out. He told me how he had gained new insights and that he was moved. He solemnly gifted me his', displaying a raven and a silver pentagram. This was a beautiful interaction, for which I'm very grateful.
The burning of the wicker
Traditionally, the wicker is burned on the Saturday evening. In the time before the burning, everyone at the festival is allowed to place any offerings in the wicker. There are people of the Heathen Gang present, notably the priestesses, supporting people in any process associated with their offering; the wicker watch. These can be processes like letting go, or envisioning or even consciously choosing a new path in life.
I myself didn't take wicker watch on my this year. However, as part of the heathen gang, I had the opportunity to place an offering on behalf of Wild and Sacred Men. I had actually forgotten about this, but this turned out well, because I could now offer am object that had been entrusted to me. This was given by a woman who has suffered horribly at the hands of men, and I think it is beautiful that her offering was gently and respectfully placed in the wicker by the hand of a man who cares.
During the burning of the wicker, a huge amount of energy is set free and many people in the crowd start crying.
This year, with the raven theme, pretty powerful beings and dark gods were invoked on the podium. It was very theatrical and impressive to see. You could watch it here. But if you ask me, powers like the Morrighan (on whom I wrote one of my theses) is not one to be called upon lightly. Simply put; she is a fickle goddess of war, premonitions of dying and (bloody) death. There is of course way more nuance to it, but in such a public display, it is impossible to contain such energy and I would absolutely advise against such rituals.
And when the wicker burned, a few of the priestesses, who had connected themselves to the wicker through their wicker watch practice, were absolutely affected and needed help to 'come back'. It was good that we as men could support them and help them ground again with our solid masculine presence, but it was an intense experience.
How this was for the broader public, I cannot say. Apparently multiple people were overwhelmed by the energy and the presences. I was present with my full attention with the ones who needed me. Even though at some point the band Kalandra (a band that I would have liked to see perform) started their concert, I was hardly aware of that.
Three meetings at the threshold
On Sunday, right before I was about to leave, I had three serendipitous meetings.
I met one brother of whom I had lost sight over time, and I was very curious about how he was doing. Even though he wasn’t doing great, it was good to catch up and to let him know that the hand of brotherhood is always open.
Right after that, I bumped into a brother who had been in one of my workshops. It had been very good for him, he told me, and he offered me a small decorated letter. Het had been sharing these throughout the festival, and for him there was beauty in that the last one had to be for me.
And finally I ran into a third brother. He had been to two workshops earlier and was surprised to see me. He hadn’t been aware that Wild and Sacred Men was present at the festival and felt bad about not visiting us.
But he also started to thank me for my teachings. Before I could go on about that I don’t see myself as someone spreading teachings, he explained how participating in the events had taught him to love himself more and to trust more. He pointed at his outfit; a cool little Aladin-like vest on his bare chest. And said that without participating, he would never have had the confidence to wear this.
That brought tears to my eyes. It humbled me and made me grateful for this testimony of the healing power of brotherhood that I get to bring into this world.
So yeah, during Castlefest 2024 I have been working really really hard, when I was already so tired to start with. But it was so worth it. Through being present, I have been able to witness a lot of beauty and healing. Through showing up, I have been able to contribute to connection and healing. And by being with loved ones, I have been able to hold and be held.
And a shout-out to my brothers Michel, Nick and Robin for helping me out!
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