![copyright Robin Wood
In Parts of Britain, the Great Horn Fair is normally celebrated on this day [18th October] each year to celebrate the wondrous powers of nature and fertility. Men parade in the streets with antlers fastened to their heads. All this is an ancient reminder of the power of the woodland God over the fertility of the forest beasts. He is the Opener of the Gates of Life and Death, the Great Father, the Lord of Nature. The Druids knew him as Hu Gadern, the Horned God of fertility. He has been called by a number of other names and is known far beyond Britain however. In Wales he was Atho, the horned God; in Windsor Forest he was Herne the Hunter; sometimes he was also called Cernunnos. All were aspects of one diety and his powers. Whatever name and form he took, he had one common feature: antlers on his head. Herne the Hunter is still said to haunt the woodland forests near Windsor Castle. As recently as 1964 he was said to be seen riding his fire-breathing horse through the woods. Many Pagans and Wiccans (especially of the Gardnerian tradition) perform a special ceremony on this day in honor of Cernunnos, the Horned God of hunting, fertility, and wild animals. He is also the consort of the Goddess, and a symbol of the male principal. Many priests of Wiccan covens perform a sacred ritual called Drawing Down the Sun.
from http://www.iit.edu/~phillips/personal/contents/guys.html](../images/hernerobinwood.jpg)
by Wyrmwood
Do men want a men's gathering?
I do! - I've been keeping my ear to the ground, hassling people who've run that sort of thing to do it again, putting my own energies into organising a men's gathering and slowly getting other pagan men interested in seeing it happening.
Why?
Because I have a need - because I got a lot out of the last one I went to and feel that I and other men would benefit from another, because I want to further my spiritual growth and feel that a men's gathering can only help, because I feel that there are many men's issues that have been ignored and forgotten, and hope that a men's gathering will strive to address at least some of these issues, because of a need to empower myself and other pagans, to connect with the god energy, and restore self-esteem in myself and others. To have a place where I can feel proud about being male and what it is to me to be male, to encourage and be encouraged, and overall to learn.
What do you hope to get out of it?
to learn something new about myself, my gender, any related issues, and about others, and, if it works, to get at least one other thing I've listed above.
What would you expect to happen at a men's gathering?
connection, mateship, learning/knowledge exchange, spiritual growth and connection with the god energy. and most of all, lots of fun!
rites of passage, man's place in modern society (ie our place as a hunter is no longer necessary and not everyone is a warrior), the idea of 'going down' as opposed to depression (see the book Iron John), and at the very least a few others of which I have only heard the outlines and not understood the concept - and as such am unable to relate them here. time to do some more reading I think... <grin>
We had a rite of passage, weapons training (we had a Thai stick-fighting champion!), a Celtic-based ritual on facing death and a discussion on male energy - there were many other things that happened that weekend, but these were the main stuff that I remember.
The weapons training was good and a lot of fun, because the Thai
stick-fighting champion was using foam sticks which didn't hurt, so
there was more emphasis on skill than bravery, and he was a authorative figure
who knew his stuff and taught it well. It gave the meek (ie. me) a chance to
learn some fighting moves without scaring them/me off.
Quests, rites of passage, contests and journey!
" So when you stand on top of that hill, your spirit for a time whole in your body, and you have conquered your fate! The roar that utters from your lips.......the divine beings will look down and hold high your very banner and say: FOR THIS IS OUR SON OF WHOM HAS OVERCOME ! "
"
blessings,
Wyrmwood