The Morrigan’s Call Retreat 2017: A Work of Devotion

                                                                     Badb

Can you hear her calling?

Distant voice upon the wind, Shrieking! Cawing!

Sweltering sun settles on a scarlet horizon

Breathe deep

Swallow hard, bittersweet taste, salty and metallic

Trudging ever forward

She waits, hooded figure, shadowed by the dying light

The path is uneven, the night descends

She stands at the river’s edge, pale phantom, keening for the loss

Red-tinged tide laps upon the shore

Crimson Taloned Queen, she knows what has been, what is now and what will be

Make your choice.

Now or later, she will ever guard you at the End.

Author: Karen Storminger @2016

The Morrigan’s Call Retreat, held this past June 10-12, 2017, the annual gathering of the Tribe to honor, learn and connect with The Morrigan has come and gone so quickly.  2017 was the 4^th Annual Gathering. The prepping and planning in the year before seemed endless, then suddenly it was upon us! This year’s retreat was held at Camp Cedarcrest in Orange, Connecticut. This is a home away from home for me personally for many reasons. The days leading up to the event were hectic and stressful with preparations but, once I stepped foot on the camp grounds, purpose set in.

The day before retreat is set aside for staff to arrive and set up camp for attendees and guest speakers. A time for organizing, last minute decisions if necessary, and setting up sacred space around the camp. I cannot say enough words of praise and thanks for the wonderful people who volunteer their time to doing the “grunt “work to make an event such as this come together and be successful. This year staff were on point and so focused we actually ran ahead of schedule most of the weekend. This made for a much more relaxed event and gave everyone time to slow down and connect with each other and the Gods/Goddess/Land/ spirits etc.

The theme for this year’s Call was Devotion. I can honestly say the work done by everyone in the months prior to put things together, write ritual, prepare workshops and all the myriad other elements was most definitely a work of Devotion.  Devotion means many things to different people. To me it is a deep and abiding connection and feeling of affection for my Goddess. I devote my time in service to her. The retreat was an unbroken almost surreal moment of Devotion to the Goddess. From opening Ritual to closing Ritual, there was a feeling of reverence.  A deep affection for one another and feeling of seeking close connection came from everyone. Throughout the weekend we spoke of being caretakers of the land, building community and showing our devotion to the Goddess through our actions. Clans were tasked with creating their own acts of devotion and service over the weekend. Altars for the land spirits were built. Attendees left this camp spotless.  Much cleaner and happier than we had found it. Unfortunately, the groups that had been there before us had been considerably disrespectful to the land and we made it a concerted effort to make amends for that to help heal those wounds. I believe it was appreciated judging by the impish grin of a wily little tree spirit on Sunday morning, let’s just say you had to be there, lol.

 Ritual focused on the many aspects of the Goddess and held a much more intense and reverential atmosphere to them, in my opinion. The overall feel was much more intimate, even though the group was large (there were some 70-ish attendees this year). Workshops focused on myth, legends, building personal devotional practice and a variety of traditional and practical magical workings. We ate as a community, sat at the bonfire telling stories, and sang songs while drumming into the night. Attendees were encouraged to spend time in the Temple making offerings and communing with whichever aspect they were called to at the time. A personal and private individual Dedication ceremony was held in the Temple. Devotional prayer times were kept for those who wished to participate at regular times of the day. A new addition was Oracular work this year. It gave individuals the chance to speak with the Goddess privately during specified times. It was during my time in the Temple as a guardian for the Oracle, that I felt her presence most keenly. She appeared as both Macha (a very PREGNANT Macha I might add) and Badb at one point one evening. Her energy one of concern for her warriors.  At this writing still, I have an ever-present emotion of sadness from her. The Goddess Keens. It is not easily explained, it just is.

The weekend went smoothly and peacefully and an overall feeling of calm permeated the camp.  Yes, The Morrigan is a Goddess of War and Battle.  The thought of a weekend dedicated to her devotion being calm and peaceful may seem antithetical to some. Indeed, just prior to the weekend, there were stirrings of discontent from others, who for one reason or another disagree with the viewpoints of this Tuatha’s leadership. (A conversation for another time, suffice to say attempts were made to publicly hobble the event with fighting words.)

 I ask you this; How can you know what is truly worth fighting for if you never experience peace? If you never put down the sword? It is not that the Tuatha fears battle, exactly the opposite has been evident from the start judging by the character of most of her followers. The Morrigan loves a good fight for sure, but she also knows that to fight for the sake of fighting is counterproductive and foolish. Does she not in many of her stories repeatedly give warriors the chance to change direction? We pay a very high cost in war, one must heed the Goddesses words, “They do not know what they are asking for”.  Dogs that fight over bones will always go hungry.  “He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.” – Sun Tzu, the Art of War

 For me, personally, the outcome of the weekend was clear. The Queen favors Peace at this time. This was most evident to me on the last day. Our final ritual for the weekend was Badb’s. It was held at the water’s edge, exactly how she wanted it, at noon with the sun directly above us.  Attendees chose to face one of three priestesses at the water, each via a different path. One easy and direct, one more difficult, and one the most challenging path. Each made their own choice. Each came away with their message. Afterwards, I was told by another that as we stood at the water two sunfish were present just to the right of me in the water. As the invocation to the Goddess occurred the fish began to mate in the water under the midday sun. As a Priestess in the ritual I received my message last. Ogham were used in this ritual. My message; Birth, change, new beginnings.