PFL Members’ Contact Network

The contacts network was set up so that members of the PF would be able to contact other members informally. This would be another way of meeting people with similar interests along with the main London events and the local area events such as moots.

Karon runs PF London members’ contacts network. She also helps Rowan with the role of regional coordinator for North London.

 The contacts network is only for PF members and the list is only shared with other people on the list. All you need to do is complete a simple questionnaire. The only information which is listed on the network is your preferred method of contact, your postcode and your special interests.

If anyone is interested in joining the PF-L members contact list please email  enquiry@pflondon.org or write (with SAE) to PFL, BM-Opal, London, WC1N 3XX.

Subscribe to `Pagan Dawn’ - the Journal of the Pagan Federation. (now in full colour!) Or become a full member of the PF and get PD quarterly by post. Go to Pagan Federation UK  website for details.

Pagan Pathfinders closing:  "With great regret, Jean Williams has decided to bring Pagan Pathfinders to an end. It has been enormously rewarding for 37 years and many people have enjoyed attending in that time. It is possible that some of them will get together to start a new version of Pagan Pathfinders in the future. If so, PF London will be the first to hear about it." (13/5/11).

Beltane Bash 2011 cancelled:   Beltane Bash has been cancelled this year (2011).  Jeanette Ellis who has been running this for over 10 years (along with running Halloween Festival ) in Central London, gives full details and reasons- one of which is the demise of Steve- a core member of their Raven & Rose coven.  Read more at www.paganfestivals.com.   Note: The publicity in Beltane issue of `Pagan Dawn’ that came our few weeks ago was placed many months ago, so is now no longer relevant. (13/5/11)

Enfield Town Circle (PF Moot)- closed. :  April Jonquil who started ET-Circle  and has been running it for over 3 years has chosen to close the moot last month. She cites her reasons as that of the moot no longer carrying the original intents and energies with which it was set up. She made attempt to find a suitable facilitator to continue the moot but was unsuccessful.   However PFL has now learnt that some of the members may now continue- albeit- ander another name, and possibly change of monthly slot / venue. It is not clear if the new moot will be a `PFL moot’. We’ll report when we know more. (14/5/11)

 The UK Census (& Pagandash campaign) is taking place this month (27March 2011).  Pagan Federation believes that this is our last opportunity (for years to come) to get a true indication of how many pagans live in the UK. Previous Census showed this to be 40,000 but true numbers are likely to be much much more!  When filling the form (what religion) We urge you  to put “Pagan” or  “Pagan - .........” and fill your path as a second word. This campaign has been highly successful for Pagans in Australia for their Census. Official site for this campaign www.pagandash.org has full details /advise. See also  PEBBLE guidance).   (11thMarch’11).

PF London: EARTH HOUR event - Central London   (on 26th March’11).  This initiative, first held in Australia  in 2007, has grown very fast!in many countries. On Earth Hour, people are encouraged to switch off lights for 1 hour.   PF London  held an informal evening event in Central London- a candle-lit walk along the Thames. We then proceeded to the banks of the river Thames (below Tate Modern) and held a short drumming/ chanting to raise energy and add our healing energies into the Thames. 20 people attended.

: Major Earth Quake & Tsunami  - an Earth quake of 8.9 magnitude took place in the South pacific on 11/3/11, and China has suffered devastations not seen in 1200 yrs. Resulting Tsunami has claimed thousands of lives.  ALL of us in PF London offer our heart-felt sympathies & magical thoughts to those who have suffered. PF London will be doing magical-healing at our `Earth Hour candle-lit walk’ event on 26th March by river Thames.  Please join us if you can. Thanks.

Open Rituals: Fee increase.   New entrance fees: PF members & conc: £5. All others: £6. This will take effect from the Samhain open ritual on 4th November’10. We have kept the entrance fee fixed for almost 6 years. But in order to keep up with increasing venue hire costs, we are now making this small increase by £1 only.  (notice date 24/09/10).

Treadwells Bookshop is moving! Over the last week of 2010 (between 25th Dec’10 - 1st jan’11) the popular pagan bookshop (and centre of many talks, workshops and events) will be relocating to a larger venue. Details soon. Meanwhile business is normal!!

PF gives Journalist Cole Moreton `PF Journalist of the Year’ AWARD.  The special event took place on Monday 8th Nov’10 at Treadwells Bookshop, Central London. PF President Chris Crowley, PF Council members Vivianne Crowley, Lee-Anne (Secretary), Mark (PF webmaster),  Keith Tovey(District Liaison Officer), Sheena Morgan (Editor of Pagan Dawn), Prudence Jones (PF President when PF was formed in 1971), PFL District Manager Mike,  PFL Events Coordinator Mani Navasothy and numerous others were present. Christina Oakley-Harrington (Owner of Treadwells Bookshop) introduced this very special event. 

Cole Moreton is the author of recently published book `Is God still an Englishman?’. He received the special PF Journalist of the Year award for his acclaimed feature in a national newspaper Guardian (in Summer 2009). It’s noteworthy that the current Mayor of London Boris Johnson was a previous recipient of this special award!!    Photos/full review soon. (~MN)

Daily Mail Journalist Damns Druids! A Daily Mail  journalist’s damning and ill-researched article has caused huge amongst all pagans. She has written her piece in response to the recent news of Druidry being classed as Religion by the Charity Commission (UK).    Link to the article. ttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1317490/Druids-official-religion-Stones-Praise-come.html

 Emma Restall Orr, Priestess, Trustee & Founder of The Druid Network has given an extensive response on behalf of TDN in their website. http://druidnetwork.org/en/node/1003180.    James Sunbird Carrington created a petition calling for the journalist in question to make a full public apology for the offence her comments caused. The petition had received over 4000 signatures from people of all faiths across the world by 9am Sunday 10th Oct’10.     The petition was handed to the Daily Mail office in London on Monday 11th October, at noon. James (who started the petition) invited all to join him in this hand-over.  King Arthur, Merlin of Salisbury and many others- Druids, Witches, Eclectic pagans, all joined in the hand-over. A second copy was  then walked to the Press Complaints Commission in Holborn. 

Police Pagan Association. A couple of serving officers have started a Pagan Police Association within the Metropolitan Police. They would like to reach out to as many Pagans who work within the MET as possible. They have been asked to compile some information in order to present the case to the officer responsible for registering official Police Faith organisations within the MET.

• An aspect of that info is a rough outline of how many Pagans are either officers or other MET employees. The list will be kept strictly confidential and will not be shared with anyone else without your prior permission.
• The aim is to receive official recognition from the Metropolitan Police Service. If you work for the MET, get in touch.
• The contact is Mike Stygal, PF London DM & Community Liaison officer, phone: 07810 647130. email: cerndeosil @ yahoo.co. uk (please type this without gaps).

In 2011, the Pagan Federation will celebrate 40 years since its "official" foundation in 1971. To mark the occasion we are hosting a major weekend celebration of Paganism in the 21st century.  Pagan Federation 40th anniversary Conference.

Saturday 8th October 201, at the THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, LONDON. A full day and evening of music, dance, art, lectures, workshops, exhibitions and discussions to celebrate the creative richness of contemporary Paganism. Followed by a free family-friendly gathering on Sunday 9th October 2011.     Thanks to everyone who has already contacted us to exhibit, sponsor, talk or perform.

The After-conference fancy dress party is taking place at the exotic settings of `Archangel’ near High Street Kensington. People with day-ticket can purchase ticket for this at a special rate of £5 per person.  Evening attendants can purchase party-tickets for £10.  We have DJ music, special 20 min contemporary drum-dance-ritual performance and of course  live bands (tbc).  Tickets will be available from 8th August via  PF website, via PF London website, at Open rituals London), Treadwells & Atlantis bookshops, and from Evening events team members (Caroline R, Mani & April).

Tickets can be purchased in advance from Pagan Federation. Go to www.paganfed.org and follow links to the event-brite site.  (27/07/11).