The Mercian Gathering

At the Mercian Gathering, various tribes and types of Pagans gather as one to celebrate the harvest, to thank the Gods for their gifts and honour the Earth with dedicated seasonal ritual. We use the labyrinth as a pathway of transformation, first activating it with the harvest dance on Friday, drawing everyone together into a weekend of shared spiritual aims. Then, on Saturday, we move into purification and offering as we flame the labyrinth and attach our tokens to the wicker man before burning him and sending him to the Gods with our sincere prayers and blessings. On Sunday we will return through the labyrinth to take our blessings to the everyday world.

There is no beer tent at the Mercian and there never will be, and we discourage you from bringing alcohol on site. Drunken behaviour will not be tolerated. Anyone found dealing drugs will be immediately ejected and given a lifetime ban. We are not a commercial venture, and we do not have many stalls, all day entertainment or any outside caterers. As Pagans we aim to tread lightly on the Earth, consuming as little energy as possible and leaving no litter to mark our passing, taking personal responsibility for our own actions.

Before you book a ticket, ask yourself if you are prepared to come in a spirit of reverence for the Old Gods, with a willingness to participate in rituals, talks and workshops, behave with unselfish respect and open friendship for others, and are willing to act from a sense of personal honour.

See www.merciangathering.com/merciangathering.htm for more information.