Posted by: aussiepagan | October 29, 2009

Another visit to Shambalaa – Berry NSW

I visited Berry in NSW again over the weekend and made sure I stopped by one of my favourite pagan stores, Shambalaa. I should note, that if you do visit Berry looking for the Shambalaa I write about here, well, they have two stores in Alexandra St, Berry. I’m not sure which one is which number wise, but if you’re heading south toward Nowra, the paganesque store is on the left, on Alexandra St, off the Princes Hwy (or whatever it is named once it becomes the main St in Berry – probably Berry St funnily enough) The other Shambalaa (to the right in the same street) has more balinesian and indonesian inspired clothing and homewares. Worth a visit, but not the same pagan store I’m talking about here. Look for the ice-creamery on the Corner of Alexandra & Berry Sts. The pagan one is there and what pagan doesn’t like ice-cream? You’ll find it.

So now we know which one we’re talking about, the paganeque Shambalaa is fabulous. These kinds of stores are a rarity these days. A little curios shop, packed to the rafters with all sorts of pagan, new-age, faerie, wiccan, angelic, gothic odd and sods – books, candles, jewellery, crystals, cauldrons, incense, music, a thousand tarot packs of different kinds and one of the best pagan statutory collections I’ve ever seen in one spot – wasn’t at a friend’s place gracing their altar. It’s a collection with recommended retail value stickers on the bottom of each piece! You can leave with whatever you can afford rather than feeling jealous that your pagan mates have awesome statues that they picked up a million years ago in an occult store now long closed and out of business.  Shambalaa have wall plaques, sconces, statues for shelves, shrines, altars etc.  Most are suitable for indoor-only display, but there would be the odd few that would be ok for an outdoor shrine as well. They range in size from about an inch tall to knee-height. They’ve also got art, posters, paintings and all sorts of wall hangings and decorations. Don’t forget to look up and around your head as you explore the shop.

On this trip, I eyed off a particularly gorgeous example of Pan & his Nymphs done in fauz bronze finish – you know, heavily inspired the famous painting ‘Nymphs and Satyr’ by William Adolphe Bouguereau, 1873.  It’d look awesome on my hall table or on another altar. I didn’t buy it, instead preferring to source a few more statue ideas for the manager to seek out for me and I’ll put in a mail order soon, hopefully before Giftmas.

I did buy a gorgeous heavy little athame (stainless steel silver blade with pewter handle), a Moon Diary for 2010 (the ones produced in Bellingen, I’ve been using them since 1998 – they’re fabulous) and a kitschy pentagram key ring. Oh if you’re a fan of Peter Stone jewellery – Shambalaa say they are the largest stockist in Australia.

Shambalaa don’t have a website, but they are open 7days and have a good old fashioned phone number – try calling Andrea Diamond on 02 4464-1916.

Posted by: aussiepagan | October 21, 2009

Robin Fletcher – news item

Check out the latest media news item on Robin Fletcher.

EVIL sex witch Robin Fletcher has vowed never to change his ways despite asking a court for his freedom.

The egomaniac sex offender is no longer behind bars but can’t roam free thanks to a strict court order aimed at protecting the community.

Fletcher, 53, tried to keep details of his court case secret including the fact that an expert rates him a high risk of reoffending. But the Herald Sun successfully fought the suppression order in the Supreme Court, with Justice Philip Cummins declaring the public had a right to know.

Fletcher served 10 years’ jail for sex crimes against two 15-year-old girls, but maintained the acts were just a part of his Wiccan religion.

Read the rest of the story

I’ve commented on this blog before about my personal opinions and thoughts on Robin Fletcher. I am of the opinion that the pagan community should stay aware and alert to this particular fellow, but you know what, it’s those like Robin Fletcher, who have not been caught/convicted that concern me the most. I’m not suggesting that our entire pagan religious community is full of people as extreme as Robin, but there are those in the community (both known and unknown), who can tread a very fine line in their expression of their pagan practise.   

I’m also not suggesting that we should adopt a vigilante approach either, but for those in the community to be aware that religious freedom of expression is NOT an excuse to perpetuate sexual assualt or sexual harrassment of any kind. For any reason.

Pagans can be a touchy feely bunch of people. Sometimes we practise our rituals naked, or skyclad. Being naked in the company of others for a ritual, does not invite sexual touch or advances.  No more than being clothed would be.

Here are a few of my personal tips to keep in mind when doing ritual or participating in a circle with others…

  • If you ever feel uncomfortable in a circle environment, you have every right to leave. Whatever your reasoning, just do so as politely and discretely as possible so not to disturb other people.
  • If you knowingly join a coven or group that practises naked, consider carefully if  this practise fits in with your own views.
  • Even if you are naked, it does not mean you are in a sexual context. You have the right to control how you are physically touched, whether clothed or not.

What are your thoughts? I Invite comments on this topic.

Posted by: aussiepagan | October 19, 2009

Event Cancellation: Sydney Beltaine

Last week, the Pagan Initiative group in Sydney have announced the cancellation of their Beltaine event.  Sadly, not enough people booked in. This is the first time Pagan Initiative have had to cancel one of their planned events.

I’ll be off celebrating Beltaine somewhere else in that case. 

What is the rest of the Sydney pagan community doing to celebrate?

Posted by: aussiepagan | October 6, 2009

Witches Ball 2009

Well done to PAN for organising a super fun night out with the Witches Ball, held last Saturday in Sydney.  Everyone made a brilliant effort with their outfits (except possibly for me – I did simple & elegant, yet still got compliments) and it was lovely to see Spiral Dance back in Sydney.

I do wonder though, would pagan people still attend things like this and make them a brilliant success if bands like Spiral Dance weren’t playing? Sure, the music was good, but it wasn’t the main reason why I went along. I went to see lots of people I hadn’t caught up with for ages and to have a fun night out.

Posted by: aussiepagan | September 30, 2009

Art & About – Sydney Life

I eagerly look forward to this event every year!

Sydney Life is a photo comp which is a part of Art & About. The winners of this competition have their images enlarged and displayed along the North/South walkway in Hyde Park each year.

Here is one of my favourite images from this year’s finalists.

The Bride - Ritualism Series

The Bride - Ritualism Series

Tamara Dean
The Bride, Ritualism Series

Ritualism delves into the shared desire to understand our existence and our mortality. Ritual holds a purpose in explaining moments of life, marking them and imbuing them with meaning.

I adore this image.

I’ve done some Googling to find more info on this Ritualism Series. Go and have a look here.  Some of these images are just so hauntingly beautiful. Tamara is a regular finalist in the Sydney Life competition and I’ve been following her work rather loosely for a few years. Why? Why is this relevant on a pagan blog? Because she, and her beautiful images are no stranger to the Sydney pagan community. You just need to have a half decent memory ;-)

In her capacity as a SMH photographer, Tamara has photographed PAN full moon circles in the past (Midsummer 2003 whilst I happily stood behind the camera) Whilst I don’t like being photographed during ritual, she produced some beautiful images, which I’ve displayed in this blog in early 2008.

Midsummer 2003

Photo by Tamara Dean - Pagans of Suburbia SMH 2003

nws_pagan,0

Photo by Tamara Dean - 2003

The full SMH story Pagans of Suburbia can be found here.

Anyway – this post is to encourage you all to get out and about and check out the Sydney Life exhibition.

Sydney Life

When: 1-25 October
Where:
Central Walkway, Hyde Park North

This truly diverse selection of photographs will intrigue, delight and inspire you as you wander along the leafy central walkway of Hyde Park North, and see Sydney as you haven’t seen it before.

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