Reflections on Midwinter

Sitting down to reflect on the Midwinter celebrations that we held over the weekend got me thinking about the nature of connection and community. And how we think we’re doing things slightly differently. I’d like to think that we’re trying to break the mold of the whole ‘service provider’ type relationship thing. I keep saying ‘we’re not a business’ therefore there are no customers when it comes to our approach to how we think about what we do and why, but this goes a little further. 

When you look at the whole aesthetic of what we create together for our feasts, we also deliberately try and move away from host/guest binary dynamic. Why? Because then we’re all looking after each other in-the-moment. Sure, there are folks like us that do the front end logistics and stuff (booking the hall, communicating stuff), but if it weren’t for the dozens of people rocking up to set up, decorate, bring food to share, and then cleaning up at the end and pack down, there’s no feast event at all. That’s not a binary or service dynamic, it looks and reads like a community vibe with everyone looking out for each other. We all share some level of responsibility (to the best of our various abilities to participate), and we openly recognise that varies for everyone and we make room for that.

Watching how things unfolded in real time was an actual pleasure. We watched the vision come to life transforming a cold council hall into a beautiful space that we loved spending time in for the night.

Stronger people carried and set up tables & chairs, and then stayed to pack them back up without being asked. 

Kids and adults worked together to decorate a Midwinter Solstice tree with homemade decorations, dried orange garlands and foraged pine cones, with foraged ivy and holly from people’s gardens and wild places and the tables lit with an assortment of lanterns, fairy lights and battery candles, also foraged and collected from the wild depths of garages and storage units. 

We’d planned for three, six-foot tables for the buffet and quickly had to extend that to six as the food kept arriving and so much thought had gone into the choice of dishes. So many options were vegan and gluten free. This demonstrated inclusivity in action, people were thinking about everyone and not just themselves. Two new people who had never been to a witchy or pagan event before were literally flabbergasted at the array of options for them to choose from. Frankly, me too, given that I’m dairy and gluten free most of the time. It’s an easy way to feel seen and loved when you can attend a free community event and see that a complete stranger has catered for your dietary needs. 

Oh and you know what, another thing that will stay with me (in addition to the spectacular gift and lantern altar under the tree) was one beautiful soul who wandered around the feasting hall and approached everyone with their treasure box. They offered everyone the opportunity to dip in and take something from a selection of trinkets. I was lucky enough to make two selections over the evening; I got a crystal thumb stone, and a cute jubly-umph lapel pin which said ‘Unapologetic’ ironic really because I’m often the first one to apologise for things that aren’t my fault at all.

But this thing we’re doing….I’m unapologetic in my deliberate approach. We’re co-creating from the ground up.

I think what this entire evening tells me is that we have alot of witchy people in Western Sydney who want to connect with others in a way that is organic and fun. We encourage everyone to continue their chats, their connections, and their friendships outside of whatever we ‘host’. We’re not the destination, we’re just the excuse to catch up. Part of the reason for the season-al thing. 

So keep talking. Build those friendships. Reach out and invite that witch you met for coffee and chat about the deity you both worship, or that book you’ve both read.

This is how working groups start. This is how you find a coven. You never know where things might lead.