Zoomorphism Faerie Gathering is for gay/bi/pan/queer/trans men at Otangaroa, Whangaroa, Far North, Aotearoa/New Zealand. It is the final gathering for 2019, so get your pagan on and celebrate the solstice Fae-style.
Radical Faeries Aotearoa/New Zealand (RadFaeNZ) gleefully invite you to join us in celebrating post-Summer solstice at Otangaroa on the edge and in the rainforest (the big news is critically endangered native long-tailed bats have been recorded here since last years’ gathering!).
Your Queen Rooster and point of contact for the event is Witchy aka Jake Clarke - invocations can be emailed to radfaenz@gmail.com but most stuff will be covered in the registration form at the bottom of this page.
The gathering begins with an evening meal and the opening ritual on Friday 27th December and ends after breakfast and the closing ritual on 31st December. This allows people to travel up on 27th December. If you would like to come early to help set up the gathering then please speak to Witchy on when to arrive.
Carpooling is highly encouraged and Witchy can help direct this traffic.
What is a gathering?
Faerie gatherings are a time of creating community - as we embrace each other as fellow freaks, friends and lovers and men who love men. It is an opportunity to leave the concrete jungle behind, be present with each other and get back to nature. The retreat is based on international Faerie traditions where activities and workshops are co-created. Anybody can propose and lead a workshop, ritual or other activity.
This year’s theme is Zoomorphism. As the human existence hurtles forward into a technological frenzy of consumerism and detachment from the natural world, we often leave animals, nature and other beings we share our planet within our wake, struggling to survive. We invite you to invoke your inner animal, animals or even possibly a chimera. Feel free to come prepared with an animal or creature in mind or maybe allow one to burst out of you mid-gathering. What does your inner animal say about yourself?
There will be spaces for workshops and discussions on the topic of Zoomorphism. Do you have a workshop that could contribute to this theme or not related at all? We encourage you to express your animal’s self in whichever way you feel inspired to, dress up, slither, crawl or even let loose a mating call as the moon rises.
Location
The Otangaroa gathering site is private, clothing-optional and eco-friendly with an open kitchen and fire pit. It’s off the beaten track 14 km down a gravel rural road inland from Whangaroa Harbour – that’s a 4.5 hour drive north of Auckland. The closest small towns are Mangonui and Kaeo.
Guests will need to bring tents to be erected on the edge or in the rainforest or camp among the fruit forest/orchard areas. There are composting toilets with great views, we’ll cook on a BBQ and bathing will be next to the creek that weaves through the forest (ie no showers). You’ll need to take out any rubbish you create. There is a sheltered deck lest the weather turn nasty.
Vegan food is provided to honour our animal friends. A group of us are also growing our own veggies to eat at the gathering to reduce waste, carbon footprint etc, do you grow anything in abundance that we can buy off you? We would rather spend the gathering money on other faeries produce than at a supermarket. (Donations are also greatly appreciated).
There is no cold storage available – except for popping things to cool in the creek. We’ll do the cooking communally. Please note that Otangaroa is a dog-free venue because there are kiwi where we’ll be camping.
Cost
The base registration fee for the gathering is $100 to cover the cost of food. Contact us at radfaenz@gmail.com to register.
Faerie Fee Fund
We operate a ‘NOTALOF’ policy (no one turned away for lack of funds). If the registration and accommodation cost is a problem please contact your Queen Rooster (Witchy aka Jake Clarke) register at radfaenz@gmail.com and we will sort the payment for you.
Alcohol Policy
In order to remain present and respectful to ourselves and each other, this will be a strictly recreational drugs and alcohol-free gathering.
Link to Registration.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1EVkFT16WbTuQf8eZSsCP33LmnDF5Wxlr-N_PVR3LzsA/