The League of Extraordinary Awen Folk
Special Feature of the Month for Samhain - Andrea Bowes
AKA..The Mistress of All Things Sharp & Pointy & the Sacred Ritual Fires of Awen.
Ms Andrea Bowes, Warrior , tech wizard, Priestess of fire, & Shield Sister, the true epicness of this woman cannot be measured or understated. She is a one woman machine when it comes to all things sharp & pointy and of course the ritual and sacred fires. A fierce friend, loyal and always generous with her time & knowledge, Andrea is a true friend and is much loved by us all.
I’ve know Andrea for over twenty years, through thick & thin, through the Anglesey Druid Order days, to the Rainbow Druid Camps and the of course Spirit of Awen. One of my much loved memories is seeing Andrea, just as the sun was setting, walking up and down the shore of the Lake at Bala, spear in hand, looking like a memory that fitted perfectly from a time long gone by, stunning & beautiful and just a little scary 🤣.
Most people wont know that Andrea was responsible for many years, ensuring that the camp website tech mess-ups by yours truely we’re always sorted and everything uploaded properly & put back on track..It was a Labour of love on her part, in my defence it was not my fault, it’s just not my magic…& That’s all I’ve got to say on that particular subject. 🤣
It can not be underestimated as a gift that Andrea is the only person able to follow and decipher my rather detailed and spectacular ( if I say so myself) Ritual diagrams. They are a work of art and I think it’s fair to say on more than one occasion she has added her own interpretation to the page! Andrea is without doubt one of this world’s special & magical folk. Although her softer side is, I think, often overlooked 😜. BUT..we do NoT poke the unicorn…No..NEVER…Unicorn energy for some is a joy..but like the Dark Lord in Harry Potter, we DONT Invoke its name…Noooooo…I have seen grown men cry at its manifestation..so we work hard to NOT poke the Unicorn if at all possible, the consequences are and can be dire! 😜😎
So for a bit of fun we have asked Andrea a few questions, as somebody who is indeed one of the Extraordinary Folk of Awen, so we hope you enjoy . Xx
Welcome to the League of Extraordinary (Questions for) Awen Folk!
What’s your personal camp superpower? (e.g. finding lost tent pegs, calming chaos, etc.)
“All things Fire, and Sharp Shiny and Pointy (Axes, Spears)”
2. What has been your favourite Awen Ritual so far?
“There are two that stand out for me, Year of the Cauldron and Year of the Boat, both for different reasons, but if I have to choose, it would be the year of the boat, bringing the boat up the field in procession, with the Moon behind us, through the mist and hearing people gasp as the boat came out of the mist and into the circle, not believing what they were seeing and then again when the Fae surrendered their shields, after they had watched the Fae craft them all week. ”
3. What spiritual path or practice resonates most with you?
“I don’t follow a particular path, such as druidry, wicca etc. My path is eclectic, but it is nature-, spirit-, and energy-based. Focused on feeling what is around you and working with the spirits/ energies that are all around us, being attuned to what is happening. ”
4. If you could add one new feature or activity to the camp, what would it be?
“A pool for when it’s too hot or a sauna / sweat lodge”
5. What’s your favourite thing about the Awen community/tribe?
“The friendliness, how everyone comes together to support what we do and participate in everything. If you ask for help, people step forward, and they share what they have and what they know.”
6. Which element — Earth, Air, Fire, or Water — best represents you?
“Most people would say Fire, as that is what they see me do most of the time, but for me, whilst I have a feel for each of them, Water is my element. I’m most at home around and in water, I love the sea, walking by rivers. It’s the one that will work its way through and around anything; it can be in multiple states at the same time, it’s adaptable, flexible and will have its way, one way or another. ”
7. How did you first become involved with Camp?
“From its very first year, Fox was unable to attend, so I brought our Birds of Prey and did a display for camp, and have been hooked ever since. I loved the main ritual’s genuineness, which involved everyone; it wasn’t just something to watch. You had to participate and listen, as there were real consequences. It struck me as something different from any other camp or ritual I had been to and I loved it and been hooked ever since ”
8. What do you think draws people to gatherings like Spirit of Awen?
“The community and tribe are one aspect, but another is its genuineness, the spirit of the camp, and its focus on real substance and meaning for what the camp does; everything has a meaning and is tied together to make the whole 10 days as meaningful as possible, and everything builds up to the Big Ritual, which brings it all together. ”
9.What’s one behind-the-scenes moment that people wouldn’t believe happens?
“The Planning Meetings, especially the Sketches that Michelle and I draw to try to convey to the rest of the crew what we are going to do in the rituals. The expressionist or surrealist art movement has nothing on these.”
10. If you could hold a ceremony anywhere in the world, where would it be?
“It would have to be on a beach at sunset, with a large fire and preferably somewhere warm. ”
11. Do you have a favourite Awen Cake & what is it?
“Any, as long as it’s gluten-free, Walter’s Cheesecake is a favourite at the moment”
12. What does the Spirit of Awen mean to you personally?
“It’s a place where I can be myself in terms of my beliefs and express who I am without having to explain why. I get two weeks of what for me is a kind of ‘normality’ away from the demands of the muggle world, and It’s also an opportunity to give back to my community ”
13. What ritual or personal practice do you never skip?
“Throughout the year, I have a constantly changing number of candles on my altar, and as we go through the year, the number either increases or decreases depending on the season and what equinox or solstice we are at. So at midsummer, there are five candles, and at midwinter, there is one. It reminds me that things are constantly changing, but even when things are at their darkest, there is always light, no matter how faint, it’s there and it will grow again and return. It helps to keep me optimistic that no matter what is happening, things will change and improve, you have to be patient, and wait ”
14. What legacy or feeling do you hope Spirit of Awen leaves with people?
“That we are all one tribe, one community and that when we come together, we can do amazing things, that can have a real impact. ”
15. What mythical being would make the best camp crew member?
“I think camp needs a unicorn, something that looks serene and peaceful but has a sharp pointy thing on its head, that you really shouldn’t mess with, saying no names or invoking anything ”
16. What’s your favourite memory from past Spirit of Awen events?
“Too many to choose, I love it when Nigel and Carolyn come to play, and watching people sit around the fire and sing, tell stories and share, the bands. Still, if I had to choose one memory that really stands out, it would be why I love Camp. I think it’s why people love camp, it has to be the Cauldron ritual, when everyone stayed in the circle for hours, despite the cold and the wind, constantly singing and chanting, supporting and working with us to complete the ritual, and when the fire finally lit and the and the cauldron went up, the cheers from everyone and the celebration that we had done it, that for me sums up what Awen is about. No one left; everyone stayed, came together, and worked together for that ritual to succeed. ”
17. If Awen could whisper one message to everyone attending, what would it say?
“Be yourself, let go what the world expects you to be, and be the person you want to be”
18. What’s one piece of wisdom you’d share with someone new to the path?
“Don’t rush, take your time and explore, read, talk to people, don’t be afraid to ask questions and challenge. There is no right or wrong, there are many paths you can take, find the one that is right for you, don’t let someone tell you how to walk your path.”
19. If the camp had a soundtrack, what song would you choose for your own theme?
“I’ve two, but both have a similar message. First is “I Am What I Am” by Gloria Gaynor. It shaped me as a child and was my anthem growing up, never apologising for who or what I was, or what I thought and believed and more recently, “This is Me” sung by Keala Settle from The Greatest Showman, for very similar reasons”
20. What does Awen Tribe mean to you?
“It’s my Kin, the family I have chosen”
21. Who or what inspires your work at Camp?
“Everyone who is part of the core crew, as camp wouldn’t be possible without any of them, the energy, the dedication, the inspiration they bring makes camp what it is. Helping bring to life the vision each year that Michelle and Jamie come up with. ”
22. What season of the Wheel of the Year do you feel most aligned with, and why?
“Autumn, the change of nature into a complete spectacle of colour, its final spectacular display of glory before we head into winter and rest. reminds me we have to celebrate what we have done and shout about it sometimes, and then allow ourselves to rest before we start again”
23. If you could time travel to any historical pagan celebration, which would it be?
“Probably Ancient Rome to experience Saturnalia, to see how mid-winter was celebrated, from the feasting, gift-giving, decorations, the relaxing of social rules, including the temporary inversion of social hierarchy where slaves were served by their masters, and see how the Lord of Misrule was played out. ”
24. How do you find moments of stillness or magic in everyday life?
“Stop, take a deep breath, close my eyes and just breathe. We spend so much time rushing, watching, interacting, thinking of the future, worrying about a myriad of things, we forget to just stop and be, and enjoy silence and doing nothing.”
25. If you could swap roles with anyone on the crew for a day, who would it be?
“That’s a hard one, as we all help each other in so many ways. We could swap with the gate crew and welcome people to camp, and tell them what’s happening and where to find everything. Might have to leave the axes and spear in my tent thought”
26. What’s a book, poem, or piece of art that’s changed your outlook on life?
“ Cat Stevens - Moon Shadow, It reminds me always to see the positive, no matter what, to enjoy life and what you have, to be optimistic, things change, and at times things can be bad and drag you down, if you let them. It reminds me that we choose how we see and perceive things, so choose to be positive and live in the light”
27. Which part of the camp do you most look forward to each year?
“The Main Ritual, this is what it all builds up to and is the culmination of all the planning and work”
28. What three items would you always pack for camp (besides the obvious)?
“Axes & spears, Fire stuff, Gin and or Tonic (As Michelle usually has the opposite)”
29. If you could share one blessing with the Awen Tribe what would it be?
“May the ancestors guide you, and your path lead you to Good health now and forever”