The British Isles, the place where I was born and where I live, is a magical location. Though I’ve been fortunate to travel in many lands (through deserts, great forests, volcanic zones, futuristic cities, titanic mountains and more) this group of islands is the place I call home. In recent weeks I’ve been able share my landscape, specifically the south-western part of Britain, with a large number of excellent magicians from several European nations, the Americas (North and South) and magical colleagues from as far afield as the antipodes. In addition to participating in a series of intense magical workings I was also able to introduce folk to the wonders of Glastonbury in Somerset, and for a few guests, some of the delights of Devon and Cornwall.

One of the many magical mounds of Britain

Naturally each landscape and culture has its own magic, its own special properties. In the case of Britain it seems to me that this is a land where cultural streams meet, merge and give rise to new forms. This is hardly surprising. As an island nation many peoples have visited and settled here, creating a cauldron of creative possibility. The development of new music styles is one area in which Britain excels, as is the creation of new forms of esoteric or spiritual practice. Modern Druidry, Thelema, Chaos Magick and Wicca are now world movements and all of these traditions crystallised first in Britain before expanding from here to the four-corners of the earth.

At this recent gathering of magicians one of our aims (especially for the British participants) was to reclaim our native traditions and iconography. Symbols that have typically been appropriated by saccharine recensions of new age and Pagan culture: fairies, folk dancing, dragons, unicorns – you get the picture.

The question ‘what is British-ness?’ looms large in our national psyche but perhaps it is this confusion that allows such a creative spirit to flourish here? The British are a mongrel people, a genetic and cultural cut-up. We love our fish and chips (made possible by the new technology of the railway) as much as we love our curries (made possible by both the imperialist project and the immigration of Asian people to these islands). Our flag itself is a hybrid of many nations (though usually drawn without the Welsh dragon, which would make it much more exciting in my opinion). In an effort to make sense of this cultural morass people wanting to become residents get to take a government administered test to ensure they grok a State-validated idea of Britishness.

A fusion of flags

The folk and esoteric traditions of Britain are likewise composed of many little snippets of memory, custom and myth. We glue these together, creating modern revivals of ancient folk rites (a favourites from my region is The Hunting of the Earl of Rone) and sometimes whole new religions like Wicca. Like the motley shamanic-style tattered coat of the Morris dancer, the ragbag of British culture is sewn together to form one (continuously changing) garment. Given this behaviour it’s hardly surprising that a magpie-style of occult practice – chaos magic – should have first emerged in these isles.

I’m deeply honoured to have been part of this recent Gathering of magicians. Not a little relieved that the capricious British weather was kind to us, and cheered by the many little ways in which the native traditions of Britain were shared with my magical siblings.

As is often the case when we see things from another perspective we understand more fully. Sharing my landscape with my magical Brother and Sisters from abroad certainly helped me appareciate the native traditions of my place that much better. This understanding is a reminder to myself. That all the little details of life, of custom and belief, are like the fairy folk themselves – tiny and mysterious, powerful and ubiquitous, and all but impossible to pin down. And when they combine they give rise to that Great Spirit of this wonderful land in which I live.

JV

The imposing buildings of Greenwich University on the banks of the river Thames provided a fantastic location for the second Breaking Convention,  the planets’ largest multidisciplinary conference on psychedelic consciousness.

For three days historians, neurologists, parapsychologists, shamanic practitioners, Heads and others enjoyed both the fabulous sunshine and an intense download of research and opinion with three parallel lecture sessions running, plus workshop space. But it wasn’t by any means all talk. The university buildings we were using were transformed into a psychedelic gallery. There were books, installation art, paintings and in the evening performance and psychedelic music at the delightful after-parties.

Visionary art  by Emma Watkinson

As is usually the way with these events there was too much to take in and there were several lectures and workshops I had to miss. An added intensity to the presentations was created by the high temperatures in the generally packed lecture theatres. One delegate observed that this made each talk reminiscent of a sweat lodge where (though the organisers did their best to ventilate the spaces) one had to endure the temperature if you were going to obtain the great wisdom from the speaker you’d chosen to hear!

Sitting in the shade outside I reflected on the weird fact that here we were, having a conference about psychedelics, when these drugs/medicines/entheogens (choose the word you like best) are still seriously illegal in the majority of nations on our planet. However this situation means that events of this type are even more important. As we (both individually and as cultures) struggle to understand our own relationship with these powerful substances it’s vital that we build communities and exchange information. Here at Breaking Convention new narratives are being formed. These range from new models of drug policy through to the latest scientific research on the myriad possible therapeutic uses of these chemicals. Sure there were a few lectures I attended that irritated me but in terms of a conference that’s a good thing. The aim of the game is to build community but not at the expense of critical thinking or the realisation that there are many different (sometimes competing) groups with a stake in the psychedelic discourse.

Much of the content of the workshops was recorded so soon it should be possible to check out the presentations for yourself. Stay tuned to this channel and I’ll post links to the resources related to the conference as they are released.

Respect to the organisers and to all those who contributed to this excellent event.  The next Breaking Convention is timetabled for 2015 and anything could happen by then. Ketamine therapy for depression, MDMA therapy for PTSD and maybe medical marijuana in Britain. Who knows perhaps even greater changes if we can find intellectually and politically savvy ways to amend our laws. And with excellent events like Breaking Convention to inspire and inform us I have no doubt that these transformations are a distinct possibility.

JV

Pics of the conference can be viewed here http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathan_greet/sets/72157634672745700/

Article from the Times Higher Education HERE.