In March 2003, Frances, the founder and High Priestess of the Temple of the Dark Moon was invited to present two lectures at the 4th annual New Zealand Pagan Festival. Between 600 and 1,000 people were estimated to have attended this festival, consisting of lectures on various magickal topics, rituals, music, stalls and demonstrations. International guest speaker was Philip Carr-Gomm, Chief Druid of the British Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, who coupled Frances in the opening festival ritual on the Saturday morning with some 250 people.

The opening Spiral Dance

Both days were filled with lectures and entertainment. Philip spoke about his then latest book "Druidcraft", and Frances shared her insights into working the Sabbats with respect to the Southern Hemisphere. Roel van Leeuwen, spoke of New Zealand's long and varied history of occult and esoteric fraternities within New Zealand, and kindly has provided the Temple of the Dark Moon permission to include a time-line on this site.

Amongst the stalls, an Auckland Vodou group, Hounfor du Marche, presented various dancing and chanting demonstrations, with Lady Brigit and Baron Samedi making an appearance to walk amongst the crowds that had gathered. Belly dancers enticed the majority of the female participants (as well as some males) to join them, and throughout the grounds, the Harvest Man, accompanied with his sprite, was seen handing out apples. The activites for the Saturday evening commenced with a harvest ritual, followed by a three course feast, fire dancing, and more Vodou drumming around the fire pit.

Lady Brigit and Baron Samedi walk the crowds

Later that night a Wellington based astrologer led a ritual based on current planetary movements, which was designed to encourage people to meet and understand their inner challenges. Frances followed this up with a ritual that used some of the darker aspects of Deity in order to properly understand them as opposed to fearing and ignoring them. Sunday's lectures included a speaker from a rather secretive order, "Knights of the Temple Round", as well as Higher Magick, and the use of astrology in magick. Philip spoke again, this time on Paganism and Politics, the essence of which centred on bringing the inner peace we obtain from our various spiritual paths out into the wider community.

Green Sprite and the Green Man

Despite being the final lecture, and perhaps the most controversial, Frances presented her second lecture which looked at the darker aspects of Deity, with some 40 people staying around to hear what she had to say. The organisers deemed the weekend a success and since that time smaller festivals have occured around both islands of New Zealand. Return to top of page