III Encontro Anual PFI – Portugal
Regional Pagan Meeting

Lisboa 2001

Quando pensamos em Paganismo, surge-nos a ideia de altares e cultos Wicca ou mesmo dos alegres Festivais Pagãos … raramente surge a imagem de uma velha cozinhando no seu caldeiro, ou do Índio meio vestido de ganga e tanga percorrendo ansioso pela caça que já escasseia, ou dos esquimós falando às águas antes de matarem a presa, ou do africano que ingenuamente honra estrangeiros com danças tribais, ou dos Aborígenes lutando pelos seus direitos …

Pagãos nunca deixaram de existir, e se nós europeus neo-pagãos lutamos pelo respeito da nossa crença e direitos, não devemos esquecer aqueles que NUNCA deixaram de o ser, resistindo corajosamente às influências da nova civilização e do seu deus único e usurpador … não se vergando às vozes de um novo credo, e ao longo de séculos continuam no SEU território, adaptando-se, mas mantendo “a alma” da existência das suas raízes.

É com muita admiração e profundo respeito que dedico este Encontro Anual aos TRIBAIS, com o desejo de que a nossa luta pela liberdade de credo seja útil a todos nós.

Isobel Andrade
Coordenadora nacional – Portugal
Pagan Federation International

Este ano no Pagan Meeting PFI, finalizámos com uma homenagem Pagã, urbana. .. e ao som rítmico do Hugo e da Sara n A Caçada, por Hernus Senhor das florestas … onde outrora ecoava a feiticeira o espírito do animal-rei.

Encerrámos este Encontro Anual, rodando uma espiral como nos Círculos Pagãos Abertos, relembrando a Terra, nossa homenageada, cantando em honra dos Antigos.

A todos, os nossos agradecimentos e felicitações, e pela participação tão calorosa e simpática do publico presente.

Feliz Ano Novo!

PFI Portugal
Pagan Federation International – Portugal

PFI Portugal Annual Meeting

By Isobel & José Andrade

I dedicate this PFI-Portugal Annual Meeting, to the TRIBALS, with the desire that our struggle for the freedom of creed will be also useful to all of them.

Isobel Andrade
PFI Portugal NC

Our meeting began at 3 p.m. with a play of Didgeredoo performed by Hugo .. “Winds”, the song’s name was dedicated to all pagans around the world.

Isobel opened this event, spoke about lost polytheist empires, survival tribes and the revival of The New Paganism, the important effect that Wicca had on last years, the new forms of Paganism, the importance of The Pagan Federation and the opening to new forms of pagan ways after the 80s. After enthusiastic applause came Gil_Herne who spoke about his experience with American paganism and the difficult time that he had until meeting a true coven. The speech was scheduled for 20 minutes but it was so interesting, it ended up lasting 45 minutes.

After a short pause, Oakmar gave a talk on Druidry. He spoke of the Celtic society and the hard work of the Celtic druidic reconstructionalists. It was a very interesting and cultural speech. Rosa Villa finished his talk by reading a poetry from Oakmer, dedicated to Tailtiu. She read with such a feeling that we saw tears on many people. It was a magical moment.

Sara Timoteo, a young energetic pagan, spoke about pagans & Nature and some ways to help to preserve our Earth. The respect we must have loving and helping nature comes from inside and must be learned since we born not simply to speak, but to act. Her freshness and conviction touched the assembly.

Next came Gilberto with a speech about the influence of the Goddess on poetry and painters on 19 and 20th century. His enthusiasm was accompanied by slides of famous pictures and others authors, helping the public with pictured references.

Percussion and dance closed this annual event with an urban Pagan homage to the ancestral tribes, to Hugo’s rhythmic sound and Sara’s expression in the dance “The Hunt” to Herne Lord of the forests, where, in ancient times, the herds roared. Lastly, was heard the sorceress enchanting the spirit of the Animal-King, a very strong moment which impressed upon the public.

In the end, with the audience still surprised, Isobel in a brief explanation invited the participants to dance, and spinning in spiral like in the Open Circles, Sang in honor of the Ancients : May the powers of the ancients be renewed , and in the world new life will emerge.”

Spiral Dance: “At the end of the conference, the audience was invited to join in on a spiral dance. It was a wonderful moment. Besides all of the different Pagan Traditions that participated, it was clearly felt that being Pagan is being Pagan…

And in which better way to express ourselves than dancing in the continuing of the cycle of life, hand-in-hand. There was a moment that time stand still and the presence of our ancestors was felt”

Sara Timoteo
PFI Member