I am the Lord of the Double Wand of Power; the wand of the Force of Coph Nia--but my left hand is empty, for I have crushed an Universe; & nought remains. -- Liber AL vel Legis 3:72

Guidelines for Coph Nia 2012

Please read these guidelines thoroughly and completely. By registering for Coph Nia 2012, you are agreeing to abide by these guidelines. Serious violations of these guidelines may result in ejection from the event without refund.

Alcohol & Tobacco

Use of alcohol and tobacco are limited to adults of legal age. Use alcohol in moderation and consistent with the spiritual orientation of the gathering. If you smoke, be respectful of those who do not, and extinguish and properly dispose of your butts. Alcohol and/or tobacco are not permitted in ritual space except for ceremonial purposes arranged for in advance. If you do not drink alcohol and are passed a chalice containing an alcoholic beverage in ritual, it is permitted to pass it on without drinking or to pour a small libation on the ground before passing it to the next person. If you have substance abuse issues that require special considerations, please make your concerns known well ahead of time to the person in charge of the ritual. Selling of alcohol at Coph Nia is strictly prohibited in accordance with local law.

Attendance

Attendance at Coph Nia is limited to men who love men, age 18 and older, who have an interest in paganism, ceremonial magick or related alternative spiritual paths. Coph Nia is open to newcomers as well as experienced practitioners. All persons must pre-reigster to attend.

Bonfire Guidelines

Please be respectful at the main fire. Keep in mind that the fire is a sacred fire and not a trash fire. At the same time, it is also a gathering place for camaraderie, drumming and dancing. Moderate your speaking voice so as not to disturb the drummers and dancers. Glass is prohibited at the main fire. Please bring your beverages in plastic or another unbreakable container.

Camping

We do not supply tents or bedding, so please plan accordingly. Generators and vehicle engines may not be run during the gathering. Please use light-colored marking cloths to mark the locations of your tent stakes and guy wires so that your fellow campers aren't injured when navigating the site.

Clothing

Most of the Coph Nia site within the campground is clothing optional, and nudity as well as elaborate ritual garb are permitted. Street clothes must be worn at the Gatehouse and on the driveway leading from the public road to the Gatehouse.

Communications

Communications and networking amongst attendees is one of the hallmarks of the Coph Nia community. If you have any ideas, concerns or problems, we encourage you to seek out a staff member or member of the community council. We ask that attendees respect the open and trusting nature of the community and refrain from pressuring other attendees to join their workshops, rituals or organizations. A space will be provided for the display and distribution of organizational and event literature.

Community

Please attend the daily "touch point" meetings in order to stay informed about the day's activities. Help to build a cooperative community spirit. Strive to make new friends, attend workshops and rituals and learn from one another. Treat one another with respect. Be considerate of each other's needs and personal space. And please cooperate with the Coph Nia staff and the campground staff - help them to ensure that everyone's stay is both safe and spiritually fulfilling.

Fire-spinning

Fire play activities (including spinning lit fire poi, fire fans, fire staves, and fire-breathing) are prohibited at Coph Nia due to insurance concerns. Spinning unlit, glow poi, glow sticks or glow staves is allowed. Please be cautious when you do so to avoid injuring others.

Firearms and Fireworks

Please do not bring them to Coph Nia.

Fires and Firewood

Firewood is sold by the campground on site. Attendees are not permitted to gather wood from the forest. Please use caution when kindling fires of any size, when using candles or torches or when disposing of cigarettes. Fires are only permitted in a fire pit/ring. You may not dig a fire pit. If you did not arrive early enough to claim a camp site with a fire pit, please consider sharing a fire with your neighbors. Once a fire is started, it must be tended until it is extinguished. Should a fire get out of hand, immediately shout for help. It is generally a good idea to keep a container of water handy in the area of a campfire in order to help extinguish it.

Please do not throw any trash or cigarette butts in the main Fire Circle. While you may bring alcoholic beverages to the main Fire Circle, glass is strictly prohibited. Please pour your drinks into a plastic or other unbreakable container.

First Aid

A First Aid station will be set up on site. If you are injured at Coph Nia, you should report to First Aid to be treated and to allow us to fill out an incident report. In the event of a medical emergency, summon help immediately from the Coph Nia or campground staff. Do not attempt to move an incapacitated victim unless he is in physical danger.

Gate and Check-in

You must present a photo I.D. at the gate and sign the Our Haven waiver as your arrive at the campground. You will have to present your I.D. again when your check-in at the Coph Nia Info Center. The registration process will be completed at the Info Center when you report to sign up for your volunteer work shifts, at which time you will receive your guidebook and any pre-ordered t-shirts.

Please try to plan your packing so that you may stay on site for the entire gathering. You may leave and return but the event organizers wish to minimize the traffic in and out of the gathering.

General Guidelines

Coph Nia is sponsored by and organized by the Ordo Aeternus Vovin, a spiritual order for gay and bisexual men. The OAV and its initiates govern themselves according the the Law of Thelema which emphasizes respect for one another as gods in our own right and a strong sense of individual responsibility. It is the intention to run Coph Nia as Thelemically as possible. Please keep this in mind and consider how your actions will affect others and the gathering and be responsible for yourself first and foremost.

Health Conditions

If you have health conditions that may require occasional and/or ongoing first aid support, you must provide a doctor's permission to attend Coph Nia when registering. Persons with physically and/or mentally unstable or severe conditions should not attend Coph Nia, as we do not have the necessary staff to conduct this work. We cannot guarantee the availability of electrical hookups for medical devices (e.g., CPAPs) or refrigeration for prescription drugs.

Illegal Drugs

Persons caught using, selling or distributing illegal substances will be expelled and barred from all future events.

Noise

Please be considerate of those around you. The main Fire Circle is set aside for drumming, dancing and fellowship after 11:30pm. Anything above quiet conversation in the camping areas after normal "last call" should be avoided. If you are a light sleeper, it is recommended that you bring ear plugs.

Parking

Vehicles must be unloaded and moved to the parking area for the duration of the gathering to minimize congestion, traffic, noise, and dust. If your vehicle is leaking fluids, please place a piece of cardboard or other barrier underneath your vehicle to catch the leaks.

Pets/Animal Friends/Familiars

Please do not bring them to Coph Nia.

Photography and Electronic Recording

In order to protect the privacy of the attendees and the integrity of Coph Nia and the Ordo Aeternus Vovin, if you wish to take photographs or movies (including with cell phone cameras, digital video recorders, or other media) or make audio recordings for your own personal use, you must abide by the following:

1. All persons who may appear in the photograph or recording must grant you their permission. Likewise, if you do NOT wish to be photographed or recording, you must speak up and let the photographer and or recorder know of your wishes.
2. Photography or recording of workshops or rituals is not permitted.
3. Photographs or recordings of sexual activity are not permitted.
4. Some photography and/or recording may be done by Coph Nia staff for archival and marketing purposes. If you have any question, see the facilitator or the staff photographer for more information.

Respectfulness

Be considerate of all other attendees, including those whose national origin, spiritual path, race, age, body type, or other ways may differ from your own. Leave the bar attitudes and objectification so prevalent in gay culture at the gate. Be sensitive to the needs of others. Be respectful of others' personal space and possessions. Be honest and trustworthy in your dealings with others. Be considerate of Coph Nia staff and campground staff. Respect the land and its inhabitants, be they plant, animal or Spirits of Nature.

Ritual Etiquette

Generally speaking, Pagan rituals are participatory in nature and involve the creation of a sacred boundary that must not be crossed once erected. In many traditions, breaking the boundary of a ritual (entering or leaving) is frowned upon unless you are assisted in the process by a ritual facilitator. You should not arrive late for a ritual, and if you do you may be prevented from entering the ritual space. Cell phones and beepers should be silenced or turned off. Pictures or recordings are not permitted. In order to ensure that the ritual is properly focused, it is important to keep your attention on the ritual leader(s). Minimize conversation, and smoking is never permitted unless it is part of the ritual. If you have severe allergies, be aware that smudge, incense or aromatic oils are often present. If you do not drink alcohol, it is always permissible to pass a cup or pour a libation on the ground instead of drinking.

Security

Do not call attention to yourselves or the gathering when passing through neighboring communities to/from the site. Do not hitchhike to/from the site. We are not accepting registrations at the gate, so please do not bring un-registered persons to the gathering. If you are having problems at the gathering, please see one of the Coph Nia staff for help.

It is an important part of Community that everyone looks out for one another. Having said that, you are personally responsible for yourself and your possessions while at Coph Nia. Neither the Ordo Aeternus Vovin, Inc. and the Coph Nia staff nor the campground staff can be held liable for any personal injury or loss occurring to anyone during events at and/or connected with the gathering.

Sexual Etiquette

Gatherings are place where the mores of outer society tend to become a bit looser than one may be used to, especially where intimacy and sexual activity is concerned. In order to ensure that Coph Nia remains a safe environment for all, attendees must respect the sovereignty of each individual in the disposition of his own body, while also being mindful of the consequences of his own decisions in that regard. Therefore, it is very important to keep some things in mind:

1. First and foremost - no means no.
2. Please practice safe(r) sex. Use condoms as your conscience and/or judgment dictates. If you engage in other styles of sexual play, please consider following the concept of RACK - Risk Aware Consensual Kink. If you have questions about RACK, please ask a member of the Coph Nia staff.
3. Finally -- please treat one another with respect as loving, caring, spiritual beings. Take time to reflect on the implications of new relationships before you act. Leave the bar attitudes at the gate for the weekend. Treat each other as the beautiful, divine beings that we all are.