Faces of the Crone: Koko Newport
Faces of the Crone
Crones we love and celebrate as trail blazing Goddess Conference Elders
An honouring series of beloved Crones who the Goddess Conference co-organisers have personal connection with, randomly chosen from a selection of photos by Ann Cook©, Conference photographer of the last 20+ years.
Of course, there are many more trail blazing elders in the Goddess movement and beloved Crones of the Conference; this series stands to celebrate them all through the examples of these women, and the appreciation we have for them.
Koko Newport
Koko was a priestess of Avalon from the early years. Friend and guide to many, she ran the Pilgrims B&B, home for many who would come to Glastonbury to connect to Goddess, do a training or attend the Goddess Conference. She also was director of the Camino Community Centre, formally the ‘Phoenix’, and which has now become the Avalon Centre, one of the best and most private venues for workshops and gatherings in town.
A great manifester, adventurer, wise woman and generous spirit, as well as a beloved mother and grandmother to her family, she is held as dear sister by so many people all over the world. Since her sudden death in 2012, she has also become one of the Ancestors of Avalon.
Koko and I trained and initiated as priestesses of Avalon together, became traveling priestesses, enjoying our ancient Temple visits, especially to Malta which we both loved, and for several years served as helpers on the Avalon Priestess training course held by Erin.
We also were ceremonial priestesses for the Goddess Conference together, until Koko stepped into the role of Melisa Queen Bee, transforming the Melisa hub of volunteers in the Goddess Conference into the welcoming, caring family of love it has since become.
Quite apart from a fabulous priestess and fellow seeker, I remember and admire Koko for her fiercely passionate ability to love: family, animals, lovers, community, partners and friends. She brought her sense of fun, her joy for life, her openness to new things, and her willingness to exploring the wise old ways, her ability to start again and to choose adventure, to all she did and was, and especially to the Goddess Conference and community.
We shared a love for men, not only for our sons and partners, but the compassionate love of the Priestess who seeks to create harmony in the ancient ways of Goddess loving women. For Koko, inclusivity was fundamental, a gift she gave so very generously in her open hospitality and ways of sharing. She showed many of us how not to be afraid to have nothing, or loose it all, and yet how to be rich beyond measure.
Koko’s skills in crafting and manifesting (seemingly out of thin air at times), her generosity and care, and her ability to feel and follow flow, are now legendary.
I miss my friend and her easy laughter, as I am sure many do who were regulars at the Goddess Conference and community, who met her in her travels and in her Pilgrims B&B. Her personal affirmation reminds me to be fearless, to love fully in the moment, and to see and serve Goddess in all places and all things.
“I commit to love and accept myself, to celebrate my body with perfume and sensual silks. I will not compromise my divine energy. I will live in the moment and trust my path.”
It is these qualities for which I honour Koko Newport as trail blazing Goddess Conference Elder.
Katinka Soetens
Goddess Conference co-organiser
