SOME 2003 -- 2005 Grove of the Other Gods
PAST EVENTS:
(Note: GOG does not usually take photos during ritual. Photos are all before and after.)

2005

December 21st: GOG's Solstice Day Sunrise Ritual
13 hard-core Pagan Druids were willing to get up before sunrise on a weekday and greet the returning sun on the beach.
Norma led a short ritual, we sang songs about the sun, lit a lantern and incense, drew symbols and ogham in the sand, and offered whiskey to the ocean and bread to the gulls, and watched the cormorant fishing. It was beautiful to see the sun come up. Then we went to the Atlantis diner for breakfast. PHOTOS from GOG's Winter Solstice Sunrise Ritual

December 18th: Grove of the Other Gods Yule and Solstice Ritual
26 people attended GOG's traditionally rather silly Yule. We had our usual Yule play; this time we acted out the story of Bran in paper-bag puppets and sock puppets. The cast improvised beautifully on the script. We also performed the ADF ritual with paper-bag puppets doing all the invocations. We believe that we are the first grove ever to do this. Always on the cutting edge, GOG. We had lots of praise, good omens, lots of desserts, and our grove's awful gift exchange. We held our 5th annual Cthulhu for Yulhu grove fundraiser raffle, and Marc won the paper-bag-clad demon from beyond the stars for the second time in a row! We don't know whether to congratulate Marc, or pity him as he stares into the abyss for the second time. We raised 70 dollars for the grove; thanks to all who contributed! PHOTOS! CLICK HERE!

Kristen's Random Quotes from our 2005 Yule Ritual and "The Whole Bran Play"

December 11th: GOG Yule Ritual Planning Meeting
11 grove members participated in the Yule planning meeting and puppetmaking workshop. We made paper bag puppets for the Bran story from the Mabinogi, the ritual parts, and 36 sock puppets of ravens, so everyone at Yule had a raven sock puppet to caw and heckle with at appropriate and inappropriate moments. An amazing amount of awen went into creating these fantastic ritual images of Gods and creatures! PHOTOS! CLICK HERE!

November 26th: GOG's (relatively) functional stress-free thanksgiving dinner!
26 people attended. Great food, conversation. Thanks to Trish and Bob and Peg and Chuck for hosting and organizing. Thanks to all for the food, and the collection of cans and boxes for Middlesex County's charity food pantry. No ritual, just an afternoon of food, friends, and conversation. "Sort of like a church supper-- except without the church." --norma
Some random photos (thanks, Marc!).

November 5th: Manannan Feast Day Ritual at the Jersey Shore
Good warm day for a ritual to Manannan Mac Lir on the beach. 14 people attended, and after a making a simple altar in the sand and performing a brief ritual, made offerings into the sea of grain, beer, whiskey, and our grove's magickal well water. Got the feeling Manannan was making a toast back to us when we left. Then we ate snacks, played arcade games for quite a while, and went to the Atlantis Diner for dinner. A GOG thanksgiving feast was planned while folks were sitting at the diner.
PHOTOS! Feast of Manannan Beach Day

Saturn's Day, October 29th to Sun's Day, October 30th: GOG Samhain Druid Ritual and Vigil
43 people attended GOG's Samhain ritual and vigil. The ritual, honoring ancestors, our own past lives, and Memory (Mnemosyne), was one of our best. The entire ritual was performed in the dark, and the omens scryed from a single candleflame. Altars to each of the kindreds, Memory (Mnemosyne), Manannan, Brigid, and outsiders, were set up outside for individual worship. A pumpkin parade down Easton Ave. in New Brunswick cheered the locals, and later we had a traditional Spiritualist seance, a Kali pooja, fire, and vigil until dawn, when the gates were closed (such as they can be this time of year). 15 druids lasted until dawn. Thanks to everyone all night who helped clean up and take down! Special thanks to Deb, kitchen witch, who did a wonderful job. Thanks to all who invoked in the ritual or who gave praise in the All-Praise to the ancestors, kindred, Memory, or their own past lives.
CLICK HERE FOR KRISTEN'S AMAZING QUOTES FROM GOG'S 2005 RITUAL AND VIGIL!
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS!
CLICK HERE FOR THIS YEAR'S PUMPKIN PARADE SONG!

October 27th: Rutgers University Pagan Students Association
Creative closeting: Shrines and altars for home-dwelling pagans.
Nej led a well-attended workshop housing-friendly and innocent-looking ritual and shrine substitutions. Students even got to take home a mini shrine-to-go kit. Workshop notes will be posted soon!

Samhain Past Life Regression Workshops
Norma led a series of special pre-Samhain workshops to help people explore their past lives in preparation for our Samhain ritual. We held four separate workshops, and 26 grove members participated.

October 16th: Samhain Ritual Planning Meeting.
11 Druids got involved in planning our Samhain ritual and vigil.

October 13th: Day of the Dead lecture at Rutgers Pagan Students Association
Norma lectured on Mexico's Day of the Dead traditions. There was a slide show of Day of the Dead in Mexico City, and everyone got to decorate a sugar skull. 16 people attended.

September 24th: Pagan Pride Day Picnic
A big thank-you to the 16 grove members who attended and helped with registration and ran errands and helped with cleanup. There were classes by different traditions, a bonfire and turkey roast, drumming. This was a community get-together to show that we're here to stay. Norma gave a "What is ADF Druidry" lecture. Lots of boxes filled with cans and bottles and such were donated to the Somerset County Food Kitchen. HOC did the main ritual, and Gaia's Gate organized the picnic. Coven of the Wooden Spoon made lots of food and organized the potluck kitchen. Representatives from various local media were also there to report on the day.

September 22nd: GOG Equinox Day Sun Wheel Ritual
Ten grove members met in Hillsborough, NJ to roll a sun wheel down Sourland Mountain in honor of the declining sun. 5 stayed at the bottom, and 5 hiked a mile up to the top of the mountain and chased the careening sun down the mountain. Thanks to Patrick (whose idea this was), Patty (who carried the sun above her head the whole way up), Malcolm (for holding the gates open), Ed (who made the sun wheel), and everyone who chased the sun down, or braved the gnats and drummed at the bottom. Photos from the Equinox Sun Wheel Ritual

September 17th: GOG's Fall Equinox Ritual to Frigga
Hillary did a fine job leading our Fall Equinox Ritual, which honored the Norse Goddess FRIGGA, Beloved All-Mother, Spinner of Fate., weaver, creator, comforter, quiet power behind the throne of Odin. The ritual was powerful and just a little scary at times. 21 people participated. Laura started us with a chime, and Deb Sandrock and Norma started a soft motherly heartbeat drum rhythm that continued through the ritual. Sharon invoked Frigga as Earth Mother with a great call-and-response invocation, Norma led a quiet meditation on our own harvests. Nora invoked the directions and center pointing out craft stores and furniture stores along the way and always returning to the center. Ed invoked the well of Wyrd as that which all things collapse into, and that which spins all things out. Norma channeled Jenniforensic and invoked fire. Carol gave us our World Tree, reminding us that it's a living thing, breathing, taking in water and light. Deb Sandrock led us up to Heimdal's demense and then asked the Norse guardian to open the gates. The gates were opened. Patty invoked Thor and acknowledged the outsiders and escorted them outside. Our bard, Jenne, then invoked Saga with a beautiful song, as many of us chimed in, and asked Her to lend us eloquence. Misha gave us our ancestors, bringing us all the way back to the beginnings of humanity, where only the ones who cooperated survived, or only the ones who were selfish enough to kill off the others. Mike brought our Nature Spirits in all around us. Marc invoked Goddesses and Gods, and talked about how the Gods we know are only the ones that our ancestors told stories about. And the ones that they forgot are unknown to us. Then Hillary invoked the star of the evening, Frigga, and also Her handmaidens. She told us how Frigga is as powerful as Odin, only quieter, and how she knows all, but won't tell, as She is the weaver of all. There was a good bit of heartfelt praise, songs, poems, objects, flowers, fruit.... We drum and sang for a main sacrifice. Our omens were from the Robin Wood Tarot, as interpreted by our seer-suckers Nora, Sam, and Kristen: we received the two of swords- Frigga is well pleased, the ritual was properly performed; the page of wands- good things coming to us, bright and shiny things; and the 8 of wands- journeys, going places. The omens were deemed good, and the waters of life consecrated and passed out. After the ritual we feasted, and Norma weaved hair braids and Hillary taught us how to weave friendship bracelets for Frigga.
Photos from the Frigga Ritual!

After the rite, we auctioned off a "collector's edition Mardi Gras Cthulhu" to raise money for Hurricane Katrina survivors. We raised $160 and Blue won the horrid indescribable monster born of the depths of forgotten ages who will someday rise again to swallow drunks on Bourbon Street like so many Jello shots. (Click here for Cthulhu photo.) Many thanks to all who donated; so many of you have been giving of your time and money in so many different ways to help out.

September 11th, 6:00 p.m.:
INTERNATIONAL ADF DRUID RITE FOR VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF HURRICANE KATRINA
On Sunday, September 11, 6:00 p.m. EDT, all of the groves and solitary members of Ar nDraiocht Fein were encouraged to participate in a ritual to honor the memories of those lost to Hurricane Katrina and send energy to all those struggling in its wake. The purpose was to worship together at the same time across the continent, to send prayers, blessings, and positive energy to those who need it the most.
At 6pm on Sunday September 11th Ed and Norma started a simple rite at GOG Central. By 6:15 the Gates were open. They remained open until 8pm. Members were asked to talk with their own Kindred and Deities and ask, in their own way, for help and hope for the survivors of Hurricane Katrina, and peace for the victims, and send that energy through the open gates to New Orleans and the Gulf. Click here for more info.

September 10th: Houseblessing Workshop and Ritual- Houseblessings: Traditional and Modern
16 attended this special workshop and ritual hosted by Jason, Jeri Ann, Ed, and Norma on "Houseblessings: Traditional and Modern" followed by a houseblessing ritual for Jason, Jeri Ann, and Sofia's home. We talked about the many ways of blessing, cleansing, and warding homes and yards and then we put our talk into action and we all participated in a house and yard blessing for the Cook family. Jason and Jeri Ann dedicated over half of their property formally to nature and nature spirits, and left a fey-struck corner for the good folks. The house felt massaged and blessed after the ritual. Big hugs and thanks to Jeri Ann, Jason and Sofia for their happy and generous hospitality, and for opening their home to us on Friday and Saturday nights as well. Thanks to GOG members Hillary, Daphne, and Monika for helping out. (Photos to come.)
Click here for rough notes for the houseblessing workshop and houseblessing tips!

September 3rd: Planning Meeting for GOG's Fall Ritual to Frigga
6 attended the planning meeting for GOG's Norse Fall ritual to Frigga. Hillary ran the well-organized proceedings.

August 14th: GOG Harvest Ritual to John Barleycorn
41 grove members and guests came from all directions to help kill John Barleycorn! A harvest ritual of feasting ensued that honored John Barleycorn, personification of the harvest, both fermented and unfermented. Ed was Druid-in-Charge, sacrificial victim, and also "proved the strongest man at last." Thanks to all for the tons of food and drink- you made an amazing amount of delicious food. Special thanks to Jason for The Macallan twelve-year-old single malt. Kudos to our hardworking kitchen witches- Deb, Blue, Norma, and Maria Raven- for perfect timing and kitchening beyond the call of duty. Thanks to Jenne, our steadfast and unflappable bard. Norma's special thanks to everyone who helped clean up the kitchen, house, and yard. Thanks to Jeff and his guitar, and to Jenniforensics and Tricia for dumping dirt, water, and flour on Ed's head and chasing him with scythes and pitchforks. BARLEYCORN RITUAL PHOTOS! (thank you, Marc!). Click here for the song John Barleycorn Must Die! Note: Ed had finally gotten the fungus out of his ear (They plowed and sowed and they harrowed him in, threw clods upon his head...) Click here for the SCRIPT!

August 7th: Planning Meeting for the John Barleycorn Ritual
7 atttended the planning meeting for our Lughnasadh ritual, in which we plotted to kill John Barleycorn.

August 6th: Hands of Change 2005 NJ Pagan Picnic: Myth and Mirth
GOG was in charge of "fun and games" at the picnic this year, and 32 grove members attended armed with masks, puppets, beasties, costumes, banners, facepaints, glitter, and glamourbombs. Nej, Jen, and Patty ran a glamourbombing workshop, Ed created a labyrinth with a minotaur, Norma created a sideshow banner, Deb & Norma did glitter, Meryl painted faces, Jake and Jason and Ed and Jeff and Hillary and Norma and many others told stories in our Myth Science Theater 2005 pavilion. GOG also led the parade to the main ritual (done with mirth by the MPA) with our 20-foot giant, hobby horse, rag man, dragon, and hobby pig. Thanks to Joanne for running out to get raffle tickets, thanks to all who helped out and chipped in. Hands Of Change did a great job organizing the picnic, and the weather was beautiful (thanks to Marc and his un-brella). A good time was had by all.
PHOTOS! From the 2005 NJ HOC Pagan Picnic

June 21st: GOG Summer Solstice Sunset Ritual
A GOG ADF ritual to mark the summer solstice on Midsummer Day. 14 GOG members and guests toasted the sun from a scenic overlook in central NJ on the Delaware River. We greeted the sun on the winter solstice on the beach on the east coast of NJ and honored the sun as it declined off our west coast, almost directly across the state from the beach where we held our Winter Sunrise ritual! Then we headed for a diner. Many thanks to all those who scouted locations, invoked over the roar of the traffic, and toasted the setting sun. Summer Solstice Sunset Ritual Photos

June 25th: Trip to the Lakota Wolf Preserve
Grove members visited the home of the beautiful wolves of NJ.

June 11th: Summer Solstice Walkaround Ritual
As in past years, we took the ADF Druid ritual for a walk around historical New Brunswick as we honored our local land, the Raritan River, and local nature spirits. Some of the pirates and smugglers out of central New Jersey's history joined us- as portrayed by grove members. We had 27 for the ritual walkaround and 32 for the day. Everyone had fun, dressed up like pirates and walking through the city, especially the kids. We also collected a couple of big bags of cans and boxes for one of New Brunswick's food kitchens. Thanks to all who donated. Thanks to Vigil for being cook and galley slave. Thanks to Carol for the pirate idea, and holding the home front. Thanks to all who portrayed the pirates, invoked the gates and kindreds, or otherwise participated! Pirate PHOTOS!! Y'arrr!! also Scripts for our historical NJ pirates!

June 5th: Craft Day!
A day the grove set aside to get together to work on our own craft projects. 9 attended. Thanks to Hillary for hosting.

June 3rd: Chestnut Tree Planting
One grove member (Patrick) helped the American Chestnut Society plant disease-resistant chestnuts in Chester. We had three grove members last year. We hope to have more Druids out next year.

May 29th: A May Crowning Ritual
A special event led by Nej and the Order of the Groovy Pajamas: a May Crowning Ritual. This year 14 grove members dressed up special and honored and crowned Mary, Our Lady, the Madonna, The Blessed Mother & "Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May" in Her many forms with song, flowers and procession, and talked about how Mary got many of us started on our paths. The flowers were later placed on veteran's memorials for Memorial Day. Click here for this year's May Crowning photos.

May 7th: Our 13th Annual Beltaine MayFaire in Morristown
40 people attended GOG's 2005 MayFaire at a park in Morristown. Drenching rain had been predicted, but it turned out to be a sunny day. The ritual, led by Erica, honored Janus and Fortuna. The day was all about conspiracies, and people were divided up into three secret societies to come up with ritual invocations. Jen and Patty led a tin-foil hat-making workshop so the CIA couldn't hear our thoughts during the MayFaire. Ed initiated a bunch of people into the Master Degree of the Free and Accepted Plumbers. Norma led a floral headwreath and tentacle workshop. Patrick and Freya tested our woodsy skills. There was a labyrinth, Maypole, a dog-and-pony show, a romping dragon, a rampant pinata, a horned rag man, and lots of food. And there are PHOTOS!

April 30th to May 1st: Beltane At Dawn in Princeton
As we do each year, 16 GOG members and friends gathered at THE BREAK OF DAWN on May 1st on the Princeton battlegrounds to join Millstone Morris, Handsome Molly dancers, Shandygaff, and maypole dancers, and others to bring in the May. Pattie led us in our bastardized version of the Padstow morning song, Erica was the hobby horse, and Jen and Patty were our Pirate teasers. It was cold, it rained, it was magickal, it was religious; there were a hundred people out at dawn on the battlegrounds. A big THANK YOU to all the grove members who got up in the cold and rain. In addition, 11 people attended the Beltane Eve vigil held in New Brunswick the night before. And we had about 13 at the diner afterwards for breakfast. Photos - Beltane at Dawn, Princeton Battlegrounds!

April 28th: Kitchen Witchery: The Magick of the Everyday - Kitchen Witch Panel Discussion at Rutgers University Pagan Students Association
GOG members Norma, Nora, and Deb talked about how they make magick in the home, cooking at festivals, in everyday chores, and how to cook with magickal intent. They baked bread and had the students make butter. 20 people attended.

April 21 to April 24th: Mid-Atlantic Pagan Alliance Beltane2005: The Path to Enlightenment
Three GOG members attended the MPA's 6th annual Beltane celebration, held in Southern Central NJ at Brendan T. Bryre State Forest, in the middle of the beautiful NJ Pinelands. Norma and Ed gave two well-attended workshops.

April 16th: Dedicants Oath Rite
6 GOG members dedicated themselves in a beautiful, powerful ritual to honor their own beliefs as Pagans.

April 7th: Tarot Workshop at Rutgers Pagan Students Association
GOG member Peg, a professional tarot reader, discussed intuitive and face readings and reading for ourselves and others. 15 attended.

March 31st: Discussion of Buddhist and Pagan Religions at Rutgers University Pagan Students Association
Sponsored by GOG and friends, this was a discussion of similarities and differences in Druidry and Tibetan Buddhism specifically, and Buddhism and Paganism in general. 21 attended this intense and freewheeling discussion.

March 26th: GOG's Spring Ritual
Over 40 people joined us at Portal of the Porcupine in Piscataway to celebrate the coming Spring and our Gatekeeper Manannan Mac Lir with ritual and campfire! There was an ADF Druid ritual in the early afternoon led by Jenniforensic that included the annual blessing of our sacred well, with the donation of waters from our grove members; waters from many places in New Jersey, as well as waters from North Carolina, a stream that feeds the Housatonic in Connecticut, and water from Kildare in Ireland joined our 9-waves water in the well. Jen also performed a spring tool blessing for a dozen or more people who brought the tools of their trades or hobbies. Invocations were right on target and powerful, and Jen did a great job managing a long ritual for a lot of people. After feasting, and after the the kids finally broke the Cosmic Egg of Spring pinata, Lady Sue led a POP Wiccan ritual in the evening that started with a spring traipse. Afterwards, lots of drumming, dancing, feasting and merriment kept us busy until the wee hours. Spring Ritual Photos

March 20th: Our Beach Ritual to Manannan Mac Lir on Equinox Day
Each year on the Spring Equinox day, we do a ritual on the beach to Manannan Mac Lir (Son of the Sea, Shining One, God of liminal spaces and boundries, and our grove's gatekeeper) and gather magickal 9-waves water for our grove well. 12 attended a cold ritual under overcast skies. It was raining on the way down, but Manannan kept the rain off during the ritual, which was led by Norma. She had us create the sacred space with a preritual scavenger hunt on the beach that came together as an interesting Druid altar. Offerings were given to Manannan, and in anticipation, he blessed us with a huge wave up the beach that soaked many of us, as well as coats, hats and shoes. Most of us went in the freezing ocean to collect water, or to give offerings. Sharon, formerly of Midnight Sun Grove, performed their traditional "release of the peeps" to fertilize the spring. Then we all had junk food and played arcade games. We wound up at the Atlantis Diner. Later, at Ed and Norma's, some of us stood eggs on end and dyed eggs. Equinox Day Beach Ritual Photos

February 17th: Clay Goddess Workshop at Rutgers University Pagan Students Assoc.
Norma taught 14 young pagans how to easily make their own clay Goddesses in this hands-on workshop. Everyone made a Paleolithic goddess. Click for Photos!

February 6th: IMBOLC Ritual
Our Imbolc ritual, led by Monika, honored our Patroness Brigid in Her special role as a Goddess of Healing. Who knew that Her healing aspect was Her most scariest aspect? 33 attended this intense ritual and helped us charge a healing well that the waters of life were scooped out of. Thanks to Malcolm for the water from Brigid's well in Kildare. Thanks to Betty for Kildare candles. Thanks to our triple Brigids: Monika, Jenne, and Betty; also to our other Brigids: Patty and Nora; and Brigid's Brats Jack and Ed. The ritual started with a skit by Patty and Monika and Hillary, assisted by Sue and Misha. Thanks to Dragynphyre for her donation to help us cover the costs of our Imbolc festivities! (Also, welcome, as an official member of GOG!). Some Imbolc Photos! Jack's Drawing Down of Brigid during the Imbolc ritual The Descent of Brigid

January 30th: IMBOLC Planning Meeting
9 attended our Imbolc planning meeting.

January 16th: A Mini Apple Tree Wassail
After the Yemaya ritual, several of us sang to our little grove apple tree and toasted it with toast and banged pots and pans to inspire it to grow and eventually someday produce apples. This tree grew from a seed Nora found sprouting inside an apple after our beach ritual to Manannan in November. When we were done at the beach we went to eat on the boardwalk. As we were eating, the surly guy behind the counter hauled out a crate of apples and said, "Hey, anybody want some free apples?" Thinking of Manannan's silver bough, and of the Isle of Apples, we each ate an omen. Nora found a seed that had sprouted in her apple, and now it's a little growing Manannan tree.

January 16th: A New Year's Beach Ritual to Yemaja
This traditional ritual for the New Year was led by Deb. Eleven attended our ritual to Yemaya on Point Pleasant Beach in the wind and frigid biting cold. Deb led a workshop beforehand (in New Brunswick) and we all made melon boats. We gave them to Yemaya along with flowers. We offered bread to the birds. Then we ate and played arcade games.

Congratulations to Chuck (our grove's pursewarden) and Leeann, who were married on January 8th!
Click here for a few photos!

2004

December 21: GOG Sunrise Solstice Ritual!
Eight fanatical GOG members met on the beach in Pt. Pleasant for a brief ritual to greet the solstice sun as it rose out of the ocean. It was cold, and very early on a weekday, but it was really beautiful. Thanks to Patrick for suggesting this! Now we're supposed to climb a mountain on the summer solstice? Photos from our 2004 Winter Solstice Sunrise Beach Ritual

Sun's Day, December 19: GOG's YULE!
28 people joined our chaotic Yule ritual, complete with a play by Jeff, a Greek chorus of Doom, and random messages popping up through the floor. The Greek Goddess Eris was guest of honor, in both her scary classical demeanor, and her more playful modern guise. Photos from our 2004 Yule ritual We hope to post the script soon.

Saturn's Day, November 20th: The Feast Day of Manannan Mac Lir
14 folks made it to the Jersey shore for an ADF ritual to our gatekeeper and got soaked honoring Manannan. Click here for Photos from our November Beach Ritual to Manannan Mac Lir

August 22nd: Lughnasadh: The Passion of Llew & Blodeuedd!
A Wedding, a Death, and a Resurrection. On the afternoon of Sunday, August 22nd, 2004, we held a ritual reenactment of the marriage of Llew of the Many Skills to Blodeuedd of the Flowers. A Reception and a Wake followed. Quotes and Photos and Rough Script to be posted soon! 31 people attended a fantastic ritual. Patty and Lauren were Llew and Blodeuedd. Nora married them (reluctantly) as Brigid. Nej was Math (and the director) and Jenniforensic was Gwydion. Norma was Gronowy. Ed was Druid-in-Charge.
PHOTOS - Click here
RANDOM QUOTES from the ritual by Kristen
Read the story of Llew and Blodeuedd, as told by Kiddoh
Read Llew's side of the story, as told by Kiddoh
Read Blodeuedd's side of the story, as told by Lauren A. and Lauren's Llew and Blodeuedd drawing
Ritual script in the ADF 2004 Liturgy Yearbook: http://www.adf.org/members/guilds/liturgists/yearbooks/2004/

August 14th: Hands of Change NJ Pagan Picnic!
Isaac Bonewits, our ArchDruid Emeritus and the founder of ADF, appeared at the picnic and gave a well-attended workshop on Pagans and Social Issues.Many of our grove got to meet Isaac for the first time, and he cordially autographed their 'nubile flesh.' Photos to come! 21 GOG members volunteered to man and organize the food tables this year. Ed created a Botticelli labyrinth for the picnic.