December
22nd: Winter Solstice at Dawn on the Beach
16
GOG Druids greeted the sun on solstice dawn, who preferred
to hide behind clouds. We held an abbreviated (20 minute)
ADF ritual on the frigid beach, we sang to the sun, and
just as we invoked him, he rose out of the pink clouds,
yawned, took a look at us, blinked, and smiled hello. We
celebrated the day, fed the nature spirits, Pat and Maggie
kept a candle burning through a long night's vigil and into
the windy dawn. This was a very satisfying ritual. The rough
sea was glorious, and the boreal winds blew flecks of foam
all over the beach. Afterwards, we retreated to the Atlantis
Diner for hot drinks, food, and the crane machine.
"fa-nat-ic
- noun: Inordinately and unreasonably enthusiastic person
- synonyms.: enthusiast, extremist, zealot"
-Websters Collegiate Dictionary.
CLICK
HERE FOR PHOTOS!
December 16th: YULE!!
The usual feasting, fun, fellowship and lunacy. GOG's
Yules are yusually pretty silly. This ritual was dedicated
to Ganesha, Remover of Obstacles, the much-beloved Hindu
elephant god. We started the praise portion of the rite
with a Bollywood-style musical that told the story of how
Ganesh won his argument with his brother Kartikeya and convinced
his parents, Parvati and Shiva, that he should marry first.
Tricia DJ'd the music and wrote the script (CLICK
HERE FOR THE SCRIPT) which was both followed and ad-libbed
up hysterically by our cast of GOG thespians. The praise
from the grove commenced with Ganesh's marriage, and then
a dancing group praise ensued with Kartikeya's return.
The invocations were strong, centering somewhat on fertility,
as Norma had told the story of Ganesh's birth and Kartikeya's
birth at the pre-rit. Our omens (from the Royal Thai Tarot):
9 of swords, losses of the past year acknowledged; heirophant
/ elephant, you can still be reverent while being silly;
8 of pentacles, honesty, craftsmanship, candor; king of
swords, a very airy king of swords, Ganesh, lightness, riding
on a mouse; king of cups, "Ganesh, obviously!"
Afterwards, we had tremendous Indian food cooked up by Alex
and Karl and Norma and others, along with delicious American
food and lots of dessert and treats. Bob was our kitchen
witch. Our "Win a Cthulhu for Yulhu" raffle netted
the grove $85 (thanks, everybody!). 32 attended. CLICK
HERE FOR PHOTOS!
November
24th: GOG's (relatively) functional stress-free
Thanksgiving dinner!
An afternoon of food, friends, and conversation.
"Sort of like a church supper-- except without the
church."
---This report is being filed by Bella. With her keen eyes
(on a good day) and loss of hearing, this makes her the
best person to do this. Also since no one took pictures,
we have to rely on her memory.--
"25 humans (and I use that term loosely) came to my
house only to ruin my late-afternoon nap. While many brought
food and drinks no one brought me anything! No one was clumsy
enough to drop any food even as I tried to trip them. Some
people played the piano (lack of hearing is handy) and some
sang. And everyone chowed down except ME! The humans made
a fire outside, but why would anyone go sit outside in the
cold when my house is nice and warm inside? I am going to
sleep now and wake up in time for Beltane." -- -Bella
November
10th: Feast Day of Manannan Mac Lir
12
Druids made offerings to Manannan Mac Lir, our grove's patron
and gatekeeper, on the cold, cold beach. We also offered our
grove's sacred well water into Manannan's North Atlantic to
thank him for gatekeeping at our rituals and keeping an eye
on us. Then we played Skeeball and went for food. We swear that
we once had a folkloric reason for this day, but we've lost
track of it and the folks on the Isle of Man know nothing about
it, so now it's a grove tradition. PHOTOS
- click here!!
November
3rd - 4th: Samhain Ritual Weekend and Vigil
GOG
18th Samhain: "A Two-Day cycle of simple rituals in honor
of our Ancestors: REMEMBERING FRIENDS & LOVED ONES"
Grove
of the Other Gods performed two Samhain rituals, led a pumpkin
parade down Easton Ave., and kept a vigil until dawn. 41 people
total attended. 31 attended the Saturday evening rite, 19 stayed
until dawn on the vigil, and 19 attended the Sunday afternoon
rite. Both rituals were intense and emotional as the community
tried to honor and remember those friends and family that we've
lost in the past year and in years past. These were difficult
rituals. The main invocation for both rituals was a reading
from the grove's memorial book. A large Ancestors altar was
set up outside and was filled with reminders of our beloved
dead. There were smaller altars as well, for Psychopomps, Gods
and Goddesses, Nature Spirits and Spirits of Place, Goddess
Brigid, Manannan Mac Lir, the Earth Mother, Outsiders, and Sitala,
Goddess of Diseases and Healing. Norma led both rituals, and
there were powerful invocations by grove members. The similarity
between the two Ancestors invocations (by Maria on Saturday
and Maggie on Sunday) on the two days was uncanny.
The
ritual omens
(from the Graven Image Oracle--click
here) are
thus--
Saturday: (Deb) Sentinel (looking forward), (Hillary)
Gate (light; its easier for the dead than for us), (Nora) Reflection
and Sacrifice (reflection is a sacrifice but it keeps them alive
and us alive), (Belladonna) The Vault (we mustn't lock up our
emotions; hold them in memory in the vault of our hearts), (Mike)
The Lily (in life there's death; in death, life...every loss
is a gain), (Patty) Promise (this ties it all together: no matter
how alone you feel, they are there; they promis us they are
there.
Sunday: (Tricia) Sleeper, (Jen) Whear and Anchor, (Patty)
Book, (Blue) Serenity. One overall interpretation: peaceful
growing, keeping things close, peace and being comforted, record
your memories, we're doing a good thing with the memory book.
The
vigil was a busy one: our 4th annual pumpkin parade (thanks
again, Maria!) a Kali pooja, a Spiritualist-style seance out
of time in the hour that we turned back the clocks to Standard
Time (Thanks to all the dear departed who joined us at the seance.),
a night-long bone-fire, fresh-baked bread, Turkish coffee (thanks
Alex!) and pilgrimages to the altars, which disappeared at dawn
quite like Brigadoon. After the Sunday ritual, a small fire
was ignited from the bone-fire coals to burn a small Holly King
in a ritual led by Pat and Maggie.
Thanks
to Alex and Maria, our Kitchen Witches, and everyone who performed
difficult invocations on both days, set up altars, brought food,
helped clean up, and kept us all going all through the night.
We are indeed blessed as a grove!
Click
here for photos!
October
20th: ADF Druid Dedicants Group -- First Meeting
15 attended the first meeting of our fifth ADF Druid dedicants
group. We discussed our expectations for the program, meditated
at bit, and talked about the holiday of Fall Equinox. Get involved
in studying and discussing our Druidry, our rituals, and our
various philosophies! If you'd like to go through ADF's Druid
Dedicants Program with our next dedicants study group, e-mail
us as soon as possible at: eternalansw@earthlink.net
September
29th: GOG's
Autumn Equinox Ritual to Baucis and Philemon
Marc
led us in a solemn High Church (GOG? High Church?!) ritual to
Baucis and Philemon honoring the story of their hospitality
and generosity. GOG hosted 20 Druids for this ritual, who each
brought offerings of their own hospitality. It was a lovely
and moving ritual, very focused. Hermes and Zeus opened the
gates for us and blessed them, and Jenniforensics drew down
Baucis and told us the story. Tricia was our oracle: "Are
we ever really alone?"
/ ...
and I have seen the votive wreaths hung from the branches of
the hallowed double-tree. And one time, as I hung fresh garlands
there, I said, `Those whom the Gods care for are Gods! And those
who worshiped are now worshiped here.’”/ -- Ovid,
Metamorphoses 8:719
Click
here for photos!
September
27th: Ar nDraiocht Fein Druidry 101
Rutgers Univ. Pagan Students Association
Norma and Ed of Grove of the Other Gods, ADF Druids gave a brief
presentation about Druids in history and about Ar nDraiocht
Fein's contemporary Druidry. 17 attended. Then they talked about
how a modern GOG ADF ritual runs, why we do ritual, and how
our rituals generate energy and move it around. "Come find
out what your local Druids do and possibly get some ideas to
take home and use in your own rituals."
September
23rd: GOG's
Autumn Equinox Day Sun Wheel Roll Ritual
19
Druids arrived at Sourland Mountain and took part in a ritual
to honor the declining sun and rising night. 9 Druids climbed
the mountain with our Sun Wheel, asked both the sun and the coming
dark for blessings, and then chased the Sun Wheel down the mountain,
in honor of the falling sun, mostly without falling ourselves.
Mostly. The ritual finished as all the climbers and chasers made
it back down the mountain, eventually. Beautiful day, nice view.
Afterwards, we all retired to the Star Diner for dinner.
Click here for photos!
September
20th: Making Pocket Altars!
Rutgers Univ. Pagan Students Association
Tricia from GOG held a cool workshop on pocket altars. 30
attended. "Come make a pocket sized altar or shrine that's
easy to hide when you go home for break. Show up and play with
the shineys!!!
Did I mention there are take homes?"
August
12th: A Harvest Ritual to Tammuz (GOG's Lughnasadh)
32 attended GOG's Lughnassadh FIRST HARVEST RITUAL honoring
the Hittite/Babylonian God Tammuz. Kristen did a fine job leading
a solemn ritual as we joined Tammuz in the underworld. Pat drew
down Tammuz, who doesn't know he's going to come back. This was
a sad and emotionally intense ritual. The invocations were lovely
and spot-on. Kristen's retelling of this ancient story of harvest,
sacrifice, and The Wheel of the Year was well-researched and beautifully
done. There was a great amount of praise for the deity and the
occasion. Our omens were Sorrow, Fight, and The Returning Hero
(Victory). Many thanks to all who invoked, brought praise, or
brought the tons of food and helped with the cleanup! Thanks to
Bob, Jen, and Marc for Kitchen-witching.
Click here for photos.
August
4th: 10th
Annual Hands of Change Pagan Picnic!
22 Grove of the Other Gods Druids attended the HOC Pagan Picnic
and helped out. We created a Chakra Labyrinth, did facepainting,
hair braiding, and temporary tattoos, as well as site clean-up
when the picnic was over. The grove put a lot of work into the
picnic, and representatives attended three planning meetings,
as well.
It was a day of lovely weather, good food, workshops, rituals,
and lots of relaxing and playing around and saying hello.
We met our Regional Northeast Druidic Representative, Illious,
who came down from Albany to meet the grove. A good time was had
by all. PHOTOS!
July
1st: A High Tea and Comfort Ritual
"Here
at GoG we like our deities to have rough edges like we do.
But what happens after we've gone through a difficult time?
Come join us as we discover (or rediscover) our own personal deities'
softer, comforting sides as we do an ADF style ritual to our Gods
and Goddesses of Tea and Comfort."
27 attended the High Tea and Comfort Ritual. Deb was the elegant,
capable, and courageous Druid-in-Charge. James and Ed performed
as waiters, serving tea, cream, sugar cubes, milk, lemon, and
honey, and then tomato and cheese sandwiches, cucumber and dill
sandwiches, more tea, curry chicken salad, salmon puffs, more
tea, scones with clotted cream, lemon curd and raspberry jam,
and even more tea, petit fours, brownies, lemon cookies, and even
more tea. Much thanks to Bob and Norma who helped in the kitchen
keeping the tea hot and steeping and the plates moving. Much thanks
to all who brought food of all sorts. Much thanks to Xuk, who
paid for 6 pizzas later on after the ritual. This was a good,
emotional and cathartic ritual-- a lot of good on-target invocations.
CLICK HERE
FOR PHOTOS CLICK
HERE FOR SCRIPT
June
23rd: Summer Solstice Walking Ritual to Asphaltia!!
In which we honored our own (Crossroads of the Revolution)
New Jersey (Barrel Tapped at Both Ends) Nature Spirits in a (What
Exit?) ritual to Asphaltia, (Doing the Parkway Boogie) Goddess
of the Highways. We toured and honored New Brunwick (The Hub City)
in little metal cars, hitting scenic ritual (rest) stops along
the way. 18 attended. Thanks to Alex for kitchen-witching and
Carol for keeping an eye on the house while we were all out traveling.
Maggie did a great job as Liturgist and Druid in Charge. Pat was
the avatar of The Walkie Guy, our gatekeeper, along with his alter-ego,
The Red Hand. We carried signs, a stoplight and street sign, We
stopped traffic, we were traffic, it was all a lot of fun. The
main invocations of Asphaltia and our local nature spirit New
Brunswick were intense. Our omens were taken by radiomancy. There
was wonderful praise, but the best quote of the day came from
one of the passers-by. When we explained who we were and what
we were doing, he thought about and said, "Well, believing
in only one God... that's just one step up from atheism, isn't
it?" Click
here for photos!
June
21st: Summer Solstice Sunset Ritual!!
17
Druids attended our oddly famous "Jersey Rest Stop Ritual"
on Rt. 295 along the Delaware on the west coast of Jersey. Rained
in the afternoon, but sunny for the ritual-- perfect weather for
a sunset. Norma led an exuberant Druid ritual as the sun set on
the river. We blew bubbles to the departing sun, and Maggie and
Pat made a sun pinata which finally burst in a rainbow of candy.
Lean over the guardrail with us and see the sun set over Pennsyvania
on the longest day of the year-- click
here for photos!
June
12- 17 Free Spirit Festival in Maryland
A bunch of GOG members attended the Free Spirit Festival in Maryland.
They attended Mugwort Grove's ADF rite, and attended workshops,
and Patty learned to spin fire. Maggie priestess'd the Blue Star
Rite, as Pat played the Holly King in a battle for the land. PHOTOS
TO COME!
May
5th: GOG's BELTANE MAYFAIRE!!!
We had 32 Druids and friends at a private location in
central NJ for Mayfaire frolics and fun. We had a Maypole, Beasties,
Labyrinth, Druid Ritual, Drumming, Dancing, Fire, Flower wreath-making,
Narcissistic Mirror-Gazing, Soak-A-Druid, Origami Ganeshes, lots
of Food, lots of Slack, Dessert before dinner; all the Seven Deadly
Sins. Click
here for PHOTOS!
May
1st: Beltane at Dawn in Princeton!!
One of the most beautiful sights you'll ever see: Each year, at
dawn on the Princeton Battlegrounds, Morris Dancers and Molly
Dancers wake up the Spring. This was their twenty-sixth year.
For ten years now, GOG has contributed with our Hobby Horse romp
and the Padstow May Morning song. Yes, it's early and on a weekday.
The best and most sacred things sometimes take a little effort.
11 Druids attended the overnight vigil; we watched a 1950s video
of May morning in Padstow England, and also a video of English
street traditions; we made buttonnieres to wear May morning. 15
Druids arrived in the dark at the battlegrounds to assemble for
the Hobby Horse ritual and Padstow's song. It was a wonderful
morning. Click
here for photos!
April
22nd: Planning Meeting for the Beltane MayFaire
10 people attended the Planning Meeting/Prop-Making Session
for our 15th Annual Beltaine May Faire.
April
5th: Crystals 101: Rutgers University Pagan Students Association
Marc from MPA & GOG, a man who really knows his rocks,
spoke on the topic of Crystals (with take home sparklies). The
workshop was well attended.
March
24st: Equinox Limerick Ritual to Manannan Mac Lir
There once was a Grove in New Brunswick, / giving their
praise in lim'ricks; / you should get to know'em, / bring your
own poem, / they might just turn you a trick!
52
attended GOG's Equinox Limerick Ritual to Manannan Mac Lir, led
by Druid-in-Charge Jason on a cold, overcast day. The rain didn't
start until evening, which was fortunate. We honored
our Patron Manannan MacLir. On this occasion, the Salty Sea God
asked us for a ritual in limericks. And we were up to the task.
In addition to bawdy ryming, we filled our Grove's sacred
well with Waters from Manannan's ocean and from local streams,
lakes, and taps; and Jason focused Manannan's blessings on the
tools of our trades. We had several limericks for each invocation,
lots of limerick praise, and our omens were from a large and very
dirty limerick book. Portal
of the Porcupine performed a Wiccan ritual in the evening. THANKS
to SUE and POP for their hospitality!!
CLICK
HERE FOR LIMERICKS & SCRIPT
CLICK
HERE FOR PHOTOS!!
On March 24th, a Saturday, / Druids will be in Piscataway./ Come
join us in town / but keep your head down / as the bad puns fly
this way and thataway.
March
22nd: Gatekeepers 101: Rutgers University Pagan Students Association
Jenniforensics
gave a great talk on Gatekeeper Gods and Gatekeeping for RUPSA.
She'll be giving this workshop for GOG soon:
"Are you tired of being overworked and underappreciated?
Has running from class to class trying to meet impossible deadlines
and deal with impossible people gotten you down? Does it
seem like people demand the same thankless tasks from you over
and over again? You are not alone! "Gatekeepers
101" will be a cross-cultural survey of those deities responsible
for guarding and traversing the boundary between our world and
the Other, as defined by various pantheons. This workshop
will explore the similarities and differences among Gatekeeping
deities, the traditions surrounding such entities, and the reasons
they are called upon in ritual. Come share common stories
and personal experience in order to arrive at a better understanding
of the true "overworked and underappreciated" of the
spirit world!"
March
21st: Equinox Day Beach Ritual to Manannan Mac Lir
GOG's Equinox Day Beach Ritual attracted 15 Druids and
a number of seagulls. Offerings were made in a full ADF rite to
Ancestors, Nature Spirits (mostly the seagulls), Gods and Goddesses,
and especially to Manannan Mac Lir, the stormy sea God who is
our grove's patron Gatekeeper. The gray sea was our well, the
bright sun our fire, and kelp (floating from the bottom of the
ocean to the surface) was our tree. We collected the waters of
9 separate waves for our sacred well-gate, somewhat freezing our
tootsies off. We then retreated to the Atlantis Diner for hot
food and beverages. CLICK
HERE FOR PHOTOS!
February
22nd: ADF
Druidry 101 Rutgers University Pagan Students Association
Norma
and Ed gave a brief presentation about Druids in history and about
Ar nDraiocht Fein's contemporary Druidry. Then talked about how
a modern GOG ADF ritual runs, why we do ritual, and how our rituals
generate energy and move it around. 12 people attended.
February
4th: IMBOLC
Our Imbolc ritual honored Brigantia, warrior Goddess of the Brigands,
in honor of the warrior in all of us. This was a lovely, solemn
(for us), and heart-filled ritual. 32 attended. Click
here for Kristen's Quotes from the ritual. Click
here for photos!
January
21st: New Year Yemaya Beach Ritual
8 intrepid GOG members braved the cold and offered flowers and
melon-boats and other biodegradables to Yemaya on the beach. The
water was placid, unnaturally calm. It was cold, but beautiful.
Several folks got their feet wet either deliberately or unintentionally.
A lovely ritual day led by Deb that ended in skee-ball, games,
and diner food. (Thanks to Craig for the photos.)
Click
here for photos.
2006
Dec.
22 to Dec. 23rd: Winter
Solstice VIGIL and RITUAL TO THE WELL and DAWN BEACH Ritual
Our
traditional dawn trip to the Jersey shore to watch the sun come
up over theocean was cancelled this year, due to heavy rain and
flooding. We did have some grove folks on the beach for sunrise
on the solstice day before.
The grove had an all-night vigil, though, and performed a ritual
to the sacred Well during the vigil. 7 attended the vigil, made
a bread-dough nativity for the sun, talked, laughed, and went
out at dawn to greet the sun and sing. Thanks to Maggie, Pat,
and Hillary for organizing and hosting!
December
17th:
GOG's YULE Ritual
Our
ritual to celebrate the winter solstice and the winter season.
29 attended our annual festival of silliness. This year's ritual
was an AMERICAN SOLSTICE IDOL retelling of the Yule story of Holly
King vs. Oak King with the outcome based on the quality of their
jokes and entirely determined by the judging of the viewers. The
Holly King won this round, although An Dagda, our gatekeeper and
manager, insisted that due to global warming, they might as well
rule together! Play script was by Marcia, her second modern mummer's
play for GOG. CLICK
HER FOR Play, cast list, CLICK
HERE FOR PHOTOS
November
18th: GOG's
(relatively) functional stress-free Thanksgiving dinner!
An
afternoon of food, friends, and conversation. "Sort of like
a church supper-- except without the church." Thanks
to Tricia and Bob, Peg and Chuck for hosting.
November
12th: The
Feast Day of Manannan
Manannan's
Feast at the Beach took place November 12th. Rainy. Flood
warnings. The rain was drizzly on the way down, although we hit
some downpours. When we got to the beach-- the rain stopped. Gray
and misty, very Manannan-like weather. We feasted our steadfast
gatekeeper with whiskey, beer, grain, and gave him flowers and
other offerings. Birds got offerings of bread. He kept the rain
off of us through the ritual. It started up again soon after we
ended. Omen: "It must be really cool to see this ancient
ritual brand new!" Then we went inside to play skeeball and
arcade games, and then went to the Atlantis Diner for our own
feast. Ten Druids braved the weather. Click
here for PHOTOS!
November
11th: ADF
Ritual in Connecticut in Honor of the All Gods
Catriona McDonald and Jason Cook led an ADF ritual in honor of
the All Gods on November 11. The overall theme wwas thanksgiving
for their many blessings. The day included a pot luck dinner and
movie marathon of the original Star Wars trilogy (the original
theatrical releases).
November
4th-5th: GOG's
Samhain Vigil and Two Rituals
GOG's
Samhain lasted from Saturn's Day afternoon until Sun's Day night
with a short break for sleep. We performed identical rituals both
days including a play written by Blue and performed by the Fates
with an all-praise in the middle. We held our usual vigil Saturn's
Day night, with a pumpkin parade down Easton Ave., Spiritualist
seance, divination, all-night fire, and backyard full of altars.
Statistics: 35 attended the Saturn's Day rite, 26 stayed for the
overnight vigil, 23 attended the dawn ritual, 10 stayed over or
returned for the Sun's Day ritual, 28 attended the Sun's Day ritual,
and 25 the Sun's Day funeral for Dionysos and fire offering of
the masks. Total: 53 (not counting the 10 who did both). Thanks
to all who helped with clean-up (there were many of you!) and
organization. And thanks to Marc, Tricia, Tara, Ed, and Maggie
for the photos! Click
here for PHOTOS!
Click
here for the script of the play "Song for Zagreus / Dionysos"
Click
here for the Sun's Day invocation to Hermes, our Gatekeeper
Click
here for the Saturn's Day invocation to Apollo, our muse
Click
here for Kristen's Quotes from GOG's Samhain (Sun's Day)
October
26th:
Norma's Day of the Dead and Sugar Skull Workshop
at the Rutgers University Pagan Students Association
Norma talked about Mexican Day of the Dead customs and led a hands-on
workshop in decorating sugar skulls for the holiday 18 attended.
October 24th: Isaac Bonewits at the
Rutgers University Religion and Spirituality Association.
The
founder of our Druidry gave an exciting talk on: "Black
Magic, Satanism, and Other Bad Ideas"
at the Rutgers Student Center in New Brunswick, NJ. 35
total attended, 10 grove members.
October
19th:
Language of Flowers and Herbs Workshop
at the Rutgers University Pagan Students Association
GOG member Maria Denitto talked about flowers and herbs, folklore,
and some of the cosmetic uses of herbs. Then the students got
on the floor and made their own posies.
October
12th:
The Ogham Alphabet, Ancient and Modern
Lecture at the Rutgers University Pagan Students Association
Ed lectured on what we really know about Ogham (what has come
to be known as the "Celtic Tree Alphabet") and talked
about what Ogham actually was and wasn't, how it became what it
is today, and also how modern Pagan seers and magicians are using
it. Then the students got to try Ogham divination for themselves.
16 attended.
September
28th:
Energy Raising
Marc Wicoff's lecture at the Rutgers University
Pagan Students Association
MidAtlantic Pagan Alliance cofounder (and GOG ADF Druid, too)
Rev. Marc Wicoff talked about various ways to raise energy, and
then demonstrated it by having the students work through 3 different
energy exercises. Several people who had never felt this kind
of energy stated that they felt it during the exercises! A fun
and exciting workshop! 20 attended.
Sun's
Day, September 24th:
GOG's Fall Equinox Ritual to the Earth Mother
Tricia
led our beautiful autumn equinox ritual to the Earth Mother. She'd
pointed out that we invoke Her at the beginning of each ritual
we do, but we'd never done a ritual just for Her. Now we have,
and it felt good. 45 people attended. (10 new attendees!) 19 participated
by taking ritual parts, and many others contributed praise offerings
(mostly offerings from their gardens). Bob and Chuck were our
very capable kitchen witches, making sure the multitude of food
fed the multitude of worshippers. Tricia was a very natural ritual
leader, comfortable and inspiring. Norma helped with the songs,
many of which were not our usual song selections. The altar was
beautiful, the day was lovely (it was supposed to rain, but despite
a few scattered drops, the sky turned bluer and bluer as the ritual
progressed). And our omens were good ones. Praise the Earth Mother!
Autumn Equinox
Earth Mother Ritual PHOTOS
Saturn's
Day, September 16th: Central NJ 2006 Pagan Pride
Picnic (& Druid Ritual)
GOG performed the main ritual at the second annual Pagan Pride
Picnic in central NJ in in Colonial Park. The ritual was fashioned
to honor the land itself, the sacred space in the park. 130 people
(or so) attended this ADF Druid rite, an unusual experience for
many. The invocations were designed to be both brief, and also
to explain the rite as we progressed through it. It went very
well, and was very much our style of "tent revival"
Druid ritual. When people couldn't help themselves and joined
in the invocations, we knew that it really worked! Thanks to all
who carefully created their invocations. Somewhat more scripted
than our usual rite, this is one for the books- the ADF Liturgy
yearbook. The day itself went well, with the grove helping with
registration and cleanup (and handing out garbage bags during
the ritual to keep the park clean...) Thanks to the 16 grove members
who attended and invoked, sang songs, beat on drums, or otherwise
helped out! You're good!. Pagan
Pride Day random PHOTOS
September
14th: Isaac Bonewits at the Rutgers University
Pagan Students Association
Our ArchDruid Emeritus and Founder of Ár nDraíocht
Féin, our own Druidry, gave a "Bardism 101: Effective
Use of Performance Arts in Ritual" lecture at the Rutgers
Student Center, room 407, on Sept. 14th, to the Rutgers Pagan
Students Association. Those who attended his lecture last year
know that Isaac is an erudite and entertaining speaker-- but may
not know that he is also a talented singer and songwriter. Demonstrating
the Bardic arts and the use of song and drama in ritual, Isaac
sang his Earth Mother Chant, two songs about the Dagda (and his
mighty club), and a Hymn to the Morrigan that left a few of us
breathless. See Keriana
Sidhe's Review of Isaac Bonewits Recent Bardic Workshop at Rutgers
University Pagan Students Association
August
12th HOC New Jersey Pagan Picnic
GOG helped out at the Hands of Change Central Jersey Pagan
Picnic. We created a labyrinth, painted faces and braided hair,
and Marc ran a workshop asking "Who Are Our Ancestors?"
and Norma ran a Ganesh Chathuri and idol-making workshop. (Cicely
baked the Ganesh birthday cake.) The grove was also in charge
of after-picnic cleanup. The HOC Pagan Picnic is run by Hands
of Change (many grateful thanks to Donna for all her hard organizing
work!) and this was their 9th year. Around 200 pagans, seekers,
and likeminded friends attended.
August
5th:
LUGHNAPALOOZA!!
35
GoGers and guests got their hands stamped at the door to attend
GoG's Lughnapallooza, a punk Druid ritual in which we told the
story of Lugh at the gates of Club Tara. Chuck invoked an amazing
and fantastic Lugh who told us the true story of the Magh-Tuireadh
Battle of the Bands (filling in for Patty, who broke her arm the
week before). Annie was our organized and insanely capable (or
capably insane?) Druid-in-Charge and ritual planner. Bouncers
were Jenniforensic, Bob, and Matt. There was dancing and music
and talking until the wee hours. Thanks to all for invocations,
praise, talents, celebration, and all that food. (Many of our
Druids have been creating ritual playlists-- lists of songs they
like that reflect the order of Druid ritual. It was cool to hear
a full ritual done with a song list, and a punk song list made
it even better.) For photos, click
here! To see Annie's ritual script and playlis, click
here. Also to see Annie's concert poster- click
here.)
.
July
22nd:
Meet Your Leafy Neighbors
10
Druids gathered to hear Alex talk about local trees and teach
basic tree identification. We met in Rutgers Gardens, and got
to know a few trees in spite of overcast skies and eventually
a bit of rain. We hope to cajole Alex into taking us out again
to learn about our local trees and munch on local berries and
nuts.
June
24st: 2006
WILD SIDHE OF NEW BRUNSWICK Summer Solstice Walking Ritual
Not much walking in our traditional walking ritual, dedicated
to land and nature spirits, but plenty of other physical activities
this year as we sought out and honored the wilder, darker fey
of New Brunswick, NJ. Marc led us on a walk in our heads, rather
than in the rain outside. 24 people attended, dressed in their
most provocative, but street-legal Goth and Fey best. Our omens
were from the fairy deck: the Bogeyman: get past your fears; the
Fachow: as an "earth-man," land spirits are with you;
Fairy Horse: beginning of journeys; and Tam Lin: a strong woman
will help us. Good omens.
In addition to all the fun, we collected lots of cans and boxes
of foodstuffs for a local womens' shelter.
CLICK HERE
FOR PHOTOS!
June
21st: SUMMER SOLSTICE Sunset Ritual!
18
GOG members and guests participated in our 2006 Summer Solstice
Sunset Ritual on Wednesday, June 21st. We honored the height of
the light and the rise of the dark in a full Druid ritual at a
rest stop on the Delaware River by the roaring interstate. Our
Winter Solstice Sunrise Ritual takes place by the ocean on the
east coast of Jersey; our Summer Sunset Ritual takes place on
the west coast. Who knew how many people were looking forward
to revisiting our solstice rest stop ritual? Maggie and Pat made
a papier-maché sun-egg that we cracked open to release
the dark inside. The dark was good and gooey and tasted like chocolate.
We made sure that the sun set well and good. Afterwards, we invaded
a diner and cheered up a waitress. CLICK
HERE FOR PHOTOS!
June
13 through 18:
21st Annual Free Spirit Gathering.
8
GOG members attended the Free Spirit Festival in Maryland. Maggie
and Pat led a discussion of American Gods attended by 9 people,
and then led a walking ADF ritual to Asphaltia that had 16 people
and picked up hitchikers. We had air fresheners to hang around
our wrists and little cars to drive. As Maggie and Pat led us
with Walky Guy opening the gates and the Red Hand stopping us
at appropriate points, we heckled our driver with "Are we
there yet?" and "When's the next rest stop?" and
"He's bothering me..." and sang road songs. Our well
was a radiator and our muse a radio (which, when we switched it
on, said, "She's here. I can see her.") Our omens were
cast on a map of the northeast. The waters of life were Mountain
Dew. It was a great ritual. Later in the day, 7 GOG members participated
in an ADF midsummer ritual to Dagda and the Morrigan led by Cenn
Ruadh of Mugwort Grove and also attended by folks from Mugwort
and Black Bear groves. Free Spirit was a great time, the weather
was nice, people entertaining, the fire wonderful, and the workshops
inspiring. Photos
of the Asphaltia Ritual at the Free Spirit Gathering!
June
3-4:
American Cancer Society's Relay For Life®
12pm
(Noon) to 8am the next morning; yes, these times are correct!
The Midatlantic Pagan Alliance participated in the American Cancer
Society's Relay For Life® at Ocean County College, on Hooper
Ave in Toms River, NJ. 7 GOG ADF members participated as part
of the MPA team. GOG members raised $610 and the MPA together
raised nearly $3000 of the $29,000 total raised by the event.
The Pagans came in fourth in fundraising, and we kept a team member
on the relay track the entire 18 hours, in spite of rain and blisters.
This was a very worthwhile event to be involved in, sort of like
Samhain in June, and we highly recommend participation by more
grove members next year. For more information on the MPA go to
http://www.midatlanticpaganalliance.org
All
who helped out with money and/or time should be really proud of
themselves!
Saturn's
Day, June 3:
Craft Day!
"No
not THAT kind of craft! This kind: Beads, glue, paper, yarn, scissors,
cloth, thread, ribbons, etc..." 6 people attended our fourth
official grove craft day. Good fun, good food, got a lot done.
Sun's
Day, May 28th:
A May Crowning
A special event led by Nej and the Ancient Order of the Groovy
Pajamas: a May Crowning Ritual. 11 grove members dressed up in
their "Sun's Day best" to honor Mary, "Our Lady,
the Madonna, The Blessed Mother of Christ & Queen of the Angels,
Queen of the May" in Her many forms with song, flowers, and
procession. Mary got many grove members started on their pagan
paths, and many pagans still honor and adore her. As per GOG tradition,
the May flowers were placed on veteran's memorials around Rutgers
for Memorial Day. May
Crowning Photos!
May
6th:
Grove of the Other Gods' BELTANE MAYFAIRE
GOG's
Beltane, held in Metuchen, NJ, started with a daytime ritual and
altar to Helios, progressed to a twilight ritual honoring Helios
and Hecate (with Janus as able gatekeeper), and ended with a nighttime
ritual and altar to Hecate. 33 attended the day-night ritual,
choosing sides for day or night for the rite (or hanging in the
middle). Norma represented Hecate and the joys of the night. Lady
Sue represented Helios and the pleasures of the day. They cajoled
people to take one side or the other. There were good-natured
catcalls back and forth. Both deities enjoyed this immensely.
Peg led us in belly dancing, Norma in drumming, Ed made a labyrinth
on Trish and Bob's front lawn, we made flower wreaths, danced
the maypole, ran our hobby horse and rag man around, and ate lots
of excellent mayfaire food. Many thanks to Trish and Bob and Bella
for hosting and barbecue grilling and all-around hospitality.
Check out
GOG Beltane MayFaire Photos!! Check out the golden apples
of the sun (honest, they're red apples!) and Hecate's torch (honest,
it's a birdbath!).
April
30th to May 1st:
Beltane Vigil and Beltane At Dawn in Princeton
GOG's
2006 Annual Beltane Vigil and Beltane Dawn contribution to the
festivities with the local Morris Dancers, Molly Troop and Maypole
Dancers and Madrigal Singers in Princeton. 12
attended our vigil. We thrilled to old 1950s videos of British
folk customs, practiced the Hobby Horse ritual dance, practiced
singing the Padstow Morning Song, over and over, made faery cakes,
and took a late-night stroll to the scary Magic Fountain. Before
we knew it, it was 4:30am, time to drive to Princeton to join
our local Dancers on the Princeton Battlegrounds. The Dancers
have been waking the earth and bringing in the May with dances
and sticks and song for twenty-five years. We've been joining
them with our Obby Oss as part of the program for twelve now.
There were 13 of us in Princeton at dawn. Jen and Patty did a
fine job as Oss and teaser, and Norma explained the ritual to
the crowd (about 90 people) and led the Padstow Morning Song.
Our usual leaders, Pattie and Erica, were in Padstow, Cornwall,
at that very moment following the original Padstow Obby Oss festivities.
PHOTOS
OF OUR 2006 BELTANE VIGIL AND DAWN IN PRINCETON
April
27th, to April 30th:
Mid-Atlantic Pagan Alliance Beltane 2006: A Magickal Journey
The
MPA's 7th Beltane festival has a great lineup of speakers: Selena
Fox, Ivo Dominquez, John J. Coughin, many others. GOG was asked
by the MidAtlantic Pagan Alliance to run their Maypole ritual
at the Beltane 2006 Gathering. Before we wove our community maypole,
Norma gave a brief lecture on the history of maypoles, and then
the first group got to weave the ribbons and then unweave them,
giving that energy to the Beltane community. The first group wove
chaotically, and then worked together to unwind. The second group
was more serious, and wove a good tight basket weave despite all
we could do to harass them with hobby horse, rag man with sharp
horns, and heckling. It was great exhilerating fun for all. Selena
Fox complimented us on the lecture and maypole and beasties, and
took lots and lots of photos. Nine grove members participated
in the maypole ritual Thanks to Bob for being the horse, Ed for
dancing in the rag man, and Trish for the photos, and all who
helped out. GOG also ran a Congo Square drum prayer ritual the
next day, in association with others across the country who were
drumming for the benefit of those who lost their possessions in
the hurricanes that hit the gulf coast last year. Seven grove
members helped with that, twenty attended the ritual. Click
here for photos.
March
20th:
Grove of the Other Gods' Beach Equinox Day Ritual to Manannan
Mac Lir
12
of us spent a windy and cold Monday afternoon on the beach for
our traditionally brief Equinox Day ritual to the Celtic sea God
Manannan Mac Lir, Keeper of the Ways and Gatekeeper of our Grove.
Several GOG lunatics went into the freezing ocean to collect magickal
9 waves waters for the grove, a human sacrifice for Manannan.
We honored ancestors, and fed bread to the nature spirits, and
flew a kite for the Gods. Afterwards, we assembled at the Atlantis
Diner for hot beverages and hot food. Equinox
Day Beach Ritual Photos!
March
18th:
Grove of the Other Gods' Spring Ritual
25
attended our 2006 spring ritual, which was led by Patty. We honored
Manannan Mac Lir, our Grove Gatekeeper, Son of the Sea, Celtic
God of liminal spaces, honoring the Spring and consecrating our
grove well water, and the ritual was performed in groups of 3
around a triskele of shells and stones. It was chilly and a bit
windy, but we kept the sacred fire going. We each added local
water and special water to our grove well and blessed the well,
and as the magickal working, Patty and Manannan blessed tools
that people brought. Our omens were from 3 different tarot decks.
From the pomo (postmodern) deck we got the "evil" card,
their version of the devil (we did invoke Manannan in his trickster
guise), from the "Celtic" tarot we got the ace of cups,
and from the "Herbal" tarot, Lady Sue drew the instruction
booklet. After the ritual, we roasted Peeps on the fire, ate lots
of food, frolicked in Sue's enchanted backyard, and then attended
Portal of the Porcupine's Wiccan ritual that evening. Spring
Ritual Photos!
March
11th:
Ar nDraiocht Fein Druid Dedicants Program Meeting
Eleven
people attended the second meeting of the new round of Dedicants
workshops. We discussed the nine Druid virtues in depth, with
each person reading their virtues essay. Then we read our essays
on the recent Imbolc rituals we've attended, or what we personally
did for the holiday. Homework was assigned. It was a long meeting,
with everyone sharing insights. See calendar for the next meeting.
March
2nd:
Rev. Marc Wicoff: Discussion of Altered States of Consciousness
Rutgers University Pagan Students Association
A
discussion on altered states of consciousness, presented by Rev.
Marc Wicoff, cofounder and High Priest of the Mid-atlantic Pagan
Alliance (and member of GOG). This discussion covered what an
altered state of consciousness is, methods on how it can be achieved,
what to do once you’re there, and how to keep from getting
stuck in Lala-land! The lecture was illuminating and stimulating,
and Marc provoked a good deal of interesting discussion on altered
brain states and grounding. 11 attended.
February
28th,
Druidry Lecture at Rutgers by ISAAC BONEWITS, ADF's ArchDruid
Emeritus and Founder,
Sponsored by Rutgers University Religion Students Association
& Rutgers University Pagan Students Association.
30 people attended Isaacs' lecture. It was engaging, lots of fun,
and blew a few minds. Isaac gave us the history of Druidry from
the human migration out of Africa, through the journeys of the
Indo-European tribes, to the Celts, to the various Druid revivals,
right up to modern British and American Druids. The Rutgers bookstore
was on hand to sell Isaac's books. CLICK HERE
FOR CAROL'S REVIEW and PHOTO!
February
19th:
Grove of the Other Gods' Imbolc Ritual
40
people attended Grove of the Other Gods' 2006 Imbolc ritual, led
by Nora. The ritual honored Brigid as Goddess of Smithcraft, Metalworking,
Crafts, and the Forge. There were two planning meetings, where
a bunch of us hammered a copper plate into a ritual bowl. During
the procession into the ritual space, each person at the ritual
got to hammer the bowl, which was finished during the ritual.
There was a lot of participation in this long ritual, lots of
praise, music, offerings, (Click
here for the drawing down of Brigid that Jack drew during the
ritual; she's focused on her forge.) and we came away with
good omens scryed from the bowl we made: the seers scryed an anchor
that at first was small, and then grew larger; we are more than
the sum of our parts, we can do more than we think we can, we
are stronger than we realize, we need to have more faith in ourselves.
(There was also something about grounding in that anchor.) After
the ritual, we made butter, Brigid's crosses, and various crafts.
We ate a lot of food. We gathered around a fire and burned offerings,
including the Brigid dolly made before the ritual. Each person
got craft supplies and a Brigid' brat. CLICK
HERE FOR PHOTOS!
February
4th:
Imbolc Ritual Planning Meeting
and Metalworking
11
planned our Imbolc ritual and also spent many hours hammering
a copper sheet into a preliminary shape as a ritual bowl to be
finished in the rite. 8 also attended an additional setup meeting
the day before the ritual. Photos!
Click here!
Thor's
Day, February 2nd:
GOG Imbolc Crafts and Discussion- Rutgers University Pagan Students
Association
We
showed people how to make Brigid's crosses and how to churn butter
in Tupperware as we discussed the holiday traditions associated
with Imbolc and told stories about the Goddess Brigid. 6 attended.
January
26th:
GOG Druid Wheel of the Year lecture at Rutgers University Pagan
Students Association
Ed
and Norma talked about the Druid Wheel of the Year and folk traditions
and modern traditions associated with the turning of the seasons.
13 attended.
January
14th: Wassail!
Wassail!
12
GOG Druids performed a traditional winter tree blessing at Portal
of the Porcupine for Lady Sue's apple tree and other trees. Among
other things, this involved singing, a lot of noise, a "toast,"
and banging pots. The nasty weather held off until we were done.
A very nice time.
January
8th: Yemaya
New Year's Beach Run
Beautiful
ritual led by Deb, with good weather (in spite of the forecasters'
predictions) and good omens, including a woman from New Orleans
who joined us and asked to float her own offering out. She asked
us to bless her city. Bunch of us got wet, but the ocean goddess
was lovely, who can blame us? 9 people attended. We made boats
of flowers and melons, and the ocean took them. We gave Her flowers.
Then we ate, played arcade games. PHOTOS
of our Yemaya New Year's Ritual
January
7th:
Ar nDraiocht Fein Druid Dedicants Program Meeting
Thirteen
people attended the first meeting of the new round of Dedicants
workshops (our fourth group). They got a taste of what the program
is about, and talked about their writeups for the Yule holiday
and Yule ritual.
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 o