A Pagan Almanac, 08-31-08

Welcome to this week’s Pagan Almanac.

It’s August 31, 2008, and it’s the 244^th day of the year. The moon is currently in the first quarter in Virgo.

Today is the birthday of Raymond Buckland, who was born on this day in 1934. He is generally credited with bringing Gardnerian Wicca to the United States. He was raised as an Anglican, and at 12 years of age developed an interest in the occult. He was educated at King’s College in London, and served in the Royal Air Force. After training with Gerald Gardner, he developed his own tradition called Seax Wicca, and he, and his wife Rosemary came to the United States, bringing the religion of Wicca with them.

Raymond is the author of many influential Wiccan and spiritual titles including “Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft”, called by some “The Big Blue Book”, “Gypsy Dream Dictionary”, “Practical Candleburning Rituals”, and many other print and video titles.

On Monday, the moon will be void of course at 5:01 am, and enters Libra at 7:44 am. It is also Labor Day, which was first celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City. In 1844, the date was changed to the first Monday in September, and the Central Labor Union urged the movement on in other cities. Other cities and states followed suit, until in 1894, Labor Day was recognized and adopted in 23 other states. On June 28, 1894, Congress passed the act making Labor Day a federal holiday.

Tuesday, the 2^nd, is the first day of Ramadan, the month in which it is believed that the Koran first began to be revealed. Ramadan is the 9^th month of the Islamic calendar, and signifies heat, scorched Earth and shortness of rations, which is recalled in the tradition of fasting in this month.

On Wednesday, the moon is void of course at 1:09 pm, and enters Scorpio at 4:02 pm.

On Friday, the moon will be void of course at 11:45 am

And on Saturday, the moon enters Sagittarius at 3:11 am.

Our upcoming events include:

Ongoing, weekly:

Prayer Requests

Every Sunday
Time: 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Location: Your own home
Notes: Please answer this request post stating your reason for healing energy and/or prayers sent your way. Prayer requests can be asked for other than healing and for other than yourself.
A white candle will be lit for you on Sunday unless you request another color to be used. This is a group event so the more people involved the better. Feel free to join sending out energy. Always keep in mind that requests are always done for the highest good of all concerned. This may mean the outcome may be different than we hope for. The spiritual healing work we do is designed to work in harmony with other treatment modalities, not as a subsitute.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEPagansAndWitches

Repeating event:
2nd Saturday of each month
New Hampshire Seacoast Pagans have their monthly meeting at Karnan House in Portsmouth, from 2:00 to 6:00.
This is an informal gathering for Pagans. Most of us are from the Portsmouth Seacoast area, but all are welcome. We provide free coffee and tea, and usually somebody will bring some food. There’s no agenda – just hanging out, networking and good conversation.
For more information about this event, visit:
http://nhspagans.numachi.com

The Moon Pool Coven offers ongoing instruction in Wicca in a teaching Coven environment. You can find out more about them at www.moonpool.org.

Misty Meadows

2008 Plant Identification Walks
with Wendy Snow Fogg

The fields, gardens and forest are filled with fabulous wild plants that are not only beautiful, but valuable as food and medicine. Join me for a gentle 90-minute walk and let me introduce you to a hundred or so of my favorite plant friends throughout the summer!

~Your camera is most welcome ~
~ Please dress for comfortable walking ~
~ Natural insect repellent will be provided ~

Dates:

September 6 3-4:30 pm

Cost: $15 each date/per person. To assure that everyone can see and hear, groups will be limited to not more than 15 participants.

Wendy Fogg is available for private plant walks. She will come and help you to identify the plants on your land or guide a walk for groups of 6 or more people at the place of your choice. To schedule a private group plant walk, please contact Wendy directly at wendyfogg@comcast.net.

September 13, 2008 Southern New Hampshire Pagan Pride Day

I found the web sites listed on Witchvox, as well as the phone number listed there to not be in service, but the moonfruit web site seems to be working. I'll definitely try to get more information about the event before it happens.

This event will be held at Victory Park, 119 Concord Street in Manchester, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Currently the list of workshops includes:

Earth Centered Family Traditions by Jess Baribault
The Runic ALU Formula: In Study and Practice by Mike Smith
The Norse/Asatru Concept of the Afterlife by Mike Smith
Laws of Magik by Azure
History of Paganism by Artemis

Along with this will be drumming circles, stories, crafts, music and an open ritual.

Visit the web site at: http://snhppd.moonfruit.com/#

Eastern Massachusetts Pagan Pride day is September 21.

This is one of the largest Pagan Pride projects in the United States, and last year drew some 1500 attendees.

The principal musicians for Eastern Mass Pagan Pride will be the Gypsy Nomads. I've heard a few of their pieces, and we'll play a couple after the almanac for you. I'm certainly looking forward to getting down there and picking up a few albums, and bringing them back to PaganFM! for you!

Workshops at Eastern Mass Pagan Pride include:

Vodou Love Magic, Kenaz Filan
Vodou Money Magic, Kenaz Filan
The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, Scarlet Magdalene
The Modern Worship of the Gods of Ancient Greece, Hercules Invictus

and many others, along with events especially for kids.

For directions, more information or contacts, you can find them at:

http://www.easternmasspaganpride.org/

The Art Of Magick with Christopher Penczak

When: Oct. 15th. 2008 - Oct. 29th. 2008
Where: Manchester, New Hampshire

Christopher Penczak - Art of Magick Series

Event Details: Candle Magick: The Art of Magick Part One
Wednesday, Oct 15
7-9:30 PM, $25 or $60 if you register and pay for all three by Oct 1.
Myths & Maidens189 Kelley Street, Manchester, NH 03102
(603) 867-8465
Candles have long been used as a beacon of light in the spirit world, to send prayers, spells and blessings out to manifest. The candle contains all the powers of the elements. Candle magick is one of the most effective methods of magick and healing, used for emergencies, long term goals and religious ceremonies. Learn the techniques of effective candle magick taught from a modern witchcraft perspective with leaning of American folk magick, including color and candle selection, carving, dressing, rolling , packing and reversals.

Potion Magick: The Art of Magick Part Two
Wednesday, Oct 22
7-9:30 PM, $25 or $60 if you register and pay for all three by Oct 1.
Myths & Maidens189 Kelley Street, Manchester, NH 03102
(603) 867-8465
The image of the witch or magician brewing a potion is ingrained in all seekers of the magick, and the art of potion making has be preserved, adapted and reinvented in the light of modern witchcraft. They are used to banish unwanted forces and draw in the energies of love, prosperity and healing. Learn potion making techniques using herbs, oils, stones and mummia. Topics including brews, tinctures, fluid condensers, oils, incense, spygerics, essences and philters. Craft your own potions of power, based upon your own needs, desires and spiritual path.

Talisman Magick: The Art of magick Part Three
Wednesday, Oct 29
7-9:30 PM, $25 or $60 if you register and pay for all three by Oct 1.
Myths & Maidens189 Kelley Street, Manchester, NH 03102
(603) 867-8465
People all over the world, in every time, religion and culture carry charms, talisman and amulets to protect them from harm and bring the blessings of the gods and spirits. Learn about the art of talismans, including how to empower ones you already have, and craft new ones in the time honored traditions of magick. Natural charms of stone, metal, herb and animal will be covered, along with geometric talismans from planetary rituals, kameas and the use of sacred alphabets to empower your objects.

Event Location: 189 Kelley Street in Manchester
Event TIME Details: 7 pm to 9:30 pm

Directions: From North of Manchester:From the I-293 S toward Manchester. Take Exit 6 toward Amoskeag St / Goffstown Road. Take the ramp toward West Manchester. Turn LEFT onto Eddy Rd. Turn Right onto Bremer St. Turn Left onto Hevey St. Turn Right onto Kelley St. Go 30 yards and end at 189 Kelley St on the right hand side.From South of ManchesterFrom the I-293 N toward Manchester. Take Exit 5 toward Granite St. Turn Left onto Granite St. Turn Slight Right onto Main St. Main St. becomes McGregor St. Turn Left onto Amory St. Turn Slight Right onto Coolidge Ave. Turn Left onto Kelley St. Go 0.2 miles and end at 189 Kelley St on the right hand side.

Phone: (603) 867-8465

Workshops with Raven and Stephanie Grimassi

When: Oct. 17th. 2008 - Oct. 18th. 2008
Where: Manchester, New Hampshire

Workshops with Raven and Stephanie Grimassi

Event Details: Raven Grimassi & Stephanie Taylor-Grimassi
at Myths and Maidens

Fairy Stone Workshop

Friday, October 17th 6 pm to 8 pm $25 per class

Learning to sight and work with the Faery Race

Do you feel a presence in the woods? Do you see signs of mystical beings around you? Perhaps you need a fairy stone to help focus in on the Hidden Ones. Join authors Raven Grimassi & Stephanie Taylor for a workshop to learn about the Fey and to use a traditional fairy sighting stone. The workshop will include a talk about old fairy lore, and how to make and use a fairy stone to call forth fairies as well as how to use it as a “sighting stone” . Also, learn about how the Kindred Race interface with witches to work in common cause for both worlds. Attendees receive a clay fairy stone with cord along with instructions handmade and charged by Raven and Stephanie.

Your Path to Oracle Power

Saturday, October 18th 6 to 8 pm $25 per class

Do you desire a deeper exploration of the Inner Mysteries? When you see certain symbols and images does something stir within you? Join authors Raven Grimassi and Stephanie Taylor for a workshop using their oracle systems known as the Well Worn Path, and the Hidden Path. Raven and Stephanie will teach you about their oracle cards filled with mystical teachings and new insights presented through imagery and symbols that explore the inner mysteries of Wicca, Witchcraft, and Paganism. The decks are created for divination, teaching, ritual, spell crafting and path working. The workshop includes a guided meditation in which you can encounter the mystical folkloric figure known as the Crone of the Cottage. She will bestow a gift upon you that can enhance your divination skills.

Each deck of 40 cards comes with a full length book that includes divination spreads expressly created for the Craft, an alignment journey that takes you on the path of the seeker through all 40 cards, our suggested divination meanings, individual mystery tradition teachings and a Full Moon ritual template that can be expanded to include Sabbats and spell work. The Well Worn Path deck and the Hidden Path can be combined to form an 80 card system, but each deck is also designed to stand alone as a separate oracle systems.

Meet and Greet - one hour before workshops - Please book early as space is limited.

Phone: (603) 603-867-8465

Starting October, 2008

Introduction to Herbal Healing and Self Care

When: October to April, 7-9 PM
Where: Belchertown, MA
Cost: Call for details

Details: A six-month intensive. Covers Western herbal Materia Medica, formula making, case taking, Chinese Five Element Theory, Homeopathic First Aid, Flower Essence Counseling, plant identification, ethnobotany, and hands on herbal techniques such as poultices, tinctures, salves, etc.
Over 400 pages of handouts are included with the course. A certificate of completion is offered at the end.

MA NURSES CAN GET CEUS BY TAKING THIS COURSE

CALL FOR DETAILS OR TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE (413) 323-4494

I’ve been thinking a lot about sacred space the past few days, so, tonight’s poem reflects that.

This place is sacred

My spirit feels

Those who before me tread

These meadows, hills and fields

This land we love

It is not ours

We lease from our children

To erect our bowers

We live for a time

We’ll pass away

Our bones, the Earth

Will consume one day

This place is sacred

Because it inherits

The hopes and dreams

Of all our spirits

It lives on

When we have gone

And all that remains

Is Earth and Sun