Druid Study Group

Since I was unable to attend the Druid Study Meetup - I asked Carol if she would write something up for the blog. She kindly stepped up to the challange.

 

"Ice Moon Grove is a local Druid Grove who hosts a Druid study group twice a month. Our study program follows in the footsteps of traditional Druidry, as we study the Oghams, a divination system and their associated Celtic trees. But our program also covers a distinctive Alaska connection as we learn about our local animals and trees/plants – some of which are personal totems to the Grove.

Our recent meeting was this past Tuesday and we had on topic – the Eagle, the Ogham, Tinne and its tree, the Holly. The meetings are purposefully kept as a free-for-all type of meeting with some general topics to keep us talking and learning. We started off the meeting with our usual group of Druids – but we also had the addition of a new person, a Wiccan who has felt the call of Druidry. We started off discussing the elements and a bit of background Druidry for the newer person. The Ogham Tinne came up next –the symbol of challenges, of mastery and defense. Its associating tree, Holly, was a bit of a conundrum for us as we were hard pressed to see the association between tree and Ogham. It was said the Celts made their spears from the Holly tree – perhaps this was the association with Tinne? We weren’t sure. Then came the eagle, each of us connecting in various ways to this majestic bird. Later in the evening we talked about the variety of projects – potential and in the works – which the Grove is involved in.

Our next meeting will be in two weeks – we will be ruminating on the Salmon, Hazel tree and Coll Ogham. All are welcome – Druid or non-Druid or seeker. With the weather here in Anchorage turning nicer and warmer, we will be heading outside more and more. Suggestions are welcome J "

 

The next Druid Study Group is next Tuesday on June 4th. This meetup can be found on the Anchorage Pagan Meetup Group.

ACoA Board Meeting

Last night there was the quarterly board meeting for Arctic Circle of Anchorage. Which is an organization for Pagans that puts on events and is a resource for all pagans. This meeting included changing some of the bylaws and nominations for board position changes.

Fire and Full Moon Magick

We had a couple of activities this weekend – the weather was awesome! If you didn’t attend an activity I hope everyone at least got out and enjoyed the bright sunny days.

Wiccan Esbat for Flower Moon  - Wiccans of Alaska – Last Friday

Full moon ritual - Warrior spell for Personal Power. All participants brought jewelry or other items to be imbued with personal power to keep as charms or talismans to remind us of our personal power.

 

Fireside Fridays Intensives  - Anchorage Pagans – All weekend long at the The Land in Willow
(Basic Fire Magick I-IV) - Fire Tribe AK

Fire Tribe AK led an in depth, hands on work party lecture and discussion over this last Memorial Day  weekend repeating the Basic Fire Magick workshop series I-VI as a complete intensive.

They provided  community service to the PCC in Action (Pagan Community Center of Alaska) by helping with site development of the land sanctuary. 

Topics for Fireside Fridays Intensive Weekend Camp out were:

Large ritual fire building, fire magic, and community service by safely constructing and using the beginning concepts of 'the mountain of fire' as a gate to the Elder Gods and Goddesses of our beliefs. This workshop series will talk about common group intent, large community ritual focus, material & magical components, and the need to safely utilize building techniques to help the greater community and ritual attendees achieve the focus of the rituals during gatherings. We will talk a little bit about the different kinds of fires, and the anchoring aspect of higher magic.

We will be delving deep into practical safety concerns and some building techniques involved in working this type of fire magic as well as how we can begin incorporating magical components into the heart of both personal and large group ritual fires.

Upcoming Events - JUNE

So here are the events that are planned so far for June – things will be added I’m sure – since we are a fly by the seat of our pants kind of group.

JUNE

June 1 (Saturday) – Trail Cleanup – Road by Fred Meyers on Muldoon – Anchorage Pagans

June 6 (Thursday)  – Labyrinth Workshop – Walk an actual Labyrinth – Wiccans of Alaska

June 8 (Saturday) – Waxing Witches – Adopt a Deity – Wiccans of Alaska

June 9 (Sunday) – Adopt-a-Trail Service Outing – Trailing cleaning of Cambell Creek Trail – Wiccans of Alaska

June 14 (Sunday) – Labyrinth Workshop – Build a Labyrinth – Wiccans of Alaska

June 28 (Friday) – Karaoke Family Night – Elim Café - ACoA

June 30 (Sunday) - Trail Cleanup – Road by Fred Meyers on Muldoon – Anchorage Pagans

June 20-23 – 2013 Summer Solstice Weekend Camping Ritual at the Land – Anchorage Pagans

Druidry Study Group

Last night was the continuation of study on Druidry hosted by Ice Moon Grove on the Anchorage Pagans Meetup site. Topics included Ogham – Tinne, Totem Animal – Eagle, Tree – Holly – among other things.

Bast and the Outdoors

Boubastia Festival  - ACoA

Yesterday the ACoA had a spring Boubastia festival held in honor and worship of the Divine Mother Bast. This outdoor celebration featured a rite inspired by the "awakening of the goddess" rituals held in the temples of ancient Egypt, a tribal belly dance performance by a retinue of dancing priestesses, followed by a picnic-style potluck feast. Any monetary offerings were donated to Alaska Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Trail Clean Up – Wiccans of Alaska

Yesterday also saw the first summer trail clean up for the Wiccans of Alaska. The trail that has been adopted is the Cambell Creek Trail the section from the Peanut Farm to the just past the Dowling Road extension. It was a lovely day bright and sunny – and the trail is a activate one that is quite lovely if you just want a place to walk.

Labyrinth – Workshop #3

Last night the Wiccans of Alaska got together for the 3^rd workshop in the Labyrinth series.

We went over the many suggestions as to why one would do a labyrinth. Such as – relaxation, meditation, problem solving, personal growth and change and so on. Then we went through a guided problem solving exercise using our figure labyrinths.

The 4^th workshop in the Labyrinth Series will be held on June 6^th, 2013 at 6:30PM at St. Mary’s (222 E Tudor Rd) – during this workshop we will actually walking the permanent labyrinth they have there.

COMING SOON

What we are about – Magickal – Spirituality – Alternative Health – Metaphysics – Witchcraft – Wicca – Druid – Occult – Goddess – Meditation – Polytheistic - and all forms of Paganism in general.

I will be posting blogs on upcoming events starting in June and will be posting on events after they happen. Stay tuned – this is a work in progress.