Calendar

Hi Friends and future friends!

Sometimes it’s hard to get out and go somewhere.  Sometimes it’s hard to think about being with other people, especially if you haven’t met them.   The best thing about Council Open Hours is that it is like a comfy pillow or your favorite PJs.  We are just hanging out hoping you will come see us and to see anyone else who comes.  There aren’t usually very many people with us and it’s totally casual – there’s nothing we have planned, nothing to accomplish.  Bring something to talk about or just come to sit quietly and see what it’s like.
Maybe you haven’t been to anything in awhile and you feel a little outside and want to connect again. Or you just keep saying “I’m going to go to Covenant of the River “some day”.”  Well, now is a great time!

Council is here!  First Fridays we set aside time to meet with people and talk to people.   Casually, just hanging out.  We usually all sit together but if you are in need of a private conversation, that can be arranged.

This is why we are here.  We are here for you.  You will not be bothering us or interrupting us because we are here for you to talk to or hang out with.  Stop by the Hall between 7pm and 9pm.  See you soon!

The first hint of Spring.  Brigid’s fire.   – that’s what you might imagine. But Council is planning to pay homage to the Japanese February holiday of Setsubun.  It is the first day of spring and celebrates the end of winter and the beginning of spring

From japansociety.org:  The festival of Setsubun—when people throw soybeans at demons—follows closely on the heels of New Year’s. The word setsubun means “changing of the seasons.”  Because of the importance of the New Year in the Japanese calendar, the setsubun directly before the start of spring was by far the most important  in Japan. When seasons change, people are at their most vulnerable to influenza, colds, or other ailments. The rituals for the festival of Setsubun are meant to purge ones house and surroundings of all bad things and to keep disease and misfortune at bay.

Jordan has offered to play the part of the demon we get to throw beans at during the ritual!  Whatever this first Sabbat of the returning light means to you, we hope that you will join us for this unique celebration.

The potluck will be AFTER the ritual.  Please arrive around 5:30pm, the ritual will begin around 5:45pm. The feasting will be after the ritual. The ritual will include an outside part and then return to the Hall so dressing in layers is advised. Ritual garb is encouraged but not required. Culturally reflecting items are also appropriate.

The potluck will be AFTER the ritual.  Bring something to share or simply come and share what we have.  You are not required to bring anything to join us and eat with us.

Please park on Swallow and follow the sidewalk around to the far side of the garage to find the Hall.

1. The Dark Moon group meets at 7:00pm in the Hall to talk and light the candles in the Cauldron of Candles (this is casual and fun, not a formal ritual).  Around 7:30 the evening begins with information about the topic and then a short ritual.  Come when you can, you don’t have to be on time and leave early if that works for you.

This month we will be meeting Gyhldeptis, a Native American Goddess from the NW Coast of the US, from the Haida and Tligit tribes.  She is not herself a Dark Goddess, but what she asks of you will still be difficult and the path might be dark.  Her wish is that you whole yourself.  This might mean shadow work.  This might be confronting all of the parts of yourself that you have tried to discard rather than having to face them.    To pull yourself together, as it were.  To synthesize the parts you don’t like with those that you do so that you will become light and dark together and see the value in both.

Dark Moon Group is a small group that gathers once a month to talk, light candles, and peer into the darker parts of mythology and ourselves and face the challenge.  It is open to anyone.  You do not need to have attended a Covenant event before.  It’s very casual.   You also don’t need to believe in any goddess or the monthly topic.  Using mythology, even as just stories, can be an important part of a spiritual practice or just for the sake of learning.

More on Gyhldeptis from Bluethunderhealing.com

This will be a more quiet (ruminant*) observance of Imbolg with Jean. Please dress to be outside.  The ritual will begin inside and then move outside.   Arrive at 7pm, activities begin at 7:30.  The ritual is expected to be quiet and personal allowing space for the invocation of personal gods and the possibility of doing shadow work.  It is the time when the earth is stretching and awakening,  such quiet contemplation can help you wake yourself to the coming year.  Comtemplative language appropriate for serious participants in expected.

Bring snacks if you like. Fire will play a role in the activities.

Welcome to the *Ruminant ritual explanation.   In the past we have called these celebrations “adult” to indicate the contemplative quiet nature of the ritual that might not be appropriate for children or anyone who can not adapt to the quiet atmosphere.   It never meant we engaged in activities intended only for 18+.  To that end, Jean has developed the new term “Ruminant” to describe these follow up rituals held in the days following the Sunday, family friendly rituals.

This Sunday Jean will be leading us in a rock painting caft at the Hall after the 5:30 potluck

Park Cleanup is cancelled

Before we get together for the craft, it’s park cleanup time over at Landings Park.  This has been our adopted park to take care of for well over 10 years and it feels good to be with friends while you give back to the community and the environment.  We meet at Landings Park, off Boardwalk north of Harmony at 3:30. We provide work gloves and a trash bag

The evening’s event at the Hall (901 E Swallow) begins at 5:30 with the potluck.  Bring something if you can.  The activities begin at 6pm.  Please park on Swallow, not the culdesac, and look for the yellow door on the far side of the garage.