A Death at Ostara

Happy April, everyone.

As some of you know, Margarian lost her mother “K” on March 16. Death never comes at a convenient time, and so it was in this case. Mar herself had been ill with the flu and pneumonia for the previous six weeks, and was just beginning to recover when we received the news. We learned on Sunday the 9th that K. was "hanging by a thread" and "in the hands of God", so we took the red-eye that night to Toronto and went straight to the hospital.

In retrospect, Margarian was glad that we arrived that morning, as it was probably the last time K. had any awareness that someone was there. K's kidneys failed on the 11th, and she managed to survive until the evening of the 16th. During that time, we paid her several visits, made what preparations we could, and waited for the phone call to come.

Over several days, we followed K’s transition from someone alive in a hospital room, to seeing her shortly after she passed, to seeing the body in its fibreboard casket at the funeral home. On a Wednesday morning, we joined the closed casket in the chapel at the crematorium. While we waited, we studied the memorial urns in their glass niches in the walls. Then the screen at the back of the chapel retracted to reveal a utilitarian furnace room, the casket was rolled in, and the door to the oven - the womb of Fire - rolled open. My stomach dropped; it hit me that K’s physical existence was about to be annihilated – a more final departure than burying it in the Earth. The casket was moved into the oven, and the door closed. Margarian took a deep breath, turned the switch, and we heard the whoosh of the gas igniting.

The whole experience was a balance of meeting the needs of K’s supporters from her own church, with Margarian’s own needs during this period. It was a return visit to the religion and church in which Mar had been raised, and she was able to write the eulogy in that mindset. The memorial service was held on the 20th, and the little church was filled with friends and family. Mar’s uncle, a Zen Buddhist, was able to make the trip up from the States, and delivered his own perspective on K’s life.

We remained in Toronto over the Easter weekend, missing out on any Ostara observances. We took care of some Estate business on the Tuesday, and flew back the following day. The process is still only beginning for us, more threads to add to the warp and woof of the tapestry of life.

*****
In happier news, congratulations to Judi and Lee on their handfasting at the Spring Mysteries Festival on Ostara weekend.

Hugs to those who need them…. You know who you are…

April’s Birthdays: Anyone?

Evergreen Events:
Apr. 3: Evergreen Introductory Class: Introduction
Apr. 10: Evergreen Introductory Class: Confidentiality
Apr. 17: Evergreen Introductory Class: Tools and Circle Casting
Apr. 24: Evergreen Introductory Class: Wheel of the Year
Apr. 28: Evergreen Introductory Class: The Elements

Other Events:
Note these events are listed for information purposes only; no endorsement is necessarily implied. Dates and locations may be subject to change; see the source for details. If I’ve missed anyone and you’d like to add to this listing, please contact me. Next deadline: Apr. 25.

Apr. 3: The Eclectic Circle, led by SpiritnSoul, Info: http://witches.meetup.com/1558/
Apr. 5: COGCOA Coffee Cauldron. Info: info (at) cogcoa (dot) ab (dot) ca
Apr. 5, 9:55 p.m.: New Moon. Fearn (Alder) lunar month begins.
Apr. 15, 7:00 p.m.: Calgary Witches Meetup, hosted by yours truly, in south Calgary. Info: http://witches.meetup.com/1322/
Apr. 19: Alberta Wilderness Association Expo and Climb/Run for Wilderness at the Calgary Tower. Info: http://www.climbforwilderness.ca/
Apr. 20, 4:25 a.m. Full (Pink) Moon
Apr. 22: Earth Day.
Apr. 24, 6:00 p.m.: Calgary Druid Meetup, hosted by Athelia. http://druid.meetup.com/93
Apr. 26, 9:00 a.m. Clean Calgary Association Annual Rain Barrel Sale. Info: http://cleancalgary.org
Apr. 26, 2:00 p.m. COGCOA AGM.
Apr. 26, 7:30 p.m. sharp. COGCOA Beltane Ritual.

Blessings,
Hergest

March, 2008

Happy March, everyone.

February has been a difficult month for some of us, accompanied by some of the cruellest winter weather in some years. Margarian has been down ill with the flu and pneumonia for the last several weeks, and had to curtail many of her regular activities. I’ve had a touch of it myself, but luckily with no lost time (so far, anyway).

For those of you who have been waiting, Evergreen will be doing another series of five introductory classes, beginning the last week of March. Exact dates should be announced this week. For further information on Evergreen, visit our website at http://evergreenwicca.tripod.com

March 3 is, of course, the provincial election. If you’re eligible to vote, please do. To quote Robert A. Heinlein, “There may be no candidates and no measures you want to vote for...but there are certain to be ones you want to vote against. In case of doubt, vote against. By this rule you will rarely go wrong.” This one could be anybody’s ball game.

Two events have dropped off the calendar this month. The Calgary Pagan Night Out ( http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CalgaryPaganNightOut/ ) has been suffering from lack of attendance, and is going on hiatus for awhile. Also, Mimi has announced that the Witchery, Calgary’s premier pagan store and unofficial “pagan central”, will be closing at the end of the month. As a result, the monthly “Pagan Paths” event has been discontinued. Mimi will continue to operate the Witchery as an online business at http://www.thewitcheryonline.com/
and the phone number will stay unchanged. Many thanks to her for eight wonderful (though occasionally turbulent) years. Her charming store (and self) will be missed.

March's Birthdays: Kytti, and probably some of my Facebook friends. (That’s all?)

March Events:
Note these events are listed for information purposes only; no endorsement is necessarily implied. Dates and locations may be subject to change; see the source for details. If I’ve missed anyone and you’d like to add to this listing, please contact me. Next deadline: Mar. 28.

Mar. 1: COGCOA Coffee Cauldron. Info: info (at) cogcoa (dot) ab (dot) ca
Mar. 3: Alberta Provincial Election. Git out there and vote!
Mar. 5, 12:00 noon: Convergence Coffee Meet – Witches Tea, hosted by Michel and Trenine. Info: delpheos (at) yahoo (dot) com
Mar. 6: The Eclectic Circle (TEC), led by SpiritnSoul, Info: http://witches.meetup.com/1558/
Mar. 7, 10:14 a.m.: New Moon. Nion (Ash) lunar month begins.
Mar. 8: International Women’s Day.
Mar. 8, 6:00 p.m. Calgary Community Potluck: Martisor (Eastern European) theme (but hold the perogies!). Info: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/calgarycommunitypotlucks/
Mar. 9: Daylight Savings Time begins. Spring ahead!
Mar. 15, 7:30 p.m. sharp. COGCOA Ostara Ritual.
Mar. 18, 7:00 p.m.: Calgary Witches Meetup, hosted by yours truly, in north Calgary. Info: http://witches.meetup.com/1322/
Mar. 19, 11:48 p.m.: Vernal Equinox. Sun enters Aries.
Mar. 21, 12:40 p.m.: Full (Worm) Moon.
Mar. 26 (approx): Evergreen Introductory Class: Introduction
Mar. 27, 6:00 p.m.: Calgary Druid Meetup, hosted by Athelia. http://druid.meetup.com/93
Apr. 5: COGCOA Coffee Cauldron

Blessings,
Hergest

Miss Toronto Tourism

Happy Imbolc, everyone. This just in… Canada’s three groundhogs – Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam, Ontario’s Wiarton Willie, and our own Balzac Billy – unanimously agree that there will be an early spring (Welcome news after the last week or so!). However, Punxsutawney Phil is calling for a long winter Stateside.

On a more serious note, some of you have heard about the latest Canadian pagan cause célèbre. Stephanie Conover, the reigning Miss Canada Plus, had been asked to be a judge at the Miss Toronto Tourism Pageant, but her invitation was withdrawn two weeks ago, when it was discovered that she practises Reiki and uses the Tarot. She also admits to being Wiccan. Quoted in the Toronto Star, pageant director Karen Murray explained, “We need a Judge who has an upright reputation and we would be proud to introduce to the audience. Tarot Card reading and Reiki are the occult and not acceptable by God, Jews, Muslims or Christians. Tarot card reading is witchcraft and is used by Witches, Spiritists and Mediums to consult the dark world….We hope that Stephanie Conover will turn from these belief systems and will repent from her practice of them.”
According to spokespeople from the City of Toronto and the Tourism Toronto, the pageant is independent and not associated with either. According to its website, http://www.misstorontotourism.com, the winner of the pageant is used to fundraise for various charities, and one of the qualifying factors is that the contestants (and by extension, the judges) must be “of good character”. What that means is obviously up to the organizers, and in this case, it excludes practising Tarot and Reiki. Then again, according to the Facebook group, “I support Stephanie Conover”, recent reports indicate that two pageant directors are also directors of Man and Woman Union, a lobby opposing same-sex marriage in Canada. (Pots and kettles…)
In reaction, several Facebook groups have sprung up, and there has been lively discussion in various e-groups. The Toronto pagan community has mobilized, and will be picketing the pageant Saturday night.
There is no doubt that this will be another crucible for pagan rights in Canada, much like the Sam Wagar case in British Columbia several years ago. I fully support the efforts to have Ms. Conover re-instated, on moral if not legal terms. And it is an opportunity to promote the reputation of paganism in Canada against conservative prejudice. Still, I’m trying to be a bit more pragmatic about all this, wondering if this is all a tempest in a teapot. If one can presume to judge from the website, the pageant is a small-potatoes affair, a private organization with its own rules. Here it’s a case of an invitation being withdrawn, and not an employment contract. The issue might be even more high-profile if a contestant was refused because of her religion, but a judge? It does put the case on interesting legal ground.
If the pageant was worried about their reputation before, it may have shot itself in the foot now. 16 of the 18 sponsors have pulled out, and one really wonders about the pageant’s future viability. Perhaps they would have been better off not to announce those bits of Ms. Conover’s bio, and saved themselves the embarrassment.
(From articles in the National Post, Toronto Star, Toronto Sun, and Facebook )

February's Birthdays: Ary, Mandy C., Margarian, Selena, Megan, Sandra M., Bryn, Rikki, Sheri F., Gwyn, and probably some of my Facebook friends. (Whew! There’s gotta be something about that “Merry Month of May”!)

February Events:
Note these events are listed for information purposes only. Dates and locations may be subject to change; see the source for details. If I’ve missed anyone and you’d like to add to this listing, please contact me. Next deadline: Feb. 24.

Feb 2: Groundhog Day Breakfast at Balzac Community Centre. Balzac Billy prognosticates at 8:10 a.m. Info: http://www.balzacbilly.com
Feb. 2: COGCOA Coffee Cauldron. Info: info (at) cogcoa (dot) ab (dot) ca
Feb. 6, 8:44 p.m.: New Moon. Luis (Rowan) lunar month begins.
Feb. 9, 6:00 p.m.: Calgary Pagan Potluck: Vasant Panchami (Hindu) Celebration. Info: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/calgarycommunitypotlucks
Feb. 13: Pagan Night Out. Info: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CalgaryPaganNightOut/
Feb. 14, 7:00 p.m. Pagan Paths at the Witchery.
Feb. 15-17: COGCOA Winter Mysteries
Feb. 18: Family Day
Feb. 19, 7:00 p.m.: Calgary Witches Meetup, hosted by yours truly, in south Calgary. Info: http://witches.meetup.com/1322/
Feb. 20, 8:30 p.m.: Full (Wolf) Moon.
Feb. 28, 6:00 p.m.: Calgary Druid Meetup, hosted by Athelia. http://druid.meetup.com/93
Feb. 29: Leap Day

Blessings,
Hergest

Looking ahead, looking back

Happy 2008, everyone. Here’s wishing health and happiness to all of you in the months ahead! Here are some events you might want to mark on your calendar, or not…

Since some of you asked, COGCOA’s Winter Mysteries runs this year on the long weekend of Feb. 15-17. Fee of $65.00 includes heated accommodation and meals. Since their website is under construction at press time, information may be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/cogcoa_public Registration deadline is January 26.

The Aquarian Tabernacle Church is running its 23rd Spring Mysteries Festival, a reconstruction of the Eleusinian Mysteries of Greece, somewhere west of Seattle March 20-23. Registration is US $165+ for adults if received by January 13, higher thereafter. Info: http://www.aquatabch.org/spring-mysteries-festival

Gaia Gathering, the fourth Canadian National Pagan Conference, runs May 16-19 (Victoria Day weekend) at the University of Ottawa. This year’s theme is “Trade Winds and Portages: New Routes in Canadian Paganism”. Info: http://www.gaiagathering.ca/

Panfest usually runs on the August long weekend in central Alberta. Info when available at http://www.panfest.org

Fans of science fiction and fantasy may also want to start thinking about the World Fantasy Convention that takes place at the Hyatt on Samhain weekend, Oct. 30–Nov. 2. Theme is “Mystery in Fantasy and Horror”. Attending memberships are $125.00 until April 30. Info: http://www.worldfantasy2008.org

Con-Version 24 is also scheduled for the weekend of Aug. 15-17; memberships are $40.00 effective January 1. Info: http://www.csffs.org/

The month of January takes its name from the Roman god Janus, the god of doorways. He has two faces, allowing him to look both forwards and back, and as such, is an appropriate god for the coming of the new calendar year. Another is Chronos, the Greek god of Time (not be confused with Zeus’s father, the Titan Cronus, who had an unfortunate encounter with a sickle). In his modern incarnation as the hourglass- or sickle-wielding “Father Time”, Chronos presides over the rites of New Year’s Eve, to be replaced by the bouncing baby New Year. Of course, this depiction is closely related to the death and rebirth of the Sun God at the Winter Solstice. It’s no wonder that the first baby of the New Year is thoroughly showered with gifts; the Old Gods are not so forgotten by the masses, after all.

One of my personal traditions at this time of year, in the wake of Yule, is to update my new address book, carrying forward the names and addresses of those who have come into my life in the past year, and of people who are still important to me. I leave behind the names of those who have dropped out of touch or moved away, and should they re-enter my life, they may be added again. No doubt I’ve been added (and alas, dropped) from a few address books in return, but such is life.

January's Birthdays: Jackie R., Angela R., Henry, Gayle, Paulie, my long-lost brother Rick, and probably some of my Facebook friends.

January's Events:
Note these events are listed for information purposes only. Dates and locations may be subject to change; see the source for details. If I’ve missed anyone and you’d like to add to this listing, please contact me. Next deadline: Jan. 25.

Jan. 5: COGCOA Coffee Cauldron. Info: info (at) cogcoa (dot) ab (dot) ca
Jan. 8, 4:37 a.m.: New Moon. Beth (Birch) lunar month begins.
Jan. 13: Pagan Night Out. Info: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CalgaryPaganNightOut/
Jan. 15, 7:00 p.m.: Calgary Witches Meetup, hosted by yours truly, in north Calgary. Info: http://witches.meetup.com/1322/
Jan. 17, 7:00 p.m. Pagan Paths at the Witchery.
Jan. 22, 6:35 a.m.: Full (Wolf) Moon.
Jan. 24, 6:00 p.m.: Calgary Druid Meetup, hosted by Athelia. http://druid.meetup.com/93
Jan. 26: COGCOA Imbolg Ritual, led by Evergreen and EnChantress.
Jan. 26: Registration deadline for COGCOA Winter Mysteries.
Feb 2: Groundhog Day Breakfast at Balzac Community Centre. Balzac Billy prognosticates at 8:10 a.m. Info: http://www.balzacbilly.com

Blessings,
Hergest

Cause for Hope

Happy December, everyone.

‘Tis the season… to express my appreciation and love for all of you who receive this newsletter. If I don’t connect with you otherwise this month, have a happy Yule!

As some of you know, Margarian and I have been regularly leading a semi-annual Solstice Sunrise Vigil on a very special hillside in SW Calgary, and we're doing it again on Saturday, Dec. 22, meeting at 7:45 a.m. Dress very warmly, as it can be windy, and we may be out there for an hour or so. (Less, if it’s really inclement). If you're interested in attending, contact me for location.


The Very Rev. Bill Phipps is the former Moderator of the United Church of Canada, and now the retired minister of Scarboro United Church in Calgary. We’ve met a number of times through inter-faith events, and I consider him a rarity in this city, a man I truly admire. His new book, Cause for Hope: Humanity at the Crossroads, may be his personal credo. The book looks at the prevailing narrative of our society, the patriarchal “Old Story” of unbalanced power, entitlement, corruption, fear, and greed (the list goes on) and how it is destroying the Earth and humanity. He outlines the emerging of a “New Story” characterized by wonder, respect, co-operation, humility, empowerment, interdependence… I think you can fill in the blanks. Cause for Hope is perhaps not so much about specific causes or steps we can take (although that certainly can be inferred) than it is about our own attitudes, and the ways we relate to each other and to the planet. It is a strong statement for hope in often frustrating times. The book’s appendices include the Earth Charter (see http://www.earthcharter.org/); Raffi’s visionary “Covenant for Honouring Children” (http://www.raffinews.com/child_honouring/covenant_principles) ; and excerpts from Rev. Phipps’ 1997 “Is Jesus God?” interview with the Ottawa Citizen that raised conservative eyebrows.

December's Birthdays: Jessica C., Searia, Azrael, Heather Dawn, and probably some of my other Facebook friends.

December Events:
Note these events are listed for information purposes only. Dates and locations may be subject to change; see the source for details. If I’ve missed anyone and you’d like to add to this listing, please contact me. Next deadline: Dec. 28.

Nov. 29–Dec. 2: Festival of Crafts at the Roundup Centre. Info: http://ourbesttoyou.ca/calgary.html
Dec. 1: World AIDS Day.
Dec. 1: COGCOA Coffee Cauldron. Info: info (at) cogcoa (dot) ab (dot) ca
Dec. 8: COGCOA Yule Ritual.
Dec. 10, 10:40 a.m.: New Moon. Ruis (Elder) lunar month begins.
Dec. 13: Pagan Night Out. Info: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CalgaryPaganNightOut/
Dec. 15, 6:00 p.m.: Community Yule Potluck. Info: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/calgarycommunitypotlucks
Dec. 18, 7:00 p.m.: Calgary Witches Meetup, hosted by yours truly, in south Calgary. Proceeds to, and non-perishable donations accepted for, the Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank. Info: http://witches.meetup.com/1322/
Dec. 21, 11:08 p.m.: Winter Solstice. Sun enters Capricorn.
Dec. 22, 7:45 a.m.: Solstice Sunrise Vigil. Contact me for location.
Dec. 23, 6:16 p.m.: Full (Cold) Moon.
Dec. 27, 6:00 p.m.: Calgary Druid Meetup, hosted by Athelia. http://druid.meetup.com/93

Blessings,
Hergest

Under Occupation

Happy Samhain, everyone.

One pagan year comes to a close, another begins. And what a time it is… [Curmudgeon alert: As usual, the opinions expressed herein are my own, and are not an official "party line" for Evergreen. I just find myself personally frustrated living where and when I do, and I'm sure a number of local pagans must feel the same way.]

After the last municipal election, I found myself under right-wing occupation by all three levels of government. My new alderman is a Conservative stalwart, who trounced the well-meaning but unfortunately ineffective female incumbent; her shyness was apparently interpreted as aloofness. After her defeat, I wrote, “politics is blood sport, best left to liars and thieves, and no place for good people.”

Provincially, Ed Stelmach chose a “compromise” with the new oil and gas royalty regime that has both the oil companies, who wanted the status quo, and his rural base, who wanted even higher royalties, angry at him personally if not at the Conservatives as a whole. I don’t need a crystal ball to predict that if he loses more than a few seats in the next election, he isn’t long for the premier’s office (he may not be, anyway). I would love for the Liberals (or perhaps the NDP) to finally break the one-party system in Alberta, but my cowan alter ego foresees even rougher times ahead under a change of government.

As for the Feds, the Liberals are still hurting from the damage done to the party under the Chrétien regime, and from the ineffectiveness of Paul Martin. Stéphane Dion could do much for the greening of Canada, but the Liberal Party is still in too much disrepair to put up an effective fight against that fascist Machiavellian, Stephen Harper (c'mon, that's "fair comment", isn't it?). But hey, the economy’s good and the dollar’s strong, so no worries, eh?


As some of you may know, Evergreen is offering its Ritual Leadership Workshop on the weekend of Nov. 23-25. This is an intense weekend of lecture, discussion, and hands'-on ritual creation, suitable for anyone considering designing ritual on a scale from small groups to large public events. This workshop is required for Evergreen's First Degree students; a second go-round for Second Degree students is also highly recommended, and participants from other teaching circles/Traditions are welcome (with consent of HPS/HP as applicable.) Hours are 7:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday. Cost is $12.00 and includes extensive reference materials. Let me know if you're interested, and/or contact me for further information.

November's Birthdays: Helen L., Christine L., and probably some of my Facebook friends. Also Israel Regardie (Nov. 17, 1907) and Oberon Zell (Nov. 30).

November's Events:
Note these events are listed for information purposes only. Dates and locations may be subject to change; see the source for details. If I’ve missed anyone and you’d like to add to this listing, please contact me.

Nov. 3: COGCOA Coffee Cauldron. Info: info (at) cogcoa (dot) ab (dot) ca
Nov. 4: Daylight Savings Time ends. Fall back!
Nov. 9, 4:03 p.m.: New Moon. Ngetal (Reed) lunar month begins.
Nov. 9-11: Taboo Sex Show at the Roundup Centre. Info: http://www.canwestshows.com/sexshow/
Nov. 10, 6:00 p.m.: Diá de los Muertos Potluck. Info: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/calgarycommunitypotlucks
Nov. 13: Pagan Night Out. Info: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CalgaryPaganNightOut/
Nov. 15-18: Calgary Art Market Art and Craft Sale. Info: http://www.artmarketcraftsale.com/
Nov. 15, 7:00 p.m.: Pagan Paths, at the Witchery. Info: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/the_witchery/
Nov. 17, 3:00 p.m.: Blood Proud – for pagan women, sponsored by Pucchotha Tribes.
Nov. 17, 7:00 p.m.: Terra Firma – for pagan men, sponsored by Pucchotha Tribes.
Nov. 20, 7:00 p.m.: Calgary Witches Meetup, hosted by yours truly, in north Calgary. Info: http://witches.meetup.com/1322/
Nov. 22, 6:00 p.m.: Calgary Druid Meetup, hosted by Athelia. http://druid.meetup.com/93
Nov. 23-25: Evergreen Ritual Leadership Workshop
Nov. 24, 7:30 a.m.: Full (Beaver) Moon.
Nov. 29–Dec. 2: Festival of Crafts at the Roundup Centre. Info: http://ourbesttoyou.ca/calgary.html

Blessings,
Hergest

October, 2007

Happy October, everyone. It’s amazing how quickly summer turns into autumn, and how carefree summer weekends turn into times of harvesting and putting the garden to bed.

Margarian and I attended Pagan Pride Day at the Westgate Community Hall on Sept. 22. Perhaps Mabon is an unfortunate time to be holding this event, as there were only five groups/businesses with tables. The Body, Soul, and Spirit Expo the same weekend also took its toll. Still, attendance seemed to be up this year, thanks partially to better advertising, and Morgan and her team are to be congratulated on another successful effort. Morgan will be stepping down this year, and plans are afoot to create a not-for-profit to run it in the future.

Maybe it’s the season, but I’ve begun watching some of the ghost-hunting shows on cable, partly out of morbid fascination, partly due to curiosity. The Celebrity Paranormal Project, on Slice, features D-list celebrities equipped with high-tech equipment checking out abandoned prisons, hospitals, etc. in search of the resident spirits. It’s obvious that they’re experiencing something, but the question is how much of it is real paranormal phenomena, and how much is their own fear of wandering around creepy places in the dark while the producers mess with their minds (at least by telling ghost stories to them, at most by pulling Blair Witch-style pranks). The night usually ends with a séance/channelling session that has produced mixed results.
Ghost Trackers, on YTV, features teenagers doing the same thing, although it’s set up as a competition based on results and use of equipment, judged by other teens with some experience in the “game”. However, the competitive environment doesn’t prevent them from having real experiences.

October's Birthdays: Dannielle J., Linda L., Jane M., and Dennis T. Also: Isaac Bonewits (Oct. 1), Aleister Crowley (Oct. 12, 1875), Nicholas Culpepper (Oct. 18, 1616), and Selena Fox (Oct. 20).

October's Events:
Note these events are listed for information purposes only. Dates and locations may be subject to change; see the source for details. If I’ve missed anyone and you’d like to add to this listing, please contact me.

Oct. 6: COGCOA Coffee Cauldron. Info: info (at) cogcoa (dot) ab (dot) ca
Oct. 10, 11:01 p.m.: New Moon. Gort (Ivy) lunar month begins.
Oct. 13: Pagan Night Out. Info: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CalgaryPaganNightOut/
Oct. 16, 7:00 p.m.: Calgary Witches Meetup, hosted by yours truly, in south Calgary. Info: http://witches.meetup.com/1322
Oct. 18, 7:00 p.m.: Pagan Paths, at the Witchery. Info: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/the_witchery/
Oct. 20, 3:00 p.m.: Blood Proud – for pagan women, sponsored by Pucchotha Tribes.
Oct. 20, 7:00 p.m.: Terra Firma – for pagan men, sponsored by Pucchotha Tribes.
Oct. 23, 6:00 p.m.: Calgary Druid Meetup, hosted by Athelia. http://druid.meetup.com/93
Oct. 25, 10:52 p.m.: Full (Hunter’s) Moon.
Oct. 27, 6:00 p.m.: Temple of Alexandria Witches’ Ball. Info: http://www.witchvox.com/vn/vn_detail/dt_ev.html?a=caab&id=45649
Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m.: COGCOA Samhain Ritual.

Bright blessings,
Hergest