Sunday, October 07, 2007

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