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
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
posted by Stephen Hergest at 6:42 pm
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