December, 2008

Happy December, everyone.

The days continue to shorten, although the pace of their change is beginning to slow, as it plods it way to the Winter Solstice. The Sun will soon be at the southernmost point in its rising, and come the Solstice, will begin its northward journey again. The darkest time will nearly be over, even though winter proper will be only beginning. Those bright planets in the southwest after sunset are Venus and Jupiter, soon to be joined by the Maiden Moon.

Once again, we’ll be leading a Solstice Sunrise vigil on a magical hillside on the morning of Sunday, Dec. 21. Dress appropriately for the weather; we’ll be out there awhile. Survivors will warm up at Tim Horton’s afterwards. Let us know if you’re interested, and we’ll provide directions.

Margarian spent November tackling the National Novel Writing Month, a.k.a. NaNoWriMo, with a novel about our favourite boy wizard. And she made the 50,000-word goal with two and a half days to go! Congratulations, hon!

December's Birthdays: Searia, Jessica, Dianne E., Heather Dawn, Stephanie M., Diane W., and probably some of my Facebook friends.

December 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.

Dec. 1: World AIDS Day
Dec. 4: The Eclectic Circle, led by SpiritnSoul, Info: http://witches.meetup.com/1558/
Dec. 6: COGCOA Coffee Cauldron. Info (at) cogcoa (dot) ab (dot) ca
Dec. 12, 9:37 a.m.: Full (Cold) Moon.
Dec. 13: 7:30 p.m.: COGCOA Yule Ritual
Dec. 16, 7:00 p.m.: Calgary Witches Meetup, hosted by me, in south Calgary. Info: http://witches.meetup.com/1322/
Dec. 21, 5:04 a.m.: Winter Solstice
Dec. 21, 7:45 a.m.: Solstice Sunrise Vigil in Strathcona.
Dec. 25(?), 6:00 p.m.: Calgary Druid Meetup hosted by Athelia. http://druid.meetup.com/93
Dec. 27, 5:22 a.m.: New Moon. Beth (Birch) lunar month begins.

Blessings,
Hergest

If you build it...

Happy pagan new year, everyone!

As many of you know, I host the Calgary Witches Meetup (http://witches.meetup.com/calgary-witches), which continues to be a contact point for solitaries and new members of the community. And while two other Witches Meetups have sprung up recently (SpiritNSoul's The Eclectic Circle and Lady Mysteel's Calgary Celtic/Pagan/Witch Learning Circle) I’ve been led to believe that these focus more on teaching than as a social forum. There are other social groups out there (notably the Druid Meetup and fringe meetups on metaphysics, ghost hunting, etc.), but I’ve recently become aware that there’s still a need for pagan social networking groups, and one or more open working circles. Years ago, the Covenant of Gaia ran semi-open monthly esbats, but eventually that ran out of steam; they continue to run Sabbats, but the Esbats are a niche that’s sorely missed. Some people are dissatisfied with a purely social group such as Calgary Witches has been; this is understandable. But since I’m already the co-leader of Evergreen, one of the teaching groups in town, I don’t want "Calgary Witches" to be perceived as a “front group” for it – which it is not. To this end, I’ve gone out of my way to distribute my Calgary Pagan Resource Guide at the Meetups, to let people know what else is out there. Between my responsibilities to the meetup and to Evergreen, my plate is full, so I’m hoping that the younger generation of witches will move to fill in the gaps. In short, if you see that there’s a need that isn’t being filled, and you think you’ll be able to fill it, go for it! To quote Bill Kinsella, "if you build it, they will come".

Well, another election, another minority government. And another Liberal leadership convention. Ironically, it was Stéphane Dion’s environmental platform that convinced me to make the leap and join the Liberal Party. (If I was younger and more idealistic, I’d go Green, but I’m getting older, and am more of a pragmatist these days.) Now I’m hoping for Michael Ignatieff or Bob Rae to take the Liberal mantle; the Liberals need a strong leader to counteract Harper, and to rebuild the party. I don’t believe half of the conciliatory remarks Harper made on election night, but here’s hoping that he won’t continue his arrogant, my-way-or-the-highway style of governance that ground the last Parliament to an impasse.

Congratulations to Lee G., on receiving his Blackring Second Degree on August 23.

November's Birthdays: Samantha F., Helen L., Molly S., Christine L., Bryn’s baby boy, and probably some of my Facebook friends. And apologies to Michael, for missing his, last month.


November 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.

Nov. 1: COGCOA Coffee Cauldron. Info (at) cogcoa (dot) ab (dot) ca
Nov. 2: Daylight Savings Time ends. Fall back!
Nov. 6: The Eclectic Circle, led by SpiritnSoul, Info: http://witches.meetup.com/1558/
Nov. 11: Remembrance Day.
Nov. 12, 11:17 p.m.: Full (Beaver) Moon.
Nov. 14-16: Taboo Sex Show at the Roundup Centre. Info: http://www.canwestshows.com/sexshow/
Nov. 20-23: Calgary Art Market Art and Craft Sale. Info: http://www.artmarketcraftsale.com/
Nov. 18, 7:00 p.m.: Calgary Witches Meetup, hosted by me, in north Calgary. Info: http://witches.meetup.com/1322/
Nov. 27, 9:55 a.m.: New Moon. Ngetal (Reed) lunar month begins.
Nov. 27, 6:00 p.m.: Calgary Druid Meetup hosted by Athelia. http://druid.meetup.com/93
Nov. 27-30: Festival of Crafts at the Roundup Centre. Info: http://www.ourbesttoyou.ca/calgary.html

Blessings,
Hergest