June, 2010

As I write this, it’s May 29, and in Calgary, there are two inches of wet snow on the ground, not untypical for the weekend after the traditional May long weekend planting orgy.

I’ve long thought that the local mythology shouldn’t be a case of the two battling deities each ruling one half of the year, but instead carrying on an ongoing battle year ‘round. Horus and Set, Njord and Skadi, the Oak and Holly Kings, the Snow Queen and the Summer Queen, the North Wind and the West Wind, Gwyn ap Nudd and Gwythur ap Greidawl... take your pick. To quote one of my favourite TV series, they sit on a hillside somewhere near Red Deer, and the dark one turns to the light one and says, “Do you know how much I want to kill you right now?”

(Why Red Deer, non-Albertans may ask? Because when driving between Calgary and Edmonton, it seems the weather always changes dramatically about there.)

Rain, snow, or hopefully sun, the Summer Solstice is coming, and I’ll be leading a solstice sunrise vigil in Strathcona again in the early hours of June 21. If you’d like to join me, let me know. Breakfast at Timmie’s to follow.

If you haven’t done so already, it might be a good idea to send some energy to BP’s efforts in the Gulf of Mexico to shut down that haemorrhaging well, and prevent the ecological disaster from getting any worse.

June's Birthdays: Nicole G., Bev T. Colleen W, Dawn L., Joie, Sierra, Michelle B, Mimi, himself, and probably some of his Facebook friends. Let me know if I’ve missed yours. Also: Allisandro di Cagliostro (June 2, 1743), William Butler Yeats (June 13, 1865), Gerald B. Gardner (June 13, 1884), Starhawk (June 17), Janet Farrar (June 24), Stewart Farrar (June 26), and Scott Cunningham (June 27, 1956). Busy month!

June 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.

May 30, 10:00 a.m. -6:00 p.m.: Calgary Lilac Festival on 4th St. SW. Info: http://www.4streetcalgary.com/lilacfestival/
May 30- Jun. 5: Canadian National Environment Week. Info:
http://www.ec.gc.ca/sce-cew/default.asp?lang=En
Jun. 2: Clean Air Day. Info: http://www.cleanairday.com
Jun. 2, 7:04 p.m.: New Moon. Duir (Oak) lunar month begins.
Jun. 5: World Environment Day.
Jun. 5: COGCOA Coffee Cauldron. Info (at) cogcoa (dot) ab (dot) ca
Jun. 11-13: VulCon 17/GalaxyFest in Vulcan with guest Tim Russ (“Tuvok” from ST:Voyager). Info:
http://www.vulcantourism.com/vulcon17-spock-days-galaxyfest-2010.html
Jun. 12: COGCOA Litha Ritual
Jun. 15, 7:30 p.m.: Calgary Witches’ Meetup, hosted by moi, in south Calgary. Info: http://www.meetup.com/Calgary-Witches
Jun. 20: Father’s Day.
Jun. 21: National Aboriginal Day (hey, what about us European aboriginals?)
Jun. 21, 4:45 a.m. Solstice Sunrise Vigil. Contact me for details.
Jun. 21, 5:28 a.m. Summer Solstice.
Jun. 21-27: Calgary Jazz Festival. Info: http://www.calgaryjazz.com/
Jun. 25-27: COGCOA Summerfest Campout; “Pirates of the Kananaskis”. Info: http://www.cogcoa.ab.ca/events/summerfest.php
Jun. 26, 5:30 a.m.: Full (Strawberry) Moon.

Blessings,
Hergest

Beltane, 2010

Happy Beltane, everyone!

A bit of disappointing news: Richard James of Toronto reports that Gaia Gathering, the Canadian National Pagan Conference planned for Guelph, is cancelled for this year. Possibly due to the economic downturn, there were no registrations outside of Ontario as of eight weeks before the event, and therefore it could hardly classify as a “national conference”. The board will be meeting to re-group, and are open for bids for 2011. So far, Montreal has already submitted a bid. Info at http://www.gaiagathering.ca/

Locally, the Covenant of Gaia is taking registrations for their “Summerfest” campout, June 25-27, 2010. I understand they’re doing a “pirate” theme this year. (The posted “Pele’s Melee” was last year.) Info at http://www.cogcoa.ab.ca/events/summerfest.php

The Circle of the Whispering Earth, a School of Shamanic Practice, is accepting students for June, 2010 for its year-long program. Tuition is $1040. More info at http://www.divinesource.ca/Circle%20of%20Whispering%20Earth.html

For those of you who are wondering, Margarian’s health continues to slowly improve. We discovered that she’s strong enough to drive the Mazda now, which means she can drive herself to doctor’s appointments, instead of relying on taxis or her long-suffering husband. She uses a cane to walk, and a scooter or wheelchair for longer excursions. She still can’t do stairs.

May's Birthdays: Lily I., Vy G., Danielle A., and probably some of my Facebook friends. Let me know if I’ve missed yours. Also: Gwyddion Pendderwen (May 21, 1946).

May'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.

May 1-2: 50th Annual Calgary Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show at West Hillhurst Area, 1940-6 Ave. NW. Info: http://www.crlc.ca
May 1, 7:30 p.m. sharp: COGCOA Beltane Ritual
May 8: World Fair Trade Day. Info: http://www.worldfairtradeday10.org/
May 8, 7:30 p.m.: COGCOA Coffee Cauldron. Info: info (at) cogcoa (dot) ab (dot) ca
May 9: Mother’s Day.
May 11: Mercury Retrograde ends.
May 13, 7:04 p.m.: New Moon. Uath (Hawthorn) lunar month begins.
May 18, 7:30 p.m.: Calgary Witches’ Meetup, hosted by moi, in north Calgary. Info: http://www.meetup.com/Calgary-Witches
May 27, 5:07 p.m.: Full (Flower) Moon.
May 30, 10:00 a.m. -6:00 p.m.: Calgary Lilac Festival on 4th St. SW. Info: http://www.4streetcalgary.com/lilacfestival/

Blessings,
Hergest