March, 2013

Happy March! Snow may not be done with us yet, but light is increasing, Daylight Savings Time and the Equinox are almost here, and sufferers of Seasonal Affective Disorder are soon to rejoice.

Calgary Pagan Pride Day has announced its date and location for 2013! It’s currently scheduled for September 28 at the Unitarian Church of Calgary. Thanks to Mary Beth, Athelia, John, Frank, Tracey, Eirinn, MaryBeth, and Mike S. for organizing this; I’m looking forward to it! Info at http://www.calgarypaganpride.ca/

On the weekend of April 5-7, Evergreen will be hosting our Ritual Leadership Workshop for our students, plus anyone else who may be interested. Cost is $15.00, and includes extensive course materials. It's a weekend of concentrated lecture, discussion, and ritual. Please bring pen and paper, snacks for Friday night, and the equivalent of a balanced meal to share for Saturday and Sunday. Ritual robes and tools may also come in handy. If you’re currently studying with a teacher, their permission is required. Previous experience in circle is also a requirement. Schedule is Friday, 7:30 - 10:30 p.m., Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m., Sunday, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

For those unable to make the full workshop, we’re also doing a class on Top-Down Ritual Planning for the Calgary Witches’ Meetup on Mar. 19. at 7:30 p.m. Contact me for location for both.

Our thoughts go out to Jen, who is currently recovering from gall bladder surgery.

March Birthdays: Sheri W., Karen H., Jan R., Heather C., Keely, Luiz, Brenda S., Tracy P., and probably some of my Facebook friends. Happy Birthday, everyone! Let me know if I’ve missed yours.

 

March 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.

 

Mar. 2, 7:30 p.m.: COGCOA Coffee Cauldron. Info at cogcoa dot ab dot ca.

Mar. 8: International Women’s Day. Info: http://www.internationalwomensday.com/

Mar. 10: Daylight Savings Time begins.

Mar. 11, 1:51 p.m. New Moon. Celtic Tree-Month of Fearn (Alder) begins.

Mar. 14: World Kidney Day. Info: http://www.worldkidneyday.org/

Mar. 16, 7:30 p.m. sharp: COGCOA Ostara Ritual.

Mar. 17, 2:03 p.m.: Mercury Retrograde ends. Leprechaun Holocaust Day.

Mar. 19, 7:30 p.m.: Calgary Witches’ Meetup presents a class in Ritual Planning, in north Calgary. Info:  http://www.meetup.com/Calgary-Witches

Mar. 20, 5:02 a.m.: Vernal Equinox. Spring!

Mar. 21, 3:27 a.m.: Full (Worm) Moon.

Mar. 22: U.N. World Water Day. Info:  http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday/

Mar. 23, 8:30 p.m.: Earth Hour. Info:  http://www.earthhour.org/

Mar. 24, 1:00 p.m.: Cochrane Wiccan Meetup, location TBA. See Mar. 19.

Apr. 5-7: Evergreen Ritual Leadership Workshop.

Apr. 6, 1:00 p.m.: Beyond the Book of Shadows: Herbal Witchery Workshop. Info: http://www.meetup.com/Beyond-the-book-of-Shadows/

Blessings,

Hergest

February, 2013

Happy Imbolc, all.  The days are getting longer, mainly from the evening side, and we’re enjoying the pleasant Chinookish weather that seems to come every year at this time. We’re past the January doldrums, February is a short month, and celestial Spring is starting to come into view!

Hope some of you managed to make it out to see Balzac Billy on Saturday; to my mind it’s the closest thing to a “traditional” Imbolc experience you’ll get around here.  And the Balzac Business Community Association usually puts on a pretty good breakfast. If not, there’s always next year… or not (because…):

On February 15, we have another anticipated near-miss with an asteroid. 2012DA14, discovered just last year, will reportedly pass within .07 Lunar Distances of Earth, closer than some geosynchronous satellites. Let’s hope it doesn’t hit anything up there, or have its trajectory altered by its proximity to Earth. Just sayin’… Fnord.

As some of you know, I got hit by the nasty cold or flu bug that’s been making the rounds in Calgary lately. It knocked me flat for several days, and now about two weeks later I may finally be getting over the worst of it. It makes me wonder if viruses are getting stronger, giving rise to superbugs that will take their toll on humanity one day.  Apologies if I’ve been crankier or more irritable lately, as that’s part of it.

The Great Work continues slowly. I emptied out a storage locker over the Yule break, and am beginning the slow process of Dealing With It. The ailing Mazda has been donated to the Kidney Foundation (appropriately enough), and I’ve made plans to return Margarian’s unused dialysis supplies to the distributor. Her doctor is recommending she convert to hemodialysis, which she may be able to do at home. We hope there will be fewer supplies, and be able to use our front room for more than storage.

February Birthdays:  This month, Hergest’s Magick Mirror sees Ary W., Mandy C., Margarian, Lana W., Tavey, Selena, Meg, Bryn, Morgan, Sandra, Judi, and Rikki. Happy Birthday, everyone! Let me know if I’ve missed yours.

 

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.

Feb. 2, 7-9 a.m.: Groundhog Day Breakfast with Balzac Billy at Blue Grass Garden Centre near Crossiron Mills. Billy emerges at 8:07 a.m.  Info: http://balzacbilly.webs.com

Feb. 2, 7:30 p.m.: COGCOA Coffee Cauldron. Info at cogcoa dot ab dot ca.
Feb. 9, 1:00 p.m.: Beyond the Book of Shadows presents “Books for Witches” – The Way of Wyrd by Brian Bates.  Info: http://www.meetup.com/Beyond-the-book-of-Shadows/
Feb. 9, 7:00 p.m.: Angels Among Us presents Introduction to Wicca.  Info: http://www.meetup.com/myownlight/events/100590422/
Feb. 10, 12:20 a.m. New Moon. CelticTree-Month of Nion (Ash) begins. Chinese Year of the Snake.
Feb. 15, 12:26 p.m.: Asteroid 2012DA14 passes Earth.
Feb. 15-17: COGCOA Winter Mysteries.
Feb. 18: Family Day (Alberta).
Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m.: Calgary Witches’ Meetup, in north Calgary, hosted by moi. Info:  http://www.meetup.com/Calgary-Witches
Feb. 23, 2:41 a.m.: Mercury Retrograde begins (to March 17).
Feb. 24, 1:00 p.m.: Cochrane Wiccan Meetup, location TBA. See Feb. 19.
Feb. 25, 1:26 p.m.:  Full (Snow) Moon.

Blessings,

Hergest