Rocks, Big and Not-So-Big
Happy Lughnasadh, everyone.
This summer, I’ve begun chasing down glacial erratics in the Calgary area, and posting them on my Facebook page. Most Calgarians know about the “Big Rock” that gave Okotoks (and the local brewery) its name, but it’s only(!) the largest of the Foothills Erratic Train of quartzite boulders that were broken off near Jasper, carried away by the ice sheets, and deposited on southern Alberta. Earth, carried by Water, which was melted by the Fire of the sun, leaving them exposed to Air for thousands of years. Many of these have been rubbed smooth at the corners by shedding bison, and in recent years have been used by rock climbers and logged by geocachers. Protected under provincial legislation, those that lie within the city have been incorporated into community parks. Several lie in a line along Country Hills Boulevard, others on hills or in creek valleys around the city. As a result, aside from such well-known ones as the Nose Hill buffalo rubbing stone and Split Rock in West Nose Creek Park, they become ancient, sacred treasures hidden in an urban landscape, waiting for us to rediscover them.
Margarian started her home dialysis in the middle of July, but is still having some adjustment pains as her medication requirements change. She hopes to see many local pagans soon.
August Birthdays: Cathie M., Anita B., Stephanie M., Moksha, and probably some of my Facebook friends. Also H.P. Blavatsky (July 31, 1831). Let me know if I’ve missed yours.
August 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.
Aug. 1: Civic Holiday.
Aug. 3: Mercury Retrograde begins.
Aug. 6: COGCOA Coffee Cauldron. Info (at) cogcoa (dot) ab (dot) ca
Aug. 10, 7:00 p.m.: Crossroads Meetup. Info: http://www.meetup.com/CALGARY-CROSSROADS/
Aug. 12-14: When Words Collide: A Calgary Readercon, at Best Western Village Park Inn, with guests Rachel Caine, Brian Hades, Robert J. Sawyer, Walter Jon Williams, and Jack Whyte. Info: http://www.whenwordscollide.org/
Aug. 13, 12:57 p.m.: Full (Sturgeon) Moon.
Aug. 14: Marda Gras in the Marda Loop. Info: http://www.mardaloopbrz.ca/
Aug. 16, 7:30 p.m.: Ritual 101 Meeting, presented by Calgary Witches’ Meetup, at Heather Dawn’s. Info: http://www.meetup.com/Calgary-Witches
Aug. 19-27: Globalfest 2011 at Elliston Park. Info: http://www.globalfest.ca/
Aug. 23: Flourish.
Aug. 26: Mercury Retrograde ends.
Aug. 28, 9:04 p.m.: New (Harvest) Moon. Lunar month of Muin (Vine) begins.
Blessings,
Hergest
This summer, I’ve begun chasing down glacial erratics in the Calgary area, and posting them on my Facebook page. Most Calgarians know about the “Big Rock” that gave Okotoks (and the local brewery) its name, but it’s only(!) the largest of the Foothills Erratic Train of quartzite boulders that were broken off near Jasper, carried away by the ice sheets, and deposited on southern Alberta. Earth, carried by Water, which was melted by the Fire of the sun, leaving them exposed to Air for thousands of years. Many of these have been rubbed smooth at the corners by shedding bison, and in recent years have been used by rock climbers and logged by geocachers. Protected under provincial legislation, those that lie within the city have been incorporated into community parks. Several lie in a line along Country Hills Boulevard, others on hills or in creek valleys around the city. As a result, aside from such well-known ones as the Nose Hill buffalo rubbing stone and Split Rock in West Nose Creek Park, they become ancient, sacred treasures hidden in an urban landscape, waiting for us to rediscover them.
Margarian started her home dialysis in the middle of July, but is still having some adjustment pains as her medication requirements change. She hopes to see many local pagans soon.
August Birthdays: Cathie M., Anita B., Stephanie M., Moksha, and probably some of my Facebook friends. Also H.P. Blavatsky (July 31, 1831). Let me know if I’ve missed yours.
August 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.
Aug. 1: Civic Holiday.
Aug. 3: Mercury Retrograde begins.
Aug. 6: COGCOA Coffee Cauldron. Info (at) cogcoa (dot) ab (dot) ca
Aug. 10, 7:00 p.m.: Crossroads Meetup. Info: http://www.meetup.com/CALGARY-CROSSROADS/
Aug. 12-14: When Words Collide: A Calgary Readercon, at Best Western Village Park Inn, with guests Rachel Caine, Brian Hades, Robert J. Sawyer, Walter Jon Williams, and Jack Whyte. Info: http://www.whenwordscollide.org/
Aug. 13, 12:57 p.m.: Full (Sturgeon) Moon.
Aug. 14: Marda Gras in the Marda Loop. Info: http://www.mardaloopbrz.ca/
Aug. 16, 7:30 p.m.: Ritual 101 Meeting, presented by Calgary Witches’ Meetup, at Heather Dawn’s. Info: http://www.meetup.com/Calgary-Witches
Aug. 19-27: Globalfest 2011 at Elliston Park. Info: http://www.globalfest.ca/
Aug. 23: Flourish.
Aug. 26: Mercury Retrograde ends.
Aug. 28, 9:04 p.m.: New (Harvest) Moon. Lunar month of Muin (Vine) begins.
Blessings,
Hergest
Labels: big rock, calgary alberta, glacial erratics, nose hill, split rock
posted by Stephen Hergest at 12:21 pm
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