Happy December everyone! As we are getting ready for the new year, here's a couple announcements for the coming year!
First off, the 2019 Ritual Schedule!
Here's what we have in store for rituals for the coming year!
Irish Celtic Imbolc - January 27th at 3:30 PM
Hellenic Spring Equinox - March 16th at 4:00 PM
Roman Fortuna Ritual - April 7th at 3:00 PM (This is an ADF-light, non-high day ritual!)
Irish Celtic Beltane - May 5th at 3:30 PM
Gaulish Midsummer - June 23rd at 3:30 PM
Irish Celtic Lughnasadh - July 28th at 3:30 PM
Hellenic Fall Equinox - September 22nd at 3:30 PM
Anglo-Saxon Samhain - November 2nd at 5:30 PM
Roman Saturnalia - December 14th at 5:30 PM
Stay tuned to the website and our Facebook page for more information on each individual ritual as it approaches!
Secondly, Beyond the Gates 2019!
We're excited to announce that we will be hosting our 4th Annual Beyond the Gates on August 22nd-25th, once again located at Trout Lake Abbey! The members of Columbia Grove are working hard to make sure that the event is just as wonderful as it has been in the past!
The theme is "Liminal Journeys" which means we'll be focusing on the things of the "in-between" with our rituals and workshops. Special Guests will be announced soon, and tickets will be going on sale in the new year. Stay tuned!
We're all really excited for the new year, and for the events and rituals we have planned, and we're looking forward to sharing it with all of you!
On October 21st members of Columbia hosted the first of two Samhain/Ancestor Rituals for 2018. This eclectic rite was ADF inspired but with an eclectic twist.
This ritual was a bit different in that we called upon 4 warriors to protect the rite (4 Goddesses named Morrigan; Badb, Macha, Morrigu and Nemain). We called upon the Hooded Crow to lift the veil to the ancestors so that we could communicate with them clearly (through a powerful meditation led by Corwind) and we called upon Donn, Ireland’s first ancestor, to allow them safe passage to us. Guests had the opportunity to light and decorate a candle, charging it with their favorite memory in the last year, and then they shared it with their ancestors by placing it on the altar. For this rite we drew an omen from Donn for the coming year and he gave us: Seal: Meaning Love, transformation, and liberation. Summarized as “Don’t let intellect be a cage, be sure to listen. Let the heart be your guide” (from the Druid Animal Oracle deck)
Each guest was then given their own personal tarot card to keep as their omen from their ancestors for the next year. This rite was unique in that it was an addition to our traditional 8 ADF high days and it was led by Spider (Amber) as included invocations from many members, Corwind, Arin, David, Elan, and Coatney as well. Our deepest thanks to our members and community for making this ritual a huge success! It was a great way to kick off the Samhain season!
