Greetings to all Full Circle friends and members.
In May’s newsletter we have:
FULL
CIRCLE EVENTS IN 2002
The
Council met last night to discuss events for the year. Upcoming events currently include: A
Solar Celebration in Sanborn Park, An Asian Dragon Tea with I Ching Divination,
A Create Your Own Clay Goddess Craft Day, An English High Tea with Victorian
Divination, Mask Making Classes, Black Light Pagan Bowling Nights, An Ice Cream
Social, A Pagan Meet hosted by Full Circle at the WorldCon Science
Fiction Convention in San Jose and more besides. Stay tuned to this newsletter for more information.
The
Solar Celebration and Picnic will take place in Sanborn Park on June 30th
BELTANE
EVENTS IN THE BAY AREA AND BEYOND:
May 1st -
Beltane at the Baylands – Palo Alto
The flyer says: We will again be offering our Maypole for the public dancing following the various teams of traditional English Morris dancers. If you have never seen and participated in this event, it is a historical re-enactment not to be missed!
Beginning with the ancient Abbot's Bromley Horn Dance, where stag-horn carrying dancers walk out of the mists to the accompaniment of bone flutes, successive teams of dancers clad in everything from the traditional white uniforms with legbells to motley patchwork Mollies balancing swords, dance up the sun on May morning. And when the sun is fully up, the Maypole is revealed in all his glory and will be available for dancing by the populace. Dance in your luck, dance out your dreams for the coming summer! Song sheets will be given out for those who would like to join in singing traditional Beltane carols as well.
When it's all over, join us for breakfast at one of several restaurants at the other end of Embarcadero. For those of us arriving in time to get good spaces to watch at 4:30, it will still be dark - very dark. Bring hot beverages as it can get cold, plus a good strong coat or cloak to keep out the cold. From 101, take the Embarcadero East road. This road t-junctions with a small airport on the left and marshland in front. There are no lights from this point onward. Turn left and follow the marsh road. You'll pass the duck pond (bring bread to feed the ducks after the ritual!) on your left and shortly come to a parking space on your right. Park and walk a piece down the road to the large clearing - this is where we will all congregate. You'll pass latrines on your right as you enter the clearing. Just follow the folks in the cool costumes...
The flyer says: May Day is
the celebration of the return of summer, and the beginning of the planting
season. Traditionally, Morris dancers are required to dance before dawn to
"raise the sun" for the new year. The event begins at the Santa Cruz
Lighthouse and travels to other Santa Cruz landmarks.
http://www.ucolick.org/~sla/morris/sms.html
for schedule of Morris Dancing.
The flyer says: Celebrate
from noon until nightfall. We will pick flowers from the garden as we pray,
chant and sing over them. After designing garlands we will pilgrimage and make
floral offerings to the Pacific Ocean. We will conclude the evening with a fire
ceremony in honor of Beltane at the beach. Open to all womyn desiring knowledge
of and experiential work with, the multi-faceted aspects of the Goddess, in
ritual. For more information, contact
Lellani Birelyi at 925-256-8109, or Leimermaid@aol.com or visit http://www.daughtersofthegoddess.com.
May 4 – Family Friendly Beltane Celebration, May Pole
Dance and Picnic in the Park – San Jose / Santa Clara area
The flyer says: Hearthstone
Circle will host their annual Beltane Celebration in the Park from 11:00 a.m.
to 3:00 p.m. at John Mise Park in San Jose. Set Up is at 10:30. We gather at 11:00 and the ceremony begins promptly
at 11:30. A Maypole Dance will follow
the ceremony. All Traditions and all
ages are welcome!. As always, Full
Circle will provide a Pagan coloring table and will also offer Face Painting
for children and the young at heart.
Bring a picnic lunch, your drums and rattles for the drumming circle and
come join us for a wonderful day of fun and community. For more information, please contact Molly
at molly@hearthstonecircle.org, or visit http://www.hearthstonecircle.org.
Dress festively and comfortably. Directions and a copy of the ceremony is at
the website. All are welcome to attend
and you do not have to participate in the ceremony to join us. If you are a Solitary Pagan and you’ve
always wanted a safe place to meet other Pagans and Pagan families in the area,
then this is the festival for you.
May 4 – Beltane with NROOGD at Live Oak Park – Berkeley
The flyer says: The park is
between Shattuck Ave and Berryman in Berkeley. Arrive at 1:30pm, for the ritual
beginning at 2:00pm. Join in a celebration of the May and dance the May Pole,
greet the 'Obby 'Oss, and tease the Teaser! A donation of $10-20 is requested
to defray costs for hall rentals during winter Sabbats, but no one is turned
away for lack of funds. For more information, contact Melissa at 408-761-0576
or melissa@bbzzz.com
The flyer says: 2 p.m. at
Franklin and Geary. Gather in the courtyard. Open to all generations. For more
information, contact Carlowe at 415-864-2858, or Sally at 510-595-1341,
sallyam@pacbell.net, or write to PICt 1446 46th Ave., San Francisco, CA
94122-2903. SFUU church phone 415-242-1608.
May 4 – Adult Only Beltane Celebration – Santa Cruz
The flyer says: Gather at
DeLaveaga Park in Santa Cruz, in the 'Forty Thieves' picnic area. This is a
Private Event and you will be asked to register upon arrival. Please bring a
Potluck dish for 4 to 6 people to share and label the contents. Also bring
flowers or flower petals for the circle, and nuptial bed. We will be asking for
a $5 - $10 donation to cover costs. This event is not suitable for children.
Call Community Seed at 831-469-0336 for more details.
May 4 – 10th Annual May
Day Festival in Fairfax.
The flyer says: Included in
the festivities will be a short gig by Pandemonean. For more information on the
Fairfax May Day Festival, visit http://www.monitor.net/~mamazon/
The flyer says: Gathering
begins at 3:00 PM and the Ritual begins at 5:00 PM. We're on, rain or shine. Children are welcome. There
will be a raffle during dinner to raise funds for the Circle. All donations for
the raffle are always gratefully accepted. Let's make this our most joyous
Beltane yet!!! For more information, go to http://cauldron1313.tripod.com/beltane02.html
The flyer says: This is a
benefit for Headwaters Forest (the fight goes on!) Women, men and children are
welcome to revel in Beltane Magic! Frolic with the Faery and Earth
spirits, purify through fires, and dance the Maypole. Join us in this
ancient Pagan festival honoring the Goddess and God in their aspects of
life-force and sacred connection. Bring: Flowers and ribbon for head
wreaths, Rhythm instruments if desired. Gather and make head wreaths at 1PM,
Ritual 2PM. $10-$20 sliding scale, Work exchange available. For more
information contact Reclaiming of Sonoma North Bay Events Line: (707)
793-2183
The flyer says: Dance to
celebrate Life, As the earth forms new beings, Birds begin to sing, Butterflies
and dragonflies take wing. In love, The goddess makes herself known, And shows
the seeds that have been sown. Festive attire of green and colors of love (and
something warm, if cold that night). Bring a love offering for the altar, Food
and drink to share. 7PM, held at 1250 33rd Street , Sacramento, CA, RSVP to
Dell (916) 455-4790
May 4 – 5 Queer Women’s
Spirituality Beltane Ritual Campout – Ione
The flyer says: Join
us as we call in Flora, Bloddeuwedd, Tonantzin, Oshun, Aphrodite and Artemis to
celebrate and charge our passion for new growth. We'll sing and drum and play
under the stars. Lets get rid of all that holds us back from our deepest
desires. Then adorn ourselves with flowers, dance our stories in the moonlight.
Lets Make Magic! Group will be limited to first 20 Reservations. For a
more information or to register please contact Jules at: (415)
695-9066, e-mail: dianic.witch@angelfire.com
May 4 – 6th
Beltane Celebration and Maypole Dance at Isis Oasis – Geyserville
For more information please
contact: ISIS OASIS 20889 Geyserville Ave. Geyserville, California,
95441, e-mail to: isis@saber.net
MAY
DAY HISTORY:
Did
you know that the “lusty day of May” was banned by the Puritans? The English Parliament passed a law in 1640
that forbid all May Day celebrations.
Luckily for us, the popular holiday was restored in 1660, after Charles
the Second ascended the throne. Those
of you who are interested in the social, political and Pagan history of May Day
will enjoy this page: http://www.mayweek.ab.ca/history.html
The
Witches Voice also has some lovely and informative essays about this holiday,
as well: http://www.witchvox.com/holidays/xbeltaine.html
Here
is a site that talks about Robin Hood and his role as The Green Man:
http://users.internorth.com/~wiccan/seasons/beltane.htm#lovers
This same website has some wonderful recipes for Beltane festival foods.
Here
is an interesting website that tells about May Day celebrations in Germany:
http://www.serve.com/shea/germusa/mayday.htm.
Where May Day is still an important holiday.
This other website is for teachers.
It has information on May Day celebrations around the world:
http://www.umkc.edu/imc/mayday.htm
Here
is a lovely paragraph with a sweet picture of an elderly lady who was May Queen
in 1924 and who was crowned again when she was 90 years old:
http://www.nottingham-horse-and-carriage-company.co.uk/millie.htm
Many
of our Christian friends also celebrate this day in their own way. Here is an website from a Catholic High
School that tell about their tradition honoring St. Mary as the Queen of May
Day: http://www.salpointe.org/Periodicals/SalpointeToday/today3/4.htm
Beltane
Old Style is celebrated in England on May 15th. Why the date change you ask? Here’s why: The Julian or Old Style calendar
was in effect in England and her colonies until 1752. The Julian calendar, adopted under Julius Caesar in 46 BC,
calculated the year as 365 1/4 days. This was eleven minutes, fourteen seconds
too long, so that by 1582, the calendar and astronomical year were no longer
synchronized, and the vernal equinox occurred on March 11. Pope Gregory XIII
suppressed ten days to make the equinox fall on March 21. Most Catholic
countries immediately adopted the new calendar. England and her colonies did not adopt the Gregorian calendar
until September 2, 1752, by which time eleven days had to be deleted.
When
the Gregorian or New Style calendar was adopted, it amended the calendar by
eleven days to bring the calendar year into step with the astronomical year.
Thus, Beltane, which occurs at mid-point between the Spring Equinox and the
Summer Solstice, was celebrated on May 15th under the Old Style calendar. Under the new calendar it was celebrated on
May 5th. To make matters yet
more complex, May Day, as the festival was now commonly called, was moved to
May 1st. This was done to
make the date easier to remember. May
Day is now celebrated by Labor unions, high schools, churches and many Pagan
groups on May 1st.
Some
Pagans prefer to celebrate Beltane on the actual cross quarter day that falls
between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. This occurs between May 5th – 7th,
depending on the year. (It changes
during a leap year and due to other factors).
This year the cross quarter day falls on May 5th.
Calendar
changes have always caused problems.
The reformation of the calendar in the 1700’s caused many citizens to
feel cheated of eleven days' pay, and they chanted, "Give us back our
eleven days." Ancient British calendar customs were also somewhat
unsettled by the revision, and even today Old New Year's and Old May Day are
celebrated in some areas. The hawthorn or "may tree," long a fixture
of May Day festivities, is now seldom found in bloom on May Day. It actually
blooms around Old May Day, May 15th. Most wildflowers in Europe are seen later in the month then they
are here in the U.S. This is because
the weather becomes warmer rather later in England then it does here in
California.
For
those of you who are interested I would recommend this website: http://www.geocities.com/sassafrasADF/dates.htm
This site contains a detailed discussion of the sacred wheel of the year and
it’s relationship to the actual physical events in the earth’s orbit.
I
would also recommend this book by Ronald Hutton: The Stations of the Sun; a
History of the Ritual Year in England (Oxford, 1996).
Whenever
you celebrate it, the folks at Full Circle would like to wish you all a very
Happy Beltane.
Editors
Note: I am indebted to Lucia C. Stanton at the Monticello
Research Department for much of this information.
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR CHOSEN FOR 2002 WITCHES’ BALL.
I
am pleased and happy to announce that Kaye Luck has been chosen as our new
Volunteer Coordinator for the 2002 Witches’ Ball. This position is a key one,
as the person holding it is responsible for overseeing, organizing and
directing the work of Volunteers before, during and after the Ball. The VC
works closely with the FCE Director, our staff and our Committee Chairs
throughout the year as we prepare for this big event. The Volunteer Coordinator sets the tone for our volunteers and
makes sure that our people are organized and that they enjoy their volunteer
experience. This position requires
someone with management and organizational skills, tact and a sense of
fun. Happily for us, Kaye has agreed to
take on this very important job.
Kaye
has 20 years experience as a Supervisor, most of it in the mortgage banking
field. She has held office in various
non-profit and industry related groups over the years. She has acted as the regional president of
an historical society, the CFO of a fundraising organization, president, vice
president, and board member of two other groups, as well as holding various
chair positions in these organizations.
She is incredibly well organized and great fun to work with. Kaye is active in the Pagan and interfaith
communities and she has also been active in the SCA. She has recently decided to change careers and is working
towards her degrees in Literature and Library Science. We are delighted to be working with her this
year. Kaye is a mother of 3 children
and she lives with her loved ones in San Jose.
Another
new member of our FCE Witches Ball Team is Kevin Lampke. Kevin will be joining us in the newly
created position of Entertainment Coordinator.
As such, he will be auditioning, choosing and organizing our performers
for this year’s ball. We have decided
to expand the performance schedule this year to include performances by
professional dancers as well as offering vignettes, entertainment by jugglers,
strolling players and character pieces.
So, as you can see, Kevin will have his hands full.
Kevin
trained as a classical ballet dancer for 17 years. He was the youngest Ballet instructor for The American Dance and
Drama Program, and the youngest modern dance choreographer for Washington
Ballet Summer Concert Season. Has performed in over 200 productions of
just the Nutcracker Ballet alone, including the lead role in the last three
seasons of career work. As a tenor vocalist, as well as a dancer, he has
appeared in representations of Oliver, Brigadoon, State Fair, Carousel,
Godspell, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. In the area
of staging and coordination, majored in Theatrical Lighting at San Joaquin
Delta College, designed lighting plots for four separate productions including
The One Act Operas, Trouble in Tahiti, Man of Mode, and Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory. During Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, also worked
as props man and stage manager. He has filled every conceivable live
theatrical staging role at one point or another over the course of the career
path, including lighting rigger, director, costumer, sound technician, and
scenery creation. Kevin is also an accomplished musician and poet, and a
techno-wizard. He is currently
self-employed as a woodworker/sculptor.
Kevin is the father of a little girl and he lives and works in Silicon
Valley.
This
just came in from our Nature Guru, Owlwind:
“Outside
of the nature center I work at in Saratoga, we have an abandoned black cat in
need of a home. The cat is very skittish and will not let people go up to it.
It will approach the couple people who are feeding within a couple of
yards, and meow at us. It has some bite marks on its head and shoulders (my
guess is coyote) that will need some medical attention. For the well being
of both the cat and the local wildlife I would like to find a home as soon
as possible. There is a time factor
involved. Our summer camps are approaching in mid June - kids who
don't always understand animals need
for space and a frightened cat don't mix very well.”
If
you can help, please contact Owlwind at owlwind@hotmail.com
For
those of you who enjoy unique and well-glazed pottery, check out this website:
http://www.oneofakindpottery.com/
. This lady makes some lovely pieces.
Her work can also be seen at many of the Art and Wine festivals around the Bay
Area this time of year – look for her booth.
Her art is something you’ll want to hold in your hand to really
appreciate.
You
gardening types will appreciate this handy tool:
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/eclectic-gardener/ballweeder1.html
It’s
an Amish ball weeder. My friend Maggi
uses it and she tells me that it does not put the kind of stress on her wrists
and hands that other weeders do. If you
have a gardening friend with carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis, then this is
a great tool for them.
Ok,
now…these dog biscuits from the Brown Dog institute are just tacky and
gross…but the dog owners among us will appreciate them, I’m sure. Don’t’ say I didn’t warn you: http://www.browndoginstitute.com/
OTHER
EVENTS OF INTEREST:
May 1 - Modern Pagans May
Day Music Fest – San Francisco
The flyer says: 7:00 - 11:00 PM AT THE LAB 2948 16th Street
at Capp San Francisco, CA
Admission $5Ð$8 sliding scale. Info: 415-864-8855. A Pagan Music Fest with musical entertainment/provocation from
Sam Skraeling (of the U.K. punk/psychedelia band IOWASKA), Thorn Coyle (2 CDs
currently available from http://www.serpentinemusic.com),
and Sharon Knight backed by
members of Pandemonaeon, San Francisco's own Pagan Music band (CD available
from www.pandemonaeon.com), and a late addition, Mary Lawler (formerly of the
URGE) and Friends.
May 2nd –
Teacher's Space Day at NASA
The flyer says: Join others
interested in Science, Space and Technology in celebrating Cyber Space
Day…Adventure to Mars. Visit http://spaceday.digisle.tv/2002/registration.html
for more information.
The flyer says: The drumbeats
beckon. You enter a magical place surrounded by fiery light, flickering faces,
pounding hands, swirling energy, and eternal beauty. Your bare feet dance upon
the Earth and the spirit of the Spring awakens once again within you. We call
upon everyone to join the gathering- drummers, dancers, dreamers & other
magicians. For detailed event & registration information, please visit
us at http://www.firedrumcircle.com.
Contact us at: SF Bay Area: (510) 468-5139, Santa Cruz Area: (831)
726-7253, or e-mail: firedrumcircle@hotmail.com
Suggested donation $15/$10 at the door, $12/$8 in advance
Call (510) 569-0437 to reserve tickets or visit
http://www.broceliande.org
The flyer says: Join us for a
Pre-Raphaelite Fantasy Costume Ball.
Visit http://www.peers.org/morgan.html
for more information.
May 4, 5 - Explore the
Spirits of Qi - San Francisco.
The flyer says: Traditional
Chinese Medicine is deeply rooted in preserving and promoting human harmony
with the rest of nature-as is the even more ancient practice of shamanism;
hence, the two modalities are highly complementary. This weekend will be
devoted to introducing the practice of shamanic journeying, through which the
seeker may access the wisdom of all things-animate and inanimate. Tuition is
$210, and pre-registration is required. For more information or to register,
contact Lenore Norrgard 415-820-1655.
May 8, 2002 - Building a
Bridge for Peace in the Middle East & Our World – San Rafael
The flyer says: Come together
to Build this Rainbow Peace Bridge for Middle East, the Entire world, for our
Community, for ourselves and in our own lives, and send it out from our hearts.
Uplifting Music with Hodin and Friends, Drumming for Peace on Earth, Open Mic
for children and families to shares hopes and songs, Speakers, Musical
Performances, Open Forum, Movement. This is a time for us all to come and share
our fears, grief and stress that we might still feel after the 9/11
tragedy and now the current world tension. We invite you to be part of
exploring new ways of bridging our own differences and strive for reconciliation
- be part of co-creating a Bridge for Peace. Suggested Donations $11 and up, All the profits from this event
will be donated to promoting Middle East Peace. 5-10PM, held at the Open Secret
Bookstore, 923 "C" street, San Rafael, CA (415) 457-4191
The flyer says: Learn about
herbs that work on the female reproductive system. This class will discuss
female hormone cycles, physiology & herbal remedies for problems associated
with the menstrual cycle. We will examine remedies that will minimize the
discomfort of menopause, tonics for pregnancy and much more. Women only. 7-9PM,
$10 per class at The Scarlet Sage Herb Co. 1173 Valencia St., San Francisco, CA
94110. A non-refundable pre-payment is
required to hold a space. Call (415) 821-0997.
May 8 – August 11 – Native
American Art Exhibit – Stanford Campus – Palo Alto
The flyer says: More than 100
rare 19th-century masterworks—many gathered by early Yankee traders and missionaries—drawn
from the oldest ongoing collection of Native American art in the hemisphere.
Plus, 15 additional 18th- and early 19th-century objects from important
European collections. http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ccva
The flyer says: About 30,000
visitors descend on UC Davis for this festival. You'll find three stages of
musicians, dancers, and speakers. Also craft and food venders—all with
environmentally friendly merchandise—educational booths, children's activities,
and more. Visit http://www.wholeearthfestival.org
May 11th –
Black Light Pagan Bowling Night – Santa Clara
The flyer says: Full Circle
Events hosts Pagan Bowling Night at the AMF Saratoga Lanes in Saratoga. Meet at
8:30 so that bowling can begin at 9:00 PM. To reserve a lane and place a
deposit, call the Saratoga Lanes 408- 252-2212 at least a week in advance. Tell
them that you want to be near the folks at Full Circle and they'll put our
lanes side by side. The Saratoga Lanes are located at Saratoga, near Prospect,
just opposite the Westgate Mall. For more information, contact Full Circle
Events at http://www.fullcircleeventsorg/
May 11 – Intuitive
Astrology with Motherpeace Cards with Vicki Noble – Santa Cruz
The flyer says: We will meet
in the redwood forest here in the mountains near Santa Cruz, California, for a
day of astrological play involving the Motherpeace cards and your
intuition. For more information, email vnoble1@earthlink.net
The flyer says: During the week before the event, flower gatherers fan out over northern and central California, collecting more than 150 different species of wildflowers. Volunteers then sort, identify, label, and arrange the flowers for viewing in the museum’s Natural Sciences Gallery. Visitors can learn everything they’ve always wanted to know about wild plants (but were afraid to ask). Visit http://www.museumca.org for more information.
The flyer says: This judged show features hundreds of rare and unique cactus and succulents on display. The sale offers thousands of plants, as well as pottery, crafts, and books. Buchser Middle School. Call (510) 651-8649 (speak with Don) for more information.
May 11 – Bug Day – Henry Cowell Redwood State Park –
Felton
The flyer says: Got bugs? You will at this kid-friendly event featuring tons of insect info from the experts, plus bug games, bug movies, bug building, and the chance to earn a degree in bug-ology. Visit http:// www.mountainparks.org for more information.
May 11 – From Seth to Star Wars: Ancient & Modern
Conceptions of Good and Evil – San Jose at the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
The flyer says: Museum curator Lisa Schwappach explores images of good and evil from ancient Egypt and modern Western popular culture. Learn about the legends of Egypt and Mesopotamia and compare them to modern pop culture, with examples from Star Wars, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," and The Lord of the Rings. Visit http://www.rosicrucian.org/museum/ for more information.
May 11 & 12 Filoli Mansion Flower Show – Woodside
Filoli hosts its annual floral event, in which the mansion is decorated with spectacular arrangements and the gardens are ablaze with spring color. On Mother's Day (5/12), there will be 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. seatings for a champagne brunch. Ticket prices for the special related events include general admission. Visit www.filoli.org for more information.
The flyer says: Kiteboarding is a relatively new sport imported from Europe. Riders' feet are strapped to three- to five-foot boards while their torsos are tethered to a kite. The result? Gravity-defying jumps and flips, some as high as 50 feet. Forty professionals and 20 amateurs compete, and the public is invited to watch the action and get info on schools, training, and the latest equipment. For more information, call (831) 728-2998.
The flyer says: This will be an all-day series of presentations
and hands-on workshops exploring a wide variety of divination methods including
Tarot, Palmistry, Runes, Shamanistic Techniques, and much more. For more
information, contact (415) 753-5041.
May 18 & 19 - Tree of
Life and Inner Temple Traditions with R J Stewart.
The flyer says: Held
in a beautiful and peaceful retreat center in the forest, close to Santa Cruz,
CA and many amenities. Full description of event at http://www.dreampower.com
Contact Andrea@cruzio.com for more information.
May 18 & 19 -
A La Carte & Art – Mountain View
The flyer says: Some of the South Bay’s premier chefs prepare favorite recipes, sharing samples and coveted trade secrets. At the juried show, local artists and craftspeople sell a variety of work—ceramics, glass, jewelry, leather, textiles, photography, and beads. For the kids, an interactive fun zone with balloon artists, a 24-ft. climbing wall, jumbo bounce, and more. Live music and street performers, too.
May 18 & 18 – Satsuki Festival – Berkeley
The flyer says: It's time again for the blooming of azaleas—satsuki, in Japanese—and this family-oriented event celebrates with multicultural entertainment, Japanese martial arts demos, and a big Taiko drumming summit on Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. You'll also find plenty of kids' games and booths selling ethnic foods, arts and crafts, and plants and flowers. Call (510) 841-1356 for more information.
May 18 – The Goyuto Monks Tibetan Tantric Choir – San
Rafael
The flyer says: This group of monks has been heard on the soundtracks to the movies Kundun and Seven Years in Tibet. There's an otherworldly sound to their polyphonic chanting, which is accompanied by cymbals, horns, drums, and bells. For more information visit www.marincenter.org
May 18 – June 15 – City Star Parties – San Francisco
The flyer says: The San Francisco Amateur Astronomers and the Golden Gate National Recreational Area co-sponsor monthly City Star Parties, which consist of a lecture followed by observations through SFAA's telescopes. The idea is to instruct, of course, but also to share the wonders of the night sky with those who might not be familiar with astronomy. For more information, go to www.zennla.com/sfaa
May 25 - Isis Ward is offering a Reiki II Class - Berkeley.
The flyer says: Experience
universal life energy activated in your body with Reiki Attunement. All people
can tap this healing life energy within themselves for transforming health
issues for self and others. This class will cover distance healing,
manifestation and esoteric applications of Reiki. For more information, contact
(510) 649-0352 x3 or visit http://www.EcstaticArts.com
During this annual event,
amateurs and professional artists create arresting pictures using chalk as a
medium and sidewalks as a canvas. Registration for a section of sidewalk begins
at 9 a.m. at Peralta Park, 1561 Solano, Berkeley. Rain date is June 1. While
all the chalking is going on, merchants offer a variety of whimsical chocolate
items, from chocolate salami and turtles, to chocolate flowers and manicures.
For more information, go to http://www.solanoavenueassn.org/
May 30 – The San Jose Book Shop will host an Apprentice Practitioner Program with Magickal Arts Guild
The flyer says: From
7:30-9:30PM. Discover the world of Real Magick. This is the first of a 9-week
series of classes covering Divination, Natural Magickal Arts and Magickal
Techniques. Divination includes Tarot, Runes and Astrology. Natural arts include
Herbology, Stone and Metal Magick, and Magickal Concoctions. Magickal
techniques include Psychic Protection, Wand Making and Spell Casting. Classes
meet every other Thursday and include take-home examinations leading up to
apprentice-level certification. Cost: $20 per class (Pre-Enrollment Required).
For more information, contact (408) 446-0590, sjbookshop@mindspring.com, or visit
http://www.sanjosebookshop.surfmetro.com.
June 2002- Summer
Adventure Camp for Kids from 7-14 years!
The flyer says: These
weeklong fantasy adventure camps are limited to 30 children each week, which
are divided into three groups of ten. Each group has its own dedicated adult
staff person from a pool of professional teachers and educators. In addition,
each group has at least one teen assistant giving a staff to day camper ratio
of one to five. Camp runs every week of summer break, Mon-Fri, starting at 9AM
and ending at 3PM. For more information, contact (650)988-9048 or visit http://www.grand-adventure.com.
June 5-9, 2002 - The
Infamous Ancient Ways Festival at Harbin Hot Springs.
The flyer says: Nineteenth
Annual Festival; an eclectic pan Pagan gathering of magical folk. Workshops,
Rituals, and Camping at Harbin Hot Springs: Clothing Optional with Hot, Warm
and Cold Pools. For more info contact:: Ancient Ways, 4075 Telegraph Ave.,
Oakland, CA 94609, (510) 653-3244, or see: http://www.ancientways.com/html/festivals.html
[Editor’s Note: This
is a 1960’s style event and it is not to everyone’s taste. If you are thinking of attending this
festival, we recommend that you ask someone who has been there before what this
event is like.]
For more information on these
and other events, visit
Bay Area Pagan Assemblies:
http://www.batnet.com/bapagan/Events/events.html
The Index:
http://www.cyprian.org/Index/
The Witches Voice: http://www.witchvox.com
CHOICES:
On May 5th the planet Venus will form a compact
triangle with Saturn and Mars. I heard
about this recently on NPR. The
reporter claimed that such an alignment had not occurred in over 2,000
years. I called friends of mine who
study astrology and asked them about this.
They tell me that this alignment signals a time to take responsibility
for our power. It is a time, they say,
to decide between the opposing forces of love and war, hate and compassion,
intolerance and acceptance. It is, they
say, a time for choices.
That seems to be the theme for this year – Making Choices. In January, I noted that this is the Year of
the Horse and that the energy I was seeing expressed out there was about
setting boundaries and deciding what is important and what isn’t. Ride the year, I said, or be ridden by
it. I’d like to add to that now and
suggest that our folks take time out this Beltane, this particular
Beltane, to decide some important issues in their lives, to make some necessary
choices with conscious intent and to set their direction in the years to
come. This is the year to harness our
energy and send it out on the road we want to take. This isn’t about solving problems, making money or finding
love. This time is meant for things far
bigger then that.
The energy that’s out there seems to want us to go beyond the
concerns of today and to make some sort of commitment – to what, I can’t
say. The nature of this commitment
seems to be different for each of us. I
can’t speak for anyone else, but I feel for myself that I am being asked to
make choices that are central and important in the long term. I see that many of the people around me are
also being asked to do the same sort of thing.
Some of our choices may have a large impact on the people around
us. Some may be uniquely personal and
remain known only to ourselves. When I
say that they are big choices, I don’t mean that they are big as the world
understands it (although they may be just that). I mean they are big because they have life changing
consequences. These kinds of choices
affect both our perceptions and our reality.
In my Tradition, these two things are held to be closely linked and I
firmly believe that you can’t change the one without changing the other.
When I say that this is a time for big decisions, I mean that
the choices we make now will affect us beyond just today. During this season, we will send energy
traveling far, far ahead of us to manifest in the years to come. It may come to
fruit in our later life or it may be seen by future generations. It’s that kind of “big”.
I don’t’ know about you, but my Beltane fire will bless a very
different world then the one I knew last year.
My priorities are different, for one thing. My point of view has shifted and the things I want to manifest
this year are very different then they were before. Some of the tools I use today to make these things happen are
new to me and in some cases, I find them difficult to use. But all that was necessary to get me to this
place, this place where I have the power and the insight and the will I need to
make the choices I need to make. The
question before me now is this: Do I have the courage I need to make these
choices?
I’m not the only one asking these questions. Everyone around me seems to be vibrating
with change and charged with intent.
It’s as if someone, somewhere, struck a temple bell that was so large,
so perfectly tuned and of so pure a tone that the entire world is vibrating to
the sound of it. To say it another way,
it’s as if we all moved past the same barrier together. It’s funny thing, but
you never know you’ve crossed a line until you turn around and see where you’ve
been. But then you realize that you’ve
crossed over after so many years of standing still and you think, “Well, that
was easier then I thought…now what?”.
When I look around at the Pagan Tribe today, I see that many of
us are using emotional, intellectual or spiritual tools that we’ve never tried
using before. I see us moving, as a
people, from an self serving adolescent state to a larger frame of view; to a
more adult way of interacting with the world. Some would say that it’s about
time. I say that our Tribe is ready for
this. I believe that our people can
accept responsibility and use our power wisely without loosing our sense or
wonder or our sense of fun.
We are, in a way, redefining what it means to be an adult as
much as we are redefining what it means to be spiritual. For one thing, it means that we are all in a
position to change the story of our lives.
We can heal the past, we can find meaning in the present and we can
create the future. But I give you fair
warning: The changes we make today are like ripples in a pond – there’s no
knowing what they can and will effect.
“Change yourself”, we say, “and
you change the world around you.” Truer
words were never spoken.
It’s Beltane and anything is possible. What will you choose?
Blessed Be to your and yours,
Sia
http://www.fullcircleevents.org
“Honor the Past, Celebrate the Present, Create the Future”