Samhain 2003
This year’s Journey into Spirit Retreat, The Book of Transformations, was an experiential initiatory
journey through the ancient Egyptian Otherworld. A series of six rituals represented a faithful
re-creation of ceremonies as taken from ancient Egyptian texts.
All of Saturday was spent in
preparation for the series of 6 rituals, 5 of which were performed back-to-back on Sunday.
Priests and priestesses built props and prepared the temple, while other participants made
specifically-prescribed incenses, anointing oils, and unguents as described in the ancient
documents. Among the tasks assigned to participants were: gathering pine resin from the nearby
forest, grinding herbs, boiling potions, and inscribing hieroglyphs of the deities on a yet-unbaked
cake. (I can’t describe here how I did it, but maybe I’ll teach a workshop someday!)
Most of us also found time to enjoy the crisp mountain air and brilliant autumnal foliage,
either walking in the nearby woods or strolling through a path and circle of standing stones.
After a hearty supper prepared by Joel, Eve, and Eden, we started the intensive Saturday night
with a ritual just before dreamtime. The Rites of Execration and Summoning of Powers served to
banish evil and ill-wishing influence, and invite beneficial energies to aid us in our journey.
After holding ritual silence overnight, we woke to a breakfast of fresh and dried fruits.
Eating sparingly and maintaining ritual silence throughout the day helped to maintain a light
trance state that intensified throughout Sunday’s rituals.
In ancient Egypt, death was viewed as
a catastrophic event. The newly deceased was trapped in a liminal state, deprived of the ability
to function in the world of the living, and similarly powerless to penetrate the Otherworld or to
operate in it. The ceremonies outlined in the funerary texts and "Books of the Dead," reintegrated
and purified the newly dead, gave them the power to act in both worlds, and ushered
them through an initiatory process culminating in judgment before, and hopefully acceptance by,
Osiris, the Lord of Eternity.
With the majority of the participants taking the roles of the newly
deceased, a full complement of Priestesses and Priests, (Shawn, Debbie, Roger, Jennifer, Joann,
Lyn, Jen) prepared us for our journey to the through the Otherworld. They anointed, adorned,
cleansed, and censed us, opening our mouths to re-animate our powers of speech. When we had been
thus purified, we gained entry to the Boat of Ra which carried us to the shrine of Ra.
In the Judgement Hall of Osiris, the purity of our collective hearts was weighed against a feather,
in a stunning recreation of a scene often reproduced from the Book of the Dead. The settings,
raiment, and props for all the rituals were dramatically astonishing and brought the experience
vividly to life. Especially effective were the mask of Horus (made by Jennifer), the throne and
regalia of Osiris, and the massive balance and white feather in the Judgement Hall. After we had
passed the test of Judgement before Osiris (whew!) the newly-initiated recited aloud from the Book
of Transformations, proclaiming our newly-gained powers of transcendence.
Following a period of
meditative quiet time we gathered for a luscious feast, again prepared by the above-mentioned
Heroic Kitchen Sprites. We had most of Sunday evening to unwind, contemplate, and rest up for
our respective journeys home on Monday.
Thank you to Shawn for assembling and organizing the Rites,
and to all the Priestesses and Priests who made the weekend a truly Transformational one!
We hope
you will join us for next year’s Journey Into Spirit Retreat, Friday October 8 - Monday October 11.
The program will be announced as soon as it is available. For pictures from previous years, see
the “Retreats” section of our website:http://www.elderfaiths.org
October 31st, Halloween, November Eve, Michaelmas, Summer's End, Old New Year,
the Feast of the Dead, the time when the Veil between the Worlds is thin. This
is one of the Major Sabbats in the Wheel of the Year, and certainly the one most
clearly associated with Witches and Witchcraft.
Bathing as a purificatory rite is a important practice found in many spiritual traditions
around the world, the Neo-Pagan religions included. And while a ritual bath is sometimes
symbolic, very often actual cleanliness is required as well. In such cases, haven't you
ever wished you could use something a bit more sacred than Dial for your pre-ritual baths?
Well, join the SEF crafters this December in creating soap specifically for the purpose.
On Sunday, October 5, I rode with two fellow SEF-Members to the Western Massachusetts
Pagan Pride Celebration at Strathmore Park in Russell, Massachusetts. Morven had been
invited to sign and read from her new novel Darksome Thirst, while Gwydion and I had been
asked to participate in an “Intrafaith Panel.”
When the Samhain season is over and winter begins to set in, the Grove of the Mists Coven
will once again be hosting our annual Fallow Time Social on Saturday November 15 from 6 - 9
PM at the covenstead in Marlborough.
On page 4, you will see public events that the Society of Elder Faiths will be sponsoring
in 2004. But wait! There’s more! Some events are in the planning stages and do not have
firm dates yet, but the dates will be announced as soon as they are set. Watch the
Messenger, the SEF website, and your monthly e-news announcements for these upcoming
events.
The following clergy are available through the Society of Elder Faiths:
SEF Messenger: The Community Newsletter of the Society of Elder Faiths
For those of us living in the
Northeast, Samhain truly is Summer's End. By now hard frost has cut down the
vegetation in our gardens, and the trees left with leaves are dressed in their
Autumnal finery. The cool days have visibly shortened, and very often we find
ourselves both arising and returning from work in darkness. In reflection of
the natural world around us, most of us find ourselves turning inward, preparing
in our own ways for the Winter ahead. In reality, Samhain is not just a single
day, but a Season – a time of remembrance, a period of repose.
At Samhain we
pause for a bit, and we take stock. For Neo-Pagans, Samhain is both joyful and
somber. This is a time to deal honestly with Death, a chance for each of us to
face the inevitable end of Life. Yet it is also a time to celebrate.
Traditionally it's said that the Veil between the Worlds is thinnest at Samhain.
So at this time we reach through the Veil to the Beloved Dead, to remember them,
commune with them and honor them. In this way we celebrate Death as the
culmination of Life. May Samhain be for you a time of rest, peace and renewal.
All are invited to Journey into Darkness, at Brigham Hill Community Farm, the first
in our new series of large community observances in honor of the four Major Sabbats.
The suggested donation will be on a sliding scale from $10 - $15.
This will be a
serious Samhain working for each individual attending, and a literal journey
through forest and field; as such, Journey into Darkness is not appropriate for children.
Attendees should come dressed and shod appropriately for out-of-door travel, and be
prepared to journey over both physically & spiritually difficult terrain. Please bring a
fully-prepared, hearty dish to be shared at the post-ritual feast, along with any necessary
serving utensils. Oven space, cups, plates, etc. will be supplied.
Note: In the event of
outrageously bad weather, a different, indoor ritual at the Farm will be held instead of
the Journey. If it is only cold, windy or rainy the Journey will still take place –
dress accordingly! We look forward to seeing you there.For directions, see
SEF Crafty-Craft Series Continues with Magickal Soap-Making
by Donna
Since in the Solar calendar the Winter Solstice is the beginning of the year, it seems
perfectly fitting that during this time we gather to make a ritual soap to be used
throughout the upcoming year. In this hands-on class you will learn the steps in making
cold-process soap -- in other words real soap, made from basic grocery store ingredients
in combination with herbs and oils, that you'll be able to make in your kitchen at home.
You will leave this workshop with a variety of recipes, complete instructions, and soap
for your personal use. Pre-registration is *strongly* advised, as there is a class limit
of 18. Cost for the workshop is $25.00 total. To pre-register, send $20.00 course fee,
payable to SEF, to: PO Box 30, Marlborough MA 01752. The remaining $5 materials fee is
payable to the instructor on the day of the class.
This workshop will be held in at
Brigham Hill Community Farm in Grafton. For directions to the farm, please see
http://www.elderfaiths.org/barn or call (508) 839-3457.
Western Massachusetts Pagan Pride
by Morwynna
Some of us on the panel weren’t sure what
to expect, since the term “interfaith” is much more common! There were several Pagan
traditions represented, and we each answered a series of questions about our practice
and our beliefs. Author Ellen Evert Hopman represented the Keltrian Druids; we had
been invited to represent British Traditional Wicca; and there were panelists representing
the Asatru, Faerie, and Cabot traditions. The panel was organized by a local college pagan
group.
Under crisp, cool, sunny skies and brilliant autumn foliage, a variety of vendors had
their wares laid out, giving the feel of a one-day pagan festival. Entertainment included
an hour of snappy neo-pagan drumming, followed by several vocalists and folk music
performers. The evening closed with pot-luck dinner and a ritual.
We’ll go again next year if we can!
Fallow Time Social, Novermber 15
The “Fallow Time” refers to the season after Samhain
and before Yule, when harvest work was completed for the year and more time was available
for rest, introspection, planning, and just catching up with folk; how we survived
the past year, and our plans for next year. Since everyone seems to get way too busy after
Thanksgiving to just chat, we like to get together a bit before the rush hits. Bring snacks
to share! For directions to the covenstead, please email news@elderfaiths.org.
Note that directions have changed slightly from last year because of road construction!
News from our Members
SEF Member Seth has a photography show at Zona in Somerville, through 10/31.
Entitled “Love, Death, and Voodoo”, the show features work from his trip to New Orleans
last year. For directions, call Zona at (617) 628-2545.
Cerridwyn (founder of the SEF’s
Pagan Family Connection) is training with DONA (Doula Organization of North America) and
with BACE (Boston Association of Childbirth Educators) to become a Childbirth Educator and
Breast Feeding Counselor. For both these courses she needs to 'assist' with four births,
i.e. providing emotional and physical support to a birthing woman and her partner.
She is offering free Doula services to anyone who wishes to have a Doula Assisted birth
in return for the opportunity to witness the birth. If you are an expectant mother
interested in free high-quality labor support, you can contact her at
cymraes51@hotmail.com, including the words “Doula Services” in the subject line.
More Events Planned for 2004!
The Pagan Family Connection will soon be resuming their Family Sabbat Celebrations,
which were very popular last year. In 2004, all the Family Sabbats will be held at the
Brigham Hill Community Farm, on Sunday afternoons from 2 - 4 PM. Dates will be announced
in advance for each Sabbat. For a photo from the 2003 Family Imbolc, see
www.elderfaiths.org/familyphotos.
Also in the planning stages are large community Sabbat
Celebrations in honor of the Major Sabbats. While the annual Lammas Games event will
remain our public Community Lammas Celebration, there will be a public ritual and potluck
feast for Imbolc, Beltain, and Samhain at the Brigham Hill Community Farm. There will be
smaller public circles at various local shops and other venues for the Solar Sabbats:
Spring Equinox (Ostara), Summer Solstice (Midsummer), Autumn Equinox (Mabon), and Winter
Solstice (Yule).
We will continue our Seeds for Change program, wherein we volunteer one
day’s work near each Sabbat for Brigham Hill Community Farm, which raises fresh produce
for distribution through local food banks. We make a more experiential connection with
the origins of our Sabbats, while helping others. This program will resume in March; if
you would like to be consulted about selecting the dates, please email
galelaviolette@yahoo.com.
In response to requests for more classes in the Boston area,
the workshop series Celebrating the Sabbats will be held in Brighton for 2004, at Open
Doors bookstore. They will be taught by Morwynna with the help of various Elders of the
SEF Community. We’ll talk about the origins of each holiday, related practices of other
paths, customs surviving in our culture, and how contemporary Pagans integrate personal
magickal work with the seasonal cycle. We’ll conclude with guided meditation on the
transformations of the season.We look forward to seeing you at all of our events!
A licensed Wiccan Elder, with ministerial credentials from the Covenant of the Goddess and the Society of Elder Faiths (SEF), authorized to perform legal weddings and handfastings. Also available for other religious services and Rites of Passage. Debbie Fields-Berry P.O. Box 335, B.U. Station Boston MA 02215 dberry@bu.edu 508 839-3457
I hold legal credentials through the Covenant of the Goddess and am ordained though the Society of Elder Faiths. I am willing to travel within New England and will work with people of any Neo-Pagan tradition or non-Pagans with an earth centered focus. I require an initial face to face meeting with a couple at least 2 months before a wedding. I have also performed Wiccanings and am available for other rites of passage. Peg P.O. Box 485 Upton, MA 01568-0485 meagan@control.com 508 839-3457
Samhain 2003
Editor : Jennifer
Staff: Morwynna
© 2003 Society of Elder Faiths
SEF Members may submit news to:
news@elderfaiths.org
or
PO Box 30, Marlboro, MA 01752
or
508 839-3457