As per usual, Island Willow is holding our yearly Yule Vigil.
On Saturday Dec 20th, starting at 3pm, pagans and non-pagans alike will converge on Raven's place in Pointe-Claire. Ritual start begins at 3:45pm and we will light a candle from the dying rays of the sun at exactly 4:15pm. Then a potluck supper feast will begin. Music, drinking, games, drinking, crafting tree decorations, partying, more drinking will no doubt result until 7:30am on the 21st when we will help the sun re-light itself in the morning. We will then close off the ritual and more into a potluck breakfast before Raven kicks everyone out of his house at around 10am.
Sounds like fun?
You can email us for event details and directions at islandwillow@gmail.com
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Montreal Pagan Community Yule Fair Update
On Dec.7, 2008 Island Willow performed the Yule Rite for the MPC Yule Fair, in conjuction with several volunteers from the pagan community.
The rite was a great success. It was done in the form of a play, that evolved into a ritual. Odin, Thor, Freya, Loki, and a small mortal child were sitting around a campfire in Midgard, drinking mead and chatting over old times. Pranks were played, challenges were made and the story of Yule was told. The end result was Odin called for a show of support from the people of Midgard, to prove to Loki that the people would still support the old Gods and that by protecting the sun on the longest night, we would ward off Ragnarok once more.
The rite was a great success. It was done in the form of a play, that evolved into a ritual. Odin, Thor, Freya, Loki, and a small mortal child were sitting around a campfire in Midgard, drinking mead and chatting over old times. Pranks were played, challenges were made and the story of Yule was told. The end result was Odin called for a show of support from the people of Midgard, to prove to Loki that the people would still support the old Gods and that by protecting the sun on the longest night, we would ward off Ragnarok once more.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Mabon "Better late than Never"
SNAFU'd by scheduling foul-ups Island Willow is plowing forward with a re-scheduled Mabon ritual. It will be held on Sept. 28th at 7:30pm. {Yes, we know Mabon is supposed to be the 21st but "Better late than Never"}
We are celebrating Mabon as our principal Harvest rite and the major working will be a FEAST!!! As we will be holding the rite in the Norse tradition and we norsemen do love our feasting.
Potluck contributions are appreciated not required!
All are welcome. Ritual location is in Pointe-Claire, contact islandwillow@gmail.com for more precise directions.
We are celebrating Mabon as our principal Harvest rite and the major working will be a FEAST!!! As we will be holding the rite in the Norse tradition and we norsemen do love our feasting.
Potluck contributions are appreciated not required!
All are welcome. Ritual location is in Pointe-Claire, contact islandwillow@gmail.com for more precise directions.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Lughnassah (Pool Rite Part Two)
Back by popular demand we held a second pool rite! This time we did it Celtic style, honoring Lugh and Tailtiu. This rite was kinda of special for us because we were officially giving Lugh a special place in our grove, i.e. the Celtic deity with which we are the closest.
So with him watching over us, we made our membership tokens that each Grove member gets after showing sustained interest and participation in our community. These tokens were cut from the trunk of the Yule tree we saved from our first Yule together. They bear the symbol of our group on one side and the name of our grove on the other. The idea was for our grove members to wear them to all grove activities and rituals so as to distinguish members from guests, show pride, team building, yadda, yadda, yadda.
The omen was good, so we retired to the jacuzzi for another sumbel... we Druids really have it tough, don't we.... LOL!
So with him watching over us, we made our membership tokens that each Grove member gets after showing sustained interest and participation in our community. These tokens were cut from the trunk of the Yule tree we saved from our first Yule together. They bear the symbol of our group on one side and the name of our grove on the other. The idea was for our grove members to wear them to all grove activities and rituals so as to distinguish members from guests, show pride, team building, yadda, yadda, yadda.
The omen was good, so we retired to the jacuzzi for another sumbel... we Druids really have it tough, don't we.... LOL!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Midsummer Report Card A+
In short.... we had a blast!
More specifically,
It rained right up until a half hour before the BBQ, then the sun came out [a great thanks to Thor and Sunna!]
Sausages and burgers were cooked on the BBQ... a mixture of beers, ciders and soft drink washed it all down. After the normal recommended half an hour of digesting time we started the ritual which took place in a gorgeous heated swimming pool and was surrounded by torches. We had a floating altar which held our triple wick candle, our tree and our well. Despite our visions of the altar going down like the Titanic, it actually floated rather well. We had several competitive and innovative pool games as tributes to our River Goddess, Sunna and Loki. The omen indicated that the Gods either were praising us for our innovation or laughing too hard to explain anything but a thumbs up. Either way, we were happy with it!
After the rite was done, we sang "Walk with Wisdom" all the way to the 104 degree Jacuzzi where we had a Sumbel, toasting our friends, our Gods, ourselves and just about anything we could think of to get our hands on the drinking horn... we also made some boasts and oaths which were duly recorded and will no doubt prove to make our lives interesting when we remember them in the morning!
More specifically,
It rained right up until a half hour before the BBQ, then the sun came out [a great thanks to Thor and Sunna!]
Sausages and burgers were cooked on the BBQ... a mixture of beers, ciders and soft drink washed it all down. After the normal recommended half an hour of digesting time we started the ritual which took place in a gorgeous heated swimming pool and was surrounded by torches. We had a floating altar which held our triple wick candle, our tree and our well. Despite our visions of the altar going down like the Titanic, it actually floated rather well. We had several competitive and innovative pool games as tributes to our River Goddess, Sunna and Loki. The omen indicated that the Gods either were praising us for our innovation or laughing too hard to explain anything but a thumbs up. Either way, we were happy with it!
After the rite was done, we sang "Walk with Wisdom" all the way to the 104 degree Jacuzzi where we had a Sumbel, toasting our friends, our Gods, ourselves and just about anything we could think of to get our hands on the drinking horn... we also made some boasts and oaths which were duly recorded and will no doubt prove to make our lives interesting when we remember them in the morning!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Midsummer BBQ + Pool Rite
Hi Everyone,
Island Willow is going to be celebrating fun and sun in St.Eustache on June 20th. Approximate time for the BBQ is 5-7pm and the rite will start and 7:30pm. The ritual is going to be an experimental pool rite so please bring appropriate swim wear! It will be done in the Norse tradition and because everyone will already be expecting to get wet, it will happen rain or shine! We Druids are hardcore like that!
For more info and directions, please email us at islandwillow@gmail.com
Island Willow is going to be celebrating fun and sun in St.Eustache on June 20th. Approximate time for the BBQ is 5-7pm and the rite will start and 7:30pm. The ritual is going to be an experimental pool rite so please bring appropriate swim wear! It will be done in the Norse tradition and because everyone will already be expecting to get wet, it will happen rain or shine! We Druids are hardcore like that!
For more info and directions, please email us at islandwillow@gmail.com
Friday, May 2, 2008
Beltaine in Ottawa
Island Willow Protogrove, ADF will be driving up to Ottawa to support Thornhaven this Beltaine. We all thought it would be fun for us to see how they do their rites. Visiting with other ADF groves is always fun and a great learning experience for everyone.
For those of you in the Montreal area that can't make it up to Ottawa, Island Willow will be resuming it's ritual duties for Midsummer... more info to follow!
For those of you in the Montreal area that can't make it up to Ottawa, Island Willow will be resuming it's ritual duties for Midsummer... more info to follow!
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