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!
Friday, March 14, 2008
Ostara Ritual With the Concordia University Pagan Society
We would like to invite everyone to join us to celebrate Ostara on March 21st, 2008 at 7pm on the second floor of Melange Magique (1928 St.Catherine Ouest).
This is a rather special ritual for us because we will be holding it in conjunction with C.U.P.S. We have been looking forward to joining them for a rite for quite some time now and we are happy that it has finally happened.
So, as per our usual rotation, this rite will be performed in the Norse tradition. We will be celebrating the Spring Equinox and in doing so honoring the ancient Germanic goddess Eostre, for whom Ostara was named.
There is no need to bring anything, all materials will be provided, just show up and take part honoring the Gods!
This is a rather special ritual for us because we will be holding it in conjunction with C.U.P.S. We have been looking forward to joining them for a rite for quite some time now and we are happy that it has finally happened.
So, as per our usual rotation, this rite will be performed in the Norse tradition. We will be celebrating the Spring Equinox and in doing so honoring the ancient Germanic goddess Eostre, for whom Ostara was named.
There is no need to bring anything, all materials will be provided, just show up and take part honoring the Gods!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Following Up on Imbolc
Imbolc is past and done. I'm pleased that we got to try out some new things and expanded our Celtic horizons. We added two new Grove hallows; a rainstick for dealing with Mannannan and spear to use as a tribute to Lugh.
We used Imbolc as our ancestors did, to start preparations for the coming of Spring. We got ourselves mentally and spiritually prepared for the new season and I reported to the grove on some of the projects we will be working on in the Spring and throughout the year. They added some interesting input and we are ready to make them happen!!!
The omen for Imbolc was interesting... it does not happen often that a Seer is stumped or confused by a reading but this one took some thought. Ironically, it turns out that the message was so simple, that it was initially over looked. Brigid congratulated us on our dedication to our Grove members... and said nothing of our tributes to her. This means that as a Grove we are doing all the right things, but that we should turn it up a notch next time we deal with Brigid!
Stay tuned for upcoming events!
We used Imbolc as our ancestors did, to start preparations for the coming of Spring. We got ourselves mentally and spiritually prepared for the new season and I reported to the grove on some of the projects we will be working on in the Spring and throughout the year. They added some interesting input and we are ready to make them happen!!!
The omen for Imbolc was interesting... it does not happen often that a Seer is stumped or confused by a reading but this one took some thought. Ironically, it turns out that the message was so simple, that it was initially over looked. Brigid congratulated us on our dedication to our Grove members... and said nothing of our tributes to her. This means that as a Grove we are doing all the right things, but that we should turn it up a notch next time we deal with Brigid!
Stay tuned for upcoming events!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Imbolc Ritual
Island Willow Protogrove, ADF will be holding it's Imbolc Rite on February 2nd, 2008. The pre-ritual briefing begins at 7:30pm and the ritual itself will begin at 8:00pm sharp.
Imbolc will be done in the Celtic tradition and the main working of our rite will be devoted to the Goddess Brigid. We ask that everyone prepare an offering of poetry for her [and yes, we expect you to recite it... but you get judged on effort not ability]. The offering of poetry should be something that has meaning for her, you can write it yourself or choose something already written.
As for food, please eat supper before hand, although as part of the ritual some snacks will be provided.
We will also ask a small anonymous donation from those attending the Rite as a contribution to offset the costs of running the ritual, it can be anything from two cents to a million dollars... although most people just donate pocket change... whatever you feel comfortable with is fine with us.
The Rite will be hosted at Raven's place in the West Island. Please email us at islandwillow@gmail.com to RSVP and/or to get directions.
Imbolc will be done in the Celtic tradition and the main working of our rite will be devoted to the Goddess Brigid. We ask that everyone prepare an offering of poetry for her [and yes, we expect you to recite it... but you get judged on effort not ability]. The offering of poetry should be something that has meaning for her, you can write it yourself or choose something already written.
As for food, please eat supper before hand, although as part of the ritual some snacks will be provided.
We will also ask a small anonymous donation from those attending the Rite as a contribution to offset the costs of running the ritual, it can be anything from two cents to a million dollars... although most people just donate pocket change... whatever you feel comfortable with is fine with us.
The Rite will be hosted at Raven's place in the West Island. Please email us at islandwillow@gmail.com to RSVP and/or to get directions.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Yuletide Round-Up
We'd like to thank all of the family and friends of Island Willow Protogrove, ADF that came out and took part in our Yule Vigil. Whether you came for the opening rite, the closing rite or part of the long night in between, your support was appreciated. We'd also like to thank our team of Guardians for their wakeful diligence in keeping the Sun's light burning strong throughout the longest night.
Our Protogrove will soon be gathering to have a little "lessons learned" debriefing. This serves to discuss what we did right and what we'd like to improve on. The omen was a positive one; that our sense of home is our strength. This makes us very happy, for that sense of home and family is exactly where we want to be. We hope to see you all soon!
Our Protogrove will soon be gathering to have a little "lessons learned" debriefing. This serves to discuss what we did right and what we'd like to improve on. The omen was a positive one; that our sense of home is our strength. This makes us very happy, for that sense of home and family is exactly where we want to be. We hope to see you all soon!
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