On September 20, 2020 at 4 PM, around 32 attendees came together online to celebrate the Autumn Equinox together, and honor the marriage of Dionysus and Ariadne.
This was the fifth virtual ritual that Columbia Grove has produced together, and we had people joining us from all over the continent. How blessed we are in these days to be able to still come together during the pandemic, and even have folks from out of state attending who would not otherwise be able to!
The deities honored for this ritual were:
Hestia the Hearth Keeper, Gaea as the Earth, Columbia our sovereign deity, Athena as the warrior, Apollo for inspiration, and Hekate to show us the paths between the worlds.
The Grove has been experimenting with new and different ways of "opening the gates" and this time we asked folks to join their energy with ours as we tried asking Hekate to shine her lanterns on the paths instead.
We are also taking advantage of the format of the virtual rites to try mixing things up a little bit from our norm, which usually is set in a way to accommodate accessibility when it comes to all the movement typically associated with an in person rite.
If you were able to attend our virtual rite, and you noticed things done in different ways, let us know if you liked it or disliked it, or how you would like to see things possibly shifted in the future! You can send your feedback to ColumbiaADF@gmail.com.
Rook took the omen from the Greek alphabet oracle by using a set of dice and correlating the numbers to the oracle. Below is the write up of the omens and their interpretation that Rook provided.
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The Ancestors gave us Lambda (19) "The one passing on the left {Laios} bodes well for everything."
Passing: going through; bodes: shows, indicates, gives a sign, signifies, declares; well: rightly, happily, fortunately.
Since the left is traditionally the sinister side, the oracle may mean that an apparently sinister thing or event may be a blessing in disguise. The left is also associated with the unconscious, lunar mind, and so unconscious processes or intuition may signal a favorable outcome. A promising sign comes from an unpromising quarter.
The Nature Spirits gave us Xi (16) "There is no fruit to take from a withered {Xêros} shoot."
Fruit: produce, return, profit, result; withered: lean, harsh.
There is no good to be gained from an angry young man or woman. The frayed end of a good line. Harshness and stinginess will achieve nothing. You can't get blood from a turnip; you can't get water from a stone. Don't polish a turd.
The Goddex gave us Zeta (24) "Flee the very great storm {Zalê}, lest you be disabled in some way"
Storm: surge, distress; disabled: hindered.
Don't make a sea-voyage in bad weather. It is futile to fight the force of the ocean; likewise, bucking the inevitable will weaken you and hinder your progress. Avoid raging storms of any kind; save your energy for when it can be effective. Sometimes flight is wiser than fight.
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Afterwards we gathered together and opened up the mics so folks could ask questions about the ritual, ADF, or related items on their mind. We had very fruitful discussions about the Godden, our reoccurring Beyond the Gates camping event, and the practice of veiling in various pagan cultures.
Our thanks for this ritual goes out to Rook for leading the ritual and writing much of it, and Arin for co-leading and filling in the rest. Zabet played the lute for us while folks gathered and conversed in the chat, and Spider handled the tech.
And also big thanks to Claire, Andrea, Stacey, Forest, and David for taking roles in the ritual.
All told, it was subjectively a beautiful rite, and though we look forward to meeting in person once more, we also appreciate and love the virtual aspect and appreciate everyone who logged in an loaned us their energy.
Ghost:*!
On Saturday January 27th, members and friends of Columbia Grove along with our beloved guests celebrated the High Day of Imbolc as one united pagan community. This ritual was held indoors and we had an excellent turnout of many old and new faces. This rite was led by Amber and Cheriti, and our members Ari, Indigo, Arin, Corwind, David, Pence and Buffalo also took invocations and roles to create a rite full of teamwork and magical energy. This Imbolc rite was to Brigid, Triple Goddess of Smithwork, Healing and Poetry, Goddess of Women, Children and Rebirth. As one tribe we called upon The Morrigan as our protector to watch and shield us from harm. We called upon our Earth Mother as Danu and our sovereign Goddess Columbia named after the river that sustains us. Manannán mac Lir was invoked as our psychopomp, our gatekeeper, with a chanting invocation to open the gates and allow us safe passage to commune with our three Kindred; the Ancestors, the Nature Spirits, and the Gods and Goddesses which were appropriately honored by members of our community.
Brigid was invoked with cream, fire and a devotional song in native Irish Celtic.
For the main working of this rite guests wrote down something that needed Brigid’s powerful and careful healing within their lives onto a strip of cellulose dissolving paper that was mixed into a glass container symbolic of her well. A few drops of sacred water that had been retrieved from one of her healing wells in Ireland hallowed our well. After mixing their healing wishes to Brigid, guests cemented their devotion with three falls of hammer to anvil. Each guest received a candle that was lit from candles that had touched Brigid’s sacred flame in Ireland. We held our candles high to Brigid as we sang songs to her.
Our Seer, Arin, pulled the following Omens: The Ancestors gave us the Bee. They remind us that we have community and that we are never alone. We follow in the footsteps of our ancestors and they walk alongside us
The Nature Spirits gave us the Cow.
Not only are we to acknowledge our community but lets not forget that we have a living family as well. We were told not to forget the mothers in our life, be them blood or spiritual for they have gave and/or give us life.
The Shining Ones (Gods and Goddesses) gave us the Bull.
They encourage us to see our strength, and to acknowledge the wealth in our lives
The Goddess Brigid gave us the Blackbird.
She offered a message that we are not to forget that the world is fluid and ever changing. Her message was that things may change, for good or ill, and that we will always come out on top if we accept change as a part of life. Overall our message from the Three Kindred and Brigid When change is upon us we will thrive best if we hold onto our community and family. We are blessed wealthy in love and support so long as we seek it out when we need it. We look forward to celebrating a Hellenic Greek)Spring Equinox “Festival of Flowers” with you all on Saturday March 16th! Until then, Happy Midwinter and may you stay warm in body, soul, heart and mind!
~ The Friends and Members of Columbia Grove
Written by Arin D'Wulf
On December 15th, 2018, 37 members of the Portland Pagan community came together to honor the Winter Solstice. Our rite was a Mother's Night in the Anglo-Saxon tradition. We called on Thunor, god of Thunder, to protect our rite and guard the Outdwellers. For inspiration we called and offered to Woden. The Earth mother we named Erce, and offering of song was made to strengthen our relationship with our sovereign goddess Columbia. To open the gates we called out to Hama, creating the magic with him that was required to make sacred space. This ritual was held in honor of the Goddesses and Mothers, and those who walk with the Mothers. It was also held in honor of Horsa.
Offerings were made to the Mothers, and to the Kindreds three. And as we all sang Wassail, Horsa trotted out to ask for offerings. Chocolate Coins were offered, which Horsa accepted on behalf of the Nature Spirits and the spirit of the horse.
We took blessings from the Ancestors, Nature Spirits, and Shining ones, in the form of Rune cards from the Anglo-Saxon books. Beth, who lead the ritual, also took the omen.
Ancestors: Cen, Torch
Nature Spirits: Man, Mankind
Deities: Gyfu, Gift
The Ancestors remind us to carry the torch of leadership with courage.
The Nature Spirits remind us that mankind is mortal and we need each other's fellowship.
The Deities remind us to be hospitable and generous. We give that we may receive.
We would like to extend our thanks out to everyone who helped make this ritual a success. Beth and Arin for leading the ritual. Spider, David, Ari, Cheriti and Corwind for their help taking parts during ritual. And of course thanks goes to all the Friends of Columbia who helped with setup, and with the kitchen on Saturday.
Join us on January 27th, as we honor Brigid at Imbolc!
Photo credit to Cheriti and Eidh.