Open Yule Ritual: Rune of Renewal and Enlightenment — CANCELLED — See you next year at other events!

Saturday, Dec. 20, 3-6 PM at Ripley-Grier Studios, Manhattan

All Pagan and Pagan-friendly folks aged 18 and older are welcome to join us for a joyful magical Norse-style rite to brighten our lives with the power of the Returning Yuletide Sun. Many northern European cultures continue their ancestral practices of celebrating the Winter Solstice and the rising of the Sun after the longest night of the year, and SGC is happy to provide our NYC area community with this opportunity to gather and turn the Wheel of the Year together. After the ritual is complete, we will share a potluck meal in an informal communal feast until we need to return to the mundane world.

$20 donation is required to cover the cost of the room rental and materials.

Reserve your spot before December 17th for only $15 via PayPal or Venmo to TheCraftyPlum@gmail.com, or email your name or mark yourself “Going” on our Facebook Event page and pay $15 cash at the event. Payments will be collected at the door to gain entry, and the door will be closed at 3:30 with no admittance thereafter so as not to interrupt The Work.

Please bring a potluck food item or non-alcoholic beverage to share (label your homemade food in case anyone has allergies) for our communal feast after the ritual. In an effort to reduce our use of plastic disposables, please bring a cup, dish, and utensils with you, if possible.

We look forward to seeing you for our joyful Yule celebration. Blessed Be!

WHAT: Strangers’ Gate Coven’s Open Yule: Rune of Renewal and Enlightenment
WHEN: Saturday, December 20th from 3:00-6:00 PM
WHERE:Ripley-Grier Studios, 520 8th Ave., NYC studio # 16 O

ACCESSIBILITY: Elevator access available. 

WHAT TO BRING:
** ID as you will need to show it upon entering the building to access the elevators to Ripley-Grier

** Entry fee if you haven’t paid in advance

** A non-alcoholic beverage, dish, or snack to share for our post-rite communal feast (please label ingredients)

---

---

It was a pleasure having such a marvelous group make our Samhain Ancestral Wisdom & Remembrance Labyrinth Walk a meaningful powerful rite. Thank you for your participation! Blessed Samhain to All!

Samhain Ancestral Wisdom & Remembrance Labyrinth Walk on Sunday, October 26th from 4:00-7:00 PM

Note the time, please — Due to room rental availability we will welcome you in at 4 PM; doors will be closed at 4:30 to avoid interrupting The Work, and we must clear the space by 7. Also, upon entering the building everyone’s required to show ID and say they’re going to Ripley-Grier.

Come participate in an Ancestral Wisdom & Remembrance Labyrinth Walk for Samhain with Strangers’ Gate Coven!

As the veil thins and the spiral calls, we gather to walk the labyrinth in honor of Samhain, guided by elemental and ancestral powers as we move through the mystery with intention and care.

All Pagan and Pagan-friendly folks aged 18 and older are welcome to join us for a solemn magical Celtic rite to gain wisdom from the Powers That Be and our Ancestors as we peek beyond the veil. Samhain is the Celtic New Year, a time when Wiccans/Pagans connect with those who have passed on, and perhaps look back on the previous twelve months to gain wisdom for what is to come.

Please note: No shoes on the canvas labyrinth, unless needed for medical support (booties can be provided).

After the ritual is complete, we will share a potluck meal in an informal communal feast until we need to return to the mundane world.

A $20 donation is required to cover the cost of the room rental and materials.

Reserve your spot before October 23rd for only $15 via PayPal or Venmo to TheCraftyPlum@gmail.com, or email your name or mark yourself “Going” on our Facebook Event page and pay $15 cash at the event. Payments will be collected at the door to gain entry, and the door will be closed at 4:30 with no admittance thereafter so as not to interrupt The Work.

Please bring a potluck food item or non-alcoholic beverage to share (label your homemade food in case anyone has allergies) for our communal feast after the ritual. In an effort to reduce our use of plastic disposables, please bring a cup, dish, and utensils with you, if possible.

We look forward to seeing you for our Samhain celebration. Blessed Be!

WHAT: Strangers’ Gate Coven’s Ancestral Wisdom & Remembrance Labyrinth Walk for Samhain
WHEN: Sunday, October 26th from 4:00-7:00 PM
WHERE:Ripley-Grier Studios, 520 8th Avenue, NYC studio # 17 D (see studio map below)

ACCESSIBILITY: Elevator access available. Seating and gentle pacing options are provided for mobility-challenged guests. Please let us know if you need additional support.

WHAT TO BRING:
ID to show upon entering the building so you can take the elevator up to Ripley-Grier. Entry fee if you haven’t paid in advance
A small item for the communal Ancestor Altar (e.g. photo, token, leaf, stone — no lit candles or incense permitted)
A dish or snack to share for our post-rite communal feast (please label ingredients)

---

Autumn Equinox Ritual
Saturday, Sept. 20th in Central Park

Come and celebrate the Autumn Equinox with Strangers’ Gate Coven! All Pagan and Pagan-friendly folks aged 18 and older are welcome to join us for our magical rite in which we will connect with the seasonal change and restore our personal balance. Autumn leaves fall and then disintegrate to nurture new life and bounty, so we will use them and their natural process for our Work. Please find and bring a natural leaf, hopefully one that’s starting to change color, so we can each empower them with what we wish to release at this turning of the Wheel of the Year.

A $15 donation is requested to cover the cost of materials, but nobody will be turned away for lack of funds. Reserve your spot before September 17th for only $10 via PayPal or Venmo to TheCraftyPlum@gmail.com, or email your name and pay $10 cash at the event.

Please bring a pot-luck food item or non-alcoholic beverage to share (label your homemade food in case anyone has allergies) and a blanket (or chair) to sit on for our communal feast after the ritual. In an effort to reduce our use of plastic disposables, please bring a cup, dish, and utensils with you, if possible.

We look forward to seeing you for our Autumn Equinox celebration — the more, the merrier! Blessed Be!

WHAT: Strangers’ Gate Coven’s Open Autumn Equinox Ritual
WHEN: 3:00-6:00+ PM on Saturday, September 20th
WHERE: Look for the SGC sign with a bright yellow background held by a coven member at the W. 72nd St. benches at the entrance to Central Park. A little after 3 PM we’ll walk to our spot within the park.

---

---

Join us for our Open Lughnasadh Ritual this Saturday, Aug, 9th in Central Park! (postponed from 7/27 due to thunderstorms)

Join Strangers’ Gate Coven in celebrating the Magic of Lughnasadh! The first harvest festival on the Celtic Wheel of the Year is called Lughnasadh because the multi-talented god Lugh Lamfada established a celebration with games of skill in honor of his foster mother Tailtiu. Our ritual’s Work will include playing 3 games with 1st/2nd/3rd place prizes for winners of each of them. Next, as we enjoy the summer sun and the fruits of nature’s bounty in our communal feast, we’ll raise our voices and our energy together — please bring something creative to share as a Celtic Bardic Offering such as a short poem, story, song, dance, play a tune, or present a work of artistry that you’ve created yourself.

RSVP so we’re sure to have enough materials for everyone, thanks! A $15 donation is requested to cover the cost of materials, but nobody will be turned away for lack of funds. Any additional money collected will be put towards the cost of room rentals for future events. Reserve your spot before August 6th for only $10 via PayPal or Venmo to TheCraftyPlum@gmail.com, or email your name and pay $10 cash at the event.

All Pagan and Pagan-friendly folks aged 18 and older are welcome. Please spread the word — the more the merrier!

Please bring a pot-luck food item or non-alcoholic beverage to share (label your homemade food in case anyone has allergies) and a blanket (or chair) to sit on for our communal feast as we present our Bardic Offerings during the ritual. In an effort to reduce our use of plastic disposables, please bring a cup, dish, and utensils with you, if possible.

We look forward to seeing you for our Lughnasadh celebration! Blessed Be

WHAT: Strangers’ Gate Coven’s Open Lughnasadh Ritual
WHEN: 3:00-6:00+ PM on Saturday, August 9th
WHERE: Look for the SGC sign with a bright yellow background held by a coven member at the West 72nd St. benches to Central Park. A little after 3 PM we’ll walk to our spot within the park.

---

---

Looking forward to seeing you this Saturday, June 21st, for our Open Midsummer Fairy Devotional Ritual! RSVP so we’re sure to have enough materials for everyone! Details below.
Here’s some more fun fairy stuff to when your appetite — more has been posted on our Facebook/Meta event page and Instagram. Blessed Be!

Open Midsummer event — Fairy Devotional Ritual on Saturday, June 21st

All Pagan and Pagan-friendly folks aged 18+ are welcome to celebrate Midsummer with Strangers’ Gate Coven by participating in our special Fairy Devotional Ritual! Dress in fun fairy garb and join us in making devotional offerings to the Fairies of the World of biodegradable items (small berries, seeds, nuts, flowers, shiny pebbles) and/or share stories, poems, songs, or artwork.

We hope you will join us in sharing fairy tales/poems/songs from around the world! A multitude of magical beings of every culture can be labeled fairies, fae, faeries, etc. Several stories and such are being posted on our Facebook/Meta event page to give you an inkling of the spectrum of offerings that may be made in our rite, and one is shared here, too, after the mundane details.

As always, we will do introductions and go over the ritual outline including teaching songs and chants before we begin working our magic together.

After the magical rite we will celebrate community with a post-ritual potluck picnic feast. Please bring food or drink to share, and label your items in case of allergies. We’ll have some utensils, cups, and napkins, but recommend bringing your own set to cut down on trash. Blankets or other things to sit upon would be helpful, too!

An SGC Elder will be holding a bright yellow sign with our SGC logo as she sits on a bench at West 72nd Street off Central Park West; at 3 PM she will guide attendees to our ritual spot (a little past Strawberry Fields).

We request $10 per person in advance (via PayPal or Venmo to thecraftyplum@gmail.com) or $15 on site to defray the cost of materials but nobody will be turned away for lack of funds.

---

Mark Your Calendars: Dates set for our Open Sabbats!

All of our Open Sabbats will be held in Manhattan, in Central Park weather permitting. More details will be posted closer to each date; you can also scroll down this page to see how we celebrated in previous years.

We look forward to welcoming all Pagan/Wiccan and Pagan/Wiccan-friendly folks aged 18+ to our rituals. Blessed Be!

Midsummer. Sat. June 21    3-6 PM 

Lughnasadh Sun. July 27    3-6 PM 

Mabon. Sat. Sept. 20    3-6 PM

Samhain. Sun. Oct. 26    3-6 PM

Yule Sat. Dec. 20    3-6 PM

---

Blessed Beltane!

We had a marvelous Open Beltane Ritual in Central Park, and thank everyone who participated in our purifying labyrinth walk through representations of the sacred Belfires. It was wonderful celebrating with so many fellow Pagans/Wiccans and Pagan-friendly folks, working magic together and chatting during our communal feast, and we look forward to repeating the joyful magic during future open events — calendar will be posted soon! In the meantime here are some photos from April 27th. Blessed Be!

---

Open Beltane Ritual on Sunday, April 27, 2025 in Central Park!

Happy Spring, everybody! All Pagan and Pagan-friendly folks aged 18+ are invited to celebrate Beltane with us starting at 3 PM on April 27th in Central Park, weather permitting.

Beltane (also spelled Bealtaine, Beltaine, Bealtinn, etc.) is usually honored on May 1st as the midpoint between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. It is one of the Celtic fire festivals and was a time when immense bonfires were lit and farmers’ livestock were walked between them to purify them of mites and such that they may be suffering from after a long winter indoors. Also, the first Saturday in May is when World Labyrinth Day is celebrated, so we will be honoring that in our ritual as well. We will be stepping through representations of purifying Belfires — sorry, it wouldn’t be safe to have real fires in Central Park! — and walk a labyrinth to further purify ourselves through magic and song, then celebrate community with a post-ritual potluck feast. As always, we will go over the outline of the proceedings before we start the rite so everyone is in the same headspace and learns the songs we’ll be singing.

Please bring food or drink to share, and label your items in case of allergies. We’ll have some utensils, cups, and napkins, but recommend bringing your own set to cut down on trash.

We look forward to seeing you there! Please spread the word.

What: SGC Open Beltane Ritual

When: Sunday, April 27th starting at 3 PM (approximately 3-5 PM depending on how many participants there are, and how long we socialize during the post-ritual potluck)

Where: Please meet us on the park benches at West 72nd Street where an SGC Elder will be holding a bright yellow sign with our SGC logo. At 3 PM we will walk to our ritual location a little bit past Strawberry Fields.

Bring: Your joyful authentic self and any Pagan/Pagan-friendly folk aged 18+ who would like to celebrate with us! Something to sit upon during our post-ritual potluck; food/drink to share and labelled in case anyone has allergies; cup/utensils to cut down on trash. We request $10 per person (cash preferred; PayPal, Venmo, cc accepted if Nanci can get her Square to work, lol) to defray the cost of materials but nobody will be turned away for lack of funds. Any additional money collected will be put towards the cost of room rentals for future events.

---

2025 Announcement

Thank you, everyone, for your interest in Strangers’ Gate Coven and for filling out our website’s questionnaire. We Elders have decided to hold open rituals instead of a full class curriculum this year, and we invite you to attend these in Central Park (weather permitting). We will create event pages on Facebook/Meta and share the info here on our website as well as on Instagram. Blessed Be, and we look forward to meeting you in person!

Blessings,

Nanci, Athena, and Ruthann

---

Happy New Year! Please read, share, & answer our questionnaire!

Are you in the NYC area and interested in learning about Wicca in person rather than virtually? Want to experience witchcraft beyond WitchTok? Strangers’ Gate Coven is considering offering Wicca 101 classes and events in Manhattan to seekers.aged 20+.

Please cut and paste these five questions into an email via our website’s Contact page and add your personal responses before sending it to us. We look forward to hearing from you no later than March 1st, and we will notify everyone by March 10th. Blessed Be!

1. Are you available to meet on two Sundays a month from 12-3 PM in Manhattan from April to October?

2. Do you follow a Wiccan/Pagan path? If so, are you currently practicing with a group?

3. Do you celebrate Sabbats and/or Esbats?

4. What are a few of your favorite occult/spiritual books?

5. Do you have a particular pantheon that resonates with you?

---

Blessed Summer Solstice and Full Moon!

It’s quite rare for this Sabbat and Esbat to coincide, so consider incorporating the energies of both the longest day and the Full Moon into any magickal Work you do at this time. Get outside if you can stand the heat safely, or stay comfortable inside an air-conditioned space knowing that the Sun and Moon continue their celestial dances with Earth whether you see them with your own eyes or not.

Scroll down this Welcome Page to see our previous posts about the Summer Solstice/Midsummer/Litha, including poems and images related to this holiday. Blessed Be!

---

Sacred Space Conference 2024 was WONDERFUL!

We thank all of the board members, volunteers, fellow presenters, and attendees for creating such a marvelous magical event in a safe welcoming space. It was a pleasure facilitating our Brigid’s Hoop Dance Ritual and Hekate’s Labyrinth Ritual for the first time for everyone at SSC, and we hope all the participants had meaningful experiences with us — we received loads of positive feedback during and after the rites and thank you for coming up to us and letting us know! We will post a few photos here; if you took pictures that you’re willing to share with us and allow us to post on social media, please send them to Nanci at thecraftyplum@gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing you next year! Blessed Be!

Hekate’s Labyrinth created by Athena

Athena was the creatrix and High Priestess of this contemplative ritual which allowed participants to walk the labyrinth and rid themselves of something they no longer wanted in their lives. She prefaced the rite with information about Hekate who was asked to aid each walker in their journey along the winding path.

Nanci, Ruthann, and Athena after facilitating the Brigid’s Hoop Dance Ritual. This was an abbreviated version of what SGC and our former temple have been sharing with the NYC community for over 2 decades, and Nanci in particular was overjoyed to be able to share it at Sacred Space this year and to have attendees use her handmade hoop to request Brigid’s blessings for themselves and others. Bi se!

---

Blessed Summer Solstice / Midsummer / Litha!

Enjoy the longest day of the year! Nanci wrote this poem in 2008 to honor the Fae Folk during a coven ritual:

FOR THE FAIRIES by Nanci Moy

Sunlight streaming and moon’s cool beaming
Seasons a-turning eternally

Fragrance teases on whispering breezes
Brooks a-babbling in giggling glee

All is of Faerie, bright and airy
Midsummer dances gloriously

Feel how the pulse it thrums so dulcet
Rhythmic feet pattering fast and free

Shining Ones sail through a shimmering veil
Mystical presence felt soulfully

Fairies abound, such a thunderous sound
Blossoms in all in deep harmony

Wings whir unseen, catch fresh scent of green
Magic rings ’round us mushroomingly

A flame sparks within, marking us kin
We bow low to the Court of the Sidhe

And give thanks for their gifts ere the Wheel shifts
On Midsummer Night, most Blessed Be

---

---

---

Virtual Labyrinth Walk for World Labyrinth Day

Sat. May 7, 2023 via Zoom from 12:15-2 PM EST

Strangers’ Gate Coven is happy to facilitate a Virtual Labyrinth Walk to celebrate World Labyrinth Day! World Labyrinth Day is an annual event sponsored by The Labyrinth Society. Every year on the first Saturday in May, thousands worldwide participate in a moving meditation for world peace.

“Walk as One at 1” aims to create a rolling wave of peaceful energy across the globe. Join us and participate with Nanci, Ruthann, Athena as we will facilitate a virtual handheld labyrinth walk. We’ll start promptly on Zoom at 12:15 so we can talk about World Labyrinth Day and the Labyrinth, have a short evocation and meditation, and peacefully walk our labyrinths starting at 1 PM with others in our time zone; we’ll have time to chat and share our experiences afterward.

Join us in this Global event and connect with the World for Peace.

Paper labyrinths are available to download in the discussion section of our Facebook Event Page. Please be ready with a printout of a labyrinth of your choice, or if you have a carved one, use that. Also, have a candle, a journal, and a bottle of water or beverage.

We look forward to having you join us in spreading peace throughout the world. Blessed Be!

Athena Dugan is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: World Labyrinth Day Virtual Walk with Strangers Gate Coven
Time: May 6, 2023, 12:15 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88540985134?pwd=dG4zSlBWanFTOE1lU1k4Wm5PcWxydz09

Meeting ID: 885 4098 5134
Passcode: 736257
One tap mobile
+13092053325,,88540985134#,,,,*736257# US
+13126266799,,88540985134#,,,,*736257# US (Chicago)

Dial by your location
+1 309 205 3325 US
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 646 931 3860 US
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 305 224 1968 US
+1 360 209 5623 US
+1 386 347 5053 US
+1 507 473 4847 US
+1 564 217 2000 US
+1 669 444 9171 US
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
+1 689 278 1000 US
+1 719 359 4580 US
+1 253 205 0468 US
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
Meeting ID: 885 4098 5134
Passcode: 736257
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcehtGSt2S

---

---

We continue to share fun witchy info on Facebook and Instagram, so please follow us there! Blessed Be!

Sharing this classic Calvin & Hobbes cartoon by Bill Watterson in honor of my fellow allergy sufferers, lol. Happy Springtime!

---

Spring Equinox Ritual on Cherry Hill in Central Park, NYC

CANCELLED due to rain and other factors

— we look forward to seeing you at future events!

on Sat. March 25th from 2-5 PM! Come walk the labyrinth with us!

---

Open Imbolc Ritual — Saturday, January 28, 2023

Come join us for our first public event of the year!

Imbolc is a celebration of the Celtic Goddess & Saint Brigid, patroness of healers, bards, smiths/crafters, and more. We’ll be sharing some lore about this deity and Imbolc while we finish our set-up for the rite at Ripley-Grier Studios (305 West 38th Street at 8th Ave., Studio 310 on the 3rd floor, elevators in the building, easily accessible by public transportation), and will then have a lively fun time as we join in circle together.

The ritual will start at 2:30 and can be enjoyed by experienced Pagans/Wiccans, folks who are new to the Craft, curious Muggles, and anyone in between who will respectfully participate with all present. We invite you to bring a short bardic offering that’s Celtic in nature and/or fits the transition from winter into the approaching spring such as a song, poem, presentation of something you’ve made, or a story. The primary Work of the rite will be a simple dance to call upon Brigid’s blessings for ourselves, our community, and the world — if you can step into a hula hoop on the floor then you can do this dance!

PRICE per attendee: $15 in advance, $20 at the door, payable to thecraftyplum@gmail.com via PayPal or Venmo (or cash upon arrival) to cover the room rental fee. All will be required to show proof of COVID vaccination and are encouraged to stay masked. We won’t be doing a communal feast but we will provide a snack and juice as part of the ritual, so please bring a port-a-chalice to help us cut down on plastic cups.

RSVP IN ADVANCE at the discounted rate so we can make sure we have a large enough space for everyone! Space is limited, and we’d hate to have to turn away anyone at the door.

Looking forward to welcoming you to our first open ritual in years! Blessed Be!

---

Hail, Floralia!

Blessings of Floralia’s colorful abundance to all! May you flourish in the growing sunshine, blooming joyfully as we turn the Wheel of the Year.

---

Blessed Spring Equinox!

Spring is a time to celebrate new beginnings, fresh growth, and positive change. Rituals may be include planting seeds, both physically and spiritually, to foster growth as the Wheel of the Year turns. You could consider incorporating flowers, eggs, and seasonal fruit, too.

In 2022 we’ll have a Full Moon just after midnight EST on March 18th, followed by the Spring Equinox on March 20th, so you could celebrate both events in a single rite if you wish. Blessed Be!

Our hearts go out to all who are suffering in Ukraine. If you wish to support the Ukrainian people, here are some ways to help: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-ukraine-refugees-donations-charity/?fbclid=IwAR0P952hmSGGqQeefPDyVwBW5E2mEYhlqDugsB7oLuZI_WZXri7bbF5jIzE

---

Blessed Imbolc!

Imbolc (also called Oimelc, meaning “in the milk” for the lactating sheep of the season), is the holy day of the Celtic Goddess and Saint Brigid. She is the Patroness of Healers, Bards, and Smiths; the fires of inspiration; the light of the burgeoning Spring; the sacred midwife; Mother of the Gaels as part of Ireland’s trinity of patron saints with Columba and Patrick; peace keeper; and so much more. There are wells dedicated to her throughout Ireland, but her home is in Kildare (cill dara = church/grove of the oak). The photo below includes an image of Brigid’s Wayside Well which is located near the National Stud and the Japanese gardens of Kildare, plus several Brigid’s crosses woven of pipe cleaners and cocktail straws as it’s difficult to find the traditional reeds in NYC. The middle document is a song sheet used in previous open rituals that has images of Brigid’s eternal flame which stands in the center of Kildare; the holy well that’s adjacent to a statue of St. Brigid and the stations of the cross for Catholic worshipers, plus a clootie tree where folks tie bits of cloth asking for healing aid and blessings; and drawings of sheep, snowdrops, and a hoop, all of which are sacred to Her. The gorgeous illustration on the right is Helena Nelson-Reed’s “The Flaming Arrow” which includes several symbols related to Brigid.

You can celebrate Brigid by lighting a candle, writing a poem/song/story/etc., and/or weaving a Brigid’s cross. For more information as well as instructions on how to weave a Brigid’s cross, check out this 2020 video featuring SGC Elders Nanci, Athena, and Ruthann: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsHc7vJCmyo Blessed Be!

---

Blessed Winter Solstice/Yule/Saturnalia!

May the growing Sun bring you joyful abundance. Here’s a poem written for this festive season when we were able to gather safely with others. Please get vaccinated and boosted so that you and your loved ones are less likely to get or suffer the worst effects of COVID. Let us all work together to weaken the hold of this global pandemic by staying in our cozy homes as much as possible for this in-gathering of winter, wearing masks whenever we’re around other people, quarantining when necessary, and encouraging others to do all of these things as well. Here’s hoping we’ll be able to celebrate in person next year without worrying about health risks! So Mote It Be!

---

Blessed Samhain!

Samhain (usually pronounced “SOW-in”) is a cross-quarter holiday on the Celtic Wheel of the Year, falling exactly opposite Beltane (5/1) and associated with several traditions.

Honor Ancestors: The veil between the worlds is thinnest at this time, when spirits of dead ancestors as well as other spirits (sprites, pixies, elves, the Sidhe/fey/faerie/Shining Ones) can come closer, and dance in celebration and companionship – and maybe mischief! – or have their memories honored. Some customs involve setting a place at the table for them, leaving food out for them, and/or placing lights in windows to help them find their way or as wards/protections for the home. We respectfully acknowledge death and those who have passed on, but remember that spirits can be ambivalent about humans.  (NOTE: We do not call back or summon the dead, but instead we set up a situation for them to effectively participate in the festivities while they remain on the other side of the Veil). One way to honor Ancestors is by participating in a dumb supper/feast – either have a silent remembrance feast with the ancestors’ favorite foods, or put food in a cemetery for those who’ve passed on.

Samhain is also considered the Celtic New Year by many Wiccans/Pagans, seen as the beginning and end of the year simultaneously (endless cycle) – this day belongs to neither year. We recognize death as the beginning of a rebirth into a new life, the darkness before the light. This is a good time for divination or projection magic due to the thinner veil when the spirit world is closer, where past/present/future blur.

Some folks celebrate it as a fire festival by extinguishing all the fires in a household (or a community) except for the hearth (or need) fire, then lighting a taper or torch from the main bonfire and using it to relight all of the other lamps/fires.

However you choose to honor this day, we wish you bountiful blessings at this sacred time. Blessed Be!

---

Blessed Autumn Equinox! Wishing you a bountiful Second Harvest and peaceful balance.

Many Pagans call this Sabbat Mabon named after Mabon ap Modron (this translates as “son of the mother”) who may be equated with the Roman god Maponus. There’s little information about Mabon aside from the Welsh tale which I’ll summarize here: Mabon was kidnapped when he was only 3 days old, yet he’s also considered the oldest of Humankind. The hero Kilhwch had to consult with 5 successively ancient creatures — Ousel, Stag, Owl, Eagle, and Salmon — before the Salmon said he knew where Mabon was, and swam up the river with Kilhwch on his back to the place where Mabon was imprisoned. Kilhwch contacted King Arthur who came with his knights to release Mabon.

The story may be old, but the idea of calling this Sabbat Mabon is relatively new. Pagan writer Aiden Kelly in the 1970s was creating a calendar and decided Mabon was much easier to say and write than Autumn Equinox, and the name stuck. Here’s Sorita d’Este’s article with the details: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/adamantinemuse/2019/09/did-mabon-steal-the-autumn-equinox/

---

Happy Lughnasadh/Lunasa/Lammas/First Harvest!

The time around August 1st in the Northern Hemisphere is celebrated by the Celts as Lughnasadh, named after the multitalented Lugh Lamfada. Here’s a photo of Tara, the ancient Irish seat of power where Lugh traveled in hopes of becoming a member of King Nuada’s court (we recommend reading about the Second Battle of Magh Tuired, a.k.a. Moytura, which is a tale including many of the Celtic deities). The gatekeeper asks him “What art do you practice? For no one without an art enters Tara”. Lugh replies “Question me, I am a builder”, and the gatekeeper answers they already have a builder and gives a name. Each time Lugh states another of his arts — smith, champion, harper, warrior, poet, historian, sorcerer, and more — the gatekeeper shares the name of someone who fills the post already. Finally, Lugh declares “Ask the king whether he has a man who possesses all these arts; if he has then I will not be able to enter Tara”. The gatekeeper does so, and Lugh is welcomed into Tara.

---

---

Blessed Summer Solstice/Midsummer/Litha!

I wrote this poem several years ago and am happy to share it here:

SOLSTICE BLESSINGS (by Nanci, 2013)

Longest day and shortest night
Celebrate Midsummer's might
Litha and Summer Solstice, too --
Pick the name that best suits you
Let the sunlight fill your soul
The energy will make you whole
Fairies dancing through the veil
Shimmering o'er hill and dale
Hug the world, share smiles for free
Let joy be boundless, and Blessed Be!

Here's a photo taken at Socrates Sculpture Park, Astoria, NY, after a Midsummer Ritual in 2016:

---

Happy Pride Month!

SGC supports equal rights/rites for all LGBTQIA+ folx and hopes we may all live in rainbow harmony. We recognize that the Stonewall Riot was a violent catalyst for change, and now we seek to establish social and cultural justice and equanimity via more peaceful methods as the fight continues.

Blessed Be!

---

Blessed Beltane/Floralia/May Day!

Blessed Beltane! Many Pagans and Wiccans dance the maypole for this May 1st holiday, representing the union of the Goddess (the fertile Earth that embraces the pole) and the God (the phallic pole and sperm-like ribbons). Folks find ribbons that are the color(s) related to what they’d like to manifest in their lives — e.g. red for passion, green for money and growth, pink for good health, blue for calmness, etc. — and weave those intentions to connect them to the deities and make the magic happen.

Floralia is also celebrated at this time of the year, honoring the colorful bounty of verdant Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers. Floral garlands can be crafted to wear or decorate your altar.

May 1st is also World Labyrinth Day, and there will be several virtual and real-world labyrinth walks around the globe. Athena of SGC will facilitating some festivities during this marvelous event — get the details at https://www.worldlabyrinthday.org/

---