Category: Community Notes

Paganistan Reclaiming Tradition Fall Events

photo: Donald L. Engstrom-Reese

Reclaiming Tradition has a series of fall events in the Twin Cities. A series of six monthly introductory classes begins Saturday. Paganistan Reclaiming will for the first time host a tradition “Dandelion Gathering”, and sponsors a public Equinox ritual which takes place during the gathering.

 

Elements of Magic 101, Six Sessions in Six Months begins this Saturday, Sept 13th.   “All are welcome to join us. If you are new to Reclaiming and wish to be a more active participant in our practices and understandings this will be a very good way to learn the basics of our Tradition.  We will meet once a month over 6 months exploring, learning and deepening the foundational arts, magics, and practices of Reclaiming. Some of the topics that we will be looking at are; grounding, shielding, personal practice, shaping intentions, spell crafting, divination, ritual format and skills, prayer beads, labyrinths, the Seven Sacred Voices, nurturing our relationships with Mystery, altar building and an overview of Reclaiming’s history. We will also closely examine our one core document that informs everything that we do, The Principals of Unity. We will explore all of these topics and more, using the tools of conscious thought, trance journeying, discussion, rune and tarot work, song, chant, and other voice skills, and the mystery that we are bodies, and that all of the magical tools that we need our already a part of our beings.”

A Dandelion Gathering is a tradition-wide Reclaiming reunion. At the last Dandelion Gathering of 2012 in Portland, OR, those meeting decided to encourage bio-regional Dandelion gatherings to be held in communities across the globe.

“Our intention for the gathering: We joyfully gather, with the heart of the Fool, near the Sacred Mississippi to celebrate, sing, dance and heal in community. ”

I talked to Paul Eaves as he tended his annual Pagan Pride labyrinth about Dandelion last week. “This event is co-created by our community and rather than have a highly scheduled event we have planned a series of events people can select from. A full schedule of events and locations are available online.”

The Saturday events at Hidden Falls Park include workshops on building a Labyrinth, and connecting with fossil allies.  Participate in an Open Listening/Discussion Session about Winter Witchcamp with some of the event Weavers.  At 2pm, before the equinox ritual, an introduction to Reclaiming discussion is scheduled with a brief background about Reclaiming Tradition and question and answer session.

 

photo: Reclaiming Quarterly

We are celebrating the turning of the wheel with an Autumnal Equinox Ritual at the park pavilion of Hidden Falls Regional Park on September 20. We will start gathering at 3:00 p.m. and begin ritual promptly at 3:20 p.m.
Our intention: “We name our flames to honor this hearth.”
We ask that you consider coming to this ritual with:
1.  A seasonal oath to name aloud while in the hearth of community
2.  A non-perishable food item or items to donate to The Exchange’s Queer Community Food Shelf
Money donations are also welcome to cover ritual expenses, but please note that no one will be turned away for lack of funds or food items.
Please bring a chair if you need one and weather-appropriate clothing as we will be outdoors.
ALL ARE WELCOME including children and folks from other traditions. This is a sober event. We also invite you to refrain from the use of perfumes, lotions, and other scented product to ensure increased accessibility.
We look forward to seeing you!
When
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Time
3:00 p.m.
Where
The park pavilion at Hidden Falls Regional Park, 1313 Hidden Falls Drive, St. Paul, MN 55116

Eye of Horus Metaphysical Store Faced with Relocating

Thraicie and Jane

Thraicie and Jane

You would never guess from the business-as-usual appearance at the Eye of Horus Metaphysical Store that the owners are faced with the sudden challenge of relocating it by the end of this month and finding the funds to do so. As I enter “the Eye”, I am still greeted by the customers browsing, buying and getting their questions answered by upbeat staff. Stones of all types glisten beside cards stating their magical properties. A client seeking spiritual guidance exits into a room with one of the divinational readers. In the background a CD plays musical selections from an upcoming Wendy Rule concert being held there this Sunday. Thraicie Hawkner, her long silver hair flowing down her shoulders, and Jane Hawkner, with a short, cute pixie cut, approach me from across the busy room with undaunted looks on their faces.

Their confident appearance shouldn’t have surprised me. They have been running The Eye of Horus since October 31st 2003 in a previous location just a few blocks from their current space and even earlier as an internet business with booths at community gatherings. Meeting the challenges of entrepreneurship over the years has made them seasoned businesswomen with a fair amount of mettle. But, even so, finding out the first of July that they would need to find a new space and move the store into it by the end of July, would have been enough to make even experienced business owners sweat.

“During this crunch time it has been particularly motivating to remember how many times people have come in and said things like, “I did not know there was a place like this, I feel like I have come home” or “Your store is the reason I was able to reconnect to my faith”, said Jane. It keeps us tuned into the reason we are here and to what the Eye of Horus means to so many people. Knowing that we have been of meaningful service to the community has been fuel for problem solving through this challenge.”

“We have found a perfect size space for us that we can move into,” Thraicie said. She explained that the challenge has been raising the funds for the move. “We just found out July 1st that we would need to move, so we had no money to secure the new location, or any money to cover the closing of the store during move time, a rental truck or other moving expenses. So we developed the current fundraiser.”

Eye of Horus has a GoFundMe website  that enables people to either purchase “perks” or make a straight donation. The perks are in the form of discounted services such as divinatory readings, therapeutic massage, discounted gift certificates, or a book shelf in their name.  In this way, people can choose to donate or purchase “perks” at attractively discounted prices.

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Sparky T. Rabbit Passes

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Spark T. Rabbit at Sacred Harvest Festival 2004

Sparky T. Rabbit – Bruner Soderberg of Rock Island, Il.,  passed over Monday June 2nd, 2014.

Born February 3, 1954 he was a prominent Midwest heathen,  singer, song-writer, rite-maker, gadfly and friend of Freyr.   Sparky;  “I critique and satirize neopaganisms,monotheisms, and any other-isms that seem appropriate.”    Handfasted [married] to Ray Bayley since 1984 (Sparky: “That’s 93 anniversaries in straight years!”)
Sparky was a nationally known singer, bard, master ritualist, and pot stirrer.  His recording “Lunacy”, done as a duo, is still one of the most prized pagan recordings of all time.
Sparky was often quoted for his wisdom and satire;

http://witchesandpagans.com/EasyBlog/the-once-future-people.html

http://witchesandpagans.com/EasyBlog/ioc-oks-nude-paganistanis-at-2020-games.html

Thinking in Pagan

Words from his friends and  colleagues:

Sparky T. Rabbit’s voice is intertwined with the roots of my development as a witch, and we still use the chants that he wrote and the chants that he popularized within our covens today. I played the cassettes for his two albums so often that I wore them out and had to buy replacements twice. I cherish the one time that I had the opportunity to sing with him. It is still a luminous fan boy moment for me. I grieve the loss of such a beautiful man and his beautiful talents, but I also grieve that so many in the current generation of Pagans have not heard of him. What is remembered lives. Take the time to look him up and find copies of his music which is finally available again in digital formats. Then you’ll feel the joy of discovering his music, and also share my sense of loss as well. May he go forth shining.

– Ivo Dominguez, Jr. Elder, Assembly of the Sacred Wheel

Sparky was my dear, dear friend for many years.  I am heartbroken at his passing.  A ritualist extraordinary, singer and songwriter, Sparky was a world-class cauldron stirrer, and a giant of Pagan culture….  My life has been enriched immeasurably by my long and deep friendship with Sparky.  His talent was sparkling.  He contributed much of great value to the Pagan movement and to the world.  In love may he return again.

– M. Macha NightMare (Aline O’Brien)
Witch at Large

May his gentle heart and spirit-filled voice live with us always.

Thanks to Steve (Posch), I got to meet and exchange enthusiasms with this wonderful man. I am shocked to hear of his passing, and I truly hope that his music and other works will live on with us.
– Paul B. Rucker
Sparky T Rabbit Bruner Soderburg

Sparky T Rabbit – Bruner Soderburg – Feb3, 1954 – June 2nd, 2014

“Coven brother, teacher, friend. Wicked Witch. Master rite-maker, singer, altar builder. Trouble maker. Sitting across from you at a kitchen table in Minneapolis, I found my life’s work.
You have left us so many gifts. We will carry them forward, Bruner. We will remember. “– Frebur C.  Moore

Nels Linde

Celia in Concert Friday at Eye of Horus

Celia

Celia in Concert at Eye of Horus Metaphysical Store

June 6th (Friday) 7:00pm-9:00pm

3012 Lyndale Ave South,
Minneapolis, MN 55408

Celia has been described as “A cross between an Earthy Enya, Joan Baez, and Tina Fey.” She dishes up the most delicious concoction of the silly and sacred. With powerful, heart-felt vocals and wacky comedic improvisations, the audience never knows what will happen with Celia on stage. She’s Red-headed Renaissance Woman, Celia is a singer/songwriter, actress, and storyteller who will leave you moved by beauty and enchanted with laughter. Both are equally sacred. Check out her music on her website at: www.celiaonline.com

Location: the Inner Sanctum at Eye of Horus Metaphysical Store in Minneapolis, on Lyndale Avenue South between Lake and 31st Streets, right next to the Smitten Kitten

All tickets are “will call” – check in at front desk in the store. Call 612-872-1292 for more info.

At the Door: $15.00
In Advance: $10.00

Twin Cities Pagan Pride 2013

A good crowd attended Twin Cities Pagan Pride (TCPP,) at Minnehaha Park this year. Many stayed the majority of, or the whole day. You were in public, as a self declared Pagans, talking to anyone who found you interesting that walked by,  I know I talked to at least a few non-Pagan people who left knowing more and feeling better about a world where Pagans exist next to them. For those of us who like the idea of similar people getting one last chance to hug and appreciate each other despite our differences before winter sets in,, it was a perfect day.

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Why spend a day of your valuable life, heck, your Saturday, at Twin Cities Pagan Pride (TCPP) ?  If you believe Pagans need to be supported in their desire for public acceptance, you were there.  What if you are a Pagan, what did you get out of attending ?  There was a full schedule of many different types of ritual to experience, Music, dance, and many booths selling items, promoting ideas, or experiences were on hand to entertain you, If you are a Pagan you did get to see, talk to, and connect with many old friends and make some new ones.  Saturday at TCPP it was also hot.  I guess that was a bonus for Minnesotans, You got to spend one of the last days of hot weather you might get this year, outdoors with friends.

Nels Linde