| Friday, October 30 |
| 9 AM |
Gate open for arrivals |
| 10 AM - Noon |
Cross-Tradition Ritual Seminar with Selena Fox
This ritual craft leadership training seminar is for ministers, ministers-in-training, and others interested in developing skills in creating and conducting interfaith and inter-tradition ceremonies. This seminar will include instruction on ritual design for ceremonies and services that incorporate music, meditations, readings, invocations, prayers, and other spiritual components from different paths. It also will feature approaches to creating community in weddings, memorials, seasonal celebrations, and other group rituals with participants of diverse religious, spiritual, cultural, and philosophical orientations. The seminar will also include a Round Table Discussion in which those involved in interfaith and intrafaith endeavors will share experiences and perspectives. |
| 12:30 PM |
Lunch |
| 1:30 - 2:15 PM |
Divination with Scrying Stones workshop with Vic Wright |
| 2:15 - 3 PM |
Wicca, Samhain and the Dark Time of the Year with Paula Johnson
Samhain marks the turning of the wheel of seasons and is the eve of the Celtic winter, which begins November 1st. Pagan traditions are diverse and can vary greatly from the British Traditional/Gardnerian Wiccan observance of Samhain, which honors death and begins what is known as "The Dark Time" of the year. Gerald Gardner, the father of Gardnerian Wicca, referred to the practice of the Wiccan religion as Witchcraft. In primitive times magic and religion were closely inter-related. In this workshop we will discuss and contrast Pagan Samhain traditions, beliefs and practices with that of British Traditional/Gardnerian Wicca which has its roots in New Forest England and is passed down through traceable lineage and initiation. |
| 1:30 - 3 PM |
Nature Walk - with Reed
Walk the land with Reed and see the true beauty and glory of the season. |
| 3:30 PM |
Opening Ritual & Festival Blessing with Selena Fox & PathWalker
Join in a Community blessing of the Festival and Festival Grounds and an honoring of Samhain. Bring a rhythm instrument to play if you have one. |
| 5:00 PM |
Dinner |
| 6 PM |
Arrivals for those attending Witches Ball only (with departures by 1 am) |
| 7:30 PM - 12:30 AM |
Witches Ball - with live music by the Celtic band, Stone Ring.
Join in the fun. Dress in costume, if you wish! Birthday cake at 9 PM to celebrate Selena's birthday! Enjoy the band performing Celtic tunes and other music. Dance, socialize, make merry! Some refreshments provided. |
| 7 - 9PM |
Youth workshop: Storytelling - with Jen and Billy Crow, and special guest appearance by Jean of Storylore and Virginia Hirsch! |
| 9PM |
Youth: Children to the Ball to celebrate Selena’s Birthday. After, Parents to reclaim their children and get them in bed. |
| Midnight |
Toast to the Ancestors - with Selena Fox, Michael Doran & others
Remembering & Honoring with words, song & libations |
| Saturday, October 31 |
| 7:30 - 9 AM |
Continental Breakfast |
| 9:00 - 9:45 AM |
Old Scottish Divination Customs for Samhain & Halloween with Linda Daly
In eighteenth century Scotland, many centuries old folk customs were still widely practiced. Robert Burns, who actively collected indigenous Scottish songs as well as writing poems and songs, has captured some Scottish divination practices in his poem "Halloween" written in 1785. In this workshop, you will learn more about Scotland's national poet and discover the divination practices he recorded. Workshop participants will receive a copy of this poem with notes explaining the meaning of many of the Scots words used in the poem. |
| 10 - 11:45 AM |
Cremains Interment and Memorials - at Circle Cemetery, with Circle Sanctuary Ministers
Memorial services honoring community members and loved ones who crossed over in this past year - author Marion Weinstein of New York, Pagan veteran Jeff Koslow of Ohio, and Allen Ray Patz, father of Circle Sanctuary minister, Georgette Paxton. The ceremony will also conclude with the placing of flowers and herbs at all the gravesites. Bring fresh or dried flowers and/or herbs to leave at the gravesites. If you wish, bring small token of remembrances for the interments. |
| 10 AM |
Youth workshop: Samhain Herbs - Mugwort’s School of Magic Kick-off. We will focus on 3-5 of Samhain’s most prominent herbs. Binders will be given to act as a Grimoire for those interested in Mugwort’s School of Magick. |
| 11 AM |
Youth workshop: Owl Pellets - presented by Peter Watts
Owl has long been associated with mystery, wisdom, healing and the journey of the Soul as it passes to the Otherside. Owls hunt in silence, swallowing their prey whole. They can’t digest everything so they leave behind pellets which can be collected and examined.
Children - young and old - are invited to dissect owl pellets from 11 - noon on Saturday. We’ll share stories, interesting facts and lore about Owls while finding skulls and bones of the small critters hidden inside. These skeletons will be assembled by gluing them on index cards for a nifty, if perhaps macabre, Samhain make and take project.
We ask that children younger than nine bring someone older to assist with the activity. |
| Noon - 1:30 PM |
Potluck Lunch |
| 1:30 PM - 3 PM |
Story of Circle Sanctuary & Annual Meeting
Celebration of Circle Sanctuary's 35th Anniversary with the sharing of experiences & perspectives |
| 2 PM |
Youth workshop: Youth Nature Walk - Explore the beauty of Fall at Circle Sanctuary. All kids participating in the Pumpkin Hunt must attend the Nature Walk. |
| 3:30 - 5 PM |
Ghosts & Hauntings - panel discussion
Explorations of ghosts, hauntings, and related phenomena. Includes ghost tale, panel, community sharings, & discussion. Bring your experiences to share! |
| 3 PM |
Youth workshop: Pumpkin Hunt - with Jen and Billy Crow |
| 4:30 PM |
Youth dress in Halloween Costumes |
| 5 PM |
Youth Costume Pageant & Trick-or-Treating |
| 5:15 PM |
Raffle Drawings & Silent Auction results with Mari Powers and others |
| 6 PM |
Dinner |
| 7:30 - 8:30 PM |
Bonfire Magick: Drumming, Chanting, Storytelling, Preparation for Samhain Ritual |
| 8:30 - 10 PM |
Samhain Ritual by Georgette, Bob, Selena & others
The veil between the worlds is thin this night. We'll cross it and gather messages from departed loved ones then return again to celebrate life and the Celtic New Year. |
| 8:30 PM |
Youth: Movie Night - Kids, wear your costumes and watch a Halloween Classic! |
| 10 PM |
Final Parental Pickup |
| 10 PM |
Samhain Celebration Bonfire at Bonfire Circle |
| 10:30 PM |
Samhain Labyrinth at Candlelit Spiral Labyrinth with Tom, Peggy and others
Come and journey with us into the Underworld, back to the Source, back into the Womb. |
| Sunday, November 1 |
| 7:30 - 9 AM |
Continental Breakfast |
| 10 AM |
Youth Program: Parents' Meeting - Come and discuss the future of the Youth Program and Mugwort’s School of Magick. |
| 10 - 11:30 AM |
Two Continents, Two Cultures, One Spirit - with Shine
A closer look at the similarities between European Wiccan Traditions & Spirituality and North American Indian Traditions & Spirituality. The season of Samhain has great importance for Indigenous peoples for many of the same reasons. One of the ceremonies is done the same way. Come and embrace the richness of this most important time on the wheel of the year. |
| 11:30 AM |
Samhain Festival Closing Ritual - with Bob & Georgette |
| Noon |
Lunch |
| 2 PM |
Festival ends & Gate closes |
Samhain Festival