Welcome Fall Festival


		Welcome Fall Festival A Celebration of Fall Equinox September 23-24, 2006 at Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve near Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin About the Site About Fall Equinox Customs

Program Schedule

Saturday, 9/23
10:00 am	Open for Arrivals
10:00am - Noon	Prairie Seed Harvest with Naturalist Reed Cockrell: Circle Sanctuary Naturalist Reed Cockrell will give a short talk on prairie seed collecting. Following his talk, those wishing to join in the harvest will accompany him to the restored prairie to harvest seeds for expanding the prairie.
Noon - 1:30 pm	Handfasting of Greg & Laura Allen: Greg and Laura will celebrate their fifteen years of marriage with this anniversary handfasting conducted by Selena Fox in the Stone Circle. All are welcome to attend.
1 - 3 pm	Apple Cider Making & Tasting with Reed & others: Join with Reed and others in making cider with a press. Bring apples to contribute, if possible, and a mug or cup for tasting.
1:30 - 2:30 pm	Angelica Amulet Workshop with Robin Umber: Learn about the spiritual uses of Angelica and work with this sacred herb in crafting a personal amulet for healing, protection, and/or spiritual growth. You may want to store the seeds of what you would like to focus on as we go through the Autumn and Winter seasons in a container made of Angelica. Or you may fill your Amulet with herbs that represent what you want to bring into your life at this time. Many types of materials will be provided so that you can adorn your container with symbols that reflect your intent.
3:30 - 4:30 pm	Fall Equinox Labyrinth Ritual with Selena Fox & Joey Bunbury: Walk the new outdoor Spiral Labyrinth, connect with the Spirit of the Harvest, and give thanks for blessings in life. Bring a piece of fruit, vegetable, herbs, or other symbol of Nature's abundance as an offering. Dress in festive garb if you wish.
5 - 6:30 pm	Harvest Thanksgiving Potluck Feast: Bring a prepared dish of food to share in this community meal. Please do not bring alcohol.
7 pm	Day/Night Transition: Those who are only attending the Daytime portion of the Festival need to depart by this time. We will be closing the gate so that we can begin our preparations for the Nightime portion of the Festival. Please note that due to its intensive inner journey focus, the Nightime portion is open only to adults.
7:30 pm	Introduction with MoonFeather & WillowHawk: Those participating in the evening Sacred Fire Circle experience need to attend this orientation.
8:30 pm - 1 am	Sacred Fire Circle Trance Dance: Includes procession, Circle casting and dedication of the site guided by Selena Fox, and sacred dancing and drumming facilitated by WillowHawk & MoonFeather.
Sunday, 9/24
1 - 8 am	Sleeptime: The gate will open at 1 am for those who will not be staying overnight.
9 am - 11 am	Sharing Circle & Continental Breakfast: Sharing about the evening experience.
11 am - Noon	Clean-up & Farewells: Those staying after 11 am are asked to help with Festival clean-up. Final departure time for all is Noon.


	Items To Bring

	Nature's Bounty Offering (fruit, herbs, nuts, vegetable) - for the Labyrinth Ritual Potluck Contribution - prepared dish of food to serve at least two dozen people; more details Bag or basket, and if possible, clippers - for the Prairie Seed Harvest Mug or cup - for tasting cider (day) & drinking tea (night) Bushel or bag of apples (optional) - for cider making Drum or rattle (optional) - to play in rituals Stone offering (optional) - for the Stone Circle during the handfasting Appropriate clothing, ponchos, and blankets for late-night trance dancing & drumming in temperatures which may be in the 40s F. What Not to Bring: please do not bring pets/animal companions, alcohol, illegal substances, firearms. Also, please note that due to the inner journey focus of the evening portion of the festival, only adults (18 years and older) are permitted to take part and be on site. If you are bringing children with you during the day and you want to take part in the evening, you need to arrange childcare off-site for your youth. Thanks for your understanding and cooperation.


	Registration

	To register online for Welcome Fall click here. To register by phone contact the Circle office at (608) 924-2216, M-F 9-5 Central time. For more information or questions about the Welcome Fall Festival email the Circle office at: events@circlesanctuary.org.