News

Clan news, as well as local Pagan news

News from the Clan

Congratulations to all on our Non-Profit status! We're legal at last!!!! Woohoo! Because of the limitations of income for our Non-Profit, we are only allowed to "make money" for the group's use in very limited ways. One of the ways we have chosen for this as a Council is through membership dues. Don't run and hide! We agreed to make them very reasonable, only $25 a year for an individual, or $40 a year for a family. This money will help us to keep the group going strong, and helps to fund our Family Yule Drives - it is also used for funding expenses to keep your public and private gatherings a success. As always, our finances are posted publicly on the forum so all can stay informed as to where our group is, financially. This will go into effect as of May 1st, 2007. There will be a grace period of 30 days for those who might have difficulties. Payments can be made to our address by check or money order, or feel free to use the Paypal link below. A receipt will be provided, if requested, for tax purposes. Members of the group will will receive 1/2 off on all future public gatherings. Members will also receive a welcome packet, the details of which will be posted after next week's coffee meeting. Memberships will be available for sale at the Beltane Gathering as well. For those who wish to remain closely affiliated with the group, we thank you! There will be a non-public section of our forum for the members who wish to contribute to our group's cause, but the public sections will still be available for discussions of our public events, Beltane and Samhain, as well as our charitable contributions as an organization. By the way, the group donated $400 to the Yavapai County Food Bank as a Yule gift this year, in lieu of donating to a needy family. We have also donated to the efforts for hurricane Katrina in the past, through a pagan organization of Emergency workers called Officers of Avalon. Thank you all for your patience as we learn and grow as an organization, and we look forward to seeing you all again! BB and Namaste, Jeff p.s. next stop, the Federal 501(c)(3) filing!

Pagan News

~Making Sacred Space Sacred

Have you ever been in your sacred space, just starting to raise your energy, and felt that maybe this space wasn’t really sacred enough, or maybe not at all? It’s happened to me, I’m sure it’s happened to you, but here are some thoughts on the matter to help put away the fear and uncertainty of that aspect of your workings. Let’s begin with two examples.

It is twilight; the sun has disappeared below his horizon, leaving burning golden fire in the purpling evening sky. The glittering diamond light of the night sky is just beginning to make itself known, and the Goddess, her silvery countenance shining proudly down upon her people, rides high and full in the sky. The faint smell of jasmine fills the air, as the twitter and chirp of evening birds can be heard for miles around. A dog howls in the distance, though the natural world is animated this beautiful twilight evening, the mere fact that the sound carries declares just how quiet the world is right now.

You find yourself in an old forgotten garden. Wildflowers bloom in the old natural planters, blue and gold and red and purple petals greet you, dripping with evening moisture. A well-worn stone altar faces to the north, while dark green ivy creeps along the ground and up and around the large Oak that marks the boundaries of this great secret glade. Humming birds dance their spiral rhythm while the babble of a small brook can be heard to the west. To the south, a small campfire burns off the chill that threatens from the coming night. In the center of it all stands you, the Witch, at the precise heart of this most sacred of spaces, a space most pleasing to the Gods.

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~ Some turn to ancient practice in uncertain times

GRAND JUNCTIION, Colo. — Writing poetry, creating art or reading tarot cards — it all springs from the same source, said Wendy Videlock.

Videlock said she’s starting to see more people seeking guidance — in the form of tarot readings, which she conducts in the privacy of her comfortable, red-brick home in a mature, middle-class neighborhood near St. Mary’s Hospital.

Tarot is an ancient text designed to explain the forces of nature, said Videlock, who’s also a widely-published poet, former schoolteacher, wife and mother of two teenage children.

“The tarot has always been with us but always kind of underneath,” Videlock said. “At these times people are more open to it. I’m finding people in the valley less afraid to investigate.”

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