News items posted to this page are usually edited versions of Member Mailings.
PAGAN PRIDE DAY
NYC's 2nd Annual Pagan Pride Day
Saturday, September 28, 2002, 11:00am - 5:00pm, Battery Park, NYC
FREE, Four Winds Scheduled for 11:00am
(Members please arrive @ 10:00am for Soundcheck)Make your prayers for good weather and join us for this second of what we hope will be an annual Urban Pagan Festival event. We're scheduled to be first up in the lineup with Alchemy IV and the rocking Emerald Rose, to follow. Look for us on stage about 11:00. Also featuring Phyllis Currot, Lauren Manoy, Vendors, Harvest Ritual, Bellydancing Workshop and Drumming Circle. Pagan and proud, y'all!
Click here for the PPD organizers' page(RainDate: Sunday 9/29/02)
Even though we are up at the relatively early (for Pagans) hour of 11:00, we will have a glorious HOUR time slot, so we can include some of our longer pieces and not have to worry about crunching and rushing through a 30 mim set!
The organizers have sent us a Schedule of the event. Looks like a fun day!
PAGAN PRIDE DAY 2002 SCHEDULE Official Welcome, immediately followed by
FOUR WINDS EARTH CHORUSPhyllis Currot speaks, answers questions, meets her fans, and signs books Harvest Ritual ALCHEMY VII Lauren Manoy signs copies of her book, "Where To Park Your Broomstick" Night Magick Workshop EMERALD ROSE Bellydancing Workshop/Drumming Circle For the Members, this is the playlist we are preping. Bases on Members' demand- ... er... suggestions. For our fans, some faves, some new stuff, and hopefully all fun. Come down and check us out.
Thunder Beings
The Witches Song
Mach Jchi
Locked Away (from Inanna: Journey of Darkness and Light)
Sacred Drum Jam
God Was A Woman
The Drunken Pagan Song
Gaia
Four Nations Song
Om Namah ShivayaThe choices are based on the lineup and so far we have enouigh Members now who have committed to the event, so we can do a good job. We sounded excellent in rehearsal Thursday! Grove Mabon falls on the 21st but their raindate is the 28th, so pray for good weahter BOTH dates.
Since we are planning a Sacred Drum Jam Segment, we are still trying to slip in an extra rehearsal date just for the Drum-Heads. We are planning a dressed-up version of the “round robin” with three passes on three root rhythms, Heartbeat, a danceable 4, and 6. Time for a little fun! If we can't fit it in, we will run it out on Thursday 9.24 at the run through. Send the singers home at 9-9:30 and drum the rest of the time.
Because of the relatively short prep time, participants are limited to existing Bard’s Circle Members.
GROVE SAMHAIN
Grove Open Samhain Ritual
Saturday, October 26. Enchantment's Grove , FREE, 4:00
Courtyard at Enchantments, 341 East 9th Street, NY, Info : 212 228-4394
(Members please arrive @ 2:30 pm)Samhain is the end of Enchantment's Grove season. We will be there to lend sonic support, song and chants to this annual honoring of the Ancestors and our place in the wheel of the year.
Additonal Info about Enchantment's Grove: www.joeandjezibell.com
Jezibell has started to put things together. Jezibell:— I have a rough outline for a Celtic Samhain, and here is the most likely list of songs. I want to keep this tentative until I get back, just in case there's more world-weirdness to deal with and also to be open to inspiration from Olduvai. I originally planned to close with Oidhche Mhath Leibh, but given the Morrigan theme, also touching on the personal responsibility of the living, Prophet's Song feels like the best. There will also be some spoken pieces in here that Coven/Chorus members will do - one is that I'd like the guys to do a group reading of Flanders Field.
Lyke Wake Dirge (This Ae Night, with the verses)
Blood of the Ancients
Morrigan's Children
Sowing & Reaping
Green Fields of France (Ballad of Willie McBride)
I Am Stretched on Your Grave
We Are the Flow
Taps
Thunder Beings
Prophet's SongI personally hope to slip in Oidhche Mhath Leibh in AND Prophet’s Song. Jezibell may be unavalable for the Tuesday meetings, so we may schedule some extra evenings to get a little more rehearsal in. In addition, this is one where we may also be in integrating Grove and Coven people with the Chorus for the songs. Extra rehearsals will be event restricted to participating Members, Grove and Coven folk and will not be posted. Show up, get the dates, write them down. Nuff Said. Otherwise this looks to be another nice one, but with a less heavy theme as opposed to the post 9/11 season last year.
Since we are busy with this event, we regretfully have turned down performing at The Witches Ball this year,
THUNDER NATION CEREMONY
The Northeast, and many other parts of the nation, are in the grip of an extended drought. Joni has received a sacred Thunder rhythm and a call to ceremony which I have agreed to help her manifest. Read about a ÒThunder Nation CeremonyÓ with the intention of summoning the blessing rains back to our people.
Please contact us if you are interested if you are interested in participating.
WINTER SOLSTICE
Open Choral Solstice Celebration (planning stages)
Saturday, December 21, 2002, 3:00-5:30pm (Members call: 2:00pm)
Musical Theatre Works, 440 Lafayette Street, NYC, Studio 4A - info: 212 677-0040
FREE (donations gratefully accepted)All Singing, all Chanting, all Dancing! Welcome the return of the Sun. All Welcome to celebreate with us! This will be a new incarnation of our very successful Sing-it-Ourselves Winter Solstice. Songsheets and lyrics will be provided. Help us plan and present this event! New Members always welcome!!
The Winter Solstice, falls precisely on Saturday, December 21st at 8:14pm. How could we NOT do ritual? I have already spoken to Jez about collaborating with the Coven on ritual structure. Eliminates potential schedule conflicts AND have a lot of fun. So thoughts and suggestions more than welcome. have not settled on Choral, Bardic, Ritual or Performance Format... But sho' 'nuff THINKING about it.
In the suggestions category, our first challenge, VENUE. With Cap 21 and Musical Theatre Works no longer offering weekend hours. We need a space to host this puppy! Preferably somewhere noise, incense, candle friendly! Looking for something like 6-10pm on Saturday, someplace in the city or near boroughs suitable for 50-100 persons in circle.
PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU KNOW ABOUT A POTENTIAL VENUE
UPCOMING
More details on our activities will come when we get then and will be posted to the Schedule Page. And keep checking back with us, things always come up.
Put this information in your appointment books and calendars! Print it out even! Stay in touch, don't forget to keep practicing! Please email us with any questions, problems or news. Send E-Mail to us at: khgriffith@worldnet.att.net
Mitaquye Oyasin * Blessed Be * Ashe * Shalom * A Salaam * Amen * Om
Kurt Griffith/Talking Stone
Choral Director