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Official
Publication of the Reformed Druids of Gaia
"Sunrise in the
Cosmic Egg" - http://www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=13403
1
Foghamnhar 44 - Lughnasadh 2006 - Vol.4 No. 4
www.mithrilstar.org
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The
winds will blow their own freshness into you,
and the storms their energy,
while cares will drop away from you
like the leaves of Autumn.
~~ John Muir ~~
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About
the Holiday
 Lughnasadh
is a traditional mid-summer harvest festival, The name Lughnasadh
itself, which means 'corn king' is of Southern Irish origin, and
relates to the harvest of early wheat in these areas. Lughnasadh
was a time for feasting and games, much like the modern Olympic
Games, and took place around the time of the first harvest. Games
of this form can be seen in the traditional Scottish Highland
Games which take place during the summer months.
In
Irish mythology, Lugh, who symbolizes the harvest, is brought to
find a wife. However, none can be found and one is fashioned for
him out of flowers. However, his flower bride is lured away by another
and Lugh is killed in the ensuing battle. The killing of Lugh symbolizes
both the harvest, and the end of summer, which is seen at Samhuinn.
It
is a common tradition at Lughnasadh for hand-fastings to take place.
These are a form of marriage, where each party agrees to remain
together for a year and a day - if after this time they are still
together they would be considered man and wife, but if they wished
to part they could do so after this time.
© 2002-2005
Beltane Fire Society
http://www.beltane.org/celticyear/lughnasadh.html
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MUSINGS
FROM THE ARCH-DRUID
by Ceridwen Seren-Ddaear /|\
Thou
Art God/dess,
Late
at night on this past New Moon (Mon., 7/24/06), I was meditating
and contemplating the  place
and purpose of our Order, envisioning the "larger picture"
possibilities - which always appears to me visually as a web
of Grove-lights around the whole body of Mother Gaia...pulsating
light and energy that feeds the planet, and each other, with
whatever we need to move further along on our respective paths
to the highest expression of ourselves...
For
quite some time now, I've been considering our "affiliation"
with the Reformed Druids of North America, a "dis-organization"
that has served a purpose of being a sort of "umbrella"
group for many different Druid paths. One thing that has always
sort of bothered me about being affiliated with any group "...of
North America" is that I've always thought of it as "limiting"
us to a certain geographic area...which I imagine is not that
inviting-sounding to our friends and members "across the
pond"...as well as all the other countries in which our
members reside...
I've
always seen us as an "inter-national" order, open
to all countries, provinces, islands and all other abodes on
the planet. I've always thought it would be awesome to be able
to travel around the world, and always have some waterkin to
meet and visit with along the way! :)
So
there's always been a part of me that could not quite reconcile
inside myself the thought of belonging to an "...of North
America" group...and as I was contemplating this during
yet again the last Dark Moon, it hit me that we needed to change
our affiliation, and the name of that affiliation...to something
more Universal, and more Earth-centered...and what I kept seeing
was, "Reformed Druids of Gaia"
- which contains the global concept, and I liked the sound of
belonging to something "...of Gaia" - of the Earth
Mother!
So I
did the numerology - as I always do when considering name changes
- and it had some incredible ones! Here they are, for the numerologically-inclined
among you:
9
soul urge (total of vowels)
9 inner self
(total of consonants)
9 expression
(total of complete name)
3 life path
(total of birthday, which was 7/24/2006)
3 destiny
(total of name and birthday)
We
have the "universal" number of 9,
the number of spiritual service...and we also have the "Druid"
number of 3, the number of Awen!
How cool is that? :)
So,
I took all this to the Mother Grove, and we discussed it for
a long time...and we came to a unanimous agreement that this
is the "direction" we'd like to take...so we agreed
to establish our own "canopy" organization, which
will include our Order and all it's Groves and solitary Druids,
and perhaps in the future other Druid groups might wish to come
in under our canopy and be affiliated with the RDG
(Reformed Druids of Gaia)...
We
as an Order will still remain OMS - we just are adding a new
affiliation - so our new official name would be OMS
of RDG (or you can write it out the long way)...and this
name change will eventually be on all our webpages - the one
exception will be our PayPal account - I don't think we can
change the name on it, so that will be OMS of RDNA...
Our
preceptor will be responsible for creating our new constitution
and bylaws, as well as eventually taking care of the legal necessities.
Our intent is to be legally "official". This will
also mean that 3rd degree Druids will no longer need to be ordained
by 3rd degree RDNA Druids to be considered a Reformed Druid
Clergy (or Arch-Druid if you have your own Grove)...the only
"apostolic succession" you will need to be concerned
with is this: If you were ordained by myself or your preceptor,
(both of whom were the original Arch-Druids of our Order) -
or if you are ordained by anyone that we have ordained, then
you will be considered "official" RDG
Clergy (or Arch-Druids if you have your own Grove)...
Your
new role and title will be as Druids of the Order
of the Mithril Star of the Reformed Druids of Gaia...
:)
I personally
see it as progress, as our Order is constantly evolving and
growing, and this seems like the next logical step to me...
I
invite your thoughts and reactions to this, either onlist or
off...
On
another note, the fees for the Gathering will go up again by
$10 on August 15th, so if you are planning to come, you might
want to get those reservations in before then! :)
We
also have some spots open for more workshops, classes, readings,
or whatever you have to share - contact me privately if you
are interested in offering any of these... :)
Blessed
Lughnasadh to you all! :)
In
Gaia,
Ceridwen Seren-Ddaear, AD /|\
OMS-RDG
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May
you always have walls for the winds,
a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,
laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,
and all your heart might desire.
~~ Irish Blessing ~~
Time
is running out - so register NOW for the...
Co-Hosted
by
Clan of the Triple Horses Grove, Medford OR,
Cylch Cerddwyr Rhwng y Bydoedd Grove, Eureka CA
and the Order of the Mithril Star
For
basic info, go here: http://www.mithrilstar.org/2006wcdruidgat.htm
For
more detailed info and agenda, go here: http://www.mithrilstar.org/gatheringinfo.htm#agenda
To
register, go here: http://www.mithrilstar.org/gatheringform.htm
And
in the Autumn of our lives...
A secret place to share...
Wisefolk gather from all around
with sacred herbs and prayer...
A
quiet, serene, virgin space...
Of knowledge, healing and love...
Where we grow in oneness with ourself
So below... as above...
Join
us at the cauldron...
It simmers, breathing warmth...
gather your herbs, share your knowledge
dance, untamed beside the fire...
Share with us your hearts desire...
~
Lilye ~
Seasonal
Myths
(with Astrological undertones)
 Mythically,
this is the day of the year when the god of light is defeated
by his twin and alter-ego, the god of darkness. It is the time
of the year when night conquers day. And as I have recently shown
in my seasonal reconstruction of the Welsh myth of Blodeuwedd,
the Autumnal Equinox is the only day of the whole year when Llew
(light) is vulnerable and it is possible to defeat him. Llew now
stands on the balance (Libra/autumnal equinox), with one foot
on the cauldron (Cancer/summer solstice) and his other foot on
the goat (Capricorn/winter solstice). Thus he is betrayed by Blodeuwedd,
the Virgin (Virgo) and transformed into an Eagle (Scorpio).
Two things
are now likely to occur mythically, in rapid succession. Having
defeated Llew, Goronwy (darkness) now takes over Llew's functions,
both as lover to Blodeuwedd, the Goddess, and as King of our own
world. Although Goronwy, the Horned King, now sits on Llew's throne
and begins his rule immediately, his formal coronation will not
be for another six weeks, occurring at Samhain (Halloween) or the
beginning of Winter, when he becomes the Winter Lord, the Dark King,
Lord of Misrule. Goronwy's other function has more immediate results,
however. He mates with the virgin goddess, and Blodeuwedd conceives,
and will give birth -- nine months later (at the Summer Solstice)
-- to Goronwy's son, who is really another incarnation of himself,
the Dark Child.
Source:
http://nakedgoddess.blogspot.com/
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Delicious
autumn! My very soul is wedded to it,
and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth
seeking the successive autumns.
~~
George Eliot ~~
Eisteddfod
An eisteddfod is a typically
Welsh festival of literature, music and performance. The tradition
of such a meeting of Welsh artists dates back to at least the
12th century when a festival of poetry and music was held by Rhys
ap Gruffydd of Deheubarth at his court in Cardigan in 1176, but
with the decline of the bardic tradition fell into abeyance. The
present-day format owes much to an eighteenth century revival
arising out of a number of informal eisteddfodau. The word eisteddfod
is derived from the Welsh word eistedd, meaning "sit".
 The
National Eisteddfod
The most important eisteddfod is the National Eisteddfod of Wales,
held annually in the first week of August and usually alternating
between North and South Wales, and taking place entirely in the
Welsh language.
The
Urdd Eisteddfod
Another important eisteddfod in the calendar is 'Eisteddfod Yr
Urdd', or the youth eisteddfod. Organised by Urdd Gobaith Cymru,
(the largest youth movement in Europe). It brings together children
from the age of 7, up to young adults of 24, from all across Wales,
for a week of competition of singing, recitation, dancing, acting
and musicianship in the summer half-term school holiday. This
is the largest youth festival in Europe. Regional heats are held
in advance of the final competition. As with the national eisteddfod,
the Urdd Eisteddfod moves location, although with the establishment
of the Urdd
headquarters in the Wales Millennium Centre, the eisteddfod will
return to Cardiff every four years.
The
International Eisteddfod
Another Eisteddfod is the International Eisteddfod, held annually
in Llangollen. Choirs, singing groups, folk dancers and other
groups attend from all over the world, sharing their national
folk traditions in one of the world's great festivals of the arts.
It was set up in 1947 and begins with a message of peace. In 2004,
the eisteddfod was (unsuccessfully) nominated for the Nobel Peace
Prize by Terry Waite, who has been actively involved with the
eisteddfod.
Other
Eisteddfodau
Smaller-scale local eisteddfodau are held throughout Wales: advertisements
for them may appear in the back of the newspapers or on posters
locally. Schools hold eisteddfodau as competitions within the
school: a popular time for this is on Saint David's Day.
From
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisteddfod
.jpg)
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A
tangerine and russet cascade
Of kaleidoscopic leaves
Creates a tapestry of autumn magic
Upon the emerald carpet of fading summer.
~~ Judith A. Lindberg, Shades of Autumn ~~
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Bardic
Competition and Crowning Achievements
at the Eisteddfod
THE
NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD OF WALES
The
National Eisteddfod is the largest and oldest celebration
of Welsh culture, unique throughout Europe as each year
it visits a different area of Wales. Eisteddfod literally
means a sitting (eistedd = to  sit),
perhaps a reference to the hand-carved chair traditionally
awarded to the best poet in the ceremony 'The Crowning
of the Bard'.
The
National Eisteddfod of Wales dates back to 1176 when it
is said that the first Eisteddfod was held. Lord Rhys
invited poets and musicians from all over Wales to a grand
gathering at his castle in Cardigan. A chair at the Lord's
table was awarded to the best poet and musician, a tradition
that continues today in the modern Eisteddfod.
Following
1176, many eisteddfodau were held throughout Wales, under
the patronage of Welsh gentry and noblemen. Soon the Eisteddfod
developed into a huge folk festival on a grand scale.
After declining in popularity in the 18th century, it
was revived in the early years of the 19th. In 1880 the
National Eisteddfod Association was formed and since then
the Eisteddfod has been held every year, except for 1914
and 1940.
The
Gorsedd of Bards (Gorsedd y Beirdd) made its first appearance
at the Eisteddfod at the Ivy Bush Inn in Carmarthen in
1819, and its close association with the Festival has
remained. It is an association of poets, writers, musicians,
artists and individuals who have made a significant and
distinguished contribution to Welsh language, literature,
and culture. Its members are known as Druids, and the
colour of their costumes - white, blue or green - is indicative
of their various ranks.
The
head of the Gorsedd of Bards is the Archdruid, who is
elected for a term of three years, and is responsible
for conducting the Gorsedd ceremonies during Eisteddfod
week. These Ceremonies are held to honour literary achievements
amongst Welsh poets and prose writers.
Three
Gorsedd ceremonies are held during the Eisteddfod week:
- The Crowning (Coroni) of the Bard (awarded to the poet
judged best in the competitions in free meter)
-
The Awarding of the Prose Medal (for the winner of the
Prose competitions)
- The Chairing (Cadeirio) of the Bard (for the best long
poem) .
The
schedule goes something like this:
Monday
morning, Gorsedd Circle
Monday afternoon, Crowning of the Bard
Wednesday afternoon, Prose Medal
Friday morning, Gorsedd Circle
Friday afternoon climax, Chairing of the Bard
During
these ceremonies the Archdruid and the members of the
Gorsedd of Bards gather on the Eisteddfod stage in their
ceremonial robes. When the Archdruid reveals the identity
of the winning poet, the 'Corn Gwlad' (a trumpet) calls
the people together and the Gorsedd Prayer is chanted.
The  Archdruid
withdraws a sword from its sheath three times. He cries
'Is there peace?', to which the assembly reply 'Peace'.
Then
the Horn of Plenty is presented to the Archdruid by a
young local married woman, who urges him to drink the
'wine of welcome'. A young girl presents him with a basket
of 'flowers from the land and soil of Wales' and a floral
dance is performed, based on a pattern of flower gathering
from the fields. The Gorsedd ceremonies are unique to
Wales and the National Eisteddfod.
As
well as the traditional ceremonies there is another side
to the Eisteddfod: maes yr Eisteddfod, the Eisteddfod
Field. Here you find lots of stalls associated mainly
with crafts, music, books and food. Music competitions
and radio shows take place in the Theatre y Maes( the
theatre on the field). There is also a societies tent,
a literature tent and the very popular live music tent
- only songs in Welsh can be performed. The learners tent
is for teachers and students of the Welsh language.
Each
year, Welsh people from all over the world return to Wales
to take part in a special welcoming ceremony staged during
Eisteddfod week. The ceremony is organised by Wales International,
an association of ex-patriates from all over the world.
The Wales International ceremony is held within the Eisteddfod
Pavilion on the Thursday of Eisteddfod week.
There
is also an Eisteddfod held twice a year in the Chubut
province of Patagonia, South America, in the towns of
Gaiman and Trelew. This Eisteddfod started in the 1880's
and includes competitions in music, poetry and recitation
in Welsh, Spanish and English. The winner of the best
poem in Spanish receives a silver crown. The ceremony
to honour the best poet in Welsh, the Bard, involves a
religious ceremony asking for peace and health and involves
the Chairing of the Bard in an ornate carved wooden chair.
The main Eisteddfod at Trelew is a very big gathering
with visitors from all over the world.
Royal
National Eisteddfod of Wales
To
allow for the sensitivities that exist between North and
South Wales, the Royal National Eisteddfod takes place
alternately in North and South Wales.
 It
is an eight day cultural festival which is held at the
beginning of August every year. It attracts about 6000
competitors and 150,000 visitors. It is the largest popular
festival of competitive music-making and poetry-writing
in Europe
If
you do not speak Welsh you will have to rely on the similtaneous
translations, as the event takes place solely in the Welsh
language.
The
Eisteddfod (meaning "sitting together" or "gathering")
evolved from ancient bardic tournaments in which apprentice
poets and musicians would compete against each other for
a seat of honour in the households of noblemen. Winning
such a tournament was a certain passport to employment,
for poets depended on the patronage of wealthy noblemen
and
landowners for their livelihood. Today it is a unique
celebration of Welsh language, art, culture and heritage.
These
tournaments were in existence as long ago as the 10th
century, when Hywel Dda, a Welsh King, is reputed to have
awarded a seat of honour to a poet in his household during
a competitive meeting at his court. A 12th century manuscript
refers to a similar gathering at Lord Rhys ap Gruffudd's
castle in Cardigan in 1176, which included poets and musicians
from all over Wales.
The
Caerwys Eisteddfod of 1523 was an important milestone
in the Eisteddfod's development as it regulated the patronage
system and graded poets and musicians according to rank
and status. At the beginning of the 19th century, an Eisteddfod
of historic significance was held at the Ivy Bush Inn
in Carmarthen. By this time, the Eisteddfod was no longer
confined to poetry but had developed into a fully fledged
folk festival on a much larger scale.
 The
first National Eisteddfod as we recognise it today was
held at Aberdare in Mid Glamorgan in 1861. In 1880 the
National Eisteddfod Association was formed and charged
with the responsibility of staging an annual festival.
Wales
has other Eisteddfodau, including the Urdd National Eisteddfod
(for the youth of Wales) and the International Musical
Eisteddfod - which is held each July in the town of Llangollen,
in North Wales. The first International Musicial Eisteddfod
was held in 1947, with the aim of promoting peace between
nations after the war-torn years of 1939-45, through the
international language of music. This week-long Eisteddfod
attracts 2,500 competitors from over 40 countries. In
addition to the daily music, singing and dancing competitions,
gala concerts are performed in the evenings.
-----------------------------------------------------
Sources:
http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/Wales-History/Eisteddfod.htm
http://www.gorsethkernow.org.uk/english/gallery/wales2002/galleist.htm
http://www.gorsethkernow.org.uk/english/gallery/wales2002/eiscrown.htm
http://www.wales-calling.com/culture/eisteddfod.htm
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"Come,"
said the wind to
the leaves one day,
"Come o' er the meadows
and we will play.
Put on your dresses
scarlet and gold,
For summer is gone
and the days grow cold."
~~ A Children's Song of the 1880's ~~
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Bardic
Writings of OMS Members
It
appears that most of our members were on vacation this Summer,
but we do have contributions from Antlerchime and myself...
Sunlight
©1986 by Antlerchime
Reprinted with permission
Ten days of heavy winter
And the snow that falls upon my day
I'm waiting for the summer
Beams of sunlight melt it all away
I'm gazing at the mountains
Shining white against an azure blue
Dark trees that pierce the flowing ice-cold coating
Smooth and bright and new
Wind blows across deep snow and chills the hands of time
And I must hurry on before the distant sun is gone
And leave behind a frozen land
That's clothed in white on every hand
And buried deep in winter's sleep since time began
Ten icy, shining crystals
That cling upon the beard of man
Eyes wander the horizon
Rising, falling, taking in the land
Seek shelter for the evening
And the cold that creeps upon the earth
At rest before the fire, glowing warmly
Cat upon the hearth
Night falls and moonlight calls upon the fields of white
And sleep unfolds anon though we must wake before the dawn
And travel on, and leave this lair
And walk the snow, and breathe the air
And shade our eyes as we arise into the glare
And there is sunlight
And glowing snow-bright
And chilling ice-wind
And there is sunlight
Ten crystal streams of water
Weaving down beneath the peaks of white
Descend upon a river
Winding, flowing out of winter's night
My eyes have seen the dreaming
Of a hundred whispering nights of cold
The sleep of snow is ending
Melting, steaming in the sunlight bold
Cold ends, the spring awakens into a warming dawn
And summer's in the air with lengthened days of sunlight fair
The drifting snow will disappear from hills of green
And leaping deer
The wind will ease, now summer's breeze, as life appears
And there is sunlight
And glowing sky-bright
Awakened life-light
And there is sunlight
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A Magickal Evening
©2003 by Ceridwen Seren-Ddaear
As I went about, in the wee hours
of the night,
watering my indoor plants
and feeding my two frisky black kittens,
I chanced to look out the kitchen window,
and here's what I saw…
There she was, the Lunar Lady,
in all her fullness,
moving gracefully across the sky,
with hot-blooded Mars in pursuit,
his face red with exertion
– like Pwyll chasing Rhiannon on her white horse –
always a short distance behind her,
never catching up to her,
no matter how slowly she rode,
nor how quickly he raced.
He did not think to ask her to stop
(as he did in the myths),
but seemed to delight in the endless chase…
She did not seem to mind,
and even began to tease him,
shyly ducking behind a cloud,
peaking out to see if he was still coming,
then setting off again in the clearness,
moving steadily forward,
with one eye turned back to watch him
in amusement, and something else…
I watched, transfixed, this celestial
dance
between the Yin and the Yang,
powerful archetypes of balance and attraction…
I
know not how long my reverie lasted,
but it touched me deep inside
and left me with a most delicious desire
to go awaken my soulmate…
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The
Lone Wolf
©1975 by Ceridwen Seren-Ddaear
A memory stirs me of a lean gray
wolf,
Solitary amid Northern snows.
It seemed cruel at the time that
She should be alone
Set off from the pack.
Years later that changed,
And her stride matched that of her fellows.
But how odd now, to be dreaming again
Of the nights of old…
One doesn't see the Northern Lights,
Hanging around with this crowd.
Soft footsteps crunching on snow are unheard.
The sharp eyes, ears, senses have faltered
From depending on the skills of the pack.
One almost yearns now for the beauty of that harshness.
I thought the problem was that
I was crazy,
But then that changed.
I thought the problem was having no friends,
But then that changed.
I thought the problem was having no lover,
But then that changed.
I had lingering nights,
Filled with soft words and hands –
As much as one had the right to have,
But it isn't enough, as I don't have me…
The
wolf has come full circle again,
In sets of three…seven…nine.
With a little sorrow, she lingers behind
And leaves the rest.
Anticipating, she sniffs the air
And revels in the sharp scent of Earth.
In snow she bounds forward,
Heading North,
To the aura of indigo nights.
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Winter
is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting
and autumn a mosaic of them all.
~~ Stanley Horowitz
~~
IMPORTANT
MESSAGE FOR OUR INACTIVE MEMBERS
Some
special things are happening this Fall, and I just want to mention
them as they may have an impact on you.
First,
there is the "First Annual West Coast Gathering of the Reformed Druids of Gaia (and friends)." This event is taking
place here in the Redwoods on the weekend of Sept 22nd - 24th.
ALL
OF YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND!!!
Information
about the Gathering can be found at http://www.mithrilstar.org/2006wcdruidgat.htm
Those
of you who are former or lapsed OMS members have an opportunity
here. You will be reinstated to active status just for attending!
Further more, your reinstatement to the Order will be for a minimum
of 3 years. How can that be?
Between
now and October 31st, dues for everyone are $12/year, so you can
renew your membership and once again enjoy the benefits of OMS
membership for just $12 a year for life! Attending the Gathering
will therefore pay your dues for a minimum of 3 years or up to
5!
Sign
up for the Gathering at http://www.mithrilstar.org/2006wcdruidgat.htm
or, if you can't attend then reinstate yourself at http://www.mithrilstar.org/join.htm
I
think you'll be glad you did!
nt
-- el /|\
Preceptor
|
Thy
bounty shines in autumn unconfined
And spreads a common feast for all that live.
~~ James Thomson
~~
Mabon:
The Goddess' Farewell to the Hunter
by Dame Niamh
Reprinted with her permission
Now I lay you down
upon the drying grass,
Beloved. Your eyes sweep shut; you are weary,
Having given all you could give,
Even now you fade into the dry brown turf.
Your hand, once strong
and warm, is dry
Like a little bundle of willow twigs; your hair
Fades into the leaves under your head.
Your blood and bones return to Me.
But this is how it
is: your sacrifice is made
So that all can live again as the Wheel turns.
Even now your child quickens in My womb,
Growing, flourishing. He will be born when the snow flies.
How can I let you go,
beloved?
I bend to kiss your lips, they fade against mine.
You smile, and slowly, slowly, sink into invisibility.
My tears fall where you were.
Now you will
go down to that sunless sea,
Climb into your boat and sail the moonlit waters,
Safe in my womb. When My waters break, you will be born,
And I will hold you in my arms again. Child, brother, husband
O remember Me till I hold you again!
http://www.witchvox.com/vn/vn_detail/dt_po.html?a=usnj&id=16389
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"Our
task must be to free ourselves -- by widening
our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole
of nature and its beauty."
~~ Albert Einstein ~~
The
Druid's Egg newsletter is supported by our online store:
She
calls it "stick season," this slow disrobing of summer,
leaf by leaf, till the bores of tall trees rattle and scrape in the wind.
~~
Eric Pinder ~~
The
word “Mabon” is from the story of Mabon ap Modron,
“the son of the mother”, the Divine Youth. Mabon is
taken when he is three nights’ old.
His
whereabouts are shrouded in mystery; it is through the wisdom
and memory of the most ancient animals (Blackbird, Stag, Owl,
Eagle, and Salmon) that we understand where he is and why.
Mabon
dwells in His Mother’s womb, the Otherworld, in a place
of challenge, nurturing, renewal, regeneration and new life. Just
as the light is now being drawn into the earth accumulating strength
and wisdom, to become a new seed, Mabon has returned to his Mother’s
womb.
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Change
is a measure of time and, in the autumn,
time seems speeded up. What was, is not, and never
again will be; what is, is change.
~~ Edwin Teale
~~
THE
STATS OF THE OMS
As
of today we have 157 members:
139 members are ordained
First Degree Druids.
7members are eligible for ordination into
the Second Degree
7 members are ordained Second Degree Druids
2 members are eligible for ordination into
the Third Degree
9 members are ordained Third Degree Druids
8 members are eligible for ordination into
the OMS Fourth Degree
1 member is eligible for ordination into
the OMS Fifth Degree
1 member is an ordained OMS Fifth Degree
Druid
2 members are ordained OMS Seventh Degree
Druids
During
the season of Samradh, OMS experienced a net Membership gain of 1
Total
Groves sponsored: 2 (+
2 new Proto-Groves)
Total US Members: 132
Total Canadian Members: 10
Total UK Members: 4
Total International Members: 22
Total Countries represented: 8
Total US States represented: 37
Total Canadian Provinces represented: 6
Top 5 US States: CA=13, OR=12, WA=11, FL=11, NY=7
Total members in areas near Redwood Groves: 5
On
such a day each road is planned
To lead to some enchanted land;
Each turning meets expectancy.
The signs I read on every hand.
I know by autumn's wizardry
On such a day the world can be
Only a great glad dream for me--
Only a great glad dream for me!
~~
Eleanor Myers Jewett, An Autumn Day ~~
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ASTROLOGY
FOR PAGANS
Ceridwen currently
has four Advanced sessions and one Intermediate session in progress. Because
of this large amount of classes, she is taking a long "hiatus"
from the group class format for quite some time (at least until all of
her current students graduate)...
Ceridwen
is, however still offering
PRIVATE TUTORING sessions!
Because of the increased "personal attention" these entail,
there will be a sliding scale fee required...
If
you wish to take advantage of this offer, or need more information about
it, send an email to: Ceridwen
Subject
line: AstroPagan private tutoring
You
will then be contacted immediately and a private database and schedule
will be set up that will conform to your own personal needs - NO WAITING!
All of the pertinent charts and tables will be calculated and sent to
you, as you need them. Each lesson will be offered whenever YOU are ready
for it - no homework deadlines! - and if you need to take time off at
any point for personal business or holidays or whatever reason, your schedule
will be adjusted accordingly!
OR..
If
you are interested in a private consultation about your Astrological chart,
please visit her home page at:
http://hunters-moon.org
There
were three men came out of the West,
Their fortunes for to try,
And these three men made a solemn vow,
John Barleycorn must die...
They let him stand till midsummer's day,
Till he looked both pale and wan,
And little Sir John's grown a long, long beard
And so become a man...
They've hired men with scythes so sharp,
To cut him off at the knee,
They've rolled him and tied him by the waist
Serving him most barbarously...
And little Sir John in the nut-brown bowl--
And he's brandy in the glass,
And little Sir John in the nut-brown bowl
Proved the strongest man at last.
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ALMANAC
Today
is Lughnasadh,
Lammas, or August 1, 2006 CE.
The
Feast of Lughnasadh began at Sunset on July
31st.
It
is the 1st day of the Season of Foghamnhar,
and the 1st day of the Month of MÌ
na Lynasa.
It
is also Tuesday, in the common tongue, or Dydd
Mawrth in Welsh.
It is the Druidic day of the
Holly.
1
Foghamnhar- Discovery of Lindow Man, who
has been dated to the second century BCE and is believed to be a Druid,
1984
9
Foghamnhar - FULL
MOON Celtic tree month of Muin - Vine, begins.
22
Foghamnhar - The Sun enters Virgo.
23
Foghamnhar - Birthday of the Matriarch of the Order of the Mithril Star
- Arch-Druid Ceridwen Seren-Ddaer
23
Foghamnhar - NEW
MOON
32
Foghamnhar - Me·n Fûmhair
(September)
begins (a Friday - Dydd Gwener - Day of the Apple)
37
Foghamnhar - Oberon Zell applies James Lovelock's Gaia Theory to Neo-
Paganism, 1970.
38
Foghamnhar - FULL
MOON. Celtic
Tree month of Gort- Vine begins.
53
Foghamnhar - Mabon / Alban Eluid,
or the Autumnal Equinox.
The Sun enters Libra.
53
Foghamnhar - NEW
MOON
53
-55 Foghamnhar - 1st
Annual West Coast Gathering of the Reformed Druids of Gaia -
Humboldt Redwoods State Park - CA - USA
62
Foghamnhar - Deireadh Fuhmhair (October)
begins (a Sunday - Dydd
Sul -- Day of the Birch).
67
Foghamnhar - FULL
MOON. Celtic
Tree month of Ngatal- Reed begins.
82
Foghamnhar - The Sun enters Scorpio
82
Foghamnhar - NEW
MOON
92 Foghamnhar -
The Festival of Samhain (Halloween / Calan Gaeaf).
Eve of the Celtic New Year (1st day of the NRDNA Year 45)
1
Geimredh - The Season of Geimredh begins at Sunset (1
MÌ
na Samhna,
November 1, 2006).
The
Mother Grove wishes all of you
a most inspiring Lughnasadh, a joyous Mabon,
and abundant blessings throughout the season!
May
you never thirst!
Arch-Druid
Ceridwen Seren-Ddaear, Managing
Editor/Webmaster
El Arseneau, Preceptor
Cylch Cerddwyr Rhwng y Bydoedd Grove
NEXT
ISSUE WILL BE PUBLISHED ON Samhain
/ Calan
Gaeaf - 1 Geimredh YR 44
WANT
TO JOIN THE ORDER? http://www.mithrilstar.org/join.htm
WANT
TO DONATE TO THE ORDER? http://www.mithrilstar.org/donate.htm
The
Druids Egg -- 1 Foghamhnar YR 44 -- Vol. 4 No. 4
Send letters, submissions to mithrilstarnews-owner@yahoogroups.com
There is no guarantee that your submission will
be published.
All submissions become the property of OMS.
Sunrise
in the Cosmic Egg" - http://www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=13403
"Wheel
of the Year" - http://www.kilunarei.nl/index2.php?p=wicca_wielvanhetjaart
"the
horn of plenty is offered up" - http://www.gorsethkernow.org.uk/english/gallery/wales2002/galleist.htm
"Jason
Walford Davies from Bangor won the Crown" - http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southeast/tours/events/pages/eisteddfod02b.shtml
"The
Gorsedd Ceremony" - http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southeast/tours/events/pages/eisteddfod02b.shtml?12
"Mam
o'r fro, a matron of the district, with the horn" - http://www.gorsethkernow.org.uk/english/gallery/wales2002/eiscrown.htm
"Eisteddfod
Chair of 1922" - http://www.terrynorm.ic24.net/llwyd.htm
"Bardic
Crown from Birkenhead Eisteddfod, 1931" - http://www.gtj.org.uk/en/item1/17706
"The
Eisteddfod crown designed by Ann Catrin Evans" - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4703759.stm
"The
taking of Mabon" - http://www.liminalityland.com/morraha1.jpg
All
other pictures are believed to be public domain, gathered from around
the internet over the years. and/or sent to us by friends. However, if
there is an image(s) that has copyright
information associated with it and the copyright holder wishes for it
to be removed, then please email
us and we will remove it. Or, if any of the artwork is yours and you
just want us to give you credit (and the piece can remain on site), please
send us your link/banner and we will be happy to do so.
Published
four times each year by The Mother Grove of the
Order of the Mithril Star
Cylch Cerddwyr Rhwng y Bydoedd Grove
Eureka, California USA
"An autonomous collective of Reformed Druids"
Copyright © 2006
No
portion of this newsletter may be reproduced by anyone for any purpose
without the express written permission of the
Arch-Druid, Ceridwen Seren-Ddaear
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