Yule 2018

Our Yule ritual this year will be on Saturday Dec. 22nd at Jefferson Unitarian Church, 14350 W. 32nd Avenue, Golden, Colorado 80401., beginning at 4 pm.

Looking ahead

I see we omitted to post about our Samhain celebration on this site, although it was listed on our "Coming Activities" page, and for this I apologize. It was covered on our Facebook page, and we held  it on the past Saturday (October 27th). Our next high day will be Yule/Midwinter on Saturday December 22nd at Jefferson United Church in Golden, CO, followed by our Imbolc ritual on Saturday February 2nd (probably at the Kirk of Bonnie Brae in Denver, although this site is not yet confirmed). After that, weather permitting, we will return to our usual summer location in Overland Pond Park beside the Platte. In the meantime, a joyous New Year to you all, here at the beginning of winter!

Rocky Mountain Retreat - this year and next

It was a wonderful weekend full of friendship, learning, and natural beauty. We are already planning next year's retreat, which will be held at the same site October 18-20, 2019. There will be a maximum of 18 full weekend packages (food and lodging) available next year, plus the option of day tripping on Saturday.

3rd Update

3rd & final update: our Rocky Mountain retreat starts this afternoon at La Foret conference center. Can't make it today? Come tomorrow morning! Saturday presentations start at 9 am at the Blue Spruce lodge. There are still luncheon and dinner spots available on our food plan.

Retreat Update #2

If you are planning to attend our Rocky Mountain Retreat this year, here are more things you might like to know.

• Our cabin accommodations in Willow consist of 6 shared bedrooms, each containing two beds or bunk beds. Towels and linens are not included unless you prepaid for them, so be sure to bring your own towel and bedding.
  
• Cabin accommodations include shared showers and toilets.
  
• Meals will be in La Foret's large dining hall, and will include a number of options. For details, see La Foret's "Dining" page. Meals are included in our weekend rate, but are not guaranteed for Saturday-only attendance unless you have registered (and hopefully prepaid). There will also be coffee and tea available at Blue Spruce during our workshops.

 Again, here is our preregistration link. We hope to see you soon!

Retreat update #1

Greetings! Our Rocky Mountain Retreat starts in 9 days on Friday afternoon September 21st. If you are planning to attend, here are some things you should know.

• Friday check-ins will be at Willow Cabin after 1 pm. Saturday events will be at Blue Spruce. Saturday presentations will begin there at 9 am.
• If you are planning on staying overnight on Friday and/or Saturday, you MUST preregister now as accommodations are limited.
• If you are planning on having lunch and/or dinner on site Saturday, PLEASE register now. Again, meal slots are limited.
• If you have any mobility issues, PLEASE let us know ahead of time. The cabin and dining hall locations are separated from Blue Spruce and the Fire Circle by a not insignificant hill. 
• For more information on these locations, see the Site Map tab on our website.

Here is the preregistration link. We hope to see you soon!

Rev. D. Rowen Grove

Rev. D. Rowen Grove is Senior Druid of Chokecherry Grove, ADF and ADF's Preceptor.  She will be our third speaker at this year's Rocky Mountain Retreat (Sept. 21-23, 2018).

Her topic: Bone Reading

"Bone reading is a form of divination that is simultaneously archaic and modern, structured and free-form, and found in many cultures around the world," says Rowen. She examines some of the historical and archaeological background of this intriguing form of divination, and discusses how those interested in trying it could go about developing their own set of pieces to connect with their ancestors and local spirits.


If this sounds interesting, preregister now - there are still a few weekend packages left!

Rev. Jean "Drum" Pagano

ADF's Archdruid Jean "Drum" Pagano will be our second headline speaker at this year's Rocky Mountain Retreat (Sept. 21-23, 2018).

His topic: Building a Devotional Practice with Land, Sea, and Sky.

"Working with High Days is a wonderful thing, but High Days come and go eight times a year. What can someone do if they want to develop a monthly, weekly, or daily practice?" asks Drum. This workshop will investigate building a devotional practice with the Three Realms, namely, Land, Sea, and Sky. Lunar-based devotional practices will also be discussed. Devotional scripts will be distributed, but there will also be an opportunity to write and offer scripts by class participants.

If this sounds interesting, preregister now - there are still a few weekend packages left! 

Retreat Schedule and more...

We have more new information up now for our Rocky Mountain Retreat, including a schedule and a site map for the retreat center. Check it out!

John Beckett

John Beckett will be our headline speaker at this year's Rocky Mountain Retreat (Sept. 21-23, 2018).

His topic: Connecting to the Land Where You Are.

"Most of us who live in North America don’t have deep ancestral connections to the land where we live. We have ethical concerns about how we came to hold this land and the way our not-very-distant ancestors treated the people who were here first. And yet as Pagans, we recognize we need a connection to the land and the spirits of the land" says John. His workshop will explore the ways we can form relationships with the land where we are, whether we live in cities, suburbs, or rural areas, based on a foundation of animism and the principles of reciprocity.

If this sounds interesting, preregister now - there are still a few weekend packages left!

If you are planning to attend our September retreat...

Please preregister now, whether or not you can immediately pay. We currently have EIGHT spaces left for the entire weekend (w/ bed and meals).

Lughnasadh 2018

Lughnasadh 2018

Come and join us as we celebrate the festival of First Harvests!

Date: Sunday July 29, 2018

Location: Overland Pond Park.

Time: Gather at noon; ritual starts at 1 pm.

Our Deity of the Occasion this time will be Lugh. In keeping with our theme of first harvests, we encourage offerings of such (or their equivalent for the non-growers amongst us). Athletic games will follow the ritual, which may, or may not, include foot wrestling, leg wrestling, a warped version of pole vaulting or other silly contests. Prizes for the victors will be provided. As usual we will also have a post-ritual potluck, so bring a dish to share which suits your tastes!

Summer Solstice 2018

Date: Sunday June 17

Location:
Overland Park Pond
955 West Florida Avenue, Denver CO 80223

Time: 2-5

The days grow long, the sun burns high, and it’s time to celebrate the Summer Solstice. Join us under the summer sun as we praise the bright and fertile season and mark the turning of the wheel.

As with all our rituals, all friendly faces are welcome. There will be a time for the folk to make offerings to their own patrons, ancestors, land kin, or other such beings. Please make sure your physical offerings are burnable/biodegradable. Offerings of poetry and song are also welcome.

Following the ritual there will be a time for feasting and fellowship. Please contribute to our potluck, taking your own dietary needs in mind as well. We encourage HOMEMADE dishes, made with love. If you’re not a gardener, support your local Farmer’s Market, or see what ingredients are Colorado-made and in season at your favorite grocery store.

Please be aware that this is also Denver Gay Pride Weekend. There will be street closures around Civic Center Park. Prepare your route accordingly.

We look forward to seeing you. And bring a friend!

Rocky Mountain Retreat 2018 - News 1.1

We have been moving ahead rapidly with planning for our annual Rocky Mountain Retreat. As mentioned before, this year's retreat will be an out of town weekend event at La Foret Conference Center in Colorado's Black Forest area near Colorado Springs. Last week we added a second confirmed speaker to our line-up: John Beckett!

We also now have preregistration and prepayment links on the right sidebar of this site. If you're seriously thinking about coming, preregister now to give us a better idea of the interest level, but remember that this won't hold your space. For more details, see our Rocky Mountain Retreat and FAQ tabs above.

Beltane 2018

Join Chokecherry ADF on April 29th as we celebrate Beltane, with a Celtic ritual.

The location is Overland Pond Park in Denver. The address is 955 West Florida Avenue, Denver CO 80233.

Gather at 1 for a 2 pm ritual, down by the river.

There will be time during the ritual for attendants to give offerings of their own (to an ancestor, favorite deity, nature spirit, etc).

After the ritual there will be a potluck, so please bring food to share, that meets your dietary needs.

A homemade dish is encouraged and would be most welcome!

All friendly faces are invited. Bring your friends.

We hope to see you there. 

Spring Equinox 2018

Join Chokecherry Grove ADF as we celebrate the Spring Equinox. We will gather at Overland Pond Park in Denver. The address is 955 W Florida Ave, Denver, CO 80223.

The date is Sunday, March 18 at 1 PM - 4 PM

This will be an ADF Druid Ritual. For more information about how we do rituals, please visit our 'About' page on our website.

There will be time during the ritual for attendants to give offerings of their own (to an ancestor, favorite deity, or nature spirit, etc).
After the ritual there will be a potluck so please bring food that meets your dietary needs.

A homemade dish is encouraged, and would be most welcome.
All friendly faces are invited!
Bring your friends!
We hope to see you there. :)

Imbolc 2018

Join Chokecherry Grove, ADF, on Saturday February 3rd, as we celebrate Imbolc.

Imbolc is one of the 4 Celtic fire festivals, and we will be honoring Brigid.
Whether you see her as the Goddess Brighid, or as Saint Brigid, all friendly faces are welcome.
The ritual will be at the Kirk of Bonnie Brae Church in Denver. The address is
1201 S Steele St, Denver, CO 80210

We will be in the courtyard which faces Steele Street. There is a small parking lot, or you may park around the corner on Arizona Street.
Gather at 3 for Brighid Cross making, ritual at 4.

After ritual there will be a potluck, so please bring something to share.
We ask that you make an effort to bring something homemade.