Something Old, Something New

When Chokecherry Grove was getting started seven years ago, we put together our "little green book" to help folks new to ADF understand our Core Order of Ritual and participate in it. That book is still available as a paperback on Lulu.com. But after someone interested in our hybrid Samhain ritual asked if we had a script, I decided to make the little book available as an ebook on Smashwords.com as well, slightly edited to reflect the evolution of Chokecherry's usual Core Order over the intervening seven years. The e-book's official publication date is December 1st, but you can buy it now through this pre-sale link. It's available in epub, mobi (kindle-compatible), and pdf formats. Bonus: I've set it up on Smashwords as "reader sets price", so you can pay whatever you can afford, or take it for free!

Samhain 2022 Update

 

Chokecherry will be celebrating our virtual Samhain on the evening of Sunday October 30 - a day early so we can be at home on Halloween. 

Here is the Zoom link. The link will open around 5 pm, ritual starts around sunset. Anyone who hasn't attended an ADF ritual before might like to look at this page first. Also, we encourage virtual participants to participate in the ritual, either by taking roles when asked, or by having their own cups for the Blessing, and perhaps making their own offerings during the general offering as well.

Samhain 2022

 

Chokecherry will be celebrating our virtual Samhain on the evening of Sunday October 30 - a day early so we can be at home on Halloween. I'll post the Zoom link later this week, but it will probably be a case of gather at 5 pm, ritual starts around sunset. Anyone who hasn't attended an ADF ritual before might like to look at this page first. Also, we encourage virtual participants to participate in the ritual, either by taking roles when asked, or by having their own cups for the Blessing, and perhaps making their own offerings during the general offering as well.

Postcript - our 2022 Rocky Mountain Retreat

 I'd like to thank all our presenters - Rev. Ian Corrigan, Anthony Murphy, Manny Tejeda Moreno, John Beckett, James "Pigeon" Fielder, and Rev. Jean "Drum" Pagano - for their wonderful presentations, and everyone who joined us. I will be sending out links to the recordings for everyone who signed up in a day or two.

It was a wonderful weekend, and we plan to do it again next year!

Our October Retreat this year - FINAL UPDATE!

Our October Rocky Mountain Retreat starts Friday evening (Oct. 14th) at 6pm MDT with a Zoom chat session followed by a bardic circle. 

Saturday will be our main presenters day, with four 1.5 hours sessions starting at 9:30 am MDT. Topics of the presentations will include: 

9:30 am MDT: Rev. Ian Corrigan: Rites of Audience - Modern Theurgic Invocation

11:30 am MDT: Anthony Murphy: Loughcrew - Tombs on the Cailleach's Mountain

2 pm MDT:  Manny Tejada Moreno: Environmentalism as Reciprocity

4 pm MDT: John Beckett: The Morrigan: An Introduction to the Great Queen

The day will conclude with an evening ritual at 6 pm MDT. 

Sunday morning, beginning again at 9:30 am MDT, we will have two more presenters:

9:30 am MDT: James "Pigeon" Fielder: Ritual of Gameplay

11:30 am MDT: Rev. Jean "Drum" Pagano:  (title to be determined)

We will not be concluding with La Foret's Labyrinth as we had hoped due to scheduling problems. We also will be unable to offer a Saturday Day-Trip option this year. But remember, all presenters' sessions and the Saturday evening ritual will be recorded and available afterwards to everyone who signs up, so even if you can't watch everything live, you won't miss out! To sign up, visit our blog at chokecherryadf.orgNOW! (If you access it via your phone, you will need to scroll down to the bottom to choose "view web version" in order to see the payment link on the right sidebar.)

 

Our October Retreat this year - Update #3

 

Our October Rocky Mountain Retreat starts two weeks from today. Zoom links for the entire weekend (six speakers, two rituals, and a Friday night bardic circle) are only $20. All sessions will be recorded and will be shared afterwards with everyone who signs up, so even if you can't watch everything live, you won't miss out. To sign up, visit our blog at chokecherryadf.org now! (If you access it via your phone, you will need to scroll down to the bottom to choose "view web version" in order to see the payment link on the right sidebar.)

Saturday will be our main presenters day, with four 1.5 hours sessions starting at 9:30 am MDT. Topics of the presentations will include: 

9:30 am MDT: Rev. Ian Corrigan: Rites of Audience - Modern Theurgic Invocation

11:30 am MDT: Anthony Murphy: Loughcrew - Tombs on the Cailleach's Mountain

2 pm MDT:  Manny Tejada Moreno: Environmentalism as Reciprocity

4 pm MDT: John Beckett: The Morrigan: An Introduction to the Great Queen

The day will conclude with an evening ritual at 6 pm MDT. 

Sunday morning, beginning again at 9:30 am MDT, we will have two more presenters, and will conclude by our walking La Foret's Labyrinth at about 1 pm MDT.  Sunday's presentations:

9:30 am MDT: James "Pigeon" Fielder: Ritual of Gameplay

11:30 am MDT: Rev. Jean "Drum" Pagano:  (title to be determined)

The retreat will conclude by our walking La Foret's Labyrinth at about 1 pm MDT. 

Autumn Equinox Ritual 9/24/22 - update

 

Here is the Zoom link for our Saturday September 24th Equinox ritual: 

Topic: autumn equinox
Time: Sep 24, 2022 06:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

The ritual theme will be Celtic. If you haven't attended one of our rituals before, there is pre-ritual information here. Join us to celebrate the changing seasons - and plan to join us next month as well for our virtual October Rocky Mountain Retreat!

Autumn Equinox Ritual 9/24/22

 Chokecherry will be holding our Autumn Equinox Ritual next Saturday, September 24, 2022. It will be a hybrid ritual - celebrants physically present, other attendees connecting via our Zoom link. For those of you who haven't attended one of our rituals before, there is pre-ritual information here. The celebrant will be ADF Senior Priest Rev. G. R. Grove, and the theme of the ritual will be Celtic.

I will post the Zoom link later this week, but we will bring the link live around 6 pm and start the ritual around 7 pm MDT. So plan to join us, and celebrate the changing seasons!

Our October Retreat this year - Update #2

 

We have confirmed and scheduled our six speakers this year. The Retreat will start at 6 pm MDT on Friday with an opening prayer and greetings, followed by an open hang-out chat session . This was something requested by last year's participants. At approximately 7:30 pm MDT, we will start an open bardic session - more details to follow!

Saturday will be our main presenters day, with four 1.5 hours sessions starting at 9:30 am MDT. Our Saturday speakers will be Rev. Ian Corrigan, Anthony Murphy, Manny Tejeda Moreno, and John Beckett. The day will conclude with an evening ritual at 6 pm MDT.

Sunday morning beginning again at 9:30 am MDT, we will have two more presenters - James "Pigeon" Fielder and Rev. Jean "Drum" Pagano, and will conclude by our walking La Foret's Labyrinth at about 1 pm MDT. 

All sessions will be recorded and will be shared afterwards with everyone who signs up, so even if you can't watch everything live, you won't miss out. To sign up, visit our blog at chokecherryadf.org now! (If you access it via your phone, you will need to scroll down to the bottom to choose "view web version" in order to see the payment link on the right sidebar.)

Our October Retreat this year - update #1

  Our scheduled speakers so far this year:

John Beckett,
Rev. Jean Pagano,
Rev. Ian Corrigan,
Anthony Murphy,
James "Pigeon" Fielder
Manny Tejeda Moreno

More details coming soon...

Lughnasadh 2022

 

 We will be celebrating Lughnasadh tomorrow, Saturday August 6th, via Zoom. The Deity of the Occasion (logically) will be Lugh. The Zoom session will start at 7 pm, with actual ritual around 7:30 MDT. Link: 

Topic: lughnasadh
Time: Aug 6, 2022 07:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82570869789?pwd=WE5qSm1yVlQ1SkZ1YmdzMHBXeFV5Zz09

Midsummer

 We will be celebrating Midsummer tonight in our (now) usual hybrid fashion. Deity of the Occasion will be Dionysus. I encourage those not physically present to have at least a brief offering of poetry. 

G R Grove is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Midsummer
Time: Jun 18, 2022 06:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89510304559?pwd=c2llTlpYVkgvVUMxYjl2NnVkdnBQZz09

Meeting ID: 895 1030 4559
Passcode: 167447
One tap mobile
+16699009128,,89510304559#,,,,*167447# US (San Jose)
+12532158782,,89510304559#,,,,*167447# US (Tacoma)

Dial by your location
        +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
        +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
        +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 895 1030 4559
Passcode: 167447
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcPOfAp4Y3

Note: we have a forecast of possible thunderstorms. If this happens, we may break off and run for cover, to finish indoors!

Spring 2022

We want to thank everyone who participated in our Divination Methods workshops yesterday. The speakers were great, and the audience was appreciative. It was a good warm-up for our planned Rocky Mountain Retreat in October.

Our next public event will be Beltane, probably on Sunday May 1st. I'll post an update when we get closer. In the meantime, spring is tentatively arriving here in Denver at last. After a cold winter, it's very welcome!

Divination Methods Workshop - Last Update

 I will be sending out the Zoom links tomorrow to everyone who has signed up for our Saturday March 26 workshop, so if you're interested, please sign up now! Here is the schedule again - 

9:00 AM MDT:  Kevin "Arth yn Rhedeg" Jenkyns will speak on his Native-American based system of STONE DIVINATION.

10:30 AM MDT: Our ADF Archdruid REV. JEAN "DRUM" PAGANO will speak on OGAM, the early Irish alphabet and the poets' system of divination.  

1:00 PM MDT: DIANA PAAR will speak on the TAROT. 

2:30 PM MDT: REV. GAARIK HAMR will speak on the Norse RUNES.

 4 PM MDT: REV. D. ROWEN GROVE will speak on BONE READING. 

For more details on their presentations, see our workshop page. Be sure and plan to join us for these  exciting presentations. Our price for the whole day's series of Zoom links is only $10. The payment link is on the sidebar to your right. (If you are viewing this on your phone, scroll down to the bottom to choose "view web version" in order to see the links.)

Divination Methods Workshop - Update #3

Our Divination Methods Workshop will be held (via Zoom) this coming Saturday, March 26, 2022. The schedule: 

9:00 AM MDT:  Kevin "Arth yn Rhedeg" Jenkyns will speak on his Native-American based system of STONE DIVINATION.

10:30 AM MDT: Our ADF Archdruid REV. JEAN "DRUM" PAGANO will speak on OGAM, the early Irish alphabet and the poets' system of divination.  

1:00 PM MDT: DIANA PAAR will speak on the TAROT. 

2:30 PM MDT: REV. GAARIK HAMR will speak on the Norse RUNES.

 4 PM MDT: REV. D. ROWEN GROVE will speak on BONE READING. 

For more details on their presentations, see our workshop page. Be sure and plan to join us for the  exciting presentations. Our price for the whole day's series of Zoom links is only $10. The payment link is on the sidebar to your right. (If you are viewing this on your phone, scroll down to the bottom to choose "view web version" in order to see the links.)

Divination Methods Workshop - Update #2

 Our divination methods workshop is coming up soon, on Saturday March 26th. One of our five speakers that day will be Gaarik Hamr, speaking on the runes. Here's what he has to say:

"Runic divination, at its core, is the use of runes from one of several alphabets to determine hidden information. Hidden by whom and for what purpose? The purpose of this workshop is to explore the animistic aspect of Norse cosmology and apply it to runic practice. This workshop looks to the Rune Poems and modern scholarship for a theistic, animistic approach to runic divination and interpretation."

Be sure and plan to join us for the the exciting presentations we have lined up. Our other four speakers are listed on our workshop tab, and our price for the whole day's series of Zoom links is only $10. The payment link is on the sidebar to your right. (If you are viewing this on your phone, scroll down to the bottom to choose "view web version" in order to see the links.)

Divination Methods Workshop - Update #1

 Our divination methods workshop is coming up soon, on Saturday March 26th. One of our five speakers that day will be Diana Paar, speaking on the tarot. Here's what she has to say:

TAROT WITH DIANA PAAR

Tarot cards are one of the most popular & accessible divination systems, so it’s not surprising they’re subjected to so many misunderstandings & superstitions. How to choose a deck and how to store it? What reading layouts are the best or which should be avoided? Where does Tarot come from?

Diana will provide a brief overview of what is known about the history of Tarot, then dispel misconceptions while clarifying some of its benefits. Working with the Tarot for over 30 years Diana incorporates astrology & extensive metaphysical experience into her personal & public spiritual practice. As an Intuitive and Teacher she has a unique way of explaining how reading Tarot can open and maintain a dynamic relationship between our inner & outer worlds.

Be sure and plan to join us for the the exciting presentations we have lined up. Our other four speakers are listed on our workshop tab, and our price for the whole day's series of Zoom links is only $10. The payment link is on the sidebar to your right. (If you are viewing this on your phone, scroll down to the bottom to choose "view web version" in order to see the links.)

Imbolc 2022

 Chokecherry Grove will be celebrating Imbolc on this coming Sunday, January 30th, again mostly virtually. Gather at 4:30 pm MDT, ritual starts at 5 pm. I will post the Zoom link when we get closer.

In the meantime, however, check out our future plans for March: http://www.chokecherryadf.org/p/march-divination-methods-workshop.html !

Update: here is the Zoom link.

G R Grove is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Imbolc
Time: Jan 30, 2022 04:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89591237961?pwd=VDg0ZzdUNm4yT1RjWmhsS1hDN2ZUUT09

Meeting ID: 895 9123 7961
Passcode: 077600
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,89591237961#,,,,*077600# US (Tacoma)
+13462487799,,89591237961#,,,,*077600# US (Houston)

Dial by your location
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
        +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
        +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
        +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 895 9123 7961
Passcode: 077600
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdY1K7jOfx