We have done a lot of discussion concerning the ritual. The Grove will hold the ritual as planned. All are welcome. We do ask that you consider staying home if you have any health related reasons. The Grove will be providing a live feed of the ritual using Zoom for everyone at home.

Instructions for Zoom:

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If you wish to join us in person, we will be gathering at 6:30 pm at Channing Murray. Ritual is planned to begin at 7:00 pm. His the event page: https://www.prairieskyadf.org/event/spring-equinox-ritual-2020/

Thank you all! May The Kindreds bless you with good health and good luck!

(six attendees)

Save the date:

12/20/19 Friday. Yule. Channing-Murray. Gather at 6:30. Ritual start at 7 pm. (An Cailleach)1/31/19 Friday.

1/ 31/20 Friday. Imbolc. Channing-Murray. Gather at 6:30. Ritual start at 7 pm. (Brighid)

Adopt a Mile of street. Those present who wanted signed safety rules and a waiver sheet to be able to help clean up trash along Springfield Ave. in Champaign between Prospect and Mattis Avenues. We will have four clean-ups per year. The City will provide reflective vests, “working” signs, and some garbage grabbers. Those who weren’t present can sign up at Yule. Creel will send the paperwork and volunteer list to the City afterwards.

Feast of Juul (Solstice Bonfire)  at Allerton Park in Monticello. 12/21/19 Saturday. A fun event to consider adding to your Solstice plans. From their Facebook page, “Join us in the Allerton Meadow for a celebration of the Winter Solstice! Warm up by the fire as we celebrate this Scandinavian tradition of burning the Juul log. Historically, a piece of the Juul log is kept as both a token of good luck and as kindling for the following year’s log. Be sure to also check out the Kirby Winter Wellness Walk! A cash bar will be available, and Fusilli Tony’s Italian Food will join us to serve delicious Italian food to warm you up by the fire.
(Allerton staff will light the bonfire at 6pm.)
This event is FREE, but donations are appreciated!”

Yule Ritual. The ritual will include a spiral walk for contemplation. We will be celebrating the season and an Calleach, the hag/queen of winter.

Discussed interesting books.

Ritual Facilitation by Shauna Aura Knight.

Spiraling Sun; a winter solstice ritual by Jan Avende.

Palgrave.com, an academic press with topics relevant to pagan studies.

Grove Historian. Alice has been keeping copies of the texts for our rituals with photos of the altar, photo of the omens and their interpretation. We hereby make her the Grove Historian!

Other topics discussed included a brief review of ADF’s organizational hierarchy, egregores and sigils. For ADF 

October 4, 2019

16 Attendees

Save the Dates:

October, 12th (Sat.) Quad Tree Walk, 1 pm Espresso Royale, 1117 Oregon St., Urbana

November 1st (Fri) Samhain, Channing Murray. 6:30 gather, ritual start at 7 pm.

December 20th (Fri) Yule, Channing Murray. 6:30 gather, ritual start at 7 pm.

January 31st (Fri) Imbolc, Channing Murray. 6:30 gather, ritual start at 7 pm.

Election Results. The current board was unanimously re-elected by those who could and did vote. Ashley Price is our Senior Druid. Lisa Haynes is our Treasurer. And, Creel Unbelove’d is our Secretary.

Samhain. Greek Pantheon focusing on Hekate, Ancestors, Divination. There will be an Ancestor shrine set up. Bring photos if you like. It is not limited to biological ancestors but will include those of spirit as well. Main offering will be Hekate with a chance to use a crystal ball or a mirror for group scrying. Three different forms of divination will be available for folks to get a one word/image “pull.” Potluck to follow. Grand Prairie Friends will be the charity for voluntary donations as they are planning a natural burial plot. (Request for a paragraph or two on the programs for each rite to describe the key deities involved.)

Yearly Finances. We are running in the green with a bit of profit. Most of our expenditures are for offerings or site rentals. Attendance has been fairly stable across the past year and funding for the grove has been as well. There is more variance in what is collected for charities. The Grove now has a bank account and debit card (not that the envelope method had been particularly troublesome!). Our Treasurer may get a new job soon when she graduates and our direct link to scheduling at Channing Murray will change. Rate for the space is about $35 per hour for repeat usage.

Grove Nature Oath: how are we doing?  Not particularly well. A few members have volunteered in the Urbana Park District’s natural areas. Someone suggested that we should post what we have done to honor our nature oaths on our Facebook group. You are welcome to do so, but not obligated to do so. 

Interest shown in adopting a mile of city road. To do so would mean four clean-ups a year; spring, summer, fall, and one additional. City will provide signage with our grove name and vests. We will have to dispose of the garbage we collect and sign waivers. Creel will go ahead and sign us up.

Beyond High Days Ashley brought up that because we have been officially around two years, we might want to branch out into other recurring events like a moon blessing or trance group. She also thought a spirits of place working with the ancestors of our area or spirits of the Old Grove or original wetlands. Interest was expressed for a trance group (about 10 people were interested) and interest in an Old Grove group (about 10 people as well). Two folks will be working on manifesting these groups.

Yule. Creel will lead (let me know if you are interested in helping to lead). Deity will be An Cailleach and an emphasis on acknowledging the cold season and celebrating fellowship among grove members.

Imbolc. Ashley will lead a celebration of Brigid.

Getting Prairie Skies known in our community; possibilities

–T-shirts with the photo on our Facebook header. Not white T-shirts. Lisa will look into. Weiskamp Printing.

–joining RWA (Religious Workers Association)

–joining Interfaith Alliance-CU

–attending public events and rallies in our T-shirts

–advertising our Imbolc ritual in the News Gazette. Kathleen will look into.

Bylaws Recommended revisions have been incorporated. The link for reviewing them will be posted again in the private group. Voting on the revisions will occur during the November meeting. (Ooops! Do we have a November meeting date set?)

Book Club Recommendation

Mystery of Druidry by Brendan Cathbad Myers

Reminder: Channing Murray UU Sunday worship in the Chapel most Sundays at 1:30 pm. Not, however, this Sunday, Oct. 6th.