Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Ravenwood Dates

Good News - Bad News!
Once again I won the Mt. Tam lottery and booked Alice Eastwood Group Camp B (the smaller site). I tried for the larger site first, but it was already booked! Indeed, every weekend was booked by 8:11 am thanks to the age of computers. At least I didn't have to play redial on the phone for hours like I used to. Ravenwood 22 will be June 30th (Thorsday) to July 4th (Moonday) and will be limited to 25 people. Flyer and prices to follow in January.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Feast of Einharjar

FREYA'S FOLK celebrates a Sumbel (a Heathen drinking ritual) for the Dead in three rounds at sunset in San Francisco. First round for those who have died in the last year.
Second round for those who have died within living memory.
Third round for the ancestral dead & any one we've forgotten.
There is alcohol at this event. You do NOT have to drink from the horn, you can just raise it and make a toast.
REMEMBER THAT IF YOU ARE NOT THERE BY 5 PM, YOU'LL MISS IT. WE START ON TIME!
Sunset waits for no one!

Take Marina Blvd. West along the bay to the light at Presidio/Palace of Fine Arts (Baker St.) Turn right. Go through first parking lot. Drive east past the Yacht Club. Park at the little light house., Walk east on Yacht Road to the Wave Organ (about five minutes on a flat path) . Bring mementos if you wish."

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

At Last

New Issue of YGGDRASIL is published and on its way out to subscribers!

news from Erin Lale

"Victory is within reach!

I'm ahead in the polls among fiscal conservatives. Read all about it: http://www.i-newswire.com/erin-lale-is-ahead-in-the-polls/66176

All I need to win is a big advertising push. When I owned The Science Fiction Store, I had the opportunity to learn what kinds of ads work, and what kinds don't work, in the ad-saturated local market of the Las Vegas valley. I know what to do and how to do it. All I need is your help.

There is a 2 week deadline for an ad to run before election day. That's the exact amount of time I had to work with when I mounted the cable TV ad campaign for a celebrity booksigning in my independent bookstore that brought in $26,000 in one day. I know how to advertise; I've done it before and I can do it again. I just need an ad budget to work with.

How can you help? In two ways. 1. You can donate. 2. You can spread the word.

1. Donate

Help me put a geographically segmented ad on the air in the southeastern valley, covering the Green Valley area where District 29 is located, on local cable TV. If 100 people would donate just $15 -- the price of a pizza-- we can get this done. Please send donations via secure paypal to: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=YKNE9VF6JZYZG

If link does not work, go to your paypal account and send donations to: elale@cox.net

2. Spread the word

Pass this on to anyone you think would do step 1. or step 2.!"

AVA in Canada

Had the pleasure of working with and seeing fellow board member Andy Biggers at Harvest Fest near Toronto, Canada this past Thanksgiving weekend. Burned a corn King, celebrated Winter Nights, drank good mead and served as valkyrie at sumble, helped out MC with the Women's rite, and gave a workshop on Women's Runes. No photos - weren't allowed!

Monday, September 20, 2010

Bologna ECER Declaration-2, 29th of August, 2010

ECER Attendees
The WCER delegates who gathered in Bologna, Italy (2010.08. 26-29) at our yearly conference came to the decision that hence forward our name should be changed to the European Congress of Ethnic Religions. The word "World" shall be "European" instead. Why did we decide to focus only on Europe? Thirteen years have passed since the creation of the Congress in 1998 in Vilnius, Lithuania. Every year, conferences were organized in various European countries, and it turned out that that the Congress actually unites only people of European indigenous traditions, even though the congress is open to all other traditions.


This year Bologna saw a gathering of representatives from Italian, Danish, Norwegian, German, French, Greek, Lithuanian, Latvian, Portuguese, Czech, Polish, Ukrainian, and Russian ethnic religions. It was decided that the main concern for us all is Europe's ancient spiritual traditions. There is a lot of unity among us, and we feel the need to come together. The main point in all our discussions has been that Europe suffers the most because of its traditions' weakness, especially in the spiritual sense. As oriental cults thrive, European traditions are seen as obsolete, which can exist only in a museum. However, we have now begun to understand and cherish the importance and value of our own indigenous traditions. We also decided to strengthen our ties with the Parliament of World Religions, and to work together with India's cultural and religious organizations.

The above now means that the AVA is no longer a member as an organization, but, I am a member as the American representative of Romuva in the USA, and any AVA member who descends from or follows an indigenous European tradition is welcome to join the ECER. Contact Jonas Trinkunas at trinkunas@romuva.lt for information.

Monday, September 6, 2010

AVA represented at World Congress of Ethnic Religions

August 24-30, Bologna Italy

I attended the conference as a representative of AVA and Romuva USA. Had a great time with Lars and Seren of Fiorn-Sidr(?) from Denmark, and Geza von Nemyni from Germany. Andras Corben was in attendance as well, and had just come from Romuva Summer camp at my village in Lithuania. One of these years, I'll make it to camp. 2012 may be in Denmark. If so, I'll post a trip and info so we can go to Denmark and Lithuania afterwards. Andras invited me to Rites of Spring (near Boston) for 2011. Alex DelBusso and I shall probably drive down after Gaia Gathering we're both attending in Montreal the weekend before.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

World Congress of Ethnic Religions

Here's why I'm always behind. Too busy out proselytizing and promoting Heathenism to stay home and deal with paperwork.
And here's what Marina sent me. I edited the most glaring mis-translations, but wanted all of you to know where I'll be for my next adventure. I have never been to Italy, and when I asked all my friends, not one had been to Bologna. The only two things I know about it is when I watch the "Coliandro" mysteries on PBS (the mHz International Mysteries) and they show its environs as they do on "Streets of San Francisco"; and that some church there has the largest extant zodiac sundial.



25 - Arrival day

During this day we will accompany the delegations to the hostel. There will be document registration and payment for the hostel for all the days.


Please, for those who didn't before, tell us the arrival time of arriving and the place where you will arrive (airport, train station, etc), or if you are coming directly to the Hostel. Then you will be accompanied to the hostel. In the hostel there will be a small welcoming buffet during the afternoon (not alcohol, wine or meal before the rite). In the evening there will be a briefing about the program and logistics, and after this the opening Ritual.


The Hostel address is: Via Viadagola 5 (Bologna, near San Donato Quarter)


26 - Presentation day


Before all there will be the accreditation of members. During the accreditation people pay also for the buffet and the dinner of the evening. This will be done every congress day.


We need a short presentation from every delegation, with logo, name and data (mail, link, etc) for paper copies.


During all the days there will be the possibility to use the computer for video, slides, etc.


The Congress place is Via Santo Stefano, Sala del Baraccano.


27 - Travel Day to Roma

Starting place in Bologna Hostel at 5.00 am. The payment will be done the 25 (or 26 for those who arrive later) and we will tell you the exact cost (there are every day more participants, so the cost is getting down). The lunch will be give in Roma, by Pietas association and it will cost around 7 euro.


There also will be a rite in Roma: this is an ancient ritual (it was made also around 2500 years ago) that used to be done by Romans with friend "countries". So please, bring a little piece of your land (sand, ground, etc) for this rite.


28 - Congress work day


It will start at 10.00. Information same as the 26. (the discussion summary will be given there).

There will be free time after lunch and in the evening. Everybody will have a reference person number to contact in case of need.


29 - Conferences Day


It will start at 9.00. Information same as the 26. Please, for those who want to do a conference, send us an abstract in english, the conference title and name of the relator (for who didn't before). Every conference will be for maximum 1 hour. We need it as soon as possible to prepare the paper document.


There will be free time after lunch and in the evening. Everybody will have a reference person number to contact in case of need.


All the Congress days will be transmitted LIVE STREAMING at this link: http://www.livestream.com/paganesimo


When we have all the documents, we will prepare the final program.


For answers, comunications or any need, don't hesitate to contact me: My telephone number is +39 (for Italy) 392 999 8832 or 392 999 8831. (the +39 could be used also in Italy to Italy with mobile phone) - english or french languages. If you talk in german, contact me by mail and I will send you the name and the number of those who speak in this language.


VALETE OPTIME IN PACE DEORVM [Well met in the peace of the Gods (if I'm remembering my Latin aright)]


Marina Coloni, Vice-President
Gentilitas - Spiritualità Italica
http://www.gentilitas.org/


Sunday, August 1, 2010

Web page News

While I was working on the blog, the webmistress informed me that she will be working on having the site up soon with new and improved links!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Ravenwood




We had a great time. This year's photos will be up soon!

















Welcome to blogspot instead of web page!

Test!
Welcome to our new blog. The old web page had problems. We hope to update this frequently. Tell all your friends!

Prudence for the AVA.