The Coven Blog
6.23.08 - Litha is always a huge holiday for the Tangled Pines, because it is our coven anniversary, but this year brought even more momentous events: the election of the new Assistant High Priestess; and the official founding of the Tangled Woods Tradtion of Witchcraft, the tradition that has grown up from our coven beliefs and practices. All coven members, all our current students, and several family members gathered at Devia's house on Friday afternoon. Despite the very gray Solstice day, all were in high spirits. At sunset, all processed behind Devia and the "Sun Stick", shaking rattles and tamborines. When circle was cast, the nine sacred woods (well, OUR nine sacred woods) and nine sacred herbs (well, OUR nine sacred herbs!) were burned in a large cauldron, and the women and girls danced to honor the Sun God (and very well, too, I might add!). All then placed offerings to the Sun God into the fire. The first and then current AHPS's were then honored in speeches by HPS Devia, and given tokens of appreciation for their service, and Coven members voted in the new AHPS--Corvus! The circlet was passed. Devia then announced the founding of the Tangled Woods Tradition, and all recited the Creed. Amazingly, even with all of this, circle closed before 9pm! All indulged in a fabulous barbeque feast and good conversation.
A new era is truly about to begin for us, and we couldn't be more excited. Check back in soon for more updates, and if you're in the area, come to our Coffee Night at Portland Brew East Nashville on 6/25/08 to learn more about the Tangled Woods Tradition (or visit our website--see the links page.)
6.10.08 - As usual, it's never a dull moment around the ladies of the Tangled Pines. The experience of PUF launched us headlong into fleshing out some plans we've been sitting on for some time now--the creation of our own tradition (check out the links page for more information!). We had another motivating factor, too. Some women in Reno, NV who Castiel grew up with became interested in our tradition, and asked to get in on the ground level. So as we're hammering out all the details, Castiel is distance teaching this remarkable group, which is taking the name of Coven of the Woods Rose. So, what can we say? We've gone national!
With all that going on, things have stayed pretty busy! But Polaris, Castiel, Corvus and Raevis found time on 6/7/08 to pile into Polaris' Suburban at 5am and drive from Nashville to St. Louis, MO (a 4.5 hour trip, as Polaris drives...) for the St. Louis Pagan Picnic. What a blast! We endured MANY a strange look from customers at the many gas stations we patronized in Kentucky and Southern Illinois, and chatted, chatted, chatted. Once in St. Louis, we enjoyed the beautiful park, the many fine Pagan vendors, and a workshop with our favorite girl, Ellen Dugan! Ironically, she was teaching a class on forming a coven. We listened attentively, and felt quite validated.
Our second anniversary draws ever nearer. We're really looking forward to a fairy ritual on the full moon, a wild Litha celebration during which we will formally found our tradition, select next year's assistant high priestess, and recognize yet another year's worth of bounty and wisdom, and then things maybe being not so crazy in July. But knowing us...
5.22.08 - Though we all returned from the Pagan Unity Festival (PUF!) four days ago, it has taken that long (and will take longer) to fully integrate back into the real world! Hence the delayed blog post. And our little foray into the totally Pagan world isn't the only thing that's been distracting us...
But first, the PUF review. It wouldn't be totally honest to say that PUF was a perfect experience. Let's face it--the members of this coven tend to be a little anal, and overly-organized, and they get cranky when they stand around waiting for things to happen that were supposed to start however long ago...And such is the nature of Pagan festivals. So it was never going to be happily-ever-after for us. Having said that, however, not only did we still manage to have a GREATtime, we met two of the coolest people ever, ever, ever. Castiel, of course, has been obsessed with Ellen Dugan's books for years, and really had to set some limits for herself about how stalker-like she was going to be at PUF, but it turned out not to be necessary, because Ellen Dugan is as nice, funny, down-to-earth and hands-on as her books make her out to be, and she took it upon herself to seek the ladies of the Tangled Pines out! We thought we'd died and gone to the Summerland, people. She also taught some kickin' workshops that left us feeling energized and inspired. We had such a good time with her, in fact, that she offered to come back to Nashville in September and be the PPD Keynote speaker! Oh, her plane ticket is already purchased. She's coming. Score!
Additionally, we met Christopher Penczak. Though many of us had heard of his books before, we'd not read them---but all that has completely changed! After two incredible workshops and one hell of a ritual under the almost-full moon, we're believers, baby! Nearly all of us bought at least one of his books, and all of us were inspired and enlightened by his teaching. Chris Penczak is, like, a PhD in Witch. If you haven't checked out his stuff, we strongly reccomend that you do so!
The experience of PUF, on the whole, kick-started us on a project we've been mulling over, and then slowly starting to put together for some time now--building a tradition. While it's still in the works, our tradition is coming together rapidly and will be ready to make its debut soon. So keep a sharp eye! By the time our second anniversary rolls around, there will be all kinds of new stuff to see and learn about on this here site!
5.8.08 - A vast mixture of emotions accompanies this blog post. First, we are deeply saddened to report that we have lost a member. Early in April, just before she was to undergo her questioning that would lead to her initiation, Pheonix was compelled by circumstance to leave the coven. As events developed, and it became clear that she would never be able to be a part of our circle again, we dealt with our hurt, anger, shock, and grief in a variety of ways. We have tried to remain in supportive contact with our former sister, and wish her only the best for the future.
And then, before we knew it, it was Beltane! We managed to regroup and enjoy a marvellous Sabbat hosted by Raevis at her home. Coven members and their families danced the maypole, tied wish ribbons on the many trees in Raevis' palatial backyard, left gifts for the fairies, and then feasted on more food than we knew what to do with! We still have leftovers! Family members then retired, and coven members changed into some wickedly spectacular fairy-like garb for the Beltane ritual. Fires were jumped, broom bristles (and in some cases, whole brooms!) were burned, and meade was drunk. There was some dancing, and a lot of giggling.
And THEN, on 5/5/08, we re-initiated our beloved sister Polaris! In a very emotional ritual, we welcomed her back into the ranks of the Inner Circle, and left that night feeling whole, complete, and stronger than ever. Despite the margaritas!
So what's next? Well, the short answer is...PUF! The Pagan Unity Festival is May 15-18, and we meet on 5/12 to finalize our booth set-up and PUF schedule. We're extremely excited to be vendors this year at Tennessee's oldest and finest Pagan Festival. And we're also extremely excited to meet Ellen Dugan! AHHHHHHHH!!!
3.25.08 - Whew! What a ride!
First off, the Drawing Down on 3/21 was AMAZING, by accounts of all sisters! The Goddess Istar was amongst us! Blessed Be!
But there was no time to muse over it, as we all had to be to Devia's house by 2:00pm to set up for the descending hoardes! Actually, the descending hoardes turned out to be a lovely group of people who were gracious and enthusiastic, especially considering that the temperature quite literally plummeted as soon as they arrived! The children raced around the front yard finding eggs, then left at least one real egg at the Ostara Altar and received chocolate in return! Then all gathered in the field for the ritual, which included a Goddess appearance, a spiral dance, cakes and ale, and the annual attack of the cascarones! All were much blessed by glitter and lavender, and then hurried inside to partake of the potluck feast. There wasn't much room, but fun was had by all.
Check out the pictures page to see all the Ostara goings-on. Thanks to our dear friend Laura for taking such wonderful snaps!
3.19.08 - What are YOU doing to preparation for Ostara? Well, I can assure you that the members of the Coven of the Tangled Pines are doing PLENTY!!! Though each sister will celebrate privately or just with family tomorrow (the actual equinox), all have been madly preparing for the first ever public Tangled Pines ritual event! Devia will be hosting this shindig, which will feature an egg hunt, a ritual, and a HUGE potluck feast! We'll have people tromping through fields, coming face-to-face with Eostre herself, and hopefully having a GREAT time! The sisters have also been simultaneously preparing for their second Drawing Down the Moon ritual, and will be invoking the Goddess Ishtar with a chant from an ancient Babylonian poem that one of Castiel's professor friends translated into Babylonian for them. Pretty intense, so check back soon to find out how everything went!
2.19.08 - As we approach the end of February, we're coming up on a huge month for Coven of the Tangled Pines. After a successful coffee night with lots of new faces, we're gearing up for the beginning of the first track of classes we'll be offerring to our public group members who have applied to study with us. First class is February 24, and the next track won't start until August, so get yourself registered now if you're interested! We'll also be hosting our first public ritual at Ostara--check the Events page in the next week or so for all the details, but we can say that it's going to be pretty fun at least, and spectacular at best! Finally, watch Local Cable Channel 50 (Channel 5 Plus) on weekends in March to catch our own AHPS, Castiel, giving an interview on the show Issues of Faith. She hopes to favorably represent Neo-Paganism as a valid, balanced religion to the larger public, demystifying some of the popular stereotypes. Show times will be listed on the Events page.
2.2.08 - Happy Imbolc! This year's celebration was held at Eilis's house, where we feasted on Mexican food (FINE, Raevis... Undocumented American) and watched a championship dog show before heading out to ritual. Eilis had set up a gorgeous altar, resplented with white candles and flowers, and we each burned some Yule greens with a paper detailing what we want to bid farewell to tied around them. Much frivolity ensued when we danced around the circle free-form, chanting and flinging grass seed every which way. Then it was back inside to sample Corvus' excellent flan before heading home. It certainly does feel like Spring is in the air--plans are being laid everywhere! In less than two months, we'll be hosting our first public ritual! And in other news, four members of Tangled Pines are on the planning committee for Nashville Pagan Pride Day (http://www.geocities.com/nashvilleppdweb/). Two fundraisers are already in the works for that spectacular event, which will be in mid-September. Finally, everyone is starting to get really busy preparing for the Pagan Unity Festival (http://www.paganunityfestival.org/), being held this year May 15-18 at Montgomery Bell State Park. The Coven will have a vendor booth there, and hawk our wares to the Pagan public. So make your plans now and don't miss all the amazing community events open to the Middle Tennessee Pagan community!
1.17.08 - We had a little trouble getting things off to a productive start this year, mostly due to some Wicked Witch of the West-type weather on the Dark Moon, but we pulled out all the stops when we met on Saturday, 1.12. Not only did we slam through a very productive Inner Circle Meeting, celebrate Polaris' birthday with gifts and psychedelic cupcakes, AND complete our seventh rune in our ongoing rune-making workshop, we ALSO each cast a protection charm for Eilis' home and family! Whew! So I think now we're ready to rock and roll for the year. We're really looking forward to our first coffee night of 2008, which is tomorrow, and all the new smiling faces who have promised to be there. It could be an auspicious year ahead...
12.26.07 - Enter in a new year, and one of my resolutions is to FINALLY set up a real coven website for our beloved little circle--victory! I plan to update this site at every Sabbat, whenever something really important happens, and whenever I'm bored at work (not an uncommon occurence--hence the creation of the website!).
So let me (me being Castiel, current AHPS, newsletter editor, and web witch--see my bio on the bio page) begin by describing our Yule celebration. We gathered at Devia's house on 12.22.07 for feasting and celebration, most of us with family members in tow. The night wasn't unbearably cold, but very, VERY windy--naturally we had a ritual full of candles and torches and bonfires planned, so we had to be flexible, but as it was the night before Full Moon, we had plenty of light to guide us out to our space between the ponds. The only sucessful fire that night, lit by the undaunted Raevis, was the one that sent our goals for the new year up to the gods, and we sang a lovely rendition of "The Holly and the Ivy." Corvus and I sang "Here We Come A Wassailing" on our way back to the house and the feast, until she stepped in a rather large, cold mud puddle, at which point all gave way to laughing.
After a splendid potluck feast, we exchanged Secret Sister gifts, the men did their "Dirty Santa" exchange, and little tokens of affection were given to the members' children and all gathered therein. Pictures, particularly those of us in our windblown, dazzled, post-rit state, will be posted soon!
