SILVER BRANCH 

GOLDEN HORN

I've never had strong feelings about Midsummer. In a modern setting, it often carries forward traditions that were celebrated at Beltaine. In some countries, for instance, they dance the maypole at Midsummer.

Shelley, and excellent student in the dedicant program asked be about Midsummer, so I did some reasearch.

This is what I found, mostly from Alexi Kondratiev in "TheApple Branch," but most of this was verified by other reasearch. Midsummer is kind of odd in modern times....

The other day at Beltaine a good friend of mine came to the rite resplendent in pagan finery, including a beautiful cloak. (In Colorado, a cloak something you have a 50/50 chance of needing at Beltaine.) A newer grove member commented to the effect of 'He looks so good, I never dress like that for ritual so that I appear humble before the Gods.' I commented something to the effect of 'bling out all you want to, I dress the way I do because this kind of stuff is a big part of what I do on High...

This is a very large and loaded question. I’ll give my thoughts on this subject, although I must stress that they are merely my thoughts. We do not seek in my grove to impose orthodoxy on anyone, and I believe that any genuine seeker’s insights are no less valuable than others.

It is with a heavy heart that, Silver Branch Golden Horn, announces the retirement of our current Senior Druid Pamela McAlpin. Pamela was one of the first members of SBGH and has been the Senior Druid for two years. She will be sorely missed but has chosen to move on to peruse other endeavors, and we wish her well.

But as we bid farewell to one member we welcome back Anthony Fleming as acting Senior Druid. Anthony, is of course, the founder of Silver Branch Golden Horn (along with a few...

Yesterday marked the Spring Equinox, when night and day are equal and the sun cuts a path neatly from east to wast. Spring is here! (Tell that to this weekends expected snowstorm...)

For the ancient Germanic tribes this was a time to celebrate! They venerated the Goddess Eoster (The Celts had Ostara), who represented dawn and rebirth. 

I would like to thank all members of SBGH and our friends at SpiritWays for all the food donations. And a great big hug to our member Pink, who took donated items from Grove members and ran an online auction. We delivered 5 boxes of food and $200 to the wonderful ladies at Gateway Battered Women's Services today. This effort will continue through next year. Please bring canned food items, milk, fruit, vegetables and boxed food items as well as cat or dog food to each of our ritual gatherings....

December 4th

COLORADO GIVES DAY

 www.givingfirst.org

 Enter Nonprofit Name:

 GATEWAY BATTERED

WOMEN’S SERVICES

Support services to domestic violence victims

As some of you may know, the Cailleach has quickly become one of my faves in Celtic mythology/theology. Scott Scherter turned me on to this and I urge you to check it out: http://www.thisisirishfilm.ie/shorts/an-cailleach-bheara

I thought there might be some interest in this publication: http://www.rdna.info/druidinquirer34.pdf