Midwest Regional Local Council attends Grand Rapids Pagan Pride Day

Submitted by Oberon Osiris
Midwest Regional Local Council

Members of the Midwest Regional Local Council (MRLC) were in attendance at the Grand Rapids, MI Pagan Pride Day on Saturday, September 20. The LC’s newest member group, Moonfire, performed The Rite of Fortuna and Jupiter: Banishing Blockages to Good Fortune.  Members of Circle of Wondrous Stories (MI) took part in the ritual.

MRLC also hosted an information table, offering readings, selling various used magical books, statuary and other items. A special silent auction was held for a new “Covenant of the Goddess” doll, designed by Oberon Osiris and created with the help of special doll clothier and accessory designers. The proceeds help fund MRLC events and the LC itself.  A similar one was auctioned in raffle held at this year’s Merry Meet in Atlanta.

Coming up in November, MRLC will be at the Wiccan Temple of the Celtic Way’s annual “Feast of the Fallen Warrior,” a special and well received ritual to honor our veterans and other service people. The event always holds special significance for HP Dan Coleman, a veteran and founding member of the Midwest Regional Local Council.

Members of MRLC

CoG members perform ritual at Michigan Pagan Fest

Written by Oberon Osiris, MRLC

Circle of Wondrous Stories member, Merlin RavenSong, along with HP/S Oberon and Banshee performed the pantheistic based “Reconnecting with the God and the Goddess” ritual at the Michigan Pagan Fest on Sunday, June 15. As it was an early ritual, the gathering was small. After the ritual, there was a round-table discussion on how each of us sees the Gods, which engaged every participant. Although the spotlight was on Pantheism, the ritual used an ancient invocation of Isis and there were a number of Egyptian designs on the altar.

Oberon and Banshee were also invited to attend a panel discussion, “As Within, So Without: Serving the Greater Community, Hard and Soft Polytheism in Modern Paganism” hosted by the members of Crossroads Tabernacle Church, a chapter of the Aquarian Tabernacle Church. Among the other panelists was former CoG member, Figment and also Lady Belladonna Laveau the Archpriestess of the Aquarian Tabernacle. Many topics relating to service were discussed and across the spectrum most participants held service to the community as an important part of their relationship to Wicca, Paganism and other spiritualities.

The fest, now in its 5th year, year, has featured a variety of known and locally known ritualists, teachers, presenters and other performers. One headliner was supposed to be Donald Michael Kraig, who sadly passed away earlier this year. His widow, Holly, was there and was well received for her own workshops and what she had to say about her husband.

CoG's Midwest Regional Local Council attends Indianapolis Pagan Pride Day

Submitted by Oberon Osiris and Elaine Coleman, MRLC

 September 28, 2013 

Covenant of the Goddess' Midwest Regional Local Council members, Circle of Wondrous Stories’, Oberon and Banshee of Detroit, MI and their friend, Mara, along with members from Chicago, IL, Dan and Elaine, of Wiccan Temple of the Celtic Way, attended the Indianapolis Pagan Pride Day, September 28, 2013

The Indianapolis Pagan Pride Day is the oldest Pride festival in the United States dating back to 1998. This years’ event was once again held at its’ usual location, Broad Ripple Park.

Arriving around 2:00 PM, Oberon, Banshee and their friend wandered the large ring of vendors and information booths till they met up with Dan and Elaine, who had come to the Fest with National Members, Wise Owls’ Rick and Gail Grimes (Greenfield, IN).

The entourage chatted, nibbled, and otherwise had a good day at a very well attended Pagan Pride Day. There was music, face painting, rituals, and workshops, lots of vendors with new and lovely products, a feast and a very crowded parking lot.

Although the MRLC did not sponsor a booth this year, members networked with area groups like the Reformed Congregation of the Goddess, Indy Wiz and PEN, (Pagan Education Network), including Dave and Gail Sassman, our good friends and associates in the area who multi-tasked the latter two booths.

Alas, the time was short, as the Festival officially ends at 5:00 PM and things do get packed up quickly. Oberon, on behalf of the MRLC donated two Barbie dolls, a fairy and a mermaid to the Raffle, which along with their canned food donation program helps fund their designated charities. This year Indy Feral and the Damien Center for HIV/AIDS Preventive Care.

For more information about Midwest Regional Local Council go to there website. https://sites.google.com/site/mrlccog/

Midwest Regional Local Council at Pagan Pride Day 2013

 

Written by Oberon, Public Information Officer 

and Elaine Coleman, Recorder of MRLC

With four states in their boundaries, the Midwest Regional Local Council (MRLC) has a number of local Pagan Pride Days (PPD) to attend. It’s fairly impossible to attend them all, let alone more than a few, but Coven members of the Midwest Regional have attended and represented the Covenant in Detroit, Chicago and Indianapolis in recent years.

Detroit’s PPD is presented each year in a nearby suburb, Hazel Park. The event was held August 10, 2013. Circle of Wondrous Stories members reported a nice day, new vendors and the theme of Pagan Unity. Proceeds from a raffle were given to community members struggling with various medical situations and no health insurance.

The Chicago Pagan Pride event was held on September 8, 2013 this year at the Historic Pleasant Home in Oak Park, IL, which two member groups, Shekinah Triad of Wicca and Wiccan Temple of the Celtic Way, of the MRLC attended.  Pleasant Home is situated on seven acres of land, known as Mills Park, and was truly magical setting for this annual event. The event was well attended; the day held beautiful weather, rituals, workshops, storytelling tree, wonderful vendors, face painting, and delicious boxed lunches were also available.

Circle Sanctuary’s Selena Fox, officiated the opening ritual. Selena held a well attended workshop on ‘Celebrating Fall Equinox & Harvest Home.’ The workshop included contemporary ways of welcoming in autumn in personal, household and community practice. Her workshop included meditations, short rituals, chanting and other experiences.

In years past, members of the MidwestRegional Local Council have also attended and participated in the IndianapolisPagan Pride Day several times. In 2009, members from Illinois and Michigan joined with the Indiana members for a very memorable event.

Margot Adler's "Vampires Are Us: Morality, and the Fate of the Planet"

A Summary 

by Banshee ShadowWolf, First Officer 

Midwest Region Local Council

Margot Adler had a good-sized audience for her talk on vampires at Michigan PaganFest in Belleville, Michigan on Saturday, June 15. The audience was very receptive and engaged as she discussed the literary and cultural significance of the vampire. Adler explained why she got into reading vampire novels and stories. It was during a time when she was dealing with the illness and death of her husband that she started reading the novels. Since that time, she has read more than 200+ vampire novels.

Why do people love vampire stories so much? It’s not all about the sex, or sexiness of the vampire. It’s the idea of living forever and having special powers that’s part of the allure. People are fascinated with the idea of living forever.

Adler says vampires change based on what the culture at that time needs or requires them to be. Adler said that Barnabas Collins, from the daytime television soap, “Dark Shadows,” was the beginning of this current era of the morally-conflicted vampire. She then discussed some of the many vampire stories she has read. There was time for questions and for the audience to share their own favorite vampire novels with her.

Adler’s talk was based on an essay that she wrote on the subject, “Out For Blood.”

Midwest Regional Local Council (MRLC) of Covenant of the Goddess (CoG) serves the states of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio.  MRLC maintains a commitment to increase cooperation among Witches and to help secure for Witches and Wiccans the legal protection enjoyed by members of other religions. Through members dedication to the Goddess, they seek to become a positive voice for CoG, standing in peace and fellowship with peoples of all religions, cultures and ethnicities for the sake of our beloved Earth, and all beings dwelling upon it.

Reflections on ConVocation from Midwest Regional Local Council

(submitted by Oberon, National Communications Officer

 and member of Midwest Regional Local Council)

Despite the fierce snow storm, the Detroit Pagan community participated in ConVocation held at the Double Tree Hotel from February 21-24. This marked ConVocation’s 18^th year.The event featured authors Ellen Dugan, Christopher Penczak and CoG’s own National Interfaith Representative, M. Macha Nightmare.

Each year ConVocation’s theme ascends through the Major Arcana of the Tarot.This year’s theme was based on the 19^th card, The Sun, and titled “A Little Illumination if you please.” With over 100 classes and rituals, spiritual light and warmth shone through all the proceedings.

Circle of Wondrous Stories, a member coven of MRLC (Midwest Regional Local Council), was on hand to speak about CoG. National Communications Officer, Oberon Osiris and local Public Information Officer, Valkyrie presented a panel entitled, “The History of CoG.” MRLC was thankful to Macha for participating in the discussion, answering questions, and sharing some Merry Meet lore.

The Circle of Wondrous Stories also performed its Kuan Yin Ritual, which was very well received. After the ritual, two women, a Buddhist and a Wiccan, approached Oberon and Banshee to share how the rite had given them new ways to honor Asian deities in a Wiccan manner.

As usual, there was much fun to be had at the “Con.” Besides the nightly Drum Circles, kids had their own evening masquerade dance on Saturday. Then, later that night, there was one for the adults. The best attended event is always the annual Tempest Smith Foundation raffle featuring dozens of beautiful hand crafted magickal objects, books, bath sets, statues and more. Several of the auction items belonged to the Foundation’s late founder, Denessa Smith such as a special wood-crafted Book of Shadows.

The Foundation was able to raise several hundred dollars more than the previous year. With this financial support and that obtained from the Midwest Witches’ Ball, the Tempest Smith Foundation will be able to award three secondary or college tuition scholarships for children who “are committed to the Foundation’s goal of tolerance.” 

Covenant of the Goddess (CoG) at ConVocation 2013

On February 21-24, Midwest Regional Local Council (MRLC) and long-time CoG member, M. Macha Nightmare, will be attending and presenting at ConVocation in Detroit. This year's event theme is "A Little Illlumination, if you please," inspired by the 19th Tarot card, the Sun.

(Image from the Rider-Waite Deck)

Midwest Regional Local Council (MRLC) will be hosting two events:

• Friday, February 22nd at 4pm:  Covenant of the Goddess Discussion Panel by two members of Circle of Wondrous Stories:  Kris Sanders and Oberon Osiris
• Saturday, February 23rd at 4pm:  Illumination with Kuan Yin by Circle of Wondrous Stories' member:  Oberson Osiris.

M. Macha Nightmare, currently a National Interfaith Representative for the Covenant of the Goddess will be presenting three classes:

• Friday, February 22nd at 9:30am: Stepping into the Sunlight I:  The Interfaith Movement, its Inception and Pagan Involvement.
• Friday, February 22nd at 2:00pm: Celebrate the Feast of Triple Brigit: Goddess of Smithcraft, Inspiration and Healing.
• Saturday, February 23rd at 9:30am: Growing Pagan Elders.
• Saturday, February 23rd at 2:00pm: Stepping into the Sunlight II: Sharing Pagan Values in Interfaith Activities.

For more information on the schedule, go to the ConVocation's homepage.  For more information on Covenant of the Goddess at ConVocation, contact MRLC's Public Information Officer at mrlccog@yahoo.com.