Wood Sisters gather around each
of the eight seasonal festivals
that were celebrated by our
celtic ancestors, as set out
on the wheel of the
year below.…
We start each yearly cycle of gatherings at Samhain.
Please place your cursor over
each festival point below to
see dates and details for
this 2011/12 cycle.
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• Saturday 17th December - At Winter Solstice we celebrate the longest night and affirm rebirth in the heart of death and darkness - Solar Festival - full day commitment - Story: Innana and Eriskigala (Slow Cook). Seasonal craft: beeswax candle making. Candle lighting ceremony around the Christmas Tree. Optional evening celebration with dark medicine walk to the River Dart.
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• Friday 3rd (eve)) - Saturday 4th February - Wood Sisters Imbolc Festival of storytelling & meditation. At Imbolc we celebrate the earliest signs of Spring and the Maiden aspect of the Goddess as Brigid. This year we are holding a special storytelling festival at the South Devon Steiner School, which will raise money for the Red Tent.
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• Saturday 24th March - At Spring Equinox we celebrate the equal balance of day and night (and the light and dark within) and the fullness of Spring. - Solar festival - full day commitment - story: Isis & Osiris (Slow Cook) Seasonal Craft: and Spring Pool ceremony.
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• Sunday 29th April - At Beltane we celebrate the fertile height of Spring and early summer. A potent time for expressing the powers of sexuality and creativity - Cross Quarter day - morning story and afternoon activity: to be announced.
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• Saturday 23rd June - At Midsummer we celebrate the longest day and the turn towards the waning light. A peak time of expansion and achievement and for letting go of what holds us back - Solar festival - full day commitment - story: Biblical tales from The Red Tent (Slow Cook) and Fire centered craft and Ceremony.
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• Sunday 5th August - At Lughnasadh we celebrate the fulness of summer and the first fruits of our outer and inner harvests. A time for honouring the Goddess as Mother - Cross Quarter Day - morning story and afternoon activity: to be announced.
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• Saturday 22nd September - At Autumn Equinox we celebrate again the balance of day and night and gather in our harvests at the autumn's end. A time for reflection and turning back towards the inner life - Solar Festival - full day commitment - story: Demeter & Persephone (Slow Cook) Seasonal craft: Apple gathering and pressing. Communion ceremony.
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• Sunday 30th October - At Samhain we celebrate the end and beginning of the Celtic Year. This is a magical time, when the veil between the everyday and Otherworld is thin. A time for honouring ancestors and the wisdom of the Crone. - Cross Quarter day - Morning Story: The Handless Maiden (Origin of the Wood Sisters). Afternoon Activity: Medicine walk to an ancient yew in the graveyard on Dartington Estate.
SLOW COOK COURSE
For each solar quarter, starting at Midwinter, we commit to a full day together. Each of these days builds upon the last to form our Slow Cook Course. We recommend you commit to the full course in sequence, although it's also possible to come to any single day or start at any point.
These days are centred around an unfolding and recurring rhythm of sacred mythic stories and also include our shared wisdom pot, meditation, seasonal crafts, sacred time in nature and simple ceremony with contributions of poetry, reflections and song invited.
Slow Cook Course days are designed to give a deep immersion into Women's Mysteries in the Western Tradition. The four days for the 2011⁄12 cycle are shown above. Details of the 2012⁄13 cycle will be available soon.
OTHER WISDOM
For each cross quarter day, starting at Samhain we structure the gathering for a whole day, but offer the option of a half or full day attendance. These lighter days are focussed around changing, seasonal folk stories and Other Wisdom from different faiths and cultures.
Mornings usually include the wisdom pot, story, meditation and sacred time in nature. Afternoons usually include story, seasonal crafts or medicine walk and simple ceremony with contributions of poetry, reflections and song invited.
Please visit our online journal for reflections and photos from last year's gatherings. We look forward to you joining us!
COSTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS
We ask for a donation of £40 towards the costs of each Wood Sisters day, or you can book and pay at least a week in advance for a discounted rate of £35 (non refundable). For half days, with lunch as a bridge, we ask for a donation of £30 (or £25 in advance).
Further discounts are available if you'd like to book in advance for a series of gatherings… the four Slow Cook days are £130 (non-refundable) and you can book for all 8 days in one year or 8 slow cook days over two years for £240 (non-refundable).
We welcome all women and don't wish any to be excluded because of finances, so please don't hesitate to contact us if you need need a concession.
Each day includes a bring and share feast for lunch, which we ask all Sisters to please contribute to. There is a simple contribution form to fill in on each Wood Sisters Invitation… so we don't all end up bringing salad or cake!
