Once again, due to illness, disability, and timing issues, we have not been able to get a snail mail edition of the newsletter out this month. Please let those people who do not have e-mail know about the upcoming OFM. Thanks

—Alia

GREETINGS

Imbolc has come and gone. Ostara is a couple of weeks off. The weather has finally settled down to a “normal” spring pattern ­ that is, normal for Colorado ­ warm for a couple of days, snow for a couple of days and then warm again. I welcome the familiarity of it. Weeks and weeks of cold did not agree with me.

I’ve gone through some profound changes in the last few weeks, mostly in my personal life. Like most change, it will require me to change how I do things: my everyday life will be a little less everyday for a while. But then, we are in a season of change. So, I guess I should change with it.

—Catherine

FEBRUARY/MARCH OPEN FULL MOON

Hearthstone meets the Friday before or the Friday of the Full Moon at the First Unitarian Church at 14th and Lafayette in Denver. The church doors open at 7, and we like to start at 7:30. (We are NOT big proponents of Pagan Standard Time, but if there is weather related driving trouble or a problem on the freeway, we've been known to wait a bit longer.) This month's ritual is FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2007.

Remember, please, that Hearthstone doesn’t expect everyone to enter in Perfect Love and Perfect Trust, as there are people you don't know there, but to enter with a willing heart and an open mind, and leave your differences at the door. 

Some traditions are more controversial than others, or may contain a component that disturbs someone attending an Open Full Moon.  It is one of the risks of exploring different traditions.  Should anyone be uncomfortable, unsettled, or upset about any ritual presented by Hearthstone, please contact Alia to discuss -- and hopefully resolve and heal -- the issue.

—Alia

On March 2nd Dithyrambos will present an exploration into Persephone’s journey into and out of the underworld, and the many roles she plays in this process. Through examining the masks she used, we also examine the masks we use every day in our own journeys through darkness and light. Dithyrambos is a Dionysian Mystery Cult. We have roots in Wicca, Hellenic, Egyptian Wicca, Hindu and Shamanistic paths, and we generally think of ourselves as a group of eclectic pagans. Children are welcome and encouraged. We also invite you to bring your masks, both physical in means, and spiritual.

Parking has become more difficult at the church. Please read the parking suggestions provided by theFirst Unitarian Church. Thank you. —Alia

THANKS AND A TIP OF THE HAT

Hearthstone's January Open Full Moon celebration was a successful co-creation of ritual "live and in-the-round"! A church group of ten young teens and a couple sponsors attended as one of their comparative religions excursions, so Hearthstone made this a teaching circle, which seemed interesting to many and allowed much participation. A big thanks to Raven who unpacked her instant altar and cleansed and blessed everyone with sage incense. Thank you as well to the volunteers who invoked the elements. Alia led a discussion of the themes quot;You have to give to get" and "You have to reach to grow". We sang the chant "Listen, listen, listen to my heart song", and several of us discussed the meanings those words have for us. We wrapped up with an interesting discussion of Spirit, Energy, Time, and Healing. Person to person, we passed a basket of grapes and chocolate around the circle with the blessing "May you never hunger or thirst". After circle was opened, one of our young church group guests was overheard to comment "This is the best, most practical religion yet. It doesn't drag on forever, and you don't starve to death!"

—Arynne

ON DONATIONS

We appreciate that many of you donate to the church.  With your contributions, we have reached the point where the church is preparing to set policies for assisting those in need.  The more you can spare, the more we can help those who need it.

We aren’t going to start collecting at the door, and no one will be turned away for not having a donation.  However, we would like to suggest a donation of 4 to 7 dollars per person.  (The extra is to cover the pagans that are unable to donate.)  If you can’t afford it, you are still welcome – if you can afford more, we’d be delighted to accept it.

NOTE:  Hearthstone is a church and your donations to Hearthstone are tax deductible. If you would like to write a check so you can keep track of your donations, we can certainly handle that as well.

SPIRAL SCOUTS CIRCLE

Spiral Scouts offers a co-educational scouting experience for individuals of minority faiths. We meet twice a month. Our activities include skills building, scouting and camping. Please feel free to attend a few meetings to find out more about this scouting alternative for boys and girls. For more information about upcoming meetings
please contact Kath.

COLORADO PAGAN CHILDREN’S CIRCLE

Children's Circle meets to celebrate the Pagan Sabbats with our children, involving them in our spiritual and magickal lives.

3/18/07 Ostara - Meet at Noon
4/29/07 Beltane - Meet at Noon
6/24/07 Litha - Meet at Noon
7/29/07 Lammas - Meet at Noon
9/16/07 Mabon - Meet at Noon
10/28/07 Samhain - Meet at Noon
12/16/07 Yule - Meet at Noon

We meet at Spirit Wise at 6590 S. Broadway in Centennial. A map is available at: http://www.spiritwisegifts.com/Location_and_Hours.html
Contact Kath if you need more details.

RECLAIMING CLASS

Reclaiming Magical Education

THE PENTACLE OF PEARL

RECLAIMING SPIRIT PRESENTS

May 18, 19 & 20, 2007

We will work with the deep, healing energies of the Pentacle of Pearl, moving through the five points: Love, Law, Wisdom, Power and Knowledge.

“Pearl is work I can only do in connection with others...The Pearl Pentacle is how we interact, exist in relationships and the larger systems of community..." T. Thorn Coyle

Reclaiming is a community of individuals working to unify spirit and politics. Our vision is rooted in the religion and magic of the Goddess, the Immanent Life Force. We see our work as teaching and making magic; the art of empowering ourselves and each other.

Please make checks payable to:

Reclaiming Spirit
P.O. Box 270172
Littleton, CO 80127-0172

We welcome all genders, all races, all ages and sexual orientations and all those differences of life situation, background, and ability that increase our diversity. We strive to make our public rituals and events accessible and safe. We try to balance the need to be justly compensated for our labor with our commitment to make our work available to people of all economic levels.

Evolutionary Witchcraft: An Anderson Feri Tradition Course
With T. Thorn Coyle, founder of Morning Star Feri

Deepen your spiritual and magical practice

For people ready to take the next step spiritually and magically, this course will build a strong foundation for a deep, expansive, ecstatic spiritual practice. Get ready to change your life.

This work is dangerous, life changing and potent requiring committed daily practice to build a foundation for powerful personal energy.This two year course will put into practice the information in the text of Evolutionary Witchcraft. We will meet in person for three days, three times a week. We will work with the tools of the Feri Tradition including the Triple Soul Alignment, Iron Pentacle, Pearl Pentacle, the Black Heart of Innocence and the Feri Guardians.

Please contact:

Fiona and/or Skathach (morgans_insight@mho.com) to be added to the information list.
Our egroup is available at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EvolutionaryDenver

EARTH TEMPLE DATES

These are the 2007 dates for Earth Temple rituals. Earth Temple meets on Fridays at 7:30 pm we start announcements, and ritual begins at 7:45 pm; at Small Gatherings, 66th and Wadsworth.

There is one exception to the above. Earth Temple is going to try something new this year, and we hope you'll like it. Our Litha/New Moon ritual this year will be held at an OUTDOORS location somewhere in the Metro area, which we'll announce closer to the date. It will be on SATURDAY, June 16, and at this time we envision ritual beginning at noon (with hopefully a picnic afterward). Stay tuned for details!

If you have suggestions or questions about Earth Temple activities, please write to us at earthtemple-owner@yahoogroups.com.

Earth Temple 2007 dates:

Mar 17  Ostara
Mar 31  new moon
Apr 28  new moon/Beltaine
May 26  new moon
Jun 16  Litha
Jun 30  new moon
Jul 28  new moon/Lammas
Aug 25  new moon
Sep 22  new moon/Mabon
Oct 20  new moon
Oct 27  Samhain
Nov 17  new moon
Dec 15  new moon/Yule

GUEST COLUMNS?

If you have something to say, and are willing to let Alia or Catherine edit it slightly, (generally for grammar – Alia has the soul of an English teacher and I want to be one) please feel free to submit your writing.   Content will not be edited.   We can usually make room for more voices.

STANDARD DISCLAIMER and COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

Please note that information and opinions contained in the articles in this newsletter are the responsibility of the authors only.  No endorsement by Hearthstone Community Church, Inc. is implied. 

All writings are copyright to their respective authors.  Please obtain permission before reprinting anything here with the exception of the Open Full Moon Dates.  Those may be copied and transmitted as needed.

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