Samhain2009

Setting

• Location: Loft cabin
• Date: Thursday, October 29th, 2009 through Monday, November 2nd, 2009
• Time: When we get there to when we leave.
• RSVPs
  • Joseph & A.J.
  • Chris & Michael
  • Lew
  • Shan
  • Ritchie
  • Kaeli & Jessica
  • Daniel & guest
  • Star

Cabin Payment

Total cost for the cabin is $155 per night.

• Down Payment Required: $250. We will not be able to reserve the cabin until we have the down payment collected.
• Total Collected: $75

Rough Schedule

• Thursday: Arrival, getting settled in. Setting up ancestral altar and decorating cabin.
• Friday: Hanging out during the day, welcoming the rest of the group who arrives that evening. Opening Ritual that night once everyone has arrived.
• Saturday: Hanging out (and sleeping in!) during the day. Samhain Rite that evening, followed by the Dumb Feast.
• Sunday: Clean up, and seeing off those who can't stay til Monday.
• Monday: Last bit of final clean-up, and departure.

Ancestral Altar

We will be setting up an ancestral altar at the retreat. This is a place to remember those who have passed beyond, and who we remember with love and fondness.

• Please bring some memento of some sort to remember your own loved ones who have passed.
• Please be respectful around the altar - there may be others who are trying to meditate, pray or otherwise need peace around it. We will put the altar in an area that will facilitate that, but please be mindful.

Ritual

• Snow King: Joseph
• Ice Queen: Star
• Lantern Jack: A.J.
• Crone: Kaeli
• Representative for the Newly Dead: Chris
• Representative for the Ancient Dead: Lew
• Representative for the Fallen Defenders: Michael
• Wear something dark - preferably a mourning black - for this ritual. Cloaks of any sort are entirely appropriate.

Dumb Feast

Traditionally, the dumb feast is made up of "underworld" foods. These are either foods that grow underground (thus, all root vegetables are appropriate), or that have mythic connection to the underworld in some way: pigs are associated with the Underworld in Irish and Welsh myth, apples are the symbol of Effalion/Avalon where the heroes of Briton were taken after death, Persephone remained in the underworld because of eating pomegranate seeds, mint is associated with Hades through the legend of Minthe and rosemary was used in Hellenic funerary rites.

• Main Course: Pork Roast with pomegranate glaze. (Joseph)
• Side Dishes
  • X
• Desserts
  • X
• Drinks
  • X