Mabon-Samhain

Newsletter for Ar nDraiocht Feins South East Region

2017
Issue 9

ADF: News of the

South East
PPD Season Events
Events in the Region; Mabon-
Florida:
Samhain
In the Wake of Irma
Treasure Coast - Oct.10
Virginia: Irma, a Cape Verde type hurricane, was
Volusia County --Oct. 10
Grove of the Seven Hills the strongest recorded in the Atlantic sine
Orlando --Sept. 30 Nov. 5: Samhain 7pm the 2005 hurricane Wilma. Irma was
Georgia: responsible for 102 deaths in the
Caribbean and United States and only
AtlantaSept. 30 Three Branch River
finally dissipated on Sept. 15 over New
Nov. 5: Samhain
Athens-- Oct. 7 England.
AugustaOct. 1 Thankfully, our ADF members in Florida
Maryland:
weathered the storm fairly well. Damage
Maryland: CedarLight Grove
to property and beloved trees were the
Every Sunday 10am Rites of Caffeina primary reported consequences of the
North Carolina:
11:30 Walk with the Old Ones. brutal storm. We join them in thanking
Charlotte/Piedmont Nov. 4: Samhain the Kindreds.
Sept. 26
We lost many trees, some of them huge
South Carolina: Hallowed Ground and really old. Its sad to drive by the
Oct. 29: Samhain debris every day. On the other hand, it
Upstate SCOct. 17 was an amazing reminder of the awesome
Virginia: power of the Mother, you really want to
Florida: pay attention when She raises her voice
FredericksburgOct. 14 Oct. 2529: Florida Pagan Gathering with the like that. ~Michael
following workshops by ADF member Amber
NoVA Sept. 26 Ayliah:
Dragonflies have been present
Roanoke -- Oct. 24 Druidry - This is based on my experiences in both frequently in very odd areas. I see that as
OBOD and ADF and gives people an more change is coming. ~ Monica
For information visit introduction to what Druidry is about. It is not
just a religion but a way of life and a new way of
Www.PaganPride.org looking at the world around us and drawing In Tampa, we did better than many,
inspiration from it. lost some limbs but no property damage,
and miraculously didn't lose power!
Ritual Crafting the Rite of Passage - This will Don't ask me how we got away with that
discuss the common elements of ritual and how to one since the majority in the county were
make each part a powerful piece of your without power for days! ~ Sam
presentation. Emphasis will be put on creating an
effective rite of passage based on different
theories of ritual transformation proposed by ...other than some discomfort and
leading researchers. several yards of fence we weathered the
storm well. ~ Ed
 TO AUTUMN BY JOHN KEATS
Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells.
Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?
Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,
Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;
Or on a half-reap'd furrow sound asleep,
Drows'd with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
Steady thy laden head across a brook;
Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,
Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.
Where are the songs of spring? Ay, Where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,
While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,
And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
Among the river sallows, borne aloft
Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;
Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft
The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.

Druids Garden: Sunchokes or Jerusalem Artichoke

Sunchokes, Helianthus tuberosus, are part of the sunflower family and produce scores of crunchy edible tubers. The
plants can grow upwards of 12 . In central Virginia they are topped with stunning yellow flowers right around the
equinox. These vibrant plants are native to the southeast US and were cultivated by native peoples.
Sunchokes can be started from seed but the easiest way is to plant
a few tubers. Harvest the tubers after a frost for the best, sweetest
flavor. Harvest aggressively as any tubers or pieces of tubers left
behind will explode with new life in the Spring. Once established,
Sunchokes can be difficult to eradicate, so make sure you put
them someplace where their height and spreading habit wont be
an issue.
The best place to store the tubers is in the ground. They can be
dug as needed through the Winter. If you dig up more than you
need at a time, you can store them, with the dirt on, for a few days
in the refrigerator. They can be eaten raw, baked, added to soups,
mashed like potatoes, or fried (they get bit mushy when fried).
They contain inulin which, if eaten in excess, can lead to painful
gas. Inulin can increase your bodys calcium absorption and helps
increase the populations of beneficial microbes in the digestive
tract.
 GROVES & PROTOGROVES IN THE SOUTH EAST REGION
Maryland:
Cedarlight Grove, ADF; Baltimore, MD
Phone: (410) 929-2544
E-mail: clg@cedarlightgrove.org
Cultural Focus: Northern I-E mostly
http://www.cedarlightgrove.org
https://www.facebook.com/cedarlightgrove/
Georgia:
Grove of the Red Earth, ADF; Duluth, GA
Phone: 770-662-0602
E-mail: redearthseniordruid@gmail.com
Cultural Focus: Pan-Indo-European
http://www.redearthadf.org
https://www.facebook.com/groups/redearthadf/

Virginia:
Grove of the Seven Hills, ADF; Lynchburg, VA
E-mail: sevenhillsadf@yahoo.com
Cultural Focus: Celtic, Norse
http://sevenhillsadf.weebly.com/
https://www.facebook.com/gosh.adf
Florida:
Manatee Oak Protogrove, ADF; Brandon, FL
E-mail: manateeoak@gmail.com
Cultural Focus: Celtic, Norse, Hellenic
http://manateeoak.org
https://www.facebook.com/ManateeOakGroveAdf

Three Branch River Grove, ADF;

Portsmouth, VA
Phone: (757) 572-5874
E-mail: Three.Branch.River.Grove@gmail.com
Cultural Focus: Celtic/Norse/Germanic
www.facebook.com/ThreeBranchRiverProtogroveADF

Winternights in the Shenandoah: October 18 - 22, 2017

It has become the tradition in the Mideast to have one last big festival to feast and honor the
gods with community before we all hibernate for the winter. This tradition has taken the
form of Thors Hollow Retreats Winternights festival.
The 14th annual Winternights gathering will feature a main blot honoring Tyr, Heathen
crafts and discussions, Heathen Vendors, and more!
Held at Thors Hollow Retreat in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia.
Details at: www.thorshollow.com/Winternights
Contact ratatask@thorshollow.com for more information