Happy December, all. Not a lot going on this month, as
things wind down for the Xmas season, so I’m throwing in a number of “holiday”
markets and New Age solstice celebrations into the calendar for your info.
It may be a little early for year-end ruminations (you
don’t normally see “highlights” lists until the off-period between Xmas and New
Year’s), but since pagan Sabbats usually mark the beginning of the season
instead of the end (as with the Christian and commercial practices) we’re still
in the dark period of reflection.
2018 has been another long and challenging year for me,
but I’ve accomplished a lot, as my followers are well aware. It was a year of aggressive downsizing and
making overdue repairs to the house (including a new roof) in northwest
Calgary, and then my move to Cochrane.
People keep telling me that I deserve a vacation. However, my
travel plans continue to be on hold until the house sells. I hope to visit
family and friends in various provinces in 2019, and arrange an international
trip or two.
Since
it will be four years in January since I was laid off from my paying job in the
patch, I’m starting, reluctantly, to think of myself as “retired”. Perhaps, though, it’s in the sense of a
retirement that one “comes out of”. In
the meantime I’m continuing to downsize, sorting through old papers, journals,
and “archival materials”, and otherwise putting my past in order so that
something may live on after I’m gone. Here’s
hoping the return of the Sun (and Mercury, for that matter), will bring a new
rebirth for all of us, so that we can move forward with confidence into 2019! Bright blessings to all.
December Events:
Note these
events are listed for information purposes only; no endorsement should be
necessarily implied. Dates and locations may be subject to change; see the
source for details. If I’ve missed anyone and you’d like to add to this
listing, please contact me. All times MST.
Dec 1: World
AIDS Day.
Dec 1, 12:20 am:
New Moon. Lunar Month of
Ruis/Elder begins.
Dec 1-2:
Calgary Expo Holiday Market at BMO Centre. https://www.facebook.com/events/242215599797495/
Dec 1, 10:00 am:
YYC Alternative Christmas Market at Inglewood Community Hall, hosted by
Plain Jane Events. https://www.facebook.com/events/560395574410049/
Dec 5, 6:45 pm:
Calgary Tantric Speed Dating at Scarboro Community Hall, hosted by
Numinous Creations. https://www.facebook.com/events/190418768511302/
Dec 6:
Anniversary of L’Ecole
Polytechnique Montreal Massacre, 1989.
Dec 6, 2:22 pm:
Mercury Retrograde ends.
Dec 8: Cuddle
Party at Scarboro Community Hall, hosted by Numinous Creations. https://www.facebook.com/events/339382580200166/
Dec 13, 5:30 pm:
“Blue Christmas” Service at Unitarian Church of Calgary, 1703 – 1 Street
NW. Light dinner to follow. http://unitarianscalgary.org
Dec 15, 10:00 am:
Calgary New Age Market at Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Hall. https://www.facebook.com/events/416791258740531/
Dec 15-16, 10:00 am:
The Witchery Market in Edmonton, 10433-83 Ave. NW. Not associated with Mimi’s legendary
Witchery. https://www.facebook.com/events/181781219374646/
Dec 15-16:
Constellations IV – A Winter Solstice Celebration, near Bragg Creek,
hosted by Inshala Festival. https://www.facebook.com/events/2155879858011448/
Dec 20, 7:00 pm:
Solstice Singing Circle at Calgary Centre for Spiritual Living, hosted
by Compassionate Community VOICE. https://www.facebook.com/events/1919009635061655/
Dec 21, 3:23 pm: Winter Solstice.
Dec 21, 7:00 pm:
“Honouring Solstice” pagan service at Unitarian Church of Calgary. Bring
a length of ribbon and some greenery. See Dec 13.
Dec 21, 7:00 pm:
Winter Solstice Chant Celebration at Uplands Recreation Centre, hosted
by Tracy’s Vision. https://www.facebook.com/events/1150860271732741/
Dec 22, 10:49 pm:
Full (Cold or Long Nights) Moon.
Dec 24: Celtic
Tree-Month of Beth/Birch begins, according to Graves and Llewellyn.
Dec 25: Breathe.
Dec 26: “St.
Stephen’s Day Murders” (see The Chieftains and Elvis Costello).
Dec 29, 7:00 pm:
Calgary Heathens Meet and Greet.
Dec 31: New
Year’s Eve.
