Maine Pagans's topics - tribe.net

Back to life!

Raven_Starsong — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 23:34:09 GMT

Now that NSA has taken over the management of Tribe and things are working again, let's bring this tribe back to life with some good discussions.

What does everyone have planned for Yule?

posted in Maine Pagans - 1 reply

What do you love about BLD?

Joie — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 20:53:31 GMT

Beans, Leaves & Deities is approaching the beginning of it's third year. We are working on creating a brochure to be used at events like Pagan Pride Day, the Common Ground Fair and to put out at friendly locations like local pagan bookstores. We would love to include some statements from folks who have attended and enjoyed the BLD talks. We may also use a few statements on the website.

What is your favorite thing about BLD? Why would you recommend some one attend?

Let us know so we can help spread the word!

In peace,
Joie

posted in Maine Pagans - 0 replies

2008 - 2009 Beans, Leaves & Deities

Joie — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:17:25 GMT

Lughnasadh is nearly upon us. This morning as I walked into work the Farmers’ Market was full of people taking advantage of the bounty of first harvest. Soon summer will pass and Autumn will arrive, the air will begin to cool, winter squash and potatoes will fill the market and the coffee pot will be set to brew…

That’s right! In just over a month the 2008 – 2009 Beans Leaves & Deities season will begin! September 13th at 2:00 pm the Portland New Church, 302 Stevens Avenue folks will gather to kick off another year of community, conversation and caffienation.

What will we be talking about? Here is a list of the 2008 – 2009 topics. More details will be posted soon…we hope to see you there.

September 13th: Lighting of the Hearth and discussion of Working With Groups

October 11th: Divination (bring your favorite divination tool for a reading swap!)

November 8th: Chants

December 13th: Ancestors & Heritage Potluck

January 10th: Making the Wheel of the Year Personal

February 14th: Pagan Parables and Personal Mythology

March 14th: Plants

April 11th: Community Ritual/ Pagan Celebrations and Rites of Passage

There are many more exciting things to come. So stay tuned! We will see you in
September.

FMI: www.beansleavesdeities.blogspot.com

posted in Maine Pagans - 0 replies

EarthTides Pagan Network

Raven_Starsong — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:11:32 GMT

Posting this on behalf of StarCat:

Do you know about the EarthTides Pagan Network? It’s the group that has sponsored the Popham Beach Beltane celebration each spring for the past 25 years! The EarthTides Pagan Network (EPN) has been around “officially” since 1989. It was set up at a time when it was rare to know of another coven or solitary Pagan practicing in the state of Maine (see our mission statement, below). This was pre-Internet, and it was hard to make the connections we take for granted now. Yet there’s always more to be done. Depending on where you live, it can still be hard to find other Pagans in your own town or county who want to share ritual, to find a coven to study with, or just to have a cup of coffee and compare notes with like-minded folks. We’d like to help.

Hi, I’m Starcat, the new President of EPN. I’m trying to fill some big shoes. My thanks to all the dedicated folks who have brought EPN to where we are today: hundreds of folks attending Popham Beach Beltane each year, hundreds of visitors to our booth at the Common Ground Fair, and the many people who have gotten in contact with each other over the years.

In the spirit of reaching out and finding ways to make EPN more relevant to Maine Pagans today, I’m going to be sending out updates each month on the Full Moon.

Without further ado, here’s what’s new with EPN:

- Popham Beach Beltane: Saturday, April 27th at 10:30am. Due to the tides, we’ll be dancing the maypoles at 10:30, so be ready to dance! Please bring 9 yards of ribbon (cloth preferred) and a potluck item to share. Also, EPN will be selling t-shirts and 25th Anniversary Beltane on the Beach tote bags for $10. each (sale price!) so bring cash if you like (other vendors will be there, too).

- EPN meeting: we’ll be having a brief meeting after the potluck lunch at Popham Beach Beltane. Please join us, and share your ideas and feedback on EPN and its activities. The more the merrier!

- Newsletter: EPN puts out a paper newsletter (also found on the website, http://www.earthtides.org) at each Sabbat. We’re always on the lookout for more content! Please send us your articles, musings, poetry, letters…anything Pagan-related. Send your submissions to Fred at computertutor@mfx.net

- Web changes: Our website, at http://www.earthtides.org, is being updated and revitalized. We’ll soon have a networking page, where you can post your information and/or look for other groups and solitaries. We also have a calendar for upcoming events. If you have an open circle, class, or coffee talk coming up, e-mail BlackLion at blacklion@felinedreamers.net (you’ll soon be able to post your events directly on the website).

Please feel free to e-mail me directly if you have any ideas, feedback, questions, etc.

Blessed Be,
Starcat
starcatdreamer@yahoo.com

The mission of the EarthTides Pagan Network is to provide opportunities for Pagan groups and solitaries in Maine to connect with each other in positive ways, to advocate for, and educate about, the Pagan religions, and to encourage and facilitate the ethical and honorable practice of those religions, without in any way limiting that freedom of choice which is so essential to our faiths.

posted in Maine Pagans - 1 reply

Asatru

ross — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:17:36 GMT

Hail all. I'm an asatruar living in portland and I was just wondering if there were any other mainers following the gods of the north out there. If anyone is in the portland and is interested I want to start a hearth.

In frith,
Ross

posted in Maine Pagans - 1 reply

New Member

Farren — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 01:42:29 GMT

Hello all. I have just joined this tribe and hope to exchange information and ideas with many of you in the future. I am a crone...60...and a solitary. I live in Blue Hill with my husband and three cats. I keep the celtic calendar holidays with rituals that help me stay focused and challenged. Greeting to you all as we start around a new year.
Farren

posted in Maine Pagans - 4 replies

Healing Ritual

Raven_Starsong — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:29:30 GMT

It's that time of year again!! I will be performing my annual full moon Bran Slànaighear (Raven Healer) ritual on Wednesday, February 20th (preparations begin on Tuesday). If you are in need of healing energy (whether physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual), please email me (do not post to the tribe unless you want it to be a public discussion). This will be a closed solitary ritual, healing energy will be sent in the form of a raven messenger.

Please do not assume that I will include you because I know of a particular challenge you are facing. I do not cast for or on behalf of others without their expressed request or permission. If you've already talked to me, I have your "order".

Blessed Be!
~Raven~

posted in Maine Pagans - 3 replies

What is magic?

Farren — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 19:22:55 GMT

Hello all. Farren here. I am new and see that there is not much interaction between tribe members. Exchange of ideas is why I joined the tribe so I'll start. When I meet very young pagans, they are always disappointed that I cant teach them effective spells or tell them how to fly. It is much harder to explain the nature of magic and its limitations and responsiblities.
I think magic is taping into the shared consciousness that prevades this planet and using the power of will/emotion to bend the way actions/events manifest in a controlled way. It is not the imposition of will just the influence of it....and it only works when personal desires are not the fuel. I hate that part! Reactions???

posted in Maine Pagans - 4 replies

Imbolc

Raven_Starsong — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:31:46 GMT

OK, I'm a slacker, this is a week late. Anyway, to continue with the new tradition of discussing the Sabbats..Let's talk Imbolc

Imbolc was celebrated in the early days as the first sign of spring. Imbolc means ewe's milk and was celebrated when the ewes began lactating. If they were producing milk, it was likely that the spring lambs would be born healthy. It is a Sabbat specifically focusing on Brigid, a Celtic goddess of healing, fertility, smithcraft, and poetry.

As a daughter of Brigid, I have a special affinity for this Sabbat. My long standing tradition has been to clean my healing bowl (basically a pottery cauldron fired hot enough to withstand fire) between Yule and Imbolc. At Imbolc, I reconsecrate it and begin pooling energy in it to use for the annual Bran Slanaighear ritual. My healing rituals involve herbs and all 5 elements. I utilize the bowl throughout the year for other healing rituals and then clean and clear it again the following Yule. Purification is a big theme with Imbolc and it's where the concept of spring cleaning originates. Clean out the home both physically and spiritually making way for spring.

Check out Wikipedia's info on Imbolc. There's a lot of info on the origin of Groundhog Day which is also connected to the first sign of spring. What do you do for Imbolc?

posted in Maine Pagans - 1 reply

Getting to know you...

Raven_Starsong — Fri, 05 May 2006 00:18:12 GMT

OK, I've been meaning to do this for a long time, so here goes...I thought it would be fun to get to know the current members of our tribe and new members as they arrive. So copy from the line below and paste it into a reply to the tribe and add your answers.

****************************************************************************************************

Legal/mundane world name:

Magickal/Spiritual/Chosen name:

Religious sect/life path (i.e. Druid, Wiccan, undefined, etc.):

Favorite/Patron(ess) deity(ies):

Favorite Sabbat/Holiday/Annual event:

Ideal living situation (i.e. cabin in the woods, flat in NYC, etc.):

Favorite place:

Favorite word (other than love, lets be original):

Best book you've ever read:

What book are you reading now?

If you didn't have to earn a living, what would you most want to do with your time?

Favorite movie:

First thing you think about when you wake up each day:

Worst feeling in the world:

Best feeling in the world:

Sexual orientation (het, bi, gay, lesbian, none of your @*$! business):

Sleeping style (alone, with partner, naked, clothed, hanging upside down in a closet, etc.):

Hey baby, what's your sign?

Of all the people in the world (living or passed, known well or known of), who do you respect/admire most?

What one person/thing can you absolutely not live without?

What questions did you want to see here?

posted in Maine Pagans - 16 replies

Yule

Raven_Starsong — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:12:56 GMT

Let's start the first Sabbat of this year's Wheel off with a new Maine Pagans Tribe tradition. I will post before each spoke of the Wheel with my reflections on the upcoming Sabbat (if I'm not as prompt with that as you would like, feel free to preempt me and post your reflections first). I hope that you will follow with your own reflections, traditions, ritual suggestions, etc. and share that with our Tribe.

I recently Googled Yule to see what information would come up since so much of Yule tradition is interwoven with that of Christian or other holidays of other religions. I was very pleased to find that Wikipedia has an excellent entry on Yule and covers traditions (in a very non-biased manner) from many different areas of the world. Check it out at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule.

Yule is many things to many people. It is a celebration of the return of the Light after the longest night of the year. The darkness bills

Growing up Christian, I celebrated Christmas for 19 years only to learn from a philosophy professor that most of the traditions that my family practiced were actually from the Pagan holiday of Yule. He and a friend also told me of all sorts of other "Christian" holidays that were rooted in Pagan religion. I had already been questioning the validity of the bible stories that had been a daily part of my life for a few months and this made me really want to investigate. I love to find the origins of things: be it a word, a dance step, a recipe...I want to know how it came into being.

My Yule celebration has been an ever evolving path since my initial exploration into this Sabbat. I generally do some sort of solitary ritual to reflect on the darkness that has been and the light to come and what that means in my life. I also participate in the ritual and feast with my Circle which is a little different each year because we rotate Priest/ess duties. We do always have a tournament, based on the Druid Alban Arthan, to crown the Oak King who then has a battle with the reigning Holly King (who is always sadly defeated). A similar tournament is held at Midsummer to crown the Holly King who then defeats the Oak King. My Circle has also started a tradition of having a Yule Ball with full regalia (this year's is 12/29 in Lewiston and is open to the public, email me for info).

I don't put up a tree because I'm allergic to evergreens, don't like the idea of killing a tree for my celebration, and don't like fake trees. I decorate mostly with snowmen so that they can stay up through the winter months. And, I always hang some mistletoe (I especially like the tradition with mistletoe being cut and hung at Yule and taken out of the home at Imbolc). I've been wanting to stay up through the longest night with friends for several years but it always seems to fall in the middle of the week and I wasn't able to take the time off.

This year, Yule Eve is on a Friday and I've taken the day off so that I can nap and then spend the night with my boyfriend and his family playing games and eating candy until we enjoy the sunrise together (those of us still awake, anyway). I prefer to give gifts on Yule rather than on Christmas day with all of the Pagans in my life. I know that many Pagans use the words Christmas and Yule interchangeably and do their gift exchanges on Christmas Day, but I'm kind of a puritan when it comes to these things (I find it appalling when Christian churches sing Deck the Halls--even if they have edited some of the words). As learned from The Nightmare Before Christmas, it's best not to commandeer someone else's holiday.

With that said, all the winter holidays (Christmas, Chanukkah, Yule..) have several things in common. First, all involve togetherness and remembering family and friends whether they be near or far. All have some form of an exchange of gifts, a feast, and festive decorations.

So, what does Yule mean to you? What are your thoughts, traditions, musings, etc.?

May you all have a blessed and happy holiday full of love and joy, family and friends.

~Raven~

posted in Maine Pagans - 0 replies

Help keep Tribe going

Raven_Starsong — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 18:02:06 GMT

If you follow the Tribe company blog or actually read that yellow bar at the top of the home page, you know that Tribe has instituted a premium membership. This paid membership program is intended to assist Tribe in restoring the features we once had (like the ability to post an event or listing without errors and receive a daily digest for your tribes) and add new features. Basically, they need $$ to make these things happen and they don't have it.

I don't know about others here, but I don't like any other networking sites. I have never found this kind of online community anywhere else and I don't want to lose it. The current monthly rate is steep but a new 6-month and annual rate is expected to be published (along with details of what a premium membership will provide) 12/15. I've subscribed and I hope that you will support tribe, too. If you aren't able to pay for the membership right now, just click some ads as you surf around. They get paid by the click by the advertisers.

Thanks for whatever steps you take to preserve this beautiful cyberspace!

~Raven~

posted in Maine Pagans - 0 replies

October Beans Leaves & Deities, this Saturday (Portland)

Joie — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 15:21:21 GMT

October Beans, Leaves & Deities

Join us for coffee, tea and meet other pagans in Southern, Maine. All
pagan traditions are welcome. We will have a one hour topical
discussion followed by social time.

When: October 13, 2007 - 2 - 5 pm

Where: Portland New Church 302 Stevens Avenue

Cost: FREE! (Donations to help cover costs are welcome)

FMI: beansleavesdeities@yahoo.com

Our goal is to provide a safe, fun and welcoming space for local
pagans to meet, network, share ideas and enjoy a cuppa*. Coffee, tea
and light snacks will be provided.

Children are welcome if accompanied by a parent or guardian.

October 13, 2007 - Chants

One of our most popular chats (singings) last year. Learn some popular
pagan chants and bring some new chants to share. Folks are welcome to
bring drums and other instruments to accompany the chanting.

posted in Maine Pagans - 0 replies

Looking to start some conversation

MoonSpirit — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 16:49:23 GMT

I've noticed since joining this group that there really isn't much conversation going on. How come? Everyone shy or just busy? Love to chat and would really like to get to know more people. I will be moving to the portland area at the end of the month. Anyone interested in chatting just let me know. Always looking to make new friends.

posted in Maine Pagans - 6 replies

Crystal Lovers Day

MoonSpirit — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 13:20:02 GMT

I just wanted to let everyone know in case there is an interest that on October 7, Sunday at the Spiritual Renaissance Center at 884 Broady St. South Portland from 10-6 they are having a stone show. I'm not sure exactly what it entails, but it sounded really interesting and I'm planning on checking it out. I'm a stone junky and thought maybe I could find some new ones.

Blessings, Marie

posted in Maine Pagans - 0 replies

Beans, Leaves and Deities: Pagan Coffee Chats

Joie — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 20:44:07 GMT

Join us for coffee, tea and meet other pagans in Southern, Maine. All pagan traditions are welcome. We will have a one hour topical discussion followed by social time.

When: 2nd Saturday of the Month, 2 -5 p.m.

September 2007 – April 2008

Where: Portland New Church 302 Stevens Avenue

Cost: FREE! (Donations to help cover costs are welcome)

FMI: beansleavesdeities@yahoo.com

Our goal is to provide a safe, fun and welcoming space for local pagans to meet, network, share ideas and enjoy a cuppa. Coffee, tea and light snacks will be provided.

Children are welcome if accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Upcoming Discussion Topics:

September 8, 2007 - Welcome to the Hearth

We kick off a new year of Beans, Leave & Deities with a Blessing of the Hearth ritual. During this rite we consecrate the hearth that is set up for each coffee talk. We light the hearth flame anew and invite you to take a bit of the flame home with you. Food and socializing to follow.

October 13, 2007 - Chants

One of our most popular chats (singings) last year. Learn some popular pagan chants and bring some new chants to share. Folks are welcome to bring drums and other instruments to accompany the chanting.

posted in Maine Pagans - 0 replies

aahhh, the tourists!

Eric — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 19:06:42 GMT

Greetings,

As a special treat to the universe and myself this weekend, I'm blessing every pushy, uptight,stressed out, rubber-necking, bad driving, unhappy tourist I come across. I think I'll be busy....

posted in Maine Pagans - 0 replies

Holistic Fair at Risk!

Luella — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 19:29:37 GMT

A Holistic Fair hosted by Northeast Professional Psychics, Mediums and Healers Guild to be held March 3rd from 10AM -4PM at the Knights of Columbus Hall on 150 East Ave, Lewiston has lost its venue for future fairs. This event next weekend will be the last one to be held at this location because in a closed door meeting on Thursday February 22nd, the local Knights of Columbus chapter decided to withdraw from a verbal agreement to rent the hall to the Healers Guild from February to December. They cited religious differences as their reason for withdrawing from the agreement, though the Guild is not religiously affiliated or oriented, and it's members come from many faiths from Catholic to Buddhist.

The Knights gave the Guild the choice of either receiving their money back for the March 3rd date or continuing as planned and paid for with an understanding that, in all probability, there would be protestors against the fair present. The Guild has responded by choosing to go forward with the event as planned as money had already been spent for advertising the event at that location. The Guild is also exploring an alternative location at the Universalist/Unitarian Church in Auburn for future Holistic Fairs.

Please understand that the Guild itself is not comprised entirely of Pagans. There are a wide variety of religious preferences that take part in and benefit from this community alternative-healing event. We ask that you, pagan and non-pagan alike, come out to the Holistic Fair on Saturday March 3rd, to support the Guild in their decision to continue offering alternative healing methods regardless of venue. The Holistic Fair will have a new home in the Lewiston/Auburn area for the April 21st date, but we do not want to be intimidated by these discriminatory acts.

We are not looking for this to be a "rallying cry to arms" but for this to be a positive act of community healing, bringing together all religious affiliations and spiritualities, as the Guild intended. Please come out and show your community spirit!

posted in Maine Pagans - 1 reply

NBDA BELLY JAM

thecumaensybil — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 19:46:02 GMT

Sunday, February 18, 2007, 12-2
West End Dance & Yoga Studio
155 Brackett Street
Portland, ME 04102

Come and learn about the Northeast Belly Dance Association!

Discussion, potluck, and dancing!

Unfortunately, belly dancer Lily Moonstorm had to cancel Belly Dance Noir due to a conflict in her schedule.

Since we already have the studio, let’s make the most of the time! Bring your hip scarf, drums, questions, and a simple dish. We’ll provide cups, plates and utensils.

The Northeast Belly Dance Association is an organization that strives to spread enthusiasm for and knowledge of this beautiful and woman-celebratory dance form. We are a 100% volunteer-run, not-for-profit organization. As a member, your yearly membership fee of $10 goes towards running the Maine chapter's annual NBDA Member Showcase, and entitles you to participate in these showcases as well as get admission discounts for designated events.

The belly-jam will include discussion of what we as Mainers want to accomplish with the NBDA, the opportunity to join the NBDA as well as open dancing.

Join us in celebrating the beauty and uniqueness of Maine belly dance!

posted in Maine Pagans - 0 replies

Introducing: the Exquisite Corpse Bellydance Project!

Aepril — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 02:45:17 GMT

Introducing: the Exquisite Corpse Bellydance Project!

Exquisite Corpse is a "gothique/experimental" collaboration of Bellydancers--troupe members and soloists from northern New England---working together to create a shadowy, evanescent and beautiful body of dance...

Drawing from the collective unconscious of the group, each pair or group adds their own segment of choreography to the larger dance piece. An "exquisite corpse" is formed, its final outcome being greater than the sum of its parts...

Unlike a traditional "troupe", Exquisite Corpse is a temporary collaboration. In a cycle yet to be revealed, Exquisite Corpse is to be (re-) incarnated, performed by souls old and new, and dissolved again until its next lifetime, corresponding with a change of season.

"She is not evil, although She is dark. By bringing death, She causes new life..."

Choreographers/performers for the current incarnation:

Aepril Schaile (aeprilschaile.com)

Karina Khan, and Dima of Lotus Moon

Aonochi and Zanjibal of Paradigm/P3

Jessica Jane Means and Cory Bucknam of Naya's Trance

The first performance of the piece is:
Fri, Feb 16th
at the My Gothic Valentine Ball, hosted by USM Pagans
at the Woodbury Campus Center of the University of Southern Maine, Portland
9pm
table to benefit Family Crisis

The My Valentine Gothic Ball is in conjunction with Vulvapalooza, a week long series of events, the proceeds of which go toward projects combating violence against women.

Please visit the websites for more about Exquisite Corpse:

http://www.myspace.com/exquisitecorpsebellydance

and also www.aeprilschaile.com/exquisitecorpse.htm

posted in Maine Pagans - 0 replies

Gothic Bellydance with Aepril: workshops (one hosted by USM Pagans!)

Aepril — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 15:45:35 GMT

Raks Gothique: An Intro to Gothic Bellydance

http://www.aeprilschaile.com/bellydanceclasses.htm

"What is Gothic Bellydance? What makes it different from other bellydance I've
seen? Is it
just the dark clothes?...or something more... "
As it has developed, Gothic Bellydance (or Raks Gothique) has become an artform
all its
own, embodying drama, introspection, and mystique... In this workshop we learn
new
techniques for dark dramatic dance; we will also cover the costuming, props, and
music
that is used by the dark dancer. For the beginner and the advanced bellydancer.

WORKSHOPS:

February 13th:

Raks Gothique: An Intro to Gothic Bellydance

Hosted by USM Pagans, at the Woodbury Campus Center of the University of
Southern
Maine, Portland, (as part of their week of events in conjunction with
Vulvapalooza)

7-9:30pm

donations accepted

March 10th

Raks Gothique: An Intro to Gothic Bellydance

at Lotus Rising World Dance Studio 1-3pm $25 (if registered before 3/4, $30 thereafter at the door)

Lotus Rising is located inside The Mills at Salmon Falls
1 Front Street Studio #148
Rollinsford, NH 03869

email Aepril at aeprilschaile@... to register!

Check back at http://www.aeprilschaile.com/bellydanceclasses.htm for more
workshops
to come!

posted in Maine Pagans - 1 reply

I need more friends...

shinedancer — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 20:28:34 GMT

Will you be my friend?

My name is Darrah, I live with my man in O.O.B., Maine. I am 27. I am an Artist.
I love creativity, movies, music, dancing, cooking and entertaining.

How about you?

Blessed be!

posted in Maine Pagans - 0 replies

Petition to save Tara

Raven_Starsong — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 15:16:28 GMT

copied from another Tribe:

Please help save Tara (Irelands most sacred place) by signing the worldwide petition at the link below and stop them from building the Motorway through Tara. All info is in the petition. Be sure to cut & paste this petition on all your Pagan groups & Forums. get your Covens & Groves to sign it. This is very important! PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF THE GODS SIGN! Thank You!

www.petitiononline.com/hillta...on.html

go na Tiarna agus Bantiarn coill glas beannacht glas tu!
(Irish Gaelic for)
May the Lord and Lady of the Green Wood Bless you!

posted in Maine Pagans - 2 replies

Maine Social Forum JULY 28-30, 2006

Luella — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 15:03:37 GMT

SAVE THE DATE OF JULY 28-30, 2006 for the

Maine Social Forum

A Gathering of people from Maine and the Gulf of Maine bioregion on the last
weekend in July in downtown Lewiston, Maine (locations: Kennedy Park and the
Bates Mill), which will include scores of workshops, speakers, performers, a
film festival, and information displays

What is the Forum? A large convergence on the theme of "Another World Is
Possible" based on larger World Social Forum events

Why a Maine Social Forum? To create and launch new projects toward
solutions: peace and nonviolence, social and economic justice, a sustainable
environment

How you can help make the Maine Social Forum (MSF) a spectacular success:
€Urge your organization to endorse and sponsor the MSF (forms available)
€Present a workshop or film on how we can create "another (and a better)
world"--request a form
€Come to the MSF and bring others

For more information (brochures and forms available):
MAINE SOCIAL FORUM
278 Lisbon St.
Lewiston, ME 04240
(207) 783-0894
info@mainesocialforum.org
www.mainesocialforum.org

posted in Maine Pagans - 0 replies

Beltane1 &2

Luella — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 14:32:00 GMT

Hi There!

There will be two Beltane Rituals in coming up of note.

The first is at SamhainDell 354 East Ave Lewiston ME on Saturday April 29th w/ a potluck dinner and Ritual to commence at 8pm.

The second is at Popham Beach sponsored by another Pagan Group that will be on Sunday April 30th from 10am to park closing and is $4 per person (unfortunately the park charges so that we can use the parking lot....)

If anyone has any questions please feel free to e-mail Anissa Roberts at kichene.wicche@Gmail.com or reply to this site.

Blessed Be!
~~Anissa Roberts~~~

posted in Maine Pagans - 0 replies

Proposed Regulatory Model for Traditional Medicine

Raven_Starsong — Mon, 27 Mar 2006 17:57:19 GMT

I have copied the following message from the Herbal Medicine tribe. Please read asap. The comment period ends 3/31 unless we can get an extension. I have read this document and, as an herbalist who practices traditional medicine using mostly herbs grown in gardens or harvested from the wild, I'm scared. This "regulatory model" is being written by organizations who are trying to protect their livelihood and are not providing any service to those of us who do not manufacture herb capsules, tinctures, etc. in a lab. Please send comments to the email address and include the reasons for extending the deadline outlined below. If traditional medicine starts being regulated in this manner, it is no longer traditional.

Blessed Be!
Raven

Dear Fellow Herbalists,

I want to thank my good friends, Cascade and Susun for bringing this ‘Proposed Regulatory Model for Traditional Medicine’ to my attention and getting me off my seat to do something about it. If you’ve not heard about it yet, then you’ll also want to thank Cascade and Susun and Marguerite, the NEHA Journal, and all the people who are out there trying to circulate this information before its ‘forever too late’. . Because if you are impassioned by your work with plants and love the freedom and spirit of herbalism, its imperative that you respond immediately (see email addresses below). Public comment ends March 31, yet few people outside of the organizations that drafted the proposal, know what’s happening. So, what in a nutshell is happening? “Nine national organizations working together as the Traditional Medicines Congress have released the first public draft of A Proposed Regulatory Model for Traditional Medicines: Guiding Assumptions and Key Components. This comprehensive document presents ideas for a new model for the regulation of traditional medicines in the United States, and will now be subject to an open review process by interested individuals and organizations. Etc” It’s a long tedious document, but well worth reading as it will effect the way we all practice herbal medicine…and if put in action will effect the future of herbalism in this country.

I must admit, I’m biased. I don’t think licensing is beneficial for the practice of herbalism. As Susun Weed states in her letter addressing this same issue, “from Culpepper until today, herbal medicine has been the medicine of the people, not the medicine of the licensed elite….People don’t need licenses to care for themselves and their families (or community). Licenses don’t protect people; they protect, and create, institutions’ (blog at www.susunweed.com)

Whether we agree or not on this matter, is not really the issue. What is the issue is decisions are being made about the profession we each love and cherish, a ‘calling’ that we’ve devoted our lives and hearts and souls to, in which we have not had adequate notice or public forums for discussion. The public comment date is over March 31, 2006. We need to request an extension on the Public Comment Date and we need to comment. There are several points that Cascade has listed (see below) that set a precedent for an extension on the date for public comments: limited visibility and distribution of the document, in adequate accessibly to the document, and lack of public forums over the document.

Please take a few minutes to read the document and then contact the following three organizations with Your Comments and ask for a 6 Month Extension on the Public Comment Date.
American Herbal Products Association AHPA - Karen Robin (301) 588-1171, ext. 107 - krobin@ahpa.org
TMCongressFeedback@pobox.com.
American Herbalist Guild: ahgoffice@earthlink.com; 203.272.6731
Cascade summed this up for us to make it easier to access and to get a good understanding of some of the key issues (Thank you, Cascade)

The March 31, 2006 deadline for public comments regarding the document entitled, A Proposed Regulatory Model for Traditional Medicines, should be extended for a minimum of 6 months due to issues regarding accountability, transparency and visibility. The following represent a few of the most apparent problems.
1) This document is not easily available and accessible.
- No link to the document is mentioned on AHPA's homepage (and unable to find it by clicking around. It is on the AHG's homepage and the link takes you to AHPA's link.)

2) This document has limited visibility and distribution.
-- No link to the document is mentioned on AHPA's homepage (and unable to find it by clicking around. It is on the AHG's homepage but the link to the actual pdf draft document takes you to AHPA's.)

-- A comprehensive distribution list of interested parties related to all aspects of the broad range of subjects addressed in this document needs to be established and utilized.

3) The vehicle, an email address, for making public comments does not adequately provide a public forum. In addition it does not provide assurance to a submitter that their comments have been received and will remain unaltered.
-- A public comment vehicle should follow the general protocol of the U.S. government's Federal Registry: "The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the Internet as they are received and without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information. For any agency specific information, see the Federal Register Notice on which you are commenting." (as taken from: www.regulations.gov/fdmspubl...ent/main)

4) There is extremely limited background information available about the Traditional Medicine Congress who apparently created the document.
-- A roster of the individuals sitting on the Traditional Medicine Congress needs to be clearly posted with background information on the members.

-- There are no agendas and/or minutes of the meetings of the Traditional Medicine Congress available to provide background and context to the public.

-- One of the apparent primary sponsoring organizations, the American Herbalists Guild (AHG), is also lacking a roster of board and/or staff members

Press releases cut and pasted from AHPA and the AHG sites:
www.ahpa.org
CONTACT:
AHPA - Karen Robin (301) 588-1171, ext. 107 - krobin@ahpa.org

Traditional Medicines Congress Calls for Comments on “Ideal Regulatory Model”

(November 29, 2005) — Nine national organizations working together as the Traditional Medicines (TM) Congress* have released the first public draft of “A Proposed Regulatory Model for Traditional Medicines: Guiding Assumptions and Key Components.” This comprehensive document presents ideas for a new model for the regulation of traditional medicines in the United States, and will now be subject to an open review process by interested individuals and organizations.

The American Herbal Products Association joined with eight other organizations in the spring of 2004 to exchange ideas about the future of traditional medicines in the U.S. The result of these discussions was the formation of the TM Congress. In seeking to emphasize both the value of traditional medicines and the responsibilities that are associated with their use, it was agreed that:

The goal of the Traditional Medicines Congress is to benefit public health by ensuring access to traditional medicines in a manner that provides a reasonable expectation of public safety.

“The current legal framework for dietary supplements provides significant options for consumer health care choices,” noted AHPA President Michael McGuffin. “And while some goods that have long been used as traditional medicines fit neatly into this framework, the therapeutic uses of these are restricted and many are entirely excluded. The model proposed here would completely protect the current law while developing a new option that will benefit marketers who want to sell traditional medicines and practitioners and consumers who want to use them,” he added.

Anyone with an interest in traditional medicines is now invited to review the draft document that the TM Congress has developed. A Proposed Regulatory Model for Traditional Medicines is posted online at www.ahpa.org/05_1129_TMC...edModel.pdf.

Comments can be emailed to TMCongressFeedback@pobox.com. The deadline for comments is March 31, 2006.

* The Traditional Medicines Congress is comprised of these organizations:

* Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance (AOMA);
* American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP);
* American Association of Oriental Medicine (AAOM);
* American Herbalist Guild (AHG);
* American Herbal Products Association (AHPA);
* Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM);
* Medicinal Herb Consortium (MHC);
* National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA); and
* National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).

www.americanherbalistsguild.com/

Traditional Medicines Congress Press Release
November 29, 2005
Traditional Medicines Congress Calls for Comments on Ideal Regulatory Model

Nine national organizations working together as the Traditional Medicines (TM) Congress [1] have released the first public draft ofA Proposed Regulatory Model for Traditional Medicines: Guiding Assumptions and Key Components. This comprehensive document presents ideas for a new model for the regulation of traditional medicines in the United States, and will now be subject to an open review process by interested individuals and organizations.

The American Herbalists Guild joined with 8 other organizations in the spring of 2004 to exchange ideas about the future of traditional medicines in the U.S. The result of these discussions was the formation of the TM Congress. In seeking to emphasize both the value of traditional medicines and the responsibilities that are associated with their use, it was agreed that:

The goal of the Traditional Medicines Congress is to benefit public health by ensuring access to traditional medicines in a manner that provides a reasonable expectation of public safety.

"We are extremely pleased to be part of this group of national organizations working cooperatively for the first time to address one of the most critical issues facing our profession" said Aviva Romm, President of the American Herbalists Guild. "This is an important first step in protecting access to traditional medicines and improving people's health and well being."

According to Roy Upton, Vice President of the American Herbalists Guild and Executive Director of the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, "The current regulation of herbs as 'dietary supplements' is fine for accessing them for general health purposes, in healthy individuals. This must be protected at all costs. However, it completely neglects the legitimate use of botanicals for therapeutic purposes, which is one of the greatest values of herbs in health care. Also, many botanicals have been prohibited from use due to politics, improper use as a result of inappropriate marketing, or inaccurate reports of potential toxicity. This new proposal is designed to protect continued access to herbal medicines and promote their safe and responsible use."

Anyone with an interest in traditional medicines is now invited to review the draft document that the TM Congress has developed. A Proposed Regulatory Model for Traditional Medicines is posted online at:
www.ahpa.org/05_1129_TMC...edModel.pdf. Comments can be emailed to TMCongressFeedback@pobox.com. The deadline for comments is March 31, 2006.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance (AOMA); American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP); American Association of Oriental Medicine (AAOM); American Herbalists Guild (AHG); American Herbal Products Association (AHPA); Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM); Medicinal Herb Consortium (MHC); National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA); and National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).

The pdf of the document A Proposed Regulatory Model for Traditional Medicines
as downloaded from: www.ahpa.org/05_1129_TMC...sedModel.pdf
posted by:
Alura
California
20 friends

posted in Maine Pagans - 0 replies

Pagan scout groups

Raven_Starsong — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 16:41:35 GMT

This article appeared in the February 1, 2006 edition of the Portland Forecaster:

Alternative scout group an outlet for pagan kids
By Lori Eschholz

PORTLAND – When her daughter was 4, Lisa Marie Lindenschmidt began looking at enrolling her in the Girl Scouts. She didn’t like what she saw. To her, the Girl Scouts were too expensive and looked like an administrative nightmare.

It didn’t take long for her friend Nikki Shields to talk her into trying a new kind of group that was just getting started across the country. So, in 2003, the two women and their friend Hope Becker founded a local chapter of Spiral Scouts.

Spiral Scouts was started in 2001 through the Aquarian Tabernacle Church, a Wiccan church. Wicca is a form of paganism and the organization was developed on pagan beliefs and practices, but designed to be adaptable to accommodate other minority faiths. It now has “circles,” which are like troops, in 20 states, Canada and Europe.

Scouts wear uniforms, earn merit badges, go camping and on outdoor field trips, and learn about traditional woodland lore, camping and outdoor skills, as well as about the mythologies of the ancient world. Scouts range in age from 3 to 18.

At the same time, circles can be very flexible about how they run their meetings and what emphasis they want to place on paganism. Lindenschmidt said that Spiral Scouts headquarters is always looking for feedback about what circles are doing and what is working on not. She said it is not a “brown and serve” organization.

The first meeting the circle had was to decide whether it wanted to be a religious group or not. Lindenschmidt said kids were really excited about the idea and made the decision that they wanted to do so.

“It’s very volatile identifying as a pagan group. That’s why the kids made the choice to be a religious group. I think kids didn’t get what it meant to be a religious group at first. As they’re getting older, they’re starting to understand,” she said.

Lindenschmidt, who is a pagan, described paganism as an umbrella for many earth-based religions including Druidism and Wiccanism. She said paganism is about honoring the divine in everything. As there are many types of pagans, the circle is open for scouts to bring in their own definition of it to share with the group.

A typical meeting starts with all the kids entering the circle by going through a bridge that is made by two adult volunteers who put their hands together. Once through, kids know it is time to focus on the meeting. They then each recite a Spiral Scouts promise relative to their age group, then articulate the intention for that meeting.

A meeting could be spent working on a badge, such as gardening. Lindenschmidt said they try to bring in pagan ideals when working on a project. In the case of gardening, scouts might be encouraged to approach it with respect to the earth.

“We’re not trying to make anybody pagan. This is our slant on how we see the world and we’re trying to teach from that perspective,” Lindenschmidt said.

Lindenschmidt has been overwhelmed by the number of parents who have been interested in the group and how far they’re willing to travel to do so. In part, the group gives a sense of community to pagans.

She said that pagans run into a lot of prejudice and many aren’t comfortable with being “outed” as pagans. She said the word “pagan” is often associated with heathens or sinners or someone who is not Christian. A lot of the pagan community is trying to reclaim the name, she said.

Because of that, people who aren’t members of the circle aren’t allowed to come to regular meetings. The group allows new members once a year, in January, because allowing members in in the middle of the year can upset group dynamics and creates more paperwork.

For more information contact Lindenschmidt at 423-5184.

Lori Eschholz can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 110 or leschholz@theforecaster.net.

posted in Maine Pagans - 4 replies

Poem for Imbolc

Lorelei — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 14:32:21 GMT

I wrote this a few years ago and thought I would share.

Imbolc

The season of plenty is over and done.
We've welcomed the new year and welcomed the Sun.
The larder is leaner, the woodpile is low,
But somewhere, spring waters are starting to flow.

The world in her slumber is starting to dream
Of green fields and pastures, of honey and cream.
While we begin counting each branch and each bowl,
The Gods are thus counting the marks on each soul.

A time then of reckoning, counting and worth,
Of deeming true value and culling our girth,
Of finding what matters, what lies deep within,
And checking our balance in spirit and skin.

When each mouthful matters, when each blessing sings,
How can we then stew upon these lesser things?
The ice is still thick and the snow's just as deep,
But we've got things to do while the world's still asleep.

This season is owned not by Winter nor Spring
But these quiet moments have been measuring
In inches and hours, in pounds and in pecks
Our world and ourselves in their many respects.

We find something worthy, we guard it with care.
We wonder at all that is simply "just there."
We buy and collect, we save and we store,
At times such as these, then we ask, "What's it for?"

In Winter's deep cavern, the promise not born,
We stand at a threshhold, so eager yet worn.
A time for reflection, and casting aside,
A time to be empty and quiet inside.

The season of plenty is over and done.
We've welcomed the new year and welcomed the Sun.
The larder is leaner, the woodpile is low,
But somewhere, spring breezes are starting to blow.

© LSG 1-27-01 11:56 PM

posted in Maine Pagans - 1 reply

Full Moon Healing Ritual

Raven_Starsong — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 17:15:04 GMT

I will be performing my annual full moon Bran Slànaighear (Raven Healer) ritual on Monday, February 13th (preparations begin on Sunday). If you are in need of healing energy, please email me either through tribe or at mtngoddess2001@yahoo.com. This will be a solitary ritual, healing energy will be sent in the form of a raven messenger.

Please do not assume that I will include you. A friend was quite upset with me for not including her last year since I knew of her health situation, but I do not cast for or on behalf of others without their expressed request or permission.

Blessed Be!

posted in Maine Pagans - 0 replies

hello

Morwen — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 16:16:00 GMT

Hey everyone.
My names Michelle but Morwen is my chosen magickal name. I live up in orono at go to UMaine. Where is everyone else from?

I disovered paganism about 4 years ago, finally having a name that fit my belief system! I'm currently vice presisdent of umaine's Pagan Campus Organization.

posted in Maine Pagans - 3 replies

A Pagan Campout?

Raven_Starsong — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 18:00:25 GMT

I just got this crazy idea from reading a post on a west coast Pagan tribe. It would be cool to get a group together to go on a car-camping trip this summer. It could be a great family adventure and we could incorporate campfire drumming/singalongs and a circle with day hikes, kayaking, canoeing, frisbee, marshmallow-roasting, s'more making, and all those fun camping experiences.

I'm pretty much booked for the month of July with family "from away" visiting, but August is always nice for camping. I may even be able to borrow a friend's camp on Crooked River in Otisfield. It's quiet and private, has a tiny beach and a beautiful overlook of the river. There are plenty of public campgrounds and also "sacred space" rentals we could look into, as well.

If you're interested in participating and/or helping to plan such an event, let me know.

Raven

posted in Maine Pagans - 3 replies

Notary Public

purplerendor — Sun, 15 Jan 2006 20:23:20 GMT

I am looking for a Pagan Notary Public for the State of Maine for the date of May 1 to preform a small wedding.

posted in Maine Pagans - 2 replies

SamhainDell now has a Tribe!

Raven_Starsong — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 20:13:44 GMT

Our Seneschal, Anissa, has set up a tribe that is specifically SamhainDell that is now linked to the Maine Pagans tribe.

Check it out and join that tribe, too!!

posted in Maine Pagans - 0 replies

Looking for a new photo

Raven_Starsong — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 14:52:46 GMT

I'm looking for a good photo to use for our tribe. I've "borrowed" a co-worker's sunset pic for now but would like something that represents who we are. If you've got a photo or artwork you'd like to see here, let me know.

Cynthia (aka Raven)

posted in Maine Pagans - 0 replies

Merry Meeting

Ben — Sat, 07 Jan 2006 13:23:21 GMT

Greetings all Seems I am among the first to join here. First posting should be perhaps a little hello and intro I would guess...here is mine......ready....here it is!!....HI ok not so great yes I know but still there it is...bathe in it's glory!...heheh well ok lets get real..I am Ben know to some as Nightwing....Part of the Samhaindell Clan. I live far from the central group of us here in maine...makes me sad..but I do get to see them on occassion....I work for T-Mobile right now and have a wonderful wife and Ident twin daughters Annike and Alyssha who are both 4.25 years old. anything else feel free to ask me..I am sure you can tell from my post i dont bite....(well I really do but not for people asking questions) Hope to see more on here and look forward to reading your intros and being part of the group.

posted in Maine Pagans - 1 reply