Hello Ladies and Gentlemen

It is once gain the time of year when we at Silver Falls Grove, ADF gather to celebrate our third annual Fools Day Rite.

This year we have chosen the theme "Pirates!" so please dress up as a pirate (or really however you would like) and join us at the Old Portage Picnic area in Sand Run Metro Park (this is the same picnic area we have used over the last two years that we have held this rite). Once again this year will do no planning for this rite instead choosing to speak as the spirit compels on the day itself, we also will have no set altar or hallows but will create them on the spot with whatever attendees chose to bring with them. Each participant in the rite will have the chance to call upon whomever they wish as the key offering for this rite.

The date for our Fools Day Rite will be April 3, 2011 beginning at 4:15 pm. You can find the Old Portage Picnic Area in Sand Run Metropark, it is the first picnic area coming from Sand Run Road. At the conclusion of our rite we will all meet at a local eatery for drinks, food, and fellowship.

For more information please email silverfallsgrove@gmail.com or call (234) 738 - 2339.

We really hope to see you there!

Please join Silver Falls Grove, ADF in Akron, Ohio for our 2010 Winternights Rite!

Event Details:
When: November 7th, 2010
Where: Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron
Outdoors in the Medicine Wheel behind the church
Poor Weather: Indoors in the McKeeman Room
Address: 3300 Morewood Ave. Akron, OH 44333
Directions: http://silverfallsgrove.weebly.com/locations.html

Time Details:
On-Site: 3:30 pm
Pre-ritual briefing: 4:30 pm
Ritual start time: 5:00 pm
Feast: Immediately after the rite
Our rituals last for approximately 1 hour
The pre-ritual briefing will be a time to go over the chants we will be singing, discuss what is is going to happen, and answer any questions people may have.

In ADF we do not cast circles or otherwise close our ritual space so if you are running a little late or must leave a little early you are more than welcome to do so. Our ritual will take place outdoors in the Medicine Wheel behind the church, please bring a chair or blanket unless you do not mind standing or sitting in the grass.

Winternights is a Norse Ritual, we will be honoring the Alfar and Disir.

All of our rites are open the public, you need no special invite or initiation to join us, and children are welcome. We will have a pot-luck feast following the rite, please bring a dish to share. Though there is no cost to join us, we will be asking for donations to go towards our rental of the space and ritual supplies so, if you can, please bring a few dollars to donate.

If there are any questions please write to silverfallsgrove@gmail.com or call 234-738-2339.

Thank You, Hope to see you there!

~ Jamie Goodwin
Senior Druid
Silver Falls Grove, ADF

Please join Silver Falls Grove, ADF in Akron, Ohio for our 2010 Midsummer Rite!

Event Details:
When: June 13th, 2010
Where: Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron
Outdoors in the Medicine Wheel behind the church
Poor Weather: Indoors in the McKeeman Room
Address: 3300 Morewood Ave. Akron, OH 44333
Directions: http://silverfallsgrove.weebly.com/locations.html

Time Details:
On-Site: 3:30 pm
Pre-ritual briefing: 4:30 pm
Ritual start time: 5:00 pm
Feast: Immediately after the rite
Our rituals last for approximately 1 hour
The pre-ritual briefing will be a time to go over the chants we will be singing, discuss what is is going to happen, and answer any questions people may have.

In ADF we do not cast circles or otherwise close our ritual space so if you are running a little late or must leave a little early you are more than welcome to do so. Our ritual will take place outdoors in the Medicine Wheel behind the church, please bring a chair or blanket unless you do not mind standing or sitting in the grass.

This year our Midsummer Rite will have a Vedic focus and our Key Offering will be dedicated to the God Surya, the Supreme Light, the chief solar deity of the Vedic people.

All of our rites are open the public, you need no special invite or initiation to join us, and children are welcome. We will have a pot-luck feast following the rite, please bring a dish to share. Though there is no cost to join us, we will be asking for donations to go towards our rental of the space and ritual supplies so, if you can, please bring a few dollars to donate.

If there are any questions please write to silverfallsgrove@gmail.com

Thank You, Hope to see you there!

~ Jamie Goodwin
Senior Druid
Silver Falls Grove, ADF

Please join Silver Falls Grove, ADF in Akron, Ohio for our 2010 May Day Ritual!





Event Details:
When: May 2nd, 2010
Where: Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron
Outdoors in the Medicine Wheel behind the church
Poor Weather: Indoors in the McKeeman Room
Address: 3300 Morewood Ave. Akron, OH 44333
Directions: http://silverfallsgrove.weebly.com/locations.html

Time Details:
On-Site: 3:30 pm
Pre-ritual briefing: 4:30 pm
Ritual start time: 5:00 pm
Feast: Immediately after the rite
Our rituals last for approximately 1 hour
The pre-ritual briefing will be a time to go over the chants we will be singing, discuss what is is going to happen, and answer any questions people may have.

In ADF we do not cast circles or otherwise close our ritual space so if you are running a little late or must leave a little early you are more than welcome to do so. Our ritual will take place outdoors in the Medicine Wheel behind the church, please bring a chair or blanket unless you do not mind standing or sitting in the grass.

This year our May Day Ritual will have a Norse focus concentrating on the welcoming of summer and the beginning of the planting season. Our Key Offerings will be dedicated to Freyr and Freyja. We will also be naming a May Queen or King and enjoying traditional celebrations of the season.

All of our rites are open the public, you need no special invite or initiation to join us, and children are welcome. We will have a pot-luck feast following the rite, please bring a dish to share. Though there is no cost to join us, we will be asking for donations to go towards our rental of the space and ritual supplies so, if you can, please bring a few dollars to donate.

If there are any questions please write to silverfallsgrove@gmail.com

Thank You, Hope to see you there!

~ Jamie Goodwin
Senior Druid
Silver Falls Grove, ADF

"If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?" ~ Alice in "Alice in Wonderland"

Oh my ears and whiskers, how late it's getting! It's almost that time again! Silver Falls Grove, ADF in Akron, Ohio proudly presents our 2nd Annual Fools Day rite ...

The Mad Hatters!

We will meet at the Old Portage Picnic Area in Sand Run MetroPark, West in Akron (the first picnic area on Sand Run Parkway if your coming from Portage Path, the last if coming from Sand Run Rd.), this is the same picnic area we met at last year, on April 11th, 2010. The ritual will start at 3:17 pm (sharp!).

Once again there will be no scripts, no reservations, no planning ahead. We only ask that you wear a crazy, silly, or fun hat of some kind (or other head covering is fine of course). Also consider bringing an item with you (anything you want – be creative) to create our hallows on the spot.

Our gatekeeper this year will be the white rabbit but each person in attendance will have the opportunity to call whomever they wish as a key focus of this rite.

Last year our key focus varied from Loki to the Flying Spaghetti Monster to Barney. A wonderful time was had by all. Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.

Are you up for it? Afterward we will retreat to a local eatery to share in more fun, laughter, and fellowship.

For more information please write to silverfallsgrove@gmail.com.

Curiouser and curiouser!

Blessing of Tools is a common practice among Neopagans in the northern hemisphere during the spring rites. The time is very near for when we will be out again planting flowers, trees, and gardens. During our Rites of Spring ritual on March 21st we will offer a Blessing of Tools.

In addition to garden tools many people choose to have items they use in their daily life blessed during the rite. Any tool you use commonly that you wish to be blessed with new growth and imbued with the power of the Kindreds is welcome. We will place them on (or near) the altar and a time will be set aside in the ritual to formally assure they receive the blessings.

Common tools to be blessed:
- Small garden rakes and shovels
- Seeds, dirt, garden statues
- Working tools like tape measures and hammers
- Cell phones and lap tops (yes really)
- Anything that is portable and is a tool you use commonly.

ALL ITEMS SHOULD BE CLEANED THOROUGHLY BEFORE THE RITUAL

If there are any questions please write to silverfallsgrove@gmail.com

All dates are tentative. See website for exact dates, times, and locations.






High Day Rituals:
Our rituals take place at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron
Someone is on site no later then 3:30 PM, Start time 4:30 PM
- Imbolc, February 7th
- Rites of Spring, March 21st
- May Day, May 2nd
- Midsummer, June 13th
- Harvest Home, September 12th
- Samhain, November 7th
- Yule, December 19th

Special Rites and Events:
Throughout the year Silver Falls Grove offers special rites and events, those scheduled for 2010 are:
- Mad Hatters, A Fools Day Rite, April 4th 3:17 PM (Akron MetroParks)
- Summer Cook Out, July 11th 1:00 PM (Akron MetroParks)
- Lughnassadh Gathering, July 31st and August 1st, (Tredara)
- Akron Area Mabon Festival Sunday Ritual, September 19th (Yusef Kahn Grotto)
- Grand Sumbel and Annual Meeting, October 10th 4:30 PM (Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron)

Organizational Meetings:
On the 4th Sunday of every month at Any Witch Way in Akron, OH. Discussion of the business of the Grove as well as planning rituals and discussion of our spiritual paths.

Please join Silver Falls Grove, ADF in Akron, Ohio for our 2010 Rite of Spring!





Event Details:
When: March 21st, 2010
Where: Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron
Indoors in the McKeeman Room
Address: 3300 Morewood Ave. Akron, OH 44333
Directions: http://silverfallsgrove.weebly.com/locations.html

Time Details:
On-Site: 3:30 pm
Pre-ritual briefing: 4:30 pm
Ritual start time: 5:00 pm
Feast: Immediately after the rite
Our rituals last for approximately 1 hour
The pre-ritual briefing will be a time to go over the chants we will be singing, discuss what is is going to happen, and answer any questions people may have.

In ADF we do not cast circles or otherwise close our ritual space so if you are running a little late or must leave a little early you are more than welcome to do so. Our ritual will take place indoors in the McKeeman Room, the fireside room next to the sanctuary, maps are available within the church to direct you.

This year our Rites of Spring will have a Hellenic (Greek) focus concentrating of the story of Persephone's return from the underworld and the return to life to Earth's fields. Our Key Offerings will be dedicated to Persephone and her mother Demeter.

All of our rites are open the public, you need no special invite or initiation to join us, and children are welcome. We will have a pot-luck feast following the rite, please bring a dish to share. Though there is no cost to join us, we will be asking for donations to go towards our rental of the space and ritual supplies so, if you can, please bring a few dollars to donate.

If there are any questions please write to silverfallsgrove@gmail.com

Thank You, Hope to see you there!

~ Jamie Goodwin
Senior Druid
Silver Falls Grove, ADF

The 2010 Silver Falls Grove, ADF, Imbolc ritual, which will take place tomorrow, February 7th at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron (on site at 3:30 pm), will take place as scheduled! We ain't afraid of a little snow, though, please drive carefully.

We are highlighting the story of Bride and the Cailleach and the blizzard of last night exactly the kind of scenario that the story tells us of. Bride has stirred and cast her warmth onto the Earth and things had slowly began to melt and winter's hold relax. But the Cailleach is greedy and selfish, she is the winter-hag, and does not let go. She smites the land returning it to the embrace of ice and snow.

We know, in the end, the Cailleach cannot win. No matter how hard she tries and no matter how much she throws at us. The back of winter has been broken. Join us as we celebrate the stirring of the Earth and light the fires of creativity, healing, and care within our rite and within our hearts.

See you there!
~ Jamie

Please join Silver Falls Grove, ADF in Akron, Ohio for our 2010 Imbolc Rite!

We will meet at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron (link to directions below) on Sunday February 7th, 2010 to celebrate Imbolc! Someone will be on-site no later than 3:30 pm, we hold a pre-ritual briefing at 4:30 pm, and the ritual will start promptly at 5:00 pm. In ADF we do not cast circles or otherwise close our ritual space so if you are running a little late or must leave a little early you are more than welcome to do so. Our ritual will take place indoors in the McKeeman Room, the fireside room next to the sanctuary, maps are available within the church to direct you.

This year our Imbolc rite will have a Scottish focus concentrating of the story of Bride (pronounced breed, the Scottish name for Brighid) and the Cailleach (the winter-hag) our Key Offerings we will be dedicated to Bride and will include a procession of the Bride Dolly. We will be making Bride Crosses before the ritual so come early to make one for yourself, you are also welcome to bring a "brat" (blanket, cloak, wrap etc.) to be blessed during the rite.

As is our Imbolc tradition we will be collecting clothing for donation during this rite. This is a time of year when many charities see a marked drop in donations, the more mainstream holidays have passed, and there is still plenty of cold weather to come. We will accept any clothing you might have for donation but especially encourage children's winter clothing. Please separate out any children's or women's sized winter boots and coats. We would like to donate these to the local Battered Women's Shelter. All other clothing will go to the Goodwill. Bride is the Lady of the Mantel and the spark of warmth and light. Let us pass her blessings on to those less fortunate in our community.

All of our rites are open the public, you need no special invite or initiation to join us, and children are welcome. We will have a pot-luck feast following the rite, please bring a dish to share. Though there is no cost to join us though We will be asking for donations to go towards our rental of the space and ritual supplies so, if you can, please bring a few dollars to donate.

Event Details:
When: February 7th, 2010
Where: Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron
Indoors in the McKeeman Room
Address: 3300 Morewood Ave. Akron, OH 44333
Directions: http://silverfallsgrove.weebly.com/locations.html

Time Details:
On-Site/Bride Crosses: 3:30 pm
Pre-ritual briefing: 4:30 pm
Ritual start time: 5:00 pm
Feast: Immediately after the rite
Our rituals last for approximately 1 hour
The pre-ritual briefing will be a time to go over the chants we will be singing, discuss what is is going to happen, and answer any questions people may have.

If there are any questions please write to silverfallspg@gmail.com

Thank You, Hope to see you there!

~ Jamie Goodwin
Senior Druid
Silver Falls Grove, ADF