With the current slow economy, merchanting your wares to the relatively “captive audience” of people attending the 25th Spring Mysteries Festival can be a way of boosting your sales. In spite of the downturn in the national economy, we Pagans always have a few dollars for something new to us. A shiny silver medallion, a new tarot deck, a piece of ritual wear, a sword or athame’ – you name it.

We are inviting you to merchant your stuff, be it your hand-made craft-work or whatever. This is a unique opportunity to reach a large number of customers assembled in one place.

We are also asking you to help by passing this opportunity on to others you know who want to offer their merchandise to a new market – the attendees at SMF. This year, the merchanting attendance fee is the same as a normal attendee’s fee would be, and includes one table – there’s no premium cost to attend as a merchant.

The time for merchant registrations is coming to a close soon, but has been extended to March 20th., the actual registration closing date for everyone. Give us a call at the ATC right away to reserve your merchanting space now, before all the good spots are taken! You can even register by phone right now, by calling (360)793-1945, or by email to: atcadmin @ AquaTabCh.org Don’t miss out on this chance to boost your sales in a slow economy!

The ATC-SMF Team

I am in serious need of donations for the SMF Auction. If you have any items you would like to donate please email or call me and we can work out a time I can get the item or items from you.

Thanks,

Kathy Stagner

kathy dot stagner at yahoo dot com
(425) 359 – 7969

The Aquarian Tabernacle Church will present an Litha Ritual at 7pm on Monday, June 21st at Edge of the Circle Books 701 E. Pike St. in Seattle. This Ritual is open to the general public. The ATC will provide all items needed for the Ritual.

The Aquarian Tabernacle Church will present an Beltaine Ritual at 7pm on Saturday, May 1st at Edge of the Circle Books 701 E. Pike St. in Seattle. This Ritual is open to the general public. The ATC will provide all items needed for the Ritual.

The Aquarian Tabernacle Church will present an Ostara Ritual at 7:30pm on Sunday, March 21st at Edge of the Circle Books 701 E. Pike St. in Seattle. This Ritual is open to the general public. The ATC will provide all items needed for the Ritual.

The Aquarian Tabernacle Church will present an Imbolc Ritual at 7pm on Tuesday, February 2nd at Edge of the Circle Books 701 E. Pike St. in Seattle. This Ritual is open to the general public. The ATC will provide all items needed for the Ritual.

Remember that thing that your forgetful Priest could not remember to announce? Well, we recalled what is was hours later on the road home and it is this!

If you signed up for a staff position and need to be added to the ATC_SMF Yahoo Group for staff related festival announcements, please contact John Calderon via email @ (johnc at aquatabch dot org) to be invited to join the email list. Please include your Full Name and your email address (even if its the one you are sending from; you have the option to give a different address if you choose for enrollment) along with the position you are signed up for. I’ll get you added ASAP.

If you know someone who signed up for a position, but might not see this announcement, if you could be so kind to forward this on to them that would also be a big help!

Sorry for any inconvenience! Thank you for your commitment to this very special event!

John Calderon
ATC Web & Groups Moderator

http://www.aquatabch.org/spring-mysteries-festival

More updates are to come, so watch the page for details.

Please remember that the form requires Adobe Reader to view and print. Download links are provided for Adobe Reader as well.

**Please read the entire message if you are wishing to audition**

Hello Everyone,

I would like to fill you all in with a few details about this coming Spring Mysteries, the audition, and some thoughts and ideas we are looking at which would bring some amazing changes to the festival, challenge all the participants, and encourage huge growth from the cast and crew.

2010 marks the 25th Anniversary of Spring Mysteries!! This is a monumental event, which deserves all of our fullest commitment, focus and energies to create a spectacular ritual for all participants. It is a significant moment where we have an opportunity to take the festival to new heights, develop new dimensions and aspects, and allow each participant to explore and experience the festival like never before.

The first important decision I would like to address is a casting idea I had ever since the end of SMF 2009. I approached the ATC with the thought of holding over some of the cast from ’09 to be able to take the work and energy we built over the festival and increase the potential for even greater success. My thoughts were to hold over the four major roles and actors (Karin/Demeter, Scott/Hades, Gwynedh/Kore, Anthony/Zagreus). With the focus and work that these people went through during the rehearsal time, and festival, my feeling is if we could start with that foundation of work then we would have the opportunity to build the energies, characters, and internal connections, which could blow the roof sky high. This is not a “normal” tactic with casting for SMF, and does come with its own set of risks. That said; this proposition IS NOT driven by politics, personal agenda, or a thought of “cool-kid’ism”. And, for fairness to everyone interested in auditioning for SMF, it has also been decided that these four actors must re-audition along with everyone so I can make the best choice in casting. My only intent is for the greater good of the festival, the community and the ATC. All roles are open, and nothing is 100% guarantied for anyone. And, I wish to highlight the fact that this choice will not, I repeat will not set a standard for casting in the future.

Another choice which is being looked at for the festival is changing the structured timing of the ritual. It is being played about to possibly begin the ritual on Friday, running through the completion of Lessers II, and then on Saturday we would perform the Greaters ritual. Again, this idea comes with some risk, and is not set in stone as of yet.

Choices in the changing of format with the whole festival are only here to recognize the grandeur of this most important year. These are choices focused on giving the participant of Spring Mysteries the greatest ability to find, learn and relearn the gifts of our goddess Demeter. And, I would like to reiterate to all that these choices are not motivated by anything other than a commitment to the greater community, to the ritual, and to acknowledging the work of the ATC through these many years.

I am honored and humbled to be able to direct such an event. And, I am excited to see you all at auditions bringing your best to the table. If any one of you has a question, comment or concern with any of these issues, please know that I am open and willing to discuss them with you. Please contact me off list at:  bubbalove31 at hotmail.com.

Lastly, for the auditions, I wish to remind everyone to prepare a monologue of no more than 3 minutes in length, and to bring a head/face photo.

Oh yeah, the auditions are on the 6th of December, from 1:00p – 6:00p, in the Center House of the Seattle Center campus, room “C”.

Thank you all for your interest in becoming a working member of this festival helping to take SMF 2010 to such heights I don’t think the gods have ever seen!

With perfect trust, and perfect love!

PanisBuck

It’s that time again, kiddies! Auditions for the 25th Anniversary of the ATC’s Spring Mysteries Festival are here.

Where: The Center House at the Seattle Center, studio C
When: Sunday December 6th from 1:00p – 6:00p
What: Have a monologue prepared of no more than 3 minutes in length

Please provide a head shot when auditioning. This can be either a professional photo or a copied picture of you face.

More detailed information will follow soon.

See you all there – Brian (aka PanisBuck) Hatcher

Click here to download Issue #109!

Featured articles include:

Hecatee’s Sickle Festival is ready to go – are YOU?

Beloved Dead Altar

It’s That time again, so Let’s talk about Grief. – by Jamie Freeman

- Plus -

Musings . . . by Deborah K. Hudson

and

Menhir News by Pete “Pathfinder” Davis

Date: November 14^th, 2009

Location:  Bremerton Masonic Temple

Time: 11am to 7pm

878  5^th Street ( 5^th & Warren)

Bremerton, WA    98337

Plenty of Parking
Walking distance from Seattle/Bremerton Ferry

Presented by: Chalice Hart-ATC Volunteers

Join us for a magical day where you can receive a variety of services from some of the areas most talented Psychics and Healers, including tarot and aura readings, massage, and Reiki to name a few.  All at discounted, event rates.  Admission to the fair is free.

Artists and merchants from the local community will be presenting their wares and magical gifts.  Food and drink, Entertainment and Raffles add to your overall experience.

Come and enjoy this fun community event and receive the reading and healing that can help to bring the clarity and peace we all need in our lives.

This event is called “Healing Hearts” for a very specific reason.  Ours is a community that pulls together to help each other whenever there is need.  This has become an annual event helping us to solidify extra support to help the needful people of the community throughout the year.

Questions: Please contact us at healingheartsfair@yahoo.com (206)713-3700 or (360)509-4741

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

I just want to  remind everyone that seeker packets for new postulants are due this Saturday, August 22.

New students accepted into the postulancy can expect to be contacted at the end of this month.

The postulancy ritual is scheduled for Saturday, September 12 at 7PM.

Your options are to bring them up to the Diana’s Bow ritual on Saturday and give them to Debbie or to Jeff Harris, or to email them to myself, Debbie or Jeff.

Please direct any questions you might have about this deadline or the postulancy in general my way.  I’ve been out of the loop and out of town for the last little while, but I’m back, connected, and ready to address any questions or concerns you might have.

I’ve had questions from a few new postulant candidates regarding the required sponsorship.  I’d like to address those here.

Your sponsor is not the same as your mentor.  All students accepted into the postulancy will be required to have a mentor, but you will have plenty of time to find or to be assigned one.  We are more than happy to help you with this.  The sponsor is simply any tradition member who you have interacted with any knows you fairly well.

The reason for the sponsorship is two-fold.

One, it gives you a chance to ask basic questions about the postulancy before deciding whether to take the time to submit a seeker packet.

Two, it gives us a chance to know you a little bit more through the eyes of one of our tradition members.
Your sponsor is simply there for you and for us at the beginning of this process, and the sponsorship ends at the time of the postulancy ritual.

Most of you have contacted me about a sponsor and many of you have already contacted me about a mentor as well – that’s great!  But if any of you still have questions or are unclear as to what the requirement is, please don’t hesitate to contact me off-post.

Brightest Blessings,
Carolyn

There’s a new and very serious problem though.

Because we are doing this ourselves, without a licensed contractor working on it every day, our Fire and Liability  Insurance carrier, Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company, has cancelled our insurances because the project is moving “too slowly” and they feel their exposure to possible claims is greater.

Nationwide also decided that my home is “a commercial use” because it’s owned by the church and, somehow that being in a gated community is bad (we’ve had that gate here since 1956, long before they started insuring me). There are a few more “excuses even sillier than those.

So, there is now a great time pressure for us to complete the work before we will be able to get fire and liability coverage back. All the firms our broker contacted have refused to insure us because of Nationwide’s cancellation, so we’re stuck without fire and liability insurance until we get the construction finished.

Those of you who may have insurance through Nationwide might consider their treatment of us, and switch to a more reasonable insurance carrier, to make a social statement about their behavior in our case.

I can report that:

The railroad ties HAVE BEEN moved into place and we can now have  the dirt pile in the front yard leveled, thanks to Paula, RC, Carrie, Eric and Ryan. Once that’s done, we can pour the concrete for the entry way  and the little porch above it.

The gardens have been weeded and look very pretty, thanks to Julie.

The flagstone in the Pan Shrine is almost finished, thanks to Cassie, R. and Carrie.

The finished siding is going up pretty fast, thanks to Anthony and Ray K.

Pretty soon, we can put on the window & door trim and caulk them rain-tight.

A substantial of the electrical work is finished, thanks to Touran. Once the remainder is done, we can install the wall and floor insulation. Then comes the interior wallboard, followed by spackling and painting and finished flooring. It’s like a daisy chain, one job after another, in a set sequence.

It’s ALL COMING TOGETHER, with your generous help.

EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED TO EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED TO …YOU, our hardy friends.

Pete

- Please read all information thoroughly prior to auditioning –

Thank you for your interest in auditioning for a role in this year’s Hekate’s Sickle Festival. This sheet covers responsibilities of the different positions in the ritual, and outlines what we look for when filling those roles.

There are 2 different types of roles within the ritual production of HSF: the Clan Clergy, and the Druids and the Godforms.

The more important of the roles is that of Clan Clergy; these people serve our participants as mentors, teachers, and spiritual leaders for the duration of the festival. This role requires direct interaction with others as a functioning Priest or Priestess. Their most important responsibility is that of supporting and caring for the well-being of the individuals within their “clan.” They are expected to have some experience in ritual work, and will lead their clan in creating a ritual. Having teaching skills or the technicality of ritual skills down are good, but being able to work well with people is a must. Though the Clan Clergy will have lines and action within the script and will therefore be working with energy, the main body of their work will take place on site at the festival.

For Clan Clergy, we are looking for people with the following skills and abilities:
• Ministering to participants and each other
• Leadership
• Responsibility
• Ability to connect with others
• Interpersonal Communication, especially listening
• Organization
• Compassion
• Able to cover the necessary costs involved, such as the registration fee, and costuming

Those working with the Druids and the Godforms are more removed from direct contact with the festival participants. The bulk of the work for these people takes place before the festival. They must do research on their respective archetypes/Goddesses/Gods, and create a 20 minute shrine scene for the ritual that follows a lesson plan; they should be able to write well and learn quickly, as well as be able to speak clearly. These people will be expected to learn the safe Invocation of energy. Those carrying godforms will be responsible for creating an outside shrine for the main ritual. Despite the importance of working with the community, their prime responsibility is as Priest/ess to the archetype/deity that they are working with, and being Their earthly representative.

For those who will be carrying the energy, we are looking for people with the following skills and abilities:
• Acting
• The ability to carry energy well
• Responsibility
• Speaking and memorization
• Writing
• Able to cover the necessary costs involved, such as the registration fee, costuming, shrine props, etc.

Thank you again for your interest in this year’s Hekate’s Sickle Festival!

Related Link: Hekate’s Sickle Auditions

There are also a number of other jobs that need doing so we can start building the entry way and porch, like prep the yard so the dirt pile can be bulldozed flat, and a few other odds and ends.

Call Pete at the church at 360.793.1945 and let us know if you can help. Where are all the guys? The ladies have been showing you men up by volunteering a lot lately. So far, only one man has been here to help the ladies. The work has been stalled since the start of last winter, and good weather construction time is running short!. We REALLY need your help!

Announcing:
Hekate’s Sickle Auditions

When: Sunday, August 16th
Time: 1-5pm

Where: Seattle Center House, 4th Floor
Room: Studio D
Listed under Theatre Puget Sound

THESE AUDITIONS ARE FOR THE PARTS IN THE RITUAL REQUIRING INVOCATION ONLY.

Director: Ray Snyder
Assistant Director: Bob Farrell
Spiritual Directors: Leah Gervais & Terri Jones

Parts available this year:

Hekate
Druid of the Bear
Druid of the Dog
Druid of the Horse
Brighid
Cromm Dubh
Danu
Dian Cecht
Epona
Keridwen
Manannan mac Lir
The Morrigan
Nuada

Please choose a spoken audition piece no longer than 3 minutes in length to memorize and present at this gathering.

THERE WILL BE NO AUDITIONS FOR CLAN CLERGY.
Our Clan Clergy are the true backbone of this ritual; their most important responsibility is ministering to the needs of our participants, as priest or priestess of their clan.
Clan Clergy will be required to attend 3-4 rehearsals, including the initial script read-through and dress rehearsal.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN A POSITION AS CLAN CLERGY ONLY, please contact Leah at CairnFiona at yahoo dot com

Many more opportunities exist throughout the Summer to lend a hand at the Tab. Keep your eye on the calendar for Work Party gatherings. PLEASE, don’t forget to call Pete at 360-793-1945 and tell us when you can come out and help.

Thank you!

ATC Open Ritual Information Notice

Effective May 1, 2009

ATC won’t be collecting donations in Circle, starting May 2009. In the past, those donations haven’t adequately met upkeep expenses, and were disruptive of Circle sacred space. Instead, we are going to “catch up” with the rest of the area Pagan groups, and institute a “support fee” like the ones successfully used for many years by other local groups.

This support fee will be accepted when you sign-in at the Concierge Desk at events at the church and other event locations, and will also assure proper handling of your pot-luck dish immediately on your arrival.

ATC asks for sliding scale of $10 – $5 per adult in support of the church for all gatherings. No one will be turned away for lack of funds, but it is important to understand that your church needs your support in order to continue our mission of returning spiritual support back to you. ATC is fortunate to own the land and buildings, and we all must support, maintain and improve them for future generations to come. We understand and share the current economic burden that affects us all, and by working together, we can survive. If cash is an issue, we can accept credit cards, PayPal, or arrange an exchange of productive volunteer labor. Of course, such arrangements are best made in advance.

Our traditional “Prosperity Blessing” of the donation cauldron containing your contributions will continue to be made in Circle, so that any support you have given will be returned to you many-fold more. Help insure that the ATC can maintain and improve this wonderful land and buildings we are so blessed to own, and support the future needs of our ever-growing community. Please contact the ATC office in Index, WA or call 360-793-1945 if you have any questions.

We need as many volunteers as we can muster to continue with the Dining Hall construction and general grounds maintenance during these warmer, sunnier weekends!  And for your time and effort, we’ll throw in an opportunity to Wic-Nic with the community!!

Wic-Nics are a combination of work party and picnic, and the food & drink is provided for the cook-out, so come on up, lend a hand, and have some fun in the mountains with your friends!

Wic-Nics for grounds maintenance and Dining Hall construction will be held at the Main Church in Index, Wa.  every Saturday (and Sunday, if people are available) in May through September.

Our building permit runs out in November, so we have to make the most of the time we have!!

Start time is 11am each weekend. Please call Pete at the Main Church to confirm there is enough to eat on hand.  The phone number is (360) 793-1945  Regular Office Hours are Tuesday through Saturday  9am to 7pm

Please refer to this post,  the ATC Website Calendar or the ATCAnnouncements Yahoo! Group Calendar for Wic-Nic dates.

The following is information about an Earth Day Celebration being hosted by the Bards of the Koad and A Gathering Grove

Earth Day Celebration
April 18th, 2009

Where?

A Gathering Grove
2820 Oakes St., Ste.C
Everett, WA
(425) 512-8845

There will be ,Teachings from representatives of the United Tribes of all Nations, Music and More!

Opening Ceremonies start at 2:30pm.

The first teaching starts at 3:00pm with a musical introduction by Lorraine Bayes and members of the Sacred Fire Choir.

Workshops start at 3:00pm

The Bards of the Koad perform from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.

For more information, check out our website at www.bardsofthekoad.com

We will be accepting donations of food stuffs, clothing, blankets, travel sized toiletries, baby food/supplies, and/or money. There will be jars labeled with local charities such at the Ballad Food Bank, Hopelink, Northwest Harvest, etc… There will be related boxes for physical donations.

We will look forward to seeing you there!

Tami states, “Bring any clean, undamaged items to the festival and drop them off at the Cauldron table in the Merchant hall. Please be sure to have each item priced; and no item can be priced over $20.00.

Some things to consider when donating:
• Burnt or used candles will not be accepted, nor will anything that is stained, damaged, or torn
• Items MUST have a pagan theme. Yes, bath salts and candles are considered Pagan items. So is body butter…as long as it’s not used!

Items must be dropped off at the Cauldron table no later than 5pm on Thursday April 9th. Donations will be accepted on Friday April 10 until noon. If you are unable to attend the festival, but would still like to donate something, please email Tami Cushway at  tethyra at yahoo.com or by phone at (425) 971-3270.

The Snack Kitchen is also bringing in some new products this year. Missy, our Snack Kitchen Lead will have energy drinks, vitamin water, fruit, some great fruit-n-nut trail mix, and muddy buddies! The usual offerings of cookies, popcorn, candy, soda and espresso will be available. You can also pick up a commemorative “Journey to Eleusis” bumper sticker here!

So for those of you who stop at the store to pick up some of these items on your way to the festival, we’d love to have you spend your money in the Snack Kitchen! All proceeds go to benefit the Building Fund, so let your munchies be your guide!

Finally, we have just a few beds left. Although registration officially closes April 1st, if you call the church, we’ll see what we can do! Please do not send any emails at this point. We’re 8 days away from the festival, and may not see your request in time. Call the church at 360-793-1945!

See you at SMF!

      We have been told that the Washington Department of Parks and Recreation has to cut its budget 10% right now (don’t we all?) and has placed Fort Flagler on its planned closure list. Fort Flagler might not be there for us to use once again in 2010. 

     If the Retreat Center is shut down and “mothballed” it will deteriorate rapidly. The buildings date back to the early 1940s, and some to the 1900s, and are constantly in need of attention. In the last few years, the state has spent a great deal on modernization. New roofs, all new windows throughout the barracks, and fire sprinkler systems in all the major buildings must have cost a great deal of money. 

     A part of that money came from all of you who attended SMF. Each year the rental fees, which remain with the park, have gone up, and now the cost is almost four times what it was when we began. Every spring, we give the Parks Department a very nice Easter egg in the form of a very large check for rent.

• The Hon. Christine Gregoire, Office of the Governor, State of Washington, PO Box 40002, Olympia, WA  98504-0002.
• Mr. Rex Derr, Director, Wa. Parks & Recreation Comm., PO Box 42650, Olympia, WA 98504-2650.   
• Ms. Judy Johnson, Dep. Dir. & COO, Wa. Parks & Recreation Comm., PO Box 42650, Olympia, WA 98504-2650.
• Mr. Eliot Scull, Chair, Wa. Parks & Recreation Comm., PO Box 42650, Olympia, WA 98504-2650.
• Mr. Eric Watilo, Asst. Dir. for P&S, NW Region, Wa. Parks & Recreation Comm., 220 N. Walnut St., Burlington, WA 98233.

       To find the name of your local legislative representative, go to the roster at http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature

Be well,

Pete Pathfinder Davis

In addition, due to the economic situation, the ATC has extended the final fee increase to March 27th.  That means that the current registration fee of $190 will remain in effect until March 27th.

If you are thinking of coming in an RV, there is space at the Wagon Wheel Campground.  Registration fees for those coming in RVs is $150.  Information on camping fees can be found at the following link.

http://www.parks.wa.gov/parkpage.asp?selectedpark=Fort+Flagler&pageno=2

If you have any questions, please contact the church at 360-793-1945.  Thanks!

And each year pre-registration fills up for this event very quickly!  As of this post, the list to attend this rite is Full and the remaining registrants who are requesting attendance have been put into an overflow Waiting List.  This waiting list is ordered as first come, first served based on when your festival registration arrives to the Main Church.  Being on the Waiting List affords you a “Stand By” status for the rite, in case someone else should not be able to attend.  

In order to help you prepare for attending this special rite, separate emails are being sent to those who are on the Main Attendance list as a confirmation that a spot is being held for you.  If you do not receive a confirmation email for the AAoP rite, you are most likely on the Waiting List.  Confirmations will only be sent to those who have managed to secure their place early.  If there is any doubt whether you are confirmed a place, please call the Main Church at (360) 793-1945 during normal business hours Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m

Due to the nature of this rite, it has a very tight time schedule.  Participants need to have arrived On-Site at Fort Flagler AND Checked In with Registration by 8:30pm Thursday night in order to be able to make this event.  The gathering begins _promptly_ at 9:30pm at the Dining Hall.  At that time, attendance will be taken from the pre-registration list.  Should a pre-registered name not answer to the Roll Call, the Waiting List will then be called in the order the list was populated until all available spots are filled.

Some answers to frequently asked questions:

- When will I see a confirmation email?

The confirmations are going out ASAP. You should see them in your inbox very soon!

- I know I registered early, but I did not receive a separate AAoP confirmation. What happened?

Call the Main Church during normal business hours for clarification.

- Can’t more room be made for others? Why does this ritual always fill up so early?

Without going into ritual detail, the group is intentionally kept to a manageable size for the ritual presenters.

We thank you all for your enthusiasm and we wish we could honor all requests to attend this special event each year.  We ask for your understanding and patience while the group of attendees is determined before the rite begins.

See you at Spring Mysteries 2009!!

One of the great parts of the festivals is the Merchant Hall, where vendors of all types display and sell their wares—everything from incense to cloaks, cauldrons to drums, jewelry to books. It’s a great way to make money and network with the larger Pagan community.

Have a little cottage industry in your home? Fantastic! Bring your wares to the festival and build up your business. Meet some great people and make some contacts. You’ll be glad you did! We welcome all merchants—both large and small—so don’t hesitate. Call the ATC today at 360-793-1945 or email us at atcadmin @ aquatabch.org.

The recent snowfalls in Index have interrupted Internet access for several days now. At last measure, the snow level was up to 27″ on the church grounds. Pete has to regularly clear the satellite dish of new snowfall, but this has still not allowed them reliable internet access. The snow and ice on the surrounding trees just makes establishing a connection impossible right now.

They would like to let everyone know that they are both otherwise fine and that while Internet access is down, the best way to get hold of them is to call the main office. If you have sent an email to the church and they have not yet responded, please be patient while they get caught up. They will send a reply as soon as regular internet access of any kind is established.

And remember that office hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Calls outside these hours are routed to Voice Mail.

On a related note, E’bet has said she has many photos of the snowy scene up there and will post them as soon as she can get online. Stay tuned for more.

John Calderon
ATC Web & I.T. Admin

The ATC Full Moon Circle scheduled for tonight in Index has been
canceled due to hazardous road conditions. Everyone Please stay
safe and warm!

If you are inclined to do any personal Full Moon work tonight, I
would like to share the following excerpt from the Hermit’s Lantern
written by Rev. Paul Beyerl:

” This Full Moon has an excellent influence. It is a time to invoke
blessings for all manner of benefits and goodness into your
life. You are in the early stages of a Neptune transit lasting
several months. Although it typically brings some uncertainty and
even confusion about the direction of your life, it also opens you up
to new possibilities. This will most be felt in the areas of your
belief system, personal philosophy, and desire to learn and
grow. Mars Days the 16th-21st may feel challenging and something you
were hoping for may not turn out as you had hoped, but it is good to
have this over with before the Solstice.”

Many Thanks and Blessings to All -
Kathi De Anda
ATC Full Moon Ritual Coordinator

Keep watching the website and announcement lists for any further updates from Kathi, the Full Moon Coordinator and High Priestess and/or myself. But as of right now road conditions are not favorable for holding ritual this Saturday night.

John Calderon
ATC I.T. and Web Admin

My name is Brian Hatcher. This letter allows me to introduce myself, and to announce Spring Mysteries 2009 Auditions. Many of you know me. Some of you do not. I was your Priest of Hermes during this year’s SMF and Pan the year prior. I have been given the privilege to be your Ritual Director for the 24th annual Spring Mysteries Festival. We have a Brand New Script – which is looking rather awesome, I might say. I am looking forward to this year’s auditions, and to see a grand turn out. So, whether you’re a seasoned regular in cast, someone who has stepped away from cast for a year or more, or a newbie trying out for the first time, I am very excited to see you all in the full glory of your talent as Priests, Priestesses and Actors.

The auditions will be held at the Seattle Center, in the Center House, at Studio I – that’s the letter I, not the number 1. Auditions will be held from 1:00pm till 6:00pm on the 7th of December. Directions to the space can be accessed here: http://seattlecenter.com/transportation/directions.asp.   The theater studios can be found on the top floor of the Center House on the North side. Ask for directions from anyone, once you are on the Seattle Center campus.

Here’s what to expect, and what to bring. I am asking you to present a 3 minute or less monologue. This monologue should be something that resonates with you, both personally and spiritually (this can be
defined by you). It can be either a dramatic or comedic piece, classic or contemporary, known or unknown, written by Shakespeare himself or by you, a song, a poem, a children’s story, a writing on a bathroom wall. What ever it is, make it personal! If it is a song, all I ask is that you “present” it as a monologue and do not sing.  Spring Mysteries is not a musical. I am also requesting that everyone bring with them a photo of their face. This does not have to be a professional theatrical head-shot, just a simple printed photo will do. And, yes, this goes for everyone. Whether I’ve known you for years, you’re in my coven, my friend, my colleague, or my lover, the photos are to help me “place” you in the right context once the casting begins.

Remember, you are not auditioning for a specific role. Only once the Gods have shown through, will I be able to cast correctly. And, nothing is guaranteed. Even my husband – Hottie Scottie – is not guaranteed a role.

Lastly, I just have one simple statement for you all – BRING IT!!!!

Thank you so very much. I hope you all are as excited about the 2009 Spring Mysteries Festival as I am.

Blessed Be!

Brian (aka PanisBuck)