While we don't normally do this, we're asking, this time, for a head count. If you are absolutely planning on coming to Yule, and you are not in the choir or one of the mummers, please email Raven (cauldronfarm@hotmail.com). Tell him that you are coming and in what vehicle. We'd like to have a rough idea of how many people to cook for and shovel out parking spaces for.

If you don't RSVP, you are still welcome to come, but we would really appreciate it if you call (978-928-4198) or email. Even an hour beforehand is helpful.

(And by the way, we have tons of wine and cider. It is okay to bring more, but we probably have enough already.)

-- Joshua

This is a survey I made to give the Church Council a better understanding of the folks who attend Asphodel events or are interested in attending them. You can pass this link around but don't go forwarding it to loads of random folks who have no intention of ever being involved in Asphodel because I only can see the first 100 responses with a free account.

Take the Asphodel Survey

You may find that only one person can answer per computer - using a different web browser will usually get around that.

-- Joshua

There are two primary yahoo email groups associated with Asphodel: "OurKingdom" and "Asphodel Events". OurKingdom is a closed list - Asphodel members only - and is a discussion list. "Asphodel Events" is open to the public and just for Asphodel staff to post event announcements.

If you are an Asphodel member and sign up for OurKingdom, also sign up for Asphodel Events because we don't generally announce events on the OurKingdom list. Ruth is the one who approves OurKingdom memberships, so remind her who you are and when you joined when you sign up for it.

If you have not formally asked Raven or Bella at an event to be a member of Asphodel, then you aren't a member, no matter how many times you've come to events. Church membership is granted to anyone who has attended three official events, is over 18 or over 14 with parental permission, and expresses a sincere and informed desire to join.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ourkingdom/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/asphodelevents/

-- Joshua

I've finally put the College of Brigantia class records into a manageable computer system, and I would like to ask anyone who is working towards getting a certification or degree to email me with a list of the classes they've taken so I can cross-check them with my records. You can see a list of classes here:

http://www.cauldronfarm.com/brigantia/degree.html

(There are a few electives that aren't listed there, but that is most of the classes.)

If you know what date you took a class, even "Summer 2005" or "Healer's Weekend 2006", that is very helpful.


I'll be putting together an official enrollment list for the degree/certification programs, so even if you've only taken a class or two, if you want to enroll in a course of study, let me know.

We do not have teachers available for all classes, and the teachers we have are not always able to offer classes at times convenient for all students. We apologize for this. However, if there are classes you are particularly interested in taking, or a certification you have your heart set on, include that in your email, along with the times when you are most likely to be able to attend classes (weekends, Monday nights, directly after/before holidays, etc).

Thank you for your time,

-- Joshua Tenpenny
Clerk of the Church
First Kingdom Church of Asphodel

The Pagan Kingdom of Asphodel Presents:

Healer's Weekend - this coming Saturday and Sunday, June 30 - July 1

and Learning the Runes class, Friday night 6-10:30, June 29.

Both at Cauldron Farm, 12 Simond Hill Rd. Hubbardston MA

Directions at: http://www.cauldronfarm.com/directions.html

---

Healer's Weekend is being led by Nahi Anpuhemet (anpuhemet@gmail.com) this coming weekend. It is free for members of Asphodel, $15 for non-members. You may come for each day separately or camp over Friday and/or Saturday nights. If you decide to camp, please bring your own tent, bedding, food, flashlight, and bug repellent. Information about camping at Cauldron Farm is at the link above. Please bring your meals, as there may not be time for folks to drive in to town for food aside from the traditional morning grocery/coffee run. Saturday night is POTLUCK.

All classes are optional. One of the classes on Sunday will be training and attunement for RunValdr, formerly known as Runic Reiki. (An ordinary Reiki attunement will not interfere with a Runvaldr attunement, as they are entirely different systems.) In order to take this, you must know Norse and/or Anglo-Saxon runes. If you already know the Runes, the prerequisite is the Saturday morning Rune Review. If you don't know the Runes and wish to get a crash course, this is available Friday night 6-10:30, for an additional $5 for non-members. If you want to make a donation to the rune class, a ream of printer paper to help offset printing costs would be a good thing.) For questions about the rune class, contact Raven at cauldronfarm@hotmail.com

If you aren't interested in RunValdr, a workshop on growing and using medicinal herb gardens is provided as an alternative.

There will be some classes we will do on the ground, so please bring something like a blanket or towel to sit and lay on if you so desire. Bring a chair to be safe as well. We will be learning some hydrotherapy techniques, so bring some water for supplies and clothes that are OK to get wet in. And since Healer's Show and Tell was so popular last year, it's making a come back so please bring your healing tools to share. For Run Valdr, your runes are not required but they can't hurt. You may, however, wish to bring them for Rune Review. You may want to bring a notebook to take notes. Saturday evening will be a drum circle, so bring your drums or any rhythm instruments you like.

Schedule of events:

Saturday 6/30
9:30am Registration opens (for those who have not registered the night before)
10:30 Opening ritual
11:00 Rune Review with Raven Kaldera - bring your own runes and notes
12:30pm Lunch - topic of discussion will be a review of Healer's Ethics with Nahi Anpuhemet
2:00 Basic Energy Healing and Flow - 101 Review and 201 intro with Nahi
4:00 Eastern Health and Energy Work with Granuaile Is Le Brigid - please bring a towel or blanket to lay or sit on as we will be doing stretches on the ground
5:30 Intro to Feng Shui with Christine included in this lesson
6:30 Potluck Diner - bring a dish for sharing
8:00 Guided healing meditation with Nahi
9:30 Drum circle - bring you own drum, tambourine, zills, bonky sticks, whatever!

Sunday 7/1
10:00am Imram: Journeys of Spiritual Healing from Celtic Folklore with Granuaile
11:30 Basics of Grounding and Centering with Nahi
12:30pm Lunch - topic of lunch discussion - Healer's show and tell - bring your healing tools, crystals, stories, etc.
1:30 Run Valdr with Nahi and Granuaile
OR Growing and Using a Medicinal Herb Garden with Raven
3:30 Anatomy, Physiology, and Western Healing Therapies: How form follows function and like benefits like - with Granuaile - please wear clothes you don't mind getting wet in, we will be doing hydro-therapy as in you may get wet, also please bring a jug or two of water with you for supplies if possible
5:30 Closing ritual

If there are any questions or comments, contact Nahi Anpuhemet at anpuhemet@gmail.com. Thank you to everyone who is making this weekend possible. I am really looking forward to it and hope to see a lot of people there!

Em hotep,

Nahimana Anpuhemet
Head of the Order of the Caduceus
Dean of the College of Brigantia
Pagan Kingdom of Asphodel

I am quite proud to announce that Asphodel's own Fish Fishman has won an NBC-sponsored talent contest on the virtual community Second Life with a magic act performed by his avatar, Tuna Oddfellow. For those of you who don't know, Fish is one of our nobels in Asphodel and a stage magician in real life.

Tuna will appear on NBC's "America's Got Talent" at 8pm today, so please tune in.

-- Joshua

We'd pulled this idea out before, but I want do do another check - who is interested in coming to occasional "traditional" Asphodelian folk dance groups? (This is a random assortment of folk dances that strike our fancy, mostly circle dances that don't require boy-girl pairs.) We had a lot of fun with it a few times at choir, but Tannin's shop is a terribly dangerous place to do any kind of dancing.

Any suggestions about where and when to do it? If we made it nominally open to the public, I might be able to wrangle a space at the Princeton community rec center.

-- Joshua

Another successful holiday! Wonderful job, Nahi & crew.

I especially want to thank my drummers. You all did a
great job. It came together really nicely.

I want to encourage other potentially interested
individuals to join in with the drumming next time -
it isn't so scary. If there is interest I may hold an
occasional drum practice. We've got extra drums and
whatnot for folks to borrow. No experience needed.

And for my holiday recipe....

Garlic Pastry

Mince or press 3 cloves of garlic into a good quantity of olive oil. Lay a sheet of phyllo on a deep cookie sheet, brush with oil/garlic. Cover with another sheet of phyllo and continue for 20-30 sheets. Bake in a moderate oven until golden brown.


-- Joshua

We're all back from FSG. It was a great festival and it is great to be home. I'll post pictures of my tattoo eventually.

Just a reminder - Asphodel's Summer Solstice ritual will be held this Saturday (not Sunday). Arrive by 11:30a, promptly. Nahi will be leading the ritual, which will be drawn from Egyptian traditions. We will be raising a stone - named Louise, I think, so bring sturdy shoes, work gloves, etc. if you will be rock hauling. I'll be drumming rather than rock hauling, and anyone who would like to assist the rock moving in that way should bring their drum! Pass the word along.

-- Joshua