Samhain Feast in Oakland, November 2

One of the most riveting moments of Hexenfest this past March was the dance performed by Morpheus Ravenna who was one of the three people featured in the documentary, American Mystic. Look, I’m a Capricorn with three planets conjunct and a fourth off to the side in that sign: it generally takes a sledgehammer to get a clue through my psychic shields. I had no idea prior to her taking the stage that Morpheus was a priestess of the Morrigan, and yet it was apparent even to me from the start of her dancing that it was exactly She who was being brought into the club that night.

Now, I’m from a safety-minded reaction to Feri Trad, and so my immediate reaction was, “Oh, shit!” But then I realized that there were probably a couple of dozen initiates in that room including several who work with the Morrigan on a regular basis, and so I relaxed, gobbled up the dance, focused an intent to direct the energy Morpheus was raising against conservative sexual hypocrisy in the US, and sent the energy when the dance reached its climax.

All which is to say that she’s organizing a Feast of the Mighty for November 2 with a follow-up ceremony the next day at Lake Merritt, and if you truly want to be brought into the deep, dark energy of the season, then I can imagine no better way than by joining us there. Here are the details from her press release:

FEAST OF THE MIGHTY

EAT! DRINK! BE EPIC! Get your tickets for the FEAST OF THE MIGHTY!

ADVANCE TICKETS REQUIRED (Buy before Friday, Oct. 26th): http://feastofthemighty.brownpapertickets.com/

Celebrate Samhain with a DELICIOUS 3-COURSE DINNER made from the FRESHEST LOCAL INGREDIENTS, MICROBREWED MEAD & ALE, ritual, BARDIC STORYTELLING, drama, and an TRADITIONAL CELTIC BOASTING CONTEST. Monies raised go to helping the Coru Cathubodua, a Morrigan-focused priesthood, get its non-profit status.

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW! SEATING IS LIMITED!

WHEN: Fri., November 2, 2012
* Doors open at 7 pm; Feast/Ritual begins at 8 pm

WHERE: Humanist Hall, 390 27th Street, Oakland, CA

**RITUAL ONLY – ADVANCE PURCHASE OR AT THE DOOR**
Adults, No Feast – $18 advance; $20 @ door (Includes 1 glass of mead)
Under 18, No Feast – FREE (Must have I.D)

**3-COURSE FEAST TICKETS – ADVANCE PURCHASE ONLY**
Adults (12 and up) with feast – $39 (includes 1 glass of mead)
Children (under 12) with feast – $20

TICKETS: http://feastofthemighty.brownpapertickets.com/
UPDATES & INFO: https://www.facebook.com/events/156515591139520/

FULL MENU DETAILS:

Appetizer: Oat cakes with fresh apples and honey
First Course: Blackberry and sweet pea salad; medieval leeks and mushrooms
Main Course: Celtic pork and apple stew with hazelnuts and mushrooms (and meat-free version for vegetarians); Iron Age creamy peas; fresh barley bread
Dessert: Seasonal fruit and berries with cream, honey, hazelnuts and rose petals

All tickets include a complimentary glass of mead or cider. Additional mead, cider, ale, and non-alcoholic cider will be available for purchase.
NOTE: Menu is subject to change based on ingredient availability. Check Facebook event page for menu updates.

RITUAL DETAILS:
The Samhain ritual will be enacted in three parts: the first dedicated to the Ancestors, the second to the Gods and the Fey, and the third dedicated to the Descendents, those who will come after us. We will open the Otherworld gateway and invite the Mighty Ones to join us in feast and celebration as we enact the ancient stories of their heroic deeds: Brave warriors who ventured out to meet the host of the Sidhe on the haunted eve of Samhain. The Morrigan’s gift of prophecy and blessing for the mighty Dagda, on the eve of Samhain, when the Tuatha De Danaan prepared to fight for the sovereignty of Ireland. And the untold story of our own generation’s heroes, and those to come after us.

An altar will be set up where you are welcome to place pictures and mementos of your own Ancestors and beloved Dead, and places will be set at the tables where we may feed them.

SOVEREIGNTY RITE AT LAKE MERRITT
Saturday, November 3, 11 am
Meet at the gazebo inside Lakeside Park (just past Children’s Fairyland), Bellevue Ave off Grand Ave, Oakland, CA

During the course of the evening Samhain feast and ritual, a special sword will be charged with a blessing for Sovereignty, by the power of the Ancestors, Gods and Mighty ones, and our own prayers and blessings of all participating. Those who wish can rejoin us the following morning on the shore of Lake Merrit, to dedicate this sword of Sovereignty, and cast it into the lake as a sacrificial offering for the renewal of sovereignty for our land and people, following the ancient tradition of Celtic peoples who deposited sacrificial offerings of armor, weapons and jewelry into lakes and sacred wells throughout Europe.

About the Coru Cathubodua:
We are a priesthood dedicated to the Morrigan. For more information or to contact us, please visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CoruCathubodua