Memorial Day Approaches & Goddess Gathering Reborn is only 32 Days Away!

It’s hard to believe that Memorial Day Weekend at Raven-Wolf Nature Sanctuary will be happening next weekend, May 25 -28. It’s an opportunity for a long weekend that can accomplish both work and rest in preparation for the upcoming Goddess Gathering Reborn Festival.

The days continue to grow longer as we get closer to Summer Solstice and, while mowing, weeding, road repair and even painting continues, there’s also time for getting to know one another, exploring the Land, and just relaxing close to Nature.

For those who are interested in being part of what will be happening Memorial Day Weekend, please contact Mary T. Borden, Coordinator, for gate opening times and directions, if you need them. You can reach her at 740-241-9340 to either call or text. If you text, please put “Raven-Wolf” on it. You can also email her at vesta13.mb@gmail.com and please put “Raven-Wolf” in the subject line.

For those interested in attending Goddess Gathering Reborn this year, there’s still time to register by mail, if you’d like to get the paperwork out of the way before arriving at the gate for the festival. Registrations, by mail, must be postmarked no later than May 31, 2018. This is so we have time to send you your confirmation letter, maps, and any other paperwork necessary. A printable copy of the Festival Registration Form can be found on the web site.

You can still register at the gate for either the entire festival or as many days as you are able to attend. The cost is $60 for the entire festival or $20 per day for adults 18 years and older. Children under the age of 18 are always FREE!!!

VENDORS are always welcome! While you still have to pay the regular registration fee to attend Goddess Gathering, there are no additional registration fees for vendors and we DO NOT ask for a percentage of your sales!!! We may, however, be asking you to donate a sale item for an auction to raise money for Raven-Wolf Nature Sanctuary that will be held during the festival.

Although there will be many activities during the festival, Saturday night is the night of the Main Ritual followed by the Pot-Luck Feast. A bon-fire and drumming often follows the feast. So, if your time is limited, and you’re trying to decide when to come, be sure to attend on Saturday. It will be fun!!!

In the meantime, come join us at Raven-Wolf Nature Sanctuary for Memorial Day Weekend. Camping is free, if you’re willing to help with the maintenance and preparations. Come enjoy the Land and get to know those who work so hard to maintain it.

Love & Blessed Be,
Elder Maya

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is usually thought of a day, or weekend, when we remember and honor those who have served in the military of our country. We take a moment to pay homage to those who fought and died so that the rest of us can remain free. This is as it should be.

As we take those moments to honor our members of the military, I would like to take a moment to honor another group of people. Raven-Wolf Nature Sanctuary has been around for 25 years now. During the course of that time, we have seen many people come and go. The ones that we miss the most are the ones who came, gave and who have now crossed the Bridge of Light. To these fine souls, I have come this day to give recognition and pay tribute.

The first time I had the pleasure of meeting Lew Morris was when he and his wife, Kathy, drove onto the Sanctuary Land at the time of our first Gathering there. They were driving a truck with 55-gallon barrels of water on it because they had heard we had no water on site yet and they wanted to help. That act of generosity allowed people to have water to wash and cook that otherwise might not have been available.
Lew was a gentle soul who did whatever he was able and always had good conversation for those who sat to talk with him. In 2005, he was the first of our losses and is missed.
A number of years would roll by before we would suffer another loss. Chuck Pugh, known to many as “Lord Pan” or just “Pan” had a very creative and inventive mind. That ability helped immensely in the beginning stages of building on the Land when money was scarce. Taking downed wood, lashing it together to make a framework, he then hung tarps over the frame and created the first outhouses for use on the Land. Almost any building standing on the Land he had a hand in building.
Sadly, we lost Pan in August, 2010. The restoration of the Land will not quite be the same without him. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War, having served in the Navy at the time.
Only a little over two years would pass before we would lose another of the Land’s builders. In September, 2012, Paul Emler, known to almost everyone as “Hawk” took that journey across the Bridge of Light. His campsite remains empty and the Land seems so empty without his presence. With Pan, Hawk use his own brand of creativity to create benches, torch towers for the Lower Ritual Circle, a playground for the children and so much more. We honor that creativity and will miss that smile.
Mere months would go by when we would receive word that another of the original people was lost to us. John Lindberg, a veteran of the Vietnam War and Wiccan, returned to Summerland in December, 2012. From the beginning, John helped however he was able and always had very good ideas to share. We are saddened by the loss of this spiritual Brother.
Debra Lindberg, known to everyone as Lady Cerridwen or “Lady C”, just recently left us. In October, 2014, she slipped away from us. Without the help of this woman and her mother, the Land may not have continued to exist. When our land contract was almost up and we needed funding to continue, Cerridwen convinced her mother to loan us the money so the Land would be ours. She continued to aid those on the Land with wise counsel for years. We owe her so much. She will sorely be missed as we restore the Land to the sacred space it was meant to be.

We are all growing older and our lives are so impermanent. Recognition needs to be given, not just on one particular day of the year, but often, to those who contribute to our lives in their own special way.

This holds true for the many who are still with us in this physical reality, but have chosen not to return, for whatever reason. There have been so many who have contribute to the establishment and building of this sacred space we call Raven-Wolf Nature Sanctuary. Although there are too many names to mention here, we know who you are and we remember and honor your contribution to this very special place. Perhaps some day, you will decide to return so that we can tell you how much we appreciate what you have done to create what we have. In the meantime, “Thank you.”

As we continue to build, restore, and revive the Land, it is good to remember the foundation upon which this was built and all who contributed to it. Blessed Memorial Day.

Love & Blessed Be

Elder Maya