Sassafras Grove Public "High-Day" Rites, to Date:
All the rites in the history of Sassafras Grove ADF shown above have been open to the public. Average attendance at the rites varies due to the popularity of the holiday and location. Small turnouts average between 9 to 15 people, average turnouts seem to be between 15 to 30 people and large turnouts like those for our Brigantia and Beltane rites run between 40 to 70 people. Many of our early rites where held in Frick Park with the Samhain through Oestre rites each year held at peoples homes. Soon more than half of the rites were being done at a local Unitarian Universalist Church as guests of Three Rivers CUUPs, a Pagan UU organization. The Beltane rite has more often than not been at the ASH Community Beltane Picnic in South Park, an event which originally brought together several of the founders of the Grove. After a falling out with the UU in the late 90’s, more of our indoor rites such as our Yule and Brigantia’s came to be held at the Friends’ Meeting House in the Shadyside/Oakland area of Pittsburgh. For several years we then were blessed by two very special private hosts. Our Oestre Equinox and Autumnal Equinox rites and some others found a home at a friend’s magnificent old Mansion in Wilkinsburg. This awesome Victorian mansion with its 20 foot ceilings, marble floors, oak and mahogany woodwork, fabulous artwork and a dining room that looks fit for royalty certainly provided a welcome break from our old "UGR" (Urban Guerilla-Religion) fare. Our other special host, Mark, welcomed us several times a year to conduct our rites in his secluded woodland Nemeton, a holy place setup in, of all things, a grove of Sassafras trees! The processional way into the fire-circle winds through an amazing collection of exotic native wildflowers and wild herbs he has collected from all over the Tri-State Area. All this and just 10 minutes from Monroeville Mall! Though at times it seems that "The Wheel It giveth and the Wheel It taketh-away", we have nonetheless been very blessed in our endeavors though the years. We invite you to come along to walk the ways of Druidry and open community celebration with us as we press onward into this new millennium. Blessed is the Great Way of Things! -Earrach of Pittsburgh Founder, Sassafras Grove ADF, Pittsburgh PA |
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