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1 Foghamhnar 42 – Lughnasadh / Lammas 2004 – Vol.2 No. 4
HELP SAVE OUR SACRED REDWOOD – WRITE YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TODAY This is our first salvo in our campaign to protect the Coast Redwood. “The Coast Redwood (Sequoia Sempervirons) is not only a California treasure but a “How bad does it have to get before a species is considered “endangered”? “What do we know of the effect on global climate change the destruction of the other 96% of this species has had? “What do we know of the effect on global climate change the destruction of the remaining 4% of this species will have? “I urge you to draft legislation that would ban the harvest of the Coast Redwood, and the sale and export of Redwood products (for least for 100 years). This will insure not only that the present old growth Redwoods will be protected, but that younger Redwoods will have the opportunity to become old growth. This is for our children, our Thank you for listening. Ellis Arseneau” You may use my letter, or write one of your own. Naturally, you must use REAL names and addresses, but email is just fine for this purpose. Please “b.c.c.” me any email you send your representatives. Also, Hard copies may be sent to: OMS; PO Box 8004; Eureka CA 95502-8004 I thank you, the Order thanks you, and our sacred Redwoods thank you. May you never thirst. Ellis “Sybok” Arseneau /|\
DRUIDCRAFT 101: THE SELF-STUDY ON CD-ROM V8.4 We’ve upgraded the D101 CDROM and included the new Lesson 4-A Also, we’ve been giving it away to new members who join without going through (or signing up for) the online D101 class — that way they don’t have to wait for a new session to begin — they can just jump right in to the self study.
AVALON RISEN Last May we launched our online store, featuring Order-related items, including “Mithril Star” pendants, ritual cloaks, and T-shirts. We’ve become wholesalers with AzureGreen, and can get anything in their catalog ( www.azuregreen.com ) for you at 15% off their regular retail We’ve also started a new books section, featuring the “official” OMS Bibliography (a work in progress) using both AzureGreen and Amazon.Com as a resource. Our online store is at http://www.mithrilstar.org/avalon and features a shopping cart powered by Pay Pal, so you can do all your shopping easily and conveniently. Please keep checking that page, as we will be adding new inventory to the store every week! We already have many beautiful ritual items in there! Also, if there are any items that you see on the AzureGreen website that you think we should carry in our store, please write us and we will consider it.
THE CASE FOR PAGAN PACIFISM Historically, Pagans have been warriors. Pagans have not been opposed to warfare in general, whether it was for the purpose of defending their territory against Modern warfare is different. Modern warfare involves conflict not only between combatants but also between man and nature. Attacks on the environment have become more savage as technology has developed. Environmental destruction has become an inevitable result of modern warfare and military tactics. The nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons that have emerged during the late twentieth century present threats to life itself; but short Modern Pagans, or “Neo-Pagans” as we are sometimes called, are drawn to this We must therefore, in the defense of the Earth Mother, renounce modern warfare, and militarism, altogether. Every weapon that is fired today pollutes the Earth, and the bigger and more impersonal the weapon, themore the negative impact on the environment. We must become pacifists, and like other religious pacifists, we must not allow ourselves to be drafted into military service. Although there are certainly opportunities in the military to effect the environment in positive ways, in the event Note: Opinions expressed by the Clerk do not necessarily reflect the views
LUGHNASADH SESSION OF DRUIDCRAFT 101 We are now accepting enrollments for the next session of Druidcraft 101. Use this link to enroll: http://mithrilstar.org/d101enroll.htm If you are a member of the Order, the money commitment does not apply to you. The “doors’ will open on Thursday, August 12th. The first lesson will This session we are adding a new lesson: Lesson 4-A: Nature is. This lesson will give an overview of our first two tenets and an introduction to the Gaian Hypothesis.
STATS As of today we have 132 members, of which: So far During YR 42: So Far During YR 42, the Order has experienced a net Membership gain of 5 Total Groves: 2
4 NEW MEMBERS FROM OESTRE DRUIDCRAFT 101 SESSION The Oestre session of Druidcraft 101 has just concluded. Out of 70 that began the class, 12 have survived, 4 have joined the Order, and 2 have indicated they will soon. Max and Hunter have done a wonderful job with this class. This was the last “share ware” session. We’ve come up with a sliding scale (see http://www.mithrilstar.org/suggested.htm) for donating to the Order, and with the Lughnasadh session we’ve made the donation a mandatory thing. The next online Druidcraft 101 class begins Wednesday, August 18th, 2004. To enroll, go to http://mithrilstar.org/d101enroll.htm
3rd ONLINE ORDINATIONS COMING UP BY SAMHAIN Our next online ordinations will be held in the mithrilstar chat room sometime before Samhain. There are (as of this writing) 20 Druids eligible for the First If you are in a hurry, or not able to make an online ordination, and don’t want to wait for the online date, you may make a private appointment with Ceridwen or Sybok for a phone or chat room ordination – or you can contact one of the three new Third Order Druids, as they are empowered to perform the rites for First and Second orders. Write the clerk of the Mother Grove for a list of 3rd’s.
LUGHNASADH This Holiday honours the Sun God, Lugh, who has many names and titles: Lleu/Lugh/Lugus, Lugh of the Long Arm, Lleu Llaw Gyffes, Warrior God of Justice, The name Lugh means “light”. He is the Child of the Sun. Lugh is also the God of grain harvests, of crafting, metallurgy, grains & breads, looms, and fire. Stories tell that He had taken on human form to worship among the Druids. Lugh is known as a defender of the people, especially those who may be threatened by the forces of Nature. Lugh’s Spear is the flash of Light which pierces the Darkness. He is Energy. A Sun God and God of the Sky and of Lightening, as well as of Death and Rebirth. He is Mage, Alchemist and Sorcerer. Lugh is seen as a God of Triplicity; as passionate Youth, wise King and Sage Elder. He embodies the Male dualities of Fire and Air. He is the Sacrificed God and is Protector and Defender. Lugh teaches us not to fight battles out of anger, but to fight for causes
ASTROLOGY FOR PAGANS Ceridwen currently has one Intermediate and three Advanced sessions in progress. SOMETHING NEW! If you wish to take advantage of this new offer, or need more information about it, send an email to: You will then be contacted immediately and a schedule will be set up that will conform to your own personal needs – NO WAITING! Or… To enroll for the next group class, send an email to: You will then be put on a pending list until she is ready to do another beginning cycle – at a time yet to be determined. If you are interested in a private consultation about your Astrological
ALMANAC Today is Lughnasadh / Lammas, or August 1, 2004 CE. It is the 1st day of the Season of Foghamhnar, as well as the 1st day of the Month of MÌ na Lÿnasa. It is also Sunday, in the common tongue, or Dydd Sul in Welsh. It is the Druidic day of the Birch. FULL MOONS occur on 29 Foghamhnar, 59 Foghamhnar, and 88 Foghamhnar. NEW MOONS occur on 15 Foghamhnar, 45 Foghamhnar and 74 Foghamhnar. A Solar Eclipse occurs on 74 Foghamhnar. A Lunar Eclipse occurs on 88 Foghamhnar. The Sun enters Virgo on 22 Foghamhnar. The birthday of our Arch-Druid, Ceridwen Seren-Ddaear, occurs on 23 Foghamhnar. Me·n Fûmhair (September) begins on 32 Foghamhnar (a Wednesday – Dydd Mercher – Day of the Hazel). The Order of the Mithril Star formally schismed from the Reformed Druids of North America on 35 Foghamhnar YR 41 (September 4 2003). Mabon, or the Autumnal Equinox occurs on 53 Foghamhnar. The Sun enters Libra on 53 Foghamhnar. Deireadh Fûhmhair (October) begins on 62 Foghamhnar (a Friday – Dydd Gwener — Day of the Apple). The Sun enters Scorpio on 83 Foghamhnar. The New Druid Year (YR 43) begins at Sundown, 92 Foghamhnar
The Mother Grove wishes all of you a most blessed Lughnasadh, May you never thirst! Arch Druid Ceridwen Seren-Ddaear,
NEXT ISSUE WILL BE PUBLISHED ON WANT TO JOIN THE ORDER? http://www.mithrilstar.org/join.htm WANT TO DONATE TO THE ORDER? http://www.mithrilstar.org/donate.htm
The Druids Egg — 1 Foghamhnar YR 42 — Vol. 2 No. 4 All pictures are believed to be public domain, gathered from around the
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invaders,
spirituality by the recognition that the Earth itself is a living, breathing, entity. We Pagans are therefore the caretakers of the planet; Priests and Priestesses of the Earth Mother, Gaia. In most aspects of our lives, Her well being is taken into consideration first and foremost. Aditionally, we are
Travellers 
