Lughnassad
July 28 - 30, 2023 Hershey, PA |
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This event celebrates Lugh of the Long spear with friendly competition, field games and more. Join us for a weekend of fun! For 2023 this event will be held at the Hershey Park Camping Resort. The Resort features a beautiful group camping area, two pools, and several recreational areas on site. We will be organizing team competitions, workshops, and fun both at the camping resort and at Hershey Park. |
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Stones Family
Gathering Sept 1 - 4, 2023
Buffalo Gap Retreat
Capon Bridge, WV |
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Stones Family Gathering - Moving and Raising Big Rocks!
We are changing locations, the same general area as years previous but this year will be at Buffalo Gap Retreat in Capon Bridge, WV which will have more room and swimming for us.
Trilithon!!!
DId you not get a chance to raise a Trilithon with us in 2019? Did you get to and you remember how amazing and awesome it was? Come raise another one with us this Labor Day. |
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Eclipse Magic Weekend
April 6 - 9, 2024 Grand Valley, PA
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Join Stone Circle Council for a magical weekend of watching the total Solar Eclipse. Geographical viewing areas are limited, so we will be traveling north towards Lake Erie. It will be *cold* with probable overnight lows in the 30s and daily highs likely not more than 55. Our venue, therefore, will be hotel-style!
The weekend will include outdoor viewing of almost 2 full minutes (1m52s) of totality. We will be including beverages, meals, and snacks for the weekend in registration!
The weekend will lead to ample opportunities to connect, relax, do magic, learn some things, and witness something that won't be back in the states for the next 20 years! That's the basics!
RSVP now so we can make sure we've got the right-sized venue!! Formal registration will open later this summer!
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Community Articles & Updates:
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Sunshine Funds use the community’s generosity to help pay for registration costs when they are a barrier to someone joining an event. Sadly, our community’s well of Sunshine Funds has run dry. Can you help us replenish it? You can make a one-time or a recurring donation here by selecting “Sunshine Funds,” and you can also make one-time contributions when you register for any SCC event!
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Lugh, Master of Skills
Similar to the Roman god Mercury, Lugh was known as a god of both skill and the distribution of talent. There are countless inscriptions and statues dedicated to Lugh, and Julius Caesar himself commented on this god's importance to the Celtic people. Although he was not a war god in the same sense as the Roman Mars, Lugh was considered a warrior because to the Celts, skill on the battlefield was a highly valued ability. In Ireland, which was never invaded by Roman troops, Lugh is called sam ildanach, meaning he was skilled in many arts simultaneously.Although not specifically a war god, Lugh was known as a skilled warrior. His weapons included a mighty magic spear, which was so bloodthirsty that it often tried to fight without its owner. According to Irish myth, in battle, the spear flashed fire and tore through the enemy ranks unchecked. In parts of Ireland, when a thunderstorm rolls in, the locals say that Lugh and Balor are sparring–thus giving Lugh one more role, as a god of storms.
The Book of Invasions tells us that Lugh came to be associated with grain in Celtic mythology after he held an harvest fair in honor of his foster mother, Tailtiu. This day became August 1, and that date ties in with the first grain harvest in agricultural societies in the Northern Hemisphere. In fact, in Irish Gaelic, the word for August is lunasa. Lugh is honored with corn, grains, bread, and other symbols of the harvest. This holiday was called Lughnasadh (pronounced Loo-NA-sah). Later, in Christian England the date was called Lammas, after the Saxon phrase hlaf maesse, or "loaf mass."
For many Pagans and Wiccans, Lugh is honored as the champion of artistry and skills. Many artisans, musicians, bards, and crafters invoke Lugh when they need assistance with creativity. Today Lugh is still honored at the time of harvest, not only as a god of grain but also as a god of late summer storms.
Even today, in Ireland many people celebrate Lughnasadh with dancing, song, and bonfires. The Catholic church also has set this date aside for a ritual blessing of farmers' fields.
Excerpts from: https://www.learnreligions.com/lugh-master-of-skills-2561970 |
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We are extremely excited to announce an SCC Community Discord server! We have consistently received feedback that there is desire to connect on a platform outside of FB, with many specific requests for Discord because it allows for easier informal chatting and channels organized by topics. We have created a Discord server with a variety of channels to start us off, set community rules and guidelines in line with our Code of Conduct, empowered a moderator team to help protect the space, and welcome you all into it! Looking forward to seeing you there! Come post a picture of your cat!
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Quick note: You will need to sign up for a Discord account if you do not already have one.
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Strategic Planning Committee SCC needs you! What will SCC look like in a year? Five years? Ten? Only you can decide that—so contact Liz at lharman@stonecirclecouncil.org to join the Strategic Planning Committee and bring your vision for our future to the community. Our first meeting will be in August. Thank you to everyone who has already let us know of your interest in helping. Its not too late to volunteer! Let Liz know by Lugh and she will make sure you get the meeting details. |
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New Swag in our Store!
Looking for something new to wear to your next SCC event, or to show off your SCC pride around town? We've got you covered with some past favorites and new designs in our SCC store! |
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Call for articles and updates for our next Newsletter Help support our community newsletter. If you have something you think would be helpful to share, an article, an upcoming event, updates or requests from one of our groups or clubs, we want to hear about it! Click on the link below to submit your ideas to be featured in an upcoming newsletter! |
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At our last officers meeting, we discussed what to do with any excess revenue from our events. Beginning with TriFire 2023, up to 20% of any excess revenue will go to the indigenous communities where the event occurred and up to 20% will be transferred to Sunshine Funds!
We have also created an incident report form. If you cannot speak to an officer, this is a method you can use to report incidents ranging from accidents to security concerns to code of conduct and community standards concerns. The link is on our "About" page or accessed directly here.
The Officers love hearing from you! Drop us a line on Facebook, Instagram, or email us personally:
Executive: Coriander Woodruff, John Nunemaker
Communications: Liz Harman
Financial: Chris "Tinder" McGrath
Projects: Jon "Argon" Noll Advising: Jessie Taylor, Rhiannon Linfeld
Yours in Service, Liz Harman, Communications Officer
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Where we gather, we are home. Where we go, we will raise Stones.
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THE STONE CIRCLE COUNCIL
