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Reclaiming Bay Area groups celebrate the Wheel of the Year, a cycle of eight seasonal sabbats.
This page of ritual listings is for the Northern California Bay Area. For something closer to home, check out "Find Us Worldwide".
All rituals are offered by groups creating magic in the Reclaiming Tradition and in accordance with the Principles of Unity. Sponsoring groups are always looking for volunteers; be sure to let the contact person know if you're interested in helping out!
All Reclaiming rituals are "clean and sober" - ie, please use no recreational drugs or alcohol at or prior to the events.
Rituals are listed according to closest upcoming date.
This information is tentative - please check back the week of the ritual for final details.
New to our rituals? You can email sfrpc@yahoogroups.com for information, questions, and a welcome to Bay Area Reclaiming.
Join the Bay Area Reclaiming elist (BARD) and get email notices of rituals and other Reclaiming events - contact sfrpc@yahoogroups.com.
Saturday 27 April
Ritual begins with wreath-making and music at 1:00pm. Magic Meadow, Golden Gate Park.
Ritual includes participatory Maypole dance and Beltane cauldron jumping. This ritual is kid-friendly and inclusive. Wheelchair access via path from parking lot. Field can be swampy after heavy rain.
Please bring flowers and vines for wreaths, musical instruments, and plentiful food and/or non-alcohol drinks to share. (More flowers and vines are always needed!)
Transit: BART to Civic Center, transfer to the scenic Muni N-Judah train. Take train to Judah and 40th, walk two blocks to park, enter at 41st Ave. Walk two short blocks into park, enter parking lot on right, look for Pagans and/or signs. We're usually straight ahead in the big meadow. (Drivers - Mapquest 41st and Lincoln. Enter at 41st and Lincoln, park in lot.)
Contact sfrpc@yahoogroups.com
Sunday 28 April
Gather at 3:30pm. Ritual begins 4:00pm at Subud Hall, 234 Hutchins Avenue, Sebastopol. All ages welcome to our clean and sober event.
Suggested Donation $21 - $7. Funds to help support North Bay Reclaiming events.
For more information:
Visit www.northbayreclaiming.com
Or email northbayreclaiming@yahoo.com,
Or call 707-484-7786.
Sunday 28 April
Come and join the RiteHere Beltane in Tilden Park, with a Maypole, cauldron-jumping, many flowers (which we all will bring), a picnic feast, and merriment galore. The intent of our ritual is, as always, to celebrate love in all its forms. Children welcome, dogs on leash (park rule) too.
Bring: flowers and vines for head wreaths and to decorate the Maypole; food/drink (no alcohol) to share and your own eating/drinking implements; a blanket or such to sit on (ground could be damp); drums, musical instruments, your singing voice. (No need for ribbons as we have handmade all-cotton streamers all ready to go.)
Where: high end of the Meadow picnic area, parking lot on Lone Oak Road, which is a turn-off from Central Park drive. If you come from the south, watch for the turn-off after you pass the turnoffs for Lake Anza and the Carousel and go around a couple curves. If you come from the north (entering the park onto Canon Drive), turn right on Central Park Dr (away from Little Farm) and see left turn into parking lot at Lone Oak Rd.
When: Gather about noon to make wreaths and decorate the pole, ritual starts about 1:00 pm, followed by picnic and we are usually done before 4pm. If you can come early (about 11-11:30) to help set up Maypole base that would be great - upper body strength and ability to pound required.
If you want to help with this ritual and/or for more info, contact Vibra at vibraw@aol.com
Thursday 20 June, Ocean Beach near Taraval street (aka "Ye Olde Site"). Gather 7:30pm, ritual 8pm.
Join us for Summer Solstice at Ocean Beach as we gather at the end of the longest day of the year. We celebrate the light and honor the turning of the Wheel of the Year back toward the darkness.
This is a family and youth-friendly event. Please no alcohol or drugs before or during the ritual. Our beach rituals include optional nudity.
Please bring clean firewood (firewood is always welcome - no pallets, nails, construction material, plywood, painted or treated wood)
Bring warm clothes, food or non-alcoholic drink to share, and a towel if you want to plunge. A pocket flashlight, trash bag, and extra socks can also be handy!
Transit: You'll want to take the scenic L-Taraval Muni train from downtown BART stations. Ride to 46th Avenue, walk two blocks to the beach, and look for group of beach-loving pagans - usually to the left, depending on beach conditions.
Maps: search for "Taraval and Great Highway, San Francisco 94116". Walk onto beach, and look for group of beach-loving pagans - usually to the left, depending on beach conditions.
Click here for an update on the bonfire situation.
For more information, email sfrpc@yahoogroups.com.
Friday 21 June
Location TBA
Suggested Donation $21 - $7, no one turned away due to lack of funds. Proceeds support North Bay Reclaiming Events.
For more information, call 707-484-7786 or email northbayreclaiming@yahoo.com
Or visit www.northbayreclaiming.com
Lammas, Saturday 27 July, Magic Meadow, Golden Gate Park. Ritual at 1pm.
Join us as the Wheel of the Year turns to the time of hope and fear, the time of waiting. Our seeds are ripening, but not yet harvested.
This ritual includes a feast and sharing of "first harvests." Please bring inspiring food (finger-food works best) or non-alcohol drinks to share.
If you can bring a folding table, tablecloth, and/or serving bowls, it will help a lot!
Flowers, drums, and other musical instruments are also welcome. This ritual is kid-friendly, and there will be a short, optional teens circle after ritual ends.
Wheelchair access via paved path from parking lot.
Transit: BART to Civic Center, transfer to Muni N-Judah train. Take train to Judah and 40th, walk two blocks to park, enter at 41st Ave. Walk two short blocks into park, enter parking lot on right, look for Pagans and/or signs. (Drivers - google 41st and Lincoln, enter park there, two blocks to parking lot.)
Contact sfrpc@yahoogroups.com
Sunday 28 July
Gather at 3:30pm. Ritual begins 4:00pm at Subud Hall, 234 Hutchins Avenue, Sebastopol. All ages welcome to our clean and sober event.
Suggested Donation $21 - $7. Funds to help support North Bay Reclaiming Events.
For more information, call 707-484-7786 or email northbayreclaiming@yahoo.com
Or visit www.northbayreclaiming.com
Fall Equinox ritual, Saturday 21 September, Magic Meadow, Golden Gate Park (directions below). Ritual 1pm.
Join us to celebrate the time of balance, the time of harvest and thanks. Please bring food and/or non-alcohol drinks to share at post-ritual feast. Flowers and musical instruments are also welcome. This ritual and site are kid-friendly.
Please bring food and/or non-alcohol drinks to share post-ritual. Flowers and musical instruments are also welcome, as is colorful attire.
Extra card tables (or even bigger?) are always helpful! Please bring one along if you can.
Transit: BART to Civic Center, transfer to Muni N-Judah train. Take train to Judah and 40th, walk two blocks to park, enter at 41st Ave. Walk two short blocks into park, enter parking lot on right, look for Pagans and/or sign on big tree. (Drivers - enter at 41st and Lincoln, park in lot.)
Contact sfrpc@yahoogroups.com
Sunday 22 September
Location TBA.
Suggested Donation $21 - $7, no one turned away due to lack of funds. Funds to help support North Bay Reclaiming Events. All ages welcome to our clean and sober event.
Contact northbayreclaiming@yahoo.com or call 707-484-7786.
For more information, go to www.northbayreclaiming.org
Watch the Spiral Dance Video on YouTube!
Click here for the Spiral Dance web page
Saturday 26 October
Kezar Pavilion near Haight and Stanyan Streets - Doors open at 6pm. Ritual starts at 7:30pm. Benefitting the Reclaiming Community.
Come early to view the altars, for pre-ritual music, and to hear the names of the Beloved Dead
Join us when the veil is thin between the worlds of the living and the dead. We gather to remember our ancestors, our beloved dead, and all those who have crossed over.
The Spiral Dance is San Francisco Reclaiming's public Halloween ritual. For Witches, this is a sacred season, when we honor our ancestors and our Beloved Dead, and our New Year, affirming the renewal of life.
The Spiral Dance is also Reclaiming's largest, most spectacular public ritual, bringing together art, music, poetry, and dance in Sacred Space. Not just a performance - everyone participates in dancing the Spiral.
Join us as we celebrate over three decades of magic, ritual, and activism in San Francisco and beyond. This family-oriented ritual is also drug and alcohol free. All are welcome.
Much help is needed to produce this wonderful annual community event. Click here for details.
General Admission: $20-$100+ sliding scale. This ritual is Bay Area Reclaiming's largest fundraiser for the year, and supports many of our other activities, courses, rituals, and resources. Volunteers are also needed - see below.
Children are welcome - childcare not provided. Wheelchair Accessible. This is a drug- and alcohol-free, family-oriented ritual. Please honor us and the sacred by keeping it so.
Honor the cycle of death and rebirth by sending us the names of those born and those who have died during the past year:
Beloved dead: email to www.reclaimingspiraldance.org/beloveddead
Babies: email to www.reclaimingspiraldance.org/beloved-babies
For advance tickets, directions, transportation, volunteering and more info on ritual, click here.
Photos and articles about the Spiral Dance and Reclaiming's history at RQ.org
Music from the Spiral Dance ritual - samples and CDs
Watch the Spiral Dance Video on YouTube!
Click here for the Spiral Dance web page
Saturday 2 November
Gather at 6:30pm, Ritual at 7:00pm. Location TBA.
This is a participatory, kid-friendly, drug- and alcohol-free event.
Cost: Sliding scale donation $40 - $10. Funds to help support North Bay Reclaiming Events.
For more information, please go to www.northbayreclaiming.org
Questions? Email northbayreclaiming@yahoo.com
or call 707-484-7786.
Sunday 16 December
Starhawk and North Bay Reclaiming Yule Ritual. Gather at 6:30pm - Ritual begins at 7pm.
New location! - The Grange, 6000 Sebastopol Road / Hwy 12 - Sebastopol
Annual Winter Solstice Celebration with Starhawk and friends. Join us on this dark night of midwinter, to sing and dance back our connection to the Earth and Sun. Ritual indoors and warm. Wheelchair accessible.
All ages welcome to our clean and sober event. Cost: Sliding scale donation $50 to $15. No one turned away. Funds to support Starhawk, Earth Activist Training and North Bay Reclaiming.
Questions? Email NorthbayReclaiming@yahoo.com
Thursday 20 December (Solstice Eve) 2012
Ocean Beach near Taraval Street (aka "Ye Olde Site")
Gather 3:30pm, ritual at 4pm.
(Last year's intention: Keening and Rekindling)
Join us on the eve of Winter Solstice as we gather to celebrate the longest night of the year. We honor the time of darkness as well as the turning of the Wheel of the Year back toward the light.
Please bring clean firewood (important - no pallets, nails, plywood, painted or treated wood - no construction scraps), warm clothes, food or non-alcoholic drink to share, and a towel if you want to plunge.
Flashlights and dry socks are handy. Drums and other instruments are welcome for post-ritual music. Buckets and trash bags are a great way to show special love for the beach!
This is a good time of year for releasing old spells, journals, etc, into the transformative fire -- please carefully remove all synthetic materials and metal (including staples, clips, etc - burn-ables only).
Questions, suggestions, rumors, riddles, recipes - email sfrpc@yahoogroups.com
Click here for info on the bonfires
Transit: The scenic L-Taraval train goes from downtown BART stations to the beach in about 40 leisurely minutes. Cars, Google "Taraval/Great Highway"
For more information, email sfrpc@yahoogroups.com
Friday 21 December (Solstice Morn). Join us again in the East Bay hills to greet the sun on Solstice morning! Wear layers and bring drums, shakers, tambourines, flutes, tubas, etc. and maybe a thermos of hot beverage. If you have a favorite sun-song, bring lyrics to share, and we usually do a spiral dance just after dawn.
Gather at the parking lot at Inspiration Point in Tilden Park about 6:40 am, to allow about 10 minutes to walk or roll to site. At West end of parking area go around gate and up paved road beyond it, marked as Nimitz Way, which is a paved, mild uphill grade, wheelchair/stroller accessible. You'll see folks on a grassy clearing on your right (could be muddy & wet!), with beautiful view of horizon to the East (if it's clear, which could happen).
Steady rain cancels. Fog or misty rain, we'll be there.
For more info, email vibraw@aol.com
Sunday 9 December
We are pleased to bring Starhawk back to Los Angeles for an evocative workshop and Spiral Dance ritual to celebrate the return of Winter! Come dream the dream of winter... together.
At The Vortex, 2341 East Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles 90022. Advance tickets $20-$50.
All ages welcome to this clean and sober event.
12:30-3:30 Workshop: "Light is Returning: Solstice Stories for the New Era"
3:30-4:30 Community Meal
4:30 Doors Open
5:00 Spiral Dance Ritual Begins
For more info, visit our website, or email reclaimingla@gmail.com
Saturday 2 February , at Inner Mission SF (formerly Cellspace), 2050 Bryant near 19th Street, San Francisco - Mission.
Gather 7pm, ritual 7:30pm. $11-$33 requested donation. We depend on donations from this ritual both to pay for the space and to cover ritual expenses through the year. Volunteer opportunities below. Even if you volunteer, please donate what you can.
Join us again for our traditional flaming cauldron ritual. This indoor, evening ritual is a benefit for Reclaiming and for the Inner Mission SF artists' warehouse. (Inner Mission SF is the new name of the warehouse formerly known as Cellspace.)
The heart of this ritual invites participants to make a pledge for the coming year before Brigid's cauldron. You are invited to bring small samples of "waters of the world," and objects to place on the directional altars (and take home afterwards).
As at all San Francisco Reclaiming rituals, children are welcome with adult accompaniment. (This ritual can get a bit "talky" for some kids.)
Help is needed with set-up and altar-building - arrive by 6pm to help! And we always need clean-up helpers as well. RSVP to email below.
Transit: BART to 24th-Mission, walk or take 48-bus half-mile east (away from uphill) on 24th Street to Bryant, then go left five blocks to Inner Mission SF. You can also catch the 27-Bryant bus, which stops within a block. Google "SF Muni route 27" for details.
Mapquest - "2050 Bryant SF 94110"
To volunteer or for more info, contact sfrpc@yahoogroups.com
Sunday 3 February
Doors open 3:30, ritual begins 4:00pm at Subud Hall, 234 Hutchins Avenue, Sebastopol. All ages welcome to our clean and sober event.
Sliding scale donation: $7-21 donation
We invite you to make your pledge to Brigid.
This is a participatory, kid-friendly, drug-and-alcohol free event.
For more information, email NorthbayReclaiming@yahoo.com or call 707-484-7786.
Spring Equinox, Saturday 23 March, Magic Meadow, Golden Gate Park. Ritual at 1pm.
Join us as the Wheel of the Year turns toward the sunshine. Rain or shine, it will be a beautiful day in Golden Gate Park.
This ritual especially involves young people, and includes an egg-hunt for kids afterwards. Please bring food or non-alcohol drinks to share at post-ritual feast. Flowers and musical instruments are also welcome.
Wheelchair access via paved path from parking lot. Field itself can be swampy after heavy rain.
Transit: BART to Civic Center, transfer to Muni N-Judah train. Take train to Judah and 40th, walk two blocks to park, enter at 41st Ave. Walk two short blocks into park, enter parking lot on right, look for Pagans and/or signs. We're usually straight ahead in the big meadow. (Drivers - enter at 41st and Lincoln, park in lot.)
Contact sfrpc@yahoogroups.com
Spring Equinox - Sunday 24 March
Location - TBA
Join us for the North Bay Reclaiming Ostara/Spring Equinox Ritual. As the wheel turns, we come as the children of Spring to dance with the Fae.
Suggested Donation $21 - $7. Funds to help support North Bay Reclaiming events.
For more information, email NorthBayReclaiming@yahoo.com or call 707-484-7786.
Website: www.northbayreclaiming.org
Directory: Home :: About Reclaiming :: Find Us Worldwide :: Reclaiming Quarterly Magazine :: Bay Area Classes & Events :: Bay Area Public Rituals :: Resources, Personal & Political :: How to Reach Us