Homewood Friends Meeting House (upstairs meeting hall)
3107 N. Charles St., Baltimore MD 21218
Please arrive no earlier than 6:00 for a 6:30 ritual start.
Ritual intention: We gather and cross the threshold, re-membering and celebrating, fortified by our wild allies of the Good Company.
Ritual description: Samhain is upon us for the Northern Hemisphere. Leaves are falling, cold winds are rising. As the length of the day diminishes, we are crossing a threshold out of the growing season and into winter. This is a time where the fairy courts are changing, and some of the fae of winter are already arriving. The Wild Hunt are some of the first to announce their presence in those cold winds. The Wild Hunt have the job of collecting the Unquiet Dead: those who have passed on but may still be needing extra help crossing into the afterlife. We can learn from their example, gathering the Unquiet from our own lives and bringing them to a place where they can be remembered and honored, or where they can fade away as needed. Join Baltimore Reclaiming as we gallop forth on our ride, and come together in our celebration of the Turning of the Wheel. We will be building an altar for ancestors, for the Good Neighbors, and for the things we are helping to pass on this night—bring what you feel is appropriate!
About Samhain:
Samhain is celebrated by modern Witches as a festival of the Dead. At this time of year we honor our ancestors and believed that the veil to the other world is thinner. It is a celebration of the end of the harvest, and the start of the coldest half of the year. Samhain's origins are in ancient Europe as one of the main Celtic seasonal festivals.
Who is Baltimore Reclaiming?
Baltimore Reclaiming is a radically inclusive community of witches who use our magic to bring transformation, justice and healing to ourselves, Baltimore, and the world. We are a group of witches, artists, pagans, healers, activists, queers, priestesses, anarchists, theater geeks, feminists, and other good humans. We see our work as teaching and making magic: the art of empowering ourselves and each other. In our classes, workshops, and public rituals, we train our voices, bodies, energy, intuition, and minds. We use the skills we learn to deepen our strength, both as individuals and as community, to voice our concerns about the world in which we live, and bring to birth a vision of a new culture. We gather, mostly on the Sabbats, to work magic, often for personal healing and also for the healing of our society and planet. We believe that the work we do together in our sacred circles really can change the world.
Cost: Baltimore Reclaiming does not charge for our events, but we do have considerable expenses which include renting the space and buying supplies for the ritual! For transparency's sake, this ritual is costing us about $300. We recommend a $10-$20 donation per person. You can bring cash or send money ahead of time via Paypal to ritual@baltimorereclaiming.org or via Venmo to 443-235-2007. No one is turned away for lack of funds. You are fully welcome regardless of your ability to financially donate.
Drugs & Alcohol: All Baltimore Reclaiming events are drug and alcohol free. We respectfully request that you do not use drugs or alcohol before or while attending our events.
Scent Policy: We strive to accommodate people who have chemical and scent sensitivities. Please keep these people in mind as you make choices about wearing scented personal hygiene products.
Masking Policy: Baltimore Reclaiming has made the decision this year to make masking encouraged, but optional. Please test for COVID before coming, and don't come if you're feeling sick!
What to Expect: New to Baltimore Reclaiming? Visit our Rituals page to learn more about what to expect at an event.
Dress Code: Wear whatever you like! You are welcome to wear everything from jeans and a t-shirt to a tuxedo. Often, people like to wear something special for ritual which might mean a favorite dress, a special shawl, a flower crown, or something else. We encourage you to wear whatever you feel most comfortable in.
About the Venue: This ritual will be held at the Homewood Friends Meeting House, in their main meeting hall. This is an accessible, indoor space.