February 11^th, 2012
Blacklick Woods Metropark
Beech Maple Lodge

Do you give good ritual?

Each of us has a fire that burns within us, one that we feed with personal ritual. As we work at our personal altars, our inner fire burns brightly, magnifying and growing in strength, warmth, and love with each offering made and prayer spoken. The fire of our piety and devotion keeps us warm and strong in turn, deepening our lives and enhancing our spirits in the process.

When we interact with others in ritual, leading, performing, or participating as groups, this fire becomes very important. Being in ritual with others is like removing the hood from a lantern: your internal flame becomes visible to others, and it magnifies and brightens the experience of ritual for all others present, performing, or leading with you.

This seminar is designed to help you build that internal fire through an understanding of ritual, a deepening of personal practice, and showing you how to show the brightness of your fire when you stand in public ritual. By living your Paganism at home and walking your virtues in everyday life, you will build the skills needed to be both a competent public ritualist, and a leader in your local community.

Three Cranes Grove, ADF, is proud to present our first seminar: an all-day set of workshops, discussions, and exercises open to the entire Pagan community! The theme of this seminar is "Private Practice to Public Ritual," focusing on those skills that you can cultivate at your own hearth shrine that will aid you as you begin to work public ritual.

The seminar is presented by Three Cranes, but the content is not only applicable to Druidry: indeed, anyone who does ritual, whether public or private, will benefit from this event! We will discuss methods of making your personal work more effective, provide instruction for beginners and old hands alike, and talk about ways to deepen your experience at ritual even if you aren't leading it.

Topics Covered  

See our schedule for more information on topics

The primary aim of the seminar is to help Pagans of all traditions, paths, and philosophies develop their personal practice, for it is through the work done at your personal altar that you can build the experience and knowledge to do work on a public stage. The seminar is strongly focused on this personal practice, and is "non-denominational" in terms of its theology: we will not be teaching "Druid-specific" work, and believe that many of the principles we discuss will be broadly beneficial to the larger Pagan community, regardless of path. Our goal is to teach each person how to rely on the devoted ritualist within to build better personal rituals, and how to translate those rituals into larger public gatherings when necessary.

New topics may be added; however, these topics will certainly be included: "Understanding Ritual," "Personal Ritual Work," and "Taking the Personal to the Public." There will also be several exercises that you can do to improve your work in these things.

Location, Date, and Time  

Location: The Seminar will be at the Beech Maple Lodge at Blacklick Woods Metropark near Columbus, OH (seen at right). Three Cranes does our Imbolc rite here every year, and it is a fabulous space for ritual and workshops. It is heated, has a fireplace, and has plenty of parking.

Date and Time: The seminar will be held on February 11, 2012. The actual seminar will run from 9 AM until 6 PM, with a break for lunch and several additional breaks throughout.

What should I bring?  

Generally, you will be able to show up and you will have everything that you need. Still, it is suggested that you consider bringing the following items:

• A ritual item you use regularly (that you wouldn't mind if someone else handled)
• A pad of paper for note-taking
• Something quiet you can snack on during breaks, and something to drink if you don't want water/coffee
• Spending money for dinner, breakfast, and any other items we may have available.

Books and Materials Bundles  

Do you want to take the information home so you can share it with members of your local group, re-teach it to your community, or simply refer back to the topics and exercises in greater detail? We have written several books that not only provide the information given in the seminar, but provide deeper information and additional exercises that you may find very useful! These books are available at the conference only!

• Seminar Workbook - This book is free with your registration, and includes a number of notes, definitions, and key concepts to help you retain the knowledge and improve your skills.
• Main Seminar Book - This book includes all the detail on every topic discussed in the seminar, plus additional information we simply don't have time to talk about during the seminar itself! When pre-ordered as part of the seminar registration, it is only $10. It will be available at the seminar for those who did not purchase it with their registration for $15.
• Four Additional Books - These books are tools associated with the exercises and concepts provided, that delve far deeper into the concept than the main seminar book can do. Available with your pre-registration for only $20 as a group, they will be available for $10 each at the seminar.
  • An Omen Journal - A journal you can retain your omens in for easy access and comparison.
  • A Ritual Planning Book - Suitable for group work or solitary work, this book will help you plan, execute, and review your ritual work with easy-to-use forms and information.
  • Crane Breviary and Guide Book - A cycle of High Day, Moon, and daily rituals to help you work through the ritual year. Designed for solitary individuals, this book provides an excellent framework for continued work.
  • A DVD of the Seminar - So you can re-review and re-visit the key ideas and exercises of the seminar.

Meals, Accommodations, and Transport  

Hungry? Lunch is included in the seminar cost: if you have any special dietary concerns or restrictions, please let us know in advance. We cannot promise to accommodate all dietary restrictions, but we can let you know in a timely manner if we will be unable to do so.

We will meet at a local Bob Evans (just south of I-70 on rt. 256) that morning at 7 AM for breakfast if you would care to join us. Please simply let us know that you will be joining us so we know to look for you and to include you when we offer the hostess our party count. Dinner is not included, but will be local as well, and you are also welcome to join us.

If you prefer to eat on your own, you can bring a lunch or eat at one of the many restaurants in the area.

Flying in? The nearest airport is Port Columbus (CMH), which is less than 10 miles from the park. The airport provides full services, including car rental and hotel reservations, if you have not already arranged for these things.

Staying overnight? Three Cranes Grove, ADF, is generally unable to provide free overnight accommodations for out-of-town individuals, but if you already know a Crane and want to stay with them, please don't hesitate to ask them! If you are seeking information on nearby hotels for one or both nights, please check back: we may request a block of rooms in a nearby hotel if there is enough interest. There are several hotels a mile from the lodge.

Need transport from the airport to the site? If you need picked up at the airport, please let us know. We will arrange some form of transportation if necessary. If a block of hotel rooms is reserved in the future, we will run a shuttle in the morning and the evening to that hotel at no charge.

So, how do I Register?  

Please visit our registration page for electronic registration and confirmation.

Presenter Bios  

• Rev. Kirk Thomas – Rev. Thomas is the Archdruid of ADF, an ADF Senior Priest, and has a Masters in Celtic Studies from the University of Wales. He has presented workshops throughout the world as a leader in ADF. He currently resides at Trout Lake Abbey in Washington, the first Druid Monastery in the world. See his bio on the ADF site.
• Rev. James "Seamus" Dillard – Rev. Dillard is a former Senior Druid of Three Cranes Grove, ADF, the current Vice Archdruid of ADF, an ADF Priest, and one of 3CG's Grove Priests (along with Rev. Dangler). Over the years, he has presented workshops throughout the United States and provided a great deal of guidance to members throughout ADF regarding personal spiritual work. See his bio on the ADF site.
• Rev. Michael J Dangler – Rev. Dangler is an ADF Senior Priest, founder of Three Cranes Grove, ADF, and (along with Rev. Dillard) one of 3CG's Grove Priests. He has been active in the local community for over 15 years, and has been leading public ritual for more than 10 years, including rites with over 300 people in attendance. His experience with ritual reflects this seminar: ritual must begin at home, with a strong hearth fire that is fed so that it burns brightly. He has presented workshops all over the United States and in Europe on various topics over the years. See his bio on the ADF site.

Three Cranes Grove, ADF, and Pagan Fire Seminars reserve the right to substitute or remove any books or speakers as a result of curriculum changes, illness or inability to attend on the part of a presenter, or other issue beyond their control. Both 3CG and PFS will make a good-faith effort to ensure that registrants receive similar or better value if such changes must occur. 3CG and PFS are not responsible for weather-related cancellations, but will work to refund a portion of funding after supplies (such as books) or any other costs are deducted if a cancellation occurs. In the event of a cancellation, books may be shipped or offered for pickup by the registrants. The organizers reserve the right to refuse any registration by providing a refund (minus PayPal fees).