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

Bay Area Public Rituals

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", i.e. no recreational drugs or alcohol.

Rituals are listed according to closest upcoming date.


Samhain - Halloween

Watch the Spiral Dance Video on YouTube!

Dinner With The Dead - A Samhain Feast and Celebration

Come and join us in a Samhain celebration and collaboration with our Beloved Dead. You are invited to a magical potluck dinner in which we will invite our dead to sit among us as we feast, feeding them with stories of their lives and toasting to their memory.

Bring the food of your ancestors of spirit and blood, the favorite dish of your Beloved Dead. Bring photos for the altar and songs to share. The veil is thin between the worlds and feasting together we
will converse and conspire with the dead (and each other) to create a world where all are fed and all lives and deaths are honored and held sacred.

When: 7:30 pm, Saturday, October 25th
Door opens at 7.

Where: 225 Potrero Avenue, between 16th and 15th Street, San Francisco. This is an alcohol free space.

Cost: Food to share and a willingness to help clean up.

We will be raising energy and taking donations to support three projects aimed at building magical community:

Scholarship fund for A Fool's Journey, an annual magical restorative.

Solar Cross, the coming together of different magical, Pagan, and esoteric traditions who aim to have a community center in the San Francisco Bay Area including a research library, classrooms, and ritual space. We plan to support prison ministry, elder care, and many other community endeavors.

Stone City, a Pagan retreat center located in the hills of California's Diablo Range, just outside the San Francisco Bay Area, dedicated to creating sacred spaces for ritual, worship of Pagan deities, and for community gatherings.

This event is sponsored by the Independent Craft Teachers guild, and by A Fool's Journey, an annual magical restorative.


Sonoma Samhain (Halloween) 2008

Sunday, October 26, 2008
Sebastopol Community Center - 390 Morris Street
Doors open at 6:00pm - Ritual begins at 7pm

Join us while 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, and to celebrate the newly born. This is an all-ages event.

All Reclaiming events are clean and sober.

Cost: Sliding scale donation $10.00 to $50.00. No one turned away for lack of funds. This event is a fundraiser to benefit The Reclaiming Ailing Witches Fund.

Questions? Email CopperPersephone@aol.com or call 707-396-8514.

San Francisco 2008 - The Spiral Dance

Saturday 1 November
Kezar Pavilion near Haight and Stanyan Streets

Benefiting the Reclaiming Community
Watch the Spiral Dance Video on YouTube!

Doors open at 6pm. Ritual starts at 7:30pm.
Come early to view the altars, for pre-ritual music, and to hear the names of the Beloved Dead

As the darkness closes in, come dance the spiral that renews the world

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.

Much help is needed to produce this wonderful annual community event. Click here for details.

General Admission: $20-$100+ sliding scale, no one turned away for lack of funds.
Elders (60 & over) and Youth (15 & under) $10 and up. 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.

Beloved babies and beloved dead

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 rbdnames@yahoogroups.com

Babies: email to rbbnames@yahoogroups.com

Tickets, Volunteers, Directions, and more info

For advance tickets, directions, transportation, volunteering and more info on ritual, click here.

Spiral Dance History, Music, and Photos

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!

back to top


Yule - Winter Solstice

San Francisco (Ocean Beach Bonfire) 2008

Saturday, December 20. Tentative location - Ocean Beach south of Sloat. Cars can park in the lot at the end of Sloat at the Ocean. Walk south about a quarter mile. Transit - see below

Gather 3:30pm, ritual at 4pm. Please bring clean firewood (firewood is always welcome - no pallets, nails, construction material, plywood, painted or treated wood), warm clothes, food or non-alcoholic drink to share. A flashlight is also helpful for gathering belongings afterward.

Transit: The scenic L-Taraval train goes from downtown BART stations to the beach. You'll need to walk a half-dozen blocks south (left as you face the ocean). For closer bus info, visit www.sfmuni.com and/or google "Sloat/Great Highway"

The San Francisco ritual is held on Solstice Eve, the longest night of the year.

For more information, email sfrpc@yahoogroups.com

East Bay "Sing Up the Sun" 2008

Sunday, December 21. Join us in the East Bay hills to greet the sun on Solstice morning! 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. For more info, email vibraw@aol.com

Sebastopol/North Bay 2008

TBA. For more information and directions, visit www.starhawk.org/yule.html, or email mer@starhawk.org



Brigid

Imbolc Ritual - North Bay 2008

Saturday, 26 January Celebrate Imbolc in Sebastopol with Northbay Reclaiming. Join us as we gather with community to celebrate and honor Brigid, and the turning of the Wheel to the promise of Spring.

Gather at 6:30pm. Ritual begins at 7pm. At Subud Hall, 234 Hutchins Ave in Sebastopol. Sliding scale donation $3.00 to $13.00 no one turned away for lack of funds.

This is a clean and sober event - please do not come under the influence of intoxicating substances, we prefer to change states at will. NorthbayReclaiming@yahoo.com or call 707-823-8410.

Brigid Ritual - San Francisco 2008

Saturday, 2 February , at Cellspace, 2050 Bryant near 19th Street, San Francisco - Mission. Gather 6:30pm, ritual 7:30pm. $9-$33 requested donation. (No one turned away for lack of funds. Volunteer opportunities below.)

Yes, we're back at Cellspace - and rumor says that the cauldron will once again be ablaze! This indoor, evening ritual is a benefit for Reclaiming and kindred projects. Last year's ritual supported activists working in New Orleans.

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).

Children are welcome with adult accompaniment. (This ritual can get a bit "talky" for some kids. There could be a kids' space - help needed.)

Help is needed with set-up and altar-building - arrive at or soon after 5:00pm to help! And we alwys need clean-up helpers as well. RSVP to email below.

Transit: BART to 24th-Mission, walk or 48-bus half-mile east (away from uphill) on 24th Street to Bryant, left five blocks to Cellspace. You can also catch the 27-Bryant from Powell BART, which stops within a block. Mapquest - "2050 Bryant 94110"

To volunteer or for more info, contact sfrpc@yahoogroups.com

back to top


Ostara - Spring Equinox

San Francisco 2008

Spring Equinox, Saturday 22 March, Magic Meadow, Golden Gate Park. Gather 12:30, ritual at 1pm.

Intent: Shaking Off Winter's Malaise and Dancing a Welcome to New Life

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

back to top


Beltane - May Day

San Francisco 2008

Saturday 3 May. Gather 12:30pm, ritual begins with wreath-making around 1pm. Magic Meadow, Golden Gate Park. Ritual includes participatory Maypole dance.

This ritual is kid-friendly. 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

East Bay 2008

Saturday 3 May

Come and join RiteHere (Reclaiming in the East Bay) for our annual Merry May Day ritual and picnic in Tilden Park complete with Maypole dance and cauldron leaping. We will celebrate love in all its forms as well as the sunshine, flowers and flourishing growth of the season.

Come at noon to make head wreaths, share snacks, and decorate the Maypole. Ritual starts about 1:00-ish and is very likely to be finished by 2:30 or so. Then we'll have a picnic, weather permitting. (Steady rain cancels; cool weather, misty rain, ritual is on but will be shorter.)

Children are very welcome, & bring your friends! L/G/B/T-friendly group. Dogs on a leash (park rule) welcome too, if they are happy waiting outside the Circle during the ritual. Restrooms nearby. Wheelchair *might* be able to make it with assistance if ground is dry, but no paved path-sorry!

Bring: flowers & vines if you've got them; food and/or non-alcoholic drink to share; your own re-usable cup, plate, & utensils; a blanket to sit on (remember grass may be wet); sunscreen & hat if necessary.

Location: Meadow next to parking lot at Lone Oak Rd and Central Park Drive in Tilden Park, Berkeley hills. Find Nature Area on a map-drive away from it on Central Park Drive, past Pony Rides on right, take first left turn onto Lone Oak Road, which goes into parking lot. Park. Look for our round yellow signs. Walk up grass right there by parking lot, see us at far end of meadow.

To volunteer to help with this ritual (we need a drummer/musicians!) or for more info, contact Vibra at vibraw@aol.com


 Summer Solstice

San Francisco 2008 (Ocean Beach Bonfire)

Solstice, Friday 20 June, Ocean Beach near Sloat Ave (south end of SF). 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.

Please bring clean firewood (firewood is always welcome - no pallets, nails, construction material, plywood, painted or treated wood), warm clothes, food or non-alcoholic drink to share, and a towel if you want to plunge.

Transit: Take L-Taraval Muni train from downtown BART stations. Ride to end of line (Wawona Street, near the zoo) - don't get off at Taraval Street and 46th, near where we used to meet. Ride a couple of stops further south to the end of the line. From there, walk a couple of blocks to beach and look for us.

Maps: search for Great Highway and Sloat Avenue. There is a small parking lot, and more parking across the highway.

For more information and an update on the bonfire situation, contact sfrpc@yahoogroups.com

East Bay/Rite Here 2008

TBA For more information, contact ritehererituals@yahoo.com

back to top


Lammas

San Francisco 2008

Lammas, Saturday 2 August, Magic Meadow, Golden Gate Park. Gather 12:30pm, 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.

We are going to have a feast as a central part of this ritual, infusing our food and drink with our hopes. First fruits: this is a time to thin gardens and fields, so that the harvest in the fall will be plentiful. We joyfully share some of the food that has already appeared.

We hope everyone can bring their own plate or bowl, utensils, and cup. We ask you to make or find beautiful festive food and non-alcoholic beverage to share. We are looking for a number of tables (tablecloths too!) Please email Rose, rosemaydance@yahoo.com, if you are able to bring a portable table.

Flowers and musical instruments are also welcome. This ritual is kid-friendly, and will have an optional kids circle as part of the ritual.

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. We're usually straight ahead in the big meadow. (Drivers - enter at 41st and Lincoln, park in lot.)

Contact sfrpc@yahoogroups.com

North Bay / Sonoma 2008

TBA

back to top


Mabon - Fall Equinox

San Francisco 2008

Equinox, Sunday 21 September, Magic Meadow, Golden Gate Park (directions below). Gather 12:30pm, ritual 1pm.

Join us to celebrate the time of balance, the time of harvest.

Please bring food or non-alcohol drinks to share at post-ritual feast. Flowers and musical instruments are also welcome. This ritual is kid-friendly.

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

back to top


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