For many years my husband, Tom Bender, and I have been committed to working and playing with the spiritual aspect of ourselves in a variety of ways.

Most of this process has been in community– or as we would now say, with our tribe. If our groups are characterized by anything it is that they are “leader-ful.” We tend to be drawn to an earth based spirituality that is pagan and shamanic but not formally so. Some of us have studied with different teachers and traditions (e.g. Reclaiming and Starhawk, Nicki Skully, core shamanism with the Harner workshops and various Buddhist, Native American and Tibetan teachers), yet our gatherings, whether planned or impromptu, are an inventive mélange of what feels right in the moment.

To find out about local events happening currently, (including those we are not directly involved with) you can check out www.nehalembay.org or get on the email list serve put out by Chuck and Barbara McLaughlin <bbq@nehalemtel.net> or contact me. Here are some of the highlights and more regular events:

The Wheel of the Year - Early on various of us felt a strong call to mark the turning cycle of the year by celebrating the Solstices, Equinoxes and at least two of the 4 cross-quarter holidays – May Day/Beltane and Halloween/Day of the Dead. Sometimes the group is large and sometimes it is small and intimate. Sometimes inside, sometimes out. Sometimes one evening, sometimes a campout on the Nehalem River. Equinoxes tend to involve a labyrinth on the beach (usually Bay in the fall and ocean in the spring). We do a Maypole dance in public on May 1st. An inner journey followed by feasting and gift giving is usually a special part of the Winter Solstice.

Full Moon Drumming – this very informal group has been gathering at each other’s homes on the Saturday nearest the full moon since about 1995. Rhythmically this group is pretty anarchistic. Although some members have studied formal rhythms of one sort or another, our process varies from noise to some pretty neat entrainment involving all manner of percussion instruments, voice (especially toning) and dance. All ages and skill levels are welcome. We start with a potluck.

Ritual Guild – This new group is still in the formative stages, meeting a couple of times a month on Sunday evenings in sacred space to plan the celebrations of the Wheel of the Year and to perhaps go a little deeper in ceremony.

Past Groups:

Moonspinners - From 1996 until it fizzled around 2002 (?), this group of women met every two weeks to explore womens’ spirituality. Oh, the bonds we grew!

Mixed Group or Touchstones or Open Circle – Men and women together generally met for several years on the alternate weeks to Moonspinners starting in 1998.

Healing Circle – a group who met for a while to experiment with hands-on healing techniques. Impromptu circles still form spontaneously when someone in the community is in need.