Meetup news for January 09
January bought us cold weather here in sunny Orlando, people dressed in the warmest clothes they could find as we aren't used to frost on the ground or freezing weather.
Our first meetup at Avalon (link), the metaphysical store owned and run by Miranda who kindly allowed us to use her meeting room after the shop closed, was much smaller than expected with only nine people in attendance but as the weather was so bad it didn't come as a particular shock. What we lacked in numbers we gained in enthusiasm and one of the best speakers who so graciously gives of her time to spread her knowledge.
Torre' is a wonderful person to be with and knows divination in so many forms having been a reader for many years. The evening rushed by so quickly we could have done with another six hours and the members, both new and old, added their questions and shared their knowledge that made the evening fun as well as rewarding.
If we had been snowed in I couldn't think of a better speaker or group of friends who I would have wanted to be with more. (link to Torre')
With a new year we also took to a new venue for our North Orlando Pagan meetup, the China Buffet proved to be a great success with those who came to listen to Katie Madden's talk on the Inner Temple giving it the seal of approval by the number of times they replenished their plates.
Katie regaled us with tales of the fae that she tells so well and answered questions about the Inner Temple and RJ Stewart. Although the cold weather discouraged some from venturing out the workshop was very enjoyable. (link to Katie)
As the month progressed the weather has improved and the Witches meetup bought us back to the pre-Yule numbers with twenty-two people filling the China Buffet restuarant to capacity in our private function room, we were even forced to rearrange the room to make sure everyone was able to be seated.
John Springer gave an entertaining and exciting talk on spirit and orb photography telling us of his walks in nature and showing us many photo's of the orbs, rods and fairies he and others had taken over the years explaining how and where taken and recounting many tales of unexpected encouters in magickal places.
His top hat wasn't only a magickal prop but he was also able to pull a rabbit out of it to start what was a memorable evening. (Link to John Springer)
Before I conclude this month's news I have to mention our friend in Houston, Judy Lopez runs the Houston Witches Meetup Group(link) and also runs a blog radio show(link). Her show on Thursday 29th January was a great experience and I now know that before the Europeans came to America the native American's had no domesticated cats so all the terrible things the invaders did to the native American people's has to have been offset by the wonderful gift of being able to have pet cats--as we all know that cats rule the world ;) JJ, her guest is a remarkable person who plays the flute and has a remarkable knowledge of the American Lakota peoples.
I look forward to next months meetups and would love to hear from others groups on what they do and share their knowledge.
Blessed be
