Ending 2020

We are all eager for this year to end so that we may start a new and fresh year with a new and fresh idea of normal. While the blog at CMS has been quiet and idle, the school most definitely has not. Students are still doing their classes (via ZOOM now), and the teachers are still connecting with the community.

What will the new normal look like?

Classes and workshops via ZOOM have been so successful, that we will continue to make this available in 2021, even if the COVID subsides to a level whereby we can have in-person class. ZOOM will remain an option.

Workshops, an Esbat, and an Open House are being planned for January 2021! 

Here is a sneak peak:

- Intro to Paganism
- Spiritual Self-Care
- Tarot I (history, deck choice, & deck care)
- Wolf Moon Esbat
- CMS Open House

As for right now as we end 2020.... here is what you can do for the coming Full Moon.

The Rowan Moon (according to the Celts) or the Cold/Longnight Moon

Cold weather is rolling in after our longest night of the year (despite the weird little blip of +15C weather December 26th). Turn your attention inward to your home and give your ritual space some love. If you do not have a dedicated ritual or spiritual space, this is the time to create a little sanctuary for yourself. You might have to cull and purge a little, cut away the clutter in a corner and make room for YOU.

Add some light in your darkness. In these challenging times, lighting some candles and changing those lightbulbs is a good start. Bringing in some light can also be metaphorical. Make a decision to dedicate some time to your own self-care and to doing something that inspires you, sparks that joyful and fiery light within you.

What is Scarlet doing?

Creating a meditation space in her office.
Making a lunar calendar craft to help remember and teach the different moons of the year.
(Pictures of this once it is done... promise!)

Blood Moon in Second Wave Lockdown

 Montreal has declared itself second wave COVID-19 and is again in lockdown for the month of October. We are wishing everyone health and safety and encouraging everyone to please obey the restrictions and health/safety rules.

October is a very special month this year. We have TWO full moons and a Major Sabbat!

October 1st - Blood/Hunters/Reed Full Moon

October 31st - BLUE Elder Moon & Samhain

I, Scarlet (owner and teacher of CMS), usually host a full moon esbat ritual every month, lately over ZOOM. However, lately my daughter (age 5) has been asking me to do the rituals with just her. As she is learning and shown her first real interest in my spirituality, I will be concentrating on private rituals for the next little while. On occasion, I will do a public one via ZOOM or livestream it direct onto FB. I apologize to those who really looked forward to doing rituals with me. Since I won't always be public and I know you look forward to ritual ideas you can do from your own home, check out what we are doing for the Blood Moon on October 1st (restructured so a 5-yr-old will understand).

Blood Moon, also called Hunters Moon, associated with the Celtic Reed

 The Hunters Moon is about hunting and finding something you are looking for. This moon is also about honoring animals and our totems.  Part of honoring is also showing compassion and giving extra love to the animals we live with. 

In the Celtic tradition, this moon is associated with Reed. The Reed Moon is a time for nourishment, strength, compassion, and being heroic.

So on this moon, we will be balancing heroism with compassion.

We will start our ritual with a scavenger hunt in and around the house, because these are always fun. We will decorate the shrines that are dedicated to our household totals of wolf, deer, raven, fox, and butterfly. We will snuggle the cats and give them a special treat of wet cat food. We will also make suet seed feeders for the birds outside to help them ready for winter. Being heroic does not mean we have to go defeat evil people or have super powers. For us, it means donating to places in need: clothing, food, and money. We have clothes to give to Renaissance and will donate money to the Children's Breakfast Club to ensure all children can have breakfast at school.

In these ways, we will be balancing compassion with acts of heroism in small ways that a 5-yr-old can accomplish. AND we always make craft that relates to the moon in some way. We will be making shining Reed Moon bottles. These will be decorative bottles with teeny LED lights inside and little reed sticks. We promise pictures once the crafts are done.

Be safe! Be healthy! BLESSED BE!

CMS Registration Opens July 1st for the Fall 2020 sessions

An Open House tentatively scheduled for Labour Day, Monday September 7th
Details TBA

Level 1: Saturdays 11am-2pm starting September 12th
3 payments of $150 every 6 or 7 weeks
included are 13 subject workbooks either by mail or as PDF
MAX 9 students

Level 2: Saturdays 3-6pm starting September 12th
$150 payments every 6 weeks
included are PDF's of most readings
not included are the art supplies, which can be mailed to you as needed

Space is LIMITED!

Register here: https://crescentmoonschool.blogspot.com/p/registration.html

Coming this July

Full Buck/Hazel Moon Esbat Ritual
Sunday, July 5th, 7pm
Honouring the Deer and the Celtic Hazel Tree. We will be focusing on intuition, divination, poetry, wisdom, and getting physical.
BRING: tea, your divination tool, and a bit of poetry or quip of wisdom to share.
via ZOOM: Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwvdumhrDkrHNN8oSPgIk7VcNyEtjZTzJkD
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Donations of $5-10 welcome, to help cover costs of ZOOM fees.
Send via paypal to: https://www.paypal.me/scarletcougar/
or etransfer to: scarletcougar@gmail.com


Summer Workshops
Chakra Mini-Series
Wednesdays, July 15-29, 7-9pm
Cost: $100 (prepaid by July 5th)
https://www.paypal.me/scarletcougar/100
Includes a booklet and set of chakra teas to be mailed July 5th once registered and your address is acquired.

Introduction to the 7 chakras. We will do root & navel on the 15th, solar plexus & heart on the 22nd, throat & third eye & crown on the 29th. We will look at related foods, colours, scents, stones, exercises and more. What blocks these chakras and how can we unblock them and connect better with them?

You will need a notebook or journal for this class, a yoga mat pr something to on, a mug to make one of the teas in, and try to wear clothing of the colours of the chakras of that week's chakras. (Note: first week is black, red, and orange.)

Email for information: scarletcougar@gmail.com

Summer Planning

Zoom has been such a wonderful success, that will will use it throughout the summer for our workshops and many of the rituals. This will help with social distancing... as well as keep us cool in the nasty heat.

Some of the things we are considering:
- June, July, August Full Moon esbat rituals
- Chakra specialty workshop series
- monthly tea

We will keep you all posted with the details.

BLESSED BE!

Moved to ZOOM!

We at Crescent Moon School hope you are all:

• staying home
• staying safe
• and staying healthy

Because all events and activities are closed through to the end of August 2020, CMS has moved all its classes, workshops, and rituals online.

Yes! We are online!

The switch was smoother than anticipated. Current active students helped test it out for rituals and energy work with great success.

What are we using? ZOOM!

We strongly recommend it for gathering without physically gathering with ANYONE. We have used it for classes, esbat rituals, workshops, student-teacher meetings, and for having social tea with everyone. The technopagans are rejoicing.

That said, we will have a few new events coming up. You can contact us to register for these or to get the ZOOM invitation for the free events. OR, you can find us on Facebook where the events will be posted and news is updated regularly.

Blessed be!

Open to the Public!

CMS has revamped its program some after 20 years. Now updated with more information, current research, less homework, and more hands-on activities.

With that, we have opened up the classes to welcome those seeking just a single subject.

See the EVENTS & ACTIVITIES page for all the details.

Here is a quick list of what you can expect in the coming weeks:

February 9th - Introduction to Contemporary Paganism

February 16th - Basic Energy Work

March 1st - Elements, Tool, & Altars

March 8th - Magical Basics

March 8th - Basic Ritual Energy Work (Prerequisite: Basic Energy Work)

Such great things to come for 2020 and the start of our 25th Anniversary year.

February Level 1 Session Starting Soon

Level 1: Sundays 11am-2pm starting February 9th
(for 18-21 weeks)
Registration is $150 every 6 or 7 weeks (First Payment due ASAP)

Late Registration open till February 20th.

Regular registration for Level 1 comes this Imbolc. Classes begin February 9th. This means that if you are hoping to get into the class, you will have to be part of the late registration which is open until February 20th. After this date, too many of the first trimester classes will have been missed to join the class this session.

REGISTER HERE

Have a wonderful Imbolc!

See you in classes February 9th!

Open House & Registration for February Session

Sunday, January 26th, 12-5pm
at Encadrium
1507 Dr. Penfield, Montreal

Crescent Moon School teaches the foundations of Paganism and magic without obliging anyone to a particular denomination. The motto is to help each person discover their own path.

Level 1: Sundays 11am-2pm starting February 9th
(for 18-21 weeks)
Registration is $150 every 6 or 7 weeks (First Payment due by February 2nd)
Includes 3 workbooks & a reading text (aussi disponible en francais)

Level 1 exemption exam $50 (contact us)

This year, we will be hosted at the stunning establishment of Encadrium (which feels like something right out of Downton Abbey).

Open House Activities:
1pm - Exploring and Connecting with Deities discussion
3:30pm - Intro to Plant Lore

Crescent Moon School has been serving the community since 1995 and continues to do so through classes, workshops, guest lecturing at universities, rituals, hosting community fairs and more.

Register online no later than February 2nd

25 Amazing Years in Service

This is a VERY long post filled with some very poor quality but very much loved images. A photo journey of highlights from the last 25 years starting with oldest to the most recent. Patience and love. There are sadly no pictures available for the first 5 years. Enjoy those from the 21st century.

This is the first logo of Crescent Moon School that was digital and based off the wooden scrollworked moons Scarlet's belated father used to make.

Year 2000, hosting Author, Ray Malbrough.

These next three pictures are from 2003-2006 of the level 2 and 3 students.

Camping Festival with all many of the students and teachers in 2010. Here we are being silly, yet very proud of the publication of one of the teachers. This book is still critical reading material for Level 3.

9/11 was a shock to everyone. We performed a healing/blessing ritual for all those lost, hurt, devastated in some way by this tragedy. We then took our magical work and set it up in the Montreal World Trade Center to honor everyone.

This is followed by some amazing experiences through 2011 & 2012.

2013... It is the end of an era. Our most notable and beloved Magical hub, The Magical Blend shop and resource center, closed its doors forever. We mourned hard. We moved to more humble locations and carried on.

We obtained out own little community space of about 400 sq.ft. Though it only lasted a little over a year. It was a beautiful space used from 2014-2015. Then we changed location again. The Goddess and the Green God both found their way here from The Magical Blend. They are still with us.

 

  In 2016, we moved yet again. It is so hard to rent a place to be a location for rituals, classes, meetings, and more. This moves was to a beautiful Rectory beside a church. This, sadly did not last either, though it was a good year.

And then again yet another move to a much smaller place till we could no longer hold onto it and no longer cover its rent. Ever looking for out forever home. 2016 wasn't it, but it did give us a great space to connect with people.

In 2018, we hopped a few small places. Our greatest achievement that year was attending the Parliament of World Religions to represent Paganism. Scarlet met other prominent member of Paganism, spoke on a panel with Canadian Pagan Leaders, and offered two rituals for the public at this huge conference. And by the end of the year, we found a new home.

Last year, 2019, has been one of the best for Crescent Moon. Stable location, stable attendance to classes and rituals and workshops. In March, Scarlet lost her father and the woodworker who made the beautiful oil boxes, altar patens, and wooden scrollworked moons. Blessings on your journey Tom Jory. Thank you to all the students and teachers who have been supportive during the year. It comes to its end with love.

May 2020 be AMAZING!