Autumn Equinox is 3CG’s anniversary rite — this year marks our eighteenth anniversary as a grove! At this rite we swear in new officers, we recite our grove’s epic poem “Clutiā Trion Garanonon,” and we praise Teutates, the Gaulish god of the tribe. Teutates is a multi-faceted figure, more a title than an identity, and (as we often sing) he is “known to each of us in our own way” — some 3CG members see Teutates as the god Esus, others as our beloved Crane-spirit Garanus, yet others as various deities and spirits from across the Indo-European cultures. No matter how we see Teutates, our understandings and our praise are bound together by our appreciation for the way he shelters and nurtures our communities.
3:00 — Zoom meeting begins
3:15 — Pre-ritual briefing
3:30 — Ritual begins
This rite will be held virtually, using Zoom to bring us together. We invite all participants to participate at their home shrines if they have them, or in the shrine of their heart if they do not.
In a recent business meeting we also discussed how much we miss having potluck with everyone, especially at this community-honoring rite. Obviously we can’t share food physically, but we invite you to stay on the call after ritual is over. We’ll read out the full length of Clutiā Trion Garanonon, perhaps hear a couple extra bits of music from our bards, and in general share in conviviality, even at a distance.
What you absolutely need:
• a computer, tablet, or phone with an Internet connection
• a beverage (of any sort): we’ll be blessing the Waters of Life with the blessings we receive, and each person’s beverage will receive those blessings.
Other things you may want:
• Representations of the ADF Hallows, Hellenic style: the Fire, the Well, and the Tree — our sacred centers, which we will join together. These can be actual bowls of water, candles, and a pillar or sculpture of a tree, or drawings, or anything else that allow you to focus upon the mythic Hallows.
• Offerings for Teutates and the spirits. As is customary in Three Cranes rituals, there will be time for the folk to give offerings to the spirits that are dear to them, and to Teutates.
• Food for potluck after; what might you have made to bring and share, in years past?
How to use Zoom:
• If you already know about Zoom you just need this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/337362382?pwd=VE9nU1FDWDZRMHMrUjA2WUFCdlIyQT09
• New folks, you basically just need to click the link. If you’ve never Zoomed before, there’ll be a quick app download, but then you’re basically set!
• You are more than welcome to turn on your video so we can all see each other’s faces in community, but the meeting’s set to have all participants muted, to avoid overwhelming background noise. Unless you’re asked to unmute, we ask you to leave your mic muted.
• There’s a chat function in Zoom, and you’re very welcome to use it, both to participate in a textual way, and as a troubleshooting venue. For troubleshooting, we’ll have a couple tech folks there, though they may also be performing ritual parts — we’ll do our best!
• Chat isn’t open by default. On a computer click “Chat” at the bottom of the Zoom window to display it. On mobile, click “Participants,” then click “Chat.”
