Morwynna

Morwynna began a self-dedicated neo-pagan practice in 1971, and attended her first group ritual at The Temple of the Pagan Way in Chicago at Imbolg 1974. Her solitary practice continued another 12 years; partly because she didn’t know anyone else to practice with, and partly out of a philosophical dislike of “organized” religion.  In 1986 she met a magickal partner and resumed her research of group practice. They began helping out at Harvest, a local pagan periodical, and there met members of the greater Boston Wiccan community. This led to study and initiation with Amaltheia Coven. She started her first coven (Grove of the Mists) in 1999 and her current coven (Llwyn Bedw Arian – Grove of the Silver Birch) in 2006.

Always passionate about outreach, she started leading public Esbats and Sabbats (as well teaching classes about the Sabbats) with her ritual partner in 1994 at Arsenic and Old Lace in Cambridge, and later at Arsenic and Old Lace in Brookline, Taproot in Worcester, Open Doors in Brighton and in Weymouth, as well as larger Sabbat events at the Brigham Hill Barn in Grafton. The photo above right is from our Beltain 2011, with covener Mannanan.

Currently, Morwynna lives north of Boston with her husband David. They met in 1994 at the Woolman Hill Quaker Retreat Center, during a regional meeting of the Covenant of the Goddess, and they married there in 2005. She continues to do public outreach, by volunteering with Wiccan groups in prisons and also through involvement in the Unitarian-Universalist church. She has represented Earth-Based clergy at large interfaith services, led services for Samhain, Yule, Imbolg, Midsummer, and Lammas, and spoken at various UU venues (including Religious Education classes) about our religion.

She enjoys lifelong passions for music (especially early music), folklore, and historical research; she continues to work on a book about the history of Sabbat practices, a Coven Cookbook, and a historical novel. (Writing seems like a multi-lifetime endeavor!) She founded the Æring Early Music Ensemble in 2009. Although she is new to the Board, she joined SEF in 1997 and has been the official Administrative Witch since 2001.

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Greg

My name is Gregory Savage, and I started looking into Paganism while I was still part of the Lutheran church in the mid 90’s. I started as a solitary practitioner in 1996. I met my now wife in 2000, and discovered that she was also a solitary practitioner. We married 6 years later and started to attend the Pagan Family Connection events with our son in 2007.  Later that year we attended our first Public Society of Elder Faiths Ritual, and we have been coming back ever since then. I officially joined the SEF in 2013 and was elected to the board in 2014.

I was raised a Lutheran but have become a very active member in the Unitarian Universalist church since 2007. I have taught Sunday school in both faiths as well as being a youth group leader for both.

Over the last few years, as well as becoming part of the board, I have also become one of the people to help run the Pagan Family Connection as well as our Teen and Tween group. It has been an honor to become part of this group, and to make so many new friends some of which have become family to myself and my family as well. I look forward to being part of the SEF for a long time to come and meeting new people and making new friendships.

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Cynthia

Cynthia is one of our newer board members, and is still working on her Board Bio.   She and her family have been participating in Pagan Family Connection events for several years.  She also brings her musical talents to our Beltain celebrations and our annual Coffeehouse and Auction!

Kara, Religious Education

Kara Nilson has been an SEF member since 2003, and has been a co-leader and leader of the Pagan Family Connection since 2007. In response to the needs of the pre-teens in the PFC, she started the Tween and Teen Esbat Group that meets once a month at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Hudson, MA.

Discovering the craft in 1986, Kara was unable to find any resources or events friendly to young teenagers. She kept her solitary practice until discovering the SEF in 2003, then dedicating to Mnemosyne’s Well of the Spawn Far tradition in 2006. In 2010 she dedicated to Llwyn Bedw Arian coven. Kara has written and co-faciliated public rituals for adults at Taproot, in Grafton and Hopkinton and for Pagan families in Grafton since 2006.

 

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Karen, President

Karen Selznick has been an SEF member since 2003. She joined the Board in February of 2012. In addition to being the official photographer for the SEF she worked with Mnemosyne’s Well to co-facilitate public rituals for adults at Taproot and has also held supporting roles in numerous rituals at the Barn in Grafton and the Hopkinton YMCA Camp.

Karen began her practice and first dedicated to Dion Tir in Orlando, Florida in 1996. After moving back to Massachusetts in 2002, she began attending open SEF events She is presently a member of the coven Salacia.

Born in Brooklyn NY, Karen relocated to Massachusetts at age 5. After 18 years in the Northeast, she decided a change was in order, and moved to sunny Florida. Having had enough sun, and missing her family, she came back to Massachusetts in 2002. She now resides in Franklin with her husband Shawn and teenage daughter Chloe; a cat named Homer; a bird named Mousse; and two guinea pigs named Flubber and Weebo.

She is a Summa Cum Laude Graduate of Becker College holding a Bachelors Degree in Business Management. Karen is currently working as a cosmetologist in Franklin, MA.

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Shawn, Treasurer

Shawn is one of the founding board members and current President of the SEF. He has written many of its rituals and led some of its retreats, including Dancing the Stang, the Journey through the Egyptian Underworld, and the Isis Intensive. He founded Team Wheels of Fortune and is chair of the End of Life Committee.

Shawn was initiated into the Coven Chthonioi and the Order of Ganymede in the 1983-4, co-founded Symbios coven in 1987 and Kouretes coven in 2009. He has worked with several pagan organizations in varied capacities, including the EarthSpirit community and Covenant of the Goddess. He became a Freemason in 1991 and master of Satucket Lodge in 2001, then serving as secretary for 11 years.

His interests include the reconstruction of ancient Egyptian temple rites and communal rituals of ancient and modern cultures. He also crafts magical tools and meditational foci, blending myth, symbol, and material correspondences.

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Spirituali-Tea 6/13/2015

Saturday June 13, 3 – 5 PM: Spirituali-Tea
A social gathering of coven leaders and those interesting in joining covens.
3 to 5 PM, with orientation / overview at 3 PM.
At: Hayes Lodge, MetroWest YMCA, 45 East Street, Hopkinton MA
Fee: Admission is free, although we do ask for voluntary donations to cover site rental, tea and cookies.

How do I find a coven? How do we find new students?

Both are questions we often hear at SEF gatherings. Spirituali-TEA is a casual event designed to bring these two groups together.

After introductions, individuals will have the opportunity to sequentially chat with each coven, rather like speed dating, followed by unstructured conversation.

This is a great opportunity to meet other members of the community, and to find the coven or student you have been looking for.

Covens must register in advance, so that a program may be prepared.
Please contact Shawn Berry by June 6th at: spinningwheels13@yahoo.com

Please click HERE for directions

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Winter Solstice Circle 12/19/2015

Saturday December 19, Doors open 6 PM:  Public Winter Solstice Circle
At:     Hopkinton YMCA, 45 East Street, Hopkinton MA
Fee:  (Suggested Donation) SEF Members $5 / Nonmembers $10
For:  Adults and teens 15+.  This will be a serious magickal working for all participating, and as such is not appropriate for younger children.  For families with kids under 15, we suggest the Pagan Family Yule Celebration.

Join us as we celebrate the Return of the Sun!

There will be a simple potluck supper after the Ritual. Please note that we will not be able to heat food onsite, but we will be able to set up some crockpots. If you wish to bring a potluck dish, please bring items that will not need to be heated OR bring something in a crockpot, fully prepared and cooked, along with any necessary serving utensils. We’ll supply cups, plates, eating utensils, and some hot beverages. (Alcohol is not allowed at the YMCA.) Soups, breads, and desserts will make for a hearty winter feast!

Directions to MetroWest YMCA, Hopkinton

Coffeehouse and Benefit Auction 11/21/2015

Saturday November 21, 6 – 10 PM: Coffeehouse and Benefit Auction
At:  Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson, 80 Main Street, Hudson MA
Admission:  SEF Members $3 / Nonmembers $5

Join us for our Twelfth Annual Coffeehouse and Benefit auction, celebrating the post-Harvest season of dark nights, warm fellowship and bright music! Our coffeehouses to date have raised over $25,000 for the ongoing programs of the Society of Elder Faiths. We need donations of all kinds for the Live and Silent Auctions, and we also request the pleasure of your company.

Bid on impressive Magickal items at the Live Auction, and numerous unexpected treasures in the Silent Auction — all while being entertained by the most musically talented friends of the SEF! The auctions will feature ritual objects, handcrafted items, and original artwork, and the coffeehouse will feature great music and luscious refreshments for sale. (The venue does not allow alcohol.)

We are now accepting Visa, MasterCard, and Discover! So bring your Yule Shopping List – as well as your own Wish List!

Click HERE for PAGE 1 of Auction Item photos!

Click HERE for PAGE 2

Click HERE for PAGE 3

Click HERE for PAGE 4

Click HERE for PAGE 5

More to come!

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