Three New hrel for Pagan Assembly of Nova Scotia

For Lughnasadh weekend this year, I ventured up to Nova Scotia to celebrate festival with the Pagan Assembly of Nova Scotia on their new property, Rivergrove. I was in Nova Scotia August last for the Sunken Lake Retreat, but this year was special for several reasons.

To begin, it was 30^th anniversary of the first Avalon East Pagan Gathering. This gathering, organized by the Maritime Pagan Gathering Festival Association (MPGFA), continued for many years. MPGFA put on many festivals, but there was one undercurrent that stretched though the years: the desire to find land on which to hold festivals. The festivals had always been on private land, but the desire for common ground was always nearby.

PANS – Pagan Assembly of Nova Scotia

While the MPGFA went through various changes, the Pan Assembly of Nova Scotia (PANS) is a direct descendant of that original movement. PANS formed five years ago and has been active in and around the Halifax area in that time. This year, several events marked that five-year anniversary.

PANS, through the efforts and cooperation of members, helped to raise money for and assure the continuation of payments for the land. A local credit union provided the ability to purchase the land, and this gathering, and the work that led to it, is a testimonial to the long road to an accessible, publicly open campground which will host festivals, events, and weekend camping.

The other significant thing about the five-year anniversary is this allows PANS’ recognition as a charitable organisation and a recognised church in Nova Scotia. This is so particularly important since the recognition of charitable organisations and churches occurs on a provincial level in Canada.

hrel

I arrived late due to airlines delays, but upon arrival, I was overjoyed to discover that I would be a witness to the ordination of three new hrel, a Proto-Indo-European word for priest. Three individuals from PANS, Brian, Karen, and Gwen, would become priests and perform their oaths in front of the land, the Gods, and the Pagan Assembly of Nova Scotia.

The sky kissed the festival field. Small clouds adorned the sky as the congregation moved towards an opening in the trees. Stones led the way, past the Ancestors Shrine, past the shining lights strung along the tree-lined path. The trail curved slightly and then turned into a hidden trail. Once past the corner, the vista opened to a small river, flowing quietly, reverently, waiting, with a sound so subtle, so clear that one could tell that something important was about to take place.

The ritual unfolded on a riverbed, where the land and sky meet the water. In this sacred and liminal space, as dusk was approaching, the community gathered to not only hear the oaths spoken, but to aver and affirm those oaths, here, in this sacred space.

An Oath, Spoken

The three new hrel spoke the words and oaths and the community responded with a resounding approval to not only indicated that they had witnessed the event, but most importantly, that they also approved.

I stood on the shore of the river and watched each of the three speak out the oaths and their promises of stewardship and care. It felt as though time stood still and the flow of the water sung the melody, while the words of the hrel moved from the shore to the congregation, to the trees, and finally to the sky. As was as it should be. There were three new hrel for the Pagan Assembly of Nova Scotia.

Part Two: Some thoughts and reflections from the hrel