This Sunday, September 23, 2012, the Solar Cross Temple will hold its Idunna Blót and Apple Harvest Celebration in Berkeley. We asked T. Thorn Coyle, President, and Jonathan Korman, Secretary, of the Solar Cross Temple a few questions about the event.

1. What can people expect from the monthly services that Solar Cross has started to provide to the community?

“Our new monthly services reflect our mission to act as an “ecumenical” Pagan temple, serving the full range of Pagan traditions and helping to draw the whole Pagan community together in mutual respect.”

2. What audience is Solar Cross reaching out to with the newly added local activities?

“Each month we honor a different deity. Most of the services are simple, typically running for about an hour, including storytelling, offerings, and a meditation, followed by socializing afterward. We want to provide a space that welcomes families and children, in contrast to so many adult-oriented Pagan events; though we do not gear the services tochildren, we make them child-friendly. Occasionally we will do more elaborate celebrations like the forthcoming Idunna Blót and Apple Harvest Celebration.”

3. What, exactly, is a Blót?

“A Blót is a ritual of sacrifice or blessing in which a group of people offer energy to the Gods, and the Gods offer their blessing back to the group in an even exchange.”

4. What are the planned activities for Sunday and why did you choose the goddess Idunna to honor with this celebration?

“At our Blót, a priest from Sunna Kindred will do a “hammer hallowing” to bless the space, we will tell the story of Idunna, and pass a horn in gratitude and offering to the Gods, receiving a blessing in return. Then we will pick apples to make into juice and apple butter, and eat, sing, talk, and celebrate. We chose Idunna for both practical and symbolic reasons. Idunna acts as keeper of the apples of the Gods of Asgard, provider of fertility and youth. The founders of Solar Cross have apple trees (hopefully!) whose fruit will be ripe on the day when we have the Blót planned; since many people have had a hard year, we want to share our harvest in order to bring bounty and good harvests for the Pagan community. And all of us could stand a shot of youthfulness!”

5. The celebration will be held at The Palace in Berkeley. Where is that?

“For directions to the gathering please contact Swordplow on the events page (opsis {at} sbcglobal(.)net) for more information. http://www.solarcrosstemple.org/community/events/“

The Pagan Pente

Five Things to Know About the Solar Cross Temple’s Idunna Blót & Apple Harvest Celebration

1. The Solar Cross is a “temple dedicated to pan-magical practice, worship, education, outreach and bringing justice to the world through spiritual service. It welcomes Pagans, Heathens, Witches, Ceremonial Magickians, Mystics, and other sincere seekers.” (http://www.solarcrosstemple.org/)
2. The Idunna Blót and Apple Harvest Celebration will be held Sunday, September 23rd from 12pm to 6pm. The Blót will start promptly at 1pm.
3. Children are welcome with a parent or guardian.
4. The celebration will include ritual, storytelling, music, harvest-inspired canning and bottling, and feasting.
5. Bring jars and bottles if you’d like to take home fresh-pressed apple juice, cider, or apple butter. Musical instruments are encouraged.

Jelen VanderYacht reporting, Pagan Newswire Collective Bay Area