Schedule
Asklepia High Rite will be 22 March 2025 at CedarLight Center and virtually via Zoom.
3 PM Doors open to the public
6 PM Pre-ritual brief
7 PM Start of rite
- Cost: $20.00 suggested donation
Times are subject to change, please check our website blog, our Event Calendar or our Ostara Facebook event for the most up-to-date information on the ritual. All High Rites are open to the public, so feel free to bring a friend 🙂
Times are subject to change, please check before you leave.
The selected charity for this High Rite is White Stork, US Veterans Delivering Humanitarian Aid Directly To Ukraine, Operation White Stork is a 501(c)(3) charity established to help Ukraine with direct aid to the frontlines – ensuring your donations reach those in need. No middle men, no aid depots, no B.S. ♥
https://whitestork.us/
Covid-19 Policy:
CedarLight Grove complies with all COVID-19 requirements of the State of Maryland and Baltimore City.
Updated covid policy—CedarLight will no longer be requiring proof of covid vaccination or a negative covid test result to attend in-person events at CedarLight Grove, or collecting contact information to perform contact tracing. We will still be providing Zoom access to walk with the old ones and high rite ceremonies. N-95 masks and rapid covid tests are still freely provided. We ask that those who are sick please stay home and join us through Zoom. Thank you for bearing with us through the last 2 years. Here’s hoping that the worst has past. The officers will continue to monitor the situation in case things get worse and act accordingly. Good health to all!
Zoom Info
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Meeting ID: 468 067 1478
Lore of the Season & Ritual Information
Prayer: The theme is healing. Specifically healing from the illness that winter brings, and commemorating the 5 year anniversary since the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine began.
Pantheon: Greek
Deities of the Occasion
Primary Patron: Asklepios/Asclepius, son of Apollo
Earth Mother: Kore (Persephone)
Mother of Waters: Aphrodite of the Chesapeake
Gatekeeper: Artemis
Bardic Inspiration: Apollo
Outsiders: Pan
This High Rite is based on the holiday Asklepia https://www.hellenion.org/festivals/asklepia/
The Origins of the Asclepeion
The followers of Asclepius (‘Asclepiads’) began to flourish around the 6th century BCE, with the first Asclepeion established in Epidaurus, Greece. As Asclepius’s popularity grew, these healing sanctuaries spread throughout the Greek world and later, the Roman Empire. Notable Asclepeions were found in Cos, Pergamon, and Athens, each becoming a center of healing and medical knowledge.
Offerings
Orange Juice, Green Tea, Holistic healing remedies
Children and Pets
Children are welcome to all CedarLight events, but small children must be attended at all times because our center is not child proof, there are stairs, fires, candles and small items that could be swallowed. We do not yet have children activities planned for this event however that can change if we know they are coming.
Trained service animals are, of course, welcome.
Pets however, are not allowed because we have learned from past mistakes that not everyone knows how to approach an animal and not every animal will behave predictably with many strangers around. Thank you for understanding.
Suggested Offerings
epresentation of Mara
- Wooden Snakes (decorated)
- Incense, flowers, & herbs
- Seasonal foods
- Bardic works you have created (please let the ritual team know ahead of time so they can slot you in)
- Hand-crafted items
PLEASE NOTE: We take oaths very seriously. Any oaths given as an offering MUST be cleared with the Senior Druid prior to the High Rite. Please see Sean-Paul upon arrival if you plan on giving an oath.
What to Bring
See section on offerings.
A dish that serves at least 6-8 people.
**We have folks with severe allergies and food sensitivities – please include a list of your dish’s ingredients.**
Suggested Seasonal Food:
- Warm dishes, crock pots are easy to bring and easy to take back home
- Greek cuisine, especially healthy and healing
- Please take any leftovers and your dishes and serving utensils home with you
There are cans of sodas and bottled water available at the Grove for $1.00 each. Feel free to contribute beverages to the Grove!
The High Rite will be held outdoors; please dress for the weather. If it rains, we will be under the pavilion.
Ritual Etiquette
- Do not honor deities of different pantheons than those being honored at this rite
- PLEASE KEEP YOURSELF MUTED ON ZOOM unless you are giving an individual invocation as part of the liturgy or performing a praise offering. Group call and responses should remain muted unless otherwise requested by the Chief Liturgist. Attendees who continually disrupt the ritual with background noise because they are unmuted will be removed from the Zoom room.
- Offerings will be mainly given in silence as a group, but if you have something you wish to say, sing, or recite, let the Chief Liturgist know ahead of time so they can make time for your offering
- Do not declare any oaths during the rite without expressed permission from the Chief Liturgist well before the rite
- Some rites include a regular renewal oath. This is optional for those who are interested, the text will be available beforehand.
After Ritual
If participants wish to hang out after the rite, the Zoom room will remain open for socializing. Feel free to bring dinner and make it a virtual potluck! We won’t even nag you about washing the dishes!
Cost/Donations
All CedarLight events have a suggested donation of $20 per person. This can be contributed to Dagda’s Cauldron either at the Grove, or online via paypal to cedarlightgrove@gmail.com. All donations go towards CedarLight Center bills and upkeep.
