SoNGS Education

SoNGS is the Steading that owns and operates Squirrelly productions. Our Seeker level courses are free and open to the public. Often, it is better to learn through discussion groups. We will be having two circles a month dedicated to helping our Seekers by providing basic information common to many Pagan traditions, including ethics, the occult, Pagan principles and Pagan beliefs. Click on the SoNGS tab in the menu for more information.

Who are Those Furry Rodents?

No we aren't nuts! Squirrelly Productions is the public arm of the Shadows of Nature Guardian Steading  (SoNGS). The group serves the community by hosting a number of Pagan events throughout the year, both public and by invitation. The events are grouped into social get-togethers, religious celebrations (sabats, esbats), educational; opportunities and field trips. The Steading members are not of the same path, thus we are not a coven.  Pagans of all paths are invited to attend our public events, get to know us, and if you are interested in joining us, invest the time required to go through our educational material.
THE MEANING OF VOLCANOES IN DREAMS

The subject of volcanoes came up in a recent Squirrelly Dream Dabbling session. A volcanic eruption figured prominently in a dream one of the participants had.

So what does a volcano in a dream mean?  It is usually associated with a conflict scenario. Dreams about earth-based dangers like volcanoes (or tsunamis, earthquakes, etc.) generally point to inner turmoil or emotional conflict in the dreamer's world. It is a warning from your subconscious that there is something going on in your waking life that needs your attention: a conflict that must be resolved. The volcano represents strong emotions held in check but bubbling just beneath the surface, ready to erupt.  The usual emotion being held in check is anger: usually it is the anger the dreamer is bottling up, but it could be fear of someone else’s anger.
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The Squirrel in Pagan Mythology

The squirrel teaches people there aren’t any obstacles that can’t be surmounted, and to balance life. Any problem or threat can be overcome by going into a higher place of the mind and forming a plan of action. Its aspects are gathering, preparedness and activity. Its cycle of power is year around and peaks in autumn. It symbolizes problem solving, resourcefulness, storing for the future, planning ahead, balance in giving and receiving, playfulness, warning, discovery, change and getting rid of what isn’t needed, be it objects and/or negative emotions, memory and beliefs.

THE SQUIRREL: Ancient Pagan Symbol of Gathering and Activity

The squirrel's lessons are that there are no insurmountable objects and to balance life. She's the subject of legend and an autumn symbol, gathering food for winter.
More than 200 species of squirrels are native to all continents except Australia and Antarctica. The largest is the Indian Giant Squirrel... (Learn more at Elemental Magick)

Want to be a Squirrelly Volunteer?

If you would like to be part of the fastest growing Pagan organization in Northeast Washington, contact us!  The more volunteers we have, the more and better rituals we can produce!
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Festival of Tailtiu

It is Lugh and Harvest time approaches. Come join us to celebrate the life of the Last Fir Bolg Queen and her stepson Lugh.  Click Here for more details! And please RSVP on the Meetup Page so we have an estimate of the number of people attending!

SQUIRRELLY EVENTS

Squirrelly is one of the most active Pagan groups in the Spokane area. We perform a number of rituals, a Witches Ball, multiple social gatherings and field trips throughout the year. All of our events are family-friendly. To see what we are doing in the near future, click on the Meetup Page Button

OUR PUBLIC & BY-INVITATION RITUALS

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Burning Man
Squirrelly hosts eight sabats and esbats throughout the year.  Four are public events and four are by invitation only. Most of the time, events are by invitation only because of space limitations - not all of our venues can handle a large number of people, especially in the winter! Invitations are usually sent to those who support our group by attending our public events, our social activities or getting involved in our study program.  Our two biggest public events are Burning Man, celebrated around Beltane, and the Festival of Tailtiu, a two-day event around Lughnassadh. Both take place at Greyhaven, a 45 minute drive north of Spokane.
Burning Man is our Springtime rite, where we say goodbye to our wintry spirits and friends and welcome back the sun. The event includes our wishing willow, a Maypole dance and of course, the Burning Man!
The Festival of Tailtiu is our best public event of the year! The first day is a modern version of the funeral games in honor of Tailtiu, the Lady who gave all so that we might begin the path to civilization. The games are both strength and skill. The games last into the night with bardic competitions. Primitive camping is available for a small fee to help pay for port-a-potties.The second day is devoted to a ritual honoring Tailtiu and her stepson Lugh.

Other public events include our Spring Equinox celebration featuring the Pueblo God Kokopelli and our Midsummer picnic, which recently has had a Greek flavor to it.
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Cinquefoil, the plant of abundance, at the Festival ritual.
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2013 Imbolc at Greyhaven
Our by invitation only sabats are Imbolc and a Remembrance Ceremony just after Samhain. Imbolc used to be a public event, and it still may be if the snows are light, but clearing snow off the Greyhaven sacred space has  been way too much work and our other venues cannot handle the number of people who attend our public events. Thanks to Squirrelly's networking with other groups world-wide, Squirrelly has a candle lit from a candle that was lit from Brighid's flame in Ireland. All celebrants at Imbolc light their own candle from Brighid's flame.
Our Remembrance ceremony honors our ancestors and those recently departed, including our familiars and pets. It is a very touching ceremony which includes a dumb supper.

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Our social events are the best way to get to know us and for us to get to know you! Our social activities are a great way to make friendships with like-minded people!

Witches Ball!
After a one-year hiatus, our Witches Ball is back! The 2016 Ball wasat the Spokane Women's Club. Themed  THE WILD HUNT, it was a rousing success. !The masquerade features a free dance lesson, dinner, games and dancing. Seating is limited, so buy your tickets early!

Yule Party
Is there a more festive time of the year than the end of December? At our Yule party we thank our volunteers and supporters for their work the previous year and announce our plans for the coming year. By invitation only!

Dream Dabbling
Our dreams are full of symbolism and emotions that are often difficult to interpret. Oce a month on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Squirrelly meets at Reboot Cafe, 501 Thor Street, to interpret dreams. If you wish, write down one of your dreams and the emotions you felt while dreaming and we will help you interpret it. Or just come in and enjoy the company of fellow pagans and great coffee! Seating is limited. Reboot features shade-grown, organic coffee, free WiFi and friendly baristas.

Pagan Pizza
Pagan Pizza is a family-friendly discussion group that happens monthly on a Saturday evening at the Five Mile Round Table Pizza. Squirrelly picks a topic to get the conversation started and then the discussion goes where the participants decide to take it! Come have a pizza or salad (or both!) and enjoy some time with like-minded people.

Talking Pagan
Monthly  Squirrelly returns to Reboot Cafe on a Saturday morning to discuss topics of general interest to the Pagan community.  Topics are generally picked from what is trending on the Pagan blogosphere, but as Pagans are notorious for not being able to stay on topic, you never know where the conversation will lead! It is a lot of fun, and the coffee is great.


OUT AND ABOUT

The out and about days are times when some or all of the Squirrelly members participate in non-Squirrelly events. Events are always more fun if you go with a group, so here are places that you might find Squirrelly members to hang out with.

Deer Park Plant Sale
The Deer Park Gardening Club offers a selection of plants that actually grown in our climate (unlike some nurseries!). The prices are the best around too. If you are looking for tomato, pepper or other plants for your garden, this is a good first stop.  It is best to get there early in the morning, then go to a local greenhouse to buy what you couldn't find at the plant sale. If you are hungry, the Salty dog has real good food (Halibut and cod flown in fresh from Alaska is highly recommended!), Angry Orchard hard cider and Guinness, both on tap and great ambiance.

Hayden Farmer's Market
Open on Saturday mornings, the farmer's market in Hayden, Idaho is the best place in the area to buy potted herbs. If you are planning an herb garden or planning on extending the one you have, this is a must stop.

Chataqua
The annual Chataqua in Chewelah celebrates the old mountain man rendezvous. There is  beer garden with nearly continuous entertainment, lots of food, and craft booths. It is the first town fair of the season.

Green Bluff Cherry and Blueberry Picking
When the cherries and blueberries are ready, we'll be going the Abundance Farm, then maybe stop by Harvest House for lunch or Bodacious Berries, Fruits and Brews or maybe to Hierophant Meadery to relax.

Northwest Renaissance Festival
The Northwest renaissance Festival in Tum Tum is a fun, only mildly commercialized event during two weekends in July. There are great re-enactments, games and music, all put on by locals. In the past, we have drunk the White Stag out of Guiness while singing along with the troubadours. Wear a costume if you have one, but be sure to peace tie your weapons!

Spokane Highland Games
Highland games are only part of this great festival! There is dancing, bagpipes, multiple craft booths and booths of the various Scottish clans, plus a beer garden of course!

Peach Picking at Greenbluff
Our favorite spot is 11 Acre Farm. This is the best vegetable grower on Greenbluff in our opinion.

Apple Picking at Greenbluff
Some Squirrelly members have been doing this sojourn for more than 20 years! Around the beginning of October, we go to Hidden Acres on Greenbluff to pick apples and pumpkins. Then sometimes we go across the street and listen to music while relaxing with a brew or two (or three of four).

THE ANCIENT SQUIRREL
ANCESTOR OF US ALL?

from Victoria Woollaston, the UK Daily Mail

A fossil of a squirrel-like creature, described as a possible ancestor to modern man, has been discovered in Inner Mongolia, China.   Zhe-Xi Luo, professor of organismal biology and anatomy at the University of Chicago said: "We cannot say that Megaconus is our direct ancestor, but it certainly looks like a great-great-grand uncle 165 million years removed."

The ancient mammalian relative, called Megaconus mammaliaformis, is one of the best-preserved fossils of the mammaliaform groups, which are long-extinct relatives to modern mammals.  Believed to date back around 165 million years, Megaconus co-existed with feathered dinosaurs in the Jurassic era, nearly 100 million years before Tyrannosaurus Rex roamed Earth. Researchers have described the Megaconus as being similar to modern-day squirrels.

The discovery has also provided evidence that traits such as hair and fur originated well before the rise of the first true mammals. Gotta love squirrels!

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