Quarterly Newsletter (6/25/2025)
NTP Helps Green Up A Local School
By Brandy
I read an email from Peru Central School (Peru, NY) asking for plant donations and was intrigued. The Environmental Science classes in the high school were trying to supply each classroom with a live plant as part of their “Plants in Every Classroom” initiative, but had fallen short of donations to make this happen, despite months of asking. Now, most of the Pagans I know have an appreciation for nature and often, green thumbs. They have house plants, a garden, or both, and some even have a plant problem (🤣)! It took me a few days, but I got in contact with one of the teachers spearheading this initiative and told him that I have this group of friends…
I explained to him who we are and that we’d love the opportunity to help the kids out and spread the green. He told me that they were in need of house plants, but also that SAVE (Students Against a Vanishing Environment) was working on replanting the beds in the school’s courtyard that had recently been dug up and they needed hardy outdoor plants as well. I smiled and told him, “We got this.” And we certainly did!
The outpouring from members honestly brought tears to my eyes; I was so moved, and so proud. We had members who live far away expressing that they wish they lived closer so they could help. We had members from Elizabethtown, NY drive 45 minutes to donate seedlings they had planted. I took tours of extensive gardens with a wheelbarrow and shovel and was gifted with a carload, yes, a carload of perennials. Several members donated cuttings from their prized collections and others bought houseplants to donate. In all, we donated over 100 plants!
As it is the end of the school year, the houseplants will summer with one of the teachers in charge of this program and in September, there will be “Plants in Every Classroom”! The perennials were planted in the courtyard beds by SAVE, but there’s still plenty of room - it’s a huge flower bed. I plan on reconnecting us with this program in the fall, sharing more plants for the courtyard. A huge thank you to all who participated in this round - it meant a lot to the students at Peru Central School.
NTP & Pride Month
By Sean
PRIDE month may be over by what the calendar says, but PRIDE is all year long. NTP, since COVID, has had a long standing tradition of attending and tabling at several PRIDE events in the area. Why do we do this? Some modern Pagan traditions actively seek out and celebrate LGBTQ+ deities and figures from ancient pantheons, further solidifying the connection between Paganism and queer spirituality. Paganism encompasses a wide array of traditions, and while some may have elements that are more traditionally gendered or heteronormative, others are explicitly inclusive of LGBTQ+ identities.
Paganism often views the body and sexuality as holy, and many paths embrace gender and sexual fluidity, with some even viewing gender non-conformity as a source of spiritual power. Paganism offers a diverse and often accepting space for LGBTQ+ individuals, with many paths and traditions that embrace and celebrate diverse gender and sexual identities. While challenges may exist, the overall trend within modern Paganism is towards greater inclusivity and affirmation for LGBTQ+ people. It is even more important in these current times, when our beliefs and lifestyles are politically under fire, that we stand and fight for what we, in our hearts, believe is the truth to make our community and the earth a better place for all.
Recent Sabbats
By Brandy
Beltane was celebrated May 10, 2025 at Mhisty’s Coventree in Peru, NY. This sabbat was organized by Brandy, who decided to give it a Greek spin.
The ritual started with a procession and ritual cleansing, as is custom to Greek ritual. Our procession was short, across the yard, and then each participant cleansed their hands in khernips (holy water) infused with bay and lavender. This ritual focussed on the Greek festivals of Thesmophoria (honoring Demeter’s reunion with Persephone) and Anthesteria (honoring Dionysus and Hermes). It was a lovely ritual providing all with new experiences as it was our first Greek themed ritual, and of course, a chance to wear our togas and chitons! Then, as is tradition, we danced around the Maypole. And finally, there was a potluck feast. Once the festivities were complete, we held an open council meeting - something we do Beltane and Samhain. All present could participate in the meeting and many ideas and some of the events listed above were conceived.
Litha was celebrated June 21, 2025 at Anne’s house in Saranac. This sabbat was organized by Amy, who also decided to go Greek with our ritual’s theme. All participants cleansed themselves with holy water, infused with dried lavender, fresh thyme, and fresh bay, prior to entering the sacred space. The altar was set with statues of Hesta and Apollo as they were being honored during this rite. During the ritual, participants pulled tarot cards in acknowledgement of Apollo’s dominion over divination. Also, as is tradition with Litha, we had our sword fight between the Holly King and the Oak King (darkness and light, respectively). Since the days will now be getting shorter, the Holly King, or darkness, won this battle. This is a pivotal moment in the change of seasons and in the energy surrounding them. We up North are just getting into summer while other places are further along in their growing season. As we approach the peak of our growing season we must keep in mind that the harvest is coming, as is the introspection and endurance of darker and colder times ahead..
Lughnasadh/Lammas
By Amy
Lughnasadh is a Celtic Holiday that marks the first of the harvest season. It was a time to celebrate the God Lugh, also known as Samildanach (meaning “equally skilled in many arts”) or Lugh of the Long Arm. He was seen as a great warrior, king, and master craftsman. He is closely related to the sun, divine inspiration/clarity, and justice. One story of Lugh is that when he decided to join the Tuatha Dé Danann, he was asked what skills he could use to serve the court. Lugh listed off his many skills and talents, but they already had members of the court that had also mastered those skills. Lugh then asked, “But do you have someone that is a master of them all?” He was then admitted to the court, and he was made leader.
Many games and festivals were held in Lugh’s name with the finale on August 1st, hence the selection of August 1st as the date for this Sabbat. In Greek Mythology, the God Poseidon was honored during July with games and festivals. The Roman Goddess Ceres was also honored during this time, with the beginning of the grain harvest in August, along with another celebration to the God Vulcan, the Roman equivalent of Hephaestus. Isis, an Egyptian sun goddess, was celebrated near the time of this Sabbat. We also know that many Native American tribes had solar festivals where they celebrated the corn or maize harvest. They would celebrate the Corn Grandmother who resided in the corn stalks and would typically gather in large groups for several days of feasting and games of skill.
Lammas, or loaf mass day, is a Christian holiday that is celebrated on the 1st of August. It too celebrated the first fruits of the harvest by bringing loaves of bread to their church to be blessed and then the church members would make a procession to local bakeries so that they could be blessed by Christian clergy. Some neopagans use the word Lammas as an alternative name for Lughnasadh.
An Event Milestone
Pagan Coffee Hour was first held on April 3, 2024 and started as a way for those of us who attended the Paganism 101 class to continue to see each other regularly. For a while we did weekly and then bi-weekly. Finally we settled on monthly for optimal attendance. Over the past year we’ve had as few as 2 and as many as 18, with steady growth noted since January this year. Pagan Coffee Hour at Koffee Kat in Plattsburgh, NY hit a milestone last month - 25 in attendance! We have outgrown the little back patio they have in the cafe, and now we virtually take over the entire shop! It is amazing to see so many of our Pagan family getting together over drinks (coffee, tea, boba, smoothies) and enjoying being able to socialize freely amongst like-minded people.
Upcoming Events
7/10 Full Moon Chat
Virtual @ 7:30pm, discuss full moon, upcoming sabbat
7/11 Pagan Coffee Hour
Koffee Kat @ 6pm, relaxed social gathering inside shop
7/24 New Moon Drum Circle
Plattsburgh Boat Basin, The Compass, @ 7pm
7/26 Pagan Faire
Gem Goddess Emporium 10am-8pm, NTP Classes & Vendors
8/2 Lughnasadh Ritual & Potluck
Mhisty’s Coven Tree in Peru, NY @ 4pm
8/7 Pagan Coffee Hour
Koffee Kat @ 6pm, relaxed social gathering inside shop
8/9 Full Moon Chat
Virtual @ 7:30pm, discuss full moon, guided meditation
8/9 Midnight Drum Circle Under the Full Moon
9pm-12am, see FB for location Ritual make-up, sacred fire and ritual with drumming, dancing, and singing Mature themes, not recommended for children
8/23 New Moon Drum Circle
Plattsburgh Boat Basin, The Compass, @ 7pm
9/6 Fairy & Magickal Creatures Festival
Elizabethtown, NY behind the Adirondack History Museum 10am-5pm, Vendors and live performers, food trucks, large fairy garden to tour, free kids’ activities. Adults $10 and children free.
9/7 Full Moon Chat
Virtual @ 7:30pm, discuss full moon, upcoming sabbat
9/12 Pagan Coffee Hour
Koffee Kat @ 6pm, relaxed social gathering inside shop
9/21 Mabon Ritual & Potluck
Mhisty’s Coven Tree in Peru, NY @ 4pm
9/22 New Moon Drum Circle
Plattsburgh Boat Basin, The Compass, @ 7pm
