Sunday, October 28, 2018 at 5:30pm, join us for a great presentation by William Blake Lodge member David Salisbury. David has been presenting on Halloween lore in this talk for nearly 10 years. His forthcoming book ‘Witchcraft Activism’ will be published by Weiser Books in early 2019.

As one of the oldest still-observed holidays in the western world, Halloween or “Samhain” has managed to survive and thrive throughout the ups and downs of the past 2,000 years. While a religious observance to some and a secular party to others, Halloween has acquired an amazing ability to adapt to its cultural surroundings in ways that no other holiday or feast day can match.

In this brief talk, learn the global timeline of the holiday along with its lore, symbols, and curious myths. From the blazing bonfires of the Celts to the rambunctious pranks of youth, don your cloak as we fly through the rich celebrations of the beloved dead.

$10 admission; free for dues-current WBL members.
Please arrive no earlier than 5:00pm and no later than 5:20pm (or stay after the Gnostic Mass).

Massapalooza: a Weekend of Fraternity and Gnosis!

Saturday, October 27, 2018 at 2:00pm, join us at the Baltimore Museum of Art to see the first retrospective of famed filmmaker John Waters’s visual arts career in his hometown of Baltimore. This exhibit will show more than 160 provocative photographs, sculptures, videos and sound works. The exhibition concludes with a resource gallery of 1960s film footage presented in peep-show format and a selection of objects from Waters’s home and studio that inspire his art. Please meet us no later than 2:00pm at the information desk just inside the historic entrance. 

Be sure to purchase your tickets in advance!

Reserve tickets here.

Learn more about John Waters: Indecent Exposure.

“…a feast for life and a greater feast for death!” AL II:41

The Dumb Supper is an old Victorian tradition that comes from the peak of the spiritualist movement in the late 19th and early 20th century Europe. Traces of dining with the dead go back for a millennia and can be found in the Celtic, Scandinavian, Saxon, Southeast Asian, and Mexican peoples.

The Wiccan tradition of the Dumb Supper (also called the “Red Meal” in Traditional Witchcraft) consists of a potluck dinner that is eaten in complete and total silence. Each person should bring a dish that is either important to your family or a favorite food of a beloved deceased person. Once all the food is prepared and everyone is seated, the meal commences in silence at the toll of a bell. During the time of silence, you may eat your meal and then commune with the spirits of your beloved ones if you finish early.

After the supper, we’ll lighten the mood by celebrating the Halloween season with music and fun.

Please bring:

• A dish to share: The favored food of one who has passed on, or a food traditional to your family or culture.<\li>
• Wine if you plan to imbibe.
• Photos and/or mementos of your beloved dead for the ancestor altar

Suggested attire: Black robes preferred but general all-black attire is ok, too.