The Seasonal Table: A Monthly Brunch
A Confluence of Women, Magic, and Meaning

Hosted by Friends of the Forest

Come as you are. Bring a dish. Leave feeling nourished.

Join us for a heart-centered series of monthly community potluck brunches that celebrate the cycles of nature, the wisdom of women, and the beauty of connection. Inspired by ancient traditions and modern sisterhood, these gatherings offer a space to slow down, honor the moment, and reconnect — with the earth, with each other, and with yourself.

Whether you arrive solo or with a friend, you’ll be welcomed into a warm community of like-minded women.

What These Gatherings Are

These brunches are not formal women’s circles or spiritual workshops. There’s no pressure to share, perform, or participate in anything structured.

They are simply safe, welcoming spaces for women to come together — to take a break, enjoy nourishing food, meet new friends, and mark the changing seasons in a gentle, intentional way.

Come to relax, connect, and feel held in community. That’s more than enough.

How It Works

  • Potluck Style: Bring a vegetarian or vegan dish to share

  • When registering, you’ll be prompted to choose a dish category. If a category fills up, we’ll ask you to select a different option so we can keep a balanced variety of dishes. No need to prepare enough food for a crowd of 20+ — with each woman bringing something, there’s always more than enough to share. (Of course, if you love to cook and want to go big, we welcome that too!)

  • Please include a list of ingredients (for allergy/gluten awareness) with your dish at the gathering and bring your own serving utensils!

  • Dishes (except for desserts) should be vegetarian or vegan, and we kindly ask that you include a list of ingredients for those with food allergies or sensitivities

  • A fully equipped kitchen is available on-site (two ovens, refrigerator, microwave, plenty of outlets for crockpots, etc.)

  • Plates, cups, utensils, tea, and water will be provided — just bring your beautiful self and your dish to share

  • These are non-alcoholic events

  • Each gathering includes a seasonal blessing before brunch

  • You are warmly invited to bring a small item for our communal altar that reflects the season or the celebration’s theme (optional, but welcome)

  • Energy exchange: $20 per gathering ( Supports space, supplies, and behind-the-scenes planning) Sliding scale available — no one turned away for lack of funds

  • Registration required for each gathering (see below for dates)

  • Address: Rogers Lake Clubhouse, 75 Rogers Lake Trail, Old Lyme, CT 06371 (PLEASE DO NOT PARK ON THE GRASS - there is additional parking behind the building) Please be considerate of surrounding neighbors.

  • Time: 11:30 am- 2:30 pm

Bringing Your Daughter

We warmly welcome girls ages 12 and up who would enjoy and benefit from the space. These gatherings are gentle, reflective, and rooted in meaningful connection — so we kindly ask that younger children not attend, in order to preserve the calm, nourishing atmosphere.

There is no charge for daughters — Simply bring a dish to share, or if your daughter prefers, she can contribute a small item to add to the table.

Each young woman must be accompanied by an adult. This is a beautiful way to share the magic of seasonal gatherings across generations.

Gather, Create, and Celebrate the Magic of the Season

Our gatherings are designed for spaciousness, gentle connection, and a touch of seasonal magic. We offer the following activities throughout the day:

The Oracle & Tarot Exchange Table
Pass along a gently used deck and invite it to find new hands and new energy within our community. You may discover a deck that calls to you in return — a perfect reflection of the season’s cycles of giving, receiving, and renewal.

The Magical Craft Table
Our Magical Craft Table, is a space for daughters and adults alike! Craft your own oracle card, enjoy a seasonal art project, or simply lose yourself in magical coloring. It's a haven for play, quiet enchantment, and imagination, where art becomes a form of spellwork, weaving the season's magic into every creation.

The Seasonal Ritual
Each brunch includes a simple, guided Seasonal Ritual. Together, we’ll honor the turning of the seasons, reflect on our intentions, and share in the quiet magic of community. These rituals are gentle, accessible, and designed to help each participant feel grounded, connected, and inspired as we move through the cycle of the year.

"When women come together with a collective intention, magic happens."

— Phylicia Rashad

2026 Dates & Celebrations
All Women Welcome

Witches, wanderers, mothers, maidens, mystics, and all who walk with wonder.
You do not need to know anything about the seasonal traditions — simply bring yourself.

  • January 18, 2026 Honoring Midwinter

    In the heart of winter, we come together to honor the stillness, reflection, and rest that this season invites. Midwinter is a time to pause, nurture ourselves, and connect with the warmth of community. Here, in the quiet of the year, we reflect on what has been, rest in what is, and gently dream toward what may come.

    Suggested altar item: Objects that evoke calm, connection, and restoration — candles, soft textiles, winter greenery, or something meaningful that represents your intention for reflection and renewal.

    Optional dress theme: Comfortable, cozy, and grounding — muted tones, soft textures, layers that feel nurturing, or touches of white and silver to honor the season’s stillness.

  • February 15, 2026 Welcoming the First Light

    As winter begins to yield to the promise of spring, we gather to honor the quiet magic of Imbolc — the first stirrings of new life, the gentle return of light, and the purification of heart and home. This is a time to reflect, rest, and prepare for growth, drawing warmth from the hearth of community and the soft glow of possibility.

    Suggested altar item: Candles or lanterns to welcome returning light, fresh greenery or early shoots, white or silver objects for clarity and purification, or something that evokes new beginnings for you.

    Optional dress theme: Soft, luminous layers — whites, creams, pale blues, or gentle pastels — evoking light, frost, and the delicate magic of early spring.

  • March 22, 2026 Emergence of Spring

    As day and night reach perfect balance, we gather to honor the awakening of nature and the promise of new beginnings. This is a time to reflect on growth, plant intentions for the season ahead, and celebrate the quiet magic of spring’s first stirrings within the warmth of community.

    Suggested altar item: Fresh greenery, early flowers or shoots, seeds, or anything that represents growth, renewal, and possibility to you.

    Optional dress theme: Soft, fresh, and natural tones — greens, pale yellows, or florals — layers that feel light, renewing, and in harmony with the season’s awakening.

  • April 19, 2026 Awakening of Nature

    As spring deepens, we gather to honor the fertile energy of the season and the quiet miracles of new life all around us. This is a time to reflect on growth, plant intentions, and celebrate the unfolding abundance of nature, as the earth greens and blooms in preparation for Beltane. Together, we share in the soft magic of creativity, renewal, and the vibrant pulse of spring.

    Suggested altar item: Fresh flowers, sprouting seeds, budding branches, or objects that symbolize growth, fertility, and new beginnings.

    Optional dress theme: Soft, lively, and natural tones — greens, yellows, florals, or flowing layers — evoking spring’s abundance and vitality.cription goes here

  • May 10, 2026 ~ Celebration of Women

    On this Mother’s Day, we gather to honor the women who nurture, guide, and inspire us — mothers, daughters, and all those who hold the sacred thread of feminine lineage. In the gentle bloom of spring, we celebrate connection, growth, and the life-giving magic of women supporting women. Together, we reflect, share, and nourish our hearts within the warmth of community.

    Suggested altar item: Flowers, candles, family mementos, or objects that represent maternal love, connection, and nurturing energy.

    Optional dress theme: Soft, flowing, and joyful — pastels, floral patterns, or layers that feel celebratory, warm, and luminous.

  • June 28, 2026 Midsummer's Feast

    As summer unfolds in its full brilliance, we gather to celebrate the warmth, abundance, and joy of the season. This is a time to reflect on growth, honor the energy of the sun, and share the luminous magic of community. Together, we soak in the vitality of midyear and nurture the seeds of creativity, connection, and well-being.

    Suggested altar item: Sunflowers, golden blooms, citrus fruits, or objects that evoke warmth, light, and abundance.

    Optional dress theme: Bright, radiant, and sun-kissed — yellows, golds, whites, or florals that evoke summer’s vitality and joy.

  • July 19, 2026 ~ Celebration of the Sun

    As summer unfolds and the days slowly begin their quiet shortening, we gather to honor the abundance of the season and the gentle ripening of growth. This is a time to reflect, rest, and prepare for the first harvest, celebrating the earth’s fertility and the richness of community. Together, we pause in the warmth of midsummer to nurture intentions, honor growth, and share in the soft magic of this season of fullness.

    Suggested altar item: Ripening fruits, grains, sun-warmed herbs, or objects that symbolize growth, abundance, and gratitude.

    Optional dress theme: Warm, earthy, and natural tones — golds, deep greens, or sun-drenched layers — evoking the quiet richness of midsummer.

  • August 16, 2026 Honoring the 1st Harvest

    August 16 is in the heart of the Lughnasadh (or Lammas) season, which begins on August 1. 

    Significance: Lughnasadh is the first of three harvest festivals and a time for giving thanks for the first fruits of the harvest, particularly grain.

    Themes: The festival honors the ancient Celtic god Lugh and celebrates the abundance of the earth. In Wiccan tradition, it also marks the beginning of the sun god's decline in power as the days shorten.

    Celebrations: Common practices include baking bread from the first-harvested grain, giving thanks, and learning a new skill in honor of the god Lugh, who is a master of all skills. 

  • September 20, 2026 Gathering for Mabon

    As autumn deepens and day and night reach balance, we gather beneath the luminous full moon to honor the abundance of the season. This is a time to reflect on the year’s growth, give thanks for the fruits of our labor, and share the quiet magic of harvest within the warmth of community. Together, we celebrate the cycles of nature, the fullness of life, and the reflective energy of this equinox moon.

    Suggested altar item: Autumn fruits, grains, candles, or objects that symbolize balance, gratitude, and completion.

    Optional dress theme: Rich, autumnal tones — deep oranges, golds, reds, or layered textures — reflecting the colors of harvest and the glowing light of the full moon.

  • October 18, 2026 Welcoming the Veil

    As the year turns toward winter, we gather to honor endings, remembrance, and the cycles of life and death. This is a time to reflect, connect with ancestors and the unseen, and share the quiet magic of transition within the warmth of community. Together, we acknowledge what has passed, honor the gifts of the season, and prepare our hearts for the coming rest of winter.

    Suggested altar item: Candles, seasonal gourds, autumn leaves, ancestral photographs, or objects that symbolize remembrance, endings, and transformation.

    Optional dress theme: Deep, rich, and reflective tones — blacks, deep purples, burnt oranges, or layers that feel grounding and mysterious.