Final Brunch of 2025: Honoring Our Lady of the Forest
As the forest quiets and the season turns inward, we gather for our final brunch of the year — a heart-centered potluck honoring Our Lady of the Forest, the Crone archetype, and the wisdom that comes with the turning of the year.
Our Group Ritual: Seeds of Wisdom
During the afternoon, everyone will have the opportunity to write a reflection, insight, or piece of personal wisdom on a slip of paper and tie it to a pinecone. These pinecones will be placed on our altar in a wooden bowl, creating a communal circle of guidance and intention.
As the gathering closes, everyone will have the option to select a pinecone from the altar to take home — a gift of wisdom from the forest, the Crone, and the women gathered in the circle. This simple, beautiful exchange allows the insights of the season to move from one heart to another, carrying the quiet magic of Samhain and the turning year.
Oracle & Tarot Exchange Table
Bring your favorite oracle or tarot deck to exchange on our new 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.
Magical Craft Table
We’ll also have a Magical Craft Table for daughters (and adults!) where you can create your own oracle card, decorate a witch hat, or enjoy some magical coloring. A space for play, creativity, and quiet enchantment — where art becomes spellwork and imagination carries the magic of the season.
Come as you are. Bring a dish. Leave nourished — in body, heart, and spirit.
Suggested altar items: leaves, acorns, pinecones, or other natural offerings gathered with intention.
Optional attire: deep greens, browns, and earthy layers — or your favorite witch hat — to honor the woodland and Samhain spirit.
Whether arriving alone or with a friend, you’ll be welcomed into a gentle, reflective circle — a space to pause, honor the season, and carry the forest’s wisdom with you into the darker months.
Mothers and daughters are warmly welcomed and encouraged.
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: appetizer, main course, or dessert. 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 awareness) with your dish at the gathering and bring your own serving utensils!
Appetizers and main course dishes 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
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)
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.
$20 pp
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.
Want to Bring a Little Extra Magic or Fun?
These gatherings are spacious and relaxed — and if you feel called to bring something that brings you joy or invites gentle connection, please do. A few ideas:
Tarot or oracle cards for casual readings and soulful conversation
Knitting, crocheting, or handwork to work on while you chat and sip tea
Journals for reflection or intention-setting
Seasonal craft supplies
There’s no pressure to do anything but show up — but if you’d like to contribute to the atmosphere in a small way, we welcome it.
Nothing is required — this is an open-hearted invitation to co-create if it brings you joy. Feel free to reach out if you’d like to coordinate ahead of time!
Want to Help?
P.S. If you’d like to volunteer to help prepare the space, tend the altar, or support the flow — for one brunch or many — just let us know when you RSVP. Many hands make light, meaningful work.