For a list of all upcoming rituals, scroll down or go HERE .

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WHEN: Oct 25, 2026 at 4:00 PM

WHERE: Malibu Creek State Park, Group Campground

DRIVING DIRECTIONS: From the 101: Take the 101 FWY and get off at Las Virgenes Rd. exit. Turn south onto Las Virgenes Rd. and head toward Malibu. The entrance to the parking lot is off Las Virgenes Rd. just south of Mulholland Hwy on the west (right) side of the road.

From PCH, take Malibu Canyon Rd. and turn into the park entrance on the left before Mulholland Hwy. Follow the road around the corner until you see a long dirt road on your right, leading into a valley. (If you reach the individual campsites you have gone too far.) Park in the lot at the end of the dirt road and walk down the trail about 500 ft to the Campsite.

Here is a Google Map to the ritual site. GOOGLE MAP LINK

UPCOMING RITUAL SCHEDULE

• October 25:  Samhain - Malibu Creek State Park
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Raven's Cry Grove, ADF

We are a public Druid Grove within Ár nDraíocht Féin, a Druid Fellowship. We were founded in 1999 to provide a community for modern Druids in the Los Angeles area. Our local membership numbers about two dozen people who are spread out around the Los Angeles area. Our rituals are generally held in the San Fernando Valley or Ventura County. We support and participate in Pagan Pride Day LA/OC, and support selected other organizations with donations. Raven's Cry Grove is an inclusive, anti-racist community, welcoming and respecting all abilities, ethnicities, national origins, sexual orientations & gender identities.

What is ADF?

ADF is an international fellowship devoted to creating a public tradition of Neopagan Druidry. Though we do not consider ourselves Re-constructionists -- we do believe in the importance of scholarship. Through the on-going study and discussion of archeology, history, and comparative mythology we have developed methods of worship that we believe our Paleopagan ancestors would recognize and respect as akin to their own. The Shining Ones, the Ancestors, and the Nature Spirits deserve the very best that we can give them, so we encourage our members to pair their study and critical thinking skills with the pursuit of creative and artistic excellence.

What is Neopagan Druidry?

Rooted in ancient soil, yet reaching for the stars -- Neopagan Druidry is a tradition, a philosophy, and a way of life for its practitioners.  Neopaganism is a vital and creative movement that draws upon the best aspects of the Pagan faiths of our ancestors to create a holistic, pluralistic path which allows for art and science, reason and emotion, and peace and ecstasy to be experienced harmoniously.  Druidry is a branch of Neopaganism which draws its inspiration from the priests, priestesses, wise ones and magicians of the ancient Celts. Druidry calls for excellence in all pursuits, be they physical, mental, artistic, or spiritual.  Although Druidry implies a Celtic inclination, together as a grove we work with all Indo-European cultures -- with due respect for their commonalities and differences. We encourage our members to follow their hearts when choosing a tradition or traditions upon which to focus their scholarship and personal devotion.

Membership

Membership in Raven’s Cry Grove is open to anyone who has attended at least one public ritual and supports the aims of Raven’s Cry Grove and of ADF. Becoming a Member implies a willingness to study, to be of service during public rituals and other activities, and to provide financial support as one is able. Joining as a Friend is a way to learn about Raven’s Cry Grove and ADF, while deciding if druidry is the path for you or if you simply wish to support the Grove and its work. Joining as a Member is a two-way commitment with our Grove to be active and support the fulfillment of our group Vision, and to be supported in turn by our diverse family of seekers as your personal spiritual journey unfolds! If you are interested in becoming part of the Raven’s Cry Grove family, please talk with one of our leaders or send us an email through our website.

Legal Stuff

Raven's Cry Grove, ADF is a religious organization incorporated in the State of California. We are a Grove within Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship a 501(c)(3) nonprofit church incorporated in the State of Delaware. Contributions to Raven's Cry Grove are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

Our mailing address is 5533 Rainbow Crest Drive Agoura Hills, CA 91301

We have a few suggestions and rules to ensure the dignity and sanctity of our gatherings and the privacy of our guests.

• Soliciting or proselytizing on the behalf of business, political, or religious groups and/or personal interests without express, formal permission of the Grove Council is not acceptable.
• Disruptive or disorderly conduct is grounds for immediate dismissal from the site as is the use of any unlawful substance or act that would be contrary to any current state or federal legislation.
• The use of photographic or video/audio recording devices of any kind is strictly prohibited without prior express permission from the event organizers and participants.
• Individuals in violation of any of the above will be asked to leave the event and will not be welcome in the future.

• Ritual Dress: Some of us dress in ritual garb such as robes, and others dress in street clothes. Our rituals are worship services, so we ask that all dress in a manner that shows respect for our Kindred.
• Children: As Neo-pagans wanting to pass on our traditions to our young ones, we welcome their presence. However, we do not currently offer child-friendly alternative activities to keep them occupied during ritual. For children who are very young or who become distracted easily, this can cause disruption within our sacred time or perhaps put a child in harm's way in a natural setting (poison ivy, rattlesnake bite, etc.). Please consider what is best for those present, yourself, and your child when deciding to bring them along, and please be aware that children MUST be supervised consistently by their parent or guardian during our time together.
• Animal Companions: Though we understand the joy of animal companions, we do ask that you refrain from bringing them to public ritual. This protects your animal as well as yourself and other guests who, unknown to us, may have severe allergies, or a real fear or aversion to an animal due to personal trauma. Children also love to interact with animals, but sometimes this can be problematic. In addition, state park laws discourage bringing animals to their parks and California State Law requires a 6 foot leash be used on dogs along with having to maintain constant supervision. Some state parks have additional restrictions that must be adhered to. The grove wants everyone to feel that they are in safe space when they come to ritual, with a minimal amount of distractions. Please respect the sanctity of our worship experiences together, and protect your beloved pets by keeping them safe at home.
• Length of Ritual: Though we try to practice brevity, the grove feels it is most important that we take the time necessary to properly address the Kindred and work with each other as a community where everyone has a chance to participate on some level. Generally our rituals last about 90 minutes, once begun. However, on the highest of holy days (Samhain and Beltane) the ritual could last longer. Please arrive ready to give of this time to the gods and feel free to bring a camp chair should you feel that standing through the entire ritual may be difficult.
• Offerings: Please feel free to bring offering for the deity of the occasion, your personal patrons, or any ancestors or nature spirits. There is an opportunity in the rite for these offerings to take place.
• Potluck: Our tradition is to hold a potluck meal after ritual. It is especially appropriate to bring something which you make yourself, but that is not necessary. Some of us are flesh eaters, so any sort of food is fine, but please remember that some of our members and guests are vegetarian. If you are vegan or are on another special diet, you probably should bring your own food rather than relying upon others to recognize your needs.
• Photographs: Raven's Cry Grove routinely photographs our events and participants and places some of the photos on our web site. If you wish not to have your photo on our web site, please inform the event organizers. Please refrain from taking personal photos or videos during ritual time.
• Personal Concerns: Please inform our event organizers privately if you have an aversion to touching or other similar concerns so we may make you as comfortable as possible.
• Cell Phones: So as not to disrupt the energy in ritual, please remember to silence your cell phones.
• Students: We welcome students of religion and anthropology to our gatherings, but ask that real names not be used in any reports or other descriptive writing that might result from your visit. Please talk about your studies with our Senior Druid or Presiding Druid of the ritual, and please be respectful of our spirituality.
• Outreach Projects: Raven's Cry Grove is committed to serving the community with a number of outreach projects. If you are able to donate towards these ends it is much appreciated.
• Donations: The grove asks for a suggested donation of $15 per person to cover the costs of the ritual and site rental to help us continue to provide public ritual. Whatever you are able to give is most welcomed. However, should this be a difficulty, please know that you are still most welcome. Your presence is valued above all.

• Commitment to Excellence: in Scholarship, Ritual, and Collective/Personal Development within the context of the Druidic path.
• Commitment to Voice: in a democratic environment of equal exchange and valued input.
• Commitment to Integrity: Providing a balanced structure of support from which to honor the gods and one's spiritual callings in a creative, responsible, and sound way.

• Opportunity to develop one's spiritual path in a small supportive environment.
• Opportunity to learn, share, and discuss the scope of the Druid's path (i.e. Dedicant's Program, Bardic Group etc., and public and private collective work).
• Opportunity to form lifetime bonds of friendship and support within the context of the grove's spiritual community.

• Taking Action to serve the Pagan Community of Southern California.
• Taking Action to serve the environment and others through active community outreach (i.e. clean-ups, drives, donations, events).
• Taking Action to model a positive presence as pagan-folk to the entire community.

Our Public Ritual Practice

As a Druid Fellowship we try to be inclusive and friendly so that all people may find our rituals fun and comfortable as well as a spiritual experience. In that light, we have created this page to give a brief overview of our ritual structure so that you know what to expect when you attend our next ritual.

Ritual Cultural Traditions and Structure

Although the grove's ritual center is a Celtic one, we also celebrate various High Days within the context of other cultures. Typically public rituals, for the four fire festivals, Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Lughnasadh, will be done according to a specific Celtic tradition. The Solstice and Equinox rituals are often from other cultural traditions and reflect those that are practiced among the membership of Raven's Cry Grove. As we are a Neo-pagan grove, we do not seek a pure reconstruction of an ancient rite, we seek the essential core of that tradition and place it within the context of a Neo-pagan Druidic approach and ADF's Core Order of Ritual (for more about ADF please visit our links section which will guide you to their website). This Core Order, based on scholarship and magical principles, is the constant throughout the rite. As you attend more rituals, the patterns should become more familiar even though each rite is unique.

Ritual Focus

All of our rituals are primarily devotional in nature. In other words, each ritual is designed to strengthen the Three Kindred (Ancestors, Nature Spirits, and the Shining Ones) through our remembrance, praise, thanksgiving and offering. By doing so, we seek, as a community to draw the Kindred closer to us so that we may open, strengthen, or maintain good relationship with them and accept their blessings more readily. There will be opportunity at each ritual to offer to any one of the Kindred including those deities with whom you work on a personal level, so feel free to bring offering for them or for the deity of the occasion. Appropriate offerings, also known as sacrifice 'to make sacred,' are anything made of your hands, praise through the spoken word, song, silent prayer, and certainly anything from your heart for sincerity is key in any ritual undertaking. Please be aware that when you offer, it is not the time to ask for something, it is only a time to seek good relationship and offer your devotion. There is another time in the rite where the asking can take place for optimal benefit. The more you participate fully by bringing your energy into ritual, the more the ritual will become a thing of beauty and peace.

Treating with Sacred Space in public

Because our rituals are primarily devotional and meant to form and strengthen bonds with the Kindred, these are rituals of 'drawing in' rather than 'keeping out.' As such, we do not 'cast a circle' as may be seen in other pagan traditions. We do cleanse the space, the participants, and call on a protector at the beginning of the rite and we sanctify the Three Hallows (Well, Fire, and Tree) where we will make offering. These three Hallows are then opened as Gateways at the Sacred Center for the greatest communication possible between the Kindreds and the folk present at the rite. Without a circle that is cast, it is easier to move in and out of the ritual space if needed, but it is best if everyone stay present until the ritual is over so as not to disturb the quality of energy raised. Since magical work in a public setting can be of great consequence, we rarely do this work in a public setting. However, much of the work in ritual does realign the participants with primordial time and beginnings, and so these rites are by nature highly inspiring and healing.

Key Elements of Our Rites

• Devotional, Building Elements

  Honoring the Land and the Great Mothers of the Earth is central to any Druidic path. In addition, the notion of divine inspiration, or the fire in the head, is essential to those seeking the guidance of the Kindred and the indwelling of health, creativity, abundance, and true wisdom. As such we begin the work of the rite by Addressing the Earth Mother and the Powers of Inspiration, offering to them, and asking them to lend their energies to bring vitality, beauty, divine inspiration, and the presence of palpable truth and honor into the sacred space. The mystery of fire in water is also explored as the group attunes themselves with these elements, thereby placing those gathered into sacred time, as they stand and move in a place between the worlds. After the participants have been prepared, the key elements addressed, the hallows sanctified, the gates opened, and the Kindred called, a time for personal offerings are made. Once all is ready, the Main Deities of the Rite are called and offered to. Special ways to honor the deity then follow. This could include storytelling, song, mythic action, affirmations, and other special ways that the folk can participate together in honoring the deity and the energies and lessons of the season.

• Blessings, Receiving Elements

  In the Celtic tradition, hospitality is incredibly important to one's relationship with their community and the Kindred. To be inhospitable was to be a disgrace indeed. Therefore, if one offered a gift with sincerity, a gift would be offered in return. This is not an obligation but an act of joy and community. In this spirit, the energy of the ritual turns, as we have given, so too, the gods wish to offer their gifts to us. We wait in anticipation and joy to hear and receive what our Dear Ones wish to bestow. An omen is taken to get a barometer of the energies that each of the Kindred offer us. We fill the blessing cup and ask the Kindred to imbue these blessings in the content of the cup with the waters of life, and then all drink heartily. It is important to know that The Blessing Cup contains an alcoholic beverage. If you do not wish to imbibe, or if you are ill, just holding it to your forehead or holding it above you, picturing the blessings moving through your body, will suffice. As you hold the cup, the perfect time has arrived to petition the gods for what you need, either quietly or spoken aloud. If you wish to offer your blessings to another, pour a small part of its contents onto the ground as you speak their name and their needs. People are also free to toast, boast, thank, or just whoop for the joy of it. Caution: dancing and drumming with abandon have been known to occur while the Blessing Cup is being passed.

• Additional Work and Winding Down

  After the Blessing Cup has been passed, if there are any additional workings to be done of a magical or receiving nature it will take place in this part of the ritual. Following, we will thank the Deities of the Occasion and all the other powers that were assembled at the rite. The gates will then be closed and a final blessing will be offered as the ritual comes to a close. Afterward, an additional sharing of hospitality is enjoyed by all as we share in a potluck! Please bring something sumptuous to share and remember that we also have several vegetarian and vegan guests. Anything made of your hands is always the best as it shares your blessings with the community.