Announcing Ordination for Cherry Hill Seminary Graduates
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Cherry Hill Seminary will accept applications for Seminary ordination of its program graduates, by vote of the Board of Directors.
Board Chair Dana Doerksen said, “Cherry Hill Seminary is proud to establish a clear path to ordination, ensuring that our graduates’ rigorous education and formation are recognized in a way that reflects their study and preparation. This initiative affirms our commitment to preparing qualified Pagan clergy who will serve their communities with integrity and professional accountability.”
Cherry Hill Seminary students who have received their Master of Divinity degree, Community Ministry Certificate, or Spiritual Direction Certificate are eligible to apply for ordination by the Seminary. Ordination signifies a commitment to serving others using the knowledge and skills gained in these programs, as well as a demonstration of personal integrity and approval by the Clergy Review Committee.
The Clergy Review Committee is composed of experienced ministers from our faculty and is independent from the Seminary administration. It will meet twice yearly, as needed, to review applicants. Applicants must be interviewed by the committee. Those accepted will be ordained in a virtual ceremony by the Seminary.
Applicants who have received their Community Ministry Certificate must also complete an additional month of supervised internship with a local organization. Their CMC faculty-mentor will guide them through placement in and completion of that internship. A key element of all applications is agreement with the Cherry Hill Seminary Clergy Ethical Code.
Rev. Dr. Robert Patrick, a faculty member who also serves on the Ordination Review Committee, noted, “Pagan practitioners are very often solitary and not part of a highly organized community. They may be associated with international organizations without a local affiliate. For Cherry Hill Seminary to become an ordaining institution means that it embodies the needed spiritual community that stands behind the act and practice of ordained ministry.”
Those wishing to apply may find more detailed information at this link, including an application form. Applicants will be reviewed twice annually and must apply for renewal every five years.
Cherry Hill Seminary serves Pagan and Nature-based communities by providing transformative education and empowering students to advance academically and lead spiritually. For more information, please get in touch with CHS@cherryhillseminary.org or leave a voicemail at 1-803-862-9088.
South Florida Pagan Pride Day
South Florida Pagan Pride Brings Community Together
More Cake [Photo Credit: MJTM
DAVIE, Fla. – South Florida Pagan Pride celebrated another successful gathering on September 20, drawing about 75 attendees to Broward County’s Tree Tops Park. Running from noon until sunset, the day offered a mix of thunderstorms, rituals, cake, and activities for participants of all ages.
Hosted by The Grove South Florida, the event unfolded indoors at the park’s Oak Ridge Hall, where air conditioning provided welcome relief from the Florida heat. Yet the celebration also drew inspiration from the park’s unique landscape, including 23 acres of restored freshwater marsh, ancient live oaks, and tropical hammocks.
Visitors to South Florida PPD could also spend some time exploring the 1,000-foot boardwalk and even access the nearby Pine Island Ridge Natural Area, a full 29 feet above sea level, the highest natural elevation in Broward County (Stop being jealous, mountain states!).
Ritual Bowl
Kid-friendly and inclusive, the celebration welcomed Pagans, Witches, Heathens, Druids, polytheists, and nature-centered agnostics alike. Pagan Pride events, often held around the autumn equinox, highlight the diversity within Pagan traditions while also inviting broader community understanding. Through workshops, rituals, and charitable initiatives, they promote education, tolerance, and connection across different faiths.
The Grove Elders [Photo Credit S. Ciotti]
This year’s gathering carried special significance, as organizers joined in wishing the Covenant of the Goddess a happy 50th anniversary. The Grove South Florida, whose members are part of the Covenant’s Everglades Moon Local Council, emphasized both local community spirit and ties to the wider Pagan movement.
With laughter, learning, even more cake, and a little spellcasting, Pagan Pride South Florida reflected the strength and joy of a community celebrating the season together.
Congratulations to The Grove on a spectacular event!
A message from Belladonna LaVeau, Matriarch of the Aquarian Tabernacle Church
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Tarot of the Week by Star Bustamonte
Deck: Buffy The Vampire Slayer Tarot Deck and Guidebook written by Casey Gilly, illustrated by Karl James Mountford, and published by Insight Editions.
Card: Seven (7) Of Stakes (Wands)
The week ahead has the potential to shine a light on those in positions of power and possibly question their qualifications. For those with integrity and who have worked hard to achieve success, beware of folks who would not hesitate to undermine and capitalize on the achievements of others. Facing challenges by standing firm, being prepared to defend actions and decisions, all while highlighting the history of past successes and triumphs, are the keys to coming out on top—Especially those that have uplifted others and functioned in promoting the common good.
In contrast, constant challenges and opposition can result in exhaustion and even fuel self-doubt. Deciding where to draw the line and defending that position without compromise will be imperative this week. Additionally, it is also likely to be important to recognize that true constructive criticism can be both useful and helpful in navigating a way forward. (edited)
The Migration is Underway!
NORTH AMERICA – Fall migration is underway, and the skies are alive with birds moving south by the millions each night. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Dr. Andrew Farnsworth explains that migration begins as early as July 4, but numbers surge in September, peaking through October and early November.
On September 25, 2025, BirdCast recorded a record-breaking night of migration, using the same weather radar technology that powers daily forecasts to track the movement of birds across the continent. via Cornell Ornithology Lab.
Recent radar counts illustrate the scale: on September 25, BirdCast reported more than 1.2 billion birds flying across the U.S. in a single night—the largest migration event on record. “Welcome back to the billion bird night club,” BirdCast announced, noting that most flocks were concentrated in the central U.S., flying around 2,000 feet above ground at roughly 22 mph.
Morning meteorologist Ross Ellet, of ABC in Toledo, also caught quite a glimpse on radar and posted it on social media.
Florida also saw a major wave, with 30 million birds detected overhead from Sunday into Monday. Roughly 7 million were tracked continuing south across Collier, Lee, and Hendry counties. Many of these migrants follow the Atlantic Flyway, a corridor stretching from the ocean to the Appalachians. For some, South Florida is the winter destination; for others, it’s a brief stop before continuing to the Caribbean and South America.
Most migration occurs at night. “Birds feed during daylight hours, and night flights help them avoid dehydration and overheating from the sun,” says Dr. Farnsworth. Calmer nocturnal air also makes travel more efficient. Birds use celestial cues such as the moon and stars to navigate, but light pollution poses hazards by disorienting flocks and increasing collisions with buildings.
Experts urge the public to support the Lights Out initiative: dimming or switching off outdoor lights between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. during peak migration weeks. Making windows more bird-friendly by adding visible patterns can also help.
For bird lovers, fall migration is both a natural wonder and a reminder of how human choices can shape the survival of billions on the wing.
Tips to Spot Fall Migration
Check the forecast: BirdCast (birdcast.info) shows nightly migration maps based on radar.
Go outside after dark: Listen for faint “chip” calls overhead as flocks pass.
Use binoculars at dawn: Birds often descend into trees and shrubs at first light.
Watch the weather: Cold fronts trigger the heaviest migration waves.
Look at the sky, not just the feeders: Radar-like “storms” may actually be birds!
Help them along: Turn off outdoor lights at night and make windows bird-safe.
It’s not just birds, though!
The monarch migration is another remarkable seasonal journey of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) between North America and its wintering sites in central Mexico and coastal California. The migration begins earlier in summer, but October is the heart of the southbound journey. Monarchs leave breeding grounds in the north and Midwest, with successive generations pushing steadily southward, each wave riding seasonal cues to continue the journey.
Monarch butterflies along the bank of a stream at the Cerro Prieto Sanctuary in the Sierra Chincua, Michoacan – Image credit: AlejandroLinaresGarcia – CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12521923
By this time of year, the special “super generation” is on the wing. Unlike their short-lived predecessors, these monarchs can live up to eight months and travel as far as 3,000 miles to reach their winter sanctuaries. In Mexico, they cluster in oyamel fir forests in the mountains, while western populations gather in coastal groves of eucalyptus, pine, and cypress. Guided by the sun’s position and Earth’s magnetic field, the monarchs press southward through October and into November, an awe-inspiring spectacle that marks one of the most extraordinary migrations in the natural world.
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