Welcome to the Kala-vi website

On this page:

Tradition Membership Study Ritual Pastoral Care and Rites of Passage Specifics about our approach Outreach

Kala-vi is a Pagan/Wiccan group based in Victoria, B.C., Canada.'Kala-vi' is an acronym for 'KAirosean LAbyrinth - Vancouver Island', and is part of the Kairosean Kithen tradition (a form of Pagan/Wiccan Universalism).

Our tradition is based on the concept of Kairos a Greek word meaning 'ripeness of time'.This also includes respect for all religions (Universalism) within the evolution of humyn spirituality, and active midwifing into its next stage (as a 'young adult' species - see Tradition).We honour the polaric nature of the Universe including the symbolic modality of the New Cosmology/science, and our 'kith/kin'-ship with all existence.Each ritual (especially Sabbats) is developed as a 'full journey' experience to progressively explore our relationship with/in the Godde and the Universe (past, present and future).

Tradition/Style

This tradition is different from some other Pagan/Wiccan traditions, in that
a) it makes active use of science (particularly the new cosmology), psychology and nature studies considering them equal to ancient mythology in importance as a source of useful poemagogic imagery for our spiritual journeys.
b) it is futuristic in the sense of being more concerned with the present and future of Nature worship than with ancient myths and traditions.On the other hand, it also searches for ways to give new meaning to ancient imagery, using what modern-day people actually know about Nature.
c) a major focus is 'polarity' viewing the different aspects/elements of Nature as at times apparently opposite, but nonetheless collaborative and necessary, sides of a single Wholism', rather than 'dualistic' (opposite and essentially antagonistic to one another. - i.e., 'one must always eventually win over the other').We often abbreviate that concept, to indicate a choice to see things as 'both/and' rather than 'either-or'.
d) the actual form of ritual is explored for creative interpretations, in both style and content.We do use a fairly traditional Wiccan structure, including some sections that are repeated in many Kairosean Kithen rituals (such as two different, but standardized, Wine Blessings).However, we rarely do the same ritual more than 2 or 3 times, as considerable time/energy is put into finding new ways to interpret the fundamental myths, poemagogic imagery, etc.

Membership

Kala-vi is open to new members who are committed both to long-term membership and to doing their share of the work involved in studying and in creating rituals.Ideally, new members will also have experience with some form of Pagan rituals and tradition.We recommend that they attend at least one public Kala-vi ritual first, to find out for themselves whether our form of ritual speaks to them.

Kala-vi operates on the traditional Wiccan principle that 'a person must ask 3 times before the teacher decides to take them on as a student'.After the 'third asking' and meeting with the Elders, the applicant will be asked to meet with the whole group, to determine is all feel comfortable becoming a spiritual family.The purpose of this
tradition is to ensure that the student is prepared to make a long-term commitment and understands the principles of the tradition they would be studying.If you are interested in Kala-vi, please contact us for further information.

There are three major streams of activity Kala-vi engages in.

Study

The first stream is studying.The Kairosean Kithen tradition is specifically a 'teaching tradition' (see Tradition).
To a large extent we use the lessons originally written by Pashta MaryMoon which are organized into year-themes, based on the myths and imagery evoked by each Sabbat-time in the wheel of the year.These lessons have been used as the primary study program for almost two decades, with students in Canada and the U.S.We also study other written material that augments a Kairosean Kithen approach.

Classes are currently held every second week plus whatever extra group time is needed to write, rehearse, and review rituals collectively.

Discussions of the lessons often range far afield, but the core of them is always: how does this resonate with you? How has this, or something like it, played out in your life?Does this mesh with your beliefs or not, and in what ways?Further points that come up in our discussions are connections with other spiritual traditions Christian, Hindu, Egyptian, Norse and any others that Kala-vi members may be familiar with.We ask: what is similar between these traditions? In what ways are they different? How do these similarities or differences speak to us?

Note that the Kairosean Kithen tradition is not an anti-Christian tradition.Christianity itself has strong Pagan roots, which it has developed and refined in ways that worked and still work for millions of people.We have as much to learn from Christianity as from any Pagan mythology.Indeed, in many ways we may have more to learn from Christianity, because our whole society is permeated with Christian its myths and traditions, for better and for worse and it is both for better and for worse.

Ritual

The second stream of Kala-vi activity is the performance of public rituals.We put on up to three rituals a year;
for many years now, these have been Beltaine (around May 1), Samhain (around November 1), and Yule (the Winter Solstice, around December 21).The rituals themselves are generally held on a weekend near the actual date of the sabbat in order to allow as many people as possible to attend.

Rituals are widely publicized in the Victoria community at places where Pagans or Pagan-curious people may be likely to encounter the notices.These public rituals are always, in some way, teaching rituals and although intensive, are intended to help participants explore their own Pagan ideals.

Kala-vi is committed to whole/full-journey rituals ones in which a central theme, image, or myth is explored from a beginning to an end, allowing each participant to experience their own meaning or interpretation of it.Each ritual ends with a feast that honours the Nature of that season and its life-giving qualities, so participants are asked also to bring healthy and season-appropriate food to share.

Kala-vi also does private rituals amongst its members, which tend to be more focused on a single concern/etc.

Pastoral Care

Kala-vi operates as an extended family - caring for its own members and 'friends of Kala-vi' (those who frequently attended Kala-vi public rituals, but are unable to make the timecommitment to studying with the group).

One of our members, Pashta, our primary Elder, is also a Prison and Hospital Elder with, and co-director of, Pagan Pastoral Outreach; she is also registered as "visiting clergy" with VIHA.She was a co-founder of Songs of Passage a community organization that uses vocal music to easing the process of dying and contracts with the Victoria Hospice Society's Royal Jubilee hospital hospice unit.She is presently the founder and director of En~chanting Beyond (which similarly uses song both to aid the dying and to support the labour/delivery process of birthing mothers), E~merging Beyond mediation services; and Journeying Beyond ('end of life' affairs consultant and Death Midwife).   

Two of our members are co-directors of CINDEA (Canadian Integrative Network for Death Education and Alternatives).

Kala-vi also offers (non-legal) Handfastings, Trimesters, Requiems and other major rites of passage, and are actively involved with a variety of Pagan, inter-faith and/or related organizations and projects.

Specifics about our approach

Kala-vi tradition page Universalist Wiccan/Pagan approach tenets and operating principles

Kairos page the concept of Kairos and its relevance to the modern-day 'stage of evolution'

Godde page the 4-fold concept of the Goddess, the Year God , development of the concept of the Godde, etc.

Polarity page the foundational nature of the Universe as polaric and quaternal

Ritual page some examples of Kala-Vi rituals, and what is meant by a 'full journey' ritual.

Standards page standard liturgy within the Kairosean Kithen tradition

Poetic Text page prose, poetry, chants and/or songs from a Kairosean Kithen perspective, written by members and used in various rituals

Glossary page short definitions of Pagan terms, including the more unusual words we use within the Kairosean Kithen tradition.

Outreach

Public Events update updates on public sabbat rituals, Wicca 101 classes, etc.; Please use 'contact us' to request address to receive notifications of public events

Rites of Passage information on rites available to the general Wiccan/Pagan community, basic approach, requirements, etc.

Gaian Aid services/activities, by Kala-vi members and friends, to aid the community of Gaia and Her children.

links to various e-groups in the island area, 'kith' websites, recommended reading list, etc.

Please return again, as we hope to have the sub-pages done in the next while.

Our deepest thanks to the Victoria Telecommunity Network (VTN/ Freenet) for hosting the Kala-vi site

We give thanks also for background textures and graphics from the web
GRsites and Eco Development
AmbrosiaRealm Graphics , Hairfish Graphics , EmerGraphics , and Robin Wood Graphics