The date and time and venue have been set: Sunday, November 8, Wild Rose Restaurant & Banquet Hall in Winthrop Harbor, Illinois, 3-6 pm.

The ritual Circle of Rodu will be facilitating—an Ancestor Devotional contextualized in reverence for Mara and Veles—can be accessed in Chapter 17 of my book, Slava! Slavic Paganism and Dual-Faith Folk Ways (Llewellyn, 2026). However, attendees do not need to have purchased the book or read the ritual beforehand in order to participate.

The Wild Rose restauranteur is doing me an incredible favor by not charging me a rental fee for the banquet hall—however, the caveat is that everyone has to order from the restaurant’s menu. I told her I’m expecting less than 20 people total, myself included, but a precise headcount would be needed so she can have a cook dedicated for my party exclusively.

So if you’re a yes, if you’ve indicated to me on other platforms or in person that you plan on coming, can you please email me at annatheserbianwitch@circleofrodu.com by October 31 so I can relay the headcount to Wild Rose on November 1? I’d greatly appreciate it!

So bring whatever offerings you’d like for the communal ancestor altar we’re building, bring photos or other mementoes of your beloved dead, and bring any items you’d like to offer to Mara and Veles or to have charged on Their altar.

But no need for potluck contributions, as the Wild Rose restaurant will be feeding us.

I look forward to seeing new Circle of Rodu members from southern Wisconsin and from the greater Chicagoland area! Slava Rodu!