Summer Solstice at Rockliffe Park Witches’ Rock: A Standing Stone Ritual
Schedule
Sun Jun 21 2026 at 07:30 pm to 09:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
Rockliffe Park Pavillion | Ottawa, ON
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Summer Solstice at Witches’ RockA Standing Stones Circle Gathering
Sunday, June 21, 2026
6:00 p.m. public singing group
7:35–9:30 p.m. formal ritual starts
Across (South ) of the Rockcliffe Park Pavillion , Ottawa
Please pre-register at this web site with your name / email so we can send you the details of our location and meet up and a reminder.
All should pre-register please https://witchschool.ca/event/summer-solstice-at-witches-rock-a-standing-stones-circle-gathering/
Join Cheryl Gorman & Kiki Keskinen and guests for a Summer Solstice gathering at Witches’ Rock and the standing stones circle above the Ottawa River.
Some of us will already be there from 6:00 p.m., singing to the stone and settling into the site. You are most welcome to come early and join us in the songs. We are all learners.
The formal ritual begins at 7:35 p.m. and carries us through to 9:30 p.m.
We gather at this ancient-feeling site to acknowledge the felt story of the land, the arrivals of witches, druids, ancients, and guests at this circle, and the presence of the elements, directions, spirits, and stewards. Together, we enter the standing stones circle, hear a story to cast us into sacred space, and mark the turning of the light.
This is an evening of circle of depth. We will be chanting for trance, hand-holding for sacred circle dance, and experiencing an eco-spiritual ritual among these trees. We will acknowledge the balance of light and dark, of memory and hope, of grief and living. We will ground, invoke, sing to harmonize, and dance in circle. We will thank the spirits, trust our fate and intuition, thank the land for feeding us, and close the ritual as we step into the other half of the light, knowing that from this point forward the days begin to grow darker again.
For this June gathering, we meet in a slightly hidden location: an ancient-feeling circle of stones in a round clearing tucked among the trees, north of the Rockcliffe Park pavilion and bathrooms. Each visit to this site reveals more: possible astronomical alignments, carved rocks, and the strong felt sense of an old ceremonial Indigenous place. The site is also associated with what many locals know as Witches’ Rock and a tragic myth, situated on the toboggan hill south of the Rockcliffe pavilion.
We name this history with humility. Traditional knowledge about the site remains incomplete, and we approach it with reverence, care, and respect rather than certainty.
What to bring
a jarred candle, or battery lantern, or lamp, or flashlight
a thermos with something to sip during fellowship in the darkness at 9pm
good walking shoes
clothes that make sense for the forest and bugs and evening air
anything small for your own comfort or reverence
a chair or be ready to sit on the ground
Please note
this is an outdoor gathering in the forest
you will need the ability to walk up a slope covered in grass, rocks, and brush
all are welcome who can enter with care, respect, and reverence for the land
we ask that you pre-register through WitchSchool.ca/events
we also welcoming an optional donation of $5 to $50 payable only online when you register, albeit you can bypass that to attend when you register.
Finding us
Walk down the pathway from the public pavilion / bathrooms area. Instead of continuing north toward the pavilion, turn the opposite way down the walking path and continue up toward the clearing. You will find a circular opening in the trees, held by a circle of stones. We will meet there.
Parking and transit
Parking is available on Lisgar Street at Buena Vista. The #9 bus is the closest public transit option, though it requires about a 20-minute walk from the end point.
Use this Facebook event page for local connection, ride-sharing, and any last practical questions.
To pre- register, please visit:
https://witchschool.ca/event/summer-solstice-at-witches-rock-a-standing-stones-circle-gathering/
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Where is it happening?
Rockliffe Park Pavillion, Ottawa, CanadaEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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