SLPS celebrated Midsummer Saturday, June 18, 2016. The members gathered on freshly cut grass, and under the grove of the pines at the temple. The sun was low in the sky, allowing for a cool evening. President Muad’Dib led the ritual in the New American tradition. The Oak and Holly Kings were present, as well as Hern and Perun. SLPS honors the transitioning of the year from the Oak King to the Holly King at Midsummer, as the sun’s zenith is reached and starts to descend to the longest night at Yule.
A dialogue about Midsummer, the path of the sun, and why it’s important to do solar rites took place. Some hand holding and dancing around the altar to the song “Litha” on the album Circle of the Seaons by Lisa Thiel allowed the members to raise energy. Some Midsummer poetry, Sign of the Daisy by Helen Hunt Jackson was read.
Perun, the patriarch of the Slavic pantheon, descended and spoke to everyone present. Perun rules over lightning, thunder, fire, oak, eagle and the ax or hammer. He gave a message of love, acceptance and inclusion, speaking about the forgotten myth, messages, and the simple ways of living like a Slav (bear meat, mushrooms, cabbage, the woods). He said how lonely he gets, with no one to talk with, no one patroning the pantheon like they once did. He encouraged everyone to love each person, work by the sun and moon, to embrace the messages of the ancient kindred, and to live simply as the Slavs did. He blessed them and accepted everyone into his family. This message was a first, as SLPS welcomed him to the temple as a new God just arrived from the Czech Republic.
Midsummer 2016, Shy Fox (l) and Camille Harriss making tri tip steak kababs, Saturday, June 18, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Midsummer 2016, altar, Saturday, June 18, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Midsummer 2016, altar center, Saturday, June 18, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Midsummer 2016, Perun, Saturday, June 18, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Midsummer 2016, l to r- Shy Fox, Stesha Bowden, Camille Harris, Woman Between the Wolves, Saturday, June 18, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Midsummer 2016, Sunset, Saturday, June 18, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Midsummer 2016, feast l to r- steak kababs, deviled eggs, rice salad, baked purple cauliflower with Stesha Bowden (l) and Shy Fox, Saturday, June 18, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Hello dear brothers, my name is Alonso from Peru, in South America, as all people arround i was born in catholic family but now i adopt Wicca pagan as my formal religion, because i am gay and i want to live my life (include my sexuality) with happiness and without feeling guilty. Most of time i am searching about rituals and other stuff since in my country is not common this religion. In this way i come in your blog and i am so interested in your Icon you use in your Midsummer 2016, Ritual, (Perun Saturday, June 18, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT) I saw a painting with couple of gods in sexual union. Please you could say what Gods represent and if Wicca has a specifically gay path to follow. Thank you for your answer.
Hello to Peru from Utah, Alonso! Sure, Wicca is a great religion/spirituality that accepts gay people. Many Wiccans and Pagans identify as gay because it’s open, personal, and allows people the freedom to love each other. There are a couple of books, in English, you can read “Gay Witchcraft: Empowering the Tribe” by Christopher Penczak; “Path of the Green Man Gay Men, Wicca and Living a Magical Life” by Michael T Ford; “The Gay Grimoire: The Gay Man’s Book of Spells for Every Stage of Life” by Jade.
At the Midsummer ritual, I used a statue I got from Etsy.com. It came from the Czech Repulic. Here is the statue link on the shop Wulflundjewelry: https://www.etsy.com/listing/228036791/perun-statue-pagan-slavic-god-thunder?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=perun%20statue&ref=sr_gallery_1
The paintings are special paintings we commissioned from an artist in Kentucky. It explores the myth of gay gods. The painting for Midsummer is the Oak and Holly Kings, and the Holly takes over from Midsummer to Yule, so it shows him dominating the Oak king. If you look at our site, you’ll find we have several paintings like this. We currently have 5, and are doing ones for all 8 sabbats.
Thank you so much for your answer. I am so exited. 🙂 I never tough you will answer.
Ok for now I am a solitary pagan. And looking for information I meet the name of this two books on internet. I really hope get money to buy some day. But for now I fabric my own tools with free information that I can find on internet. And downloading all PDF Books that are free on Internet.
Any way is a great inspiration to know there exist a coven like yours following a true spiritual path from ancestral gods . Most important being free and authentic with your desires in communion with nature.
Respecting all other religions and thinking.
Hope continue watching your blog. Ganesha and Pan is a very nice painting too. It would very interesting to read in your blog what painting you use in each celebration and why. Thank you so much dear brothers. Light and Love.
Of course, we try to respond to readers 🙂 We appreciate your comments and reading it, we never know who does!
Do you think a library in Peru would purchase them for you?
Yes, we feel that is a great way to practice, showing others that you can be spiritual, be good people, and not hide everything, which is why we post on our website to show the beauty of our traditions. You could do great work someday in Peru!
We have the paintings for Beltane (Ganesh/Pan), Lughnasadh (Celtic Lugh), Imbolc (Sumerian-Sin and Shamesh), and Mabon (Group of gods dancing).
May be a Library would purchase them for me, it is a great idea. I will try. Ok. You know that next August 1st. will be IMBOLC here, in Southern hemisphere, and it can be nice if i can watch a picture of your “Sumerian-Sin and Shamesh”. drawing. – I love drawings! Thank you so much and, A big hug!