Posted in Other, Pagan, tagged A look at Paganism, exhibition, J. Willard Marriott Library on December 11, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Don’t miss out on the upcoming exhibition by the Salt Lake Pagan Society at the J. Willard Marriott Library, at the University of Utah titled “A Look at Paganism: Beliefs and Cultures of the Neopagan Community” Jan 17-March 16 2014 which will feature different cultural and spiritual items from the Neopagan community. Artwork provided by Sergey Khrushchev.
Posted in Other, Pagan, tagged Clergy, Ministry, ordination, Salt Lake Pagan Society, Scott Cunningham, wicca on November 30, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Merry Meet everyone. SLPS Is now proud to offer ordination and a degree training program in the New American Tradition. If you’d like to learn about it, study magic, witchcraft, the occult and get ordained as a pagan priest, then check out the new page FAQs
Posted in magic, Pagan, wicca, witchcraft, tagged awen cauldron, clay cauldron, Dark Moon, New moon November 2013, witches' hat on November 3, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Everyone had a great time celebrating the new moon on Saturday, November 2, 2013. A few of SLPS members came together so give honor and thanks to the great crone and set new goals for the month. The cauldron Awen had been pulled out for special use by President Cureton, allowing for a more intense spell working and journeying to be completed. The tradition pointy witches’ hat can even be seen on Lauren Holman!
Posted in druidry, magic, occult, Pagan, shamanism, wicca, witchcraft, tagged Cerridwen, halloween, Medusa, Nataraja, pumpkin painting, Samhain 2013, Shiva on October 27, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Thanks to who came to the Samhain ritual and feast on Saturday, October 26, 2013 at 6pm. The society began the Samhain by painting pumpkins and rocks for the dead. The rocks were later buried under a tree and the pumpkins put out on display. The crowning piece of this year’s Samhain was a hand painted skull for dia de Los Muertos as the center piece. The ritual was performed in the druid/wiccan style by SLPS president Daniel Cureton.
The main rite of the Samhain ritual was Lord Shiva, Hindu God of Death, unlocking the gate of the underworld in Nataraja pose to allow the spirits of the dead to attend their living. After a few moments, they were sent back to the underworld till the next ancestral working. Cernunnos had gone before to prepare the dead for the visitation as it was he who died that day, to be reborn again at Yule. Cerridwen of the druids was seen during the druid Samhain rite. The offerings were home made pumpkin bread and Bloody Mary’s in the frog cauldron. Medusa burned away all the worries and problems of the people (played by Lauren Holman). It came to a close with the blessings of Samhain being given by Lady Hecate.
The feasting included home made pumpkin bread, green beans, buckwheat and mummy chicken (wrapped in bacon). After the feast, everyone rested by a Samhain fire, lit for the ancestors and enjoyed eggnog and brandy. Check out the photos below!
Posted in druidry, magic, nature, occult, Pagan, wicca, tagged Alban Elued, Cernunnos, Dark Times, Esus, Ganesh Chaturthi, Mabon 2013 on September 23, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Saturday, September 21, 2013 brought the Fall Equinox known and Alban Elued or Mabon. After a bit of an unorthodox start, the ritual got rolling at 10pm (instead of the usual 6). The ritual kicked off with the usual cleansing and spheres of protection. President Daniel Cureton performed the druid opening rites and led everyone into the celebration of light and dark. The Hermit came knocking to the temple doors holding the light of life. He spoke to everyone, announcing himself as the guide of souls before passing his lantern to Ra who said his goodbyes from the light time of year and finally onto Cernunnos who takes over at this time. Cernunnos spoke of his support and love for each person, how they should not be afraid to push forward into the dark times and look into the soul. He blessed everyone and promised to walk the journey with them.
Mabon magic was worked with everyone burning away a problem in their lives in the Cauldron Awen. Esus danced in the circle as part of the druid rite of Alban Elued performed by president Cureton Ganesh stopped by as part of the Chaturthi celebrations to have a piece of pie and hear the Mabon poetry read, and with that, the ritual closed till next fall and the feasting of ribs and pickled mushrooms began. A heathen sumbol performed with the traditional drinking horned being passed as cheers to the deities went up into the air late into the night.
Posted in druidry, Other, Pagan, wicca, witchcraft, tagged Dark Times, Gay Gods, mabon, Mabon 2013, Mabon Alban Elued, New American, paganism, ritual, sabbat, Salt Lake Pagan Society on September 18, 2013| Leave a Comment »
The time has come to prepare for what lies ahead…. the dark times! Mabon is the time of year when the sun lessens in strength and light and when the night begins to become the ruling phase of our lives. The God is aging and preparing for his departure at Samhain and the Goddess starts her transition into the Crone phase. The second of the three harvests, the crops that have come in around this time are berries, pears, peaches, and mushrooms. The ritual will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2013 at 6pm in the New American Tradition. SLPS president Daniel Cureton will lead the ritual. The center piece is a commissioned painting acrylic on canvas by the favored artist Kurt Shoopman of Kentucky featuring several skyclad gods dancing around the Mabon fire. Feasting afterward as usual. If you’d like to attend the next sabbat, please come to Witches’ Tea for more info.
(Flyer by Sergey Khrushchev)
Posted in magic, nature, Other, Pagan, tagged Big Cottonwood Canyon, Magical ingredients, river, Sagebrush, wild rose on September 16, 2013| Leave a Comment »
What a fun day out after Sunday morning tea! A few SLPS members headed to Big Cottonwood Canyon to gather magical plants and items on Sunday, September 15, 2013. River rocks, white sage, wild rose and granite were on the list and after several hours of hunting and gathering, they were successful! Each September brings the opportunity to gather the last of the summer plants and the pre-fall blooms. With the river being almost too cold to wade through, any time post Mabon is just too cold!
Posted in Other, Pagan, tagged Asatru, festival, Four Dragons Clann, Free Tarot, Gypsy Wagon American Fork UT, Harts Hearth Clan Grantsville UT, Murray Park, pagan pride 2013, Pagan Pride Day, paganism, salt lake pagan pride day, Salt Lake Pagan Society, tarot reading, Typsy Gypsies, Wasatch Mountains on September 16, 2013| Leave a Comment »
The 12th annual Salt Lake Pagan Pride Day was a success! The festival began at 10am on Saturday, September 14, 2013 in Murray Park’s pavilions 1, 2, and 3 and lasted till 6pm. SLPS had a beautiful sacred space set up and offered free tarot readings. The shops Gypsy wagon of American Fork, UT, and The Typsy Gypies of Lehi, UT were the neighbors for the day on either side of the SLPS. booth. The day opened with the morning ritual by the Four Dragons Clann of the 1734 Tradition and people filing in for free readings. As noontime approached, the heavens opened and rain poured down for twenty minutes on everyone. Most of the guests took cover under the canopies and pavilions and watched the bards and belly dancers perform their art. The rained stopped and the people returned. 4pm brought the closing ritual by Harts Hearth Clan of Grantsville. They performed a ceremony to Frey And Freyja in the northern asatru tradition. 6pm was the close and everyone packed up to return home till next year’s pride. Till we meet again!
Posted in Other, Pagan, tagged 12th annual festival, Murray Park, pagan pride 2013, salt lake pagan pride day 2013 on September 10, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Hi Folks! The time for Pagan Pride has arrived! This year’s event will be at the normal location of Murray Park Pavilions 1, 2, and 3 in Murray, UT 84107 Saturday, September 14, 2013, from 10am-6pm. Admission is free. There will be vendors, groups, and public rituals as part of the schedule. SLPS will have a booth there and will be doing the usual free tarot readings. If you get a chance, please stop by the booth and get a reading from one of the talented and experienced readers there. See you all then!
Posted in Other, Pagan, tagged USUPA, Utah State University Pagan Alliance on September 5, 2013| Leave a Comment »
After about a six month break, USUPA has found new leadership and resumed operations at USU this fall, 2013. After the graduation of the first president and founder, Kassie Cressall, USUPA underwent a time of uncertainty. The activities became fewer until there none, communications and other advertising slowed to a dull roar and the leadership all but vanished. Over late spring and summer of 2013 USUPA found a new leader. A current student at USU, Anya Hawke has stepped forward to take on the reigns of the organization. From a Facebook message to SLPS president Daniel Cureton dated August 10, 2013, Ms. Hawke commented on her new position and upcoming events for USUPA “Well, we don’t have many plans set in stone at this point. We’re meeting next week to work those out. But our tentative plans are to have a booth out on quad for Club Day during the first of classes to help spread the word that we’re back. Then we will have monthly full moon rituals, movie nights probably about as often, and classes as often as we can get volunteers to teach them. Witches’ Tea, our Saturday meet up to chat and chill will happen every week. Our traditional location the Citrus and Sage, might change since they might be closing down. We will be holding a Samhain ritual that will be open to the public like we used to, as well. The goal is to become a self sustaining club. One that will continue after I step down as president. The current leadership includes me as President, Brie as Vice President, and Alina as our Publicist/Public Relations Officer. We want to keep this club a safe and open place for people that follow a less conventional path.” Since USUPA will be back up and running, LUPA-Logan Utah Pagan Alliance, the temporary community organization run by Ms. Cressall will close it’s door and give the space back to USUPA. SLPS wishes them luck and success as they get back on their feet!
Salt Lake Pagan Society 