Archive for the ‘Ritual’ Category
Ostara 2019
Posted in nature, Ritual, Sabbat, witchcraft, tagged Big Cottonwood Canyon, Eostre, Ostara 2019, ritual magick, Spring Equinox on March 13, 2019| Leave a Comment »
Imbolc 2019-The Light has Returned
Posted in nature, Ritual, Sabbat, witchcraft, tagged Big Cottonwood Canyon, Biscotti, Imbolc 2019, Poetry, Saint Brigid on February 4, 2019| Leave a Comment »
TPS Members met in Big Cottonwood Canyon on Saturday, February 2, 2019 to honor the return of the light. Known as Candlemass to the Catholics, This sacred holiday honors the coming light and spring and is ruled over by Brigid in the Celtic pantheon.
The fires were lit, poetry read, and music played. A meditation to Brigid was performed under the music of “Imbolc” by Lisa Thiel on her album Circle of the Seasons. Offerings included wine and chocolate biscotti.
Imbolc 2019, Woman Between the Wolves, Ledgemere Picnic Area, Saturday, February 2, 2019, Big Cottonwood Canyon, UT
Imbolc 2019, Spence A. (l) and Woman Between the Wolves reading the 1,001 names of the Goddess, Ledgemere Picnic Area, Saturday, February 2, 2019, Big Cottonwood Canyon, UT
Imbolc 2019, Altar with Triple Brigid, Ledgemere Picnic Area, Saturday, February 2, 2019, Big Cottonwood Canyon, UT
Imbolc 2019
Posted in Ritual, Sabbat, tagged Big Cottonwood Canyon, Imbolc 2019, ritual on January 13, 2019| Leave a Comment »
Yule 2018-The Arrival of a King
Posted in Pagan, Ritual, Sabbat, witchcraft, tagged Big Cottonwood Canyon, camp fire, Cernunnos, Quan Yin, ritual magic, Winter Solstice, Yule 2018 on December 23, 2018| Leave a Comment »
TPS Celebrate the arrival of Yule and its King, the Oak Lord, in Big Cottonwood Canyon Saturday, December 22, 2018. Digging out the snow, the fires were lit and the Lord honored with wine and cakes. The Holly King gave up his seat, and the God was born again of the Goddess after his death at Samhain.
Yule 2018, Yule fire, Ledgemere Picnic Area, Saturday, December 22, 2018, Big Cottonwood Canyon, UT
Yule 2018, Altar with Kwan Yin and Cernunnos, Ledgemere Picnic Area, Saturday, December 22, 2018, Big Cottonwood Canyon, UT
Yule 2018
Posted in Ritual, Sabbat, tagged Big Cottonwood Canyon, ritual, Winter Solstice, Yule 2018 on December 13, 2018| Leave a Comment »
Samhain 2018-The Dead Were Honored
Posted in magic, Ritual, Sabbat, witchcraft, tagged Ancestors, Arianrhod, Big Cottonwood Canyon, fire, Samhain 2018, Veles, wine on October 28, 2018| Leave a Comment »
SLPS members met in Big Cottonwood Canyon Saturday, October 27, 2018 to honored the blessed kindred. Candles were lit next to a sacred fire. With snow on the ground already, some shoveling of the pit was required, but the logs burned true. The waning life for winter could be felt, as crisp as the chill in the hair and the frost on the ground.
Some poetry and music warmed the spirit as the fire did the body. Sacred Pomegranate wine was shared between attendees before hailing and farewells.
Samhain 2018, altar with Arianrhod and Veles, Ledgemere Picnic Area, Saturday, September 22, 2018, Big Cottonwood Canyon, UT
Samhain 2018, altar looking up the mountain,
Ledgemere Picnic Area, Saturday, September 22, 2018, Big Cottonwood Canyon, UT
Samhain 2018, ritual fire,
Ledgemere Picnic Area, Saturday, September 22, 2018, Big Cottonwood Canyon, UT
Mabon 2018
Posted in Pagan, Ritual, Sabbat, witchcraft, tagged Dark Times, Mabon 2018 on September 13, 2018| Leave a Comment »
Lughnasadh 2018-A Blessed Lugh
Posted in Pagan, Ritual, Sabbat, tagged cock biscuit, Lammas, Lammas 2018, Lughnasadh 2018 on August 5, 2018| Leave a Comment »
SLPS Celebrated a wonderful Lughnasadh on Saturday, August 4, 2018. Members gathered to give thanks to the God Lugh of the Celtic pantheon and to acknowledge blessings received over the last year. Cock biscuits made an appearance, and all the members took a bite of the golden cock.
Lughnasadh 2018, altar, August 4, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT
Lughnasadh 2018
Posted in magic, Ritual, wicca, witchcraft, tagged harvest, Lugh, lughnasadh on July 28, 2018| Leave a Comment »
Imbolc 2018-Brigid’s Blessing
Posted in Pagan, Ritual, Sabbat, tagged Brigid, Candlemass, Imbolc 2018 on February 5, 2018| Leave a Comment »
The light has returned, and the members are happy to see the dark times over Sunday, February 4, 2018. Much introspection and meditation. The traditional beginning of Spring, the members honored the goddess Brigid and gave offerings in thanks of her continued support of the society.
Imbolc 2018, altar, Sunday, February 4, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT
Imbolc 2018, Brigid, Sunday, February 4, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT
Imbolc 2018, altar close up, Sunday, February 4, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT
Yule 2017-Return of the King
Posted in Other, Ritual, Sabbat, witchcraft, tagged Arianrhod, holly king, ritual, yule, Yule 2017 on December 31, 2017| Leave a Comment »
Yule was celebrated Sunday, December 31, 2017. The last day to end the year and welcome 2018. The society met to honor the return of the Oak King and say goodbye to the Holly King till Midsummer.
Yule 2017, altar with Holly King plaque and Arianrhod, Sunday, December 31, 2017, Salt Lake City, UT
Yule 2017, altar with candles, Sunday, December 31, 2017, Salt Lake City, UT
Samhain Celebrations 2017
Posted in Other, Ritual, Sabbat, witchcraft, tagged halloween, ritual, Samhain on November 6, 2017| Leave a Comment »
The society gathered to honor the kindred and deities on during the Samhain season Sunday, November 5, 2017. Due to scheduling the ritual was pushed back a few days to allow for accommodations, but the gods and kindred were pleased none the less!
Samhain 2017, altar with Hekate and Anubis, Sunday, November 5, 2017, Salt Lake City, UT
Samhain 2017, altar side, Sunday, November 5, 2017, Salt Lake City, UT
Samhain 2017, altar with candles, Sunday, November 5, 2017, Salt Lake City, UT
Lughnasadh 2016-Bountiful Harvests!
Posted in Pagan, Ritual, Sabbat, wicca, witchcraft, tagged ale, anaheim, apricot mango jam, apricot oregon grape jam, baquieu lettuce, beer, Charleston SC, cock candles, cornmeal muffins, dill, first harvest, garden harvest, garden pickings, gullah, gullah stewed squash, homemade jam, John barleycorn, Lammas, Lugh, lughnasadh, Moab Brewery, okra, onions, oregano, parsley, plum apricot jam, plum jam, Salt Lake Pagan Society, serrano, shallots, shishto, tomatoes, Wyld, yellow summer squash on July 31, 2016| Leave a Comment »
SLPS met under cool sky, warm earth, and to the sounds of crickets in the late July evening to celebrate Lughnasadh, the first harvest, and honor the Celtic God Lugh on Saturday, July 30, 2016. The altar was set, adorned with seasonal items, cock candles, corn, nude Lugh painting, and flowers. The fruits of the first harvest, the Society garden, were presented before the Gods. The harvest included: baquieu and romaine lettuce; onions; shallots;  shishito, serrano, and anaheim peppers; okra, yellow squash; parsley, oregano, and dill herbs. Four types of jam from the fruit trees that have produced from the garden: apricot mango, apricot oregon grape, apricot plum, and plum (plums from the red plum trees on the curb). The Society is greatly blessed to have such harvests from the Good Earth Mother, Gaia. All the hard work of the garden has paid off!
Homemade cornmeal buttercream cupcakes were made by member Stesah Bowden. Wyld Extra Pale Ale and Moab Brewery Dead Horse Amber were the drinks of choice for John Barleycorn, who is burned as an offering from the wheat/corn to the gods at this time. Without the god Lugh, Lughnasadh is celebrated at Lammas, as a holiday of thanksgiving surrounding the first of three harvests that happen in August, September, and October.
The members meditated to the song “Lammas” on the album Circle of the Seasons by Lisa Thiel. The members went around afterwards in a circle and offered up thanks for all the things the were grateful for in life, lending that energy to the overall gratitude of the harvests.
The feasts including sauteed yellow squash with bacon, onions, and shallots (a traditional Gullah/Charleston, SC recipe by Muad’Dib who hails from that part of the world), BBQ-ed ribs, and chicken mole enchiladas.
Lughnasadh 2016, altar, Saturday, July 30, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Lughnasadh 2016, harvests of the Society garden l to r- baquieu and romaine lettuce; yellow squash; Anaheim, Serrano, and shishito peppers; okra; shallots; onions; parsley, dill, and oregano herbs. Saturday, July 30, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Lughnasadh 2016, altar with harvests l to r-romaine lettuce, yellow squash, Anaheim, Serrano, and shishito peppers; okra; tomatoes; shallots; onions; parsley. Saturday, July 30, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Lughnasadh 2016, cornmeal and buttercream muffins, Saturday, July 30, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Lughnasadh 2016, fruit jam from fruit tree harvests l to r- apricot mango, apricot Oregon grape, plum, and plum apricot, Saturday, July 30, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Lughnasadh 2016, Woman Between the Wolves lighting south candle, Saturday, July 30, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Lughnasadh 2016, l to r- Shy Fox, Muad’Dib, and Woman Between the Wolves, Saturday, July 30, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Lughnasadh 2016, preparing sauteed squash with bacon, onion and shallot (from garden), Saturday, July 30, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Lughnasadh 2016, feast: chicken mole enchiladas with guacamole, ribs with mustard bbq sauce, and sauteed squash, Saturday, July 30, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Lughnasadh 2016
Posted in druidry, occult, Ritual, Sabbat, wicca, witchcraft, tagged 1st harvest, harvest, Lammas, Lugh, lughnasadh, Lughnasadh 2016, Thanksgiving on July 23, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Midsummer 2016-Perun’s Blessings
Posted in druidry, magic, Other, religion, Ritual, Sabbat, wicca, tagged Circle of the Seasons, deviled eggs, feasts, Hern, kababs, litha, magic, Midsummer 2016, Oak and Holly Kings, pagan, paganism, Perun, purple cauliflower, ritual, Salt Lake Pagan Society, Slavic, Sun, utah on June 19, 2016| 5 Comments »
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
Midsummer 2016
Posted in Pagan, Ritual, Sabbat, wicca, witchcraft, tagged litha, magic, Midsummer 2016, pagan, paganism, ritual, Salt Lake Pagan Society, utah, wicca on June 13, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Beltane 2016-The Gods and Morning Doves
Posted in nature, Pagan, Ritual, Sabbat, wicca, witchcraft, tagged beltane, Beltane 2016, gay beltane, Great Rite, Lisa Thiel, Maypole, pagan, queer gods, ritual, Salt Lake Pagan Society, Utahliving, White Zifandel, wicca on May 1, 2016| Leave a Comment »
The members of SLPS met on Sunday, May 1, 2016 at 3pm to celebrate the union of the Lord and Lady in matrimony and at the Beltane wedding. The Maypole was unwoven from 2014 and set up on the lawn. Flowers from the garden adorned the altar as well as the great rite statue and queer gods painting.
Poetry honoring the Gods was read. The great rite was performed, the uniting of the blade and chalice, by the high priest and high priestess, offering up white zinfandel wine. “Beltane” was played by Lisa Thiel on her album Circle of the Seasons as the members danced and wove the ribbons on 2016’s pole. As the members drank wine and relaxed, two morning doves flew into the trees, issuing calls to the members and giving the sign that the Lord and Lady was present.
The feasting included homemade drunken German Chocolate cake, beef stroganov, and noodles.
Beltane 2016, Camille Harris, Sunday, May 1, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Beltane 2016, unraveling 2014’s Maypole weaving l to r- Camille Harris, Shy Fox, and Woman Between the Wolves, Sunday, May 1, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Beltane 2016, Maypole, Sunday, May 1, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Beltane 2016, altar, Sunday, May 1, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Beltane 2016, altar center, Sunday, May 1, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Beltane 2016, Woman Between the Wolves, Sunday, May 1, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Beltane 2016, dancing around the Maypole l to r- Woman Between the Wolves, Shy Fox, and Camille Harris, Sunday, May 1, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Beltane 2016, after Maypole weaving, l to r- Camille Harris, Shy Fox, Muad’Dib, and Woman Between the Wolves, Sunday, May 1, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Beltane 2016, after Maypole weaving l to r-Camille Harris, Muad’Dib, Shy Fox, and Woman Between the Wolves, Sunday, May 1, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Beltane 2016, feast: homemade drunken German chocolate cake, peas, beef stroganov, noodle, Sunday, May 1, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Beltane 2016
Posted in Ritual, Sabbat, wicca, witchcraft, tagged Beltane 2016, May Day, Maypole, paganism, ritual and feast, Salt Lake Pagan Society on April 30, 2016| Leave a Comment »
April 2016 New Moon to Artemis
Posted in esbat, Ritual, wicca, witchcraft, tagged April 2016 New Moon, Artemis, Enya, magic, new moon ritual, pagan, Pax Deorum, Salt Lake Pagan Society on April 11, 2016| Leave a Comment »
The members of SLPS met on Saturday, April 9, 2016, to celebrate the new moon, set goals, and give offerings to the Goddess Aretmis. A smokeless fire meditation with the songs “Pax Deorum” by Enya were played to help guide the members in their trance experience.
April 2016 New Moon Ritual, altar with Artemis, Saturday, April 9, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Ostara 2016 Ritual and Feast-Ostara’s Blessings
Posted in Pagan, Ritual, Sabbat, wicca, witchcraft, tagged backgammon, Circle of the Seasons, daffodils, Eostre, Germanic, Hern, Lisa Thiel, Mahjong, Ostar 2016, ostara, potato salad, ritual and feast, Sping equinox, succotash on March 20, 2016| Leave a Comment »
The members of SLPS met under descending sun and half moon on Saturday, March 19, 2016 at 6pm to honor and celebrate the Germanic Goddess Ostara. The altar was decorated with flowers from the society garden-daffodils, the first to come up in spring. The circles were invoked, and a meditation to ground the members took place. Everyone enjoyed the song “Ostara” by Lisa Thiel on her album Circle of the Seasons.
The Goddess spoke to all present, giving them guidance for the new season of spring. Offerings of juice and eggs were given, and thanks for her continual support and blessings. Hern was honored as well, the young god with mighty loins who will soon marry the Goddess at Beltane.
The feat included baked chicken, potato salad, and succotash with lemon bunt cake for dessert. Some after dinner equinox gaming was in order, with a few rounds of Mahjong tiles and backgammon .
Ostara 2016, altar, Saturday, March 19, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Ostara 2016, altar center, Saturday, March 19, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Ostara 2016, Shy Fox, Saturday, March 19, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Ostara 2016, Camille Harris, Saturday, March 19, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Ostara 2016, altar at sunset, Saturday, March 19, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Ostara 2016, after feast gaming-Majong, Saturday, March 19, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Ostara 2016, after feast gaming- backgammon with Shy Fox, Saturday, March 19, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Ostara Ritual and Feast 2016
Posted in Pagan, Ritual, Sabbat, wicca, witchcraft, tagged ceremonies, easter, Eostre, Goddess worship, Ostara 2016, Salt Lake Pagan Society, Spring Equinox, Utah Living on March 14, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Imbolc 2016- Brigid Smithed the Word
Posted in Ritual, Sabbat, wicca, witchcraft, tagged Brigid, Celtic Goddess Brigid, Fried pork chops, Imbolc, Imbolc 2016, mustard, Poetry, Utah Living, zucchini on January 31, 2016| Leave a Comment »
The members of SLPS meet under sacred roof and firm carpet to celebrate and honor the Celtic Goddess Brigid for Imbolc, Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 8pm. The altar was adorned with seasonal decorations and flowers, and special poetry place before the goddess the members wrote for the occasion.
Songs were sung of the goodness of Brigid and Imbolc. She spoke to the members, and they honored her with their words before toasting with red wine. Lugh, the Celtic sun God was honored for his return, the return of the light at Imbolc, when the sun starts it zenith in the sky in the coming seasons.
The feast afterward included mustard fried pork chops, potatoes au gratin, and stir fried zucchini.
Imbolc 2016, altar, Saturday, January 30, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Imbolc 2016, poetry for Brigid, Saturday, January 30, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Imbolc 2016, feast food Saturday, January 30, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Imbolc 2016, feast l to r: Woman Between the Wolves, Shy Fox, Piggy, and Camille Harris, Saturday, January 30, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
Kwanzaa December 2015 Cold Full Moon Ritual
Posted in esbat, moons, Pagan, Ritual, wicca, witchcraft, tagged chicken and ground nut stew, cold moon, fufu, full moon, kinara, Kwanzaa, Kwanzaa 2015, Salt Lake Pagan Society, unity on December 27, 2015| Leave a Comment »
The members of SLPS gathered to celebrate and work magic of the last full moon of 2015 on Saturday, December 26, 2015. It was also the start of Kwanzaa, so the altar was decorated and adorned with traditional Kwaznaa items as well. The Kinara was lit, the black called, for the first night for the discussion about the first principal of Kwanzaa, unity. A discussion followed about the importance of unity in the community. After the ritual, a special chicken and ground nut stew and fufu were prepared to honor the start of the holiday and were offered to the Moon Goddess.
Kwanzaa 2015 Full Moon December Cold Moon, Muad’Dib making fufu, Saturday, December 27, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT
Kwanzaa 2015 Full Moon December Cold Moon, altar Saturday, December 27, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT
Kwanzaa 2015 Full Moon December Cold Moon, Kinara on the mantle Saturday, December 27, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT
Kwanzaa 2015 Full Moon December Cold Moon, altar with candles Saturday, December 27, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT
Kwanzaa 2015 Full Moon December Cold Moon, chicken and ground nut stew and fufu (white ball), Saturday, December 27, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT
Kwanzaa 2015 Full Moon December Cold Moon, chicken and ground nut stew with fufu, Saturday, December 27, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT
Yule 2015
Posted in druidry, Other, Pagan, religion, Ritual, wicca, witchcraft, tagged christmas., feast, ritual, Salt Lake Pagan Society, utah, Winter Solstice, yule on December 13, 2015| 2 Comments »
Samhain Ritual and Feast 2015
Posted in Pagan, Ritual, Sabbat, wicca, witchcraft, tagged Ancestors, dead, kindred, paganism, Salt Lake Pagan Society, Samhain, samhain 2015, wiccan rites on October 19, 2015| Leave a Comment »
