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SLPS members gathered on Saturday, July 16, 2018 to honor the New Moon Goddesses and set goals as a coven together. No drumming was heard, as the hour was late and the temple neighbors would have not been pleased by the beating of drums in the night. Goals were set as a coven, to work towards as the new moon waxes full, as well as personal goals to work on for inner progress. A beautiful sunset with a crescent moon kept the west as the candles flicker in the evening sun.

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July 2018 New Moon, altar, Saturday, July 14, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT

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July 2018 New Moon, sunset, Saturday, July 14, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT

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The members of SLPS gathered on Saturday, May 5, 2018 to honor the marriage feast of the Lord and Lady. Beltane brings the marriage of the Goddess and God, coming together to form a union. The creation of life, the son of the Goddess happens over the summer, as the Wheel turns and the year moves towards Litha.

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Beltane 2018, Altar, Saturday, May 5, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT

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Beltane 2018, Altar, Saturday, May 5, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT

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The members enjoyed a lovely Lughnasadh, praising the Celtic sun god Lugh on Saturday, August 5, 2017. The gathering was held at the temple, with dimming light in the west and the altar of life set in the center. A beautiful sunset graced the meditations, and a journey was led to meet the Celitc God, who gave warm, brotherly advice to those present. The feastings included chicken, mashed potatoes, and baked asparagus.

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Lughnasadh 2017, altar with dog Freyja, Saturday, August 5, 2017, Salt Lake City, UT

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Lughnasadh 2017, l to r: Shy Fox, Willow and Rachel Figueroa, Spencer Angell, Saturday, August 5, 2017, Salt Lake City, UT

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Lughnasadh 2017, L to r: Spencer Angell, Willow Figueroa, Shy Fox, Saturday, August 5, 2017, Salt Lake City, UT

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Lughnasadh 2017, feast, Saturday, August 5, 2017, Salt Lake City, UT

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Lughnasadh 2017

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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

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A little summer kitchen magic! Jam Making… that’s what the members of SLPS did for their July full moon, known as the Buck moon when young buck’s antlers grow and come in, on Saturday, July 17, 2016.

The apricots and Oregon grapes used for the jam mix had come from the Society’s own back yard. The apricots and grapes were processed and heated with lemon juice and pectin. Sugar was added and a roiling boil achieved. The jars and lids were heated in a water bath to prevent bursting from the heat differential. The jars were filled and set upside to seal the lids while they cooled. After 5 hours, the society output 23 mason jars of apricot Oregon grape jam! The taste is sweet yet wild. Delicious!

July 2016 Full Buck Moon Ritual, jam making-Stesha Bowden (l) and Shy Fox cutting apricots, Saturday, July 17, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT

July 2016 Full Buk Moon Ritual, jam making-Oregon grapes, Saturday, July 17, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT

July 2016 Full Buck Moon Ritual, jam making-apricots and Oregon grapes processed, Saturday, July 17, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT

July 2016 Full Buck Moon Ritual, jam making-cooking apricot and Oregon grape jam mix and bathing jars, Saturday, July 17, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT

July 2016 Full Buck Moon Ritual, jam making-Muad’Dib stirring jam mix, Saturday, July 17, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT

July 2016 Full Buck Moon Ritual, jam making-set up, Saturday, July 17, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT

July 2016 Full Buck Moon Ritual, jam making-filling jam jar, Saturday, July 17, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT

July 2016 Full Buck Moon Ritual, jam making-jam jars sealing and cooling, Saturday, July 17, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT

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SLPS met on Saturday, July 2, 2016 at 9pm to honor the goddess of America, Columbia. The altar was decorated with Independence Day decorations (for July 4th). Pomegranate wine and apricots off one of the society trees were offered. Stars and Stripes Forever, one of the most patriotic American marches by John Philip Sousa was played as members danced around the altar with flags and pinwheels. We asked the Goddess to watch over the USA, guide the political leaders to be favorable for civil liberties, and offered thanks to the Native Americans who continue to grant the white people favorable passage on their lands (i.e, the USA).

July 2016 New Moon, ritual to Columbiana, Saturday, July 2, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT

July 2016 New Moon, altar center, Saturday, July 2, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT

July 2016 New Moon, offerings from the apricot tree, Saturday, July 2, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT

July 2016 New Moon, the apricot tree (with supports), Saturday, July 2, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT

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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

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The members of SLPS met on Saturday, May 7, 2016, to honor the goddess and mothers for Mother’s Day. The ritual began at 9pm, under the stars and damp earth. Hathor was pleased, the goddess of Mothers from Egypt. She accepted the offerings of home made dark fudge chocolate cake and strawberry lemonade. As a goal for the new moon, the coven decided to learn quilting, using pieces from old clothes to provide quilts for the needy, reduce waste, and as a fundraiser for the society.

May 2016 New Moon Ritual, altar center with Hathor, Saturday, May 7, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT

May 2016 New Moon Ritual, altar, Saturday, May 7, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT

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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

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The members of SLPS met under the beautiful full moon Saturday, April 23, 2016 to honor the mother Goddess Gaia in honor of Earth Day Blooming blueberry bushes adorned the altar, with offerings of juice and apples for the Mother.

April 2016 Full Pink Moon Altar, Goddess Gaia with blueberry bushes, Saturday, April 23, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT

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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

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The members of SLPS met on Saturday, March 26, 2016 at 8pm to honor the full moon Goddess and plan the upcoming garden for April. Gaia was patroned and honored, the good Earth mother who sends the worms to help the soil and plants grown.

March 2016 Full Worm Moon Ritual, Gaia on altar, Saturday, March 26, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT

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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

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SLPS participated in the Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable’s interfaith month by hosting an open full moon rite to the Norse Goddess Freyja. Held Sunday, February 21, 2016 from 7-9 at the Sugar Space in downtown Salt Lake, ten people gathered to see and participate in the Wiccan rite. The altar was decorated with bone runes, statues of the deities, flowers, and a drinking horn. A hand burned wooden slab of the rune Ingwas provided the perfect backdrop.

The society opened by invoking the Goddess Freyja and the All-father Odin. The song “Freya” by Kelliana on her album I Walk With the Goddess. The Goddess spoke to all those present and gave them advice for the next month to guide their lives. A rune was pulled for each person to give them further clarity and wisdom through divination.

The offerings were apple juice and cookies, after which sacred items presented to the Goddess were blessed and a question and answer period opened. People asked tradition differences, how Pagans view the world, and thanked SLPS for hosting as part of the interfaith.

Salt Lake interfaith Roundtable Full Moon Rite to Freyja, altar, Sunday, February 21, 2016, Sugar Space, Salt Lake City, UT

Salt Lake interfaith Roundtable Full Moon Rite to Freyja, people gathered, Sunday, February 21, 2016, Sugar Space, Salt Lake City, UT

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The members of the society met under moon and night on Saturday, February 20, 2016 at 8pm to give thanks to the moon goddess for her continued support and blessings. Full moon chicken tacos were prepared for the members who are practicing their kitchen magic skills.

February’s moon is known as the snow moon as the heaviest snow fall and cold comes during the month. Quan Yin was honored as the mother goddess in the full aspect.

February 2016 Full moon ritual, Snow moon, full moon chicken tacos, Quan Yin, Saturday, February 20, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT

February 2016 Full moon ritual, Snow moon, Quan Yin, Saturday, February 20, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT

February 2016 Full moon ritual, Snow moon, Saturday, February 20, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT

February 2016 Full moon ritual, Snow moon, Muad’Dib, Saturday, February 20, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT

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SLPS Interfaith 2016 Full Moon Flyer (1)

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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

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