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December New Moon Ritual 2012

Posted in magic, occult, Pagan, shamanism, witchcraft, tagged energy work, Hanukkah, Hanukkiah, New moon December 2012, new moon ritual on December 20, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Thanks to all whom came to the new moon ritual/drum circle and meditation fire this past Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 8pm.

The first order of magic was to finish up the Hanukkah celebrations! It being the last night of Hanukkah, the eighth candle was lit. The full and majestic power of the collective memory and history of the Jews and Maccabees descended on SLPS. Much gratitude could be felt for keeping the tradition alive.

Very quickly did the ancestors show up when they were invoked. Apparently they had much needed information for those present at the ritual. The ritual opened with the usual welcoming of the new moon and the lighting of the black candle before the mirror of fate. The drum circle brought journeying and out of body experiences as well as a connection with the divine.

After the fire died down, the grounding, center and peace meditation started. Being guided by president Daniel Cureton, the members breathed in, chanted om and released all negativity to the calming song of Shanti by MC Yogi on his album Elephant Power. This particular song has a powerfully and accurate centering effect when doubled up with a continuous Om. Sergey Khrushchev did reiki on everyone present to help increase the releasing and centering process.

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November Full Moon Ritual 2012

Posted in magic, occult, Pagan, wicca, witchcraft, tagged Birthday party, Chocolate Cake, Full Moon november 2012, Full Moon Ritual, ganesh, Moon Goddess, to wong foo: thanks for everything Julie Newmar! on November 30, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Thanks to all whom came this past Saturday, November 24, 2012 at 8pm. A few members gathered around to celebrate and give thanks to moon goddess at her full power. Magic and spells, love and gratitude, spirits and energy were worked this night.

The first order of business brought a few small spells for charging and making new amulets of protection. The main ritual was a gratitude ceremony to Ganesh for all he has done for us. Some of the songs played and danced to included Elephant Power, Om and Son of Shiva all by MC Yogi on his album Elephant Power. Some of the members rang bells and clapped while others shook percussion instruments for Ganesh. Ganesh himself was seen wiggling his ears and joining in the fun!

November’s full moon brought a special time for one of the members of SLPS. Amber Hafen, the beloved advertising director happened to have been born on this auspicious day!. With cake, card, candles and flower, the group gathered around her and sang and gave special birthday wishes and love. The benefit of pagan birthdays besides all the goodies, is that the candles can be washed, cleaned and stored away until they are needed for wishing magic!

With the birthday over, the ritual came to a close and the cake portioned out. April Love, SLPS adviser made a homemade white cake with chocolate frosting…delicious! Afterwards, the party continued with a viewing of Too Wong Foo: Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar!

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November New Moon Ritual 2012

Posted in magic, Pagan, shamanism, witchcraft, tagged esbat, moon magick, New Moon November 2012 on November 12, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Thanks to those who came and participated in the new moon ritual on Saturday, November 10, 2012 at 8pm. A small circle as usual, those attended gathered by the drums and fire to once again draw down the power of the dark moon in their lives. Dark or new moons are times of diminished light and are periods helpful for meditation, chanting, transjourney workings, drumming, astral travel, banishings, cleansings, setting goals and any other inner workings that tap into the dark aspect of being, soul, the earth, moon and magic.

Those present reported seeing the ancestors when they were invoked by the black candle, talking with the Goddess, being at peace and coming away from the drumming and meditation fire with a renewed sense of center. Next up, is the full moon! Check out the photos below.

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Samhain Ritual and Feast with SunStave

Posted in druidry, magic, Pagan, wicca, witchcraft, tagged ancestral altar, Cernunnos, Church of the Sacred Circle, funeral potatoes, Hades, Hermit, Medusa, Samhain 2012, Sun Stave Circle, We Are the Old Ones, Whispering Woods on October 29, 2012| Leave a Comment »

The wheel has turned and Samhain has come and gone. Thanks to all whom attended the combined UUPS and Sunstave Samhain ritual and feast on Saturday, October 27, 2012 6pm.

The temple area was decorated with the altars and tables with their elemental associations. Flowers and gourds were placed on the main altar and a special ancestral table was placed in the west for people to set items of loved ones onto. Arianrhod watched over the table while the event took place.

Everyone entered the circle space after the circle was cast and were cleansed with sage and holy water. President Daniel Cureton opened the circle in the druid fashion and had the quarters called afterwards.

What first took place was a calming chant We Are the Old Ones, followed by the death of Cernunnos, who left us to go to the land of spirits to await rebirth at Yule. Hades then was channeled by president Cureton and spoke to the circle before interacting with gate keeper of the west. The Gate Keeper, played by Iyata Bond, offered her soul in payment for a few minutes with the spirits of the dead. Hades, being so honored by her sincerity, open the gate without taking her soul. The spirits of the dead came rushing in to meet and talk with their loved ones. Some reported seeing lovers, parents and even pets that had gone on. In the middle of all this, three hounds were heard in the distance barking madly in the silence.

To the tune of the song Queen Medusa by Whispering Woods, Medusa was seen and heard from next. She joined the circle and took everyone’s problems that they had been dealing with throughout the year and burned them in the new year’s fire. She transformed and supported and will continue to support those whom accepted her offering of help.

The circle and grove were closed and the feasting began. The feast included deviled eggs, funeral potatoes, chicken and butternut squash soup. After the feast brought the Samhain part at the Church of the Sacred Circle temple where all sat by the fire and welcomed the new year while drinking Drunken Oak mead. Check out the photos below!

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Samhain Ritual and Feast with Sun Stave Circle Details

Posted in druidry, magic, Pagan, wicca, witchcraft on October 15, 2012| Leave a Comment »

The wheel has turned and Samhain, known to non magical folks as Halloween is upon us. The Celtic new year is a time for renewing commitments, setting goals and honoring the dead.

This year’s Samhain is a special one since UUPS picked up the Sun Stave Staff and will be hosting Sun Stave for Samhain. Part of this year’s Samhain will consist of drinking to the new year, a druid rite, wiccan death ceremony of Cernunnos, and calling in the dead or ancestors to deliver messages from the other realm, help their living loved ones improve and move forward in their lives.

Please bring an item or photo of a loved one that has passed. There will be a separate ancestral table to set them on. This ritual will included heavy emotions, be prepared to see those beyond the grave. Feast will be after as usual. Dress warmly and if able, please bring a seasonally appropriate dish.

Address: 7455 Parkridge Cir, SLC UT 84121
**** Here are some helpful tips for food ****

If you can, please think beyond bringing chips and salsa for your food contribution. 🙂 We have paper plates, plastic forks and spoons and plastic cups and two microwaves for re-heating items. If you are allergic to cats, be aware that the house is owned…errrr shared by 11 of those feline beasties: plan accordingly with your meds.

Ideas and suggestions for seasonal foods include: steamed carrots, pumpkin pie, garlic mashed potatoes, chicken (rotisserie or otherwise), soups (for example winter squash soup) macaroni & cheese, rice pilaf, enchiladas, other casseroles. Remember our vegetarian sisters & brothers, but think beyond the “vegetable platter.”

www.sunstave.org

(Flyer by Sergey Khrushchev)

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Samhain Ritual and Feast 2012 with Sun Stave Circle-Details

Posted in druidry, magic, Pagan, wicca, witchcraft, tagged Cernunnos, Day of the Dead, druidry, Hermit, Samhain Ritual 2012, Sun Stave Cirlcle on October 15, 2012| Leave a Comment »

The wheel has turned and Samhain, known to non magical folks as Halloween is upon us. The Celtic new year is a time for renewing commitments, setting goals and honoring the dead.

Address: 7455 Parkridge Cir, SLC UT 84121
**** Here are some helpful tips for food ****

www.sunstave.org

(Flyer by Lunar Oak Spirit)

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Magical Ingredients- Sage, Flowers, and Cacti!

Posted in Other, shamanism, witchcraft, tagged Big Cottonwood Canyon, Creeping Myrtle Spurge, gathering 2012, Hairy Goldenaster, Magical ingredients, prickly pear cactus, Sagebrush, Scarlet Gilia, Uinta Groundsil, Utah Goldenrod on September 30, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Thanks to all who came this morning, September 30, 2012 at 9am and helped collect magical plants and herbs! After finding the appropriate guides and maps to wildflowers and trees of the Wasatch, the members of UUPS headed up to Big Cottonwood. With field guides and magical bolines, the identifying, harvesting and thanking commenced. Many of the plants were eager to be part of a magical apothecary and be in a warm home before the fall snow hits in October.

After a few hours, the sun was sneaking high into the sky and everyone called it a day. There will be another herb gathering event. For now the fruits of the harvest include sage brush, prickly pear cactus, unita groundsel, hairy goldenaster, perry’s goldenrod, and scarlet gilia! The big poisonous plant we found is Myrtle Spurge! Just a note, the flowers look pretty but this plant in the third and fourth photos is poisonous and considered a noxious weed when cultivated! So do not cultivate if you take some home on our next trip. Check out the photos below!

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Mabon 2012 Celebration and Feast!

Posted in druidry, magic, Pagan, wicca, witchcraft, tagged fall equinox, Mabon 2012, ritual on September 17, 2012| Leave a Comment »

The fall is coming! The dark times are near! Come join in the celebration and witness the passing of the light times of the year from Apollo to the dark times of the year to Hades. This is an auspicious time when light and dark are equal again. The increasing darkness tells us to turn inward, walk the path and seek the light within. We will also be celebrating Ganesh’s birthday! Feast as usual will be after the ritual!

(Flyer by Lunar Oak Spirit)

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Mabon Celebration and Feast!

Posted in druidry, magic, Pagan, wicca, witchcraft on September 17, 2012| Leave a Comment »

(Flyer by Sergey Khrushchev)

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Blue Moon Ritual

Posted in druidry, magic, occult, Pagan, witchcraft, tagged Apollo, Blue Moon 2012, Blue Moon ritual, esbat, Goddess Isis, Medusa, ritual magick on September 2, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Thanks to all who came and made this “once in a blue moon” occasion extra special! On Saturday, Sept 1, 2012 at 8pm, with a crowd of nine, some UUPS members and a few guests gathered. The ritual started out with the usual calling in of deity and elementals to join our work. President Daniel Cureton performed the druid grove open ceremony by proclaiming peace in the quarters and invoking Awen.

Next, those who needed to performed cleansing and charging magic before a welcoming of the new deities to the humble abode of the president. With drums, rattles, sistrums and other percussion instruments, the members and guests hailed and welcomed new gods and goddesses to the circle such as Apollo and Medusa! They certainly showed up, as everyone reported feeling the shivers up and down there spine the power the gods and goddesses bring.

A cleansing by the blue moon came after the welcoming. Everyone was consecrated with smoke from thurber by president Cureton, then they washed their bodies ritually in a basin of water with sweet grass oil representing blood and spirit. President Cureton lit a smokeless fire where he pulled in the Gods and Goddesses and nwyfre, the fire of life and the Earth. The fire represented the fire within and the burning fire of blue moon. Hands were passed through the fire to give a sealing to the washings and consecrations. President invoked a blessing of Cerriwden, Arianrhod to empower the soul, Shiva to transform, Medusa to see past the physical, Justice to find wisdom, Apollo to see the light within, Ganesh to overcome and Isis to heal the body, mind and spirit of all. The end of the blue moon magic brought an anointing with a special blue moon lunar oil.

Cakes, ale and gratitude offerings were presented to the Goddesses and Gods before closing and dismissing the energy and the grove. The traditional Merry Meet and Merry Part chant finished the magic on this very special blue moon! President Cureton gave everyone tarot readings for the coming month with his special Deviant Moon Tarot to ad an extra punch to the blue moon magic!