SLPS is currently updating it’s website. For those subscribers, please disregard the emails about “new posts” as we are updating some old ones. They have always been here, just we are making select updates.
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
Posted in magic, Ritual, Sabbat, witchcraft | Tagged Ancestors, Arianrhod, Big Cottonwood Canyon, fire, Samhain 2018, Veles, wine | Leave a Comment »
As one of the long time clients, the University of Utah booked SLPS for their fall Crimson Nights events, run by the Union Programming Council (UPC) in the Student Union Building. This has been an annual/semi-annual event for SLPS for a number of years, and we are always happy to return and give free readings to students during the party. SLPS gives a discounted hourly rate, but the non stop lines and benefits from helping students is well worth the hours on a Friday night. Muad’Dib reading many hands from 7-1am.
Posted in Other, palms, University, Vending | Tagged college, crimson nights 2018, free readings, palm readings, Student union, university of utah | Leave a Comment »
Posted in Pagan, Sabbat, witchcraft | Tagged Big Cottonwood Canyon, Samhain 2018 | Leave a Comment »
The members of SLPS met on Saturday, September 22, 2018 to honor the gods and accept the coming dark times of Mabon. The Fall Equinox brings in the spirit of the retreat, the inward lookings of the hermit figure, set for the six months between September 21st and March 21st, the Spring Equinox.
Offerings were given-seasonal fruits adorned the altar. Allegiances pledged while asking for guidance during this waning time. Kali Ma and Cernunnos were present to guide the attendees and give advice for the coming months.
Mabon 2018, altar with Kali and Cernunnos, Saturday, September 22, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT
Posted in nature, nature trips, Pagan, Sabbat, witchcraft | Tagged Big Cottonwood Canyon, camp fire, Cernunnos, Dark Times, Kali, Mabon 2018, ritual magic | Leave a Comment »
Posted in Pagan, Ritual, Sabbat, witchcraft | Tagged Dark Times, Mabon 2018 | Leave a Comment »
SLPS attended the 17th Annual Salt Lake City Pagan Pride Day on Saturday, August 18, 2018 at Liberty Park. The theme was “One Forest, Many Paths.” The day was hot, but breezes kept blowing in to cool the vendors down. The setup began at 6am with festival leader Debra Hurst going in and staking zones. Vendors were set up by the opening, 9am, and all the traffic rolled through. Muad’Dib opened the event with a sunrise ritual to Perun, Slavic deity of the sun, asking for a blessed day and to open the heart and pocketbooks of the attendees.
SLPS did $10 tarot and palm readings, and did about 15 in total. Not bad for an event full of psychics and fellow readers. SLPS was tented next to the Blue Antler of Tooele-a Pagan shop out that way. A few local shops, like Elemental Inspirations of Sugar House and the Rusty Skull were there as well.
A couple local groups also attended. The festival even had the return of long time community members who had previously been excluded or felt they couldn’t attend due to community politics/wars of the past.
Mr. Hooper, A rapper from Sacramento, California drove in to give a few hours of music in the afternoon. The closing rite was performed by local druid Kay M. who led everyone in the calling of the Great Irish Queen, the Morrigan.
Vendors left tired, but happy. Overall, a great day for all who attended. Each year the festival improves in small measure, but grows and shows the vitality of the Pagan community.
17th Annual Salt Lake City Pagan Pride Day, morning ritual altar to Slavic Perun, Liberty Park, Saturday, August 18, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT
17th Annual Salt Lake City Pagan Pride Day, SLPS booth with Woman Between the Wolves, Liberty Park, Saturday, August 18, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT
17th Annual Salt Lake City Pagan Pride Day, vendor booths looking west, Liberty Park, Saturday, August 18, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT
17th Annual Salt Lake City Pagan Pride Day, entertainment booth with a mermaid performing, Liberty Park, Saturday, August 18, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT
17th Annual Salt Lake City Pagan Pride Day, vendor booths looking east, Liberty Park, Saturday, August 18, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT
17th Annual Salt Lake City Pagan Pride Day, vendor booths on south side looking west, Liberty Park, Saturday, August 18, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT
17th Annual Salt Lake City Pagan Pride Day, vendor booths on west side looking south, Liberty Park, Saturday, August 18, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT
17th Annual Salt Lake City Pagan Pride Day, Rusty Skull vendor, Liberty Park, Saturday, August 18, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT
17th Annual Salt Lake City Pagan Pride Day, Muad’Dib, Liberty Park, Saturday, August 18, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT
17th Annual Salt Lake City Pagan Pride Day, Kay M. leading closing druid rite to the Morrigan, Liberty Park, Saturday, August 18, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT
Posted in Pagan, Tarot, Vending | Tagged 17th Annual Salt Lake City Pagan Pride Day, druidry, festivals, Mermaids, Morrigan, Pagan Pride Day 2018, Perun, rap and hip hop, Tarot readings, witch wars | Leave a Comment »
SLPS Will be at the 17th Annual Salt Lake City Pagan Pride Day at Liberty Park, 9-5pm
Posted in Vending | Tagged Liberty Park, Pagan festival, Salt Lake City Pagan Pride | 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
Posted in Pagan, Ritual, Sabbat | Tagged cock biscuit, Lammas, Lammas 2018, Lughnasadh 2018 | Leave a Comment »
Posted in magic, Ritual, sabbats, wicca, witchcraft | Tagged harvest, Lugh, lughnasadh | Leave a Comment »
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.
July 2018 New Moon, altar, Saturday, July 14, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT
July 2018 New Moon, sunset, Saturday, July 14, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT
Posted in esbat, Pagan, wicca, witchcraft | Tagged dark goddess mysteries, esbats, july new moon, new moon | Leave a Comment »
SLPS is making an official announcement, condemning the actions of the Trump Administration with the zero tolerance policy meant to deter asylum seekers to the U.S. We, the members of SLPS, stand with immigrants and believe in immigrants rights. We call on state leaders and our government to end the inhumane separation and detention of children. This act is unlawful and is inflicting unnecessary torture and trauma on those families.
Let us not forget the words of our Lady Liberte, Goddess of America Columbiana
The New Colossus, Emma Lazarus, 1883
“Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
MOTHER OF EXILES. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Posted in Other | Tagged child detention, immigrant rights, immigrants, political, trump presidency | Leave a Comment »
As quiet as the bee’s knees, local gay bar, Club Jam, closed its doors. It has been transferred to a new, more hipster oriented trend bar, HandleBar. Serving up jacket potatoes and wings among other things, extensive renovation of the structure was undertaken to transform the new pub from dance club to pub style life.
Kathy Stephenson, writing for the Salt Lake Tribune on June 8, 2018, describes the new Handlebar in their article “The HandleBar is a new Salt Lake City ‘biker’ bar geared toward cyclists and any other thirsty patrons…HandleBar, 751 N. 300 W., replaces Club Jam, a popular gay bar and dance club that opened in 2008 but in recent years had struggled.
‘When the area wasn’t as residential,’ Morris said, ‘a dance club made more sense.’ The new bar fits more in line with the neighborhood, but the sadness if felt in the community. “‘It’s exciting and sad at the same time,’ said Rob Moolman, executive director of the Utah Pride Center, who added that having ‘queer spaces’ where the LGBTQ community can ‘come out and be themselves’ is important.'”
While the Pride Center does exist and helps many people, the loss of a local staple venue, closing down to just 2 dedicated queer spaces, shifts a significant part of the population to other venues and away from the scene.
“At one point in the 1970s, Salt Lake City could boast 10 gay or lesbian bars. Now, with the closure of Jam, two remain: the Sun Trapp and Club Try-Angles. ‘Times have changed,’ Moolman said. For the most part, ‘young people today are growing up in a different climate of understanding and inclusivity. They can walk into any [bar or restaurant] space and be themselves.’ He pointed to Salt Lake City’s recent Pride Festival and Parade, which enjoyed some of their largest turnouts, according to preliminary numbers.”
SLPS is sad to see it go, President Muad’Dib had been there since the opening. “I remember the owners used to have lots of community events such as art shows and BBQs. It was great to get a free meal as a college student and not have to scrap for funds. Bear Foot wine did a tasting there once. When they got their liquor license things moved towards traditional club scene, but it was always a good spot.”
Source: GLAAD
Posted in diversity, LGBT | Tagged bar closure, Club Jam, LGBT community, LGBTQ, queer salt lake | Leave a Comment »
SLPS had a wonderful time reading tarot and participating in the 2018 Utah Pride Festival. The theme for the event this year was “Get Salty.” The festival was held at the usual City and County Building June 2-3. The Utah Pride Interfaith Coalition kicked off services Thursday, May 31 at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church. SLPS was in attendance as the one of the Pagan faith representatives.
Many folks came by for readings, all for $10. The Merqueen, formerly of Mermaids of the Great Salt Lake and her wife marched with SLPS in the parade Sunday, June 3.
Utah Pride Festival 2018, booth looking north to City and County Building, Saturday, June 2, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT
Utah Pride Festival 2018, booth with Shy Fox, Saturday, June 2, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT
Utah Pride Festival Parade 2018, l to r- Willow and Rachel F., and Shy Fox, June 3, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT
Posted in LGBT, Other, Tarot, Vending | Tagged Mermaids, salt lake city, Tarot readings, Utah Pride Festival 2018, Utah Pride Parade | Leave a Comment »
Posted in LGBT, Other, Tarot, Vending | Tagged LGBT, Tarot readings, Utah Pride Festival 2018 | Leave a Comment »
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.
Beltane 2018, Altar, Saturday, May 5, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT
Beltane 2018, Altar, Saturday, May 5, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT
Posted in magic, Pagan, wicca | Tagged Beltane 2018 | Leave a Comment »
To all the readers, the time has come to archive the archives… from the front page. SLPS has decided to shelve internally its content. It has retained some of the more important community stories on the rolling blog and archives sidebar, but all other posts have been internally archived on the WordPress server (don’t worry, we wouldn’t delete our digital history!). This was to clean up the blog itself and to allow for easier reading. We look forward now to years of practice, rituals, events, readings, community service, and fun to come. You can still find old posts using the search box, searching subject tags such as “Pride, Moab, rituals, community service, Ostara, Plazafest” and etc. We also have archived our blog over the years in the Wayback Machine on the Internet Archive.
We plan to do an annual archive of stories to keep the new year fresh. All our pictures are still available on our Facebook page. If you are conducting research and history, and can’t find a post, please contact us and we can assist you.
Posted in Other | Tagged archives, archiving digital content, archiving history, blog archives, blog changes, updates | Leave a Comment »
SLPS read for a third year in a row at the 2018 15th Annual SLC International Tattoo Convention Saturday and Sunday March 24-25 at the Salt Palace Convention Center. $10 readings for the tattoo goes and artists. We were placed next to another piercer/reader by the competition area, but all was well, with a total of 30 readings being done.
15th Annual SLC International Tattoo Convention 2018, booth, Salt Palace Convention Center, Saturday and Sunday March 24-25, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT
Posted in Tarot, Vending | Tagged Salt Lake City International Tattoo Convention, Tarot of the Tattoo Age, tattoo con 2018, tattoo tarot, tattooing | Leave a Comment »
Posted in literature, Other, Pagan | Tagged Academia, Enheduanna vol 3, literary journal | 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
Posted in Pagan, Ritual, Sabbat | Tagged Brigid, Candlemass, Imbolc 2018 | 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
Posted in Other, Ritual, Sabbat, witchcraft | Tagged Arianrhod, holly king, ritual, yule, Yule 2017 | Leave a Comment »
To those trying to purchase Enheduanna vols 1 and 2 from its website, we have worked a temporary solution for our shopping cart issue. You can click on the link for Paypal on the product page in “click here to buy now” which will direct you to Paypal. Sorry an inconvenience, we were just informed of the issue. Alternatively you can also buy your copies off of this site under the Enheduanna tab.
Posted in literature, Other | Tagged Enheduanna, technical issues | 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
Posted in Other, Ritual, Sabbat, witchcraft | Tagged halloween, ritual, Samhain | Leave a Comment »
The Salt Lake Pagan Society is pleased to announce the publication of vol 2 of its literary journal Enheduanna. Vol. 2 continues with its goal of promoting creative literary and writing spaces in the contemporary Pagan community. This volume has returning and new authors, with over 20 from around the world contributing their works. Featured work is part 2 of “The Sacred Faeires’ Chronicles”: journal entries published for the first time detailing the history of the Sacred Faery group of Pagans in Utah from 1989-1993. Vol. 2 includes essays, poetry, memoir, creative nonfiction, and short fiction.
Languages included in this issue: English and Spanish.
Price is $14.99 and flat rating shipping worldwide. Hardcover book ships from China.
Go to our sister website enheduannajournal.com to get your copy today or click here!
Posted in diversity, literature, Other | Tagged creative nonfiction, Enheduanna: A Pagan Literary Journal, essays, LGBTQ, Literary, literature, memoir, pagan literature, Poetry, Scholastic Paganism, Short Fiction, The Sacred Faeries' Chronicles, utah | Leave a Comment »
The Salt Lake Pagan Society is pleased to announce its literary journal, Enhedunna, has been offered to be included in EBSCO products. “EBSCO is one of the primary vendors of databases for libraries and research. EBSCO will index the journal, having a PDF file on their servers. Enheduanna will live on forever, accessible to millions of people and thousands of libraries that subscribe to their products.” said president Muad’Dib who also happens to be a librarian. A substantial feat, only in its second year. SLPS is humbled and gratified that the journal is being so recognized for its literary and scholastic achievement, adding legitimacy to the scholastic study of Paganism.
Posted in diversity, LGBT, literature, Other | Tagged EBSCO, Enheduanna: A Pagan Literary Journal, Libraries and research, literature, Scholastic Paganism | Leave a Comment »