UUPS had a good time giving out information and telling people about the club at the Grand Kerfuffle tabling on the west lawn of the U of U Student Union building on April 22, 2011. President Daniel Cureton and member Sarah Cochran relaxed in the shade as students rushed by to class in the noon sun.
Posted in University, Vending | Tagged Grand Kerfuffle, tabling, U of U Pagan Society, university of utah | Leave a Comment »
In April 2011, an agreement was reached: Kindred Paths would become a sponsor of the U of U Pagan Society.
UUPS is very pleased to have the backing of Salt Lake City’s Finest full service Pagan store.
“I was very happy that we could work something out. I feel so much support from Kindred Paths and the community. We hope to maintain ties and build each other up in the process.” said President Daniel Cureton.
Steve Turner, the owner said “I don’t mind being associated, helping and supporting this great group of people. They are doing good things for the community and it’s important we help each other, instead of being isolated like a lot of folks tend to be.”
UUPS has no fiscal minimum set to be a sponsor, but welcomes everyone who is interested in becoming one.
Posted in Other | Tagged kindred paths shop, spell bound shop, sponsors | Leave a Comment »
A change and evolution. The new moons will now include a drum circle and meditation by smokeless fire! A few members met under the dark shadow of the new moon to celebrate the cycles of Luna and ask guidance for the coming month. Since new moons are about setting goals, the members burned old goals in the fire and set new ones to wax in fruition with the waxing moon. Cookies and juice were the offerings to Luna. Till next we meet!
Posted in esbat, magic, moons, Pagan, wicca, witchcraft | Tagged Drum Circle, First new moon, new moon drumming, new moon ritual | Leave a Comment »
Thanks to everyone for all the hard work accomplished in March! April has been a busy month, but isn’t holding anyone back!
KUTE Radio Interview
On Friday, March 18, 2011, President Daniel Cureton was asked to appear on our very own 1620 AM University radio K-UTE. President Cureton was asked to explain and talk about the U of U Pagan Society, its goals, what it does, ambitions, history, current projects, membership and he was even invited to give a blessing on the campus!
Here is a little what he said, “The U of U Pagan Society is a group of students who have reached out to include the community. We currently have seventy members and many monthly activities going on such as crafting classes, classes and rituals.” One of the hosts asked him at that point “What is a ritual?” He explained “A ritual can be a number of things. For me it means a structured and repetitious ceremony that I can do again and again the same way, or feel free to change it. For me, I incorporate different parts from different religions like Druidry, Shamanism and Wicca. A ritual for me is a way to connect with deity, ancestors, spirits and the universe. Really it can be seen as a form of prayer or worship.”
When asked about community and student involvement, President Cureton commented, “We are trying to educate and make everyone aware through experience. We advertise classes and activities from other groups so that people who are living far away and can’t make it, can know that there are activities going on near them.”
Finally President Cureton gave a simple but elegant blessing over the campus “May there be peace in your heart and success on your midterms this spring break, with lots of relaxing time on vacation. So mote it be.”
Posted in druidry, Other, Pagan, University | Tagged KUTE, liberalia, pagan, radio, roman, toga, university of utah, USUPA, utah state universiyt, wicca, witchcraft | Leave a Comment »
President Daniel Cureton had the unique opportunity to participate in an Ostara Ritual with our eastern brothers and sister in Rockingham, NC.
President Cureton relates some of his experience, “I had the best time this past spring break. I drove up from Columbia, SC, where my parents live to Rockingham, NC, about a three hour drive up U.S. Hgwy 1 on Monday, March 21, 2011. I got there in time to meet up and drive ten minutes to a smaller town where the healing center was we would be renting for the space. We had an Easter egg hunt, in which I mowed everyone over and won, then we set up the five altars, one for each direction and the main altar, and waited for dark. It got to be so late we finally had to bring them and do it.
The altars were so beautifully decorated with flowers, eggs and natural items. I was in the north and really loved using a dogwood branch for my wand. It still had the buds on it! I really enjoyed that. We listened as the high priestesses related the story of Ostara to us, then guided us into an egg for path working. We all meet the Green Main in front of an oak tree. We listened to what he had to say before leaving again. These are such great people! We can learn a lot from the magic of the east!”
Ostara 2011 l to r Val Mohlere, Laura Redman, Jessican Mohlere, U of U Pagan Society combined Ostara with Spirit of the Evergreens Coven March 21, 2011 Pinehurst, NC
Ostara 2011 Jessica Mohlere (l) and Daniel Cureton U of U Pagan Society combined Ostara with Spirit of the Evergreens Coven March 21, 2011 Pinehurst NC
Posted in magic, Pagan, wicca, witchcraft | Tagged easter, Eostre, Green Man, North Carolina, Ostara 2011, Spirit of the Evergreens Coven | Leave a Comment »
This past month brought us the wonderful opportunity again to see our wonderful brothers and sisters from Utah State University Pagan Alliance in Logan, Ut on Saturday, March 19, 2011. They celebrate and honored Liber Pater with the Roman Spring Holiday Liberalia. Masks were hung in trees, wreaths were worn on the heads and togas worn! Callista Midnyte Dreamwalker (fourth from right) related her experience, “Liberlia was a very powerful experience. It was my first ritual I ever attended and I was nervous. However when we arrived we were invited into the circle among many fellow pagans. We called upon the God and Goddess not just of the Romans but also of others. I enjoyed the company and felt the Gods and Goddesses presence. I felt their joy in our gathering. This three hour drive was completely worth it!” Saerra Fairbrother (end right) said “ I am so glad I went. It was a great time and I even met a woman who will be moving to go to SLCC with us in the fall.”
UUPS is very excited and cannot wait to see and join in the next celebration with USUPA! We are grateful to our wonderful friend and President of USUPA Kassie (second from right).
This month we are focusing on getting sponsored by one of the local businesses and setting up for the PRIDE Festival. We also have added a new event page to the website so everyone can keep up to date on what is going on with UUPS!
BB
Daniel
Posted in Other, Sabbat, University | Tagged liberalia, logan, paganism, roman, USUPA, Utah State University Pagan Alliance | Leave a Comment »
What an exciting time! We have been asked to appear on the University of Utah Student Radio show. This Friday, March 18, 2011 at 5:00 pm, tune in to 1620 AM to hear the 10 minute interview by Daniel Cureton, talking about UUPS. He’ll be discussing the groups history, its purpose, what it does and more. See you all then!
BB
Daniel C
Posted in Pagan, University | Tagged AM, college, KUTE, pagans, radio, student groups, student life, university of utah | Leave a Comment »
Hi folks,
What a great month in February as we saw and heard the Goddess Brigid!! March is the time for us to see our fellow Pagan brothers and sisters at Utah State University Pagan Alliance in Logan. They are putting on a spring Holiday, Liberalia, a Roman Spring, in honor of Liber Pater and Libera! He traditionally is a God of fertility, vegetation and wine and this day marked adolescent boys of 14 to maturation into manhood. This is a time of sacrifice, song, and hanging masks on trees! I hope you all can attend the celebration and give honor to Liber Pater and Libera.
Since USUPA is doing a spring holiday, UUPS will not put on a ritual. This is our time to visit and attend USUPA
UUPS believes its important to reach out to the community and build ties, whether it be with the University of a local business or organization. As such, its time we start thinking about our semester volunteering!
This month is the U’s spring break, so we’ll all be taking the 21-25 off from school, so there will be no weekly meeting those two Sundays (March 20th and 27th).
Also check out the upcoming events page to see a list of all UUPS Events and Classes! Updated Monthly!
BB
Daniel C
Posted in Pagan | Tagged college, full moon, gypsy wagon, kindred paths, liberalia, logan, magic, new moon, ritual, shaman, USU, utah, UU, wicca, witchcraft | Leave a Comment »
Brigid herself was pleased with the joyous celebration of the day of the return of the light. She was aspected by our very own adviser April, in a wonderful black and white costume, signifying the duality of the solstice and equality of day and night before the day becomes longer. The four quarters were called upon with candles and wreathes upon the heads of those who were in their elements respectively. A roaring fire in the grill helped keep us warm on the chilly night, and light Brigid’s candle. Milk and oats were passed, and blessings given, and blessings received. Thanks to all who came and enjoyed and made Imbolc 2011 a reality.
Following Imbolc we had home made chicken soup and participated in a new moon ritual. We hailed Luna and meditated with the beating of drums and set goals for the coming month. Blessings of the moon were given by the Priest before everyone was led into past life visions by April. Many things were revealed. All very instructional and helpful to the people to better understanding their time in this existence.
All in all, we can’t wait to do it again! Come join us each month for new and full moon rituals and draw down the power of the moon into your lives. See you there!
BB
Daniel C.
Posted in Pagan, Sabbat, wicca | Tagged candle, celebration, costume, drum, fire, goddess, hypnosis, light, magic, meditation, milk, new moon, oats, paganism, past life, regression, ritual, solstice, spirits, wicca, worship | Leave a Comment »
So now that everyone has settled in, lets dig in! Brigid is about to arrive as this month we have Imbolc as well as a new and full moon we are doing. About average activity for a group this size. We are in the works of getting speakers from the community and one big speaker——- Oberon-Zell Ravenheart in September. We would like to bring him in for Salt Lake Pagan Pride Day 2011. He has sent us the break down of his cost and what he requires, and to say the least, we are going to have to pull the larger community of salt lake together to cover the 30 % of the expense and 50 % of his travel. The University will cover 70 % of the cost of everything outside travel. His one day fee is $500.00 and he requires a driver and three meals a day and a booth for selling his items.. So if you haven’t got the feeling,… its going to be a lot of work to bring him in and have it all work out without calamity befalling us!! What are some of your ideas about OZ? Should we try and invite him to speak or lead a ritual? Email us and let us know or reply with your ideas on the discussion on Facebook or our website.
Volunteering: It is our goal to have one volunteering activity per semester (at least). We are planning that now, do you have an idea for spring 2011 volunteering project? Email us or reply on facebook and the website!
Sundays: Weekly meeting at the Beehive Tea Room in Salt Lake City (12 w 300 s) at 11:00 am. This is the important place where everyone can pool together. This is also where we do our planning and finalize events! Please come and voice your ideas.
Needed: Students!! We need more student participation and activity.
Needed: Volunteers for posting fliers around Salt Lake valley. There are many places that have cork boards that allow posting such as coffee shops and grocery stores. If you are willing to post a few while you are out in town, please email us and let us know so we can get those fliers to you!
Needed: Carpooling– there are a fair amount of members who live far away and have difficulty attending meetings and activities because of lack of perosonal/ UTA transportation to the areas where they live. There is a place on facebook to post a replies and coordinate carpooling/ transportation.
Have a wonderful Imbolc!
Bright Blessings!
Daniel C
President
Posted in Pagan, Sabbat | Tagged advertising, Brigid, Candlemass, full moon, Imbolc, magic, money, new moon, Oberon-Zell Ravenheart, pagan, shamaism, volunteering, wicca, witchcraft | Leave a Comment »
Salt Lake Pagan Society 