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Posts Tagged ‘Cernunnos’

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, Bradley B. lighting fire, Ledgemere Picnic Area, Saturday, December 22, 2018, Big Cottonwood Canyon, UT

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

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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, Saturday, September 22, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT

Mabon 2018, altar with Kali and Cernunnos, Saturday, September 22, 2018, Salt Lake City, UT

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The members of SLPS gathered together to celebrate the New Moon and to honor the tradition of Hanukkah in Judaism on Saturday, December 12, 2015 at 8pm. For the last several years SLPS has been participating in the the ceremony, with the lighting of the hanukiah and serving treats such as latkes and sparking cider.

Sekhmet, the Egyptian lion Goddess and Cernunnos, Celtic Lord of the Underworld, were called in along with the Kin to guide the members on the drum meditation. A smokeless flame was provided for trance work.

December 2015 Hanukkah New Moon Ritual, l to r- Woman Between the Wolves, Piggy, Shy Fox, and Camille Harris, Saturday, December 12, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT

December 2015 Hanukkah New Moon Ritual, altar, Saturday, December 12, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT

December 2015 Hanukkah New Moon Ritual, latkas, Saturday, December 12, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT

December 2015 Hanukkah New Moon Ritual, smokeless meditation fire with Piggy (l) and Shy Fox, Saturday, December 12, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT

December 2015 Hanukkah New Moon Ritual, hanukiah lit for the 7th night, Goddes Sekhmet (l) and God Cernunnos, Saturday, December 12, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT

December 2015 Hanukkah New Moon Ritual, hanukiah on mantle, Saturday, December 12, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT

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SLPS gathered together to celebrate the Winter Solstice, known as Yule or Alban Arthuan on Saturday, December 20, 2014 at 6pm. The altar was decorated for Yule and a special Hanukkiah adorned the altar. The ritual started with Yule poetry. Everyone then presented gifts and honored Cernunnos, the lord of light and dark, Oak and Holly, born of the Goddess. He spoke to the members and blessed them for being present at his return. The Holly king’s power peaks at the time of year, gives way to the god of the waxing year, the Oak King, who will reign till Midsummer.

The reading of the traditional Hanukkah prayers and lighting of the candles took place. A traditional Yule log cake was the center cake, freshly bought from World Market. Bear foot pinot noir filled the glasses of the members. The Yule feastings included gorgonzola stuffed chicken, funeral potatoes, and potato soup.

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On Friday, October 31, 2014, SLPS met to give acknowledgement and speak with the honored dead! Halloween lanterns decorated the trees, with witches’ hat candle holders on the table with painted pumpkins among other Halloween decorations. The sugar skull topped the altar, painted last week as part of the Samhain decorations, bringing in the tradition of Saint Death and Day of the Dead festivities.

A small ceremony was held in which the ancestors of those gone to the grave, were welcomed back to the world of the living, for a few brief moments to speak to their living Kin. Hounds were heard in the distance barking madly at the moment the gates were opened, only to be calmed when they left. Reports of fathers, aunts, and animals were seen around the temple. The offerings to the Goddess Hekate and the God Cernunnos who died at this time, to be reborn at Yule. Offerings were wine and hazelnut cookies, offered in the Baron La Croix bowl.

Samhain is also the last harvest holiday before snow falls, bringing in the gourds, pumpkins, and last fruits of the season such as apples, parsnips, cabbage, and berries. A feast in honor the dead was held with foods such as chicken mole enchiladas and jalapeno bean salad with wine.

Samhain 2014, Muad’Dib, Friday, October 31, 2014, Salt Lake City, UT

Samhain 2014, witch lantern, Friday, October 31, 2014, Salt Lake City, UT

Samhain 2014, pumpkin lantern,Friday, October 31, 2014, Salt Lake City, UT

Samhain 2014, altar with Hekate and Cernunnos, Friday, October 31, 2014, Salt Lake City, UT

Samhain 2014, Baron bowl with hazelnut cookies, Friday, October 31, 2014, Salt Lake City, UT

Samhain 2014, altar with candles, Friday, October 31, 2014, Salt Lake City, UT

Samhain 2014, back of altar, Friday, October 31, 2014, Salt Lake City, UT

Samhain 2014, Feasting on chicken mole enchiladas, Friday, October 31, 2014, Salt Lake City, UT

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The Wheel turned and Mabon came upon us. The members of SLPS gathered to celebrate the Fall Equinox on Saturday, September 20, 2014, known as Mabon and Alban Eiler, to honor the Gods, Goddess, and the coming Dark Times, when we all turn inward and study the self, inside mysteries and take time alone as the God dies.

The altar was beautifully decorated with the fruits of the season: peaches, plums, apples and flowers. A seasonal table cloth my by Trustee April Love and a Fall Queer God painting by Kurt Shoopman of Kentucky adorned the table. Lanterns hung in the trees gave an extra witchy and magical feel to the temple area. The new brooms gave the perfect backdrop to the altar.

The Goddess present was Bast, Cat God of Egypt, one who walks between worlds, and Cernunnos, Celtic Lord of Light and Dark.  The ritual included a lighting of the lamp, signaling the light within during the dark, and a Ganesh birthday celebration. Shortbread cookies with jam were offered Ganesh and the song “Ganesh (Sound the Horn)” by MC Yogi on his album Elephant Power was played in his honor.

Mabon 2014, ritual area, Saturday, September 20, 2014, Salt Lake City, UT

Mabon 2014, main altar, Saturday, September 20, 2014, Salt Lake City, UT

Mabon 2014, main altar center, Saturday, September 20, 2014, Salt Lake City, UT

Mabon 2014, Saturday, Goddess Bast on right, September 20, 2014, Salt Lake City, UT

Mabon 2014, God Cernunnos, Saturday, September 20, 2014, Salt Lake City, UT

Mabon 2014, God Ganesh, Saturday, September 20, 2014, Salt Lake City, UT

Mabon 2014, equinox lamps, Saturday, September 20, 2014, Salt Lake City, UT

Mabon 2014, Shy Fox, Saturday, September 20, 2014, Salt Lake City, UT

Mabon 2014, Woman Between the Wolves, Saturday, September 20, 2014, Salt Lake City, UT

Mabon 2014, Muad’Dib, Saturday, September 20, 2014, Salt Lake City, UT

Mabon 2014, Mabon lamps at night, Saturday, September 20, 2014, Salt Lake City, UT

Mabon 2014, altar with candles, Saturday, September 20, 2014, Salt Lake City, UT

Mabon 2014, Piggy (l) and Shy Fox, Saturday, September 20, 2014, Salt Lake City, UT

Mabon 2014,Shy Fox (l) and Piggy, Saturday, September 20, 2014, Salt Lake City, UT

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Thanks to all who came and made the Yule Ritual and Feast a brilliant success. On Saturday, December 21, 2013, a few members and guests of SLPS gathered and welcomed back the Yule King from the world of the ancestors. Piggy, playing the Goddess, gave birth to Lunar Oak Spirit as Cernunnos. All knelt and honored the returned Lord. This time of year is when the sun begins his ascent and starts to increase in light, and when the Oak King reigns again till Midsummer. President Muad’Dib performed a druid rite for Yule and after a beautiful poetry reading, gave the cakes and wine offerings to the Oak King and Goddess and asked blessing for the new year as the light returns.

The feasting included rotisserie chicken, green beans and quinoa, potato salad and fruitcake. Check out the photos below!

Yule 2013, altar, Saturday, December 21, 2013, Salt Lake City, UT

Yule 2013, altar center with Yule King plaque by Kurt Shoopman,,Saturday, December 21, 2013, Salt Lake City, UT

Yule 2013, Carlos Martinez (l) and Woman Between the Wolves, Saturday, December 21, 2013, Salt Lake City, UT

Yule 2013, l to r- Lunar Oak Spirit, Shy Fox, Steven Wellington, and Piggy, Saturday, December 21, 2013, Salt Lake City, UT

Yule 2013, Carlos Martinez (l) and Owen Staples, Saturday, December 21, 2013, Salt Lake City, UT

Yule 2013, Shy Fox cooking for Yule feast, Saturday, December 21, 2013, Salt Lake City, UT

Yule 2013, Woman Between the Wolves (l) and Lunar Oak Spirit, Saturday, December 21, 2013, Salt Lake City, UT

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Saturday, September 21, 2013 brought the Fall Equinox known and Alban Elued or Mabon. After a bit of an unorthodox start, the ritual got rolling at 10pm (instead of the usual 6).  The ritual kicked off with the usual cleansing and spheres of protection. President Muad’Dib performed the druid opening rites and led everyone into the celebration of light and dark. The Hermit came knocking to the temple doors  holding the light of life. He spoke to everyone, announcing himself as the guide of souls before passing his lantern to Ra who said his goodbyes from the light time of year and finally onto Cernunnos who takes over at this time. Cernunnos spoke of his support and love for each person, how they should not be afraid to push forward into the dark times and look into the soul. He blessed everyone and promised to walk the journey with them.

Mabon magic was worked with everyone burning away a problem in their lives in the Cauldron Awen. Esus danced in the circle as part of the druid rite of Alban Elued performed by president Muad’Dib. Ganesh stopped by as part of the Chaturthi celebrations to have a piece of pie and hear the Mabon poetry read, and with that, the ritual closed till next fall and the feasting of ribs and pickled mushrooms began. A heathen symbol performed with the traditional drinking horned being passed as cheers to the deities went up into the air late into the night.

Mabon 2013 l to r-Woman Between the Wolves, Lunar Oak Spirit, Piggy, and Monty Hansen, Saturday, September 21, 2013, Salt Lake City, UT

Mabon 2013, Main altar, Saturday, September 21, 2013, Salt Lake City, UT

Mabon 2013, Main altar center with Mabon Painting by Kurt Shoopman, Saturday, September 21, 2013, Salt Lake City, UT

Mabon 2013, God side of altar, Saturday, September 21, 2013, Salt Lake City, UT

Mabon 2013, Goddess side of altar, Saturday, September 21, 2013, Salt Lake City, UT

Mabon 2013, Lunar Oak Spirit, Saturday, September 21, 2013, Salt Lake City, UT

Mabon 2013, Muad’Dib, Saturday, September 21, 2013, Salt Lake City, UT

Mabon 2013 l to r-Woman Between the Wolves, Lunar Oak Spirit as Ra (with lantern), and Piggy, Saturday, September 21, 2013, Salt Lake City, UT

Mabon 2013, Feast l to r- Lunar Oak Spirit, Piggy, Iyata Bond, and Monty Hansen, Saturday, September 21, 2013, Salt Lake City, UT

Mabon 2013 Feast, Muad’Dib with drinking horn, Saturday, September 21, 2013, Salt Lake City, UT

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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 Muad’Dib 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 Muad’Dib 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!

Samhain 2012, l to r Diana Schaffer, Heron, Ember Fire, Angel Starr, Steven Wellington, and Rena Fairbrother, October 27, 2012 Salt Lake City UT

Samhain 2012, south altar and fire, October 27, 2012, Salt Lake City, UT

Samhain 2012, Medusa, October 27, 2012, Salt Lake City, UT

Samhain 2012, Main altar, October 27, 2012, Salt Lake City, UT

Samhain 2012, main altar center, October 27, 2012, Salt Lake City, UT

Samhain 2012, ancestral altar, October 27, 2012, Salt Lake City, UT

Samhain 2012, west altar, October 27, 2012, Salt Lake City, UT

Samhain 2012, Arianrhod on ancestral altar, October 27, 2012, Salt Lake City, UT

Samhain 2012, Feast l to r around table: Maddy, Ed Solmak, Iyata Bond, Mike McLaughlin, Denise Halter, Ember Fire, Avalon Starr, and Steven Wellington, October 27, 2012 Salt Lake City, UT

Samhain 2012, after party l to r: L. Maddy, Avalon Starr (costume) and Lunar Oak Spirit (r), Church of the Sacred Circle, October 27, 2012 West Valley City, UT

Samhain 2012, After Party, Muad’Dib, Church of the Sacred Circle, October 27, 2012, West Valley City, UT

Samhain 2012, after party l to r- Avalon Starr, Maddy, Muad’Dib, Church of the Sacred Circle, October 27, 2012 West Valley City, UT

Samhain 2012, after party with Lunar Oak Spirit (l) and Maddy, Church of the Sacred Circle, October 27, 2012 West Valley City, UT

Samhain 2012, after party, Rena Fairbrother (l) and Steven Wellington, Church of the Sacred Circle, October 27, 2012 West Valley City, UT

Samhain 2012, after party l to r-Iyata Bond, Muad’Dib, Steven Wellington, Rena Fairbrother, Lunar Oak Spirit, and Shy Fox, Church of the Sacred Circle, October 27, 2012 West Valley City, UT

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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 Lunar Oak Spirit)

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Thanks to all who came and made Mabon a terrific event! This past Saturday, September 22, 2012, UUPS met under the shade of pines to give honor and celebration to the passing of the light to the dark and the aging deities.

Starting the ritual right after sunset, President Muad’Dib got things rolling with the calling the elements and deities and giving praise and honor to the aging Gods and Goddesses in the Wiccan Celtic pantheon. With a beautiful altar, all those present danced and sang while  beating drums, shaking rattles and ringing bells!

About then, the Hermit showed up carrying a lantern! It was the aged God! He divided the light from the dark and allowed Apollo to speak to us and to pass the lantern of light to the Shadow side of himself, the Lord of Shadow Cernunnos. The Lord of Shadow allowed everyone to banish something into the Mabon fire that they wish to work on before the light was dimmed. A meditation on the darkness followed for a few minutes before the Lord departed. Now all are on the path as the dark times move forward!

Ganesh showed up in time for his birthday celebration! Lots of dancing and singing took place as Ganesh channeled himself into everyone present.

The closing of Mabon brought a memorial service for one of the members cats, Ms. Big Kitty. She passed on to the big castle in the sky with the Goddess at the age of 16. Condolences and words of comfort were offered before cakes and ale and the closing before the feast!

Feasting brought stuffed chickens, garlic mashed potatoes, sauteed mushrooms and more! With wine flowing, Baccus was making his rounds! All had a wonderful and safe time at this year’s Mabon. Till next we meet under magic and moon at Samhain!

Mabon 2012, Lunar Oak Spirit at south altar, September 22, 2012, Salt Lake City, UT

 

Mabon 2012, Azetta Seedling of the Blue Dragon (l), and Callista Dreamwalker September 22, 2012, Salt Lake City, UT

 

Mabon 2012 Willow Figueroa (l) and Fire Runner September 22, 2012, Salt Lake City, UT

 

Mabon 2012, l to r-Lunar Oak Spirit, Iyata Bond, and Fire Runner, September 22, 2012, Salt Lake City, UT

 

Mabon 2012, l to r-Lunar Oak Spirit, Woman Between the Wolves and Callista Dreamwalker, September 22, 2012, Salt Lake City, UT

 

Mabon 2012, Fire Runner opening wine, September 22, 2012, Salt Lake City, UT

 

Mabon 2012, main altar, September 22, 2012, Salt Lake City, UT

 

Mabon 2012, altar center, September 22, 2012, Salt Lake City, UT

 

Mabon 2012, lights, September 22, 2012, Salt Lake City, UT

 

Mabon 2012, feast l to r-Mustard Seed, Lunar Oak Spirit, Callista and Mr. Dreamwalker, Darla Darr, Azetta Seedling of the Blue Dragon, Shy Fox, Rena Fairbrother, September 22, 2012, Salt Lake City, UT

 

Mabon 2012, feast l to r-Fire Runner, Iyata Bond, Mustard Seed and Lunar Oak Spirit, September 22, 2012, Salt Lake City, UT

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