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 Daniel Cureton 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, Ashton Longhurst (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: Ashton Longhurst, Stesha Bowden, Camille Harris, April Love, 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 Ashton Longhurst, Saturday, June 18, 2016, Salt Lake City, UT
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Salt Lake Pagan Society 