Posts Tagged ‘Oak and Holly Kings’
Midsummer 2021
Posted in occult, Pagan, Ritual, Sabbat, tagged holly king, litha, Midsummer, Midsummer 2021, Oak and Holly Kings on June 10, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Yule 2020
Posted in Pagan, religion, Ritual, Sabbat, tagged birthing of yule king, Oak and Holly Kings, oak king, Yule 2020 on December 8, 2020| Leave a Comment »
Midsummer 2017: The Blessings of the Kings
Posted in Pagan, Sabbat, witchcraft, tagged kebab, Midsummer 2017, Oak and Holly Kings on June 26, 2017| Leave a Comment »
SLPS gathered to celebrate the Summer Solstice Friday, June 23, 2017. After mowing the lawn, moving logs and stacking firewood, the ritual space was clean and ready. Part of doing ritual is coming together to prepare the space, whether clean or dirty, all parts should be a joint effort with the members.
The Holly King took over for the Oak King, acknowledging the path of the sun as it has reached its zenith and will now descend till Winter Solstice. The members sing “Midsummer” by Heather Alexander and read poetry, “Midsummer” by William Cullen Bryant. Almond marzipan cookies and sweet wine toasted the change of kings. The feast included chicken kebabs, lentils, and rice pilaf.
Midsummer 2017, altar, Friday, June 23, 2017, Salt Lake City, UT
Midsummer 2017, f to b: Lei Loni and Rachel Figueroa, Ashton Longhurst, April Love, Friday, June 23, 2017, Salt Lake City, UT
Midsummer 2017, sunset Friday, June 23, 2017, Salt Lake City, UT
Midsummer 2017, feast: lentils, rice pilaf, chicken kebabs, June 23, 2017, Salt Lake City, UT
Midsummer 2016-Perun’s Blessings
Posted in druidry, magic, Other, religion, Ritual, Sabbat, wicca, tagged Circle of the Seasons, deviled eggs, feasts, Hern, kababs, litha, magic, Midsummer 2016, Oak and Holly Kings, pagan, paganism, Perun, purple cauliflower, ritual, Salt Lake Pagan Society, Slavic, Sun, utah on June 19, 2016| 5 Comments »
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
Yule 2015 Ritual and Feast-The King is Returned
Posted in wicca, witchcraft, tagged Bring Back the Light, gorgonzola, Gypsy, Kahlua, Oak and Holly Kings, Salt Lake Pagan Society, Utahliving, yule, Yule 2015, Yule log cake on December 20, 2015| Leave a Comment »
The members of SLPS gathered to celebrate the birth of the Yule King, bringing back the light, Saturday, December 19, 2015. A homemade Yule Log cake, kahlua chocolate made at the Yule crafting Friday, December 18, 2015, adorned the altar. The altar was dressed in seasonal colors, flowers, and ritual items. The take over by the Oak King was acknowledged, who rules from Yule to Midsummer during the waxing light of the Sun as it grows brighter till Midsummer.
Poetry was read for Yule and the members danced around the Yule altar, calling back the light to the song “Bring Back the Light” by Gypsy on her album Enchantress. The feastings after included chipotle buckwheat, Gorgonzola ham stuff chicken breasts, and broccoli.
Yule Crafting 2015, cake roll, Friday, December 18, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT
Yule Crafting 2015, unrolled Yule log cake, Friday, December 18, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT
Yule Crafting 2015, Ashton Longhurst filling Yule log cake, Friday, December 18, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT
Yule 2015, Yule log cake, Saturday, December 19, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT
Yule 2015, l to r: April Love, Lauren Holman, Ashton Longhurst, Saturday, December 19, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT
Yule 2015, Daniel Cureton, Saturday, December 19, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT
Yule 2015, Altar lit, Saturday, December 19, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT
Yule 2015, altar, Saturday, December 19, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT
Yule 2015, feast: gorgonzola, ham, and cheese breaded chicken, broccoli, and buckwheat, Saturday, December 19, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT
Midsummer 2014 Ritual and Feast
Posted in druidry, occult, Sabbat, wicca, witchcraft, tagged druid, litha, Litha 2014, magic, Midsummer, Midsummer 2014, Oak and Holly Kings, pagan, ritual, Salt Lake Pagan Society, wicca, witchcraft on June 23, 2014| Leave a Comment »
Thanks to everyone who came to Midsummer 2014, held on Saturday, June 21, 2014, the Summer Solstice. It was performed in the New American Tradition by President Daniel Cureton. A special Midsummer Kings painting, acrylic on canvas, was the center piece, with two acrylic on board paintings of the Holly and Oak Kings to the sides, all done by Kurt Shoopman of Glasgow, Kentucky. Other items included flowers, cinnamon rolls, God’s eyes, ritual wine and a custom sunflower table cloth made last Midsummer by April Love. The faeries visited, the Holly King dominated the Oak King as the new ruling king of the year till Winter Solstice, and mighty Midsummer magic was worked at the Midsummer fire. Feasting included steak, vegetables in butter sauce and home made cinnamon rolls.
Yule 2013 Ritual and Feast A Brilliant Success!
Posted in druidry, magic, Pagan, wicca, witchcraft, tagged birth, Cernunnos, Oak and Holly Kings, Yule 2013, Yule King on December 22, 2013| Leave a Comment »
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. Lauren Holman playing the Goddess gave birth to Sergey Khrushchev 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 Daniel Cureton 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!
Midsummer 2013 Ritual and Feast
Posted in druidry, magic, occult, Pagan, wicca, witchcraft, tagged Apollo, Beli, Chocolate Cake, Great Rite, Hades, Hammer of Thor rite, Midsummer 2013, Oak and Holly Kings, Thoth, Tree Goddess on June 24, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Thanks to all who attended and made Midsummer 2013 a wonderful celebration and feast! The celebrations took place on Saturday, June 22, 2013 at 6pm and this year included a new Hammer of Thor rite.
The traditional battle between the Oak and Holly kings, with the Holly King victorious and ruling the next six months of the year took place as the center point of the ritual. The Oak King was played by SLSP President Daniel Cureton and the Holly King by SLSP Advertising Director Sergey Khrushchev. They had a mock battle and the Oak King relented control of the year to the Holly King till Yule, when the Sun will return again to increase the light on the Earth.
A druid Midsummer rite by SLPS President Daniel Cureton where he called on the blessings of the God Beli, a midsummer Welch fire God, for all the members.
Oberon, King of the fairies was seen blessing the union of the Holly King and Queen. He also worked other faery magic as he danced around the circle!
Part of the magical workings on Midsummer also included power moon magic from the “super moon” that was passing over the Earth at the time. The workings including banishing bad habits in the Midsummer fire, traveling to meet the Holly King with his spouses and dancing to the song Midsummer by Heather Alexander.
Feastings after the ritual included tri-tip steak, chicken, hamburgers, ribs, corn on the cob and potato salad. A special homemade chocolate and coconut cream frosting cake was made by SLPS member Cheyanne Opheikens in honor of Sergey Khrushchev’s late birthday. Delicious! Check out the photos below.
Midsummer 2013
Posted in druidry, Pagan, wicca, tagged Midsummer 2013, Oak and Holly Kings on June 12, 2013| Leave a Comment »
The wheel has turned again and Midsummer has come upon us. Also know as Litha and Alban Heruin to the Druids, this is the time of greatest light upon the earth. A Solar holiday, the Oak and Holly Kings come together and battle each other for rule of the next six months. The Oak king has reigned gracefully and with love, giving the Earth ever greater and increasing light since the return of the King at Yule. Now the nights will lengthen and return us to the dark times at Mabon in a few months. Please join in the celebrations and feasting in honor of the new Holly King on Saturday, June 22, 2013 at 6pm! Please bring a substantial dish to the feasting. Contact Daniel C. for details 801 709 4632
Midsummer 2012
Posted in druidry, magic, occult, Pagan, wicca, tagged Litha 2012, Midsummer 2012, Oak and Holly Kings, Oberon, Oroshka on June 25, 2012| Leave a Comment »
All went well and smooth this past June 23, 2012 at 6pm~! Thanks to everyone who attended and made the festivities possible! President Daniel Cureton led a group of 8 through a wiccan mythos duel of the Holly and Oak kings. The circle was opened with the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, Qabbalistic and Rose Crosses and the druid ceremony of proclaiming peace in the four quarters. After the quaurters were invoked, the Fae were invited to attend!
The apex of the ceremony was when The two kings fought a small battle and switched places as the ruling king for the next half of the year. With the beating of a drum the Holly King declared his victory over the Oak king!
Next, president Cureton performed a druidic rite of invkoking the God Beli, a midsummer Welch fire God honored at this time. The radiant energy of Beli was felt by everyone present. He blessed everyone before leaving to attend other rites this Midsummer Day.
The conclusion of the ceremony brought the great right by the Holly King and Queen and a blessing by Oberon, king of the Fae and consort to Mab! The feastivities concluded with the usual feasting of enchiladas made by Ashton Longhurst, the Sacred Keeper of Enchiladas and summer Russian soup, Okroshka.
Salt Lake Pagan Society 