Thanks to everyone who came out to our Gleichentag Circle. It was a great evening exploring virtues and regaling our Gods and ancestors! See you again at Samhain.
More photos on our Facebook page.
Gleichentag
The Autumn Equinox
Saturday September 12, 2015
Gathering begins at 7:00 PM
Ritual begins promptly at 7:30 PM
Please join Denton CUUPS for our Autumn Equinox celebration of the Norse festival of Gleichentag. The day when light and dark are equal and the celebration of the second harvest of the grain was a time to take stock of the year, to gather together and share food and drink with each other, the landvettir, ancestor spirits, and the gods of the harvest time. We will be holding a feast as part of the ritual, or as the Norse would have commonly called their High Day rites, a symbul or blot, where we will share food and drink amongst those here, and with all those who come in peace to join us for feasting and song.
The first part of the celebration will be outside (weather permitting, which it usually is this time of year) and the ritual feast will be inside in the RE wing. Please bring a dish to share if you wish, and a favorite poem, reading or song if you want to honor you ancestors, spirits, or deities aloud.
Children 10 and older who can participate respectfully are welcome to attend with a parent/guardian. We will have childcare available for younger children.
For questions or information, please contact Cyn Talbot at Amalleigh@msn.com, or John Beckett at 972-948-9211 or JohnFranc@aol.com
Hermaea: A Rite of Hermes
Saturday, August 8
at the Denton Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
1111 Cordell Street – Denton, TX 76201
gathering begins at 7:00 PM, ritual begins promptly at 7:30 PM
Please join us for our celebration of the Hermaea, our reimagining of an ancient Hellenic festival in honor of Hermes, God of Travelers and Messenger of the Gods. We will tell a story of Hermes, make offerings, draw omens, and contemplate our own travels through life.
Please bring an item of food or drink for the social hour afterwards. This ritual is suitable for children 10 and up. We will have childcare available for younger children.
For more information, please contact John Beckett at JohnFranc@aol.com or 972-948-9211.
Preparing the Way of the Gods
Later this month, polytheists from all over North America will gather in Olympia, Washington for Many Gods West, a celebration of ancient, continuous, and revived polytheist and animist traditions.
Denton CUUPS Coordinating Officer John Beckett will be presenting at this conference, but those of us in North Texas have a chance to hear his presentation first. John will be presenting “Preparing the Way of the Gods” at the Denton UU Fellowship at 1:00 on Saturday, July 18 and everyone is invited.
Preparing the Way of the Gods
As Paganism and polytheism continue to grow, many of us feel the need for infrastructure and institutions. We want temples, groves of oaks, paid clergy, and many of the things we see in the “big religions.” On the other hand, some of us want nothing to do with anything that even resembles mainstream religion.
How do we make sure what we build serves our needs and the needs of those who come after us? How do we prepare the Way of the Gods?
The presentation will run about an hour and there will be a discussion period afterward.
Everyone is welcome. For more information, contact John Beckett at JohnFranc@aol.com
Egyptian Summer Solstice
Saturday, June 20
gathering begins at 7:00 PM, ritual begins promptly at 7:30 PM
at the Denton Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
1111 Cordell Street
Denton, TX 76201
Chaos rules the land,
disorder and strife have overtaken our lives,
and has for days and years and lifetimes.
— the Westcar Papyrus, 1700 BCE
As it was before, so it is again. The ancient Egyptians had rituals to rebuild the temples and to re-establish the ways of Ma’at, the Goddess of Truth and Justice. For our 12th annual Egyptian Summer Solstice, we will adapt these rituals to our place and time.
We will honor the Neteru, the Gods and Goddesses of ancient Egypt. And we will commit ourselves to live in harmony with the land, with the blessed dead, and with the ways of Ma’at.
Please bring an item of food or drink to share after the ceremony. Donations of 2-3 dollars to help offset expenses will be appreciated but are not required.
For more information, please contact John Beckett at JohnFranc@aol.com or 972-948-9211.
Beltane Tree
The tree we consecrated and charged at Beltane is now in its permanent home at Russell and Debbie’s house west of Denton.
Beltane
Miss our Beltane ritual? A recap is on John Beckett’s blog: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbeckett/2015/05/beltane-an-inclusive-ritual-that-works.html
And pictures are on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.893270694055004.1073741845.169263913122356&type=3
Our next ritual is our Egyptian Summer Solstice on June 20. Here’s what we did last year: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbeckett/2014/06/egyptian-summer-solstice-4.html
Beltane – Saturday May 2
Denton CUUPS Beltane Circle
Saturday, May 2
Gathering begins at 7:00 PM
Ritual begins promptly at 7:30 PM
In the ancient Celtic lands, Beltane marked the end of Winter and the beginning of Summer. Here in North Texas, it’s our celebration of Spring in all its lusty fullness.
Please join us as we celebrate the season and honor the Gods, ancestors, and spirits of the land. We’ll dance the Maypole to weave good fortune for the coming season, and we’ll dance the Spiral Dance to energize our intentions and work our Will, as we work to protect the Land from those who would exploit it.
This will be an outdoor, family-friendly circle.
Gathering begins at 7:00 PM and the ritual begins promptly at 7:30. We’ll be outdoors for the entire ritual unless it’s raining.
Please bring an item of food or drink to share after the ceremony. As always, a donation of a dollar or three to help defray costs are appreciated, but not required.
See you there!
Sigils and Mandelas class postponed
Our class on Sigils and Mandelas has been postponed indefinitely. We expect it to be rescheduled later this year – we’ll let everyone know once we have a revised date.
Sorry for the change.
Beltane: Saturday May 2
