So we are updating/moving our Facebook group so please view messages there to keep up with what we are doing.

Next weekend( June 3-5) is the Pride festival in SLC and we will not be having a formal meeting. If you would like to attend speak with Isaac about  things you can do to help/ marching in the parade/rides.

For those not going we will be holding a walk thru Green Canyon again to pick up trash a.k.a. ‘Healthy Pagans, Healthy Earth’ as long as the weather is good, Saturday afternoon around 1 pm.

The following weekend Kassie will be gone to Colorado but anyone who would like to pick up ‘Healthy Pagans, Healthy Earth’ event is welcome too.

Also Kassie is now offering Amhrán (Irish for Song) grade of Druid Training conducted by Árd Tuatha from Colorado Springs, Colorado. This is very serious, intensive training that is modeled after the records of bardic and druid training from the Celtic nations.  If any of you are interested please send me a message on facebook or an email ( usupagansATgmailDOTcom) for more information and a breakdown of the course. It takes a year and we would most likely be traveling to Colorado for part of the initiations.

Saturday May 28th:
Have trash bags, gloves, shovels, etc ready to clean up other campgrounds if available, and the cave. If someone could drive a truck up that would be great.

Bring sunscreen, hats and bug spray. ( if you space it the USUPA will do their best to bring extras.)

All should bring a white/cream pillar candle and flower(s) for the altar if they want to participate in the ritual.

For Dinner: Please bring a tinfoil dinner of your own making.  The recipe linked is very basic and it can be made without meat and some great vegetables but it gives you the idea. The USUPA will provide plates, cups and drinks.
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A bowl of water and a towel sit in the east for all to wash their hands and faces before entering.

Issac lights the fires:

Kassie: In the beginning gleaming fire was I
and protection was gave to me by the Spirits of our ancestors, Lady Brighid and Mighty Cuchallian.
And in protection, Strength
And in strength, Understanding
And in understanding, Knowledge
And in Knowledge, Knowledge of Justice
And in Knowledge of Justice, the Love of it
And in the Love of it, the Love of all Existence
And the Love of all Existence, the Love of Ourselves.
the Love of Brighid, Cuchallian and all Goodness

Kassie opens circle with seer’s prayer
ALL enter the circle. From the East

East:I am the wind that breathes on the sea
South:I am the ray, the eye of the Sun
West:I am the wave, wave on the ocean
North:I am the tomb, cold in the darkness
East:I am a wonder, a wonder in flower
South: I am the spear as it cries out for blood
West:I am The word of great power
North:I am a star, the tear of the Sun

All directions:
Who but I can cast light upon the meeting of the mountains?
Who but I will cry aloud the changes of the moon?
Who but I can find the place where hides away the Sun?
From the breeze on the mountain
To the lake of deep blue
From the waterfall down to the sea
Never changing or ending on the voice of the wind
Sing the dark song of Erenn to me

Kassie: Who but I will cry aloud the changes in the moon?
Who but I will find the place where hides away the sun?
Ailiu iath nErenn…
From the breeze on the mountain to the lake of deep blue
From the waterfall down to the sea
Never changing or ending on the voice of the wind
Sing the dark song of Erenn to me
Ailiu iath nErenn…

Breathe deeply the directions words, know the power of your own burning heart, feel the grass beneath your feet. The air on your skin.

ALL face center where the trough, flowers, altar and candles are laid.

Kassie: The sons of Mil landed in Ireland this day, with the strength of Amergin the poet to meet the power of the Tuatha de Dannan. It is today that they took their turn in the cycles and claimed Ireland’s sovernty as their own. It is with Amergin’s song we open this circle. This is a time for strength and good deed without hesitation or malice. Life’s cycles are constant and will never let us down.

East: We must run along cool grasses and soak the good sun’s happy song. We must love and die with good skills and cultivate our boastings and our strong feats so that we may tell the good God Lugh when we meet him at the wall.
We are reminded that our lives are but a season and to love and grow to our excellence. This beltaine is the transition from death into life – fully and emphatically connected to all living things.
Now the world is beautiful and in her youth, in love with her Summer King and free from the bonds of winter’s Caillech grasp. There is a season for all things and the earth holds this truth in her existence. The May Queen ready to share her love and heart in sun and flower, in warm nights and life abounding. The Summer king is striking in character with the strength of the heat of day, the call of the hunt’s successful abundance.

Kassie:We, along with the entirety of creation, are their happiness personified.
The great and wild warrior Cuchallian and the strong and beautiful Goddess Brighid are called to watch over these ceremonies. They both represent the strength of summer and the beauty of it in their actions.

CAllINg of the gods and goddesses

Kassie:Breathe their presence. Know them in your deep heart.

The trough is opened for all to take their turn laying their offerings to the earth. Kassie will sing ” Thugamar fein an samhradh linn” ( we have brought the summer with us) in Gaelic All come forward in their own time and say, aloud or to themselves their blessings on the marriage of the may queen and summer king and their wish for the seasons gifts.

ALL SAY:
We swear by peace, love, harmony and truth
to stand In sacred memory of sacred flame
and to love this life and this land.

Kassie: Remember as you leave here….

East:You are the wind that breathes on the sea
South:You are the ray, the eye of the Sun
West:You are the wave, wave on the ocean
North:You are the tomb, cold in the darkness
East:You are a wonder, a wonder in flower
South: You are the spear as it cries out for blood
West:You are The word of great power
North:You are a star, the tear of the Sun

All Directions: From the breeze on the mountain
To the lake of deep blue
From the waterfall down to the sea
Never changing or ending on the voice of the wind
Sing the dark song of Erenn to me.
Kassie: Please exit to the west. Remain in the place of enlightened spirit and jump the bael fires for protection, for strength, for fertility. Be well this night and always.

Time 21 May · 12:00 – 15:00

Location: River Trial, Logan Canyon

Kassie will be gone this weekend but Drew is going to take up the mantal of a nice hike this Saturday. We will do the same one we did last week, the riverside trail. Park in the Stokes Nature parking area (next to the Cache Forest sign) and cross the street to the bridge Please try to be on time and bring munchies and water for a snack at second dam. this walk takes about an hour. It is very easy and very stroller/kid/dog friendly (might wanna put them on leashes though since there are lots of cyclists)

Kate black had a fantastic idea….. so we shall support it!

Everyone Please Bring:
A towel
A candle ( any type, just one you can keep for a bit)
Offering- Specific to YOUR Patron Deities or a Deity you would like to thank for helping you survive this semester. If you are not sure who to thank/what to offer then bring some bread/tobacco or a handful of cornmeal. Please  keep all offerings as ones safe to leave in nature, burn or release to the streams nearby.
A potluck item – this can be something simple like noddle salad/chips or hot dogs. Bring something to cook/serve them with if needed.whatever. something to eat to share with others.
BYOB- Alcohol is welcome for those of legal age, if you are not of legal age don’t ask or sneak drinks please. Also plan ahead and either bring a DD or ask someone else whose coming before so people don’t get stuck.
Dress warmly. We will start with a quick grounding and circle then do a ritual cleansing of finals stress  with pouring water over our heads and hands. It will be simple, something everyone can say. Once everyone has dried off we do  a short ritual for gratitude to our patron deities for helping us get thru another semester and the knowledge we’ve gained from it.  All are encouraged to speak their gratitude out loud and then set the offering.   We will then  light our candles  for a moment to work as a ritual lighting of your inner of strength for the summer to come and the next semester. the PARTY!!!!!!