Kassie will be out of town for the weekend so no formal meet up is scheduled for the group. Go out and enjoy the farmer’s market, some breakfast from the Crepery or a nice walk in Cache National forest.
Check out our new facebook page for updates and to get to know other members.
6/11
News 5/31
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.
Beltaine
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.
______________________________
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.
Healthy Pagans, Healthy Earth 5/21
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)
Healthy pagans, Healthy Earth
So we have a new activitity for the summer. “Healthy Pagans, Healthy Earth” is an activity where, weather permitting (that means no lightning or heavy rain/snow) we will be host a standing Hike or outdoor event
This is to keep us all healthy, to get to know the land around us better and to have some fun!!!! we will usually do a short centering and earth opening ritual at the end of our hike, with offerings but nothing terribly complex.
This is to keep us all healthy, to get to know the land around us better and to have some fun!!!! we will usually do a short centering and earth opening ritual at the end of our hike, with offerings but nothing terribly complex.
This Saturday we will do the gentle river trail starting below Stoke’s Nature center and going up to 2nd dam and back. It’s about 3 or so miles one way but a very nice walk. Dogs and children are welcome.
Ritual finals cleansing and PARTY
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!!!!!!
Book lists
some amazon lists that are pretty good jumping off points…
and that’s all for now. We won’t be meeting during dead week or finals week so extra good luck!!!
End of the Year Survey
Please help us by filling this survey out honestly and completly. Are we Awesome or Terrible?
Thanks for all your help and participation in the club! You make it all incredible.
Thanks,
Your 2011 USUPA officers
Earth day ritual and A-day event
Okay the event is the 22nd.
We will probably need a hundred or so wraps and fixings:
tortillas-(walmart has a 40 pack for $5, we need 2) Jason
lettuce/spinach( 5 or so bags of spinach, 5 heads of green leaf lettuce)Kassie
hummus/cream cheese/ranch dressing ( make the hummus, 4 tubs of cream cheese, 3 bottles of ranch) Kate
onions( 6 red onions) Will
peppers (orange, green, red)( about 7 total)Will
cucumber( 6)Kate
tomatoes( 10)Faye
sandwich meat( 7-10 bags total)Dano-5 packages of deli sliced ham, Megan 5 packages of deli sliced turkey
Photos and video-Nick ( if you have a nice camera/recorder you would like photos with please let him know)
I (Kassie) have the awning, cooler, extra table,brochures,banner and material necessary for the event so don’t worry about that.
I’m thinking we can sell the wraps for $2 or $3 and reimburse people later for their contributions and HOPEFULLY have money left for the summer treasury.I have to be at work at 1pm on Friday but I can not be any later. So I need someone to commit to clean up and getting everything back to me. ( I will be leaving by 12:45) If you have class conflicts, don’t stress just let me know.
Everyone else just be familiar with the ritual. I’ve tried to be as explicit as possible in the instructions. If you don’t understand it, want to add to it or have an idea to change it let me know. We need this to go well and please stick to the script provided. I’ve done my very best to keep it simple.
I know this is close to finals but if we can have a good, organized turn out on this it would be really helpful. I’m thinking the officers should do their best to be there the entire time with one or two members helping with the food. Anymore than that gets super crowded in the tent/booth. I will also have a link to a schedule available for all to fill in times. The event runs from 10am to 2pm
We will hold the ritual @ Noon sharp ( hopefully we will be outside or we may need to rethink this.) So please be there with a plain, green shirt on and nice pants/skirt. We want to set ourselves apart and look nice. Remember this is an Alumni event as well. To my knowledge we will need to props/ritual gear except string (Kassie has 550 cord. woot) and our own feet, so please do not bring anything else.
**edit** For community members/non-members/ other pagan groups attending or offering your support. It is best if you PARTICIPATE in the ritual and kindly stick to the script. This is our first public event and we’ve toned it down for a reason. Your presence will make the most impact. More than anything you can do or say. Please wear a green shirt if you have one and bring an open heart. We are grateful for your support and enthusiasm.
*********Earth Day RITUAL**********
We will provide copies of this at the event
The Earth is our Mother, we must take care of Her
The Earth is our Mother, we must take care of Her
Hey yana, ho yana, hey yan, yan Hey yana, ho yana, hey yan, yan
The sky is our Father, He will take care of us
The sky is our Father, He will take care of us
Repeat 2 times ending on the Chorus
Kassie make opening remarks with all participants standing outside the circle with the officers at their places within the circle. Participants should take off shoes if possible.
East-Destiny: We stand here to recognize the direction of East and call it to this space. From the East I call the spirit of the Winds, of the Tempest and of the gentle Breezes. These are the revitalizing, powerful directors of time.
South-Kassie: We stand here to recognize the direction of South and call it to this space. From the South I call the spirit of the Fire, of the sun and of lightning. These are the essence and sparks of the fuel of time.
West-Anya: We stand here to recognize the direction of West and call it to this space. From the West I call the spirit of the Sea, of the rivers and streams and of the rain. They are life and the fluid movers of time.
North-Issac: We stand here to recognize the direction of North and call it to this space. From the North I call the spirit of the Mountains, of the Stones and of the Soil. These are the memory and steadfast watchers of time.
EAST: We acknowledge that this ground is sacred ground
We bring our love and trust within
We affirm our place within the Circle of Life
Kassie: We invite you now to join hands with those around you and enter this sacred circle from the east and dance with us the spiral dance; an energy raising activity to reconnect us with each other, with the land and with the spirits.
WEST: We walk together the ancient path
Harmony be among us all (Anya will say once; participants pick up chant 3 times)
We dance together the sacred dance
Magic be among us all ( Anya will say once; participants pick up chant 3 times)
The circle is lead around in a spiral fashion by Destiny
Kassie: Take a piece of yarn. Begin to tie knots in it. The knots may be simple or elaborate. When you have finished tying your knots, tie your string to four other people’s around you. Then set it down and step to the perimeter of the circle. This is creating a visual representation of the web of life.
South: Tying the Cord, Renewing the Earth;
We are Her Children, bringing Rebirth. (Kassie will say once; participants pick up chant 3 times)
We are the Flow and we are the Ebb;
We are the Weavers, we are the Web.(Kassie will say once; participants pick up chant 3 times)
Remember to visualize the connection between us all, between all beings and non-beings. Breathe the air that comes from the top of the world, the tops of the mountains, the clouds. Feel the living fire of the sun, the burning center of our world, the heat of your own beating heart. Taste the rains of summer, feel the morning fog soft on your skin, and connect with the deep, rolling, constant power of the Oceans. Feel the delicate deep of the soil under your bare feet, across meadow, forest and field. We are connected and we all rely upon each other.
As you join your cords, see yourself now standing guard with the others over all of the regions of the Earth. See yourself with others, protecting the verdant rain forest, the fragile tundra, the rolling plains, the Upthrust Mountains as you would protect yourself.
The web is completed and raised by the Officers then placed in the center of the circle.
NORTH: Would you all please join us in a pledge to mother earth?
I pledge to protect the Earth (crowd repeat after Isaac)
And to respect the Web of Life upon it,
and to honor the dignity
of every member of the global family
One planet, one people, one world in harmony
With peace, justice and freedom for all.
NORTH: For we are the stewards of the Mother Earth
And we, the ancient arts sustain
We are the shield, we are the blade,
We are the Watchers come again
When we are gone, they will remain
Wind and rock, Fire and rain
They will remain when we return
The wind will blow and the fire will burn
Sing “ The Elements Return”
The earth, the air, the fire, the water: Return, return, return, return
The earth, the air, the fire, the water: Return, return, return, return
Aye ay aye ay aye ay aye ay: Aye oh aye oh aye oh aye oh
Aye ay aye ay aye ay aye ay: Aye oh aye oh aye oh aye oh
( Officers will sing once; participants pick up chant 3 times)
Destiny wipes away the eastern entrance and all are free to exit how they will. Cakes and juice are blessed and shared.
