Lughnasadh season is here and late summer offers some wonderful gatherings and events! August contains a fusion of in person and streaming programming as we transition back to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Frederick. Please join us as we stay connected and come together to honor the Earth, Gods, Ancestors, and Wheel of the Year.
Tuesdays from 10 – 11 AM
One of the best ways we can stay resilient and healthy is to exercise and cultivate mindfulness. These donation classes with E-RYT 200 Irene Glasse are open to individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (two weeks past their last vaccination). At this time, masks are required inside the building. On days when the weather is nice, we will practice outside so that masks can be optional. If we are indoors, they must be worn correctly over both mouth and nose. An Advancing Beginners class is most accessible to people who have some basic familiarity with yoga and are able to comfortably take low lunge (lunge with one foot forward and the back knee touching the mat), tabletop, warrior two and other foundational yoga poses. Previous classes can be viewed here.
Friday, August 6th, 7 PM
Saturday, August 14th, 7 PM
Taiko drumming is a Japanese drumming art form. Frederick CUUPS is so grateful to have received a donation of taiko drums for the use of the community. These drums will be available at drum circles and events in the future. Please join us to learn how to play them! These classes are on different days to allow the most people to take advantage of the training. There are 9 spaces available in each workshop. Please preregister to reserve your spot. Rhythmic, driving, and fun! Drums and Bachi (sticks) will be supplied. Come and play the BIG drum. Adults and Youth welcome.
This class takes place outdoors and masks are optional outside. However, masks are required in order to be inside the building. Please bring one with you in case you need to use the facilities.
A Japanese chronicle completed in 720 C.E., relates that the ravages of Su-sa-no-wo-no Mi-ko-to (the storm god) once upset his elder sister Ama-te-ra-su Omi-ka-mi (the sun goddess) so much that she fled to a cave and, rolled a boulder over its entrance, and vowed never to show herself again. The world fell into an endless night. The 800 gods of heaven and earth gathered at the cave’s mouth and begged her to come out again, to no avail. Finally, the goddess Ame-no U-zu-me (goddess of mirth and revelry) jumped onto the head of an empty sake barrel and began a wild and furious dance. The pounding of her feet made such a lively rhythm that the other gods began to dance and sing as well. Their merry-making became so raucous that Ama-te-ra-su peeped out to see what was happening, caught sight of her beautiful reflection in a mirror, and came out of the cave. The pounding rhythm of Ame-no- U-zu-me’s feet became the origin of taiko.
The Village extends as far as the drums can be heard. Come and extend the border! Sign up here.
The 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at 7 PM
The Blackfeather Mystery School is a full-spectrum training in Empowered Witchcraft developed by mystic witch Irene Glasse and spiritworker Caine Dreamwalker. The 2021 series is the Crow level, an intermediate training. Prerequisites include experience journeying and cultivating spirit allies, a good understanding of the fundamentals of witchcraft, and a willingness to practice class content outside the classroom. Content includes sharpening Divination skills, Healing in both Witchcraft and Spiritwork modalities, Pagan Pastoral/Clergy Service, Past Life Reconciliation, Soul Retrieval, Dedicant Work, Psychopomp skill-building and more. Facebook Event here. Zoom link here. Class is currently available on Zoom only.
Thursday, August 5th: Warrior Witches: Magick as a Battlefront
Thursday, August 19th, 7 PM: The Path of Poison
Saturday, August 7th, 7 PM
Come together with community, connect with the rhythm and learn some new grooves with percussionist Strix from Kindred Crow. A drum circle is a celebration of life, community, and music-making in the moment. Please bring hand drums, shakers and other hand percussion. A few small hand drums will be available if you do not have your own. If you love the chants you hear at Frederick CUUPS events, this is a great opportunity to learn a few of those as well – we’ll probably do two or three later in the circle. Dancers welcome, fire spinning welcome if you bring your own Safety. This event will hopefully take place outdoors and masks are optional outside. However, masks are required in order to be inside the building. Please bring one with you in case you need to use the facilities or if we need to move the drum circle indoors due to weather concerns.
Sunday, August 8th, 12 PM
This time provides an opportunity to focus on the Sixth Source of Unitarian Universalism: “Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.” This service will be led by Raven. Although we had hoped to return to in-person Earth Services, the rise of the Delta variant has caused us to reconsider. This month’s Earth Service will be on Zoom. Please email us for the link. Facebook event here.
August 16th – October 18th, 7 PM
Join us for an Introduction to Paganism and Wicca 101 with Alythia of the Ash! This series runs Monday nights at 7 PM from August 16th – October 18th (skipping October 11th). Email fcuups(at)gmail(dot)com for the Zoom link.This series is for seekers who are new to paganism and/or witchcraft or who are looking for more formal instruction after a period of self-directed learning. The goal of the class is for each student to leave with a foundational understanding of the origins of modern Paganism, some of the most common belief structures and observances within the movement, and some basic understanding of what it means to be a witch, and some of the basics of the craft. We will be including a unit on ethics and etiquette. Gain the tools and understanding that will allow you to take your next steps on your spiritual path with greater confidence and insight.
Topics included are:
~Introductions, Defnitions, History and Traditions: Where did all this come from?
~The “Theology” of paganism, such as it is
~Deity: gods and goddesses, pantheons and mythos
~Outside influences and adjacent practices
~Observances and Holidays — Sabbats, esbats and rites of passage
~Etiquette and Ethics, Respect and Responsibility
~Tools — what they are, how to use them, where to get them
~Elements and Foundations of ritual construction
~ Practical Meditation
The class format will be oriented as much to discussion as to lecture. Even teachers have something to learn. We will operate with some basic guiding principles, including the “Rule of 100” — nothing is 100 percent true for 100 percent of pagans 100 percent of the time. We promote inclusive pagan practice that believes all people regardless of race, gender, immigration status or sexual orientation belong in every aspect of pagan practice. Deity takes form in everyone’s image, and belongs to everyone. We acknowledge that as is true in nearly all movements, our history is peopled with leaders who abused their power even as they built traditions. We will not hide or sugarcoat instances where our legacy as a movement has been less than positive.
Recommended donation of $10/session. To make a donation for the class, go to: http://www.frederickuu.org/about/Support_UUCF
Click: To Donate Click Here
Scroll down to Adult Spiritual Enrichment.
Type in your donation amount, then write “Wicca 101” in the memo box.
Alythia of the Ash has been a pagan and witch for more than a decade and a tarot reader for more than 30 years. She keeps a blog on Medium at https://medium.com/@AlythiaOfTheAsh. She has taught classes at Sacred Circle bookstore and Fertile Ground Gathering and regularly teaches introductory classes on behalf of the Church of the Knotted Ash. She is a High Priestess of the Second Degree in the Knotted Ash tradition, which celebrates both Celtic and Norse Pantheons. She lives in Virginia with assorted cats and plants and other living creatures. Facebook event here.
Wednesday, August 18th, 6 – 8 PM
Our August (gods willing and the creek don’t rise) outdoor Labyrinth walk is Friday, August 20th, which means it’s time to tidy up the Labyrinth! If you would like to help, please join us. This service to the community is not glamorous, but it is absolutely vital. Remember to wear clothes you can get dirty in and sunblock/bug spray if you need it 
This event takes place outdoors and masks are optional outside. However, masks are required in order to be inside the building. Please bring one with you The most effective way to clear the stones of the Labyrinth is with a string trimmer. If you have one you can bring along, that would be awesome. Spades and shears can also be useful for tidying the beds in the Labyrinth courtyard and clearing dirt where it’s piled up on the stones of the Labyrinth. Facebook event here.
Friday, August 20th, 8 – 10 PM
Come enjoy the beauty and peace of the Labyrinth by the light of the full moon! This will be an outdoor, drumming walk. The event will be canceled in the event of rain. This event takes place outdoors and masks are optional outside. However, masks are required in order to be inside the building. Please bring one with you. The first half hour will be a quiet walk, the remainder drumming, so feel free to bring hand drums and other percussion instruments.
If you haven’t walked a Labyrinth before, there is no ceremony or ritual. A Labyrinth Walk is safe, open Sacred Space for personal exploration. Please plan to arrive by 9 pm to allow enough time for your walk. For an in-depth article on Labyrinths and what to expect at one of our open walks, visit this link.
Tarot decks from our Library will be available for browsing and use, and divination swaps for those who would like to practice are welcome. Recommended donation of $5. Please help support Labyrinth Walks at the UUCF. Facebook event here.
If you are vaccinated, you can wear a mask or not as you choose. If you are not vaccinated, you must wear a mask.
frederickcuups.com 