The cycle of the seasons is nearing another turning point – the end of the Witches Year, and the beginning of the next one. October is here! We are offering Samhain themed activities all month long from a Meeting the Ancestors gathering with Frederick CUUPS Kids (our Pagan scouting program), to a Samhain focused Earth Centered Spirituality Service, to our Samhain ritual on October 22nd. We hope to see you soon! An up-to-date listing of events is always available at www.FrederickCUUPS.com as well as on the Events section of our Facebook page. Scroll down to see everything on the calendar this month!
Sunday, October 2nd, 2 PM
At the UUCF
With the turn of the wheel closer to Samhain we will spend this meeting working towards our ancestors badge. Discussion will include the various types of ancestors we have. Children will be encouraged to research an ancestor of any type and bring something representing that ancestor to our upcoming ritual. We will also discuss the upcoming ritual and how different people in our community practice on Samhain. Adults are encouraged to stay for ages 7 and up, 6 and younger will need a grown up with them. Parents of older kids are welcome to stay and gather in their own community elsewhere on the property if interested.
FCUUPS Kids offers scouting from a pagan perspective. As we move forward, we will create our own badges and learn about the many paths that make up our community. We will follow all COVID guidelines set by UUCF and Frederick county regarding masking and indoor/outdoor activities. FCUUPS kids is fully inclusive for k-highschool. Facebook event here.
Mondays at 7 PM, August 22nd – November 28th
At the UUCF
Join us in learning the language of the Norse Sagas and Eddas, known as Old Norse or Old Icelandic. We will read runic inscriptions as well as fragments of the sagas and Eddas. Learn the original pronunciation and grammar with exercises and practice every week.
The text needed for this class series is
Viking Language 1: Learn Old Norse, Runes, and Icelandic Sagas (Viking Language Series) by Jesse L. Byock. It is available in both hardcopy and kindle edition here.
Notes on pronunciation and cognates are here.
Recommended donation of $5.
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 “FC – Old Norse” in the memo box.
Tuesdays from 10 – 11 AM (no class October 11th)
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 optional. 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, October 7th, 7 PM
At the UUCF
Come enjoy the beauty and peace of the Labyrinth by the light of the full moon! If the weather is good, this will be an outdoor, drumming walk. In the event of rain, we take our labyrinth practice indoors, into the Chapel and our canvas labyrinth.
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 8 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.
Recommended donation of $5. Please help support Labyrinth Walks at the UUCF. Facebook event here.
Sunday, October 9th, 12 PM
At the UUCF
Join members of the Frederick CUUPS community for our monthly Earth Centered Spirituality Service. 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.”
Recommended donation of $5. Please either bring cash to the Earth Service or donate online.
To donate, visit 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 “FCUUPS” in the memo box. Facebook event here.
Third and Fourth Thursdays
At the UUCF, Fourth Thursdays on Zoom
Blackfeather Mystery School is a full-spectrum training in Empowered Witchcraft developed by mystic witch Irene Glasse and spiritworker Caine Dreamwalker. The 2022 in-person series is Raven level, an advanced training. Prerequisites include experience journeying and cultivating spirit allies, a good understanding of the fundamentals of witchcraft and experience with spellcraft, and a willingness to practice class content outside the classroom.
Raven training is focused specifically on developing healing skills including soul retrieval and extractions; clergy work including ritual arts, conflict resolution, and pastoral counseling; advanced divination and more.
To sign up, please subscribe to the mailing list at this form.
This is the inaugural run of this training level, so it is donation-based. Recommended donation of $10/session. Blackfeather Mystery School meets in person at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Frederick on the third Thursday of the month and on Zoom the fourth Thursday of the month at 7 PM starting in September of 2022. This series is drop-in-able for advanced practitioners interested in a particular area of study.
To make a donation for class, either bring cash to the in-person sessions or 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 “Blackfeather” in the memo box.
Saturday, October 22nd, 7:30 – 9 PM
At the UUCF
Join Frederick CUUPS for an open outdoor Samhain Ritual! Samhain falls at the time of year when the light noticeably fades. We honor death as a part of the sacred circle of life and honor our loved ones who have crossed the Veil.
This ritual is an opportunity to move through Sacred Space. As such, there is no set start and finish time–it does not have a group ritual structure. Your journey will take you around the grounds of the UUCF. Please dress appropriately for the weather and wear sturdy shoes – the path will be uneven in places. We will hold the space open from 7:30 to 9 pm, and you should expect to spend somewhere between a half hour to an hour on your journey. Please arrive no later than 8:30 to begin your journey.
Participants each need to bring one small bag with them – a drawstring fabric pouch large enough to hold a handful of coins is recommended.
Parents, please remember that grief is a part of Samhain – this ritual is recommended for ages 12 and up. Please consider whether your child will be comfortable exploring the emotions of loss and grief.
Traditional dress for Samhain is harvest colors or dark colors (mourning dress).
Recommended donation $5, Facebook event here.
The Last Saturday of the Month at 4 PM
At the UUCF
The gods await you in the afterlife with open arms, but what will you leave behind? How will you prepare? Grave Concerns is an informal forum in which people are welcome to have these conversations. Grave Concerns meets the last Saturday of the month at 4 PM. Upcoming sessions:
October 29th (Zoom meeting – email FCUUPS(at)gmail(dot)com for the link), November 26th, December 31st
Demystifying and removing barriers and fears from end of life preparation is the goal for these chats. Resources for End of Life planning will be on hand. Light refreshments will be available in the style of an afternoon tea. Wear your best pointy hats and join us for Grave Conversations.
Recommended donation: $5
To make a donation for Grave Concerns, 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 “FC – Grave” in the memo box. Facebook event here.
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