Samhain Ritual Preview Video

Please join Denton CUUPS as we celebrate Samhain: the final harvest, the thinning of the Veil, and the Witches’ New Year, and if you choose, drink from our witches’ brew.

Gathering begins at 7:00 PM and the ritual begins promptly at 7:30 PM.

Please bring a dish, a dessert, or a snack to share afterwards.

Meditation on Grief and Joy

For our Samhain circle this year, I wrote a ritual based in part on methods I use to process sorrow, guilt, and self-loathing. The various parts of this ritual guided the participants through simultaneously releasing grief and experiencing joy. After the positive response I received, I decided to post a modified version as a meditation for personal practice.

Let me start with a few caveats:

  1. I am not a licensed psychologist, counselor, or therapist. Please do not take anything in this as professional mental health advice.
  2. You may find the meditation tricky to read and perform at the same time. Rather than try to memorize anything, feel free to use the written meditation as a guide and add your own spin on it.
  3. You may not want to include this sort of work in your daily practice. Some individuals have little difficulties frequently being exposed to grief. I have to carve out time where I know that I can process both the grief and resulting emotional fallout without it inconveniencing my obligations.
  4. Be kind to yourself and have an emotional spotter available for aftercare, either in person or electronically. If you find yourself unable to process everything that comes up in a manner that is safe for both yourself and others, please reach out to someone who you know can and will help.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us via Facebook or email.

SETTING

Pick a location and position in which you are comfortable. Make sure that your surroundings are conducive to your meditation style (lighting, temperature, sounds, scents, etc.) Light any candles or incense you wish to use prior to beginning the meditation.

You will want to have something physical that you use as a representation of your grief and joy. CUUPs used rose petals at our circle; I usually use water, candle flames, or incense smoke. Feel free to use anything you want so long as it is external to yourself and involves a motion that you can use to signify going through each thing you are processing.

For the sake of convenience, I have used water for this version. This requires that you have a container the water is in and a location/container for the water to be poured. If you pour into a container, make sure that you have a location to put the water afterward (drains are perfectly fine for this purpose.)

MEDITATION

Make yourself comfortable and take a deep breath. If you wish to, you may close your eyes. Continue to breathe in deeply. Match your exhalations with your heartbeat. Feel the rhythm of Time attune itself to the beating of your heart.

In the house of your mind, enter the room where your sorrow is stored. Continue to breathe in deeply. Collect the losses you wish to remember and mourn today, but do not open them. Leave in that room the losses which are too close or not yet ready for release.

Now, enter the room where your happiness is stored. Collect the joys you wish to celebrate and remember today, but do not open them. Bring with you as many as you wish. Continue to breathe in deeply.

Leave these rooms behind. Open everything you have brought. Allow yourself to mourn your losses and celebrate your joys together. Continue to breathe in deeply.

Bring these losses and joys with you into the world and let it share in them with you. Continue to breathe in deeply and open your eyes if they are closed.

One at a time, speak or think of the losses and joys you bring for remembrance, pouring water for each one.

When you have finished, say, “For all that has been lost and no longer remembered, I grieve.” Pour half of the remaining water.

Now say, “For all that has been gained and not praised, I rejoice.” Pour the remaining water.

Make yourself comfortable and take a deep breath. If you wish to, you may close your eyes. Continue to breathe in deeply.

In the house of your mind, enter the room where your happiness is stored. Place your joys where you wish them and remember to visit as you need to strengthen yourself in your daily life. Continue to breathe in deeply.

Now, enter the room where your sorrow is stored. Place your losses where you wish them and remember to release more of them as you are able. Continue to breathe in deeply.

Leave these rooms behind. Feel the rhythm of Time resume its normal speed. Take a deep breath. Return to this world and those who share it with you.

Lit candle and chalice of lustral water with floating bay leaf.

Picture by Hannah Nutt, 2018.

 

 

Hannah Nutt

Coordinating Officer 2017-2018

Samhain Circle – Remembering the Year – Saturday, October 27, 2018

Bring your sorrows and your joys, and we will share in tears and laughter.

Please join the Denton Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans for our Samhain circle as we look back at the past year.

Gathering will start at 7:00pm, with the ritual starting at 7:30pm.

Child care will be available for young children; older children welcome to participate.

Please bring a food or drink item to share.

If you have any questions, please contact us on Facebook or email us at dentoncuupstx@gmail.com.

October 2018_Flyer

Gleichentag 2018 (Saturday, September 29th)

Join us as we honor Freya and Odin to find the warrior within ourselves and rise up to life’s challenges.

We will have a Sumbel after ritual to celebrate the bounty of the harvest and accomplishments of the season.

Children who can participate respectfully are welcome to attend with a guardian. Childcare will be provided for younger children.

For more information, please contact us.

Beltane Circle – Saturday, May 5, 2018

Please join the Denton Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans for our Beltane circle.

Gathering will start at 7:00 pm, with the ritual starting promptly at 7:30 pm.

There will be three open fires.

Childcare will be provided.

Feel free to bring food or drink to share after the ritual.

If you have any questions, please contact on Facebook or email us at CUUPs@dentonuuf.org.

Beltane 2018_Flyer

Denton CUUPS Beltane 2018

Summer Solstice – Saturday June 17th, 2017

Hathor and Horus; from the website of the Temple of Tutankhamen.

In our time of fallowness, as Ra has reached his fullness in the sky, come join us for the Beautiful Reunion of Heru-Wer (Horus) and Hethert (Hathor). We will celebrate the joy of life with Hethert and victories of every type with Heru-Wer as they come together for their yearly nuptials. To celebrate their wedding feast, please bring a dish or beverage to share with your fellow celebrants and the deities.

Gathering is at 7:00 PM, with the ritual starting at 7:30 PM. Children who can respectfully participate are welcome to attend the ritual. Childcare will be provided for younger children during the ritual. Everyone is welcome to join us for the feast afterwards.

Donations to defray costs are welcome but not required.

For more information, message us on Facebook, or consult the flyer attached to this email.

We will have parts for individuals who are interested in playing sistra. To find out more, look for the man in the golden tunic when you arrive.

Hope to see all of you there!

Summer Solstice 2017 Flyer

Summer Solstice June 17, 2017 at Denton Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Denton

 The Beautiful Reunion

In our time of fallowness, as Ra has reached his fullness in the sky, come join us for the Beautiful Reunion of Heru-Wer (Horus) and Hethert (Hathor). We will celebrate the joy of life with Hethert and victories of every type with Heru-Wer as they come together for their yearly nuptials. To celebrate their wedding feast, please bring a dish or beverage to share with your fellow celebrants and the deities.

Gathering is at 7:00 PM, with the ritual starting at 7:30 PM. Children who can respectfully participate are welcome to attend the ritual. Childcare will be provided for younger children during the ritual. Everyone is welcome to join us for the feast afterwards.

Donations to defray costs are welcome but not required.

For more information, visit or message us on  Facebook.

All of our rituals are held at the Denton Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, located at      1111 Cordell Street, Denton, TX  76201

 DIRECTIONS:  From I-35, exit US-380 (University Drive) eastbound.  Go approximately 1.8 miles east on University, then turn right (south) onto Fulton Street.  Go three blocks, turn right (west) on Cordell. DUUF is on the left, on the southwest corner of Fulton and Cordell – our illuminated sign is on the corner.

Picture from http://kemetic-independent.awardspace.us/reunion-feast.htm

Ostara – March 25th, 2017


Please join Denton CUUPs for our Ostara celebration to welcome Spring on Saturday March 25, 2017. Gathering begins at 7:00 PM and the ritual begins promptly at 7:30. We will be honoring the goddess Persephone and her yearly return from the Underworld. Close-toed shoes are recommended as we will be outside.

Children of all ages are welcome to attend and participate in this ritual if accompanied by a parent or guardian.

We will have a potluck dinner afterwards, so please bring food or drink to share.

Looking forward to seeing all of you on the 25th!