Are you curious about Paganism and/or Unitarian Universalism? Is this the path for you? Take this class to find out what it is all about. Both newbies and long term UU’s and Pagans gather to share their questions and experiences in lively discussion in this 90 minute class.
Come celebrate the longest night of the year and the returning light with us on through special readings, songs, and reflections.
SPIRAL DANCE
Email mysticgrove@orlandouu.orgto register and help film a masked and socially distance Spiral Dance at 6 PM on Sunday Dec 13, 2020 in the labyrinth. Guest list is limited to 15 persons.
SHARE PHOTOS
Are you decorating the house? Baking cookies? Setting up home altars? Doing other holiday activities? You can share your pix by emailing them to mysticgrove@orlandouu.org.
If you do stay up all night to greet the sun, here’s a reading and song as you extinguish your candles.
READING:
“A Pagan Awakening” by Jeff A. Bordeaux
A new life is there,
You hear Her now,
She was always there,
and You’re forever changed.
So listen to Diana, and accept Her love.
Hoard not Her gifts : feeling, renewal, music.
A new life is there,
You see Him now,
He was always there,
and you’re forever changed.
So look to Apollo, and receive His light.
Hoard not His gifts : healing, growth, joy.
A new life is there,
Your hands reach it now,
It was always there,
and You’re forever changed.
So touch the earth, and partake of it’s sustenance.
Hoard not it’s gifts : body, green, silence.
A new life is there,
You soar with it now,
It was always there,
and You’re forever changed.
So breathe in the air and gather the wind.
Hoard not it’s gifts : mind, dreams, empathy.
A new life is there,
You’re warmed by it now,
It was always there,
and You’re forever changed.
So build the flame and brave it’s heat.
Hoard not it’s gifts : spirit, will, energy.
A new life is there,
You flow with it now,
It was always there,
and You’re forever changed.
So study the ocean and follow it’s tides.
Hoard not it’s gifts : self, courage, sorrow.
A new life is there,
You’re one with them now,
They were always there,
and You’re forever changed.
So take Their gifts and return them threefold.
Share this magic : friendship, love, trust.
Come as you are or dressed in colors of the season: brown, orange, yellow, red, etc. Ritual starts at 7 PM, but we gather at 6:45 for “Meet and Greet” orientation.
Mabon is our annual canned/box food drive. This year we invite you to share the bounty by making an online donation to Second Harvest Food Bank as willing and able.
This 6 session book group meets on 3rd Sundays. We will be reading and discussing selections from “Pagan and Earth-Centered Voices in Unitarian Universalism.” It is drop-in friendly and free of cost. Donations always welcome toward the MG scholarship fund. This benefits students who wish to take our tuition classes but need financial assistance.
Each month on 3rd Sunday we gather in Room 1 after coffee hour and read the selection of the month out loud and discuss. While you don’t need a book to drop-in and check it out, your experience will be enriched if you do get your own text.
TOPICS
Volunteer teachers takes turns facilitating a session where 2 selections are read and discussed. Email us if you would like to co-host and share your two favorite selections from the book.
“Cultural Sharing and Misappropriation” by Carol Bodeau
“Designing Ritual for All” by Maggie Beaumont
HOW THE BOOK CAME TO BE
In early 2014, the board of CUUPS shared about a potential book project with Skinner House Press on Pagan Voices within the Unitarian Universalist Association. After much conversation, and weighing the options, Rev. Shirley Ranck and Jerrie Hilderbrand agreed to take it on and work on it together.
The result is a compilation of essays from people who followed Pagan and Earth-Centered traditions and/or thinking of many kinds.
“Similar to the other theologies honored in UU sources and principles, Paganism and Earth-Centered voices were as diverse as humanity. We are not a once size fits all. There is no dogma or one way being the right way. We challenge the Pagan who comes to us with a fixed way of thinking.”
Other deities: Shakti in her throat chakra aspect called Shakini, Ambara, Benzaiten, Bragi, Dian Y Glas, Hermes/Mercury, Lucifer, Melek Taus, Muses, Odin, Sadashiva, Saraswati
HOMEWORK
Homework is “pick your level.”
ThinkingQuestions:
This month we study the throat chakra. We discuss listening to guidance and acting on our higher Will.
“I have just recovered the key to the lost staircase … the staircase in the wall … winds from the subterranean depths of the Ego to the high terraces crowned by stars.”
Health and wellness issues: heart and breathing disorders, breast cancer, chest pain, high blood pressure, passivity, immune system problems, muscular tension.
Stones: Emerald, Rose Quartz, Green Aventurine, Tourmaline (Green, Pink, Watermelon), Pink Kunzite
Animals: Dove, Dog, Deer
Deities: Kuan Yin, Jesus, Vishnu, Krishna, Venus, Isis, Green Tara
HOMEWORK
Homework is “pick your level.”
ThinkingQuestions:
This month we study the heart chakra.
Deep Listening Questions:
“To me, the way of the witch has always been a heart path. As we align with the green world, with nature, and venerate nature as the physical manifestations of the divine, we are aligned with the green that has become associated with the heart chakra. Many mystics have found their spiritual awakening through nature and through the awakening of the love that connects all things.”
Christopher Penczak, The Living Temple of Witchcraft
Answer the following questions while thinking
about the previous quote:
Describe a time when you felt a sense of serenity and connection in nature.
How does your paganism and/or UU path help you to become aware of “the love that connects all things”?
Does a connection between nature and the heart chakra work for you?Why or why not?
———
“Radiate boundless love towards the entire world —
above, below, and across — unhindered, without ill
will, without enmity.”
– The Buddha (from the Metta Sutta)
Is “radiating boundless love towards the entire world” realistic? Why or why not?
How do you deal with difficult people in your life? Which spiritual tools do you use?
———
A common form of the Wiccan Rede (a pagan ethical statement) is “An’ ye harm none, do what ye will.”
What are some ways that we can avoid inflicting harm on other people?
How do you make amends after you have harmed someone else?
The following were used in our blend for the heart chakra…
Agrimony: Communicate Openly
Agrimony encourages the positive potential to open up, as well as communicate your real feelings. For those who hide a mountain of thoughts and inner turmoil behind their smile. Leave emotional discomfort in the past; face your emotion freely.
Chicory: Love Unconditionally
Chicory encourages the positive potential to selflessly take a step back and care for others without expecting anything in return. Care for the ones you love without becoming manipulative or overprotective. Take a step back, and love unconditionally.
Red Chestnut: Peace of Mind
Red Chestnut encourages the positive potential of peace of mind, to care for others with compassion but without the worry. Often a temporary feeling, anxious thoughts and worries can impact our relationships. Overcome the feeling of anxiety around others, and comfort your mind.
Water Violet: Connect
Water Violet encourages the positive potential to find warmer relationships with others in a calm, relatable way. Allow yourself to reach out and connect with others. Cultivate and connect with the
people that surround you.
Health and wellness issues: adrenal issues, anorexia/bulimia, anxiety, cirrhosis, codependency, diabetes, digestive issues, fear of rejection, indecisiveness, self image, ulcers
Other deities: Shakti in her Solar Plexus chakra aspect called Lakini, Aine, Agni, Amaterasu, Apollo, Athena, Beaivi, Belenos, Brigid, Helios, Vishnu as Rudra, Lugh, Mithra, Pele, Ra, Saule, Sekhmet, Shamash, Sol, Sulis, Surya, Unelanuhi, Vulcan
FOR THOSE TAKING THE MOON CIRCLE CLASS IN PERSON, OR WANTING TO FOLLOW ALONG FROM HOME, HERE ARE THIS MONTH’S LINKS.
HOMEWORK
Homework is “pick your level.”
ThinkingQuestions:
This month we study the solar plexus chakra. We discuss personal power and will
Deep Listening Questions:
“Explorations of power can be difficult, yet we have chosen a path that deals with power. Many witches are uncomfortable with power yet it is a fundamental part of our tradition. Our paths are the paths to power. Our worship rituals direct and raise energy. Our magick is balanced with a certain power and our magick is the way we commune; we pray with the universe. […] We are active and empowered participants in creation.”
Christopher Penczak, The Living Temple of Witchcraft
What is power? Does power make you feel uncomfortable? What makes you feel empowered? (I.e. God(s)? Goddess? Nature? Universe? Higher power? Humanism?)
“There are two kinds of power. One is power over, which is always destructive, and the other is power from within, which is a transcendent and creative power.”
Starhawk, Dreaming the Dark
Do you think that “power over” is always destructive? Why do you think these distinctions are important to Goddess oriented feminist witches like Starhawk? Starhawk later mentions a third kind of power: “power-with,” pertaining to social power or influence among equals. When do you see “power-with” dynamics in your life?
“When we are in unhealthy fear, it is rooted in the ego, for the ego is what creates the illusion of being in control. The fear of the ego is that it will end, either through literal death or loss of self-identity, ego death. The ego doesn’t always serve our highest good. It often creates stagnant situations where rather than being forced to grow and shed an aspect of the ego, we keep our consciousness contracted in fear and retain the ego in its contracted form. We must identify, through introspective practices, the ego so that we transcend it and get it working for us.”
Christopher Penczak The Living Temple of Witchcraft
Do you feel that your ego gets in the way of your spiritual journey? If so, when do you notice your ego? What introspective practices have you tried to identify and transcend your ego?
Is it possible, or desirable, for sensuality to be connected with all, or many, of our actions?
Can the sensual be consistently felt in our daily lives?
Are healthy sexuality and relationship an integral part of your spirituality? Why/why not?
How does paganism deal with healthy sexuality in ways that may be different from other religions?
Is there a time when you have trusted your gut instincts over intellectual knowledge? If so, what happened?
What do you do just to play?
How do you incorporate creativity into your life?
Do you think that joy is connected to creativity?
When you were growing up, did your family encourage you to be a kid, or were you encouraged to be serious and responsible? How does that influence your life now?
Finish this sentence: I am beautiful when. . . List as many things as you can think of.
Our first Moon Circle session focuses on the Root Chakra and the Hindu deity Ganesh/Ganesha.
Root Chakra- Muladhara
Element: Earth with Fire. We are rooted to the Earth and grounding is important for our well being. The Kundalini is understood as a fiery serpent energy that is coiled 3 and a half times as potential energy to be released. Kundalini is seated at the base of the spine— the root chakra.
Health and wellness issues: adrenal issues, addiction, anxiety, arthritis, bone issues
Herbs: any roots (i.e High John, Mandrake, Angelica), sandalwood for Ganesh
Fragrances: earthy notes like patchouli, vetiver, cedarwood, sandalwood, musk
Sound: musical note C, seed sound LAM
Planets: Earth, Saturn
Tree of Life Sephirot: Malkuth
Rune: Uruz
Tarot: Pentacles, The Magician, The Devil
Stones: hematite, red jasper, smoky quartz, ruby, garnet, bloodstone
Other deities and mythical beings: Shakti in her root chakra aspect called Dakini, Cernunnos, Herne, Gaia, Gefjon, Anat, Demeter, Ceridwen, Archangel Auriel, Vajrapani, dragons, serpents, Ganesh’s mouse companion
For those taking the Moon Circle class in person, or wanting to follow along from home, here are this month’s links.
HOMEWORK
Homework is “pick your level.”
ThinkingQuestions:
This month we study the Root Chakra and overcoming obstacles.Reflect on these questions:
1.) What are the circumstances we face in life that we would call adversity?
What are the lessons you have learned through adversity?
2.) What do you fear? Have you ever experienced a time in your life when you had to face your fears? What happened?
3.) What does “grounded” look like? Describe a person who is grounded in as much detail as you can. In what ways can you relate to that person?
4.) Who makes up your “tribe”? How connected do you feel to these people? How do you feel when you are around these people?
5.) Are there people, groups, programs or personal behaviors that increase your sense of security? Are you involved in increasing the security of others?
6.) How important is your body as part of your spiritual path? Do you celebrate the body as part of the natural world? Do you seek solace in spiritual experience and an afterlife?
(Book published by Skinner House Press. Image © Kishgraphics)
The Mystic Grove 
