White Oak Grove CUUPS

Imbolc is February 1. It means that the long dark winter is ending and that spring is just around the corner. It’s one of the events on the Pagan Wheel of the Year and is celebrated by cleaning (both the house and spiritually) and meditation. You can celebrate by making a corn dolly or a Brigid’s Cross and by eating foods that honor the hearth and home, such as breads, grains, and vegetables stored from fall such as onions and potatoes, as well as dairy items.

https://www.learnreligions.com/guide-to-celebrating…

Imbolc or Imbolg (Irish pronunciation: [ɪˈmˠɔlˠɡ]), also called Saint Brigid’s Day (Irish: Lá Fhéile Bríde; Scottish Gaelic: Là Fhèill Brìghde; Manx: Laa’l Breeshey), is a Gaelic traditional festival. It marks the beginning of spring, and for Christians (especially in Ireland) it is the feast day of Saint Brigid. It is held on 1 February, which is about halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Historically, its traditions were widely observed throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. It is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals—along with Bealtaine, Lughnasadh and Samhain.

Imbolc is mentioned in early Irish literature, and there is evidence suggesting it was also an important date in ancient times. It is believed that Imbolc was originally a pagan festival associated with the goddess Brigid, and that it was Christianized as the feast day of Saint Brigid, who could be a Christianization of the goddess. The festivities on the feast of Saint Brigid did not begin to be recorded in detail until the early modern era. In recent centuries this day was marked the making of Brigid’s crosses and a doll-like figure of Brigid (a Brídeóg) would be paraded from house-to-house by girls, sometimes accompanied by ‘strawboys’. Brigid was said to visit one’s home on the eve of the festival. To receive her blessings, people would make a bed for Brigid and leave her food and drink, and items of clothing would be left outside for her to bless. Brigid was also evoked to protect homes and livestock. Special feasts were had, holy wells were visited, and it was a time for divination.

We’ll celebrate the coming spring, make Brigid’s Crosses, and talk about Imbolc traditions.
It is believed that Imbolc was originally a pagan festival associated with the goddess Brigid.

This is a family friendly event – your children are welcome!

Meetings are held at the Unitarian Universalist Church at 4848 Turner Street, Rockford, IL.

Keep up to date on details and info by following our Facebook event page at https://fb.me/e/ro2zZhNek.

Eat –

 Peas. Like Hoppin’ John (black eyed peas and rice) – US South

12 Grapes (one at each stroke of the clock at Midnight) – Spain and the Philippines

Tamales!

Seafood, especially herring – Poland, Sweden

Greens – U S South

Noodles – Japan

Pork and sauerkraut – Germany, Poland

Buttered Bread – Ireland

Cornbread

Pretzels – Germany

Dumplings – Poland, China, Japan, Russia

What’s your favorite food for good luck?

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2022 AT 12:30 PM at Rockford UU Church, 4848 Turner St

Bring your own feast gear (we hate doing dishes at church), non-alcoholic beverages for your family, and a dish to pass (with a serving spoon, if needed). (Label your ingredients, please.) More details as they are finalized.
Gift exchange! (Bring a wrapped Pagan-ish gift to trade. One for each person over the age of 15. $15 maximum, please. Let us know if you are bringing children and how many – we’ll provide a gift for each of them!) We will meet in Deale Hall.

Check out updates at https://fb.me/e/5d1IN6Fzu

As we pause to celebrate Veteran’s Day, remember that there are many services available to and for Veterans and Active Duty Pagans in the military. Circle Sanctuary provides many of these services and more info can be found at https://www.circlesanctuary.org/index.php/military-ministries/circle-military-ministries

Wiccans and pagans in the United States military have, since the close of the 20th century, experienced a gradual increase in official recognition. The Wiccan pentacle is now an approved emblem for gravestones under the Veterans Administration, achieved in 2007 following legal action regarding the grave of Wiccan soldier Patrick Stewart. In 2011, the United States Air Force Academy dedicated an $80,000 “outdoor worship center” for “Earth-based religions” such as paganism and traditional Native American religions. As of 2022, there is still no provision for official recognition of Wiccan or pagan chaplains.

A broadly neutral depiction of Wicca for a military audience is found in the 1990 version of the Department of the Army’s Religious Requirements and Practices of Certain Selected Groups: A Handbook for Chaplains.

May 1st, 2022 at 12:30pm at UURockford, 4848 Turner Street, Rockford.

Please join us for a fun family friendly Beltane event. We will have a brief ritual that will honor the season and the fae around us. We ask that you bring something to offer the fae that is biodegradable, such as flowers, leaves, or seeds. We will then have a wish making activity for the coming Spring and Summer months. Hope to see you here! More info at https://fb.me/e/3aGgg5paa

Please join White Oak Grove CUUPs as we go back to the beginning and discuss the Wheel of the Year on April 3 at 12:30 in Deale Hall. We’ll talk about Pagan Seasons and Sabbats. Why do we celebrate what we celebrate? And why do we do it on those dates? RSVP on the Facebook event page at https://fb.me/e/2x26kdgPb

Dress is Casual – masks are optional. (We do require that you wear shoes and other clothing, though.) We’ll make coffee if people want it. You might want to bring a notepad if you feel the need to take notes.

Next Monday (January 17th) we enter the full moon cycle for the “Wolf Moon”.

Why Is It Called the Wolf Moon? According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the wolf moon is named as such because of legends from long ago. “It’s thought that January’s full Moon came to be known as the Wolf Moon because wolves were more likely to be heard howling at this time,” it says. This Wolf Moon is all about protection, security, and empowerment. Concentrate on self-care. It’s a good time to identify the the previously-unseen roadblocks that stand between you and your 2022 goals, and start letting go of the 2021 baggage you may not have even realized you were holding onto until now.

This Saturday is New Year’s Day. Here are some traditions to think about –

Be Choosy About Your First Guest – The first person you allow through your doors in the New Year may set the tone. In Scotland, the Isle of Man and some other parts of Northern England, the “first footer,” as it was called, was extremely important. Tradition in those parts of the world states to select a man who is tall and dark (as a protection against Vikings), who would come with simple gifts of coal, salt, shortbread and whisky, representing the basic needs of heat, food and drink. Choosing wisely meant good luck for the upcoming year. Make sure the “first footer” has coins in their pocket to ensure prosperity next year.

Make a wish jar – Write your wishes for next year and store them in a jar. Read them next New Year’s Eve. (Some traditions suggest you burn them in your New Year’s bonfire – I think it will be waaaaay too cold for that this year!)Ring bells and make noise at midnight to chase away the bad spirits. Open a window or door to invite in the good spirits.

Eat a pomegranate. Count the seeds – that’s how much good luck you’ll have. Sprinkling salt in front of your door will bring peace. Sprinkling sugar will bring goodness.

Eat 12 Grapes – Yes, exactly 12, one at each stroke of midnight. That’s what they do in Spain — pop one grape for every month of the New Year. According to Atlas Obscura: “Eating one grape at each of midnight’s 12 clock chimes guarantees you a lucky year — if and only if you simultaneously ruminate on their significance.

Eat Noodles for a long life. Eat pork and peas and greens for prosperity. Eat fish for Abundance.

And have a great New Year!

Winter Solstice is Wednesday December 21st. Here’s a few books about the Solstice. (What are your favorites?)

The Winter Solstice by Ellen Jackson (Author), Jan Davey Ellis (Illustrator)

The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice by Wendy Pfeffer (Author), Jesse Reisch (Illustrator)

The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper (Author), Carson Ellis (Illustrator)

The Solstice Badger by Robin McFadden

On the Shortest Day by J C Artemisia (Author), Sarah A Chase (Illustrator)

Grandmother Winter by Phyllis Root and Beth Krommes

Thanksgiving is next week – and it’s one of my favorite holidays! Food, fellowship, and PIE – what could be wrong with that? Like many of us, I grew up in a non-pagan household – but my mother certainly had pagan leanings! We donated food to those who were less fortunate. Once or twice we worked at the local shelter on Thanksgiving instead of eating our own feast. We welcomed people to our table who were without family of their own with whom to celebrate. We ate (along with the traditional foods) the three sisters – corn, beans, and squash. And, perhaps most important of all, we gave thanks for what we had. Each year’s meal started off with a discussion of what each of us was most thankful for. (And no cheating and saying that you were thankful for pie!)How do you celebrate? Are there any rituals you follow on this holiday? And what are you thankful for this year?

The 7 Principles

(Adopted in 1960, the Principles, Purposes and Sources are incorporated in the Bylaws of the Unitarian Universalist Association)

We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote:

The inherent worth and dignity of every person

Justice, equity and compassion in human relations

Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations

A free and responsible search for truth and meaning

The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large

The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all

Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part

Six Sources

Unitarian Universalists emphasize the responsibility of the individual as well as the community for achieving spiritual growth and development. The complete statement of the Unitarian Universalist covenant describes the Six Sources upon which current practice is based:[49]

Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;

Words and deeds of prophetic people which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;

Wisdom from the world’s religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;

Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;

Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.