Some of us have gone numb and non-functional; others are deep in the season and lighting candles, decorating trees, celebrating the return of the Sun, and practicing so many other traditions and acts of faith and love that this writer cannot name them all. I, myself, am holding space in the in-between this year. Continue reading Hard Candy Christmas at The Wild Hunt.

Please join us on Saturday (23 December 2023) at 10:30 AM for our weekly meditation group with Larry Androes. This group will be meeting via Zoom and not in person. This is a sitting Buddhist meditation including a brief introduction to mindfulness meditation, 20 minutes of sitting, and followed by a weekly teaching. The group … Continue reading "Meditation with Larry Androes (23 December 2023)"

“My struggle to find a solid identity is also true for other parts of me—as an artist, a pagan, and a person—as if everything that’s led me here are only interruptions and obstacles, instead of part of what makes me the more whole person I am today. The shift, for me, occurred by telling my … Continue reading Finding Identity Through Story

Sunday, December 24 at 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with Live Harp Music by Jessica Siegel Celebrate the spirit of Christmas in a family worship service that honors the life and teachings of Jesus. Sing your favorite Christmas carols, enjoy beautiful harp music, and experience the beauty and peace of our annual candle-lighting ceremony. “And   [ … ] The post Sunday, December 24 ~ Christmas Eve Candlelight Service ~ 7:00 p.m. appeared first on Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson.

                                                                 Dar Williams performs her song The Christians and the Pagans live. Note — One more for the convergence of neo-pagan Winter Solstice observations and Christmas. Back in 2012 my wife Kathy and I splurged on a then rare night out to take in a concert teaming Loudin Wainwright III and feminist/lesbian folkie Dar Williams .   Wainwright was the draw for us.   I was only dimly aware of Williams and don’t think I had ever heard one of her songs.   She ended up blowing us away.   And one of her most memorable songs was The Christians and The Pagans .   Like many of her compositions it was autobiographical about she and her lesbian lov...

For the past twenty-odd years, ever since I was old enough to truly ponder it, the mystery of the meaning of life has taken up a fair amount of space in my mind. My emotions surrounding this big unknown (that … Continue reading →

For a Solstice treat, Margy and I went to Kettle Cove beach a little before sunset. Santa was gathering seaweed for the garden. Now you might not think Santa would be out on Solstice, but the ancient European pagans laid claim to this gentle gift-giver from the north much before St. Nicholas. In fact, in […]

                  Here we are, rushing toward Christmas. For various reasons, I find myself thinking of Charles Dickens and particularly his wonderful novella, A Christmas Carol. Some of my friends actually read the original story, a few even aloud, annually. Others watch one of the many film versions. […]

Earlier this month, we featured a reflection by CLF’s Rose Gallogly about writing her own Winter Solstice Story. Rose has kindly shared the story with all of us–it is linked below. Each time a new being was introduced to the world, the Moon whispered to them: “Remember always that this world works in cycles. There … Continue reading Turn the Year Around

For the past 30 years, Mount Auburn Cemetery has hosted an evening Solstice event, and it has become enough a fixture of the local holiday season in Boston that tickets for those nights sell out fairly quickly. What began as … Continue reading →

Solstice blessings form The Wild Hunt! We share a round-up of events, music, and happenings. Continue reading December Solstice Blessings from The Wild Hunt at The Wild Hunt.

This simple sliding book rack is made of white oak. Years ago I'd done an article about making them in Woodwork Magazine, and some of my students from the Clear Spring School will remember having made some similar in class. In fact some students may still have them. I'd started work on these years ago, having cut out the parts, and rather than letting the wood go to waste, I decided to finish them. Making them would be a good two day class, introducing students to a variety of tools and woodworking strategies. We are down to just a few woodworking days before Christmas. At this time next year I'lll be making grandfatherly toys for Sylvie. In the meantime, let's all remember that we learn best hands on, and that reading (acquisition of kn...

What was it like to live in far earlier times of awe and wonder? Given the present season my thoughts went to the ancient mystery of the Seasons. When and how did humans becomeaware of the periodic movements of the … Continue reading →

                                                                          Ring Out Solstice Bells by Jethro Tull Call it Solstice, Yule, Meán Geimhridh, or any name you choose, to it is the shortest day and longest night of the year—the official beginning of winter. Tomorrow the Sun begins its annual return. Despite claims otherwise, Solstice is the Reason for the Season—the overt or disguised inspiration of most Northern Hemisphere Festivals of Light clustered around this date. To celebrate we turn to Jethro Tull’s classic 1977 album Songs from the Woods , Ian Anderson’s turn from jazz-infused rock to an embrace of his English roots and folk identities is a fitting carol for the day. ...

Exvangelicals are forming “spiritual collectives” — which have superficial resemblance to Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations, because they’re LGBTQ+ friendly, open to non-Christian sources of wisdom, and don’t have doctrines or dogmas. There are also big differences. Exvangelical spiritual collectives have a different worship style. Their preachers are more likely to do their preaching (which they … Continue reading "What exvangelicals do instead of church"

Researchers find Roman temples in modem-day Germany with a sacrificial space that raise questions about the nature of offerings to the gods and spirits. Continue reading Roman temples found with and a sacrificial pit researchers say at The Wild Hunt.

Dark academia and secret societies, free will and fate. Witches, vampires, Tarot, and poison. What would you do to make your dreams a reality? Here are the top five novels I read in 2023.

In this Advent season, the nativity story is depicted in tableaus around the world: in town squares, church yards, and even in the front lawns of homes. The story of the birth of the baby Jesus, a central figure in the Christian faith, is also the story of a brown-skinned, Middle Eastern, Jewish refugee born … Continue reading Old Story, New Perspective

When the world was very young, there were not yet any seasons. There were not even any days — the Sun and the Moon shared the sky in harmony, quietly watching over the world together.

 With the addition of a plexiglass box to keep the innards safe, my reliquary of wood has been added to the Museum of Eureka Springs Art museum display.  The reliquary was inspired by a reliquary in the Nelson Atkins Museum in Kansas City and by my participation in  a shrine show (sponsored by ESSA) in which artists were invited to create shrines celebrating the things important in their own lives.  The idea of a reliquary is to lift as important things that should be treasured. The reliquary in the Nelson Atkins Museum once held the bones of a saint. My reliquary has 25 turned samples of American (Arkansas) hardwoods, each in their natural color. It is a statement of value. The box itself is made of sugar maple. Some may remember a ...

Marcus Liefert Fear not, the angels would text me. Hallelujah, I’d write back. Continue reading "Fear Not and Hallelujah"

I love Hallmark Channel Christmas Movies. I am radically accepting, a feminist, reproductive justice activist, reality believer, political junkie, and…. I still love Hallmark Channel Christmas Movies. They are romantic nonsense. AND, they are total fun. They also help remind … Continue reading →

 Taken with a Fuji X-T2 (with a SMC Pentax-M 1:1.7 50mm lens) using the Fuji Astia recipe Just click on the photo to enlarge

  The Holly and the Ivy-- The Mediæval Bæbes   As we approach Solstice Eve it is the perfect occasion to showcase one of those traditional English carols that mix pagan imagery with just a light dusting of Christianity.   The Holly and the Ivy may be the loveliest of this genre which usually tends to festivity and were often used in street song begging or wassailing . The origin of the song is suspected of being quite old but is lost to the midst of time, probably like so many customs suppressed by Oliver Cromwell’s Puritan   ascendancy and his attack on “Papist and pagan” Christmas. The earliest published versions of the carol date to the early 19th Century when there was something of fad for collecting folk songs.   Severa...

Io Saturnalia! The holiday is well underway in many quarters including the UK and and especially in Rome. Continue reading Io Saturnalia: Releasing Saturn and a roundup of events at The Wild Hunt.

This Christmas Eve, All Souls Unitarian Church extends a warm invitation to everyone, no matter where you are on your spiritual journey, to join us for a day of celebration, reflection, and community. From a thoughtful morning service to the joyful candlelight services in the evening, our doors are open to all who wish to share in the spirit of this special day. Morning Service Time: 10:30 AM We’ll have one service Sunday morning at 10:30 AM. Our morning service offers a serene start to Christmas Eve, with a message from Revered Randy Lewis. After the service, we invite everyone […] The post Christmas Eve At All Souls: What You Need To Know appeared first on BeyondBelief.

Generosity is one of our UU values. The Article II Study Commission notes, “We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope. We covenant to freely and compassionately share our faith, presence, and resources. Our generosity connects us to one another in relationships of interdependence and ... read more . The post December Theme: Unexpected Gifts appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

This past Sunday, it was lovely to celebrate the approaching Winter Solstice in worship, as the room was slowly darkened, until we drummed back the light. When the lights were very low, Wendy invited us into a practice sometime in the coming week. To sit,  alone, or ... read more . The post Co-Ministers’ Colloquy – Dec. 19th appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

On December 6, Side With Love joined the American Friends Service Committee for a webinar to hear from the organizers, activists, and other professionals accomplishing the transformational work of abolition - from combatting exploitative fines and fees to decarcerating architecture. With the construction of Atlanta's Cop City looming overhead and the demands of the 2020 uprisings as of yet unrealized, a world beyond policing and incarceration can seem unreachable. But while still an unmet ideal, the foundation for an abolitionist world is being built by those who remain dedicated to dismantling and replacing an entrenched system which promises safety while producing the opposite. In the face of state repression and Draconian policies uph...

The Quran, the holy Scripture of Islam, contains a telling of the birth of Jesus (Issa) that is different from those stories in the Christian Scriptures in interesting ways. In the Quran, Mary is alone, under a date palm, and the story includes the pain of her childbirth; the infant Jesus is endowed with speech … Continue reading Same Story, Different Story

When the kids were younger and still at home there were so many traditions that brought us into the Holy Days…. Decorating, cookie baking, photo ornaments, and gifts. We took out the holiday dishes and napkins. We went to church. … Continue reading →

                                                       Winter Wonderland sung by Tony Bennett. There is no snow on the ground here in northern Illinois and temperatures have been unseasonably warm—daytime in the 40’s for more than a week.   Other parts of the country, however, have been buried in all of the Winter Wonderland they can stand.   Time to revisit this classic pop winter song and let the great Tony Bennett give it her swinging interpretation. Winter Wonderland was written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and lyricist Richard B. Smith. Since its original RCA recording by Richard Himber and his Hotel Ritz-Carlton Orchestra, it has been covered by over 200 different artists, including Bing Crosby, D...

                                                               The Anniversary Waltz  sung by Vera Lynn. We interrupt the seasonal songs of Winter Holidays Music Festival for a more private celebration if you don’t mind.   Forty two years ago, on a below zero December 19, 1981 at Chicago ’ s St. Francis Xavier Church on the North Side Kathy Brady-Larsen, a young widow, consented to marry beneath her.   The groom was a scruffy no-account with dim prospects named Patrick Murfin. That summer we had renewed an old acquaintance at Consumer ’ s Tap on Lincoln Avenue .   We had a nodding acquaintance a decade earlier while I was on the staff of the Chicago Seed and she was a 17 year old Seed stree...

Some people are living in the past. Specifically, some people apparently think it’s still the 1970s. So I’m volunteering on a task force for a UU nonprofit that is trying to figure out how to offer safe youth programming. As part of the research we’ve been doing on youth safety, I’ve been looking at some … Continue reading "Youth safety"

In this week's Pagan Community Notes: Art Contest Deadline, update on Pagan Elder Diana Paxson, Ásatrúarfélagið releases a statement on the Israel-Hamas war, Cherry Hill announces professor of the year and Hypatia award recipient, more announcements and Shavo. Continue reading Pagan Community Notes: Week of December 18, 2023 at The Wild Hunt.

I received two planes from Lee Valley today, left and right plow planes of a smaller size suggested for box making. Like other Veritas planes made by Lee Valley, they are works of art. The crafting of them is exquisite. Plow planes are used for cutting grooves in wood but can also form beads and coves. In box making you can imagine using them to cut grooves for inlay, or for bottoms to fit. With other cutters installed, beaded edges or panels could add interest to a lovely box. The tight curls of walnut behind the plane in the photo below were formed in my first test use of the right handed plane. These are lovely in their design and perfect in their manufacture. They can be ordered here. Make, fix and create...

In his book The Seven Basic Plots, Christopher Booker suggests there are seven ‘core’ plots that most stories follow: a journey taken and the return, overcoming challenges, making our way in the world, a quest, comedy, tragedy, and rebirth. -Lori Stone (CLF) Have you ever wondered in what section of the library you would find … Continue reading Re-Shelving Your Story

It is raining here in the northeast and the wind is blowing mightily, with gusts past 50 miles per hour. This healthy spruce tree suddenly fell down from its very roots. I was inside and heard something, but didn’t realize what had happened until I poked my nose out the door. Thankfully, it just missed […]

            “A non-Buddhist visited the great sage and said, “I don’t ask about the way of words, I don’t as about avoiding words. The Buddha sat quietly. Witnessing this, the non-Buddhist exhulted, “No wonder you’re the world honored one. Out of your compassion and mercy, you have parted the clouds […]

I think that in any religion there are those who embrace their faith with authenticity and with what we might characterize as curiosity, courage and compassion. In other words, they hold to their faith with open minds and hearts.  There … Continue reading →

                                                       Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas  by Judy Garland in  Meet Me in St. Louis. We are closing in on the big day and it’s way past time to honor the greatest performance of a modern secular Christmas song ever.   Period. No arguments.   The crown goes to Judy Garland singing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas to Margaret O ’ Brien in the 1944 film classic Meet Me in St. Louis. In some ways the part of the second daughter Esther of the comfortably middle class St . Louis Smith family was a step back for Garland to the juvenile parts where she had gained fame.   She had finally broken through being cast as a young woman in Presenting Lill...

Reading – a combination of Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg’s 2022 and 2023 Hanukah reflections, which end with this reflection Hanukah isn’t just about what happened in the past, on the calendar. It’s about who we are capable of being. It’s about … Continue reading →

That’s a trick title, because I have gone to a grand total of two church services in my six months of sabbatical. I’m rather ashamed to admit it, but it’s true. I had a plan to go to the San Francisco services fairly regularly once we were back from our summer travels, a plan that […]

Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights calls us into bold action for those seeking asylum.

Now a year's worth of cinnamon, nutmeg, or black pepper, can be acquired for less than a day's wages, brought halfway round the world in hours or days on a journey that once took months, fraught with danger. The world we live in is a miracle that's killing us all, and we don't think about either of those things enough. Continue reading Spiced tea and mead for the Winter Solstice at The Wild Hunt.

This December, the American version of The Financial Times published a feature on what is often termed the Gadfly movement within American Unitarian Universalism. The Financial Times is a London-based daily whose editorial stance is to the right of the Washington Post, but not as far right as the Wall Street Journal’s editorial page. Similarly, […] The post FACT-CHECKING THE FINANCIAL TIMES GADFLY ARTICLE appeared first on Dennis McCarty.

You know that feeling you get on the last day of vacation? You’ve still got today to enjoy, but it’s a bittersweet feeling knowing that what you looked forward to and have enjoyed is coming to an end. That’s how I feel at the Winter Solstice.

I have many friends for whom this time of year means the chance to escape into ridiculous and predictable holiday romance movies. While the casts are more and more diverse, the stories are simple and formulaic. And this allows folks just to turn off their brain and live in another space for a little while. … Continue reading Escape

Join us for our first live Christmas pageant since the pandemic.

I got my new hiking hat and gloves, and they are great. Too bad you can’t order new body parts on the internet. I mean, I have one relatively new knee, but getting it was a lot harder. Modern medicine is not a simple or painless process. I have been feeling old this week. I had to go into […]

 I frequently evaluate tools that might be useful for woodworking with kids, and I ran across a folding Japanese style Kataba saw that would likely be a good replacement for the Vaughan Bear Saws we've used for years at the Clear Spring School. The Hardtwerk Zen Saw has 13 precision ground hardened teeth per inch and like the Bear Saws and other Japanese designed saws, cuts on the pull stroke. It's not as fine toothed as a Dozuki so would not be a replacement for a dovetail saw, but would cut quickly in softwoods. While I'm waiting for mine to arrive, you might try it also, as it would provide an excellent opportunity to get some valuable sawing time with children or grandchildren over the holidays, and it folds closed when not in use. ...

                                                                        O Come, O Come Emmanuel sung by Enya with Latin lyrics. Today is the Third Sunday of Advent and time to share the most famous of all Advent hymns, O Come, O Come Emmanuel which also has some of the oldest roots.   As a boy it always perplexed me—who the hell was this Emmanuel, what did he have to do with Christmas, and how did Israel become involved? It turns out that Emmanuel—from Hebrew meaning “God is With Us” is mentioned almost in passing in the Old Testament book of Book of Isaiah in connection with prophecies connected to a war between the Kingdom of Judea and an Assyrian Empire with its vassal the Kingdom of...

Please join us on Sunday (17 December 2023) at 11:00 AM for “The Light is Reborn — A Unitarian Universalist Winter Holiday Celebration.” “In the greatest darkness, the light is reborn” — join us for a celebration of the light that is the common thread linking all our celebrations at this time of year. We … Continue reading "All Ages Worship (17 December 2023)"

Please join us on Sunday (24 December 2023) at 6:30 PM for our Christmas Eve candlelight worship service. Join us on Christmas Eve for carols, candlelight, special music from the All Souls Choir along with a reading of the Christmas story from the Book of Luke in the Christian Testament. Stay afterward, bring any of … Continue reading "Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (24 December 2023)"

This Sunday (17 December 2023) will be an intergenerational worship service. There will be no children and youth religious education classes happening during the worship service time. Our children and youth will be staying in the sanctuary for the worship service.

The mitten tree for Maggie Lee’s Closet is now up in the sanctuary. Bring mittens, gloves, hats, and scarves for children. They will be contributed to Maggie Lee’s Closet at the Highland Center to help keep children warm through the winter.

Our weekly 9:00 AM Sunday adult religious education classes will be taking a break for the next three Sundays — no class on 17, 24, and 31 December 2023. We will have some special programming on 7 and 14 January 2024 — watch our website and social media announcements for updates.

Today is the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. There’s a big re-enactment going on in Boston today, but who wants to fight the crowds who will show up to watch (not me). As a replacement for fighting the crowds, here’s a little history about our town’s connection to the Tea Party. This is … Continue reading "Happy Tea Party Day"

As a child, I imagined myself in these stories with the funny, out-of-place man. I identified with him because I also felt out of place, and his not-typically masculine demeanor felt safe and somehow familiar to me. As a queer adult, I can now see myself represented in these stories even more clearly, a validation that I didn’t know was needed. Continue reading The Diary of A Queer Timelord at The Wild Hunt.

Does anyone else remember the SRA reading program?  Every class in my elementary school had a box of multi-leveled reading materials produced by Science Research Associates. You would independently read a “card” of fiction or non-fiction and after answering a few questions, you could move yourself to the next level.  I only pretended to read … Continue reading Bedtime Stories

                                                                   Pedir Posadas, a traditional Mexican Posadas song with Spanish lyrics. Today is the first day of the traditional Mexican celebration of Las Posadas, a novenario or novena—an extended nine day devotional prayer observed between December 16 and Christmas Eve December 24.   The more than 400 year-old custom has spread to other Latin American nations and to the Mexican diaspora in the United States. A neighborhood Posada procession in a painting by  Carmen Lomas Garza in the National  Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago. Las Posadas derives from the Spanish word posada for a lodging, or inn and during the nine-day period during Advent...

Please join us on Saturday (16 December 2023) at 10:30 AM for our weekly meditation group with Larry Androes. This group will be meeting via Zoom and not in person. This is a sitting Buddhist meditation including a brief introduction to mindfulness meditation, 20 minutes of sitting, and followed by a weekly teaching. The group … Continue reading "Meditation with Larry Androes (16 December 2023)"

                          “One breath taken completely; one poem, fully written, fully read – in such a moment, anything can happen.”  Jane Hirshfield[1]   In my particular corner of the Zen world when one is giving basic meditation instruction, once the body is addressed, we […]

Alan U. Dalul reviews an anthology of work from Indigenous authors, "Dreaming in Indian: Contemporary Native American Voices," edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale. Continue reading Review – “Dreaming in Indian: Contemporary Native American Voices” at The Wild Hunt.

For the first Dinner Church of 2024, we’ll be gathering with our friends at First Parish in Stow. We’ll be serving make-your-own burrito bowls, including gluten free and vegan options. The cost to the church is $15 per person. We are requesting a $15 donation to cover those costs, $20 if you are able to help   [ … ] The post Friday, January 26 ~ Dinner Church at First Parish of Stow/Acton ~ 6-8 p.m. appeared first on Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson.

Thanksgiving is a time when relatives gather.  We share stories with the younger members,   There are usually peaceful about not reminding the older folks that they’ve heard that story before–like they enjoy hearing the tales of Nono selling fresh turkeys in his store, stacked high in   wooden crates and sawdust, not grocery store plastic.  They … Continue reading Storytelling as Ritual

By Christian Coleman | Some are new, some are veteran crew. These are a handful of Beacon’s bestsellers of 2023! Let’s raise a glass of bubbly to the authors and to another year of bestsellers! Which ones were your favorites?

If you have a child or grandchild in the 4 year old and up range, a hand drill and a bit of time using it under the guidance of an adult (and that adult could be you!) would make an excellent gift... one that would last at least a generation or longer.  I suggest a bit of parental supervision to prevent holes showing up at unexpected locations. You can occasionally find antique hand drills on eBay, but for just in time delivery before Christmas, Amazon can deliver.  This drill from Amazon  has storage for bits in the handle, and unlike some antiques, has a chuck key and the chuck is locked in place with a screw, requiring just a bit of assembly before use. That assembly time gives a bit of one on one with the younger children and a ch...

Staff Writer The award honors distinguished service to Unitarian Universalism. Learn how to nominate someone, and review a list of past recipients.

Loneliness does not come from having no people about one, but from being unable to communicate the things that seem important to oneself, or from holding certain views which others find inadmissible. ― Carl Gustav Jung Loneliness is an experience … Continue reading →

Silver Bells (City Sidewalks)  sung by Bob Hope, Marilyn Maxwell, and William Frawley in  The Lemon Drop Kid . The pages are flying off the calendar like in those old movies as we near Christmas.   It’s time to consider the most urban of what might be called the secular advent songs from the Golden Age of American holiday music.   Like It ’ s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas and other songs it captures the vibrancy, bustle, color, and excitement of the season but sets it on the crowded streets of a big city.   Other songs captured nostalgia for by-gone Christmases, country villages, and sleigh rides but Silver Bells , sometimes called City Sidewalks , was set squarely in the modern post-World War II era. Songwriting team R...

Mutton the Indigenous wooly dog who passed away 160 years ago reveals information about their Indigenous ancestry and also exposes the impacts of colonialism on Native Americans and First Nations. Continue reading Mutton, an Indigenous woolly dog, exposes more damage of colonialism at The Wild Hunt.

Sunday, December 17 Solstice Pageant: The Yule Faeries   Join us this Sunday for our annual Solstice pageant, featuring our kids and volunteers! Our story is set in a place of magic and mystery where faeries, gnomes, and other magical creatures live and experience the wonder of the natural world. Come and experience the mystery of   [ … ] The post Sunday, December 17 ~ Solstice Pageant ~ 10:30 a.m. appeared first on Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson.

What we thought Paganism would become 10 years ago isn’t happening, and the future of Paganism is very much undetermined. It will grow out of what we do. It will be what we make it. What do you want to make it?

Every time my child complains about reading homework, I remind her that reading opens doorways to new worlds. Stories invite us to open our imaginations and teach us that something else might be possible if we can dream it. -Michael Tino (CLF) When has a story transported you through a doorway to a new world?

ESSA has announced a mentored residency program in woodworking at ESSA. I'll be the primary mentor, joined by Larry Copas, an excellent woodworker and instructor from the Springdale area and frequent participant in ESSA classes.  The details and application form can be found here: https://essa-art.org/instructors/residency-program/ The program is designed to help woodworkers take their work to the next level. Both the wood turning and flat work studios will be available. With on site lodging, we expect lots of collaboration and fellowship among participants.  The display cabinet shown above is some of my earlier work. Make, fix and create...

Gretchen Maune Despite the bright, twinkling lights and the chiming bells, some of us are full of grief, fear, and pain. We believe there should be a time to honor these feelings as well. Continue reading "Holiday Blues"

Peace, this short one syllable word is something people ask for all the time, especially during November and December. Peace to me is a mystery, we all ask for it, but do we really obtain it? Do we understand what … Continue reading →

                                                         Chanukah (Shake it Off) by Six13. Tonight is the eighth and final night of the Jewish Festival of Life, Hanukkah.   Families gather to light the final candle on the Menorah   to commemorate the miraculous lamp in the Holy of Holies in the Temple in Jerusalem for eight days on only enough oil for one.   They recount the old tale, pray some, then celebrate with games, songs, special foods, and small gifts. Six13 in 2019. Six13 , a Jewish a cappella group gives the occasion the full boy band treatment with a song based on Shake It Off , originally recorded by Taylor Swift.   Why not?   She’s everywhere these days.

A cave in Finland called the Devil's Church in English has been used by shamans for healing rituals. Researchers looked at the cave's properties to understand how sound and energy come together. Continue reading Researchers find a mystical cave in Finland has acoustic properties that enhance mystical experiences at The Wild Hunt.

“What hurts you, blesses you. Darkness is your candle. Your boundaries are your quest. I could explain this, but it will break the glass cover on your heart, and there’s no fixing that. You must have shadow and light source both. Listen, and lay your head under the tree of awe.” – from a poem … Continue reading Darkness is Your Candle

Robert Sapolsky, a neuroscientist based at Stanford University, has published a new book in which he upholds the doctrine of hard determinism, asserting there’s no such thing as free will. Which makes me want to say: “I knew you were going to write that book.” To which he could respond, “I knew you were going … Continue reading "I knew you were going to say that"

Erica Shadowsong Spirits of winter, I celebrate you! Continue reading "Solstice Magick"

The UUA announces that the Article II Study Commission, charged with reviewing and updating UUA Bylaws related to the core religious values of Unitarian Universalism, has released its final revisions to the Article II Bylaws. Continue reading "Final Proposed Revisions to Unitarian Universalist Association Bylaws on Core Religious Values Released: Congregations will have until February 2024 to propose amendments"

As a child I was an avid reader. Whenever I finished my schoolwork I chose reading over any of the other out of seat options we were given. I often took a book and read during lunch break and recess.  … Continue reading →

                                                              Sankta Lucia  sung in Swedish at a Church observation in Gothenburg ( Göteborg) . Another day, another Saint.   Today we consider how a Sicilian virgin martyr and a Neapolitan song, became central to a Scandinavian folk custom that looks suspiciously pagan . In point of fact, no one is exactly sure, but the Feast of St . Lucy—Santa Lucia—observed annually on December 13, is ancient on one hand and surprisingly recent in its Norse guise. Almost nothing is known about St. Lucy.  She was reported to be the daughter of a wealthy and/or noble family from Syracuse in Sicily in the early Fourth Century .   Syracuse was a sophisticated ci...

We are  excited to announce Nora Rasman as the new Democracy Strategist who will support our UU the Vote 2024 program and year-round work to resist authoritarianism and build a multi-racial democracy.  Nora has been a skilled leader and strategist in Unitarian Universalist justice work and a powerful coalition builder progressive organizations like Working Families Party, Showing up for Racial Justice, and Southerners on New Ground. Her reputation for building and sustaining accountable relationships and sharpening the analysis and political commitments of volunteer leaders will strengthen our national and local networks for more effective collaboration and deeper impacts. As the former Wisconsin organizer for UU the Vote in 2020, Nora...

 Photo taken with a Fuji X100V using Fuji’s Classic Negative setting Just click on the photo to enlarge  

A metaphysical store near Los Angeles reports being stalked by Christian protesters. Continue reading SoCal Metaphysical store experiences Christian protests at The Wild Hunt.

By Christian Coleman | You’ve heard of that elf on the shelf, but have you heard of word count at a discount? That’s really pushing it, but there are books we’re talking about. Now’s the time to hunt for gifty books for the loved ones in your life. Save 30% on everything at beacon.org through December 31 using code HOL30!

We sing, tell stories, sit in the growing darkness, and dream together. Bring hand drums to play/share to invite the Sun to return. The post Dec. 17 10:30am Dreaming in the Dark appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

Please bring new warm hats, mittens, gloves, and scarves to donate to local kids and teens. If you won’t be here on the 24th, there will be a basket for them on the 17th to drop them off. The post Dec. 24 – 10:30am Christmas Pageant appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

Evening Candlelight Christmas Eve service – all ages welcome! The choir will sing. Those gathered will sing. Followed by social time with cookies and wassail in the dining room as others sit quietly in the circle holding a candle. The post Dec. 24 – 7:00-8:30pm Passing the Light appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

Online only. We are giving all our Staff and Volunteers an unexpected gift of a Sunday off or to just attend and receive the beautiful message created and offered by UUA President, Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt. The buildings will be closed that day. Perhaps you ... read more . The post Dec. 31 – 10:30am Seeds for the New Year appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.