The wreck of the Fast Mail not only inspired the song, but this dramatic painting by rationalist master Thomas Hart Benton. There seems to be something about a train wreck that inspires a song.   Just about everybody knows Casey Jones .   Just two years after the disaster that inspired that tune , the Southern Railroad express known as the Fast Mail came barreling down a steep grade at a high rate of speed and overshot a tight radius turn right before a trestle sending the engine and train to a spectacular fiery crash at the bottom of a steep ravine . Within 24 hours a witness/rescuer at the scene had penned a ballad set to the melody of a popular fiddle tune, The Ship That Never Returned , the same tune used later for Charley on th...

Taken with a Fuji X100V using Anders Lindborg and John Sevigny’s Kodak T-Max P3200 recipe Just click on the photo to enlarge it  

It is possible to make beauty from brokenness. What results from the repair of our cracked and shattered places need not be anything like it was before they broke. Shattered pieces of tile are gathered into gorgeous mosaics. Our souls can be like that, too. Create some beauty today.

    Jan and I were at a gigantic annual booksale in Santa Barbara. We go there every year. This time was difficult as we are in the midst of dramatically shrinking our personal library. But. Well. There we were. I was halfheartedly poking through the books when I saw the title Christ the Eternal […]

a major decision by Brazil's Supreme Court enshrines Indigenous land rights. Continue reading Brazil’s Indigenous People win landmark victory at The Wild Hunt.

As Unitarian Universalists, we affirm that inspiration can come from the laughter of a child, the beauty of a forest, some of life’s challenges, meaningful conversations, an experience of the Holy, traditions in our family, music, and/or in the lines of a poem. What inspires ... read more . The post September Theme: Sources of Inspiration appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

As ministers, we have the gift of witnessing beautiful, brave, and tender moments in the people’s lives. Just in the past week we’ve been present as visitors attended a worship service or religious education class for the first time; a woman who grew up in ... read more . The post Co-Ministers’ Colloquy – Sept. 26th appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

We’ll have regular sessions of Religious Education (RE) Everyone, except the 8th/9th grade OWL participants will gather in for the first part of the service in the Great Hall. After the blessing, the elementary aged children will go to their classrooms: the 4th-7th graders (the Windows and ... read more . The post Sunday 10/1 in Religious Education appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

This week, the Oakroom Artists will install a group show which will grace the walls at UUSS through November 19th. Though the Oakroom Artists have had exhibitions of their art at UUSS since 1991, this will be their first show here since the buildings were closed ... read more . The post Oakroom Artists Group Show appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

In a Senate subcommittee meeting this last week, Senator Kennedy from Louisiana got a chance to grill a labor expert on the effects of the covid pandemic on children and child care. He insisted that there's no money in the budget to do the things necessary to keep our children safe. The expert assured him that if we were to raise taxes, there would be plenty of money, and that our budgetary problems are the result of 40 years of budget cuts resulting from the failed philosophy of trickle down economics.  https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/9/25/2195417/-Watch-a-Republican-senator-get-owned-on-child-care-funding Wishful thinking assumes that given the opportunity to make more money, rich folks, instead of becoming lazy and self-satisfi...

The Parthenon was originally brightly painted. Sitting on top of the Acropolis, the stony high point of Athens, the Parthenon in all of its ruined glory is one of the most famous structures in the world, an icon of classic antiquity, and for the Greeks, the symbol of their cultural glory.   But its current condition is not just the result of centuries of wear and tear or even of the earthquakes that shake the eastern Mediterranean.   Here’s what happened. The Parthenon we know today was the second—some believe the third—temple structure on that hill.   The first was begun shortly after the Battle of Marathon about 490 BCE.   It was a sanctuary for Athena Parthenos, the Virgin Athena.   It replaced even older temple structures ...

There’s a word that has more depth than feeling homesick, more meaningful than nostalgia and is more unique than longing… it’s a Welsh word that is not easily translatable to English that combines all three of these feelings into one … Continue reading →

“This is the season of repair. A time to reflect on how we might endure when life tears at us. We are held by the great Book of Life, in which it is written that we will inevitably face deprivation and discomfort. Longing and forgiveness.  Each among us must contemplate our own place in it … Continue reading Book of Life

In this week's Pagan Community Notes: Pietas petitions Italian government for further recognition, Dievturbi in Latvia received recognition to officiate weddings, events, happenings and the Dumbo Octopus. Continue reading Pagan Community Notes: Week of September 25, 2023 at The Wild Hunt.

Last week I created a webpage of Readings for Memorial Services. As a companion project, I’ve created a webpage of Readings for Weddings. At the moemnt there are more than 25 readings (or links to readings) there, including several readings by UU authors. And I have plans to add more wedding readings to it Real … Continue reading "Readings for weddings"

It was March of 2022. I was about to finish my one year of breast cancer treatment. I decided that I was going to give myself a gift. I wanted a little poochie. I started to look on the Gwinnett … Continue reading →

In 1778, James Boswell recorded a conversation between Dr. Samuel Johnson, then aged 68, and a man with whom he had been at college, one Oliver Edwards, then aged 65. One of these exchanges, included by Boswell in his Life of Johnson, interested me: “Edwards. ‘I wish I had continued at College.’ Johnson. ‘Why do … Continue reading "Other professions"

This poem has appeared on this blog at least many times for Yom Kippur.   I guess that this makes it an official tradition. It was inspired not only by my genuine admiration for the Holy Day, but by an ongoing controversy in my own Unitarian Universalist faith.  For many years UUs have gone blithely on incorporating snatches of prayers, ritual, and tradition from other religions into our own worship.  We do it mostly in good faith claiming “The Living Tradition which we share draws from many sources…” But lately we have taken grief from Native Americans for adopting willy-nilly rituals and prayers which we don’t fully understand and take out of context, many of which, frankly, turned out to be New Age touchy-feely faux traditi...

          (A sermon by James Ishmael Ford, delivered at the Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church in Pasadena, on the 24th of September, 2023) *** One day while walking quietly together, out of the silence the Buddha’s attendant Ananda declared, “Teacher, to have companions and comrades on the great way is so amazing! […]

Yom Kippur, the most sacred holy day to Jewish people, begins at sundown tonight. It is the last day of the Days of Awe, in which people are asked to atone for their sins. We offer you today this prayer from Joanna Lubkin. You may wish to light a candle or a chalice as you … Continue reading Day of Atonement

(CW: a blister is pictured in this post. I know that freaks some people out.) As reported earlier, I have been taking a taiko class on Sunday mornings. Taiko are the Japanese drums usually played in an ensemble; “taiko” means “big drum” in Japanese. If you’ve never seen it, here’s a group from the same […]

"The poet wrings a forever from Death, the only lover he will ever have who can really promise him that." Meg Elison reviews Jean Cocteau's 1950 classic ORPHEUS as part of our Classics of Pagan Cinema series. Continue reading Classics of Pagan Cinema: Orphée at The Wild Hunt.

This is a vessel I made as a potter in 1976. Make, fix and create... Assist others in learning likewise.

The second sermon in the series "Lives of the Spirit" focuses on the life and teaching of Abraham Joshua Heschel. The post Divine Pathos: Abraham Joshua Heschel appeared first on Colin Bossen.

I. How do we grow ethically? “With a bit of muddle and some hard testing,” as Louise said. Our mission here in this church is not a “mission accomplished” kind of mission. The job is never completed. For the second and third ones – serving justly and loving radically – it’s conceivable that we might reach a plateau. I rather suspect that we haven’t, but it’s conceivable that we could. And then our job would be just to keep on serving justly and loving radically. When it comes to growing, though, there’s no plateau. If your growth plateaus, you’re not growing anymore. Our mission directs us to, no matter what level of ethical or spiritual development we might have reached, keep on growing still further. Forever. When...

Welcome to my fantasy…a friend took the photo I used on this blog last week and ran it through some clever program and came up with this. I no longer look tired, but like a badass character in a fantasy adventure who clearly conquers much more than relatively small mountains. I loved the image, and […]

There was a serious motorcycle accident on hwy 23 North last night in a spot that has had many other accidents in the past. Today the roar of motorcycles will likely be that of bikers headed home, and I hope their journeys are safe. Many of us  who live here look forward to quieter times. I'm working with my editor at Taunton Press to tie up the various loose ends of my new book, Designing Boxes .  How-to books are different than fiction.  What I do and portray is real, and the object is that readers be enabled to do what I do. The editorial process, involving text editing, photo editing and careful layout requires a team to get the best results. How-to writers do not have the luxury of just making stuff up and careful editing can len...

                                  A 1950's era National Park Service poster promoted visits to Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming. My old home state of Wyoming has a lot of memorable, iconic sights—the Yellowstone geyser Old Faithful, the front range of the Grand Tetons , Independence Rock on the old Oregon Trail .  But nothing is more unusual or more recognized than the formation that looks like a giant tree stump rising high above the winding Belle Fouche River in a remote corner of the state—Devils Tower. After 10 years of futile efforts by the Wyoming Congressional delegation to have a much larger area including the formation declared a National Park o n September 24, 1906 President Theodore Roosevelt,...

Please join us on Sunday (24 September 2023) at 11:00 AM for “You Have to Open Your Hand First”by Rev. Barbara Jarrell. In this season of the Jewish High Holy Days, we celebrate the sweetness of a new year and release to be found in atonement and starting anew. We will have our ritual of … Continue reading "All Ages Worship (24 September 2023)"

For this Sunday (24 September 2023), our children (Pre-K thru Grade 5) will be using a program adapted from Moral Tales (a Tapestry of Faith curriculum by Alice Anacheka Nasemann and Elisa Davy Pearmain). The class resumes this week with “Faithful Choices: Hearing the Inner Voice” — an exploration of the power of our conscience … Continue reading "Pre-K thru Grade 5 Children’s Religious Education (24 September 2023)"

This class is an exploration of our eight Unitarian Universalist principles through artistic expression. Each week the group will explore and discuss one of our principles in depth and have an opportunity to engage in artistic expression of the ideas that emerge. The All8 curriculum is the creation of Jil Novenski (Director of Religious Education … Continue reading "Middle and High School Youth Religious Education (24 September 2023)"

Please join us on Sunday (24 September 2023) for our adult religious education class at 9:00 AM. Our adult religious education class is now a dual-platform class — meeting in person in the church social hall and also on Zoom. On this Sunday we begin reading the UUA Common Read for 2023 — On Repentance … Continue reading "Online and In-Person Adult Religious Education — 24 September 2023"

Join us 20-22 October 2023 as we travel to join our Louisiana Unitarian Universalist friends at the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge for a statewide retreat. We will worship together, sing together, stay in the homes of UCBR members, and experience workshops and activities to restore our souls. If you are planning to go, please … Continue reading "Louisiana Unitarian Universalists Statewide Retreat (20-22 October 2023)"

Please join us next Wednesday (27 September 2023) at 12 noon for our weekly Zoom lunch. Our weekly Zoom lunch is going dual-platform — join us from home using Zoom or in person in the social hall. Bring your lunch and meet up with your All Souls friends, have lunch, and just catch up.

The Little Red Wolf is a story that reminds me of this: that stories change, that people change, and while we need to respect and keep our traditions and culture alive, it doesn’t mean they can be an excuse for harm or put others in danger. Continue reading Review: The Little Red Wolf at The Wild Hunt.

Making amends to those we have hurt is often difficult. We need to figure out how to repair the brokenness without putting the labor (emotional or otherwise) on the person who has been harmed. We have to figure out what might make things right, and just do it, with no guarantee of success. When has … Continue reading Making Amends

Here Eureka Springs today I'm sitting on my front porch with Rosie. The rumble of motorcycles from the highway below our home is steady, pierced only by the occasional sirens of ambulances. Fortunately most of the injuries are relatively minor and from which bikers will recover to ride next year. I've heard that some local businesses are closed here due to the belligerence of some of our guests. Those who truly love this place will learn to schedule their visits when the swarms of motorcyclists are not here. And I remind myself that many of the bikers are nice, like the couple that stood in front of me at the Post Office. They were shipping home several packages of stuff they''ed purchased in our local galleries... art, no doubt. We cons...

Since beginning to blog, I have loved taking photos of creatures and plants. It is like a third eye that helps me to see the beauty all around me. Sometimes it helps me to look more closely, later. Like with the frogs in our pond–I think these three might be bullfrogs, because of the ridge […]

  A short  “ thought for the day” was offered to the Cambridge Unitarian Church as part of the Sunday Service of Mindful   Meditation.   (Click on this link to hear a recorded version of the following piece)   —o0o— Today, I’m going to finish walking through the Japanese twentieth-century advocate of a creative, free religion or spirituality, Imaoka Shin’ichiro’s “Creed of Life,” by taking together his final three statements of faith, 6, 7, and 8. My previous three pieces, being an introduction and two further pieces on statements 1 and 2, and then 3, 4, and 5, can be found at these links: Introduction: A gentle call to adopt Imaoka Shin’ichirō’s creative, free spirituality found in his “Creed of Life” St...

Victoria Claflin Woodhull at the height of her fame. Note— In the 149 years since Victoria Claflin Woodhull became the first woman nominated for president only one woman—Hillary Clinton—earned the nomination of a major political party and despite her fame, long political resume, and declared status as a prohibitive favorite but lost—albeit by Electoral College smoke and mirrors—to a grafter and transparent idiot.   Victoria Claflin Woodhull , born in Ohio on September 23, 1838 . was nominated for President of the United States on April 10, 1872 almost 50 years before the passage of the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote in all of the United States.   Woodhull stood apart from other leaders of the Suffrage movement by...

Please join us on Saturday (23 September 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 September 2023)"

“May our hearts become large enough to recognize our own shortcomings in the ways we have treated others. May our hearts become large enough to extend sympathy to those who have hurt us. May our hearts become large enough to hold the complexity of the human spirit.” -Lane-Mairead Campbell How can you extend sympathy to … Continue reading Letting Go of Resentment

I did an afternoon presentation yesterday in the U of A Sculpture studio yesterday afternoon, and today I did an all day box-making demonstration. We made two boxes, one with a hinged lid, another with a lift off lid.  Then I made another partial box to demonstrate the making of a mitered finger joint box. Then one of the students asked if I could demonstrate making a bandsawn box. Taking a piece of spalted maple left over from a demonstration by artist Robyn Horn, I quickly designed and made a bandsawn box. I also made a sled, and led an exploration of the principles and elements of design. These were two good days and now I get to refocus on the edits for my new book, and spend time with Rosie on the front porch. The photo shows my yo...

I know what should be blooming, singing, or visiting any time, but I revel in the surprises. Over the summer, a frog moved into the front gardens. What a sweet marker of the returning health of this tiny bit of land! I adore hearing his frog songs at night, mixed in with the sounds of the night chorus. Continue reading A Three Mile Drive at The Wild Hunt.

Sunday, September 24 Welcome Each Moment Led by Rev. Stephen Shick The poet William Blake wrote: Joy and woe and woven fine clothing for the soul divine…and when this we rightly know safely through the world we go.”  Spiritual practices can help us welcome both joy and sorrow into our lives. During worship this Sunday we   [ … ] The post Sunday, September 24 ~ Welcome Each Moment ~ 10:30 a.m. appeared first on Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson.

Last time we wrote you, Revs. Dave Dunn and Jeff Jones were in jail after stopping construction at Cop City in Atlanta with their bodies.   We are happy to share that all 5 who were arrested were released from jail with misdemeanor charges.     Additionally, Rev. Christina Branum-Martin, Rev. Misha Sanders, and other UUs joined others to deliver over 116,000 petition signatures collected by the Cop City Vote Coalition in support of letting Atlantans decide if they want Cop City at all. The City of Atlanta is trying a legal appeal to avoid verifying signatures, a decision that Senator Raphael Warnock and Stacey Abrams both criticized as deeply anti-democratic.  We're grateful to be part of a movement that won't cede ground to fascism...

Elaine McArdle The room at Knoxville nonprofit The Bottom features books, materials that focus on racial, gender, other social justice issues

We know that in September, we will wander through the warm winds of summer’s wreckage. We will welcome summer’s ghost. Henry Rollins Recently I suffered the dreaded Covid virus, not a welcome experience. I lost a month to symptoms we … Continue reading →

On September 8, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the nation of Morocco with the death toll exceeding 3,000 people and injuries greater than 5,600. Scientists are reporting that the climate-induced Storm Daniel—which was 50 percent more intense than previous storms hitting the area—has started catastrophic flooding in eastern Libya that will inevitably lead to water […]

Ellen Church on her first trip as a nurse/hostess for Boeing Air Transport, 1930. Sitting interminably in the crammed boarding lounge of a major airport for an overbooked flight mysteriously delayed, you can almost inevitably overhear a nostalgic conversation between older executives or retired men.   These frequent flyers will lament the passing of the days when stewardesses where hot babes in heels and tight skirts, who lavished them with pillows , cocktails , and TLC.   And if you knew just the right hotels and cocktail lounges you could hook up with the fun loving swingers and the wives need never know.   Those girls were virtually the Bunnies of the air. This image, whether true or wishful thinking, was constantly reinforced in t...

You don’t need to come here to read this site. Like most which use WordPress, this site publishes its content, or syndicates using the Atom and RSS (Real Simple Syndication) formats at revscottwells.com/feed. This makes an open web possible, rather than one where you are locked into closed systems, which seems to be winning. An … Continue reading "Read this site with a feed"

In order to make amends for the things we have done to hurt others, we must first be honest with ourselves about what we have done. Who have you hurt in the past year to whom you need to make amends?

I just found out this past month that my niece is pregnant! Our family will welcome a beautiful baby boy on December 15th. This is so amazing because there has been so much loss in our family.  My mind goes … Continue reading →

In cave in southern Spain, Researchers find human bones that had been converted into tools. Continue reading “As above so below:” a cup crafted from a human skull raises question about is ritual purpose at The Wild Hunt.

Date/Time: Saturday, October 21 at 7:00 p.m. Location: UCMH Union Hall Cost: $10 (all proceeds benefit UCMH and UU Service Committee)   Don’t miss this engaging live performance from local musicians Brian Cousins, Brian Podesta, and Stirling Cousins as the folk/acoustic/Americana band Second Son! Tickets are only $10 and all proceeds benefit UCMH and the UU   [ … ] The post SGCC: Second Son Concert ~ October 21 at 7:00 p.m. appeared first on Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson.

Water is endlessly fascinating to paint as well as to watch.

I have a presentation to deliver at the University of Arkansas Sculpture department at 5:30 this evening. It is open to the public at 687 W. Praxis Lane.  In the meantime, folks have been working with wood for over half a billion years, according to discoveries described in the New York Times. Ancient Logs Offer Earliest Example of Human Woodworking. I'm not surprised. Make, fix and create... Assist others in learning likewise.

Recently, people in the United States have been taking the month of September to reflect on the wrongs perpetrated against the indigenous peoples by the U.S. government and citizens. (And yes, the perpetrators of wrongs against Native Americans were nearly all White, which means that Ron DeSantis doesn’t want this material taught in the Florida … Continue reading "Documents relating to the Ute Indians and the Unitarians"

  McHenry County folks can observe the International Day of Peace this evening, Thursday, September 21 from 6 to 9 pm on the Square in Woodstock sponsored by the Unity Spiritual Center.  Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation will be among the religious organizations participating.  This is another one of the calendar poems inspired by random, or not so random, coincidences of dates, usually discovered as I am in a mad scramble for a blog entry topic.   It first appeared in 2013 when two events fell on the same day.   Today, like most years, the astronomical event falls a day ahead to a proclaimed one but the calendar serendipity is still close enough. Tomorrow is the Autumnal Equinox and the first day of Fall in the North...

Welcome to the 51st year of WomenExplore! This series is entitled WomenExplore Reimagined  Fall 2023 What does this mean? When covid caused the Spring 2020 lectures to be postponed, we spent our meetings learning how to use Zoom instead.  Thankfully every one of our wonderful speakers was able to transition to the fall and we had a very successful online lecture series. We had been expecting that everything would return to normal and we would soon be back in our old home at the Democracy Center.  However that was not to be, and through the succeeding series we discovered the advantages and disadvantages of operating online. The risk of disease transmission disappeared, as did our travel time and parking problems.  Distance now presen...

“The challenges surrounding apologies and forgiveness, repentance and reconciliation, amends and atonement invite a lot of questions, and they’re neither simple nor theoretical. They impact the very structure of our criminal justice system. They are ever-present in our rapidly shifting conversation on sexual abuse. These questions haunt the legacies of every country touched by colonialism … Continue reading Repentance

Families who are planning Unitarian Universalist (UU) memorial services often want suggestions for readings. Yes, there are many websites with tons of readings for memorial services. But many of those websites are going to have material that is too religious for us Unitarian Universalists. And some of the readings you’ll find online don’t exactly fit … Continue reading "Readings for memorial services"

The Heathen community responds to a murder trial defense in Indiana that claims the accused are Odinists and the crimes are a form of ritual sacrifice. Continue reading Defense filing in Delphi murders case draws strong responses from Heathens at The Wild Hunt.

Inclusion in Action: An Organizational Culture Shift Tool In November 2021, the Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC) committed to “Accountably dismantle racism and other barriers to full inclusion.” Making this decision required a lot of talking, a lot of listening, and even more self reflection. What we needed to do next was move. The Justice and […] The post Inclusion in Action: An Organizational Culture Shift Tool first appeared on Canadian Unitarian Council Conseil unitarien du Canada. The post Inclusion in Action: An Organizational Culture Shift Tool appeared first on Canadian Unitarian Council Conseil unitarien du Canada.

6″x6″ oil pastel on board I think this is done.

Lynette Yetter I have struggled forgiving myself for not knowing how to create appropriate boundaries. Continue reading "The Journey of Forgiveness"

  An early Negro National Convention. As ever, it was hard—dangerous and hard—to be Black in early 19th Century America for Freemen as well as for slaves .   Take the Northern state of Ohio , for instance.   It had entered the Union in 1803 under an 1802 constitution that abolished slavery.   Although technically a Free State , Ohio was culturally Southern having been settled predominantly by frontiersmen moving west from Virginia and the Carolinas through Tennessee and Kentucky before, during, and after the American Revolution and the widespread Indian wars that followed.   This was especially true of Cincinnati, which rapidly became the busiest port on the Ohio River . Farming in Ohio was not naturally suited to the plantation...

On a recent visit with our son who lives in Michigan, we visited a place in a small village outside of Detroit known as the largest Christmas store in the world. If any item had anything to do with the … Continue reading →

Tarot decks can be addictive. Here are five relatively new Tarot decks I find interesting. While they’re all beautiful, some are easier to read with than others.

Taken with a Fuji X-T2 using Luis Costa’s Kodak Tri-X Push recipe Just click on the photo to enlarge it

Sometimes, our feelings are hurt by the actions of another. Sometimes, we hurt others’ feelings. How we approach repair in this situation is important–we must center the person who is hurt. How have you experienced repair when your feelings have been hurt?

Sometimes, it is necessary to find the right tools for a repair. This goes as much for the tools of relationships as it does for the tools of mechanics. What are the tools you have used to repair relationships?

A trial in Scotland claims that Witches were abusing children and forcing them to participate in occult rituals. Continue reading “Witch cult” in Scotland accused of child sexual abuse and attempted murder at The Wild Hunt.

Hudson, MA Women’s Red Tent Gatherings: Celebrating over a decade of Sharing Our Stories and Creating Community!   The theme for our gathering on September 23, 2023: WELCOME!! 12:30pm-4:30pm Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson, 80 Main St., Hudson, MA 01749 www.ucmh.org   Hello, fabulous women! We hope you had an amazing summer! Yes, already, it   [ … ] The post Saturday, September 23 ~ Women’s Red Tent ~ 12:30-4:30 p.m. appeared first on Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson.

An eye-opening experience about the dangers at the U.S.-Mexico border and how the UU faith calls us into solidarity with those exercising their human right to migrate.

A U.S. Marshall and a slave catcher attempt to capture a Black woman and child under the Fugitive Slave Act. The infamous Fugitive Slave Act was passed by Congress on September 18, 1850.   It was one part of a larger Compromise of 1850 meant to ease tensions between slave and free states.   It did not work.   In fact, attempts at enforcement of the law enraged many Northerners who would otherwise have been content to let slavery be out of sight and mind in the South. A Fugitive Slave Law had been in the Federal statutes since 1793.   It was an enforcement provision for Article 4 , Section 2 of the Constitution, which required the return of runaway slaves and was passed at a time when slavery was still legal in most states on both sid...

The new Museum of Eureka Springs Art is taking shape at the Eureka Springs Community Center thanks to a team of volunteers and donors. Thank you Jim Nelson for the video.  We have new lighting, a polished concrete floor, rolling walls that can be arranged however we want, and plywood panels offering display areas on the concrete block walls. Art comes next. Make, fix and create... assist others in learning likewise.  

Three years ago I learned about the Nine Noble Virtues of the Asatru. I learned about them when I created a Yule journal for my fiance’s sister.  Asatru, believed to be the ancient religion of the Vikings, is considered the … Continue reading →

I promised a friend that I’d buy 30 of his poetry books for a reading he’s doing in our congregation this weekend. Unfortunately, he self-published through Amazon. So I had to buy his books through Amazon. Yuck. I expect Amazon to underperform, but they outdid themselves this time. First of all, I paid extra for … Continue reading "Why Amazon sucks, cont."

In this week's Pagan Community Notes, The Troth leads the Pagans For Peace: A Ritual for Peace and Justice, community announcements, upcoming Pagan Pride festivals, Lights Out for the Fall migration, and more news. Continue reading Pagan Community Notes: Week of September 18, 2023 at The Wild Hunt.

On Thursday September 21, 2023 I'll be making a presentation at the University of Arkansas Sculpture Department. This poster offers the details. The Thursday afternoon presentation is open to the public. Make, fix and create... assist others in living likewise.  

On September 14, the All Souls community came together for our annual Love & Light Gala, and it was a night to remember. This year’s theme, “Courageous Love,” inspired attendees to express their unique style and make bold fashion statements in their courageous attire, and there were plenty of courageous statements made. From bold colors to daring accessories and creative twists that reflected personal journeys, everyone truly embraced their “courageous attire.” It was a delight to see how everyone interpreted the theme in their own way. Selling The Shoes Off Your Feet Gala committee chair, Jeni Ellis Halliday, took this […] The post Courageous Love Shines at Love & Light Gala appeared first on BeyondBelief.

Earlier this summer, I discovered a few lovely yellow buttercup flowers under the Honeycrisp apple tree. I didn’t think too much about it. They were so pretty. Later, when I was mowing the orchard undergrowth, I mowed those flowers along with everything else. But more recently, I realized that the buttercups had spread all over […]

Four Little Girls:  Ada Mae Collins, Carole Robertson, Denise McNair, and Cynthia Wesley. Note —Somehow I let this tragic 60th anniversary slip by unnoticed the other day. Of all of the many battlegrounds for Civil Rights in the South, Birmingham , Alabama stood out for the level of sheer ferocity and brutality of opposition to change.   Then, on September 15, 1963 the already blood-soaked city was rocked by a Sunday morning bomb blast at the 16th Avenue Baptist Church.   When the dust and smoke cleared, four young girls were dead and 22 other people were injured.   It was a crime of such sickening brutality that it shocked the nation.   If it happened today, it would be called what it surely was then—an act of terrorism.   Bir...