Taken with an Fuji X100V using a recipe based on the the Czech film, Fomapan 400 Just click on the photo to enlarge it

The text of my sermon discussing the proposed revisions to Article II of the UUA's bylaws. The post Liberating Love: ARticle II appeared first on Colin Bossen.

The Pagan community in Pueblo, Colorado makes a statement against a conservative Christian group with political domination ambitions. Continue reading Pagans organize to resist Christian conservative political action in Colorado at The Wild Hunt.

Sunday, November 12, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Soul Matters Sharing Circle: The Gift of Generosity Location: Unitarian Church of Marlborough & Hudson, Knight Room  (Please use Church Street entrance) Facilitated by Nan Rogers, Member since 2010, Lay Leader and candidate for Interfaith Chaplaincy Ordination through ChIME (Chaplaincy Institute of Maine)  Cost: Free; donations welcome Please join us at   [ … ] The post Sunday, November 12 ~ Soul Matters Sharing Circle: The Gift of Generosity ~ 10:30 a.m. appeared first on Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson.

One of the earliest truly impactful moments of generosity in my life came from my high school sophomore language arts teacher, Ms. Huie. I struggled very much in high school with depression and anxiety, and I was suicidal from the … Continue reading →

At All Souls, each member has a story of a personal journey that brought them to our church. During our current pledge drive, we've been able to hear some of those stories from our members directly. Recently, we heard from two of our members - Dorothy Checotah and Eileen Kenney - about what led them to our community and why they've stayed and pledged over their years. We want to thank Dorothy and Eileen who graciously shared their stories, each a testament to why All Souls is more than a church—it's a destination for seekers, a haven for diversity, and a vessel for change. The post Why We Pledge To All Souls appeared first on BeyondBelief.

          Alfred Russel Wallace, died on this day, the 7th of November, in 1823. After Charles Darwin there are two figures I think are counted as critical to the development of modern evolutionary thought. Darwin resisted the public forum, disliked the rough and tumble of public disputation, and feared the challenge […]

Tying together how UUSC partners work toward justice.

Theologies that define sexual desire as inherently sinful have harmed generations of people. Our bodies are beautiful–in whatever shapes they come–and our responses to intimate pleasure can be beautiful, too. Lust only becomes sin when it is damaged by a lack of consent or an abuse of power. Otherwise, it is part of being human. … Continue reading Lust

A life profile of Elijah P. Lovejoy who was murdered before photography. He was by almost all accounts, a difficult man to like .   Opinionated to the point of bigotry on innumerable subjects.   A totally humorless religious zealot consumed with the conviction of his own righteousness—and the sinfulness of just about anyone who did not agree with him on everything, down to the comma placement.   But such men—and women—often are what is needed to begin moving the fulcrum of history.   When Elijah P . Lovejoy was cut down in a hail of bullets defending his precious printing press from an Alton , Illinois mob on November 7, 1837 he became the first important martyr of abolitionism and helped galvanize the infant movement. Lovejoy ...

I finally updated my post on the washtub bass with construction details of a really good instrument I built back in 2019. Here’s the post — scroll down for the update.

Ardoksho (also spelled Ardochsho) was a deity who is best known for her appearances on gold coins of the Kushan (also spelled Kusana) Empire roughly two thousand years ago. The Kushan Empire included parts of today’s nations of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and the northern part of India (not including Kashmir). Contemporary empires included the Han … Continue reading "Ardoksho"

In this week's Pagan Community Notes, the Titan Theia's namesake makes news, a blind Labrador retriever comes home, announcements and events. Continue reading Pagan Community Notes Week of November 6, 2023 at The Wild Hunt.

        I first practiced Zen in the Soto style, with its emphasis on the deep discipline of Just sitting. Later I entered a Soto monastery where I encountered Japanese Zen’s monastic discipline of minute attention to the details of life. Later after I left the monastery and other spiritual disciplines I began […]

I was 40 before I heard the term “executive function,” when a parent at church said her child was getting some coaching in that area: the cluster of cognitive functions, such as working memory and emotional regulation, that make planning, problem-solving, and time management possible. Like many, probably most, people who got that far in […]

Joanna Lubkin What would it look like to not just accept and survive our times of rest, but to delight in them?

UUSC staff member reflects on an experience advocating concrete solutions to the climate crisis.

Here in the Ozarks we wonder whether this fall will be as beautiful as last. It makes a difference when you look out. Most of the trees capturing the morning light are red and white oaks. Touches of green are cedars and elm. The deep orange in the understory is from dogwood trees. The steps lead down to our front porch where I often sit with Rosie, our 5 year old golden doodle as she watches for squirrels. There is a reason to observe the beauty that may surround us, and to share it with others. A recent survey found that folks were pleased with their personal lives, and were pleased at the success of their communities, but terrified for the future of our country and the world, that view twisted by our obsession with the national news. T...

Sometimes receiving the generous gift of another takes work, thought, and your own generosity of understanding. You don’t always want to accept the gift. But acceptance is its own gift of generosity. In 7th grade my oldest daughter was learning … Continue reading →

Too many people set their cards down because they have no pressing need. Then when something critical comes up they can’t get a clear answer. Here are some core practices that will keep your Tarot skills sharp now and in the future.

It is harmful and pervasive theology that we should feel guilt and shame when we allow ourselves pleasure. None of us has to earn pleasure–we deserve it as a part of our rich humanity. We all deserve bodily pleasure, and spiritual pleasure, and emotional pleasure, just because we are. Do something to bring yourself pleasure … Continue reading Pleasure

Perhaps sin can be understood as the places where our actions lead to the brokenness of others. Sometimes, that brokenness can be repaired. Sometimes, it can only be atoned for. How have you atoned for actions that have led to brokenness?

A Rutgers student later painted this imagined view of the first official college football game. According to historians of American sports the first official college football season got underway on November 6, 1869 when teams from Rutgers College, now Rutgers University, and the College of New Jersey , now Princeton University, got together on the Rutgers campus for a rough and tumble game of football which was sanctioned and approved by both colleges.   It was a short season.   The next game was played by the same teams at Princeton one week later.   Season over.   Just two teams and two games. The Queensmen of Rutgers won the first game by a score of 6-4 but the New Jersey Tigers came back in the re-match to win 8-0.   The anal re...

Content warning: image of a grief-stricken child This is as done as it’s going to get–I think I’m better off starting from scratch if I want to improve it. But the making of it has been painful and beneficial. I am trying, over and over, to embrace my art as a spiritual practice and only […]

Many have wondered if this strange piece of folk horror even existed, or if it was a mass hallucination, another iteration of the Mandela Effect. Not so, says Meg Elison in this review of 1978's "Dark Secret of Harvest Home" - it's quite real, and a transgressive delight for Pagan audiences. Continue reading Classics of Pagan Cinema: The Dark Secret of Harvest Home at The Wild Hunt.

Interesting research at Perdue in 2009 illustrated how hands-on learning was superior to lecture and book based learning for all students. The results were even more significant when gender and language barriers were considered. https://www.purdue.edu/uns/x/2009a/090128DarkStudy.html  And so the question becomes, can hands on learning help to moderate some of the issues of polarization and tribalism currently plaguing  our culture and politics. In the days of educational sloyd, manual arts were considered to have particular value, not only to those destined to become tradesmen, but even more importantly to those privileged to have leadership roles in the culture and economy. The point was for the upper classes and economic elite devel...

We'll continue our new Inquirer's Class series with a session on Unitarian Universalist History and Principles. This class is for newcomers and long-time members and friends alike - a chance to connect with UU tradition and explore the meaning of belonging to our faith and the meaning of membership. This week, we'll share a brief overview of Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist history, along with an examination of our current principles and the currently proposed revision to those principles.

The building will be going on the market sooner than we initially anticipated so the sign will be out front soon. Even knowing this is coming, we did not want you to be blindsided by the sign’s appearance. Board President Sally Wood will be calling congregants to schedule small group meetings to keep everyone updated … Continue reading "Building Sale Update — 5 November 2023"

November's theme is "The Gift of Generosity," and we begin by naming and picking apart the mentality that hems in our generous natures - Scarcity.

Saw this tree – or what is left of it – on one of my hikes this week. I did get in my 3 hikes at least – one was only 3 miles, but I also did both a 6 and a 7 miler so am back in my routine. They have been doing controlled […]

            Occasionally I’m asked what is my holy scripture? That is, is there anything like the Bible for me as is generally understood by Christians. The short answer is no. But there’s a longer answer. Here I find myself thinking of the Gateless Barrier. Of the handful of books that […]

A popular image of Guy Fawkes assembling barrels of gun power for his plot against Parliament and King James I.  Tonight is Bonfire Night across the Puddle, traditionally a rowdy celebration of the day Guy Fawkes got caught trying to blow up Parliament on November 5, 1605 .  Originally celebrated on the first anniversary as an official Thanksgiving Day for delivering the King and Parliament from the Catholic plotters, it became an annual official holiday until that status was finally dropped in 1859 because of the virulent anti-Catholic tone of the celebration.  Traditionally effigies of Fawkes were burned on bonfires.  Later fireworks also became popular along with considerable public revelry and occasional outbreaks of vandalism a...

Like an obstetrician caring for a pregnant woman, there are always two clients in caregiving: the actual loved one who is ill and the caregiver. We are not robots. One of the hardest lessons to learn during the time I cared for my mother was to take care of myself by learning how to say "no" and when to say "yes". Continue reading Giving Thanks for the Caregivers at The Wild Hunt.

Please join us on Sunday (5 November 2023) at 11:00 AM for our annual presentation of the Ralph Waldo Emerson Award to Madison Poche (Executive Director — The Highland Center). Every year, All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church presents the Ralph Waldo Emerson Award to an individual or organization in the wider community who best exemplifies … Continue reading "All Ages Worship (5 November 2023)"

For this Sunday (5 November 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 lesson for this week is “The Golden Rule and the Platinum Rule” — featuring two stories on the theme of … Continue reading "Pre-K thru Grade 5 Children’s Religious Education (5 November 2023)"

This class is an exploration of our eight Unitarian Universalist principles through artistic expression. On this Sunday (5 November 2023), we will explore the fifth principle (“the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large”). The All8 curriculum is the creation of Jil Novenski (Director … Continue reading "Middle and High School Youth Religious Education (5 November 2023)"

Please join us on Sunday (5 November 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. We will continue reading the UUA Common Read for 2023 — On Repentance and Repair … Continue reading "Online and In-Person Adult Religious Education — 5 November 2023"

Please join us next Wednesday (8 November 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.

Each month we dedicate all of our non-pledge income to an organization doing the work that best embodies our Unitarian Universalist principles and values. For the month of November 2023, we choose the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana. In this month when so many people will celebrate a bounty of food on their tables, we … Continue reading "Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana — November 2023 Give-Away-The-Plate Recipient"

The way the hand bridge between the arts, science and religion is directly associated with the way we learn as was described by Diesterweg (an associate of Friedrich Froebel) and was described by Otto Salomon in the Theory of Educational Sloyd. We start with interest of the child We build from the known to the unknown From the easy to the more difficult From the simple to the complex and from the concrete to the abstract. Fundamental science begins early, as you can’t whittle a stick without observing the effects of the knife. If the blade is digging too deep, you “hypothesize” and alter the angle or reverse the stick to compensate for the direction of the grain. Religion is dangerous because we are constantly asked to accept on

In a magical working at the most recent full moon I received a message that is specifically for me, but is likely relevant to many of you. “Sharpen the swords you have.”

Five local houses of worship are holding a November collection drive to support the work that Colores United does to assist asylum seekers in Deming.  Besides us, sponsors include The United Church, The White Rock Presbyterian Church, the Los Alamos Jewish Center, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Los Alamos. The UU Congregation of Santa …<p> Colores United Annual Drive for Asylum Seekers Read More »

Earthrise by William Anders, taken on December 24, 1968 A short  “ thought for the day” was offered to the Cambridge Unitarian Church as part of the Sunday Service of Mindful   Meditation.  (A recorded version of the following piece will appear here sometime on Sunday 5th November)   —o0o— As many of you will know, the British Government has a requirement that congregations such as our own, need to change our status from being an “excepted charity” to a “charitable incorporated organization” (CIO). The 2019 deadline for this was extended due to the disruptions of the pandemic but we thought it was simply wise to get on with the process because there’s a huge amount of technical, and legal work involved in the proc...

By Jonathan Rosenblum | It’s not just actors, writers, and autoworkers powering this year’s strike wave in the United States. Healthcare workers, too, are flexing their collective muscles in greater numbers. And for good reason.

“I want you to know that you are loved beyond your wildest imaginings by the spirit of creation. Every bit of you is holy—even the embarrassing parts, even the thoughts you wouldn’t tell your best friend. God is in your every cell, calling you to live a loving, joyful, boisterous life. To go easier on … Continue reading You Are Holy

I don’t believe in sin. I believe that each and every person has the ability to make mistakes and not be condemned for them. While anything in excess can be detrimental to our spiritual, mental, or physical health, to carry the label of ‘sin’ attached shame and guilt that is counter to all of our … Continue reading Rejecting Sin

Almost everyone in America will revel in an extra hour of sleep tomorrow morning.   It happens every year, no matter how many announcements are made on the TV news , radio, newspapers, and now by cute memes .   And some folks who did fiddle with their time pieces get it wrong—is it spring forward , fall back or the other way around? Anyway, here is a heads up to set your clocks back tonight before you go to bed.   Or if you are a stickler for accuracy wait until 2 am Sunday to set them back to 1 am. It’s vexing.   And some think, foolish.   Take to oft quoted bit of folk wisdom usually ascribed to some Native American sage—Daylight Savings Time is like cutting a strip off the bottom of the blanket and sewing it to the top and ...

Please join us on Saturday (4 November 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 (4 November 2023)"

Lyonel Perabo introduces readers to four of the Witch shops he has visited in the region of Cleveland, Ohio. Continue reading Explorations in the Witch Shops of Cleveland at The Wild Hunt.

Your insights are crucial: Participate in UUSC's focus group to refine our advocacy messaging and strengthen our collective impact.

A coworker recently got married and, before the weekend of the ceremony, we held a smallparty for her in the office. As these things often do, we had snacks, games, and there were alsocards for others to fill out with … Continue reading →

The young Moscow street stray eventually known as Laika, was a 14 pound bundle of cute adored by her handlers and trainers. The three year old scrawny mutt suddenly found herself scooped off of the streets of Moscow in 1957 where she had endured a tenuous existence as a stray.   There were others.   She was taken to a military laboratory where for the first time in her short life she was well fed and warm.   Like the others she was poked and prodded, given all sort of medical examinations, and put through tests of her temperament and endurance under uncomfortable circumstances.   The men and women in the lab coats noted her easygoing personality, unaggressiveness to the other dogs, eagerly compliant to the wishes of her collective ma...

Content warning: image of a grief-stricken child It’s so hard to give my heart’s attention to what’s happening in Gaza and Israel: not to intellectualize, avoid, or take any of the other escape routes away from grief and despair, but just to be there with all of the feelings. I thought drawing some of the […]

Beacon Press has published a pamphlet about banned books. You can download a PDF here. I picked up a hard copy at Harvard Book Store in Cambridge, Mass. — presumably when bookstores buy books from Beacon, they receive some hard copies of the pamphlet. The best thing about this pamphlet is not the infographics or … Continue reading "Banned books pamphlet"

Whether directly shouted into our ears or subtly inculcated through culture, individualism runs deep. How many times have you heard (or said) “I don’t want your charity”? What’s wrong with accepting charity? The hand up is rarely masking condescension or … Continue reading →

  An all female coven practices a ritual.  Although there are male Wiccan, adherents are predominantly women--and overwhelmingly White.  Other neo-pagan traditions appeal to Women of Color. The story with the dramatic headline is a few years old and based on research on religion in America on even older data collected by the Pew Research Center in 2014 and additional studies by conservative religious think tanks, but it made the rounds again on social media as Halloween rolled around again.   Depending on your perspective the news was shocking, appalling, or an encouraging sign of a broadening of America spirituality. Of course, the Pew Center never made the claim that there are now more witches than Presbyterians—journalists extra...

For many, definitions of sin have been openly harmful as bad theology is used to control people. The fires of hell have long been a threat for any number of things many of us reject are “sins.” What were you taught was a sin that you have come to see as not one?

This month, as we explore the theme of Sin and Atonement, let us begin by wondering what, exactly, is sin? Different cultures, religions, and theologies have different definitions for “sin,” and some have no use for the concept entirely. Is “sin” a useful concept to you, and if so, how do you define it?

The text of a speech I gave calling on Representative Lizzie Fletcher to endorse a House resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. The post Speech Calling for Representative Lizzie Fletcher to Call for a Ceasefire in Gaza appeared first on Colin Bossen.

Christian protests disrupt supermarket looking for Witches while in Salem they enter ritual space to stop Samhain public gathering. Continue reading Christians protest Samhain in Miami and in Salem where ritual space was violated at The Wild Hunt.

NOTE: As a one-time experiment, our worship service this Sunday starts at 4:00 pm (remember to set your clocks for Daylight Savings.)  A drop-in choir will gather at 2:45 with Robin and RE will run during the afternoon service. Families should start in the Sanctuary, as usual. We hope to see you there! Sunday, November 5   [ … ] The post Sunday Worship: November 5 ~ “Receiving Generously” ~ **4:00 PM** appeared first on Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson.

Just click on any photo to enlarge it All the photos in this post were taken using my Fuji X100V and a recipe which, in my opinion, does a pretty good job of producing images very close to those produced by the Czech film, Fomapan 400. The recipe used here is by someone who only gives us their first name, Sasha, who posted it on the Fuji X Weekly Community page a while back. You can find her excellent recipe at this link, or simply scroll down to the very end of this post. When I shot film (back in the 1970s on a Voigtländer Vitomatic IIa)  I only ever used Ilford films, simply because that’s what my dad used, so, I have no experience with actual Fomapan 400 film. But since coming across Sacha’s recipe, I’ve both enjoyed lookin...

Yesterday the fifth Ask Isabel column hit the email inboxes. It’s getting more attention: more subscribers, more readers, and the first Like and comment! This week’s column asks whether God matters. You can see all of the columns here, and of course, subscribe (it’s free and spam-free) and also submit a question if you are […]

The Breath that Sustains Us On Sunday, May 15, 2022 over 300 Unitarian Universalists (UUs) across Canada attended a virtual national worship service like no other. There were no speakers, and it did not follow the traditional order of service.  Instead, rich, evocative music, images, and affirmations guided participants through a 15-minute, multi-sensory breathing meditation, […] The post The Breath that Sustains Us first appeared on Canadian Unitarian Council Conseil unitarien du Canada. The post The Breath that Sustains Us appeared first on Canadian Unitarian Council Conseil unitarien du Canada.

Taken with a Fuji X-T2 (with a SMC Pentax-M 1:1.7 50mm lens) using Kevin Mullin’s “Parr” recipe Just click on the photo to enlarge it

Chrissy Bushyager God of our ancestors, may we find the ways in which we can connect across generations. Continue reading "People Who Came Before Us"

This isn’t humble-bragging, this is outright bragging. My photo of the Cohasset Meeting House is in the latest issue of Classicist (no. 20), the peer-reviewed journal of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art. Not that my photo was peer-reviewed; the photos in this issue are merely illustrations for the peer-reviewed material. Still, I guess … Continue reading "Photo"

I enjoy the lengthening shadows of the fall. They invite me into reflections and considerations that the brighter times of the year chase away–reflections and considerations on the full spectrum from joy to grief. Recently, I allowed the shadows to … Continue reading →

“We honor and remember Those who have passed into the mystery. Their brightness lives on in our vision; their courage lives on in our commitments; and their love continues to bless the world through us.” -Florence Caplow Light a candle for the ancestors today.

  Gaily hand painted skulls on sale in a Mexican shop for  Día de Los Muertos . Note —Another blog perennial. Despite sharing some key common imagery—skulls and skeletons—and some cultural and religious DNA, Día de los Muertos, the two day festival from Mexico, is not just a Latino Halloween.   The two observations reflect two entirely different views of death—one reflecting terror and horror and the other welcoming acceptance.   That’s the shorthand for it anyway.   It is, of course, more complicated.   The Mexican holiday owes its unique vitality to the merging and mutual corruption of two cultures so alien to each other that at first the seemed totally incompatible. The Aztecs were the new kids on the block.   Just ...

A follow up to an earlier brief post on the deity Doumu. Doumu, a Daoist deity, is sometimes called “Dipper Mother” in English because she’s the goddess of the of the Big Dipper, Ursa Major. Her name is variously rendered Doumu, Tou Mu, Dou Mu Yuan Jun, etc. The illustration above shows a Qing dynasty … Continue reading "Doumu in depth"

Which will it be? Something big has taken up residence in our garage.

By Jess Zimmerman | The first thing you saw when entering the Dangerous Beauty exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art was a vintage dress from Versace’s 1992–1993 “Miss S&M” collection. Straps of quilted leather crisscrossed the throat and décolletage of a headless mannequin, each strap adorned with a dollar-sized brassy coin bearing the head of a howling Gorgon, a play on Versace’s usual logo of a placid Medusa face. The overall effect was oddly militaristic, a sort of four-star dominatrix look.

We are grateful to you, our readers, who shared ancestor altars and bovedas this year. TWH wishes its northern hemisphere readers a blessed Samhaintide and a merry Beltaine in the southern hemisphere. Continue reading Samhain Blessings at The Wild Hunt.

One of the amazing gifts of Unitarian Universalism is that we gather and worship and learn with people who have many different understandings and beliefs about our relationships with life, death, the existence of the holy or not, the source of our ethics, and so ... read more . The post November Theme: A House for Hope appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

It seems nearly impossible to put words to all of the horrors happening around the world. The attacks by Hamas on Israel, Israel’s military assault on Gaza, war continues in Sudan and Ukraine, gun violence in Maine and every other state, another Black man killed ... read more . The post Co-Ministers’ Colloquy – Oct. 31st appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

On Sunday, the walls of our sanctuary echoed with the unified voices of our community, both old and new. It wasn't just any Sunday service; it was a day that marked a new chapter in the lives of 71 individuals who, after their individual journeys of seeking and searching, decided to call All Souls Unitarian Church their home. The post More Than 70 New Members Welcomed To All Souls Family appeared first on BeyondBelief.

On Sunday November 5th we’ll have regular sessions of Religious Education (RE). Specifically: Everyone, except the 8th/9th grade OWL participants will gather in for the first part of the service in the Great Hall. After the story in the service, the elementary aged children will go to ... read more . The post Coming Up in Religious Education – Oct. 31st appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

SJAT will be hosting a table at the back of the Great Hall before and after services for the next few Sundays to share more about the Downstream Justice project and how you can get involved. We will gather after service onNovember 5th to walk along the park ... read more . The post Social Justice Action Team Downstream Justice Project Kick Off appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

As our world bears witness to the tragic and traumatic events unfolding in Palestine & Israel, many of us are yearning for a faithful way to discuss and engage what is occurring.  Why We Cannot Turn Away: Resources for UU Leaders Engaging on Israel and Palestine Monday, November 6 at 5pm PT / 8pm ET Join us for this session for religious professionals, where we will invite multiple expert voices to help us deepen our understanding in truth and possibility. Sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Association and hosted by Muslim and Jewish UU professionals, this session will feature guest appearances by experts who will share about the history of the region, how our world arrived at the current moment, some history about UU engagement wi...

Our reflections this month have centered around the theme of “the gift of heritage.” Our writers have shared with us a number of ways that they have opened themselves to their own individual and more collective experiences of heritage. They … Continue reading →

Hudson, MA Women’s Red Tent Gatherings: Celebrating over a decade of Sharing Our Stories and Creating Community! Date/Time: November 11, 2023, 12:30pm-4:30pm Location: Union Hall at the Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson Facilitated by: Jody Zolli and Nan Rogers (Founder)   Welcome, amazing women! This tent will explore and celebrate our innate intuition. Intuition is   [ … ] The post SGCC: Women’s Red Tent ~ Getting Into Intuition! ~ November 11, 12:30-4:30 PM appeared first on Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson.

Today is Halloween, that wild holiday of ghosts and ancestors and gifts of sweets. Some say the veil between the worlds is thin during these days. Celtic Samhain, Mexican Dia de Muertos. The day midway between autumn equinox and winter solstice. This morning I woke to our first frost of the season. It is later […]

Second annual convening of climate justice partners brings renewed commitment to addressing the impacts of the climate crisis.

“I am my ancestors’ wildest dream come true, and I would not be here if it weren’t for their dreamings, their hopes, and most importantly their living. None of us would be here were it not for those who lived and won a fight that they were not meant to survive.” -from a reflection by … Continue reading Wildest Dreams

  Note —Our annual Halloween post. Halloween traces its origin to the Celtic harvest festival Samhain.   It was one of the four festivals that fell between the Solstices and Equinoxes and which celebrated the natural turning of the seasons.   Samhain was particularly important because it was the gate in time to the death and starvation season of winter, as well a time to celebrate the recent harvest.   This association with the death of winter also extended to the spirit world, which was considered to be closer to the mortal plane than at any other time of the year.   The Celtic priests—the Druids—marked the occasion with the lighting of bonfires and with gifts of food and drink for the spirits of the dead.   Some consider it...

The Rev. Anya Sammler-Michael, senior co-minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair, New Jersey asked, “When did you become a UU?” What she meant was not when we signed our names to the membership registry, but to think further back. She gave us a piece of her history, including when she felt she became […] The post My Pagan path – a look back into when I started my journey appeared first on Nature's Sacred Journey.

In this week's Pagan Community Notes: various conservative Christian churches express annual concerns about Halloween and Wicca, Pumpkin explosion, Announcements and more news. Continue reading Pagan Community Notes Week of October 30, 2023 at The Wild Hunt.

According to economist Blair Fix, when the stock market rises, the only people who actually benefit are just a few top wealth/income percentiles: “…we set out to look at the stock market and ask cui bono: who benefits? We now have our answer. In the United States, the stock market takes wealth (and income) from … Continue reading "Whom does the stock market benefit?"

  Rosa Parks' mug shot in Birmingham.  I echoed this frequently cited quote in slightly different wording, in my poem. Rosa Parks died on October 24, 2005 in Detroit , Michigan at the age of 93.   She is revered as the Mother of the Civil Rights Movement for sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott by refusing to give her seat to a white man.   A young minister named Martin Luther King , Jr . was selected to lead the long campaign that led to one of the first great victories in for the Civil Rights Movement in the South. After her death that year, she was widely celebrated including the then unheard of honor for a woman and private citizen who never held high civil or military office of being laid in state in the Rotunda of the United St...

The word Samhain (pronounced Sow-Inn) is a special time of the year where the veil between worlds is the thinnest, the world we are in, the world of faeries, and the world of the dead blend together as one. Many … Continue reading →

“For those who came before us, we offer gratitude and thanks. May their memories be a blessing. May we feel surrounded by their love. As we go forth from this time and place, let us be inspired by their courage, their wisdom, and their dreams. Let us honor them by doing the work of living … Continue reading Inspiration