Copy
View this email in your browser

Stay connected to Community with Wyoming Valley CUUPS

Happy Summer and Happy July 4th to you and yours. We have some cool things planned including a class on Drum Circles!  We are very excited for these beautiful summer days and the coming gatherings planned. Come bang on things as we stay connected and come together to honor the Earth, Gods, Ancestors, and Wheel of the Year. We are stronger together. If you have an internet connection, or even just a phone, you can stay connected to the community.

With Love
Wyoming Valley CUUPS

 
Hail the Community!
Begin the Lunar Cycle with some coffee and curiosity. The Dark Moon Coffee and Tea CUUPS is a monthly meetup at the New Moon for discussion, learning, healing and deeper work while we enjoy delicious cozy beverages. There is a different topic each meeting. As always this is a free event and all are welcome. Each Discussion Facilitator has their own style of leading a discussion. Generally there is some introductory information about the topic and questions to the circle.

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/91416176918
Meeting ID: 914 1617 6918
One tap mobile +13126266799,,91416176918# US
FB Link: https://fb.me/e/sp9R52oYd
Please join us for our monthly meeting where we will be planning events and gatherings for September. All are welcome to attend whether you are a member of WVCUUPS or not. This meeting is for those that have ideas or interest in participating and volunteering in our events. The meeting will be held online via zoom. We use google docs for our Meeting Agenda, Notes and Discussion points.

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/96009621557
Meeting ID: 960 0962 1557
One tap mobile: +13126266799,,96009621557# US
FB Link: https://fb.me/e/2pKvrC0Sn
Our Meeting Notes from last month.
Join Wyoming Valley CUUPS for a Foundations of Witchcraft series taught by Rath Cobv! Drop-ins are very welcomed.

This will be our final class in the series on Thought forms, Spirits, Pantheons, Allies

About your presenter:
Rath has been called a Witch by Witches, a heathen by heathens, a Druid by Druids, a Shaman by Shamans. Rath has led open to the public rituals for the Fertile Ground Gathering, Moonfire CUUPS, and Open Sabbat celebrations at Sacred Circle Bookshop. He has taught publicly from 2008 onwards. Shenandoah Midsummer, Fertile Ground Gathering, the Firefly Housewarming, Northern Virginia Pagan Pride Day, Moonfire CUUPS group, Sacred Circle Bookshop, Northern Virginia Pagan Moot, Hallowed Homecoming Samhain Retreat, Frederick (Maryland) Pagan Pride Day, Frederick CUUPS.

Much gratitude and thanks to Rath for teaching at our Chapter!!

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/98174867820
Meeting ID: 981 7486 7820
One tap mobile: +13017158592,,98174867820# US
FB Link: https://fb.me/e/PWhzVxJ1
Join Wyoming Valley CUUPS for our monthly drum circle. Instead of our usual afternoon drum circle, we will be doing this one after our UU Service (https://fb.me/e/2Z8Rsqhra). Come together for community with sounds of rhythm and connection.

A drum circle is a celebration of life, community, and music-making in the moment. We will be inside in the AC this time as opposed to outside around a fire.

Please bring hand drums, shakers and other hand percussion. A few small percussion instruments will be available if you do not have your own.

FB Link: https://fb.me/e/T7ZxCwul
We are excited to host Alexandra Palmer for a Death Chat Cafe!!

A Death Chat is a group directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counseling session. You may be holding old grief and this may be stirred during conversations in your group. Every effort is made to ensure it is a safe space, but it is essentially our community coming together in group(s) to talk and to listen.

As a participant, we ask that you come with the intention to be accepting of others and to listen actively, with no need to ‘fix’ anything or give advice. Often just telling your story/sharing your fears or experiences can reveal what may feel like a ‘solution’, simply as a result of the telling. You’ll be welcome to speak if you want to, in the group. Each person’s story is their own ~ stories don’t need to link together.

Never heard about a Death Chat before?
Watch this: https://youtu.be/NM1V_CPRCSo
About Death Chats with with Alexandra:
https://drive.google.com/.../1YnGtzrI6xJ97ks60VUL.../view...

A bit about Alexandra P.
Alexandra holds a designation of Human Services Counsellor through George Brown College, is a Certified Death Doula and a Certified Funeral and End of Life celebrant with CCAOC. Her work is focused on supporting the LGBT2+ community, athiest, and alternative religious communities who may be seeking theistic or non-theistic rituals to accompany their death planing in a non traditional way. These are areas that traditionally have not been served well in the Funeral Industry and it is her passion to make sure a good death and grieving process is within reach for all.
Alexandra is very active in her community promoting a death positive approach towards the end of life. She offers community specific Death Chats and End of life ritual design workshops Via Zoom or Google Meet.
Her two blogs can be found here:
https://deathwishes56107056.wordpress.com/
https://modernnonthiesticwitchcraft.wordpress.com/

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/97563999163
Meeting ID: 975 6399 9163
One tap mobile: +19292056099,,97563999163# US
FB Link: https://fb.me/e/40CXoPdCN
Come sit with Wyoming Valley CUUPS for a story and discussion focused group on the Poetic Edda. Jonathan will be reading from Jackson Crawfords translation of the Poetic Edda for this discussion.
The stories of the night will be:
- The death of Sinfjotli
- Gripir’s Prophecies to Sigurth
- The Tale of Regin

Through out, Jonathan will be delving in and answering questions as we have an open discussion. So grab a delicious beverage and sit for a spell as we nerd out with community and discussion.
Jonathan Richards has been a Heathen in the Pagan community for many years. He is a follower and legally Ordained Minister of the Forn Siðr tradition. Jonathan is a Universalist and has been a follower of Forn Siðr and Ásatrú for most of his adult life. He is a current member of The Troth and hopes to shatter some misconceptions that surround the path. His classes include controversial topics about the history and development of Modern Heathenry. Jonathan is also a signer of Declaration 127.

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/94811537592
Meeting ID: 948 1153 7592
One tap mobile: +13017158592,,94811537592# US
FB Link: https://fb.me/e/1v2jAMVLa
Join us for Magick and connection in our online Full Moon ritual!
Any materials needed for ritual will be posted in FB Event and on www.wyomingvalleycuups.com

In Pagan practices, the Full Moon means many things. Abundance, spirituality, peak psychic ability, fertility, a good time for Magick, The Mystery. Something about that silvery light sets the subconscious to dreaming. Things are possible by moonlight that are not in the revealing light of day. We can be more truly ourselves, casting off some of the masks we layer on in order to fit in during our daytime lives. Our truths are easier to manage in moonlight. We’re more willing to step into Mystery, to allow dreams, and to listen to what our inner voice has to say.
-Irene Glasse
President of Frederick CUUPS

Many of us started out as solitary practitioners on our Pagan and Witch paths. To those of us introverts, it can be quite a leap to seek out other like-minded groups. Online rituals can offer the best of both worlds to those who are more comfortable casting alone. You can turn off a video feed if you are more comfortable, set up your space and connect while being led in ritual simultaneously.
 
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/92683620385
Meeting ID: 926 8362 0385
One tap mobile: +19292056099,,92683620385# US
FB Link: https://fb.me/e/2j0N4pClF
Come enjoy the beauty and peace of the Labyrinth by the light of the Full moon! 

The labyrinth will be illuminated from  pm. Everyone is welcome. During the cooler months, we take our Labyrinth practice indoors and as the weather warms, we bring our practice outside. 

The first half hour will be a quiet walk, the remainder drumming, so feel free to bring hand drums and other percussion instruments of choice.

This is a free event. Our events are volunteer and donation based. 

If you haven't walked a Labyrinth before, there is no ceremony or ritual. A Labyrinth Walk is safe, open Sacred Space for personal exploration. Please plan to arrive by 930pm to allow enough time for your walk. 

We will have WVCUUPS officer Emily doing Tarot and Oracle card readings.

There are also a limit of 3 spots available for 25minute donation reiki sessions by Reiki Master Brianna Zurla. There is a recommended donation of $20 per slot. If you are interested, please email us at wyomingvalleycuups@gmail.com. 
Slot #1 9:00PM - 9:25PM
Slot #2 9:30PM - 9:55PM
Slot #3 10:00PM - 10:25PM


FB Link: https://fb.me/e/2hcp6W7Y5
All about Pagan Full Moon Labyrinth Walk - The How and Why
Come together as we welcome Damien Dillon for a class on Drum Circles. A drum circle is a celebration of life, community, and music-making in the moment. Damien will be going over various techniques with the Djembe drums and other similar styles most commonly used in a circle. While there are some drums available, it is recommended to bring a drum if you have one.

FB Link: https://fb.me/e/5wzNG7tYM
Join members of the Wyoming Valley CUUPS community for an informal hangout and check-in.
The Witching Hour is a social time. Everyone should have their favorite beverage at the ready. There are no rules about this beverage. ALL beverages are equally welcome.

This event does not have a structure per se. You are invited to attend as your true self, in the company of other Pagans. You may wear a hat, or not. You may paint your face, or not. Do you have a new tattoo? You can show us if you'd like! Did you just get a new item for your altar that is the absolute BEST THING YOU'VE EVER SEEN? Why yes, we would love to see that. Depending on the number of attendees, breakout rooms may be employed. See you there! 

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/97201211255 
Meeting ID: 972 0121 1255
One tap mobile: +13017158592,,97201211255# US
FB Link: https://fb.me/e/1KFyBIVqH
August Events
(...that have been planned so far. Still subject to change as always)

Lammas Ritual - Online  // Sunday, August 1st // 7PM-8PM // Zoom

Lammas Ritual, Potluck & Drum Circle  // Friday, August 6th // 6PM-8PM // UUCWV Grounds

Dark Moon Discussion // Sunday, August 8th // 7PM-8PM // Zoom

Monthly Meeting - October Events // Friday, August 13th // 7PM-8PM // Zoom

Full Moon Ritual online // Friday, August 20th // 7PM-8PM // Zoom

Full Moon Labyrinth Walk  // Saturday, August 21st // 830PM-10PM // UUCWV Grounds

Witching Hour // Monday, August 23rd // 7PM-8PM // Zoom

Some pictures from our Pride of Midsummer Event and Blot to Loki!
Stay connected in a way that works best for you!!
Facebook
Website
Email
Instagram
Chant Library
About CUUPS
Wyoming Valley CUUPS Recommended Books

Many of us are frequently asked what books we recommend for people beginning to explore Earth-Centered Spirituality.  Here are a few of our suggestions :)

Beginner's Texts
The Inner Temple of Witchcraft by Christopher Penczak
Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religion by River Higginbotham and Joyce Higgenbotham
Wicca for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham
Shamanism as a Spiritual Practice for Daily Life by Tom Cowan
Spiral Dance by StarHawk
The Sabbats by Edain McCoy
Good Magic by Mariana Medici
Circle Round by StarHawk (great resource for families)

Pagan History & Culture
Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler

Reference Books
Animal Speak by Ted Andrews
Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic by Scott Cunningham
Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham
The Complete Book of Incense, Oils & Brews by Scott Cunningham
A Book of Pagan Prayer by Ceisiwr Serith
About WVCUUPS Membership
Our Current Leadership
Click to learn more about the Unitarian Universalists of Wyoming Valley
Copyright © 2021 Wyoming Valley CUUPS, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp