Goddess/ Earth Circles

Description

About Goddess/ Earth Circles

For information: Goddess/Earth Circles Opportunities for 2023 meeting May 21 and questionnaire, see Meetings.

 

Goddess/Earth Circles meets one Sunday a month, 1:00-2:30pm by the UUCC zoom room. Ingathering ritual to honor our time together and personal sharing is followed by  Earth Celebrations, and Goddesses and women's spirituality topics. Our Schedule is noted under MEETINGS, and in the Wednesday E-Blast.  ARCHIVES includes resources.  All ages and genders are welcome.

Earth-based spirituality includes traditions reclaimed from ancient cultures and some new paths that are drawn from many different sources. The common thread that links these various traditions is a deep reverence and connection to the Earth, Moon, Sun and nature, itself. The themes of these traditions may include the cycles of the seasons, understanding the Moon phases, and planting and harvesting according to ancient wisdom. Those who follow these traditions do so to become a part of it in a very real and significant way as they strive to make a difference.

We have also had sessions related to Wiccan practice, especially considering the similarities with the focus and practice of Unitarian Universalism.

Celebrating the holy days in the earth cycle calendar. Celebrations may include:

Imbolc (im-bulk) — celebrates the beginning of spring and the recovery of the Goddess from giving birth to the God. On February 1.

Ostara — celebrates the Spring Equinox return of the God and the fertility of the Earth (Goddess). Around March 21)

Beltane (b’ yal-t’ n) — celebrates the union of the Goddess and God, and connects the summer months On April 30 or May 1.

Summer Solstice — celebrates the time when the sun is, symbolically, the strongest and so is the God. On or around June 21.

Lughnasadn (loo-n’ sar) — also called Lammas, celebrates the first harvest. The God begins to weaken as the days grow shorter. On August 1.

Mabon (Autumn Equinox) — celebrates the second harvest. The time of day and night are balanced and will soon tip toward darkness.

Samhain (SOW-wen) — marks the passing of the Sun God to the land of the young. The veil between the worlds is the thinnest. On October 31.

 Yule (Winter Solstice) -- celebrates the rebirth of the Sun God. On or about December 21.

 By the Earth that is Her body, and the Air that is Her breath, by the Fire of Her bright spirit and the waters of her living womb, may the peace of the Goddess Be Ever in your heart.

Meeting Information

Meeting Information

Goddess/Earth Circles, "Pagan and Earth-Centered Voices in Unitarian Universalism", February 25, 2024

 

 

 

 The full script of the Goddess/Croning Ceremony for April 30, 2023 includes ways of participating. Please contact Helen Zidowecki (207-582-5308 or hzmre@hzmre.com) with comments, participation, and ideas.

CRONING CEREMONY AND CELEBRATION, April 30, 2023, 1-2:30pm

Fellowship Hall, Unitarian Universalist Community Church, Augusta, ME

ORDER OF SERVICE -- Draft

Please join us for celebration of the Crone phase of our lives.

*Goddess/Earth Circle participants, being croned, and their guests, all ages and genders are welcome. The service is projected for about an hour and a half.

We are meeting in the Fellowship Hall, with hybrid capability (Connections will be published.)

*Finger foods may be brought to be shared.

*You are welcome to bring items for the sharing table: Pictures and artifacts of various ages of the woman’s life – particularly Crones – a cauldron!

*Crones are invited to bring or send a greeting, blessing or words of wisdom for the new crones. These can be read at the gathering or given to the new crone.

*We invite Readers for various parts, as noted on this Order of Service. Please let Helen know parts you would be interested in reading. The full Script follows this Order of Service.

Bring rain sticks, rattles, drums and other percussion items for informal playing between parts of the celebration.

 Three Breaths: Crossing the Threshold                                               Reader

Call the Directions, Casting the Circle                                                 Reader

Invitation/Intention/Purpose

– Phases of Our Lives

          Maiden (Reader)                       Mother/Nurturer (Reader)

           Crone (Reader)                        Sage (Reader)

 Giving and Sharing Wisdom

1.A crone welcomes the woman being croned.

2.The celebrant herself shares the meaning of being recognized as a crone              

3.Crones, Please share wisdom of what croning or being a crone means to you.

You are welcome to bring greetings to the new crone, or a reading or a blessing Put these in the caldron.

Symbols of the Crone/Gift Bag                                                  Reader/Crones

Blessing                                                                                         Reader

Responses from New Crones                                                             New Crones

Imagine a Woman                                                                    Shared Reading

Closing Words and Ritual                                                                  Reader

        Let Helen know how you would like to participate.

Goddess/ Earth Circles Archive

Goddess/ Earth Circles Archives

Witchcraft: Claiming Our Identity and Healing Practice (02/17/2015)

Background information and plan for two sessions on Witchcraft held January/February 2015.

Goddess.August 22.2021 (08/23/2021)

Wicca.Jan23.2022 (01/29/2022)

Wicca.Beginners Guide (01/29/2022)

Yule.Holiest Time (02/02/2022)

Gathering 7.24.2002 (07/24/2022)

Yule Virtues (01/16/2024)

Yule.virtues (01/16/2024)