Join MoonTree Coven, Celebrate the Circle, and the former Lunatic Fringe as we celebrate Imbolc, the time of growing light, gestation, and pregnancy. It has become part of our popular culture to make New Year’s resolutions. The former Lunatic Fringe took this idea to heart and asked all members to dedicate to a goal at Imbolc. MoonTree coven, which was born from the ashes of the Fringe, has carried on this tradition.

Working in the framework of Tarot and the Tree of Life, we add to this the goal of understanding the 13th path, ruled by the Empress. She brings us fertility and life, giving birth to the knowledge that comes from understanding and wisdom. She teaches us that a dedication is not really a beginning, but a continuation. We already have what we seek within us. We are indeed pregnant with our dedications. It is up to us to nurture and grow that dedication, so that it can come into full manifestation.

Please bring a glass-enclosed candle, designed to burn for several days. Decorate it to represent your dedication. For more on how to chose and decorate your candle see the excerpt below. Representations of the Empress are also welcome, as are post-ritual food and drink!

Adapted/Excerpted from “An Imbolc Dedication Candle” By Lady MoonDance
Reasons by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart)

Consider what you which to pursue during the upcoming year: working on your relationships, reclaiming your power, expressing your creativity, starting a new career, etc. Try to choose a specific area of your own spiritual, emotional or psychological journey, rather than that of the world or of those around you. In honor of Imbolc, this should be a dedication to yourself and to your own personal path. You may wish to perform some divination or to spend time journaling, meditating and reflecting on recent events before finding your focus.

Select a glass-enclosed “novena” (7 day or 9 day) candle for this purpose. Designed to burn for a week or more, these types of candles can sometimes be found in the ethnic food section of major supermarkets, but the best selection is often found at local Hispanic or International food stores. A printed plastic wrap on the candle can easily be removed by cutting it off, whereas as other coverings are often much more difficult to remove. It is also a good idea to consider the meaning depicted when making your selection as its energy has already been infused into the candle. I generally look for plain candles for this reason, although sometimes a (Goddess) Mary or luck candle can be just the right touch.

You may want to choose a color based on the following list:

• Red - Love, Passion, Emotions, Courage, Sex, Strength, Power, Blood, Fire, Energy
• Pink - Honor, Love, Romance, Femininity, Friendship Orange - Attraction, Encouragement, Stimulation, Fire, Courage
• Yellow - Attraction, Charm, Confidence, Happiness, Joy
• Green - Fertility, Prosperity, Abundance, Growth, Luck, Healing
• Blue - Success, Material/Earthly Destiny, Patience, Tranquility, Healing, Clarity, Wisdom
• Turquoise - Healing, Balance
• Purple - Spirituality & Spiritual Destiny, Power, Peace, Royalty
• White - Purity & Oneness - Contains & Reflects all Colors - Positive, Active Yang Energy
• Black - The Void - Negates all Colors & Energy - Receptive, Passive, Yin Energy
• Gold - The "Masculine" aspects of the Divine, the Sun, Prosperity & Abundance
• Silver - The Goddess or Lady, the Moon, Prosperity & Abundance

Above all, select the color that draws you to it whenever you meditate on your desired goals. If you can not find one that seems to fit, try selecting a white or basic color. Then, meditating on your purpose, imagine the colors and images you would associate with it swirling around inside your candle until they resolve into a design. By personalizing your candle in this way, you are also further imbuing it with your purpose. Look through your magazines and catalogues, cutting out phrases and images that reflect your focus and the qualities associated with it. If you have problems finding the right ideas, you might want to consider the types of magazines you are reading! In the meantime, feel free to draw on blank paper or to piece together words and letters from magazines as needed. Using the craft glue, create a collage on your candle, bringing together the images that represent your purpose. Accent it with glitter, stickers, etc. -- whatever feels right for your dedication.

We will meet in the sanctuary at the UU Congregation of Hillsborough at 5:00PM with the ritual beginning at 5:30PM. Please bring food to share in a feast afterwards! Directions to UUCH can be found on our Directions page.

Facilitated by MoonTree Coven

This Ostara we will celebrate the season with a ritual to open ourselves to the wonder of spring and draw it in, leaving us with a fresh perspective on the possibilities in the year.

Our magical working will be to plan seeds, meditating on the wonder of growing things and the possibilities held in seeds, as in all of us.

We need direction callers. What we'll actually be doing is invoking our *awareness* of the elements, which are always present.Thus, there won't be formal calls to read. If you're interested in doing this, but you're nervous about creating the invocation yourself, let me know; I'll be happy to help.

We'll be invoking Demeter and Dinonysus to aid us in our working. We need people to invoke these deities.

Please e-mail me at spearsa@email.unc.edu if you have any questions or if you're interested in invoking an element or a deity.
Facilitated by Abby.

Come join Celebrate The Circle as we celebrate the quickening of life once more with a simple Beltane ritual honoring Mother Earth and Father Sun. Please bring drums and music makers for the ritual and feasting afterward. Following the ritual we will share a feast and fun with music and dancing. Please gather at UUCH at 5PM with the ritual beginning at 5:30PM. Facilitated by Lance Brown.

Midsummer or Litha is a time when everything is flourishing and in abundance. Colors are more vibrant, the tress are green, berries are sweet, the flowers are fragrant, and the faeries are playful!! At Midsummer the veil between this world and the realm of the fey is lifted and they may walk among us. Join us this Midsummer night as we play with the fey and celebrate the abundance in our lives. We will gather for ritual at 5pm to begin at 5:30pm. Please bring a dish to share for the potluck dinner after ritual. All are welcome!!!

Facilitated by Steph

As the wheel turns we come to the second of the three harvest festivals, Mabon, the Autumn Equinox also called the Feast of Avalon. Avalon is everywhere and nowhere -- a paradise where it was always spring and none grew old; where there was everlasting peace; and where the land is ever fruitful: this was Avalon. In this time when dark and light are held in perfect balance, join us as we call the sacred space of Avalon, Isle of Apples.

We will gather a 5pm at UUCH. Ritual will start at 5:30. There will be a short meditation during the ritual and there are benches around the circle but you may want to bring a chair or a blanket for comfort.

We’ll feast afterwards, so please bring something to share—perhaps a dish honoring the Isle of Apples.