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Coirë Aldarin

Butler, MO

Hail and blessings from the officers of Sacred Well Congregation! We would like to wish you and yours a blessed Einherjar. In other parts of the world, this holiday is celebrated on November 11th. In the United States, we celebrate this holiday near the end of May on Memorial Day. We pause to remember those service members and veterans who have crossed through the veil, transitioning from this life to the next. We come together as a community of support and compassion, standing side by side with their friends and family.

From poet Lenore Hetrick, we have the following words:

“Let our songs rise sweet and gently
For soldiers gone who once were here.
Let the music whisper softly
For this flowering springtime of the year.
Those for whom we offer song
On this new Memorial Day
Once were young and laughing, too,
Yet now they have fallen away.

From the towns and from the farms
Light of heart the soldiers came.
Each one wore upon his brow
A tall yet invisible flame.
To the sound of forceful horns
The soldiers swiftly marched away
They marched to beating of the drums,
And knew they had but to obey.

So today let songs be soft and sweet,
For this flowering springtime of the year.
We sing for those who once were young,
And once were happy—and once were here.”

Members of the Pagan community have served in the modern military longer than is recorded. In the 1970’s Wicca was formally included in the military chaplain’s handbook and in 2007, through the work of Selena Fox and others, Pagan symbols began being recognized to be included on military headstones. Today, members of the Pagan community continue to serve in the military and organizations like Sacred Well Congregation continue to support those who serve, building on the work those who came before us for those who will come after.

There are many ways we choose to honor this holiday and this season. Below are just a few ideas that you may choose to incorporate into your practices.

Visit Cemeteries and Memorials
Take time to honor those service members who have crossed from this life to the next by visiting local cemeteries or memorials. You can show respect and honor by placing wreaths, flower, or flags on those graves you visit. (A penny on the headstone is a visit, a nickel on the headstone is a visit from someone who went through basic training with them, a dime on the headstone is a visit from someone they were stationed with, and a quarter on the headstone is a visit from someone who was with them when they died)

National Moment of Remembrance
At 3 PM, pause what you are doing, where you are, to remember and honor those who have crossed from this life to the next in service to our nation.

Toasts and Boasts
Gather with others to honor those service members who have crossed from this life to the next, sharing your favorite stories of those service members, naming what was honorable about them, and what you would most like to carry forward into the world from their example.

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Greetings from the officers of Sacred Well Congregation! We would like to wish all of you a happy and blessed Beltane, Bealtaine, May Day, or related festival celebrated at this time of year in the northern hemisphere. As the seasons change, nature grows green again and flowers bloom as the sun warms us out of the cold of winter.

In many Pagan traditions, this is a time to celebrate the fertility of the land and all its creatures (including humans). This may involve erecting a May Pole, which is decorated with ribbons as dancers weave around it. It is also a liminal time of year, the balance point of Samhain, and just as potent. It is a good time for cleansing and protection, as well as attending to matters of abundance.

In Irish tradition, Bealtaine marks the beginning of summer and the light half of the year. (It is also the name for the entire month of May in the Irish language.) Washing your face with morning dew on Bealtaine is believed to grant beauty and good fortune for the rest of the year, and gathering yellow flowers will bless your home.

Folklorist Alexander Carmichael collected poems and prayers from Scotland in his collection, Carmina Gadelica, including a poem called “Am Beannachadh Bealltain,” or “The Beltane Blessing.” This poem was originally written in a Christian context, but the version below has been shortened and adapted to be more appropriate for the Wiccan sabbat instead:

“Bless, O threefold true and bountiful,
Myself, my spouse, my children.
Bless everything within my dwelling and in my possession,
Bless the kine and crops, the flocks and corn,
From Samhain Eve to Beltane Eve,
With goodly progress and gentle blessing,
From sea to sea, and every river mouth,
From wave to wave, and base of waterfall.

Be the Maiden, Mother, and Crone,
Taking possession of all to me belonging.
Be the Horned God, the Wild Spirit of the Forest,
Protecting me in truth and honor.
Satisfy my soul and shield my loved ones,
Blessing every thing and every one,
All my land and my surroundings.
Great gods who create and bring life to all, I ask for your blessings on this day of fire.”

There are many ways to celebrate this holiday in your own practice. Below are a few ideas for crafts and recipes you may incorporate into your celebrations.

Make Flower Crowns
Take an afternoon to go out in nature and gather wildflowers. Once gathered, weave them into a flower crown. See this link to guide the crafting of your flower crown: https://www.moodymoons.com/2017/01/23/make-a-winter-hair-wreath/

Make Mini Maypoles
Assemble a mini maypole for use with space restraints and family fun. Gather ribbons of your and your participant’s favorite colors. See this link to guide the crafting of your mini maypole: https://www.moodymoons.com/2019/04/21/beltane-craft-mini-maypoles-in-3-steps/

Sweet Cinnamon Milk
Ingredients:
• 4 cups whole milk
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 vanilla bean
• 1 Tbsp sugar or vanilla sugar

Directions:
• Put all ingredients together in a pan and heat to right before boiling. Turn off the heat and let the mix steep for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, cut the vanilla bean in half and scrape out the caviar and add it back into the milk. Discard the cinnamon sticks and enjoy.

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At-large Greencraft™ Covens

Coirë Aldarin

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