Louisville Pagan Pride Newsletter Litha/Midsummer 2015 In this issue Coordinator comments Half way there, midsummer! The Omni center review by cu chulainn June familiar Summer Solstice Blessings. Depending on your spiritual path, there are many ways to celebrate this Sabbat. Some celebrate the Longest day, and shortest night, others Litha and some, Midsummer. So, as we prepare for the his time of the year we are also gearing up to attend the many gatherings, festivals and activities in our area. Below, you will find a partial list of Festival grounds and many other opportunities you to get out, Go, See, and Do. Call your friends, and share a ride... have a fun summer. * One of my favorites... The Kentucky Highland Renaissance Fair is now open on weekends and just a short trip from Louisville. They continue this year with "Theme Weekends" and many things to do for the entire family. For the schedule, dates and more information, please go to their web site: http://www.kyrenfaire.com/ * Another Louisville group with activities and events during the month of June... Cultivating Connections, a Louisville based group celebrating diversity with many activities and events. They also have a Summer Solstice celebration. http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs155/1102213393686/archive/1121237081026.html The below listed Festival sites have a long schedule of activities and events during this summer season. Take a few moments and check out the web sites * Harmony Nature Sanctuary. Located in Palmyra, Indiana. One of the newer sites, has great facilities and offers a wide variety of events. Already off to a great start this year. Check out their summer schedule. For more Information: www.harmonynaturesanctuary.org * Lothlorien Nature Sanctuary, Located outside Bedford, Indiana. Another site with great facilities and a good schedule of activities. Full Moon celebrations and many other events. A bonfire under the dome is awesome. The recent Elf Fest was a fantastic and large event. www.elvinhome.org * Midian. Located outside of Bedford, Indiana. This is also one of the newer sites that offer a lot of activities and events throughout this summer. The staff are making new improvements all the time and looking forward to several new events this year. Midian is the new home of the "Chrysalis Moon Festival". For more information: www.campmidian.com * Our Haven Nature Sanctuary. Located outside of French Lick, Indiana. Nice facilities and many opportunities this season. Next up is the Midsummer Celebration. If you have attended the Louisville Pagan Pride Day event the last three years and remember the Celtic band called "Pictus", you will have another opportunity to listen to them during Our Havens Midsummer Celebration. For more information, please go to: www.ourhaven.info Jack *Cu Chulainn* Director of Louisville Pagan Pride Moon phases June and July Calendar Links and resources Have a review of a book, store, items, or website? Have a familiar or pet you d like to show off? A helpful spell or recipe you want to share with everyone? Maybe write an article about your path and traditions? *#All Submissions Subject to Editing# Email all submissions to lppdnewsletter@gmail.com Local Pagan Stores Moonstruck 10405 Watterson Trail Louisville KY 40299 (502)261-1465 Moonstruckky.com Stix n Stonz 1860 Mellwood Ave Studio A-173 Louisville KY 40206 (502)429-3500 www.stix-n-stonz.com
Half way there, Midsummer! Midsummer, also know as Litha or Summer Solstice, is a holiday celebrated by many cultures, paths, and religions. Often noted as the longest day of the year, opposite of the longest night in December. This is a big time of bon fires and celebration of the Sun, it's strongest day, and to this day they still have a massive celebration at Stonehenge. Similar to Beltane, bon fires are used as a purification, blessing, and means to promote fertility. This is also a time for people who follow the Faerie (Fae) path, when the connection between worlds is strong. Easiest way to pay respect to these energies is to leave an offering outside for them to enjoy at night. Also it's a great time to come together and share a meal with friends and family, to promote community and good health! Ostara Correspondence Deities; Aine, Freya, Flora, Habondia, Lugh, Green Man, Oak King, Bast, Brigid, Hathor, etc. Foods; Summer fruits and vegetables, ale and mead, honey cakes, wines, strawberries, and teas. Herbs; Mugwort, Vervain, Chamomile, Rose, Honeysuckle, Lily, Oak, Lavender, Ivy, Yarrow, Fern, Elder, Wild Thyme, Daisy, Carnation Stones; Amber, Tiger's Eye, Jade, Emerald Activities; Bonfire leaping, herb drying, spells for protection and luck, promoting community and relationships. Animals and Symbols; Butterflies, Song birds, Horses, Fae, bright flowers, Sun symbols, fireworks, flower crowns Colors; Gold, Red, Orange, Blue, Yellow, Green, and White Moon Phases aefhmsuwz Full Moon - June 2nd Last Quarter - June 9th New Moon June 16th First Quarter - June 24th Full Moon - July 2nd Last Quarter - July 8th New Moon - July 16th First Quarter - July 24th Full Moon *Blue Moon* - July 31
June 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 Pagan Craft Night 3 CUUPS Class; Midsummer Circle 4 5 6 Pagan Pride Picnic 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Father s Day Litha LPPD Staff Meeting Witches Meet Up Wiccan Reads 28 29 30
July 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 Happy 4th of July 5 6 7 Pagan Craft Night 7pm 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Witches Meet Up 7pm 29 30 Wiccan Reads 31 Blue Full Moon
Visit to the Omni Center, by Cu Chuliann I recently attended an open house for the OMNI Center for Excellence in Clarksville, Indiana. Upon arrival I was greeted by Sara and signed in, then took a seat in the waiting area. The Omni was buzzing with activity that day. There were several people receiving readings, and several more being worked on by Reiki practitioners, and people in the waiting area with appointments. While awaiting the arrival of Liz Newcomb, I was introduced to several Omni staff members Ashley Barnes and Matt McHugh. A few moments later, Liz Newcomb and Neil Prall then entered and after introductions, we continued on with a tour through the Omni facility. I was very impressed with the amount of space and the attention to detail with furnishings that allowed me to be comfortable and relaxed while there. After the tour, Liz, Neil and myself sat at a table and talked about the many activities and opportunities available to members of the Community. Liz Newcomb then began to bring me up to date on the Omni. OMNI Center for Excellence in Clarksville, IN, was founded in the summer of 2014, for a specific reason. Southern Indiana had a need for energy healers and practitioners, psychic/mediums, and life coaches based in energy work. OMNI provides all this and more! Liz Newcomb founded OMNI, and she is a Psychic/Medium/Access Bars Facilitator. Liz believes in utilizing holistic methods for healing mind, body, and spirit. She's trained in Access Consciousness Bars, Tarot, ThetaHealing, Mediumship, Herbal Consulting, Iridology, and Hypnosis. Neil Prall, Ashley Barnes, and Matt McHugh are OMNI practitioners who are all trained in Reiki. Neil is an Access Bars Practitioner, IET and ThetaHealing Practitioner, as well. His Facebook (FB) Page is Divergent Truth Energetics. Ashley is a Holistic Health Coach and her FB Page is Your True Bliss. Matt McHugh is certified in Usui and Kundalini Reiki, can be reached at the contact info on his Elemental Reiki FB page. The OMNI offers classes, workshops, and even Meet Up groups. Intuitive fairs are held there quarterly, and the space is available for groups or individuals to use on a fee basis. I really enjoyed the visit and meeting the Omni Staff. There will be many opportunities for members of our community to attend workshops, classes and other events at the Omni throughout the year. For more information, please go to the Omni web site. https://www.facebook.com/pages/omni-center/798523863515715 Louisville Pagan Pride Vendor application for 2015 is now on the website! Have a booth or workshop idea? Visit louisvillepaganpride.org for the application and submit questions or comments! Friendly Familiar!! 11 year old Lab/Greyhound mix. Was the original Pagan puppy running around LPPD in his "who says a familiar has to be a cat" t shirt. Still acts like a puppy and everyone thinks he is because of his energy and size. Always knows when to comfort someone or just be a goofball to make them laugh. If you d like to share your friendly familiar, shoot an email to lppdnewsletter@gmail.com with a photo and basic description. Want to advertise your business, service, or products? Did you know that we will be more than happy to place an ad in this newsletter for you for only 10$ an issue? You do now! Email lppdnewsletter@gmail.com with your information and picture! All money goes to the Louisville Pagan Pride Fund for the event! Get your name out there and help out your local pagan community all at the same time! Sounds like a win-win to me!
This is just a blank page for you to write down notes, doodle pictures, write symphonies, phone number to the person you just met, or spill coffee on! Enjoy this blank page on us! *What do you say to an angry witch?* *Ribbit*
Links and Resources Louisville Pagan Pride; www.louisvillepaganpride.org (Also on Facebook!) Working together to bring Pagans together in the community. LPPD hosts not only the Pride Day but an Earth Day gather and a Pagan Pride Picnic! Louisville Pagan Pride is held at the Brown Foreman Amphitheater (Yellow Lawn) next to Tumbleweed on River Rd. Local meet ups and circles Louisville Witches Meetup and Pagans Night Out; www.meetup.com/witches-258 A Meetup group working to bring unity to the Pagan community and fostering fellowship and gathering for all different paths and traditions. Join us the 4th Tuesday monthly at 7pm at Diamond Pub and Billiards at 630 Barret Ave in the Highlands area. We meet in the VIP room next to the main bar. Pagan Craft Night; www.facebook.com/pagancraftnightlou Hosted at the same location as the Witches Meetup group (Diamonds Pub), we gather together and do what most of us do best, and craft! Each month we show you have to do a different pagan themed craft that is not only cost effective but great for the whole family to do! First Tuesday every month at 7pm, hope to see you there. CUUPs (Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans); www.firstulou.org/cuups Hosting open Sabbat Circles on Sundays around the Sabbat dates, as well as a class on the first and third Wednesday monthly. Doors open for Circles at 5:30pm and close at 6pm, with a pot luck after the ritual. Classes begin at 7pm and usually end about 8:30pm. Classes are a blend of lecture and discussion, offering fellowship and information for those new to the path or those who have been around for a while. Cultivating Connections; cultivatingconnections.org (Also on Facebook!) Louisville Interfaith group that hosts a variety of all day workshops, events, circles, and gatherings! Wiccan Reads; https://www.facebook.com/wiccanreads Held at Heine Brothers at 119 Chenoweth Ln Louisville KY 40207 Pagan and Wiccan book club meets on the 4th Thursday monthly from 7-9pm. Join in discussion about different pagan/wiccan themed books and learn of new titles out there! **Want your information listed here?? Simple fix! Email your details to lppdnewsletter@gmail.com and it ll be posted in the next issue! Same with the calendar!**
Facebook Groups and Pages Tree of Life Community Center; www.facebook.com/groups/treeoflifelouky/ For all who practice Earth-based spiritual values, religions rooted in traditional cultures, and other philosophical paths. Also hosting an online hour long radio broadcast on Pagans Tonight. Thursdays 9pm listen at http://tobtr.com/s/4638525 Louisville Area Asatru; www.facebook.com/groups/107928589310941 This is a group for those who practice Asatru in the Louisville area with the intention to bring communication to those of like minds and paths. Louisville Pagans; www.facebook.com/groups/louisvillepagans Facebook group for Louisville pagans to ask questions, discuss topics, post events, and just be part of the community! Louisville Drum Circle; www.facebook.com/groups/188675911205557 Open to anyone who is interesting in drumming, dancing, chanting, singing, and much more. Festival and Event Locations Lothlorien Nature Sanctuary; www.elvinhome.org Located right outside of Bedford, IN this festival site hosts many festivals and events during the entire year. Tons of locations of camp, hot outdoor showers, great bonfires, and amazing scenery. Check the website for information for membership or prices for the festivals. Our Haven Nature Sanctuary; www.ourhaven.info Located right outside French Lick, IN offerings a wide variety of festivals all year round. Check the website for more details. Midian; www.campmidian.com Midian is a new event location in Southern IN. Over 25 acres of reclaimed limestone rock quarry and beautiful forests available for camping, as well as large and small events. Located in Lawrence county just off HWY 58. Check out the website for more details. Harmony Nature Sanctuary; www.harmonynaturesanctuary.org Located in Palmyra, IN this sanctuary is a community church based on traditions of modern Spirituality and Pantheism. Offering a wide variety of festivals and events, all are welcome. See website for more details.