10 am: Opening Ritual with Frederick CUUPS
Event Field

Led by Frederick CUUPS Members, our family-friendly Opening Ritual will establish Sacred Space for the duration of Frederick Pagan Pride Day. Members of local groups and Traditions are welcome to bring pennants to plant at the center of the circle representing their contribution to shared community.

11 am: Introduction to Healing Crystals with Sage

Crystals (and stones) are sacred magical tools that can support healing, spells, rituals, and making charms. Crystals are an easy, accessible, and fun way to enhance your magical practice. Learn the basic types and shapes of healing crystals, how to clear your crystals for use, safety and ethics in crystal use, magical and divination practices, and a few crystal correspondences (there are many).  This workshop will include short exercises – feel free to bring a crystal you’d like to work with. 

1 PM: Gods Behaving Badly: Examining Troublesome Myths in the Age of #MeToo

Join Rose Eleusis (she/her) from The Monocacy Mediterranean Pagan Temple for a presentation and discussion on “the ugly side” of Greek mythology. Modern Pagans have inherited a Pandora’s box of weird, confusing, and downright appalling stories about The Gods. How do we responsibly engage with myths about sexual assault? This class explores three “troublesome” Greek myths and three methods of interpreting them. From Persephone to Cassandra to lesser known stories, we explore the intersection of ancient patriarchal culture and modern religion. It’s about time. 

2 pm: Main Ritual with Elk Ridge Kindred

Join Elk Ridge Kindred, a Frederick-based inclusive Heathen kindred, for a celebration of the land spirits (or landvaettir). This Heathen ritual will honor the spirits who have held, watched over, and participated in our annual gathering. A cup or horn is recommended for this ritual, but we will also provide disposable cups for those who need them. Add your voice in praise to the local land spirits!

3 PM: Hǽl-Making and Staying Hǽl: Practical Perspectives For the Modern Animist Witch with Cat Heath

What is health, and what is it to heal someone? In our society, health and healing are predominantly physical concerns. When most people hear the word “health,” there’s a tendency to think in terms of illness and injury. In this workshop, however, we’re going to take an older approach to “health,” a holistic approach rooted in an animistic Heathen worldview. We’ll begin by taking a look at the connection between physical health, wellness, wholeness, and luck before expanding into healing, curses, illness caused by other-than-human people, and the effects of magic on the physical body. Finally, we’ll talk about some of the key symptoms of magic-related ailments, some methods for whole-making, charms, an animistic approach to magical salves and oils, and practices for purification. Please note that nothing in this workshop is intended to replace actual medical advice or treatments. This workshop is offered with the intention of providing Witches and other magical practitioners additional tools that can be used in conjunction with other therapies as opposed to instead of. Combining the medical with the magical is traditional.

4 PM Dionysos The Liberator (Eleutherios) Ritual

Join the Greco-Roman Polytheists of our community for an all-ages celebration of the binary-breaking deity Dionysos. This joyful, queer-affirming ritual celebrates Dionysos Eleutherios (Liberator), the God who brings transformation, release and joy. Bring your masks, wings, costumes, whatever you feel will help you support your authentic selves. We will celebrate the Bullroarer and YOU!”

4 pm: Drum Circle & Fire Spinning
Event Field

Connect with the rhythm and learn some new grooves. Our Drum Circle will begin with a brief workshop to help people get comfortable playing together. A drum circle is a celebration of life, community, and music-making in the moment. Please bring hand drums, shakers and other hand percussion. A few small hand drums will be available if you do not have your own. Dancers welcome.  Fire Spinners welcome if you have your own Safety.

5 PM: Closing Ritual: A Working to Heal the Waters of the World with The Order of Elemental Mysteries

Ours is the only planet in our solar system that is primarily composed of liquid water. And every living thing on this planet mimics it by also being composed primarily of water. All water on Earth is connected. All life on Earth is connected. And our waters are polluted, acidifying, and dying. The Order of Elemental Mysteries offers this ritual to our communities to be enacted, enhanced, shared, and evolved into a global call for the healing of the waters.