The Sacred Space

Spring is coming soon...

Remembering Bríd on St. Brigid's Day ++ Ag cuimhniú ar Bhríd ar Lá Féile Bhríde (Photo credit: Liamfm .)

On Thursday, Feb. 2, the Interfaith Guild of Chaplains (IGC) held a small, beautiful ceremony to mark the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, variously known as Imbolc, Candlemas, Luciad, St. Brigid's Day, Setsubun, and Greek festival of Demeter and Persephone.

The underlying theme of bringing light into the darkest moment and place to usher the world into a new era of light is common among most of these observances across cultures.

The flagpole base at the former Washington High School became a makeshift altar for this event, and the sky was turning from a beautiful pink sunset into a star- and moon-lit night sky.  We also had a symbolic "exorcism" using the traditional Japanese setsubun custom of throwing beans to chase out the evil.

The event concluded with a small procession from the Washington High to the Occupy headquarters, the Che Room.

Thanks Kathryn and Amanda for putting this together!

Help preserve the story of our sacred space: Oregon Jewish Museum wants you!

Image via Wikipedia

The Oregon Jewish Museum (1953 N.W. Kearney St., Portland) is currently seeking photographs, video recordings, and artifacts related to the Occupy Portland community sukkah previously located in the Beta Camp (Lownsdale Square, 300 S.W. Salmon St.).

The OJM's curator also is looking for stories.

It is great to see our original Sacred Space live on as a permanent historical record for the future generations.

Those with any items or stories to contribute should contact Anne LeVant Prahl.

Thursday, Feb. 2: Celebrate early spring and return of life!

Image by Christina's Play Place via Flickr

On Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012, the #OccupyPortland Interfaith Guild of Chaplains will be holding a ceremony to celebrate the festivals variously known as Imbolc, Candlemas, Luciad, and St. Brigid's Day (transferred -- Feb. 1 in the Catholic and Anglican calendars), as well as the Japanese festival of Setsubun.

This observance falls at a cross-quarter between winter solstice and spring equinox, marking the mid-point between winter and spring in the northern hemisphere.

When: Thursday, Feb. 2, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Where: Northwest corner of the former Washington High School field/playground, at the corner of Southeast Stark Street and Southeast 12th Avenue (across from the "vegan mini-mall") -- and will end with a short sidewalk procession to the Che Room, the #OccupyPortland headquarters (only a block away).
What: A small eclectic/interfaith ceremony with some chants, songs, readings, and other activities.

Bring: small, non-obnoxious noisemakers such as rattles, small drums, etc.; candles to be blessed if you have them (we also provide some); beans for Setsubun "exorcism" of the evil spirits (traditionally, roasted soybeans, sold in some stores these days as "soy nuts"; but any kind of beans would do); your favorite Goddess-chants or Candlemas-related songs; food offerings to share.  This will be a highly participatory event.

Resources:

• About Brigid: www.ordbrighideach.org and www.tuathadebrighid.net
• About Setsubun: www2.gol.com/users/stever/setsubun.htm and gojapan.about.com/cs/japanesefestivals/a/setsubun.htm
• About Candlemas (aka Purification of the Virgin): liturgy.co.nz/candlemas/339 and www.newadvent.org/cathen/03245b.htm
• About Imbolc: www.adf.org/rituals/celtic/imbolc/imbolc-traditions.html and paganwiccan.about.com/od/imbolctraditions/Imbolc_Traditions_Customs_and_Folklore.htm
• About Luciad: www.mother-god.com/feast-of-lights.html and divinemothergod.com/2012/02/02/luciad-feast-of-lights/

Feb. 2: Celebrate light and healing

On Thursday, Feb. 2, join us for our interfaith/eclectic celebration of Imbolc, Luciad, Candlemas, and the Feast of St. Brigid of Kildare.

5:30 p.m. at the St. Francis campus where the Occupy Portland headquarters is located (1131 S.E. Oak St. at 12th Avenue) -- and after this event, join the Spokes Council!

This is a highly participatory ritual to bring about healing and reinvigoration of Occupy energy!

Green and gold are the theme colors.  Bring some food offerings to share.

Related articles

• Delving into Brigid (offthepathjournal.wordpress.com)

Visit the Che Room!

The #OccupyPortland movement has gone indoors some time ago and now there is a former school room that is used by the movement.  The room is kind of like a small-scale reproduction of our first encampment except for tents: there are library shelves, art boxes, coffee area, information table -- and we have a small sacred space that sits atop a 3"x3" box.

We plan to hold some regular and special events on the St. Francis campus starting this month.

1131 SE Oak St (the entry is off SE 12th Avenue).

Get involved!

One of the best ways to get plugged in is to join our Facebook group and attend weekly meetings.

Our upcoming weekly meetings are as follows:

• Thursday, Jan. 5, 3-4:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Jan. 12, 3-4:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Jan. 15, 6-7 p.m.
• Sunday, Jan. 22, 6-7 p.m.
• Sunday, Jan. 29, 6-7 p.m.