Blessed Brigid / Candlemas / Imbolc!
It's still winter, it's still cold and dark, but the days are definitely longer. In some locales, the sap is starting to rise.
Brigid is a Triple Goddess of Smithcraft, Healing, and Poetry.
What creative sap is starting to rise in you?
![[a spiral of lit candles in the dark]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSxEXRbWhgh29i6D9WNXp2Livhs8t73tBR_cvPA1W1SOpMMQGzRTJkohuZrlIu7KtGvpFTmSssvlI_ydkVhmeZQSWutLRAmLhcW82bCrX_ci31sz2bNVRkRE6MZPFrdScUaNiVcp2C-6SjJLLSt5-IpPYJ601zbsTeEj8v2z0d2iNSQ7o4xPJvMfBD=w400-h259 "[a spiral of lit candles in the dark]")
![[two lit candles in the dark, sharing a flame]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCWqcDAA4ezbzeFbQmNI3OLRt_T00oVezy2rZnYGv3c6qTKnl6MFODm9tkfnatS87KMzzN_dAL87mwqK7qBL98-42fMEA2cbYwaqTzUSTnH2XFC7BsQ-9RQP611y7eN41MjAz6JH7KkBmcbiskgei94XJLYEvGGeredbn5SmnjP0FdJPd3lsI2lSCb=w240-h320 "[two lit candles in the dark, sharing a flame]")
Blessed Samhain to you.
This is the Witches' New Year, and the Sabbat where we honor those who have gone before and welcome those who have been newly born.
Some possible queries for you to think about:
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| Three lit tea light candles in the dark, via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Triptic_of_candles.jpg |
![[image: candles in the dark]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9dFCafl0IlRFPFKI4_qPTwnYwpS1Jk7hwneuOt5wQK7p4rwQPq6toJ5KWwydFftIKXOoL8SPYhFyfXwgNg_2VZGTYcB5-DsbItLhm8yl1O4Imw007rY9adg_ogfYsbOkQ9I6zNJEFKGs/s1920/Candels_in_the_dark.jpg "[image: candles in the dark]") |
| [image: candles in the dark] |
On-line Winter Solstice Singing starts in early October!
Sign up here:
https://forms.gle/pi7i1GephusuArJh8
Starting on the first Sunday in October, I'll be hosting on-line song-learning sessions / rehearsals for an on-line Winter Solstice Celebration (a presentation of A Winter Solstice Singing Ritual).
There will be regular sessions from October to December that build on each other, leading up to the Celebration on 18th December.
You are invited to participate in the Winter Solstice Celebration whether you sing or not -- but if you'd like to learn the songs in advance, including harmonies, please sign up!
You also do not need to commit to the Celebration to come learn songs. Maybe you just want to come learn songs and sing! (You can also decide later.)
We will meet once a week. If needed or preferred, I will record rehearsals for those who can't join us live and for anyone who wants to go back over the rehearsal during the week; these will be shared privately. There will also be a variety of learning resources available between sessions for your work on your own.
Everyone is welcome, regardless of experience singing or ability to read music. There are easier pieces and more challenging pieces -- a little something for everyone.
== Song-learning sessions ==
...will run on Sundays from 3rd October through 12th December, each week building on the week before.
We'll cover the sing-along songs, of course, including harmonies, but also the "performance" songs as well. (If you'd like more information on the specific songs, please go to https://bit.ly/WinterSolsticeCelebrations and click on "Songs.")
* Song-learning sessions will run from 7-9 pm Edinburgh/UK time, and are open to anyone, regardless of geographic location.
* You can check what time that is for you here: https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html.
* You don't need a copy of the book or CD in order to participate, although they're helpful to have. More on that below.
== Schedule: ==
* Song-learning sessions/rehearsals Sundays, 3rd October - 5th December, 7-9 pm Edinburgh/UK time; not sure yet about 28th November
* Complete read-through and sing-through, Sunday, 12th December, 7-9 pm UK time
* Winter Solstice Celebration, Saturday, 18th December, 7-9 pm Edinburgh/UK time
== Copies of the book and CD ==
You do not need to own a copy of this in advance, but the book contains all the sheet music, and the CD contains full recordings of all 15 pieces, as well as teaching tracks for 8 (as well as the text for the full Celebration), so it's very, very useful.
If you live in Europe and would like a copy for £14 + postage, you can get one from me.
If you live in the US and want a copy, the person to contact is my co-author Julie Forest Middleton; I can put you in touch.
== How do I know without knowing more about the music itself? ==
The songs are a mix of rounds, well-known songs, spirituals, feminist spirituality chants and Pagan chants, and a couple of choral pieces.
There's detailed information about every song at https://bit.ly/WinterSolsticeCelebrations; click on "Songs."
I'm looking forward to singing with people from a wide range of places in the Northern Hemisphere!
== Open to people of all genders ==
Both the choir and the Celebration are open to people of all genders. Transgender, non-binary, genderqueer, and agender people are explicitly welcome.
* The music I have is written mostly in treble clef and is labeled for sopranos and altos, but I've worked with tenors and basses in addition for several years, and these pieces adapt well for lower voices as well. I teach "Line 1," "Line 2," "Line 3," etc.
* Anyone can sing any part that works for their voice on any song. You might sing one line for one piece, and a different line on another. You can also choose to sing the same line on all the songs if that's what works for you. We have lots of flexibility.
If you have any other questions, please let me know.
If you'd like to sign up for the song-learning sessions, please click here:
https://forms.gle/pi7i1GephusuArJh8
Please share widely!
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| cover of A Winter Solstice Singing Ritual book |
I am excited to share a few bits of news!
Winter Solstice Celebration (on-line): Save the date!
This year I am hosting a presentation of A Winter Solstice Singing Ritual on-line again.
Saturday, December 18th
11 am Pacific / 2 pm Eastern / 7 pm UT / 8 pm Central Europe
Presented by Stasa Morgan-Appel (bread and roses spiritual nurture) and friends
Live Narration, Readings, and Song-Leading; pre-recorded music; available in real-time only
Pre-registration required to obtain links
If you're already on the email list, you'll receive email updates (indeed, you should have received one already); if you'd like to receive updates, you should go to the website for more information and the link: https://bit.ly/WinterSolsticeCelebrations
Winter Solstice Singing (on-line song-learning sessions)
If there's enough interest, I will host on-line song-learning sessions again this year, starting in late September.
These sessions are explicitly welcoming of all women and all other gender minorities, especially transgender, non-binary, genderqueer, and questioning people.
Websites
Just a reminder that the websites are:
At our recent special called Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business, South Edinburgh Quakers expressed our support for making conversion therapy for gender and/or sexual orientation illegal in Scotland.
Attached below please find an email from Rici Marshall-Cross, Clerk of South Edinburgh Local Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), about our recent Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business, as well as our minute and our submission to the Scottish government consultation on banning conversion therapy.
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| [image: a tree on a plain against a night sky bright with stars and light. source*:] |
The Sabbat mid-way between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox is called by various names in different traditions: Brigid. Candlemas. Imbolc or Imbolg.
Brigid is a triple Goddess of smithcraft, healing, and poetry.
In this song-learning workshop on 30th January, we'll learn a song inspired by two poems by Rumi.
Join us! Registration required.
More info: https://sites.google.com/view/stasama/
Register here: https://forms.gle/XarAkPySERY8VKXZA
Saturday, 30th January
On-Line Song-Learning Workshop: Come As You Are
We'll learn a piece together in five simple parts, then sing it together.
All genders welcome; I use gender-neutral voice terminology. You do not need to read music, but I usually have sheet music available if that is helpful for you. Come as you are!
Saturday, 30th January
7-9 pm UT/GMT (11 am-1 pm Pacific, 2-4 pm Eastern, 8-10 pm Central European)
Sliding scale
* GBP: £5 suggested fee; £1 for low earners or unpaid folks; £10-20 if you'd like to help someone else attend
* Euros: €6 suggested fee; €1 for low earners or unpaid folks; €11-23 if you'd like to help someone else attend
* USD: $7 suggested fee; $1 for low earners or unpaid folks; $14-27 if you'd like to help someone else attend
Register here:
https://forms.gle/XarAkPySERY8VKXZA
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* image source: https://wallpapertag.com/wallpaper/full/7/e/b/238858-blue-galaxy-wallpaper-1920x1080-for-4k.jpg
Hello, folks,
If you missed the Winter Solstice Celebration I led, it turns out there are three more communities, all in the US, who are presenting A Winter Solstice Singing Ritual this year.
I am so grateful to everyone who is using this to help build and strengthen community during these (it's such a cliché to say it) challenging times.
"A year like no other," indeed. (from A Winter Solstice Singing Ritual)
For more information about A Winter Solstice Singing Ritual project, please see:
https://sites.google.com/view/winter-solstice-celebrations/home
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| a spiral labyrinth, outlined by candles, in the dark (c) 2004 Laura Treadway, used with permission |
You're invited to
the 24th Annual
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Saturday, 19th December, 2020
On-line
7-9 pm GMT
Europe: 7-9 pm UK; 8-10 pm Central European Time
North America: 2-4 pm Eastern Time; 11 am-1 pm Pacific Time
Everywhere: Click here to confirm time in your location
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A time of quiet reflection in the midst of the hectic festive season
Songs, stories, candle-lighting, silent meditation, singing, and more
All ages welcome
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I am going to be hosting a Winter Solstice Celebration (A Winter Solstice Singing Ritual) on-line, on Saturday, 19th December.
From September through December, I am hosting on-line song-learning sessions / rehearsals for those who would like to learn the songs ahead of time, to sing along during the Celebration.
Everyone is welcome, regardless of experience singing or ability to read music. There are easier pieces and more challenging pieces -- a little something for everyone.
You do not need to attend these in order to come to the Celebration; likewise, you do not need to come to the Celebration if you come to these. You are welcome at either and both!
Song-learning sessions will run from Sunday, 6th September through Sunday, 13th December, each week building on the week before.
We'll cover the sing-along songs, of course, including harmonies, but also the "performance" songs as well. (If you'd like more information on the specific songs, please click here.)
Schedule:
Copies of the book and CD
You do not need to own a copy of this in advance, but the book contains all the sheet music, and the CD contains full recordings of all 15 pieces, as well as teaching tracks for 8 (as well as the full Celebration), so it's very, very useful.
If you live in Europe and would like a copy for £14 + postage, you can get one from me.
If you live in the US and want a copy, the person to contact is my co-author Julie Forest Middleton; I can put you in touch.
How do I know without knowing more about the music itself?
The songs are a mix of rounds, well-known songs, spirituals, feminist spirituality chants and Pagan chants, and a couple of choral pieces.
There's detailed information about every song at tinyurl.com/wintersolsticesinging/for-singers.
I'm looking forward to singing with people from a wide range of places in the Northern Hemisphere!
Open to people of all genders
Both the choir and the Celebration are open to people of all genders. Transgender, non-binary, agender, and genderqueer people are explicitly welcome.
If you have any other questions, please let me know.
If you'd like to sign up for the song-learning sessions, please click here:
https://forms.gle/ds2yV9eLfkLFa2ot7
