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| '''*****COVID19 Announcement: ''''''Beginning at the November 2023 service, we have options (testing) if you have not yet gotten your up-to-date vaccine. The current up to date vaccine is the Monovalent (rolled out in Sept '23). Find out your schedule and more info on https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html '''If you do not have health insurance, you can still get vaccinated for free. https://www.vaccines.gov/ | '''*****COVID19 Announcement: ''''''Everyone, regardless of where they are in their vaccine journey, will be required to test that day (a copy, ephoto, or record of it on a medical website is acceptable).''' |
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| '''There may be further safety requirements depending upon the situation at the time. ''Everyone, regardless of where they are in their vaccine journey, will be required to show their vaccine card at the door (a copy, ephoto, or record of it on a medical website is acceptable).'''''''' '''''' ''' | '''Testing options: You test that day''', right before coming (and from that time, no unmasked contact w/ people, i.e. stopping by a store), photograph the results, and the expiration date of the test you took, and show the picture of your negative test at the door. '''OR you can test Outside when you get here'''.''' '''We will have tests available. Where to get free tests, viable tests, tests for the uninsured: https://www.covid.gov/tests Free tests are available to all by mail again and most insurance pays for tests every month. |
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| '''Masking: '''We highly recommend masking (with N95/KN95/KF95) in public areas of any kind, especially leading up to an event. It can take 2 weeks after an exposure to get a positive on a test. You probably won't know you had an exposure because tracking is defunded, so just assume you have if you're unmasked (especially indoors) in a public place. Masking for the service is always acceptable. | '''We highly recommend you get the current up to date vaccine, which is the Monovalent (rolled out in Sept '23). It is not a booster. It's for the new variants. Your older vaccines probably aren't doing much of anything anymore. Find out your schedule and more info on https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html '''If you do not have health insurance, you can still get vaccinated for free. https://www.vaccines.gov/ |
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| '''Testing options: <<BR>>'''-You test right before coming (and from that time, no unmasked contact w/ people, i.e. stopping by a store), photograph the results, and the expiration date of the test you took, or you can test outside when you get here.''' '''Where to get free tests, viable tests, tests for the uninsured: https://www.covid.gov/tests Free tests are available to all by mail again and most insurance pays for tests every month. | ''' '''''' There may be further safety requirements depending upon the situation or the venue at the time.<<BR>>''' |
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| -If you have had a recent infection (within 2 months), no longer have symptoms without medication, and are testing negative without anti-virals in your system, you may come. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html |
'''Masking: '''We highly recommend masking (with N95/KN95/KF95) in public areas of any kind, especially leading up to an event. It can take 2 weeks after an exposure to get a positive on a test. You probably won't know you had an exposure because tracking is defunded, so just assume you have if you're unmasked (especially indoors) in a public place. '''''Masking for the service is always acceptable. ''''' -If you have had a recent infection (within 2 months), no longer have symptoms without medication, are testing negative without anti-virals in your system, and after that, wait 5 more days before being unmasked (N95, KN95, KF94) around people. People are staying contagious 5 days after their last unmedicated symptom. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html |
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| If you have symptoms, please do not come to the service. We will miss you, and hopefully see you next month. | If you have symptoms or test positive, please do not come to the service. We will miss you, and hopefully see you next month. |
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| '''You may email firesong@globalspirits.org for more info on our events. ''' | '''You may email firesong@globalspirits.org for more info on our events. ''''''There may be updates to this, so please check back. ''' |
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| '''There may be updates to this, so please check back. ''' |
'''2024:''' January Service for the Spirits of Cycles: '''Sat. Jan 13th''' ''(location TBA)'' February Service for the Spirits of Air: '''Sat Feb 3rd or 10''''''th''' ('''location TBA):'''''' ''' '''March Service'' '''''for the Spirits of Learning: '''''Sat. Mar. 30th at 9 PM. ''''''''''5 PM is set up and beginning prayer. ''''''''''At the Sacred Space Conference March 28-31st. . http://www.sacredspacefoundation.org/'' '''We recommend this conference. ''' '''If you cannot come to the entire conference and wish to come to just the service, there will be a $30 fee, collected at the service, that goes to the conference. '''April Service for the Spirits of: Sat. Apr. 6th or 20th''' ''(location TBA)''''' ''' '''May Service for the Spirits of Earth and Retreat: ''''''May 16-19th Retreat''' at Fox Haven in Middletown. '''Service on May 18^th^'''. There are still spaces available for the retreat. You may arrive Fri if you cannot arrive on Thurs. We can accommodate others for just the service, only if we have not filled our quota for the weekend, and you will need to pay for that day, so we need to know ahead of time.''''' ''''' '''''June Service'' for the Spirits of the Journey'': ''''''''June 1^st^ or June 22'''^'''nd '''^This will be a Headwashing Service at Where the Sidewalk Ends, near Emmitsburg. Please contact firesong@globalspirits.org for more information. '''''July Service for the Spirits of Weather:'' '''(location TBA) '''It will be Jul. 6, 13, or 27'' ''''' '''''August Service for the Spirits of Fire: At Free Spirit Gathering Aug 6-11th. Exact date of the Service TBA. https://www.freespiritgatheringmd.org/''' ''We highly recommend this festival. But if you can only come for the evening, there is a fee of $30 to go to Free Spirit Alliance. '' '''Register for the whole gathering or day or evening pass. ''' '''Please remember your face masks and (as always) your CDC vaccine card or ecard, with proof of current vaccine.'''''''' ''' '''''September Servicefor the Spirits of Water: ''''''''Sat Sept 23'''''', at Assateague Island National Seashore. 12 PM setup. 1 PM start time. '''Please email firesong@globalspirits.org for more information. We need to know if you are coming, so we can give directions and also weather updates. ''' ''' '''''October Service for the Spirits of: ''''''''Sat October 5 or 19''': (location TBA)'' ''''' ''' '''''November Service For the Spirits of the Dead and The Ancestors: Sat Nov. 2nd or 9th'' ''''''3 PM start time '''at Where the Sidewalk Ends, near Emmitsburg, MD. Please email firesong@globalspirits.org for more information. ''''' ''' ''' ''''' '''December Service for the Spirits of Assurance '''''(location TBA): '''''Sat. Dec 7th. ''''''3 PM start time. '''We will have our annual give away before this service. If you wish to participate in that, please bring a wrapped gift that's worth $20 or less. ''''' ''''' ''' ''' |
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| February Drum Workshop: Vodou Rhythms. '''Sat Feb 4 at 1 PM. ''''''in Bethesda, MD.''' 1 PM. Before the service at 3. We will learn some basic rhythms that work for some Lwa. Please bring a drum. If you do not have one, we should have extras. | February Drum Workshop: Vodou Rhythms. '''Sat Feb 4 at 1 PM. ''''''in Bethesda, MD.''' 1 PM. Before the service at 3. We will learn some basic rhythms that work for some Lwa. Please bring a drum. If you do not have one, we should have extras. |
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| February Service "Getting to Know You": '''Sat Feb 4 at 3 PM. ''''''in Bethesda, MD. '''Email tom@toms.net for further information. Our theme this time is to invite a Spirit who is unfamiliar to you but you are curious about (and plays well with others). For UToS Members, this means a Spirit in our litany who has not been invited for a long time (or maybe never). | February Service "Getting to Know You": '''Sat Feb 4 at 3 PM. ''''''in Bethesda, MD. '''Email tom@toms.net for further information. Our theme this time is to invite a Spirit who is unfamiliar to you but you are curious about (and plays well with others). For UToS Members, this means a Spirit in our litany who has not been invited for a long time (or maybe never). |
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| April Service for the Spirits of Unity:''' Sat Apr 8th at 8:00-12:30''' in the Garden Room- Between the Worlds/Sacred Space Joint Conference. For those who want to come only to the ritual, the fee is $30.00, collected at the start of the ritual. http://www.sacredspacefoundation.org/ | April Service for the Spirits of Unity:''' Sat Apr 8th at 8:00-12:30''' in the Garden Room- Between the Worlds/Sacred Space Joint Conference. For those who want to come only to the ritual, the fee is $30.00, collected at the start of the ritual. http://www.sacredspacefoundation.org/ |
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| July Service: Calling Spirits with Popular Music. ''' Sat July 15, 3 PM''' start. '''in Bethesda, MD. '''Email tom@toms.net for directions and logistical information. Popular music, being loosely defined, includes hip-hop, country, old vaudeville, R&B, folk... Not their traditional songs. | July Service: Calling Spirits with Popular Music. ''' Sat July 15, 3 PM''' start. '''in Bethesda, MD. '''Email tom@toms.net for directions and logistical information. Popular music, being loosely defined, includes hip-hop, country, old vaudeville, R&B, folk... Not their traditional songs. |
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January Service: '''Sat. Jan 13th''' ''(Theme and location TBA)'' February Service for the Spirits of Air: ''('''location TBA):'''''''' ''' '''March Service'' '''''for the Spirits of Learning: '''''At the Sacred Space Conference March 28-31st. Exact date of the service TBA. http://www.sacredspacefoundation.org/'' ''' '''April Service: ''(Theme and location TBA)'' ''' '''May Service for the Spirits of Earth: '''Retreat May 16-19th''''' ''''' '''''June Service: ''(Theme and location TBA)'' ''''' '''''July Service ''(Theme and location TBA)'' ''''' '''''August Service for the Spirits of Fire: At Free Spirit Gathering Aug 6-11th. Exact date of the Service TBA. https://www.freespiritgatheringmd.org/''' ''''' ''' '''''September Service: ''''''' ''''' ''' ''' ''October Service for the Spirits of Water ''(location TBA)'' ' ''''' ''' '''''November Service For the Spirits of the Dead and The Ancestors'' at Where the Sidewalk Ends'' ''''' ''''' ''' ''' ''''' '''December Service' '''''(Theme and location TBA)'' ''''' ''''' ''' ''' '''''2022: ''''''' ''' ''''' ''' ''' ''' '''''June Service for the Spirits of the Future 'at Free Spirit Gathering''''''':''' The event is June 14-19. Our service is Thurs Jun 16th. 6PM set up, 8 PM start. '''Register for the whole gathering or day pass. ''' '''https://www.freespiritgatheringmd.org/ Please remember your face masks and (as always) your CDC vaccine card or ecard, with proof of series and booster(s). ''' ''''' ''' ''' ''' '''''July Service for the Spirits of the Sun at 'Stone Circle Council Lughnasadh: '''''''The event is July 29-August 1 at Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground, 800 E Camping Area Rd, Wellsville, PA 17365. Our service is Sat., July 30 at 7:30 PM. We will have set up and the beginning prayer earlier because we need to have quiet time after 9. To register, go to:''' https://stonecirclecouncil.org/Lugh . ''' ''' ''''' ''' ''' ''' ''' ''' '''''August Service - Service for the Spirits of Nourishment: 'Sat., Aug. 13, 5 PM start time.' In Person in Bethesda, MD.''''''' '''Email tom@toms.net for further information for in person. ''' ''''' ''' ''' ''' '''''September Service for Spirits of the Ocean: 'Sat., Sept. 24th at Assateague Island National Seashore. 1 PM start time. '''''''Please email firesong@globalspirits.org for more information. ''' ''''' ''' ''' ''' ''' ''October Service for the Spirits of Harvest: 'Sat., Oct: 8th, 2 PM Columbia, MD. Contact carla.g725@gmail.com for address. We need to end by 8pm. ' Please remember your CDC vaccine card or ecard, with proof of series vaccines and booster(s). If you have allergy symptoms, a cold, and/or are not feeling well in any way, please stay home. ''' ''''' ''' ''' ''' ''' ''November Service for the Ancestors and Spirits of the Dead: 'Sat. Nov. 5th, near Emmitsburg, MD 3 PM start time. **Please remember your up-to-date (bivalent vaccine) CDC covid vaccine card. For more information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html' https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/s1012-COVID-19-Vaccines.html ''' ''''' ''' ''' ''' ''' ''December Service for the Spirits of Celebration': Sat., Dec: 3rd, 3 PM start time. Germantown, MD. 'We will have our annual give away before this service. Please contact ravenskald@gmail.com for information and address. Please note: we have a big, gentle Greyhound. He loves people... and can go in the backyard with impunity. The backyard will be accessible for folks to hang out, weather permitting... ''' ''''' ''' ''' |
Events for 2023 and 2024
*****COVID19 Announcement: Everyone, regardless of where they are in their vaccine journey, will be required to test that day (a copy, ephoto, or record of it on a medical website is acceptable).
Testing options: You test that day, right before coming (and from that time, no unmasked contact w/ people, i.e. stopping by a store), photograph the results, and the expiration date of the test you took, and show the picture of your negative test at the door. OR you can test Outside when you get here. We will have tests available. Where to get free tests, viable tests, tests for the uninsured: https://www.covid.gov/tests Free tests are available to all by mail again and most insurance pays for tests every month.
We highly recommend you get the current up to date vaccine, which is the Monovalent (rolled out in Sept '23). It is not a booster. It's for the new variants. Your older vaccines probably aren't doing much of anything anymore. Find out your schedule and more info on https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html If you do not have health insurance, you can still get vaccinated for free. https://www.vaccines.gov/
There may be further safety requirements depending upon the situation or the venue at the time.
Masking: We highly recommend masking (with N95/KN95/KF95) in public areas of any kind, especially leading up to an event. It can take 2 weeks after an exposure to get a positive on a test. You probably won't know you had an exposure because tracking is defunded, so just assume you have if you're unmasked (especially indoors) in a public place. Masking for the service is always acceptable.
-If you have had a recent infection (within 2 months), no longer have symptoms without medication, are testing negative without anti-virals in your system, and after that, wait 5 more days before being unmasked (N95, KN95, KF94) around people. People are staying contagious 5 days after their last unmedicated symptom. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html
-If you have another situation/concern, please contact us.
If you have symptoms or test positive, please do not come to the service. We will miss you, and hopefully see you next month.
If the Covid-19 situation changes, we will follow the CDC guidelines or be even more strict about contact.
You may email firesong@globalspirits.org for more info on our events. There may be updates to this, so please check back.
2024:
January Service for the Spirits of Cycles: Sat. Jan 13th (location TBA)
February Service for the Spirits of Air: Sat Feb 3rd or 10th (location TBA):
March Service for the Spirits of Learning: Sat. Mar. 30th at 9 PM. '5 PM is set up and beginning prayer. 'At the Sacred Space Conference March 28-31st. . http://www.sacredspacefoundation.org/ We recommend this conference. If you cannot come to the entire conference and wish to come to just the service, there will be a $30 fee, collected at the service, that goes to the conference.
April Service for the Spirits of: Sat. Apr. 6th or 20th (location TBA)
May Service for the Spirits of Earth and Retreat: May 16-19th Retreat at Fox Haven in Middletown. Service on May 18th. There are still spaces available for the retreat. You may arrive Fri if you cannot arrive on Thurs. We can accommodate others for just the service, only if we have not filled our quota for the weekend, and you will need to pay for that day, so we need to know ahead of time.
June Service for the Spirits of the Journey: June 1st or June 22'''nd '''This will be a Headwashing Service at Where the Sidewalk Ends, near Emmitsburg. Please contact firesong@globalspirits.org for more information.
July Service for the Spirits of Weather: (location TBA) It will be Jul. 6, 13, or 27
August Service for the Spirits of Fire: At Free Spirit Gathering Aug 6-11th. Exact date of the Service TBA. https://www.freespiritgatheringmd.org/ We highly recommend this festival. But if you can only come for the evening, there is a fee of $30 to go to Free Spirit Alliance. Register for the whole gathering or day or evening pass. Please remember your face masks and (as always) your CDC vaccine card or ecard, with proof of current vaccine.
September Servicefor the Spirits of Water: Sat Sept 23, at Assateague Island National Seashore. 12 PM setup. 1 PM start time. Please email firesong@globalspirits.org for more information. We need to know if you are coming, so we can give directions and also weather updates.
October Service for the Spirits of: Sat October 5 or 19: (location TBA)
November Service For the Spirits of the Dead and The Ancestors: Sat Nov. 2nd or 9th 3 PM start time at Where the Sidewalk Ends, near Emmitsburg, MD. Please email firesong@globalspirits.org for more information.
December Service for the Spirits of Assurance (location TBA): Sat. Dec 7th. 3 PM start time. We will have our annual give away before this service. If you wish to participate in that, please bring a wrapped gift that's worth $20 or less.
2023:
January Service for the Spirits of Victory Sat. Jan 7th at 2 PM. We will do our annual divination at this service. Columbia, MD. Contact carla.g725@gmail.com for address.
February Drum Workshop: Vodou Rhythms. Sat Feb 4 at 1 PM. in Bethesda, MD. 1 PM. Before the service at 3. We will learn some basic rhythms that work for some Lwa. Please bring a drum. If you do not have one, we should have extras.
February Service "Getting to Know You": Sat Feb 4 at 3 PM. in Bethesda, MD. Email tom@toms.net for further information. Our theme this time is to invite a Spirit who is unfamiliar to you but you are curious about (and plays well with others). For UToS Members, this means a Spirit in our litany who has not been invited for a long time (or maybe never).
March Service for the Spirits of Freedom from Oppression Sat Mar 25 at 3 PM Contact carla.g725@gmail.com for address.
April Service for the Spirits of Unity: Sat Apr 8th at 8:00-12:30 in the Garden Room- Between the Worlds/Sacred Space Joint Conference. For those who want to come only to the ritual, the fee is $30.00, collected at the start of the ritual. http://www.sacredspacefoundation.org/
May Retreat and Service for the Spirits of Planting: Thurs-Sun May 18-21st - Retreat at Fox Haven in Middleton, MD. The service will be on Sat May 20th. Please contact firesong@globalspirits.org for more information.
June Service for the Spirits of Portals: Sat June 10th, start time 1 PM. This will be a Headwashing Service at Where the Sidewalk Ends, near Emmitsburg. Please contact firesong@globalspirits.org for more information.
July Service: Calling Spirits with Popular Music. Sat July 15, 3 PM start. in Bethesda, MD. Email tom@toms.net for directions and logistical information. Popular music, being loosely defined, includes hip-hop, country, old vaudeville, R&B, folk... Not their traditional songs.
Aug. Service: Spirits of Curiosity Thurs Aug 3th, 6:30 set up. 8:30 ritual start time. - At the Free Spirit Gathering. (FSG is Tues-Sun, 8/1 - 8/6) https://www.freespiritgatheringmd.org/ In the "Tin Can".
September Service for the Spirits of the Ocean: Sat Sept 23, at Assateague Island National Seashore. 12 PM setup. 1 PM start time. Please email firesong@globalspirits.org for more information. We need to know if you are coming, so we can give directions and also weather updates.
October Service: (Theme TBA) Sat. Oct 7th, 3 PM start in Bethesda, MD. Email tom@toms.net for directions and logistical information. More information coming soon.
November Service for the Ancestors and Spirits of the Dead and Drumming workshop: Sat. Nov. 4th, 3 PM start time at Where the Sidewalk Ends, near Emmitsburg, MD. Please email firesong@globalspirits.org for more information. The workshop is on the Rhythms of the Lwa.
December Service for the Spirits of Night: Sat. Dec 2nd, 3 PM start. Email tom@toms.net for directions and logistical information. We will have our annual give away before this service.