Looking for a resource to help recharge your social, emotional, or spiritual batteries? Listen to our curated music playlist from our Community Recharge Day gathering event held in our Wildflower Community Room on Sunday, November 10, 2024.
Director
The Austin Powwow and Native Market
Saturday, November 23, 9am – 9pm
Travis County Expo Center
7311 Decker Lane, ATX 78724
Purchase Tickets: $7 per person
November is Native American and Indigenous Heritage Month. Wildflowers have the opportunity for honoring Indigenous people in our community and across the country by supporting the Austin Powwow, through attendance, food donations, and volunteer activities. This is joyful way for all to celebrate the heritage and culture of our Indigenous community and to honor those whose land we are on.
You can use the links below to purchase tickets and sign up to volunteer and donate.
At the Annual Austin Powwow, many different Native American communities come together for the largest one-day powwow in the country. For over 30 years, this unique Austin event has featured literally hundreds of Native American dancers, singers, musicians, artists and craftspeople. The songs and dances are not only based on ancient traditions but are also living cultural expressions of creativity and innovation.
- Attend the Austin Powwow on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at the Travis County Expo Center.
- Volunteer! Volunteers help make the Austin Annual Powwow a success! Sign up here.
- Partner with them, through financial contributions (which can be made here), to help with the expense of hosting this meaningful event for Central Texas.
- Donate items and gift cards for the raffle. Please email Skye at grants@austinpowwow.net for more information.
First time attending a powwow? The Austin Powwow Committee offers these guidelines to attendees:
Native American Powwows are social events. They should be fun – to enjoy beautiful regalia, and breathtaking performances, to support Native artisans. Please keep in mind that Powwows are cultural events infused with tradition. There is a protocol, so just be aware of a few details to avoid accidentally offending anyone or appearing disrespectful.
Powwow Etiquette
- Dress modestly, avoid wearing crop tops, shirts with vulgarity, or short shorts, especially in the dance arena.
- Enjoy yourself as you watch the dancers but Do Not Touch the dancers and their outfits. Every object on the dancer’s regalia is special and considered sacred.
- Please, do not smoke inside the Show Barn pavilion. Alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs are prohibited, as they are at all powwows and traditional Native American events.
- Please be respectful of Native American traditions and stand when asked to do so by the MC.
- Come dance in the arena only if you are invited by the MC. During the powwow, the MC will call for special “blanket dances”. This is a powwow tradition in which the audience shows its appreciation for the singers so please participate if you are able. You may dance if you like but please help our singers by placing a donation on the blanket.
- Feel free to take photographs and videotape, but do not take close-ups unless you first ask permission from that person. No flash photography permitted. Do not take photos of smudges or sacred medicines.
- Don’t take pictures if the Arena Director asks for all cameras to be shut down. Occasionally, there may be a special or sacred moment in which photography is not allowed.
- Give space to dancers, drum groups and respect their seating areas. Do not lean over the rails around the arena.
- Do not pass out any type of brochures or literature on Expo Center grounds unless you have been preapproved by our powwow committee.
- Please pick up your own litter and throw it in the trash. Make it your goal to pick up at least one more piece of trash as a favor to others.
Our theme for November is Comforting Light. Here are some resources for community care, to hold your joys, your concerns, your wellbeing, and the fullness of you this week and beyond.
— Simone
Simone Monique Barnes, Director of Membership and Spiritual Life
Jump to Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday, music
Quiet Practices for Everyday shared by Unitarian Universalist Association
Friends, as we enter into a week – and perhaps longer – filled with deep uncertainty, anxiety, and fear, UUA chaplains the Rev. Dr. JJ Flag and the Rev. Victoria Safford offer some simple, quiet practices to tend to our spirits and souls, and remind us that through weariness and trouble, love will guide us.
Today, we center Interdependence:
**It’s time to go outside. Sometime today or this evening, make time to go out, rain or shine. Touch the living earth: soil, leaf, water, or just let the air touch you. Find a quiet place where you can stop a while, just quietly. In your mind, or whispering, speak to the earth as if it were a loving grandparent, an elder. Say (in your mind or whispering) what you’re most afraid of now. Stay still a little longer, and then offer a small prayer, perhaps like this: “Right now, what I need most is _____.” Breathe deep, and touch the earth again, with gratitude.**
Breathing Meditation (from Cole Arthur Riley, Black Liturgies)
INHALE
The world is loud.
EXHALE
I listen for my voice.
Tuesday
Prayer Vigil
Hosted by our campus partner Faith Presbyterian Church (1314 E Oltorf Street). Rev. Amy Myhand (she/her/hers), aka Pastor Amy, will be on hand in the sanctuary from 10 am to 2 pm on Tuesday, November 4th.
You can also view and read Faith Presbyterian’s Election Day Prayer Guide
DRUUMM Election Evening Gathering Space (BIPOC-only space)
Tuesday, November 5, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM Central Time (8:00 PM – 11:00 PM EST) Diverse and Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM) is hosting a space for support and spiritual care on the evening of Election Day. They’ve designed this as a BIPOC-only brave space to share music, readings, poetry, prayers, meditations, etc., and to provide sustenance to each other. Please register (https://druumm.org/events/) and join for any part of the time.
This event is BIPOC-only, a sacred space reserved for those who identify as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color and UU or interested in Unitarian Universalism. DRUUMM recognizes every Community of Color is impacted differently, and each community maintains its own unique identity and culture. BIPOC/People of Color/Person of Color/Community of Color is a political identity of survival and being in resistance to racism and colonialism, one that builds solidarity and creates positive change. White allies with questions or concerns are strongly encouraged to reach out to Allies for Racial Equity.
Election Night Care Space – Tuesday, November 5, 6:30 CT
Hosted by the UU Women’s Federation
It’s been a L-O-N-G election season. We know that whichever way it goes, we will continue our work towards justice. UUWF invites you to spend some election decompression space with us on Election night.
We’ll start one hour before the polls close on the East Coast, and make space for you to reconnect. Join us for music and inspiration.
(UUWF builds covenental relationships among Unitarian Universalist Women and Femmes
that equip us all to be better co-conspirators and allies in the movement for collective liberation.)
Wednesday
Coffee and Conversations, Wednesdays at 10 am
(For the Zoom link, check your Wildflower newsletter or contact the care team on this form or email careteam@wildflowerchurch.org.)
Come check in about life, the universe and everything with other Wildflowers, Chaplain Bis, and the Pastoral Care Team. Chaplain Bis is also available 1:1 Zoom sessions, which you can sign up for at calendly.com/wildflowerpastoralcare
Laughter Yoga with Simone
Simone is hosting a special laughter yoga session Wednesday on Zoom, at 10am to 11am Central Time.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYtf-mopj0tG9JpYy5djkpwJTBOY6ZrfSLO
Laughter Yoga is open to all bodies and all experience levels. You don’t need props or tools, just bring yourself. Laughter Yoga is the union of unconditional laughter and deep yogic breathing. You can practice it anywhere, anytime.
UUA Forward Together: Anchoring in Community Post Election
Wednesday, November 6, at 7pm Central
Find Support & Community in Our Post-Election Series
Join Side with Love, UUA Congregational Life, and senior UUA leadership for a series of online gatherings to help us reflect, respond, and prepare together following the 2024 Election. Each session provides spiritual grounding, practical insights, and community support.
Session One – 11/6: After Election Day
Ground yourself, connect with UUA resources, and get insights from Side With Love.
Session Two – TBD (When Election is Called)
Join UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt and others for reflection and immediate action steps.
Session Three – 11/19: The Way Forward
Discuss next steps and hear from Side With Love on the movement landscape.
All sessions at 8pm ET / 7pm CT / 6pm MT / 5pm PT.
Register to attend and receive updates! https://bit.ly/4e5EzGJ
Thursday
TXUUJM Action Hour with Rev Erin J. Walter, 7pm – 8 pm
All are welcome to join the Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry (TXUUJM) as Rev Erin J. Walter hosts this week’s weekly Thursday night justice gatherings on Zoom from 7pm – 8pm CT. It is a time to check in and connect with folks from around the state and be in community. Invite friends, UU or not, Texan or not. ALL WELCOME. Learn more about these programs at txuujm.org. Register for Thursday’s Action Hour here.
Sunday
Wildflower Church’s Sunday Worship, Sunday, November 10, 11:45 am on Zoom
“The Wonder of Who You Are,” speaker Simone Monique Barnes.
As we continue our month-long theme of Comforting Light, we will take time to meditate, dream, imagine, and breathe, honoring our own inner light and the comforting lights that surround us.
After the virtual service, the Wildflower Community Room will be open from 2pm to 6pm for our Community Recharge Day. It is a self-guided afternoon of restorative activities, community, and quiet time; whatever it is that you need to recharge your own batteries.
This is a Zoom-only service. There will be no children’s and youth religious education classes.
Zoom link available on our home page https://wildflowerchurch.org/
Community Recharge Day Sunday, November 10, 2 pm to 6 pm.
Come as you are, take what you need. Stay for a few minutes, or stay all afternoon. A self-guided afternoon with space to quietly contemplate and space to engage. It’s a relaxing day of both fellowship and solitude, to recharge your batteries.
Music: “My Little Light”
“My Little Light” by Beautiful Chorus
Lyrics:
This little light of mine
Used to be too scared to shine
When mine met yours it would run and hide
But in time I came to find
I wanna shine so bright
It makes this whole world smile
And pay back the beautiful feeling
That allows me to be
Whatever I wanna be
And I am gonna be
Free and easy
Return to the top of this page.
Join Central Texas Interfaith (including Wildflowers and other CTI friends) for the final walk for the 2024 election in precinct 403. We will be walking Saturday, October 26th from 9:30am -12pm.
Meet at Batch Craft Beer and Kolaches off Manor Road. We are looking forward to a great walk!
Wildflowers and community friends are invited to add photos or items that honor their ancestors and loved ones who have passed on to the Día de los Muertos community altar after Sunday’s service in the community room. If you would like to learn more about the history and traditions of El Día de los Muertos, please read this reflection by Maestra Grace Sesma from Curanderismo, the Healing Art of Mexico.
The altar we remain in the community room, through Sunday, November 10.
(You may choose to temporarily place your photos or items on the altar during the gathering on November 3 and bring them home the same day, or you may choose to leave your items on the altar until November 10, when it will be deinstalled and all items returned (please plan to pick up your items).
Here’s a guide for Dia de Los Muertos colors:
Purple – Signifies pain, suffering, grief, and mourning.
Pink – Celebration
White – Purity and hope
Orange – Sun
Red – The blood of life
Yellow – Cempazuchitl are marigolds that symbolize death. Petals are used to make a trail so that the spirits can see the path to their altars.
Here is an invitation to just be!
Join us for a Community Recharge day
Sunday, November 10, 2024, 2pm to 6pm
Come as you are, take what you need.
Stay for a few minutes, or stay all afternoon!
A self-guided afternoon with space to quietly contemplate and space to engage. It’s a relaxing day of both fellowship and solitude, to recharge your batteries.
How you spend the day is completely up to you!
- Bring your own art supplies, or use the ones supplied.
- Bring your yoga mat or relax on our floor pillows.
- Sit at a table or sit on the grass.
- Chat with people or sit with your own thoughts.
- Nosh on the light refreshments provided or bring your own lunchbox or bring a snack to share.
- Use the afternoon to read, write, sing, draw, meditate, pray, color, pray, stretch, dance, or just be.
— at Wildflower Community Room, 1314 Oltorf St, Austin TX 78704
(Note: looking for Wildflower Church’s Sunday worship service? It’ll be on Zoom that morning at 11:45 am. Zoom link provided on our website’s home page.)
Let Us Know You’re Planning to Attend
While you can drop by unannounced anytime between 2pm and 6pm on November 10, we would find it helpful if you’d RSVP so that we can plan for enough snacks and supplies. Thanks!