The Groovy Eye Gazette — September 2026 (Issue #2)

It’s here! Our first online gathering lands on Sunday, September 6, at 7:00 PM EDT — the start of a monthly tradition (first Sunday, every month). Come meet the union face to face, bring your ideas and questions, and let’s get together.

Yes. We set apart one day to live the Big Truth out loud — a duty too sacred to leave to chance:

Election Day — the Day of the People’s Voice.
National Election Day — the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November (this year, Tuesday, November 3, 2026).
Casting a vote in the name of equality is a sacred act, so we set this day apart to honor the duty to make your voice count. We will never endorse a political party or a candidate — but we endorse equality, wholly and without hesitation, so hold the Declaration of Truth in your heart and carry it into the booth. The Temple will do everything in its power to help you vote — including standing behind your right to request time off to do it (the Legal note just below shows exactly how). You are my equal, and I am yours — at the ballot box.

Some duties are sacred — and this is the day we set aside to perform ours, out loud and together.

Due to its significance to the sacred pursuit of justice and equality, TOGE has established national Election Day in the U.S. — the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November — as a religious holiday. “Day of the People’s Voice” signifies the duty to make your vote count. In addition to emphasizing the importance of voting, federal law (Title VII) generally requires employers to reasonably accommodate an employee’s sincerely held religious practices, including holidays, provided it does not impose an undue hardship on the employer.

If the nature of your employment is such as to make it difficult or impossible to vote, you may request, on religious grounds, a change in your work schedule to provide sufficient opportunity to engage in the religious practice of casting your vote. Some employers have a formal process for making such requests, but in many cases it is just a matter of making a request, preferably in writing, to your boss or manager. You merely need state something along the lines of: “I observe Day of the People’s Voice as part of my religious practice and request an adjustment to my work schedule to provide adequate time for me to cast my vote.”

Please keep in mind that it is not automatic, but the request cannot be ignored or summarily declined. And it does not have to be a holiday officially recognized by your employer. The question is whether voting is a sincerely held religious practice that conflicts with your regular work schedule, and whether accommodating it would cause undue hardship. So make the request as far in advance as possible to reduce any possible hardship.

The penpal program rolls on. On the 1st of every month participants are paired with a fellow member for letters, friendship, and understanding — and your penpals never expire, so your circle only grows. Sign up before 12:00 PM on the 1st to be included in that month’s pairing. Missed it? No worries — you can join anytime and you’ll be automatically included in the very next month’s swap. Nothing here expires; there’s always a seat for you. Begin your first note the way we always do: “You are my equal. And I am yours.”

Are art and words your superpowers? The Journal is always open. The call: poems, a personal essay, and visual art on the theme “Equality and Me.” Send your work to submissions@templeofthegroovyeye.org anytime — check the Journal page for the current submission window.

If you just joined the union — welcome home. You’re already part of something real, and there’s a seat here with your name on it. Dive into everything above: claim a penpal, submit to the Journal, join us on Facebook, and come to the next gathering. Questions, ideas, or a simple hello? Our members’ inbox is always open: members@templeofthegroovyeye.org. We’re so glad you’re here.

Let’s get to know one another. The Temple has a new gathering place — a private Facebook group where the union meets between newsletters. It’s our living room: share your art and words, plan good trouble, meet your fellow members, and say the Big Truth out loud together. Believers, seekers, and skeptics all belong. Pull up a chair — sacred trouble starts here.

From September 22 through October 7, our office staff will be away — we’re heading to Europe to share the Temple’s idea with friends across the pond. Here’s what it means for you:

We’ll still answer email and keep up with social media, so reach us as always — just expect a little delay in replies. What we can’t do while away is produce or ship physical documents. So please order any documents you need before September 21, and we guarantee they go out the door before we do. Anything ordered after the 21st will ship the day after we return. Thank you for your patience and your groovy hearts. ♡

Find the Temple where you already scroll — a daily dose of the Big Truth, good trouble, and groovy joy.