An old proverb says that Fire lives within the water of life and that if we are not born in Fire then we must be consumed by Fire to become Sacred. Fire is such an inegral part of life that we often lose track of its importance in both personal and group spiritual workings. In this workshop, we will explore Fire as the symbol of the Dark Mother/Dark Father, the Cthonic and Alchemical aspects of the God/dess; Fire as a "non-phisical" element and how this translates into our practices as modern spiritual beings; How Fire finds expression in various styles of Drum and Fire circles; and How to integrate Fire internally through the activation of Kundalini through a "Starfire" ritual using sacred sound techniques. 1 hour
The crossroad teachings,
by Rowan O'Neill
The crossroads can be many things to many people, but, like the grail, it will always be what you need, when you need it
come and learn about the energies of the crossroads and how the dark mother works there.
Learn how to recognize the energies, name them, and make your transformations personal, unique to you, meaningful and
then apply them universally or within your community as you will.
The crossroads is a map of consciousness. Using poetry, pathworking and psychology combined with meditation and
energy work and trance, we can learn together how to meet at the crossroads and truly access what lies beneath the
surface. A demonstration of each concept will also be illustrated by its corresponding tarot card(s) and by using the deck
to illustrate the map of conciousness itself. 2 hours
Waters of Bliss,
by Tanith Roberts
While being in the water of the pool, we will be stretching out the stresses of the
day. With the use of gentle movements (similar to Tai Chi) we will work to align our
spines, souls and spirits. While the movements are gentle on the joints, you will be
exercising and it is easy to dehydrate while in the pool. Be sure to bring water to
drink, a towel and sunscreen. Bring a water noodle if you have one, some will be supplied. 1 hour
Bellydance Goddess Workshop,
by Sadira
Embody the Goddess by learning to create movements with your body to express feelings
and emotions, and to tell stories. Learn taqsim combinations to put movements into
musical contexts. Taqsim refers to a solo, instrumental piece or section of music,
often improvised. Some believe the soul or essence of a dancer is revealed while
performing to a taqsim. Learn to recognize the instruments used in drum circles and
how they can apply to the taqsim, and how to reflect the music in your dance. Open to
all levels! Class is structured to be accessible to beginning dancers, offering
modifications to challenge intermediate students. 1 hour
Gods, Goddesses, and Other Spirit Guides: What You Need to Know That No
One Has Told You, by Tyrtle
Goddesses and Gods, Angels, Ascended Masters, and all spirit guides are powerful beings. Some are fully “evolved,”
others are not. Those not fully evolved can sometimes have “bad”-yes, bad-as well as good impacts on your life. Most
spiritual workshops and training programs don’t tell you how to assess a guide’s level of evolution, reveal the possible
down side, or teach you how to get the good without the bad. It's easier than you think! Come to this workshop and find
out. Appropriate for beginners as well as intermediate and advanced spirit workers of all paths. 2 hours.
Creating Your Own Chants and Power Songs,
by Tyrtle
Many spiritual traditions use chant to “call up” or connect with internal and external sources of energy and power.
Examples include
Shamanic Healing Stone Bath Sweat,
by Tyrtle
Gentle one-hour sweat suitable for beginners with a hotter additional, optional half-hour round for those wanting stronger
heat. The Stones, Löyly (sacred steam), and other Sweat Spirits will carry us as we clear limiting beliefs and patterns,
bathe in forgiveness, and step fully into our power as we remember who we really are.
--30 minutes: outdoor preparation, introduction;
--One-hour: gentle, supportive heat level (“door” opens once to give two “rounds”);
--Optional 30 more minutes: Added third round for those wanting more heat.
Healers Roundtable,
by Tyrtle
For all who, whether new or experienced, occasionally or often provide spiritual healing for the Land, for Humans, or for
other Beings. Open discussion; please bring your questions, issues, and concerns, and share any changes you’re
witnessing in your practice. 1 hour.
Mystery of the Spheres (Juggling),
by Thoron Woodling
Learn to juggle, or practice with other jugglers. Balls, pins and rings will be
provided. 1 hour
Kids Campfire
An old-fashioned campfire where we sing songs and share folktales and ghost stories.
There will be marshmallow roasting too.
What is an Alchemical Fire Circle?, facilitated by ICARUS and highly recommended for newcomers to Alchemical Fire Circles. An introduction to the concepts of Spiritual Alchemy and how they relate to the Fire Circle. Learn how to explore the deepest of all mysteries, ourselves, as we individually and collectively implement the advanced alchemical formulas that are blended into the flow of this unique ritual working. 1 hour.
Alchemical Drum & Chant, facilitated by ICARUS for those both familiar and alien to making music in a drum circle setting. All forms of musical, instrumental and vocal inspiration are welcome at the ICARUS Fire Circle. Come and learn the alchemical model of playing and supporting each other within the container. 2 hours.
Alchemy: the Abridged Version,
facilitated by of ICARUS
A brief introduction to the concepts of Alchemy for late arrivals. 1 hour.
Some Sticks & a Pot of Soup,
by Elspeth of Haven
For thousands of years humans have used storytelling to carry messages, to teach lessons, and to
change minds. We use words to convey more than the obvious. A story can be both entertaining and
instructive.
We are living in a very special time - a time of great opportunities cleverly disguised as insoluble problems! We cannot continue to block out the fear and anger around us, the changing needs of the world and of our own species. The things that worked before don't anymore. So our approach to these opportunities must be from a new way of perceiving.
We're an adaptable kind of creature. Stories may hold the key to our next step. With a conscious effort to be open to whatever may give us a new perspective, even if it's really off the wall. 1 hour.
Visualization, Guided Meditation & Journeywork,
by Elspeth of Haven
These are all useful methods of dealing with the unconscious. While they have many commonalities,
they work at different levels, and for different purposes.
This session will incorporate some definitions and examples of each including excerpts from my recent CD, Out of the Forest." 1 hour.
Grandmother Turtle's Wisdom Tales,
by Elspeth of Haven
The voice sends more to the heart than we know. Grandmother shares traditional and
original stories. There are crayons and paper for those who want to see the characters
- for the inner child in everyone. Recommended for parent and child together. 1 hour.
TAROT MAJORS CONVERSATIONS,
by Nybor of Haven
The group will break up into pairs, one person of which will assume the identity of
a tarot major and will be questioned by the other. Then the roles will be reversed
with the majors changed. 2 hours.
The Distinctive History of the Nybor Tarot Deck,
by Nybor of Haven
Said to be a "watershed" deck, this interpretation of the ancient divinatory system is particular to Nybor.
He spent over 30 years researching and interpreting the possibilities of the tradition, drawing his
own concepts of the cards, and writing the book that goes with them. The deck was privately
published in 2001, an edition limited to 500 sets.
An executive of US Games, upon viewing the Nybor deck for the first time, prophesied, "Tarot will never be the same."
Nybor will speak of his experiences and trials with the project, and what they led him to create. 1 hour.
Rowan O'Neill is a recognized elder of the craft in several Traditional, Wiccan and Pagan communities. She has been fortunate enough to serve the Dark/Great Mother for 53 years and counting. She holds many degrees and has many titles, but what is really relevant is that she walks her talk. (And she's really, really funny! And, cute!)
She is a hereditary witch of Romany descent and states, for the record, that some grandmother/nonna stories are really true!
Tanith Roberts has studied with the traditional coven of Moonrite for more then 10 years. She is a co-creator of Open Spirit Circle, in Baltimore MD. She has over 7 years experience with more than 3 different forms of intentional and alchemical fire circles. She actively sought out pain management modalities that would eliminate the use of narcotics after having back surgery. After many sessions of aquatic physical therapy, she collaborated with her therapist to devise this program that not only eliminated the pain in her lower and mid back, but also helped her to loose over 20 pounds in under 2 months.
Sadira is an artist and teacher who has been enjoying dancing her inner goddess for over six years. She began practicing yoga at a young age which led to her interest in incorporating her love for yoga with dance, that brought her to a style of bellydance called tribal fusion. She has over the years taken classes in many different styles of bellydance that have all shaped her eclectic style such as Tribal Fusion, ATS, Turkish, Egyptian Cabaret, and Romany/Gypsy style. Every woman is a Goddess and every Goddess should enjoy the sensual art of bellydance!
Thoron Woodling--a certified public accountant for more than 20 years, Thoron knows how to juggle more than just books, and would be delighted to teach you how to make balls, pins and rings fly gracefully through the air. As a mystic with more than 30 years of experience at the art of scrying, he can also explain the quick, easy techniques of crystal scrying.
Mary Tyrtle Rooker. Answering the call to healing and wholeness, manifesting non-dualistic realities, and transcending gender roles are central to Tyrtle’s vision. Her spiritual beliefs inform her political activism, which dates from the 1970s and includes a range of freedom, justice, and ecology movements. She calls her eclectic sweats “Stone Baths” in honor of her Anglo-Saxon/Germanic heritage. She worked sweats full-time within the Pagan community from 1995-2006 and has poured since 1996. She is a graduate of Sandra Ingerman’s Two-Year Shamanic Teacher Program and is an authorized instructor. She has also been heavily influenced by Teachers such as Betsy Bergstrom, Michael Harner, Angeles Arrien, Starhawk, Tom Cowan, and especially her spirit guides. She has engaged Harner-method shamanism since the early 1990s and has a shamanic healing and teaching practice in the D.C. area.