Beltane Home Vendors Workshops Music / Entertainment Schedule of Events
Rituals Fermented Beverages Competition Design Contest
2008 Presenters and class descriptions
Check back often, we will be adding presenters and classes as each one
is confirmed
(exact scheduling will be available once all presenters are confirmed -
probably by the end of March)
Children's schedule Teens schedule Over 21 only schedule
Friday, May 9th.
10:00 AM
Maypole History, (preceding the hunt)
An understanding of the history and origin of a tradition adds to the
understanding of current practice. As the axis of the festival, the Maypole
brings the vitality of the greenwood into the community center. This workshop
intends to place the High Day, and the customs associated with it, in a
historical context, and explore the occasionally overlooked role of the
masculine within the pagan community.
Chris Harding has been walking the pagan path for over half his life. He
has recently arrived at the stretch where he occupies the office of Bard for the
Grove of the Seven Hills, ADF. He feels more than a little foolish referring to
himself in the third person.
Please visit the Grove's web-site at
http://www.sevenhillsadf.org
Energetic Attunements Vol I (10-1)
by Shaman Manin Erixon-Stanford
This workshop is for anyone who would like an enlightenment boost on his or her
spiritual path. There are many energy systems and methods available to
achieve healing of the body, mind and spirit. These various energy systems are
not religions. The energetic attunements offer healing and balancing for the
physical, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies. These attunements are
gifts from the Stellar Beings (Councils) of Sirius, Pleaides, Arcturus, and the
APUs (Spirits of the Andes) for the highest good of humankind.
Reverend Mignon Manin Erixon-Stanford brings extensive knowledge of healing therapies and spiritual practices to course & workshop participants. She is a Shaman, vibrational and spiritual healer, pastoral counselor and ordained Minister in the state of Virginia. She specializes in crystal therapies, reincarnational regression, releasing karmic issues and deconditioning traumas.
She has facilitated evening drum circles for 5 years and has served as occasional guest teacher with the Body, Mind and Spirit Church of Fredericksburg. She has given energy workshops at Abrams Creek, Lady of America Health and Fitness Center in Rockville, MD and currently mentors eleven students.
Manin’s vibrational therapies include Usui Reiki™ Master/Teacher (RM/T), Drisana™ level 7, Nereiya™ level 1, Teleios Technique™, Quantum-Touch™, Argonium, Orgonium, and Medical Intuitive level 3. She also channels Palladian and Draco energies.
She offers distance and hands-on healing sessions, performs marriage ceremonies, funeral services, exorcisms, baptisms, pastoral counseling, self-empowerment and vibrational workshops.
Manin works with Indigo kids and folks who have attention deficit disorder (ADD), teaching how to apply energy techniques to balance energy movement in the body so one is able to focus for longer periods of time.
Manin is a web designer and the Internet Coordinator at the Smithsonian Institution. She taught at the Smithsonian for over 15 years and developed 16 computer courses. She serves on the board of the Registrar’s Committee of the American Association of Museums.
Manin is the principal owner of the Veins of Silver, LLC Rock and Gem Shop in the Fredericksburg, VA community. Originally from Panama, Manin has traveled throughout Central and South America, studying and networking with other Shamans from Peru, Bolivia, Panama, and the United States.
She is a member of the Community of the Whole Person, the International Association of Reiki Professionals, the Wise Women Web Network of Women in the Healing Arts & Mind, Body, Spirit, and a distributor of the Young Living Oils.
She is the proud mom of two vigorous and wonderful sons and darn tootin’ proud of the community of the young adults and kids who affectionately call her “Shamama”. She’s proud of the over-30 gang, too.
"The Secret" and
What Witches Need to Know About It
By Thorra
This workshop will discuss the Law of Attraction (i.e. "The Secret") and it's importance in the lives of all Pagans and Witches. The focus is on the times when we aren't doing spells and how to use the power of words and thoughts to improve health and anything else.
Decorating the Inner Sanctum
~with Erica Curci
Is your creative side calling out? Does your inner decorating
Diva want to play?
Come to the Inner Sanctum (big white tent at campsite 24) and help create an
adult oriented play space for the weekend. Bring luscious fabrics, fluffy
pillows, jingle bells or what ever you think will create a Beltane mood.
1:00 PM
Decorating the Maypole ~ Jeanet Ewing
RedWolf (Jeanet) has followed the Pagan path since 1993, when she was introduced to Witchcraft by her sister. While RedWolf’s practice is mostly eclectic, her focus is on Shamanic Witchcraft and American Folk Magic. She has extensively studied magical herbalism, aromatherapy, and the use of stones and crystals for ritual work and personal transformation. She has taught workshops on a variety of practical magic topics, and for the last 6 years, has also led public rituals for several local Pagan groups.
RedWolf has been a member of the Circle Sanctuary community since 1996, and is currently enrolled in Circle’s Minister Training Program, which is led by its founder, Selena Fox. She is one of the founders of the Northern Virginia Pagan Network. She also co-owns The Pagan Peddler, an online Pagan ritual supply business she operates with her husband Dave and their 6 feline “work center supervisors”.
Discordian Magick: written in the late 60's by a soon to
be declared legally insane acid head the "Principia Discordia" detailes the
worship of Discord aka Eris the Goddess of chaos. Though known more for it's
bong hit humor and koan like non-sequitors, Discordia can be
a fully functional belief and ritual structure. Learn the basics, participate in
a ritual, and even take part in the birthing of our own
discordian egregore. Plus, Free Cookies!
Alexander has been involved in the occult and alternative
spirituality all his life having never been reproached for magickal thought, he
is
an interesting and entertaining individual.
Tolerance? Today pagans and Wiccans across the globe are claiming to be the most tolerant of people, but what exactly is tolerance? Does being tolerant mean that you have to like everyone no matter how crazy they are? The answer might surprise you. Also learn a little about psychological development phases and what they mean to the pagan community. Come away with a better understanding of yourself and the wider pagan community around you.
Samantha Erickson aka Foxfire has been a practicing member of the
pagan community for a decade. She is currently working through her degree
training and she lives in Charlottesville with her two wonderful rats and her
rescued red tailed boa. As always she is crazy about knitting and exploring the
world around her physically mentally and spiritually.
Friday, 5:00 PM
Drumming with Dewey McMahan
Chanting as Community with Lynne Kassirer
A brief dissertation on Fire Circle Energy and Power Flow:
What enhances and builds it. What blocks and inhibits it.
Will be followed by familiar Chants from diverse sources (Lyric Sheets will be
provided)
With Live Drumming, Participants are encouraged to join in song and through the
experience of community fix the melodies in memory in order to share them
wherever they go. In truth, if we miss any of your personal faves, we invite you
to share them with us!
Lynne Kassirer has been a student of the occult for over 35 years and an appreciator of the networks of the natural world for her whole life. The Path of Worship through Voice and Sound is near and dear to her. It is her pleasure to offer workshops on the interactions of Sound within the Sacred Space of the Fire/Drum Circle.
Tarot ~ Amber Norhtwind
The Tarot workshop will go over symbolic messages inherent in various traditional decks and their connection to The Qabbalah's Tree of Life and Western Astrology, the Tarot's use as a magickal learning tool, as well as its use as a divination tool.
Saturday, May 10th
9:00 AM
Healing Crystals Workshop
Shaman Manin Erixon-Stanford
As we humans vibrate on various frequencies, so does the energy from stones.
Another tool in the Shaman's bag is tuning in to stone energies and their
metaphysical properties for healing purposes. In this workshop, we will have
some fun discovering the energetic and metaphysical properties of various
stones. All participants will receive a gift from the Earth.
(see Bio above)
10:00 am
Connect-to-Nature Workshop
Teaching to the Inner-Child, Nisa Nature delights
ADULTS in her Connect-to Nature (www.EarthchildInspire.com)
workshops with characteristic joy and excitement. Exploring the
energetic characteristic of animals, plants, and stones through sacred song,
dance, and journeying, either inside or outside in nature, Nisa Nature’s
Connect-to-Nature interactive
workshops bring fun, relaxing, and energizing wisdom at all levels. Join with
Nisa Nature to learn how to speak and listen in your own unique relationships
with your animal guides, trees that are special to you, powerful stones and
crystals, and places on Earth sacred to You.
Nisa Nature is also available for individual Nature Healing song-readings.
Biography
of Nisa Nature
Nisa Montie, or Nisa Nature, began exploring her
connection with Nature through the art of writing poetry at age 8. This love of
Nature carried forward, inspiring her to complete a bachelor’s degree from
As a Mom, Nisa taught her three children about
respecting the natural world around them: from the trees to the ants and
spiders to the awesome hawks and vultures circling in the air. As her own
children grew, she created an original musical for children with fun animal
characters and the lessons associated with them.
Nisa Nature’s Adventures was
performed at the National Zoo, for
At present, Nisa Nature is creating a new Nisa
Nature’s Adventures series, in collaboration with Rev. Manin Erixon-Stanford,
Shaman and metaphysical author (veinsofsilver.org). These new shows are
designed to teach children about cultures, particularly people’s energetic
connection to nature and ecology, as well as about the animals, plants, and
stones, from particular areas around our Earth. Nisa is collaborating with Rev.
Manin Erixon-Stanford, Shaman and metaphysical author (veinsofsilver.org) for
these eco-adventures. The first new show is entitled, “Beam Me Over to the Andes
and the Amazon: Nisa Nature and Shaman Manin discover
What people are saying about
Nisa Nature: “The song that came to me via Nisa Nature was a
condensed and articulate version of an artful psychic reading and life coach
guidance session. What powerful insights I received!” Lisa Cosgrove, Marketing
Director
Overview of the
Norse Gods and Reading the Runes
By Thorra
A basic rune workshop for learning the Elder Futhark runes and simple reading techniques, done from a traditional Norse perspective. The discussion will include the Norse Gods, history of the runes, the problem with the "blank rune," and recommended books for further study.
You may already know Thorra who was a vendor and read runes at our Beltaine events in 2003-2005. Thorra has been reading, studying and working with the runes since 1995, and has (officially) been Asatru since 1999. Thorra owns and runs the Norse Jewelry website, The Thorr's Hammer Site. Thorra has been a student of magic since childhood, with more in-depth studies of many magical traditions beginning in 1991. It was this journey that finally led to the runes and then home to Asatru. Thorra first learned about The Law of Attraction at the beginning of this journey as affirmations and quantum physics, which at the time seemed too new-agey to be useful. It was only recently with the publicity of "The Secret" and other works that make the Law of Attraction plain and simple, that it really sunk in how well the Law can work, regardless of one's spiritual path.
1:00 PM
Free Flow Chanting
How to Chant without "rules";
Being mindful of group dynamic and flow;
Following Spirit and letting that Spirit out in Sound
Several examples will be presented to show the wide range of expression this
type of Chanting can encompass.
After a meditation to focus within and opening to the Sound of Spirit.
We will build a Circle of Sound without accompaniment.
Followed by another Circle of Sound built upon drumming.
You have absolute freedom...
And absolute responsibility...
Choose wisely.... Choose Love!
(See Bio above)
1:00 PM
Mead Making 101
From the man who brings us those awesome wine bottle charms. Come
learn how mead is created from a gifted expert.
Leo Hill has been involved in the pagan community since the
early eighties. He holds a BS in Business Management and a MS in Technology
Management, both from the
Leo currently helps his partner Dawn with her business, Crystal Forest. Leo has been making mead for several years and wants to share his experience and recipes with others.
Knights of the Olde Code: A Way of Life dedicated to living by the Ideals of Chivalry, Honour and Service to others. Knight, Samurai, Spiritual Warrior, these titles denote a person dedicated to peace, not war. Balance, not strife, others, not self, a difficult Path that is not suited for all yet is one that is as desperately needed in our time as it was in the past. Open to all, man or woman, young or young at heart who seek to instill Balance, Confidence and Peace in themselves and others. The workshop includes discussion on what a Knight is and is not, what it takes to become a Knight as well as offering resources for instruction and fellowship. Practical exercises as well as an introduction to the Knightly Arms of Dagger, Quarterstaff and Sword are offered.
5:30 PM ~ Tribal Belly Dance with MJZ
Dance has been a part of the sacred feminine for thousands of years. Most early civilizations in the Middle East used dance as part of their goddess rituals. Some of the moves that are now part of belly dance were originally incorporated into birthing rituals and fertility dances. As cultures in the Middle East grew and flourished dance began to change. It became a form of entertainment in the royal palaces. Groups of nomadic peoples developed a form of dance that was spirited and lively and typically performed for the entertainment of their family groups and friends rather than in the homes of kings. These people became the Ghawazee dancers of Egypt, typically dancing at weddings and other celebrations.
When the patriarchal religions began to move forward and push out the old pantheons of gods and goddesses the dance began to change. Women were viewed with suspicion and treated with contempt. Women who danced were considered to be in violation of the fundamental laws of Islam and, to some extent, Christianity as well. Many women kept the dance alive in their homes, teaching their daughters. In Turkey the Ottomans kept dancers as part of the palace harems.
Attitudes toward belly dance have changed in the Middle East and it is now commonly performed in nightclubs, at weddings, and as part of other celebrations. In America it became a Hollywood trend in the 1950s and has been evolving ever since. Now there are many variations and styles of belly dance. Cabaret dance, folkloric dance, American Tribal Style, tribal fusion are all part of the mix.
All these styles stick to the same very basic principals of posture and isolations. Movements of the chest, hips, arms, hands, head and feet are all a part of belly dance. It’s a good workout for your body and a really joyful way to express yourself. It builds confidence and allows us to learn to respect and love our bodies.
Our troupe, Min el J’bal el Zarr’a , was formed a year ago and focuses on dancing to live music. All of us have taken years of classes and gone to many workshops. As individuals we’ve all been performing for several years either solo or as members of other troupes. We’re excited about this new troupe and we’re so happy to have drummers as a part of it. We’re all looking forward to participating in Blue Ridge Beltane this year!
Ritual Singing & Pre-ritual briefing ~ Grove of the Seven Hills
Janet & Nancy of the Grove of the Seven Hills, ADF will lead a class covering the music to be used in the Main Ritual and the basic outline of a Druid rite. If you have never attended or participated in a Druid ritual, this is a great time to learn the behind-the-trees nuts of bolts of what makes Druid ritual special and to learn the words of the songs we'll be singing.
PLANTS in our Environment, Food, Medicine or Weeds!: Healing with plants is a practice with ancient roots. Many of the most useful and powerful medicine plants are all around us in our daily life, such as oaks, pines, berries, common flowers, lambs quarter, plantain, and many others. Some we know as ornamental while most people just call the plants weeds.
Much of this plant information is gathered from personal experience, the experience of many others, talks with herbalists and ‘curanderas/os’ (Mexican healers), shamans of Peru, Bolivia, Panama, and from Dr. James Duke Author of The Green Pharmacy, plus the growing field of native plant healing research.
We will take a walk around the camp and search for spring wild edibles and discuss what they will look like during the rest of the growing season. We will also discuss why we would want to gather wild plants and how to cultivate them for our gardens. We will also give you suggested reading and internet sites and a great CD that a friend has put together. 5,846 plus pages of info, including some recipes. If you have any recipes you want to share with others bring your favorites. We suggest you bring a walking stick, notepad and camera/recorder. We might even make some tea or cook up a little delite we brought back from our Peru trip this past Oct/Nov 2007.
We also will talk a little about the healing properties of Essential Oils, for more information see my web site at www.chiropractichealth.org then go to essential oils page.
SUNDAY, May 11th.
9:00 AM
Energetic Attunements Vol II
Shaman Manin Erixon-Stanford
The energetic attunements offered in Vol II. are to help us heal and balance our
physical, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies. They are useful in regaining
balance during times of physical, mental, emotional stress as the Earth moves
toward the Galactic Center and humankind evolves.
These attunements are gifts from the Stellar Beings (Councils) of Sirius,
Pleaides, Arcturus, and the APUs (Spirits of the Andes) for the highest good of
humankind.
(see bio above)
Noon
Prayer Tie Workshop
Hosted by Reverand Kathyrn Kenyon
For parents/guardians who will have their youth at the "Blessing of the Wee Ones" and For all who feel connected to Mother Earth, and desire to learn and share in this Native tradition of creating prayer ties.
Folks can show up at anytime, although it is a step by step process with each of the 7 sacred directions receiving specific blessings.
See bio under the "Blessing of the Wee Ones" ritual.
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Rituals Fermented Beverages Competition Design Contest
