Rev. Bleepo Abernathy
Bill Kates is a certified SubGenius Pagan and Chameleon, raised in the woods of Lower Westchester county, NY by his dog Flapjack and his understanding family. A radio veteran, musician, and actor with more than a quarter century of experience (which he sees in cosmic terms as "no time at all"), he has collaborated with artists ranging from The Firesign Theater to Terry Gilliam. While not producing, editing, or performing, he exacts his revenge on the normals with his surrealistic humor and innovative ideas. He resides in Brooklyn with his partner Alley and their rabbits.
Workshop:
Instant Surrealist Theater
Unhinge your "inner performer"! Participants of this workshop
will write and perform a genuine short Surrealist Play, through theatrical
and musical improvisation, trance work, portions of the Grotowski method,
and sheer, brazen, theatrical trickery. Musicians, poets, actors, and artists,
showoffs or wannabees of any nature are encouraged to let this be their
opportunity to fully exploit the abnormality of their choice whilst keeping
their minds open to every aspect of those around them.
Abraham
Tattoo is the ancient and deeply symbolic art of personal transformation. When it comes to symbol, image, and energy, Abraham is an artist with a deft hand and a magic touch. Whether working at his Binghamton NY studio The Shaman’s Den or on the road and ‘between the worlds’ as Dancing Bull Tattoo, Abraham brings attention and intention, to the work he refers to as ‘A Healing of Art’. Abraham is a ritual drummer, a Reiki master, an apprentice goldsmith, and a performing artist with the funky tribal fusion band The Bardos.
Workshops:
A Healing of Art: The Tattoo
Seeking to raise awareness of our bodies as temples with a keen desire to
decorate, Abraham talks about the magical and healing art of the tattoo.
Exploring the history, culture and significance of this transformative art
form, he will speak on the Five Questions of getting a tattoo. Come ready
to share your experiences or ask questions as the session will end with
an open discussion on this Healing of Art we call, the Tattoo.
The Ritual Tattoo
People, especially those on a spiritual path, are looking for a magical,
transformative experience that will not only help achieve the goal of the
magic they are trying to work, but will stay with them for the rest of their
lives. Few things can achieve this like a tattoo done with intent. Together
we will explore the boundaries of how tattoo and ritual can be an effective
tool for many of us. A discussion of ways and means will be followed by
and actual ritual tattoo. Come ready to learn and participate. Drums, percussion,
musical instruments, voices and a willingness to hold space are welcome.
Peg Aloi
Peg Aloi
has an MFA in English and teaches Film Studies at Emerson College. She has
also taught a course on witchcraft in film and literature at Tufts. She
has presented or published academic papers on topics related to paganism
and the occult in the fields of travel writing, Celtic literature, film,
and
cultural studies. She is currently co-editing an anthology on paganism in
the US and UK with a British colleague. She has been the Media Coordinator
for The Witches Voice since its inception in 1996. She is a film critic
for the Boston Phoenix and has published articles in various magazines on
topics ranging from aromatherapy to witchcraft, is a published poet and
fiction writer, and won an international poetry prize last summer. A practicing
witch for fifteen years, and an activist in the community for nearly as
long, Peg has never tried to hide her lifestyle in academic environments,
but this has not always been an easy path.
Workshop:
Witches in the Ivory Tower: Pagan Belief and Practice in the Academic
Community (co-presented with Skip Clark) A
great many professional academics are practicing witches, pagans, druids,
etc. but many have felt it necessary to be "broom-closeted" where
their jobs are concerned. In recent years, paganism and the occult have
become increasingly legitimized as academic research topics (witness the
success of the writings of Professor Ronald Hutton, for example). But academics
still are wary of admitting their personal involvement in the very communities
they write about. The line of separation between K-12 educators and the
significance of their personal spiritual practices is clearly drawn; but
what of higher education, an atmosphere which normally encourages instruction
that draws upon the personal experiences of teachers? This workshop will
explore the issues facing pagan academics,and encourage discussion and sharing
of anecdotes from others. Academics and educators encouraged to attend but
all are welcome. This workshop is led by two professors; one the head of
the history department at a southern university; the other a lecturer in
film studies at a media arts college in the Northeast.
Björnsál
Björnsál
is a group of five heathen women from the Northeast who met during an oracular
seidh workshop led by Hrafnar Kindred. In setting up a working group of
their own, Catheryn Burke, Denise Cruci, Victorria Johnson, Patricia Lafayllve
and Lisa Tonner collectively have drawn on their extensive experience from
Asatru, Wiccan and Neo-Pagan traditions. Björnsál has facilitated
private spae sessions for pagan groups in NYC and upstate NY, and at last
year's Starwood participated in the Oracular Seidh Three Norns Ritual led
by Diana Paxson. They will also be leading a spae session for East Coast
Thing 2003 in September.
Ritual: In the old Icelandic sagas, a spaekona was a woman
who 'saw' or 'divined' either good fortune or famine for the survival of
the community. In today's heathen ritual setting, using core shamanistic
practices, trained seeresses will journey among the nine worlds connected
by Yggdrasil looking for the answers to the questions asked by our modern
kin.
Isaac Bonewits
Isaac Bonewits
is one of North America's leading experts on Druidism, Witchcraft and the
rapidly growing Earth Religions movement. A practicing Neopagan priest,
scholar, teacher, bard and polytheologian for over thirty years, he has
coined much of the vocabulary and articulated many of the issues that have
shaped the Neopagan community in the United States and Canada. He holds
the only accredited degree ever given in Magic (U.C.Berkeley), and is a
founder and Archdruid Emeritus of Ar nDraiocht Fein: A Druid Fellowship
(ADF). He is the author of the classic Real Magic, of Authentic
Thaumaturgy, and of the recently released book Witchcraft: A Concise
Guide. Currently, he is the Senior Executive Editor of Earth Religions
Press.
Workshops:
Top-Down Ritual Design
From the arcane art of computer programming comes a whole new approach to
the equally arcane art of creating effective ceremonies: “top-down
ritual design.” In this fascinating workshop, meant for moderately
experienced ritualists, Isaac will discuss the many uses that a computer
programming metaphor can have for ritual design. He’ll show how general
problem solving techniques can be applied to the complexities of ceremony,
and demonstrate how the top-down approach can be used to modify successful
rituals from the past into effective future ones.
Bardism 101: Effective Use of Poetry, Chants and Music in Ritual
These three tools can make or break a ritual in terms of generating and
focussing the psychological, and therefore the psychic, energies of the
participants. Isaac provides an interesting and amusing introduction to
the use of these and other performance arts in ritual, including the composition
and use of repeating patterns to reinforce cosmological and polytheological
concepts, as well as the infamous, “Generic Pagan Chant!”
Muruga Booker
Muruga
Booker is a percussionist with an incredible list of credits, from jazz
to rock, world beat to techno-rave. He started drumming in Detroit in the
mid 50s, playing with such legends as John Lee Hooker and Junior Wells,
and with Jim & Jean on their albums Changes and People World in the
early 60s. When he played with Tim Harden at Woodstock, he met Swami Satchidananda
and began a three-decade quest in Sida/Kundalini Yoga, touring with Swami
Muktananda and Ram Das, and eventually attaining the titles of Nada Yogi
and Go Swami. He played with Paul Winter Consort on Something Wild in the
Wind in '68, at Carnegie Hall with the Brubeck Generation in '71, and replaced
Airto with Weather Report to record Sweet Nighter in '73. In the 80s he
recorded several albums with George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars, and
produced trance-drumming records with Prem Das. In the 90s, he was part
of Merl Saunder's Rainforest Band, recording with Jerry Garcia, did a CD
with Babatunde Olatunji and Sikiru called Cosmic Rhythm Vibrations, and
played with his own band, The Global Village Ceremonial Band, featuring
ex-Big Brother guitarist James Gurley.
Workshop:
Kundalini Yoga and Nada Yoga Drum Workshop
Muruga will lecture on aspects of Kundulini and Nada yoga (the inner divine
sound) and will intergrate hatha yoga streching and breathing to achieve
health and maximum relaxation for better drumming and musical expression.
Kundulini is the inner conscious uncreated energy of creation and Nada is
the sound of the energy. Muruga will lead people through tapping into their
Kundulini and Nada energy and take this into trance drumming and breathing
and chanting which brings about spontaneous Kundalini experience leading
to better health, creativity, and cosmic oneness of being. Drums and percussion
will be provided BUT people are encouraged to bring their own drums if they
have them.
Jim Barleycorn Brewster
Jim Barleycorn
Brewster is a scientist, multi-instrumental musician, and longtime festival-goer
with years of experience playing and dancing on the edge. He's a musical
jack-of-all-trades, starting with the trumpet in grade school and moving
to guitar and various stringed things, djembe and other percussion, didgeridoo,
pennywhistle, recorder, and flute.
A founding member of the Bardic Bardos, Jim has also been part of Green
Crown and currently plays and sings with KIVA. He has made guest appearances
with Seeds of Time, Vicki Ganger, and Owain Phyfe, just to name a few. He
has long been interested in the history and cross-fertilization of musical
styles and the relationship of artistic expression to social, cultural,
and spiritual conditions.
Workshop:
Gettin' Down with the Goddess: The Sacred Heart of Secular Music
What is it about music that moves bodies and souls? Why has it always made
patriarchs and fundamentalists so uneasy? Who was really moving Elvis's
pelvis? We'll explore these questions and more as we discuss the role of
secular music and dance in keeping the Goddess alive during repressive times.
Other possible topics include altered states through sound and movement,
rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic ideas, and the balance between discipline
and inspiration in any artistic pursuit. Depending on how the spirit moves
us, we could end with a "sacred jam session," so bring drums or
other instruments if you like.
Angela Brownfield
Angela Brownfield
is a certified hypnotherapist with the American Board of Hypnotherapy, and
works with a leading New York hypnosis center. She is an initiate of the
Shadowfolk tradition of witchcraft and a member of the Strangers'Gate Coven
in the Temple of the Spiral Path. She is also an avid scrapbooker and craftsperson.
Workshops:
Discover the Power of Hypnosis: Learn how to use the power of mind
for self-improvement and actualization. You will learn self-hypnosis techniques
and experience a group trance as Angela leads you through journey of the
mind.
Scrapbooking your Book of Shadows: Have a pile of pictures and ritual outlines you haven't done anything with? Come to this course and discover how learning to scrapbook can enhance your magical record keeping. Bring pictures of an event or ritual, or a description of a spell you've done. We will combine mementos, photos, journaling, and creative touches to create a scrapbook page to insert into your Book of Shadows. Please bring $5 for supplies.
Carol Lee Callen
Carol Lee Callen
has a M.S. in Oriental Medicine. She has psychic/mediumship certifications
from The Church of the Living Spirit and The Trilogy Institute, both in
Lily Dale, N.Y., America's largest spiritualist camp, where she lived for
five years. Carol has worked for many years as an intuitive counselor, transformational
breathwork facilitator and teacher of reiki , hatha yoga and qi-gong. She
has authored two instructional tapes; "Awakening the Flow of Qi"
and "Self-Hypnosis for Stress Management". She currently has a
private practice of chinese herbology and acupuncture in Santa Fe, N.M.
Workshops:
Awakening the Flow of Qi: Using breath, concentration,
visualization, and easy movement, you can learn to control and strengthen
your life force. In this class, you will be introduced to ancient techniques
of pranayama and qi-gong for centering your consciousness, clearing your
chakras and starting to awaken your flow of Qi. These exercises are simple
to learn yet can lead to profound spiritual insight and enhanced well-being.
The Intuitive Touch: Healers of all kinds naturally use thier intuition as well as thier particular healing knowlege to identify disease patterns and treatment protocols. Reclaim your innate healing ability and learn to fine-tune your intuition. This hands-on workshop will offer you specific exercises that you will apply to give an aura balancing treatment and relaxing massage while balancing your own energy. All levels of experience welcome.
The Craft of Psychic Readings: Just as a musician must learn the craft of his art and practice it, so must a psychic reader. Part qi-gong and part performance art, giving good intuitive readings has more to do with sincere desire to help and dedicated practice than innate talent. In this workshop, you will be introduced to key practices that will allow your natural ability to come forward.
Rev. Ursula Carrie
I come from
the ways of the Mother, the Bitch, the Green Witch. These teachings come
to me through the Oral Tradition from many teachers whom I Love and Trust.
I offer them in the Name of the Mother for all who would receive them, for
my health and all of yours. Da Nayho! Blessed Be.
Workshops:
Green Witching: The Sacred Art of Nourishment:
Nourish and tonify, build Chi, nourish each cell as it grows. Let go,let
die and build anew. Add onto the picture of the whole. Wholly holy. Ah,
the compassion of the Wise Woman, the wise healer within. Can you feel Her?
Let us come together and chant in the wise abundance of the Earth and all
of Her powers to nourish and Heal. Journey into the 6 Steps of Healing,
nourishing herbal infusions, medicinal herbal vinegars, tinctures, salves.
Remember the Wise Woman Tradition of Healing, find out how it is so very
different from what we know as "alternative" modes of healing
and healthcare. Nutrient-dense, real foods wait to full-fill you and dispel
the myths and fads of the "health" food industry. Find out why
butter is better, and how ongoing scientific research is showing that soy
"foods" may not be so good for our health. Make wise choices with
your organic dollars, and more.
Weed Wisdom: A Plant Walk
Weeds have gotten a bad rap. These common plants have so much to give, are
so abundant, and their preservation is so important to our ecosystem, lo!
our very existence, with the medicine and nourishment
that they offer. How many of these Green Allies have you walked past on
your journey into Starwood? The Brushwood grounds are alive with these plant
cousins. We will walk, sniff, nibble and talk about various historical,
medicinal, edible, and spiritual qualities of several wild herbs. We will
discuss ecological harvesting etiquette and preparation of plants into tinctures,
oils, salves, and medicinal vinegars. (we will not do actual harvesting
as to preserve the fragile beauty of the Brushwood landscape)
Rosa Castro
Rosa Castro has been a certified Reiki Master since 1993 and is an Intuitive therapist and teacher, training students since 1989 in both Metaphysics and healing since 1994. She holds a degree in Psychology, with certification in Addiction and Psychotherapy. She has been working in the mental health field since 1985, and in alternative healing since 1989. She has held workshops at the New Life and Whole Life Expos, taught classes in Reiki, Chakra exploration, Tarot, Psychic Development and Past Life Regression.
Workshops:
Reiki Healing Circle: Join us for a light meditation and
healing work using Reiki, which is an ancient form of "laying on of
hands" technique originating from Tibet. Gather with us and experience
the powerful and healing energy of Reiki for yourself. Learn some basic
information on the benefits of using Reiki, how it works and how it can
be applied for everyday balance and self-healing.
Past Life work through the Chakras: The chakras are energy centers that are located throughout our body. These centers can retain emotional memories that can be traced back to our childhood or previous lives. This memories contain information that can unblock hidden talents or release blocks. Discover simple techniques for retrieving information locked in our subtle energy centers.
Exploring Trance Healing: The inner world of our mind holds useful tools for healing and unblocking our potentials. Through trance work you will tap into your inner inner world and discover the power within. Through guided imagery work you will discover a new realm of creative thinking and problem solving, which will enable you to release blockages and provide you with new methods for healing and creating a new reality. Learn simple techniques for making changes and manifesting dreams.
Priestess Miriam Chamani
Priestess
Miriam Chamani is president of the Voodoo Spiritual Temple of New Orleans,
which she co-founded in 1990. She has served in the Ministry for over 30
years and was ordained as a Bishop in a Spiritual Church in 1982. She holds
an Associates' Degree in medical science and worked for 20 years in the
traditional medical field. An accomplished herbalist, spiritual healer &
reader, metaphysical teacher and lecturer, Priestess Miriam is known worldwide
through her appearances on television, film, radio, and in print. She has
been featured on the Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel, and with news
syndicates such as Associated Press, New York Times and the BBC. She has
aired on TV in Germany, Japan, France, Belgium, England, etc., has been
sponsored to Russia 4 times by a spiritual group to teach about Voodoo,
and has been to Belize and Haiti in the same capacity. Japan is sponsoring
her next year to lecture and do spiritual healing and reading.
Workshops:
Voodoo Synthesis and its Collective Values
In this lecture, Priestess Miriam will focus on the different energies that
help create the collective values of Voodoo, such as the "osmotic"
impulses that create universal substance (both visible and invisible) and
"dynamic dacapo": the collection of matter in its duality that
creates cycles from beginnings to endings, returning to its duality as Yin/Yang,
Man/Woman, etc., and the Unification that brings about our completion and
new beginning.
Russia: Initiation and Path Searching
Priestess Miriam has travelled to Russia 4 times in the past 3
years, and is working with a group of Russian people thru correspondence.
In an amazing coloboration, certain Tibetan Buddhist monks and Russian spiritual
leaders are incorporating Voodoo into their spiritual practices. They are
combining energies with Priestess Miriam to establish a Voodoo Spiritual
Temple in the city of Astrakhan along the Volga River and Caspian Sea. Priestess
Miriam will speak of her Russian experience, and the lessons she learned
there about the origin of 'Initiation' and where 'path searching' begins.
Skip Clark
Skip Clark has
a Ph.D. in History and has been publishing in the area of the history of
witchcraft for a number of years. He also regularly teaches a course in
the History of Western Witchcraft, a course he has taught for fifteen years.
Recently, he has been talking to academics about how their spiritual activities
fit into their teaching. Perhaps an article will develop out of this! He
currently is Chair of the History Department at the State University of
West Georgia.
Workshop:
(see "Witches in the Ivory Tower" under Peg
Aloi)
Ian Corrigan
Ian Corrigan is a Chameleon, an ACE organizer, and has been a teacher, writer, singer and ritualist in the Pagan movement for 25 years. For the past 15 years his work has focused on the lore and work of Celtic Paganism, first in the Celtic Traditional Craft, and then in Pagan Druidism. Ian is an Archdruid Emeritus of ADF, and an ADF Priest. An Elder of Stone Creed Grove, ADF’s oldest congregation, he is author of four books on Celtic Paganism: Sacred Fire, Holy Well; The Portal Book, The Book of the Dragon, and Grammary. One of the finest bards of the modern Pagan movement, Ian has been writing and performing songs of the British Isles and Neo-Paganism for over 20 years, and his music and poetry have delighted audiences at A.C.E. events and Pagan festivals across the U.S.A. and Canada. (CDs, lecture tapes and books by Ian are available from ACE.)
Workshops:
Issues In Pagan Theology
Neopaganism is a path of practice, more than of belief. We are not ‘credal’
- we do not ask one another what we ‘believe’ before we join
in circle. Paganism has no need for formal declarations of faith, and theology
is always, thus, been secondary in our modern movement. Nevertheless, it
is valuable to exmine the intellectual assumptions that arise from and inform
our work. This (PANEL DISCUSSION) (TALK AND DISCUSSION) will look at patterns
in traditional Pagan religions, and compare them with our own neopagan ways,
(OUR PANEL) (IAN) will discuss key ideas, then open the floor for questions
and discussion. Including: Polytheism and Monism; Nature, Matter and Spirit;
the place of idolatry; the Human and the Divine.
Piseog, Briocht, Draiocht - the Practice of Celtic Sorcery
Every system of Pagan spirituality includes forms of practical magic, divination
and communication with spirits. Within the lore of the Druids is the world
of the Sidhe, the work of binding of fate, of speaking with the spirits,
of working one’s will in this world and the Otherworld. Ian is interested
in building a modern system of Celtic occultism that is true to the images
and ideas of Celtic Paganism. This workshop begins by examining Celtic folklore
sources for traces of spellbinding and spirit-art, then discusses applications
for modern practice. Including a Celtic system of sigils; gathering power;
magical stones and trees, the Cauldron & the Wand, the Magical Head.
Martin Cradick
Baka Beyond's Martin Cradick is an intrepid traveller and brilliant guitarist. His search for common links between Northern European and West African traditions took him and Su Hart deep into the Cameroon rainforest where they lived with the Baka Pygmies. Inspired by his experiences there Martin formed Baka Beyond and produced four world-wide selling albums for the Hannibal Records label (royalties collected for the Baka by the "One Heart" charity). In 2001 Martin recorded an album with Nii Tagoe and Seckou Keita called EtE.
Workshop:
World Music: Afro-Celtic and (Baka) Beyond
One of the most creative, fascinating and popular new musical genres
is world music, or world beat music. Combining styles of music from different
parts of the world, often with a sacred component, this art form is a musical
expression of multi-culturalism. A synergistic collaboration between the
musicians of different cultures, with combinations of instrumentation never
before heard, world music can achieve an almost unearthly or timeless quality,
and often points out our similarities as much as our differences. Baka Beyond
has been known to combine Celtic, African, Australian, American Jazz, and
other elements into their magical sound, and they will share some of that
musical odyssey in this class.
Rebecca Crystal
For over two decades Rebecca has been presenting workshops (Starwood, Womyn's festivals, Goddess Gathering), teaching (13+ private students), organizing (Elf Lore Family, Covenant of the Unitarian Universalist Pagans), writing (articles and currently looking for a publisher for her memoirs), and in other ways making herself useful to the Neo-Pagan community. Coining the phrase "quilting the magick" implies her bottom line - mutual respect for all who she meets. She currently lives in Vermont, makes her living through her MSW, and is joyfully raising her 15 year old son with her magnificent partner.
Workshops:
PSYCHIC HEALING IN THE ROUND Using humor and pragmatism
Rebecca will gather those present into a healing community to support individual
work with volunteers. Come with blocks to spiritual growth or wounds unknown
or unhealed by others and give this unorthodox, uncertified but experienced
psychic healer an opportunity to help you. Sacred observers are welcome
to lend their energy to the work at hand.
SOUL RETREIVAL FOR A SHORTER DEATH Soul retrieval brings back those bits and pieces of us that were knocked/shocked out and didn't find their way back. What if part of the process of dying includes gathering those memories still ungathered? After a short discussion of this concept, Rebecca will demonstrate on a volunteer how soul retrieval is accomplished and then how we can each do our own retrieval. Please bring something that rattles.
SISTER/BROTHER CIRCLE Among the throng that attend Starwood find this supportive circle that will encourage intimate sharing and continued support through out the festival by making real contact with a few willing brothers and sisters. Meet and Greet; Gloom and Bloom; Duck and Stuck; Belief and Relief; and Honor and Donar will be the cycles of intimacy. Bring a small item for Give Away.
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last updated 6/20/03