EtheraCon 2004 classes

Advanced Candle Magick - Erik Bruch
Candles have long enjoyed a special relationship with the practice of magick, from the Watchtowers on our altars, to the wishes made on a birthday cake. Every Wicca 101 book has a chapter on candle magick, even if it's only "light a pink candle and think of love." Learn a more serious version of candle magick by creating a candle talisman for your own use.  All materials will be provided.

Bardic Circle. – Hosted by Black Lotus
Come and join this EtheraCon Tradition hosted by Black Lotus. Share a song, poem or story…. Of just show up an have fun!

Beginning Spell Casting- Witches Element
The purpose of spell casting is to explore the world and your own spirituality, teach responsibility, communicate with the powers that be, and give you a better sense of purpose.  Come and learn the basic techniques to create your own spells.  Find out when should you cast spells, and when you should not.  What are the tools you should use and/or if you should use any at all.  Gain a better understanding to why we practice, why perform spells and the way we go about doing it.

Blended Rites – Judy Harrow
Rituals of passage mark the important turning points of our lives: birth, coming of age, marriage, death, and more. At these times, we want our dear ones close to us ­ whether or not we share the same religious affiliation. How do we design rituals of passage that will be comfortable and satisfying for all involved? When is it appropriate to co-celebrate these rites with clergy of other religions? How do we work with them to create rituals that fully honor both traditions?

Brigit's Sisters: The Healing Goddesses Of The Ancient Celts – Alexei Kondratiev
An important part of ancient Celtic worship focused on goddesses who had unique healing attributes and whose shrines attracted pilgrims from all over the Celtic world. We will describe the nature and cult of these goddesses and show how much of the imagery associated with them is reflected in the later traditions about Brigit in Ireland and Scotland.

Building Traditions or The World is How you Believe it is - Marsha Pickands
This class is open to all who are interested.  It focuses on the process of building meaningful and practical personal traditions that have the potential to become family and even community traditions.

Cernunnos: Looking a Different Way.  - Cei Serith
 Most people, Pagans and non-Pagans alike, think of Cernunnos as a god of the wild, or of animals.  But when I looked closely at the images we have of him, I couldn't find that.  I did find something else though, that he was a completely different kind of deity.  I'll be explaining what I found and how I found it.

Chants/rounds workshop- Andras Corbin Arthen
These would be chants that probably most of those attending would not be familiar with (unless they were MotherTongue fans, in which case they might know some...), and quite a few of them have themes on winter/darkness/peace which would fit in with the season. I could either do one session or break it up into two classes (maybe one for easy chants and another for more difficult ones).

Conscious Balance, Dynamic Stretch – Djenaba
Achieving balance in our lives is an art and a science, a journey from the physical to the spiritual and beyond. We function in an ever-changing environment, our bodies moving in multiple planes.  The ability to adjust smoothly depends on the stability and awareness of a core connection.  Learn to enhance proprioception and improve neuro-muscular function.  Be the one who can comfortably stand your ground or move with grace and ease.  Learn to transform challenges into opportunities for improved well-being.   After all, life is all about movement,  we aren't cardboard cutouts, and this ain't no dress rehearsal.  Wear loose, comfortable clothes you can move in.

Cooking up your own Traditions - Tchipakkan
 Food is intrinsically sacred, and Traditions are the cement that binds us to the Wheel of the Year. Most religions have special foods associated with their holidays- the fried foods of Carnival and Channuka, Mince pie and Plum Pudding for Christmas, Hot Cross Buns for Easter...  As many first generation Neo-Pagans andPaleo-Pagans begin to celebrate our holidays with our children, the foods we make year after year will provide the traditions that will ground them and carry them through their sacred cycles. This is a hands-on and mouths-on workshop, with edible examples of how we can consciously choose and adapt our favorite recipes into the real magick that traditions can make.

Dowsing the Chakras- Djenaba
Along with energy meridians, chakras are an important barometer of our health and well-being. Djenaba will teach techniques for using a pendulum and the chakra system to create a positive energetic flow to put us in harmony with our world and create positive options and behaviors, easily and effectively. This method of chakra balancing can promote powerful states of emotional well-being and improved energy flow to the whole body. Bring your own pendulum or make one from supplied materials

The Ethics of a Sex-Positive Culture and Thealogy – Crista & Gene
  How does having sexual imagery in Pagan mythologies effect our view of sex? How does the worship of an erotic Goddess influence our view of women in general and the individual women in our lives? How do you express interest in someone without violating boundaries? How does the etiquette of a sky clad event effect our sexual expression? How does a condom effect the Great Rite? What do I do when my best friend is harassing someone at a Pagan event? These and many other questions will be argued about, pondered, pulled-apart and worked through in this group discussion lead by members of the Church of All Worlds. We don't expect to come up with definite answers, but we sure do want to ask the questions

Exploring Tarot Archetypes: A Mask Making Workshop - Helena Domenic

Part One -In this workshop, we will visit the Tarot archetypes of our choice through guided meditation on the cards of the Major Arcana. Take special note of the imagery that comes to you while we journey - you will be using it to create a mask of your archetype. We will then partner up to create masks using plaster gauze. This workshop is a messy, art related one! Wear comfortable clothes you don't mind getting a little paint or plaster on.

Exploring Tarot Archetypes: A Mask Making Workshop - Helena Domenic

Part Two In this workshop, we will paint the masks we created in Part one. We briefly will re-visit the meditations from the day before, and then paint our masks, using acrylic paints, glitter, feathers, whatever your heart desires!

Forbidden Practices - Judy Harrow
In the Bible (Deuteronomy18:11-12), you’ll find a short list of forbidden sorcerous practices, all of which are still intrinsic and important parts of Pagan spirituality. What are these practices and why are they important to us?

God and Goddess - Love that fuels the Cosmos - Jonathan J. Dickau
Cosmology has always been a fascination of human beings, and various cultures have their story of how the world began.  As Science looks ever further back, to the origin of the universe, the picture is becoming stranger and stranger, but paradoxically it confirms things that Mystics have known, and Mystery Schools have taught for centuries.  The Sacred Geometry of the Ancients reveals some of those mysteries, and tells the story of something far older.  The origin of all has its seeds in the primal forms which are faces of God and Goddess.  This workshop will touch on advanced topics of Science, including discussion about the first moments of the Big Bang, and speculation about what came before, but will not require any background in Science.  Some of the basic concepts of Sacred Geometry will be demonstrated, and will show the emerging forms show the aspect of God and Goddess, in the form of male and female geometric attributes. 

Grounding 101 / So this is Your 1^st EtheraCon  Conference Staff
The skill of "grounding" is very important to many magical or ritual settings. It is also a skill that is needed for you own spiritual well being not only here at EtheraCon, but in your everyday life. All EtheraCon attendees that have NOT taken this class before are urged to attend.

Group Evocation Ritual - Philip H. Farber
Evocation is the art of "summoning forth entities" into external form for the purpose of communicating with them. When a group of magicians works together to summon forth an entity, what do you call it? A shared thought-form? An egregore? A god or goddess? Using simple and powerful methods, Phil will offer you the opportunity to ask the entity itself what it wants to be called! This form of group evocation is not only exciting and powerful - it is safe and easily learned for your own use, in other settings, with groups or alone.

Interfaith in the Family – Judy Harrow
Paganism is still mostly a first-generation religion, which means that we often have non-Pagan parents, siblings, and other beloved and close relatives. Meanwhile, religiously mixed marriages are becoming common in an increasingly diverse and integrated society. So let’s get together and talk about all the complexities of living in an interfaith home.

Introduction to NLP- Philip H. Farber
Neuro-linguistic Programming is a unique field concerned with the study of effective communication. Originally developed in the 1970s by Richard Bandler and John Grinder as a tool for therapists, NLP has proved itself useful to teachers, salespeople, managers, body-workers, writers, artists, parents, and just about everybody else! NLP is a fantastic technology for exploring altered states, developing deep rapport with others, changing habits, and accessing internal resources for a wide range of life situations. Special attention will be given in this workshop to the uses of NLP in spiritual and magical pursuits.

Kali and Sarasvati - Black Lotus
The white Goddess Sarasvati typifies orthodox Vedic Hinduism, with many restrictions and taboos for its Brahmin (Priestly) caste.  The black Goddess Kali is pre-eminent in unorthodox Tantric Hinduism, which breaks taboos and flaunts traditional caste restrictions.  Yet Kali and Sarasvati have more in common than you'd expect.  Kali refuses traditional marriage, and Sarasvati divorces her husband.  Why are both Goddesses represented by an extended, wagging tongue?  What are the cults of Black Sarasvati and White Kali about?  Why the emphasis on necklaces, be they composed of crystal beads or human heads?  Come compare and contrast these two very independent Goddesses. 

Kirtan:  Singing the Names of the Gods -- Black Lotus
 Several Westerners, with names like Krishna Das and Jai Uttal, have travelled through India and returned to gain great acclaim performing <Kirtan> -- a traditional form of call and response singing based on the names and praises of Hindu Gods and Goddesses.  We will explore and perform some of these chants, including what the Sanskrit and Hindi words actually mean.  If there is time, we'll also explore Ras Garba, a form of group circle-dancing and singing that is becoming very popular in India and among the Hindu diaspora worldwide.  Bring drums, finger cymbals, and other instruments appropriate to accompany Kirtan.

Land-based paganism: the Glenwood experience - Andras Corban Arthen
While the original pagans were country folk, modern paganism has mostly evolved in large cities. For a number of years, however, there has been a growing sense among many pagans to “go back to the land.” In this class we will discuss the ongoing experience of Glenwood, a rural, intentional community of pagans in western Massachusetts, with particular focus on spiritual values, community, and sacred relationship with the land.

Laughing with Aphrodite - Carole Eagleheart
The laughter of the Goddess is rich and deep and has the power to transform. In this workshop we will banish the things that block the flow of joy in our lives, and open ourselves to the sensuality, love and laughter of Aphrodite.

Meet the Teachers / Authors
Come and join us in a reception, hosted by the conference, to meet all the EtheraCon teachers and attending authors! Wine ( over 21 ! ) Cheese, books, what more can you ask for?

Mithraism. . - Cei Serith
Did Christianity steal from Mithraism?  Was Mithras born on Dec. 25th with shepherds around him?  Did  Mithras have 12 disiciples?  Not on your life.  I'm going to talk about what Mithraism wasn't, and try to address what it was instead.

The Mounds And The Isles: Celtic Ideas Of Death And The Afterlife  - Alexei Kondratiev
In the ancient world the Celts were noted for their strong belief in the  immortality of the soul. The way they imagined the life of the soul after death, however, varied considerably according to time and place. We will look at some of these traditions and show how they continue to influence living Celtic culture.

Moving with Energy - Jonathan J. Dickau
This workshop is for those people who want to wake up energetically.  When our bodily movement comes from the flow of our life-energy, and we are in tune with that flow, it brings renewed vitality to both the physical and energetic self.  In this repeat of a popular workshop from Starwood 2001, the participants are led in gentle stretching and slow dance-like movements, which awaken the centers and pathways of energy, and allow the individual to direct that energy to create motion.  We will explore what it means to actually feel the energetic component of the Self, and tap into that.

The Norse Magical and Priestly Community - Jane Sibly
There were various disciplines addressing the supernatural world in Norse and S mi society. We will trace the evolution of these from the earliest records to Christian times. Some practitioners followed a shamanic path, others a theatrical path. We will also look at rituals which involved the community, such as funerary magic, warding, soothsaying, and sowing/reaping the crops.

Norseworking: - Jane Sibly
This is a high-level, high-energy healing circle in the Norse tradition.  If you have never before participated in one of these circles, you must take the pre-requisite "Grounding 101", no matter your skill level.  This ritual will take several hours, so please come rested, fed, and pottied.  We will be doing intensive work, including (and as required)  healing, fertility magic, experimental magic, distance work, etc.  Please be *on time*, as the doors will be closed and guarded while the ritual is in progress. 

Now is the Moment of Power - Marsha Pickands
This class is open to Intermediate Level Practitioners and above.  Its focus is on ACTING IN THE PRESENT as the basis for Practical Magic.

Open Drumming and Dance
Bring a candle, your drum ( or other noise maker ) and dancing feet. Celebrate Life !

The Pagan Community , It's Future in a Interconnected Planet–
Panel Discussion: Andras Corbin Arthen, Judy Harrow, Martha of Witches Element and Tom Sheeley

Pagan Virtues. . - Cei Serith
Beyond the Rede -- how did ancient Pagans guide their lives and how did they teach and express their values?

Proto-Indo-European Religion. . - Cei Serith
The Celts, the Norse, the Greeks, the Romans, and a number of other traditions are popular among modern Pagans.  Most of these have something in common:  they're all descended from Proto-Indo-European culture.  I'll be describing their religion and hopefully showing how we can find meaning in this 5000 year-old culture.

Raising and Using Power as a Solo Practitioner and as a Member of a Group - Marsha Pickands
This class is designed for the Advanced Practitioner.  Come prepared for a Challenge and bring with you any ethical concerns you may have.

Responsible Leadership -  Marsha Pickands
 Although this class may be attended by anyone it is especially designed for those who are drawn to POSITIONS OF POWER within any setting whether it be SACRED OR SECULAR. 

Runes 101- Jane Sibly
The Elder and Anglo-Saxon Futharks and Rune Magic:   In this workshop, we will review the earlier and insular runes, and explore some of the theory and aspects of rune magic using these characters.

Runes 102 -Jane Sibly
The Younger Futharks and Rune Magic:  This is a continuation of Runes 101, and workshop participants should have attended Runes 101. Here, we will look at several younger futharks (Scandinavia, ca. 760-1400) and their role in magic, both Pagan and Christian.

Rune Stick and Rune Tile Divination - Jane Sibly
This intensive will be a hands-on practicum in Traditional (as opposed to New Age) divination with rune sticks and rune tokens.  The participants will learn divination techniques using both media. Rune divination is good for forecasting possible and probable outcomes in the coming year.

The Scrying Game - Erik Bruch
Mirror, Mirror on the wall... Well, there's lots of mirrors at EtheraCon, but here you can learn methods and techniques for scrying in a variety of materials.  Learn how to scry safely and effectively and how to create your own scrying glass.

The Sacred Bath:  Ritual Water Work - Rachel Ginther
Using the ancient cleasing principle of the Ritual Bath we explore the element of water and it¹s necessity in our lives.  Each participant will make their own Ritual Bath with sacred alchemical ingredients - salt, flower essences, pure essential oils and the Divine energy of our Sacred Selves.

Sacred Mandalas - Rachel Ginther
Using the bounty of the Earth to create an external reflection or our inner world.  A creation of beauty we can touch, see and experience that remind us of our true essence and our essential nature....  spirit in physical form. Tap into your Unconscious...  the place where e-motion live deeply.  Unlock your strengths and beauty...  find your Soul¹s Essence through the symbology expressed in your Personal Mandala. We will utilize various media to construct Mandala then we will explore their symbolism and meaning through our individual and group interpretations and process.

Self-disclosure - Judy Harrow
However devout we may be, those of us who do not live in cloisters have lives beyond the practice of our religion. We have friends, colleagues and neighbors of other faiths. In this workshop, we will ponder the when, why and how of self-disclosure in all aspects of our daily lives.

The Seven Mothers (Sapta Matrikas)- Black Lotus
Tribal traditions in India speak of seven Goddesses who do battle against evil with Durga (the Warrior-woman).  We'll explore their origins as shamanic animal spirits, and as star goddesses, their associations with the parts of the body, the cardinal directions, and eliminating human sins.   We'll attempt to determine which Mother has the most to teach you, and see how the Mothers nurture the Divine Child within.

Singing and Dancing to the Goddess - Carole Eagleheart
 Lift your voice and your spirit as we sing chants together and join in simple circle dances to honor the Goddess.  Carole Eagleheart tours the United States and Canada nine months of the year with her music.  Her latest CD "She Calls to Us:  Songs to Celebrate the Goddess" features music she wrote at sacred Goddess sites on the island of Crete.

Spell Casting II - Working our magic - - Witches Element
Okay, you’ve got your wand, your sword, your cup and your pentagram?  Now what are you going to do with them?  Have you been working your magic?  What have you done lately?  There are many forms of spell casting come and learn some new ideas.  Come and share some of your own.  Not everything goes as planned.  We all have a learning curve.  Do you know what went wrong?  Do you know how to correct mistakes or perfect your craft?  Learn the tools of the trade and new techniques.  Let’s roll up our sleeves and start doing.  In this class we will explore intermediate level spell casting. 

Tarot and the Paths- Helena Domenic
This class will explore the relationships of the Major Arcana and the Paths on the Tree of Life in the Qabala. We will talk about the Paths as they relate to our understandings of life experiences and archetypes.

Tarot and the Spheres - Helena Domenic
This class will explore the relationships of the Minor Arcana and the Spheres on the Tree of Life in the Qabala. We will learn about the ways in which Tarot can inform our knowledge of the Qabala, and the ways in which Qabala can enrich our understanding of the Tarot.

Time to Clean up our Act- Witches Element
Did you ever notice that it seems as if you’re getting no where?  That you have been on this bad camping trip of life and no one has let you take a shower?  This class that will explore many ways of clearing, cleansing, consecration, purification, and uncrossing. What is the difference is between them.  Come and remove the build up of malocchia, bad habits, and negative thought patterns, its’ time to get rid of the stench.  Let’s face it, with the fear, frustration, prejudice, and disrespect we all face in our daily lives, it is time to remove all that negativity that we are constantly bombarded with.  We would like to ask that anyone who is planning to attend this class and is staying at the hotel to please bring a hand towel from your room.

The Totality of Being - The First Seven Steps - Jonathan J. Dickau
To experience the Totality of Being is the ultimate experience, but it is decidedly difficult.  Can we even know how much of us there is to explore?  Jonathan shares his outlook on the steps Spirit took to evolve and discover itself, and how we can learn to discover our own totality by following a simple formula.  Some figures from Sacred Geometry will be used to demonstrate how complexity can emerge from a progression of simple forms, and this will be shown to lead to Fractals, which are almost endlessly complex.  A variety of colorful diagrams will be used, in this workshop, to show concepts visually.  No prior knowledge of Higher Mathematics or Science is assumed.

Traditional Witchcraft: An Introduction - Andras Corban Arthen
Traditional witchcraft exists on the fringes of the pagan movement, and is considerably different from (and even sometimes at odds with) the Wiccan approach that is familiar to most modern pagans. It is a form of magic and sorcery, not a religion, and has been kept alive mostly within the confines of families or passed on very selectively by solitary practitioners. This workshop will explore some of the most common practices and teachings found among traditional witches.

Transmutation:  The Art of Transformation - Rachel Ginther
Often, it seems, we know or have a sense of where we are blocked, where our issues are, yet how do we shift the energy and make a change? Learn an Ancient Atlantian/Lemurian/Egyptian Fire Ritual that releases energy patterns, behaviors, relationships, situations that no longer serve you, then create new energy patterns that support your growth and Life Purpose.  (May also include chanting and breathing exercises)

Walking with the Orishas: An Introduction to Santeria. - Catherine Lafuente
This class will present a basic exposition of Santeria in all its elements, from deities to initiations.  Who are the Orishas? How did Santeria come to the Western Hemisphere?  All of your questions will be answered, including simple questions on how to prepare ritual baths to the controversy surrounding animal sacrifice.  Feel free to bring your knowledge as well to share with the instructor and the class.

Weaving CAWmunity:  - Crista & Gene
Building Sacred Community in a Modern World Members of the Church of All Worlds discuss the building of the tribe, the values which foster this community and the ways in which we can bring our connections into our everyday lives.  CAW has a 40-year history as a future-directed, neo-tribal Pagan church. Join us as we continue to explore and learn about building community.  We will share our experiences and look forward to hearing yours!

What Is Ogham? - Alexei Kondratiev
This strange writing system, apparently developed in Ireland early in the  common era, acquired many of the same magical associations as the runes of  Scandinavia. We will discuss some of the current theories about its origins, look at  the various ways in which it was used, and dispel some of the misconceptions  concerning it that have arisen in our community.