PNC: Bay Area Bureau

Molly Blue Dawn’s full listing with details for all of the following events can be found at http://mollybluedawn.blogspot.com/2013/05/molly-blue-dawns-list-of-events-for_4096.html

Due to the details in these incredible listings, PNC Bay will list just the events that are highlighted and the link to Molly’s blog for more detailed information.

Shakes at Swirl, Monthly Dinner Salon at the Dream Institute, Acting Out – For the Health of It, Energy Tools for Busy Women, The Lost Folio: Shakespeare’s Musicals, Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma, Burqavaganza, How A Mountain Was Made, The Digital Renaissance Faire, Rabbit’s 6th Annual Oshun Party, East Bay Pagan Meet and Greet, Celebrate Fand Irish/Celtic Queen of the Fairies, Downtown Martinez Ghost Walk, Vintage Invasion, Belly Dancer of the Year Pageant, Womb Blessing, Voices from the Past, Noor, Salome, Clockwork Alchemy, Northern California Women’s Herbal Symposium, Redwood Men’s Center’s Annual Men’s Conference, Annual Memorial Day Volunteer Work Weekend, Playland-Not-at-the-Beach, Towel Day, Community Seed’s Annual Yard Sale, Health and Happiness Day, Art in the Garden, Crafts for Kids On Board the Balclutha, Kyz-Zhibek: The Lady-Silk, Carnaval San Francisco, Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras, Family Day at Sienna Ranch, Visioning Circle, Santa Cruz Story Telling Festival, Tea and Tarot, Memorial Day Free Day and Open House at Ardenwood, Kirtan Benefit Concert for the Seva Foundation, San Ramon Art and Wind Festival, Memorial Day Ceremony at the Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery, Jam Making with Seasonal Fruit, Tea and Chanting with Rabbit, Dreams of Damanhur, Bral Talej – Magical Signs for Divination, Make Your Own Hand-Held Prayer Beads, Empty Bowls, astrobarry’s Astrology Salon, Eco-Resiliency: A Gathering For Earth Change Awareness, Positive Discipline and Power Struggles with Kids, Soul Serpent Spa Day Retreat

Molly Blue Dawn’s full listing with details for all of the following events can be found at http://mollybluedawn.blogspot.com/2013/05/molly-blue-dawns-list-of-events-for_8.html

Due to the details in these incredible listings, PNC Bay will list just the events that are highlighted and the link to Molly’s blog for more detailed information.

International Clitoris Awareness Week, The Ifa Way: Discussions on the Yoruba Spiritual Path, Dark of the Moon Practice for Hermes and Hekate, Celebrate Lei Day, Cheza Nami and the Chinyakare Ensemble, Partnering the Moment, In Her Name Circle: Letting the Tigress Rrrroarrrr, Dreaming: Portal to the Sacred, Red Tent Temple: The Music In Our Hearts, Pagan Activists Meet-Up, Time Sensitive, The Lost Folio: Shakespeare’s Musicals, Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma, Temple of Aphrodite Book Club, Mostly Mexico Art Reception, Astrology: Saturn in Scorpio, Ann Randolph’s LOVELAND, Peter Van Gelder and Indranil Mallick, Creating Enlightened Society, Inanna: Knowing Ourselves Knowing Power In All of Our Parts, Whole Earth Festival, Monty Python’s Spamalot, Salome, World Fair Trade Day, Discovering A Sense Of Place, Marble and Molding, Parent-and-Me African Music and Dance Class, A Walk Through the Garden of Old Roses, Fairy Houses and Gnome Homes, First Annual Marin Healthy Palooza, Octopretzel, Vintage Home and Garden Tour, Day in the Life 1901, Hungarian Heritage Festival, Want to Lighten Up about Growing Older?, Community Seed’s Open Circle, Oakland Internet Cat Video Festival, The Avant-Garde Savitsky Collection, East Bay Waltz, The Inimitable Lon Milo Duquette, Hearken Music at Rose Labyrinth, An Evening with Cellist Jami Sieber, The San Francisco Balalaika Ensemble, Holt Ceramics Spring Sale, Park Street Spring Festival, The Pirates of Penzance, Art + Industry, Mother’s Day Tea and Succulent Crafting, Temple of Aphrodite, Allied Arts Guild’s Annual Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet, Way of the Rabbit Witchcraft, Shamanic Healing Clinic, The Ugly Duckling, Art of Tarot with Rabbit, The Traveling Imaginary, Tarot Salon, Tribal Fest 13: Halfway to Halloween!, Wand-Making Intensive in the Sacred Path Tradition

It is always a blessing to take the kids to a movie. With the rising cost of the theater, it is a privilege we cannot always afford for my six-person family, but last month we were able to take the kids to see a movie that they wanted to see. With the hype around the newest addition to the Oz movie genre, I was also excited to see Oz the Great and Powerful.

I will start with some of the pleasing qualities of the movie – ones that made my $7.50 matinee-priced ticket an acceptable expense.

The visuals throughout the movie were astoundingly beautiful, capturing a fantasy-like world that included magical beings and magical acts. The vibrant colors and the cinematography easily pulled me into this magical world of possibilities, and set a tone for the movie. There was also some humor in the movie that was fun, and I had a couple moments of laughing, which I like to do in movies.

Yet, there were some things that easily pulled me out of the magic of the movie and were quite distracting. The acting was not the best –  let’s start there. Actress Mila Kunis played Theodora, one of the evil witches in the story. Usually known for performances like in Black Swan, or That 70′s Show, this actress in one that I often like. Yet, in this movie she was very awkward in her portrayal of an evil villain. It felt forced, much like other performances in the movie.

This movie is a prequel to the Wizard of Oz story, giving us a back-story for the powerful Oz who operates behind the curtain. This was an exciting twist to the traditional take of the story-line, but it was a bit strange at times too. The movie started with the character of Oz as a circus performer and seducer of women,  and transitioned to Oz as the magical wizard with no magical talent, in a magically unknown land. James Franco was alright as the character, but it was neither exceptional acting nor the poorest in the movie. I don’t know if it was his good looks and charm that carried him more than his portrayal of the character; I happen to think it was not his portrayal of the character.

The evil witches were stereotypical “evil witches” – nothing appeared to be exceptionally different about their take on the old characterization. It was that traditional-take on the story that I found to be the most annoying and boring. I had hoped that the movie would have been a bit less predictable in the images that were presented. The greatest characters were the glass girl and the monkey companion. I enjoyed them both.

The kids were fascinated by the movie but it did not wow my witchy socks off. So I would save the money, wait until it comes out on cable, or get it for a day from Red Box. You will be happy you saved the extra change.

Crystal Blanton reporting, Pagan Newswire Collective

After a brief vacation, THE BAY ROLL IS BACK! Thanks for your patience and understanding. And in Bay Area fashion, the Bay talent has continued to show itself all over the web.

For those who are not in the “know”, the Bay Roll is a column here on Pagan Newswire Collective Bay Area that includes information, blog or website updates, book releases or general updates from Pagan authors, presenters, artists or performers here in the Bay Area. If there are announcements or information that you would like posted in the Bay Roll, please email them to Crystal@CrystalBlanton.com to be included.

For the week of May 1, 2013 there are many updates and information floating on the web from local Pagans.  Here are some of the new ones for this week.

• T Thorn Coyle, local author and activist, released her piece A Just and Joyous Mayday on her website, www.thorncoyle.com.  In her blog she honors the sacredness of this day and how that passion is also seen in the activism of the day. http://www.thorncoyle.com/blog/2013/05/01/a-just-and-joyous-may-day/
• Bay Area’s Jason Mankey wrote his latest Raise the Horns piece on Patheos about the differences in practicing Paganism and writing about Paganism. Interesting read into his thoughts on balancing between those very concepts. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/panmankey/2013/04/doing-and-writing-about-pagan-things/
• Angus Mcmahan, local Pagan and community leader, posted his answers to some new questions this week. He addresses questions of magic and basketball, candle snuffing and music from the 50’s. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/askangus/2013/04/askangus12-sports-cannot-hold-a-candle-to-marie-laveau/
• Sam Webster, local known writer and researcher, wrote his latest piece on his Patheos blog about the concepts of restoring sacrifice within Pagan religion. This controversial piece brought lots of comments to the discussion on the blog. http://www.patheos.com//Pagan/Restoration-Sacrifice-Sam-Webster-04-17-2013.html
• One of our newest blogs to follow, Heathen Chinese, has been doing a series of posts on Chinese Gods and Goddesses. This Santa Cruz area writer focuses on Chinese Polytheism and history of the worship of these deities. The indepth information on the deities of this pantheon is an interesting read. http://heathenchinese.wordpress.com/
• And last but not least, my (Crystal Blanton) newest Daughters of Eve blog post addresses some of the concepts within respecting the cultures of others. This piece looks at some of the varying aspects of what it means to be culturally sensitive and aware. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/daughtersofeve/2013/04/sensitivity-and-awareness-respecting-what-you-dont-know/

The Bay Roll is meant to continue bridging links and information from the Bay Area to the Bay Area readers. Please support this column by providing your information for inclusion in these weekly logs of the incredible work within this community. Without information, it will not be included on this list and we really want to highlight your work. Crystal@crystalblanton.com.  We want to know what YOU are doing!

Crystal Blanton reporting, Pagan Newswire Collective Bay Area

Molly Blue Dawn’s full listing with details for all of the following events can be found at http://mollybluedawn.blogspot.com/2013/05/molly-blue-dawns-list-of-events-for.html

Due to the details in these incredible listings, PNC Bay will list just the events that are highlighted and the link to Molly’s blog for more detailed information.

Bay Area Dance Week, Partnering the Moment, Exploratorium After Dark: Home, Neolithic Beltane, Fundamentals of Astrology 4, The River, The Lullaby Tree, Time Sensitive, The Lost Folio: Shakespeare’s Musicals, Salome, Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma, Stirring the Cauldron, Sexing Sacred Texts, Downtown Benicia Ghost Walk, Beltane Festival: A Gathering of Pagan Folk, World Labyrinth Day, Free Comic Book Day, Revels May Day Celebration, Roses and Flora Tours of the Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery, BritWeek Festival, Hands-On Greywater Workshop, Castles and Kites Festival, CAYA’s Festival of Bliss and Blessings, Community Seed Beltane Ritual, PYT’s Monster 2013-14 Season Announcement, The Heart of Faerie Oracle Workshop, The Sherlock Holmes Mystery Ball, Champagne Silent Auction, Napa Valley Ceramic Artists Spring Sale, Cinco de Mayo Weekend, Norway Day Festival, Renaissance Workshops and Symposium, Cinco de Mayo Work Party, Conscious Goddess: Temple Services, Baile en la Calle: The Mural Dances, Conscious Goddess: Priestesshood in the New Age, World Laughter Day, Healing Dream Party, The Witch’s Garden, Being-in-Dreaming, A Course In Modern Conjure, Shamanic Journey with Mikaya Heart, California Revels May Day Celebration, Sound Healing Concert, Art of Tarot with Rabbit, NorCal Trans Partners Family and Friends Support Group, Expanding Your Voice, What is True for You About Prosperity?, Dark of the Moon Practice for Hermes and Hekate, Wand-Making Intensive in the Sacred Path Tradition

The Pagan Alliance and the House of Danu recently released a call for an emergency meeting regarding the closing of public comments on the newly proposed regulations for the possession of items that could impact Pagans in the California prison system. This emergency conclave will be held on Sunday, May 5^th, from 1:00PM to 4:00PM, at the Humanist Hall in Oakland. The Humanist hall is easily accessible from the freeway and is located at 390, 27^th street.

On the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation website, the Initial Statement of Reasons document states that much of this proposition is around the general safety of the institutions.

The Department weighed institutional security concerns against the interests of inmates in order to determine reasonable religious property standards. Reasons for the religious property standards include, but are not limited to: (1) providing statewide standardization concerning allowable religious items for inmates, (2) compliance with existing court mandates, (3) reducing potential inmate litigation, (4) reducing the ability for inmates to barter or trade religious property, and (5) ensuring security and safety in the institutions.

http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Regulations/Adult_Operations/Pending_Rules_Page.html#IRP

In an attempt to discuss how Pagan prisoners of all traditions will be affected by the adoption of this proposal, the following event will be held at the Humanist Hall in Oakland. Below is the information currently available on the facebook event page for the Pagan conclave.

The Pagan Alliance and House of Danu put forth the call
for an emergency
PAGAN CONCLAVE
of all Pagan traditions
Sunday, May 5, 2013, 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Humanist Hall
390 27th Street, Oakland
http://humanisthall.net/wp/

The California Department of Corrections (CDCR) has issued proposed regulations that threaten the ability of Pagans who are incarcerated to possess many of the religious items customary for the religious practices of our people. The proposed list excludes items out of ignorance, or for convenience, without regard to the required legal standard permitting personal religious items. Public comment on the proposed regulations ends May 7, 2013 at 5:00p.m.

The last great struggle for religious freedom in this country may very well be in the California prisons. At this historic Conclave. Dr. Barbara McGraw will give a presentation on the history of abuse endured by Pagan inmates, and there will be a panel of Pagan chaplain volunteers to share their experiences. Each of you will be given a guide showing how you can help the people of your tradition within the scope of any budget or time availability. We ask that each tradition send one or more representatives to the Conclave.

This will unfold as ritual. Bring your banners and ritual robes. The Conclave will be our central working. To help us plan set-up, please RSVP and direct inquiries to James L. Bianchi of the House of Danu Chaplaincy Project TaliesinDruids@gmail.com PLEASE PASS THIS ON.

The venue is being hosted by the Spark Collective. Immediately following the Conclave, the Spark Collective will be holding their regular monthly gathering. You are all invited to this extraordinary celebration of Pagan culture with song, dance, and live music. Further details can be found on their website. http://www.sparkcollective.org/ They are not charging us for our use of their space, but we will be asking for whatever voluntary contributions you can make to cover their costs. No one will be excluded for inability to contribute to the Conclave event.

Crystal Blanton reporting, Pagan Newswire Collective Bay Area

On April 27^th, 2013, The Second Annual Hexenfest, a Festival of Magick-based Music and Dance, will be happening at a new location in Alameda. Hexenfest was started last year by Sharon Knight, Winter and Annar Niino, and highlights music and art that appeals to local Pagans.  Doors open at 8:00pm at the Cultural Works, located at 2513 Blanding Avenue in Alameda, CA.

Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. This year’s musical line up includes Pandemonaeon, Arcane Dimension, and DJ Daniel Skellington. In addition, Tombo Studios will be having a fashion show, tribal belly dancer Anaar, and ecstatic devotional dancer Morpheus Ravenna. There will also be vendors at the event;  a well rounded and entertaining evening full of magic.

Pandemonaeon front woman Sharon Knight and the band.

Sharon Knight, co founder of Hexenfest, answered a couple of questions regarding this year’s event.

Hexenfest switched venues this year. Why the switch and what do you think the new venue will add to this year’s event?

 This year’s venue is smaller, but more stylish. It’s got an upscale feel that we thought would go nicely with Anaar’s elegantly dramatic fashions. It’s also got a fantastic sound system.

What elements of last year’s fest do you feel was successful?

I really liked the compatibility of the two bands last year – Razor Skyline and Pandemonaeon were a good fit. Also the community really rallied their support, so it felt like a community event right out of the gate.

What can someone expect if they come to this year’s Hexenfest?

Powerful tribal Pagan music, exotic, sensually dressed people, magickally evocative dance. Beer, wine, natural sodas and light snacks will be available on a donation basis. A Gothic-Tribal aesthetic pervades Hexenfest, dark and dramatic, yet with a celebratory flair of power, passion and magick. Good vibes folks attended last year and we expect a similar vibe this year. All ages are welcome.

The following is from the March press release, giving more details and information about purchasing tickets for Hexenfest.

 Dark Revelry of Hexenfest Returns to the Bay Area

Alameda, CA – March 6, 2013 – The Second Annual Hexenfest, a Festival of Magick-based Music and Dance, will be presented on April 27, 2013.

The event will take place at Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Avenue, Alameda, CA. Doors open at 8:00 pm with a DJ and dancing, and the live performances beginning at 8:45 pm. The event is open to all ages and costumes are encouraged. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. For tickets, visit http://hexenfest.brownpapertickets.com

A limited number of VIP tickets, which include an exclusive pre-performance reception with the artists, are available in advance for $35-$50. Visit http://www.hexenfest.net for details.

“To our knowledge, Hexenfest is the first festival devoted specifically to the arts in the Neopagan revival,” says Sharon Knight, a founding producer of the festival. “We believe it is time to celebrate Paganism not just as a religion, but also as a contributor to a cultural revolution. The Pagan community embraces diversity; reverence for nature, our ancestors, and our descendants; and the will to command our own evolution. It’s our intention that Hexenfest will advance these ideals by bringing the work of remarkably talented artists, whose work reflects these values, to Bay Area audiences.”

Now in its second year, the 2013 lineup of artists includes the gothic tribal folk metal band Pandemonaeon, the avant-garde world fusion band Arcane Dimension, and goth/ industrial DJ Daniel Skellington. The evening also features a fashion show by Tombo Studios, offering exotic fashion for a new belle époque, as well as tribal belly dancer Anaar and ecstatic devotional dancer Morpheus Ravenna.

Vendors include Fairy Odd Mothers Magical Makings, offering unique sculpture and gifts, along with other local proprietors. Cds and other band merchandise, and clothing from Tombo Studios, will also be available. A concessions stand will offer drinks and snacks.

Festival co-founder Sharon Knight is a San Francisco-based Neopagan musician who composes and performs Celtic fusion, Middle-Eastern themed, and folk metal music. She performs with Pandemonaeon, the Sharon Knight Band, and other musical collaborators.

Festival co-founder Winter is a German-born guitarist performing with Pandemonaeon and the Sharon Knight Band. He is also a recording engineer and producer at El Mundo Bueno Studios in Emeryville.

Festival co-founder Anaar Niino is an artist, belly dancer, fashion designer and the proprietor of Tombo Studios, as well as the Grand Master of the Anderson Feri Tradition.

Contact:                                                                                

Amy “Ankhira” Himes, Publicist                                            www.hexenfest.net

opsis@sbcglobal.net  * 408-348-8931                                   www.facebook.com/hexenfest

Crystal Blanton reporting, Pagan Newswire Collective Bay Area

Molly Blue Dawn’s full listing with details for all of the following events can be found at http://mollybluedawn.blogspot.com/2013/04/molly-blue-dawns-list-of-events-for_16.html

Due to the details in these incredible listings, PNC Bay will list just the events that are highlighted and the link to Molly’s blog for more detailed information.

 Exploratorium Opening Day, The Ifa Way, Tibetan Sound Healing, Angelic Heart VortexHealing Group Healing, Pagan Songs, Petaluma Watershed Celebration!, West Oakland Food Justice Celebration, An Evening with Judy Grahn and Friends, Natural Building: Living Earth Structures, astrobarry’s Astrology Salon, Second Variety and The Defenders, Dianic Ritual Technique, Time Sensitive, Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma, The Lullaby Tree, Eurydice, The River, The Lost Folio: Shakespeare’s Musicals, Winter Walks at The Gardens, Eat Play Laugh!, Imagining Nonviolence, Sexing Sacred Texts, Avant Garden, Permaculture: The Growing Edge, VortexHealing Group Healing, Under a Shipwrecked Moon, Downtown Benicia Ghost Walk, James And The Giant Peach, Frank Bette Center For The Arts Yard Sale, Earth Energy Walk, Parent-and-Me African Music and Dance Class, Sheep Shearing Day at Forest Home Farm, John Muir Birthday – Earth Day Celebration, Earth Day SF, Create-With-Nature Earth Day Celebration, SpringFest: Edith Coliver Festival of Cultures, The Last Unicorn, Health and Happiness Day, Food for Thought, Campfire with a Ranger, Healing Burned Woman, Dance for the Earth, The Rumi Concert: Lion of the Heart, Spring Rising, Contra Costa Crystal Fair, Earth Day Weekend at Playland, Sheep Shearing Day at Ardenwood, CAYA Sprouts at Muir Woods, Swap! Not Shop! Clothing Exchange, Want to Lighten Up about Money?, SoulCollage, A Cup of Tea with Spirit, Art of Tarot with Rabbit, Earth Day 2013 – The Face of Climate Change, Annual Holocaust Remembrance, Foraging and D.I.Y. Food Lecture Series, World Book Night, Tea and Chanting with Rabbit, Electric Run, Grandmother Flordemayo visits the Bay Area, Wand-Making Intensive in the Sacred Path Tradition