For the month of May the Sacred Well in Oakland has been displaying the mixed-media art work of Chief Luisah Teish, local author and priestess of the Ifá/Orisha.  The Sacred Well is located at 536 Grand Ave in Oakland.  Luisha Teish’s mixed media art are created by using paint, paper, fabric, recycled materials, coins, buttons and shells.  Prints are also available for purchase of some of these pieces.

Teish’s newsletter states “These mixed-media pieces are created to illuminate the nature and spirit of Yemaya and Oshun, of Odu-Ifa, and elements of the Natural World.

Teish’s art will be on display at the shop until May 30, 2012.

May 21, 2012

For Immediate Release

Solar Cross Temple Expands

Photo credited to Greg Harder

Solar Cross is pleased to announce a new board member, Crystal Blanton. Crystal is a priestess and leader with a strong emphasis on service and community building. It is hoped that she will offer guidance and inspiration to Solar Cross as it enters a new phase of growth.

The temple has re-launched its website to reflect the expansion of its community service projects as well as the inception of two publishing imprints – LVX/NOX, and Sunna Press.

About Solar Cross

Solar Cross is a temple dedicated to pan-magical practice, worship, education, research and outreach. It welcomes Pagans, Heathens, Witches, Ritual Magickians, Mystics, and other sincere seekers. Its mission is to spread the light of gnosis and provide a spiritual home for magic workers and Pagans for the purpose of spiritual direction, education, service, ritual, and worship.

Membership in Solar Cross Temple is largely a reflection of commitment to service. The founders of Solar Cross believe that in order to best serve the sacred in all things we must begin where we are: with each other, with our Gods, and with the earth.

Solar Cross seeks temple members interested in serving divinity through work with elder care, prison ministry, environmental education, counseling, and social justice committees. Temple membership is also available to those who study and worship through Morningstar Mystery School and Sunna Kindred.

Membership is not limited by geography.

For more information, please visit http://www.solarcrosstemple.org

or contact Jessica Melusine jessica.melusine@gmail.com

For Immediate Release

May 15, 2012

Jenya T. Beachy

Ben Lomond, CA jenyaloves@live.com

“Magick, Poetry, Wisdom” coming to the Santa Cruz Mountains in July 2012

Jenya T. Beachy is proud to present a very special weekend in the Redwoods: “Magick, Poetry, and Wisdom: A Journey into Power”. In an expansion of her successful offering at this year’s Pantheacon, Jenya uses storytelling and trancework, conversation and ritual, to lead participants through the transformations of fur, fin and feather. Set against the backdrop of a re-envisioning of the Cerridwen mythos, this workshop opens our connections to the realms of Earth, Water, and Air, and the allies and powers thereof. Engaging the hands, mind and heart, Jenya provides a well-rounded and deeply enriching experience.

The event will take place at Earth Matters Retreat Center in the hills above Ben Lomond, California. The Center features a lovely guest house, large fire circle, wood-fired hot tub, a full kitchen, indoor and outdoor showers. The weekend begins at 5pm on Friday, July 6th and concludes at 2pm on Sunday, July 8th. Sliding scale cost is $150-210 and includes tent camping. Bunkhouse accommodations are available for an additional fee. For more information, or to register, contact Jenya T. Beachy at jenyaloves@live.com. Jenya T. Beachy has been walking the Twisted Path of the Craft for almost 25 years, studying the old ways and forging new ones. As the originator of the Shapeshifter line of Feri Tradition, she has developed tools to lift the veils, excite the molecules and impassion the souls. She is a founding Preacher with the Ole Time Good Spell Feri Pagan Tent Revival, testifying and raising the roof at festivals and fellowships. As a rootworker, she engages with the Spirits and the spirits to bring our fondest imaginings into reality. An ordained minister, respected teacher and compelling priestess, Jenya is known for her inclusive and expansive Work, living according to her own Divine Will and helping others to do the same.

Saturday, May 19, 2012, the Sacred Well will be hosting authors from the Shades of Faith; Minorities in Paganism anthology for a book party, book signing and discussion.  This free event will take place from 6-8PM at 536 Grand Avenue in Oakland.

This author panel put on a successful workshop at Pantheacon 2012 for the topic of Unity in Diversity.  The topic has continued to bring up engaging and interesting topics, prompting Sacred Well co-owner Yeshe Rabbit Mathews to invite the panel to do an event at the shop.

The Sacred Well website describes this event as “Shades of Faith, edited by Crystal Blanton is an anthology of articles written by people of color who practice nature-based traditions from around the world. Chief Luisah Teish is one of many contributors to this unique work and will be part of a panel discussion on the emerging spirituality of this century. Come and join the conversation.”

Among the authors that will be present at this event will be Crystal Blanton, Luisah Teish,  Nadirah Adeye, Luna Pantera and Szmeralda Shanel.  The panel of authors will be discussing a range of topics that encompass the minority ethnic experience within the Pagan community.

Books will be available for purchase.

Shades of Faith Panel at Pantheacon 2012

Tomorrow, Thursday, May 17, 2010, Members of the Interfaith Tent @ Oakland will hold a press conference at Sproul Plaza on the U.C. Berkeley Campus.  This event will take place at 2PM in response to the closure and arrests at the Occupy the Farm site.  The following is the description provided to Bay Area Pagan Newswire Collective and is also available on the events facebook page.  T Thorn Coyle will be speaking at this event on behalf of the Interfaith Tent.

“Community organizations in Albany and Berkeley have spent years in unsuccessful negotiations with the University to turn this rich agricultural land into an urban farm. Now in recent weeks hundreds of activists, community members, students and local farmers have transformed their hope into reality on the five-acre piece of land directly across from the University Village in Albany. Thousands of starter plants were prepared and planted in rows, and raised beds using permaculture inspired techniques. Thousands of gallons of community donated water have been carried from cars, bicycles, trucks and vans as a response when the university cut off the water supply. Farmers, tools and equipment have been removed by police force and the crops are in danger. 

Members of the Interfaith Tent are engaged in social justice, nonviolent action and community building. They are gathering to support the Farm and invite others to join them in insuring that this publicly owned farmland be used for farming. They see it as a key effort to use public resources to meet the urgent need for community grown food and farming skills for people of all ages amidst accelerating economic challenge.”

 

Crystal Blanton reporting, Pagan Newswire Collective Bay Area

Today, May 12, 2012, the 11th annual Pagan Parade and Festival will be held from 10:00 – 5:30pm at the Civic Center Park on Martin Luther King Way in Berkeley.  This year’s theme is paradigm shift and T. Thorn Coyle is being honored as the new Keeper of the Light for this year.  Rabbit Mathews will be concluding her year as the Keeper of the Light and officially passing it to T. Thorn Coyle after a year packed with change, discussions and paradigm shifts.

Performers include:

• Shay Black
• Ariellah and Deshret Dance Company-Dark Fusion & Tribal Belly Dance
• Land of the Blind
• DulciMates
• Amelia Hogan
• Evelie Posch & KSME
• Anaar-Dark Imaginations Dance Performance
• and Introducing Emma Tigerman

Speakers:

• Diana L. Paxson
• Anne Hil
• Joi Wolfwomyn
• Yeshe Rabbit Matthews
• Glenn Turner
• Anaar
• Crystal Blanton
• Stan Morey II

Come out and support the bay area’s local event promoting community in the sun. Stay tuned for more information and reporting about today’s event.  

Crystal Blanton reporting, PNC Bay Area

In Memoriam: De-Anna Alba (1952-2012): Memorial Service on Saturday, May 12

An interfaith memorial service for Pagan author, elder, and priestess, De-Anna Alba, also known as Wendy White, will be held his coming Saturday, May 12, 2012 in California.

De-Anna was one of Circle Sanctuary’s first priestesses and was Circle Sanctuary’s first church secretary. She assisted Circle Sanctuary senior minister Selena Fox with publications, events, music, networking, and other endeavors. De-Anna was part of the Pagan Spirit Gathering during its formative years. Selena Fox will give her eulogy and will be among the officiants at De-Anna’s interfaith memorial service this Saturday. Selena also will be among the officiants at De-Anna’s Pagan memorial service and cremains interment at Circle Cemetery in Wisconsin on July 21.

De-Anna’s interfaith memorial service will be held at 11 am on Saturday at the Church of the Incarnation (Episcopal), 550 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa, California.

ATTEND: Interested in attending De-Anna’s Memorial? If you have not already done so, please RSVP De-Anna’s partner Lea Pierce right away if you wish to attend the service: lea@leapierce.com.

Directions to the service can be found at www.incarnation-sr.org.

SHARE MEMORIES: Please leave memories, tributes, and other sharings about De-Anna, her life, work, and legacy on her In Memoriam page: www.circlesanctuary.org/memoriam/de-anna_alba.htm.

SHARE NEWS: Please help get the word out by forwarding this post to others.

If you are not able to attend, join in by attuning.

Thanks!
Selena Fox & Circle Sanctuary

Circle Times: Monday, May 07, 2012

Today, May 2, 2012, is the Second Annual International Pagan Coming Out Day.  While this non-profit organization is new on the Pagan scene, it has caught on fast and created quite a stir online of Pagan supporters and advocates.

The International Pagan Coming Out Day organization’s mission statement says that ““IPCOD is a not-for-profit organization working to achieve greater acceptance and equality for Pagans at home, at work, and in every community. We exist to provide resources and encouragement for Pagans who chose to come out, provide a voice for those Pagans who cannot yet come out, reduce stigma by putting a human face on Paganism and partner with non-Pagan allies”

The website ( http://pagancomingoutday.org/) features information about the orgins of this day, celebration information and the IPCOD guide to coming out of the closet.  Other resources, including legal resources are available on the website.

The IPCOD website states,

 ”Coming out to someone is a decision only you can make and it’s a decision best made when you are ready to do so. IPCOD encourages Pagans who are ready to come on out!

There are benefits, personally and for our religious community as a whole, as more Pagans come out. Some of these benefits include the reduction of anxiety caused by living a double life and creating a climate of greater acceptance for all Pagans.

On our website you can find information such as:

Our Guide to Coming Out

What we mean when we talk about coming out

How hosting a Ball can help achieve equity

How to become a local IPCOD Organizer

Towards the bottom of the Home Page are articles and personal in or out stories sent to us by Pagans detailing their experiences coming ‘out’ or recounting what happened that has caused them to stay ‘in’ for now.”

Bay Area Pagan Newswire Collective will be looking to gather responses from bay area Pagans about this new found Pagan holiday and reactions to the internet popularity.

Crystal Blanton reporting, Pagan Newswire Collective Bay Area