courtesy of nbcbayarea.com

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.

This week is packed with great Pagan goodness!

For the week of April 10, 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, posted her latest on her Huffington Post column. A thoughtful and poetic writing, triggered by the death of Margaret Thatcher, about the light and shadow in one another. Incredible read: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/t-thorn-coyle/margaret-thatcher-the-cosmos-and-me_b_3041039.html
• Bay Area’s Jason Mankey wrote a two part piece about his top 10 Awesome Pop Pagan Moments in the last “100 or so years”. This great list includes The Craft movie, Charmed and Cybill Shepard. Part one: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/panmankey/2013/04/10-awesome-pop-pagan-moments-part-one/

Part two: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/panmankey/2013/04/10-awesome-pop-pagan-moments-part-two/

• Angus Mcmahan, local Pagan and community leader, posted his answers to several questions around magic, and the good looks of Pagans compared to others. Nice laughs and some insightfulness as well.
• http://www.patheos.com/blogs/askangus/2013/04/ask-angus-10-specifically-who-is-this-flora-have-you-read-her-book/
• The Heathen Chinese blog posted an incredibly detailed, two part piece on local Chinese Gods in the Santa Cruz area. This Santa Cruz area writer focuses on Chinese Polytheism and history of the worship of these deities. Part one: http://heathenchinese.wordpress.com/2013/04/10/local-gods-part-1/

Part two: http://heathenchinese.wordpress.com/2013/04/10/local-gods-part-2/

• ConjureCon is coming to the Bay on April 27^th to the 29^th. More information can be found at the official website: http://www.conjurecon.com/
• Hexenfest is fast approaching on April 27^th. According to the Facebook page, “The 2nd annual festival of myth, music, & dance is coming this April to a new location in Alameda.

  Hexenfest offers an evening of entertainment, revelry, and a dark sensual aesthetic. This all-ages event features DJ Daniel Skellington from Dark Shadows, live music by Pandemonaeon and Arcane Dimension, a dark fashion show by Tombo Studio, and bellydance performances by Morpheus and Anaar. Doors at 8pm pens with Dj and dancing, live show at 8:45pm. cover is $20 in advance, $25 at the door.” https://www.facebook.com/events/607795295903027/?fref=ts

• Fawn Russell, local writer, published her newest piece called “G” is for Goetia, where she explores some aspects of invocation from the Lesser Key of Solomon, and magical practice. http://www.psychopompgroupie.com/goetia/
• And Patheos is doing a “Why I Am A…..” campaign this month. Several Bay Area writers participated in this challenge. Below are some listings to the challenge.

Jason Mankey: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/panmankey/2013/03/why-i-am-a-pagan/

Angus: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/askangus/2013/03/askangus-why-i-am-a-pagan-in-exactly-200-words/

Crystal Blanton (me): http://www.patheos.com/blogs/daughtersofeve/2013/04/200-words-reflections-from-a-multicultural-wiccan-priestess/

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

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_9.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.

Eavesdrop the Now, Wellness Essentials For Women, Red Tent Temple: Dreams And Awakening, Queering Mars and Venus, Foraging and D.I.Y. Food Lecture Series, Dreaming: Portal to the Sacred, Creating Healthy Energetic Boundaries, Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma, Eurydice, The River, The Lost Folio: Shakespeare’s Musicals, Ophelia, The Cliff House and Sutro Heights, Temple of Aphrodite Book Club, Sexing Sacred Texts, The Lullaby Tree, Queer Contra Dance Camp, Curiosity Cabinets and Collections, Kids Mini Maker Faire, Day in the Life 1901, Day of Renewal, Timeless To A Tea, Director’s Challenge, Community Seed’s Open Circle, Bones Quigley, Aleksander Liapin, East Bay Waltz, Shimshai Sacred World Fusion Music and Dance, San Jose Fantasy Festival, Cosi Fan Tutte, Sunday In The Kitchen at Three Stone Hearth, Temple of Aphrodite, The Road To Ife, El Wire Soldering Party, Felting with Plant Dyed Wool, Way of the Rabbit Witchcraft, Shamanic Healing Clinic, Playing my Roots, Firebird Dance Theatre, Art of Tarot with Rabbit, Time Sensitive, AWysh: Sound Light and Movement, South Bay Pagan Salon, Park Champions Volunteer Workday at Candlestick Point, Exploratorium Opening Day, Tibetan Sound Healing, Dianic Ritual Technique, Want to Lighten Up about Money?, Electric Run, Grandmother Flordemayo visits the Bay Area, Wand-Making Intensive

This coming Tuesday, April 9th, 2013, the Interfaith Center at the Presidio and the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County will be presenting a half day conference in support of veterans. Embracing our Veterans; Helping Congregations and Spiritual Communities Respond to Their Needs is the name of the conference that will be happening in Walnut Creek from 8am to 2pm.

Local activist, author and teacher, M. Macha Nightmare, will be giving a 60 minute talk on ritualizing the return home for veterans. Her talk will be from 12:30 to 1:30.  More details on the location and pre-registration can be found on the flyer below.

Sponsored by The San Francisco Foundation FAITHS Program

The Interfaith Center at the Presidio
in Partnership with the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County

Embracing Our Veterans

Helping Congregations and Spiritual Communities Respond to Their Needs

Date: Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Time: 8:00 am – 2:00 pm

Location: Mt. Diablo
Unitarian Universalist Church
55 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek, CA
[Map]

Cost: $20, includes lunch and refreshments. Veterans free;
nobody will be turned away due to lack of funds.

Wounds to the spirit are difficult to express, and difficult to recognize.  Veterans come home with wisdom and skills which may not be easily applied in civilian life.  At the same time, even those who have not served in the military or experienced the trauma of war firsthand still feel the effects of war in other ways. Different sets of experiences and perspectives of war can act as barriers between veterans and their civilian and spiritual communities.  A veteran’s sense of separation and isolation can impede his or her ability to heal and move forward with their lives.  Congregations and spiritual communities may feel unable to reach out to veterans due to the lack of understanding of the issues veterans face as they return home.

To address these needs, the Interfaith Center at the Presidio has partnered with the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County to presentEmbracing Our Veterans: Helping Congregations and Spiritual Communities Respond to Their Needs on Tuesday, April 9, 2013.  8:00 am- 2:00 pm.

The half-day conference will focus on helping clergy, spiritual leaders and members of congregations and spiritual communities in Contra Costa County respond to the spiritual needs of veterans as these men and women return from war. Location is the Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church, at 55 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek, CA. Cost is $20.00, including lunch. Veterans register free, and nobody will be turned away due to lack of funds.

The goal is to assist congregations and spiritual communities in becoming healing, welcoming, and empowering places for veterans on a long term basis.  Individuals are welcome, though we encourage small groups of 3 or 4 members from each community to attend together in order to develop on going efforts to serve veterans in their midst.

The Rev. Charlotte Bear, Regional Trainer and Educator for VITAS Innovative Hospice Care for veterans will be the keynote speaker.  She herself is is a veteran, an ordained interfaith minister, television journalist, and currently works with veterans in many capacities.  In addition, panelists and workshop facilitators with a great deal of experience with veterans in many contexts will addess how civilians can engage in spiritual conversations with veterans, understanding ptsd and spiritual wounds of  war, helping veterans share their gifts, and rituals and ceremonies for veterans.

The day is aimed at people in Contra Costa congregations and spiritual communities.  If you are not a resident or a part of a community in the area, but are interested in the issues, please contact the Interfaith Center at the Presidio directly. We plan to offer other conferences in other locations in the future.  Knowing of your interest will help us determine which counties we should visit in the future.  Email Fred Fielding, Interim Board President atfredfielding3@yahoo.com.

Space is limited, so you must register online or by phone prior to the event.  You may pay in person at the conference by check or cash if you are not comfortable paying by credit card the during registration process.  We will not be able to accept credit cards the day of the event.

Registration links can be found at http://www.interfaith-presidio.org/events/veterans-contra-costa-2013.htm

Crystal Blanton reporting, Pagan Newswire Collective

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Covenant of the Goddess reaffirms its long-time support for the internationally-based Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions.

April 4, 2013 San Bernardino, California — The Covenant of the Goddess, a 38-year old non-profit Witch and Wiccan advocacy organization, has reaffirmed its relationship with the international interfaith organization, the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions. In recent weeks, the Council announced that it has experienced a serious financial shortfall. The Covenant of the Goddess, as a longtime partner in interfaith work, has pledged a sizeable monetary donation and its continued support for the Parliament and its work.

As reported, the Parliament experienced low-attendance in 2004 due to political events in Barcelona. Consequently, the Council was unable to meet all of its expenses. Although the organization has been paying off its debt, a Spanish arbiter has forced the Council to pay its remaining creditors immediately.

“The Parliament is at a critical point. The Covenant of the Goddess is happy to be able to continue its  support for the organization in a time of financial need,” says Ginger Wood, First Officer of Covenant of the Goddess.

The Covenant of the Goddess (CoG) and the Council have a long history of working together towards the expansion of the interfaith dialog. CoG was a co-sponsor of the first modern Parliament held in Chicago in 1993. More than forty of CoG’s own members attended that event. Since that time CoG representatives have attended every Parliament held across the globe.

“For those of us who are Pagan, or who follow any of the Earth-centered spiritual paths, the Parliament has provided a welcoming place where we could openly share our practices within the community of the world’s religions. The Parliament was the first major interfaith organization to give our community a seat at the table,” remarks Andras Corban-Arthen, a CoG member serving on the Council’s committee to choose the next Parliament site and on its Indigenous Task Force.

Over the years, CoG members have had the good fortune of being involved in the Council’s efforts world-wide. This includes being present at the Assembly of the World’s Religious & Spiritual Leaders, signing the Declaration of a Global Ethic, and participating in the interfaith community service program “Gifts of Service.” CoG members have also served as Parliament Ambassadors and on the Board of Trustees.Along with the continued support through volunteerism, the Covenant of the Goddess has pledged $2000.00 to assist with the current fiscal crisis.

“We know this is only a small portion of their entire sum needed. We hope that it brings the Council one step closer to reconciliation so that it may move forward in strength with its message of interfaith peace,” adds Ginger Wood.

The Covenant of the Goddess will remain in close communication with the Council to provide continued support as it can and will keep its members updated so those who would like to assist can do so.

The Covenant of the Goddess is a not-for-profit 501c3 organization that has represented Witches and Wiccans for 38 years. Beginning in 1975, the Covenant of the Goddess has worked diligently to secure legal protection for Witches and Wiccans, provide minister credentials, offer education through interfaith outreach or collaboration, and foster community within its membership. For more information go to www.cog.org.

The Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions was “created to cultivate harmony among the world’s religious and spiritual communities in order to achieve a just, peaceful and sustainable world. The Parliament gave birth to the interfaith movement in 1893 through the vehicle of interreligious dialogue. Over these many years, the Council has nurtured relationships among people of difference.”

For more information go to http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/

Contact: Heather Greene, National Public Information Officer
Email: pio@cog.org
Address: PO Box 12193, San Bernardino, CA 92423-2193

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.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.

Wellness Essentials For Women, Spring Book Sale, Tall Ship Tours and Sails, Hrafnar Oracular Seidh, In Her Name Circle: Abundance with the Goddess Lakshmi, The Beautiful Edible Garden, Guided Meditations, Tinsel Tarts In A Hot Coma, The Resurrection of SHE, Eurydice, Ophelia, Spirit Of A Fully Lived Life, The Future of Plant Based Textiles, Stirring the Cauldron, Sexing Sacred Texts, Ole!  A Recital of Spanish Songs, Downtown Benicia Ghost Walk, Lumen Obscura III, Park Champions Volunteer Workday at Half Moon Bay, Pigments Dyes and Fibers from Plants, Urban Herbalism, Spring Fling at Filoli, Tartan Day Scottish Fair, The Science of Art, Make It: Earth Day Art, April In Paris At Midnight Ball, Cosi Fan Tutte, Conscious Goddess: Temple services for She of 10,000 Names, Fixit Clinic, Conscious Goddess: Priestesshood in the New Age, Drawing Inks with Plant Pigments, Really Ragtime!, The Witch’s Garden, Being-in-Dreaming, A Course In Modern Conjure, Mermaids Gods And Other Stories We Shouldn’t Tell You, Art of Tarot with Rabbit, Kitchen Herbalism, The Far Famed Ones: Poetry and Music of the Vikings, The Ships And Voyages Of Captain W.H. Marston, Playland After Dark – Grown-up Game Night, Tarot Salon, Healing and Empowering Your Relationship with the Spirit of Money, Dark of the Moon Practice for Hermes and Hekate, Eavesdrop the Now, Dianic Ritual Technique, Electric Run, Grandmother Flordemayo

Molly Blue Dawn’s full listing with details for all of the following events can be found at http://mollybluedawn.blogspot.com/2013/03/molly-blue-dawns-list-of-events-for_2420.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.

Living as an Empath in a Troubled World, Wicca Wednesdays, Into the Gobi Desert: Camels and Rainbows, Guided Meditations, astrobarry’s Astrology Salon, Just One More Game, The Resurrection of SHE, Sacred Hearth Classes, Eco-Resiliency, Downtown Martinez Ghost Walk, Tinsel Tarts In A Hot Coma, Ball for the Bees postponed until 2014, SWAN Day – Support Women Artists Now, Easter Brunch Buffet and Egg Hunt, Bunnies and Bonnets Parade, Earthy Eggs, Naturally-Dyed Eggs, Heroines At Sea: Adventures Of Sailing Wives, Open House for 13 Moon Ordination Circle, Community Easter Egg Coloring, Womansong Circle, Eurydice, An Introduction to Plant Dyes, Easter in Dolores Park, Family Day at Sienna Ranch, Liturgy of the Lady in Honor of Ostara, Art of Tarot with Rabbit, Lake Merritt Pagans, Saint Stupid’s Day Parade, Lavish Love: Fats in Traditional Diets, NorCal Trans Partners Family and Friends Support Group, South Bay Pagan Salon, Wellness Essentials For Women, Tall Ship Tours and Sails, Reiki I – Cancelled, Dianic Ritual Technique: Working with the Elements of Magick, Electric Run