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Seminars Offered
Because there will be a progression of work and sharing at each Work Shop, I am asking that everyone please arrive on time! I understand Pagan Standard Time, and keep it myself sometimes. The two
hour block has been planned out fairly precisely, however, and to avoid keeping people past the agreed end time, we must begin on time.
The agenda for each of the workshops in the seminar will follow basically the same format:
* Make sacred space: we will cast a circle and call the Directions and Elements. Volenteers will call all the Directions except the one under study; I will have a special call for that one. I have written individual calls for each Direction and Element. Anyone is welcome to call any other Direction!
* Readings: excerpts from several different writers giving various paths and beliefs will be passed around to read. In some instances a
short story will be read.
* Journey: will be undertaken to meet a being of the Element so the individual can clarify and plan on workings to be done.
*Music. Recorded music that will help the participant move from the guided meditation into the next part of the Work Shop.
* Making of meditation bags/sharing: participants can share their experiences on their journey--if they want to. No one will be forced to
speak about where they went and what they did on their own journey. While this is happening, material will be passed around so participants can make a meditation bag particularly suited to the Direction/Element we
are exploring and the workings the individual wants to do.
* Power chant: a chant will be sang with all participants concentrating on sending energy to one individual at a time. The individual will decide how to direct this energy to accomplish the working. It is very important that participants do not form the energy, then send it to the person. Just send the raw energy; the person recieving it will form it into what they want. Everyone gets a chance to go in the middle!
* Release sacred space: we will release the Directions and Elements then open the circle.
As I am always interested in different paths and other ways of doing things and other beliefs, please bring your knowledge and experience to
share with the group. I also encourage you to bring your own tools and items for the direction under discovery.
I have and am still doing a lot of research on these subjects. I will try to present several different aspects of the Directions and Elements
from several different traditions. Many hold very similar customs but some are surprisingly different! It has been quite an education for myself to glean knowledge from here and there.
I guess what one of my teachers early on told me was true; "If you really want to know about something, teach it to another."
Workings associated with Air and East:
Inspiration
Joy
Visualizations
Knowledge
Ideas
Freedom
Wearing my long wing feathers as I fly
Wearing my long wing feathers as I fly
I circle around
I circle around
The boundaries of the Earth,
The boundless universe!
*As with many chants, words may differ from one person to the next. I do not know who originally wrote this chant nor weather these are the "original" words. I wrote it down the way I learned it and the way I have always chanted it. No offense is meant to anyone who has different words!
Let's welcome Air and East into our circle and explore our freedom...
* A yellow candle will be passed around so everyone can put their energy into it. This will be used to call Air and East. During the full moon, I cleansed and consecrated it, carved carefully chosen runes into it and anointed it with oils that are particularly associated with Air and East. After the circle, I will relight the candle and allow it to burn completly. Any left over wax wil be burned in a Ritual fire.
* Make sacred space: we will cast a circle and volunteers will call the Directions and Elements. Gryphon will have a special call for East and Air.
* A bag with feathers will be passed around. Each person will choose one. This can be kept by the person, put in the meditation bag made later, put on the person's alter, buried, etc.
* Readings: short story, "For the Spring Equinox" by D.J. Conway and excerpts from several different writers with various paths and beliefs about Air and East will be passed around to read.
* Journey: onto a cliff to welcome the sunrise and meet with a being of Air. In this journey the individual can clarify and plan on workings to be done.
* Song: "Carry Me Home" by Todd Alan.
* Making of meditation bags/sharing: participants can share their experiences on their journey--if they want to. No one will be forced to relate their experiences. While this is happening, items particularly associated with Air will be passed around. This will include herbs such as anise, clover, sage, dandelion root, eye bright, lavender, parsley, slippery elm, lemon grass, maple, mint and pine as well as small citrine crystals so participants can make a meditation bag suited to the working the individual wants to do. At this time, participants can share knowledge, legends and experiences they have brought to the circle about Air and East.
* Power chant: "Wearing my long wing feathers as I fly." Everyone will form a circle and the first three rounds will be sang to gain the attention of Air and East. Then one round will be sang to each individual member who will step into the center. As this is done, everyone will concentrate on that one member, sending them energy. The individual will charge their meditation bag with this power. The last three rounds will be sang in thanks to the Element. All are encouraged to bring their drums, rattles or other instruments.
* Release sacred space: we will release the Directions/Elements and open the circle.
Workings associated with Fire and South:
Transformation
Courage
Love
Purification
Sexuality
Freedom
Energy
Burn Fire, burn bright,
Your vision come to me.
Guide my path tonight,
With your strength and light.
* A red candle will be passed around so everyone can put their energy into it. This will be used to call Fire and South. During the full moon, I cleansed and consecrated it, carved carefully chosen runes into it and anointed it with oils that are particularly associated with Fire and South. After the circle, I will relight the candle and allow it to burn completly. Any left over wax wil be burned in a Ritual fire.
* Make sacred space: we will cast a circle and volunteers will call the Directions and Elements. I will have a special call for Fire and South.
* A bag with red stones will be passed around. Each person will choose one. This can be kept by the person, put in the meditation bag made later, put on the person's alter, buried, etc.
* Readings: fire theft stories and excerpts from several different writers with various paths and beliefs about Fire and South will be passed around to read.
* Journey: into the desert to meet with a Being of Fire. In this journey the individual can clarify and plan on workings to be done.
* Song: "Burn Fire" by Mother Tongue
* Making of meditation bags/sharing: participants can share their experiences on their journey--if they want to. While this is happening, items particularly associated with Fire and South will be passed around. This will include herbs such as bay leaf, cedar, rosemary, cinnamon, tobacco, clove, sassafras, pennyroyal and wormwood as well as chips of garnets so participants can make a meditation bag suited to the working the individual wants to do. At this time, participants can share knowledge, legends and experiences they have brought to the circle about Fire and South.
* Power chant: Everyone will stand and form a circle, then start moving as they begin chanting. Three rounds will be sang to gain the attention of Fire and South. Then one round will be sang to each individual member as they step into the center. As this is done, everyone will concentrate on that member, sending them energy. The individual will charge their meditation bag with this power. The last three rounds will be sang in thanks to the Element. Bring drums, rattles or other musical instruments.
* Release sacred space: we will release the Directions and Elements and then open the circle.
Compassion
Healing
Forgivness
Friendship
Fertility
Love
Dreams
We are the flow
And we are the ebb
We are the weavers
We are the web
* A blue candle will be passed around so everyone can put their energy into it. This will be used to call Water and West. During the full moon, I cleansed and consecrated it, carved carefully chosen runes into it and anointed it with oils that are particularly associated with Water and West. After the circle, I will relight the candle and allow it to burn completly. Any left over wax wil be burned in a Ritual fire.
*Make sacred space: we will cast a circle and volenteers will call the Directions. Gryphon will have a special call for Water and West.
*A container with shells will be passed around. Each person will choose one. This can be kept by the person, put in the meditation bag made later, put on the person's alter, buried, etc.
*Readings: Short story from Native American heritage, "The Bitterroot" and several different writers with various paths and beliefs about Water and West will be passed around to read.
*Guided meditation: into the ocean to meet with a Being of Water and be shown the treasures and wisdom of Water. In this journey the individual can clarify and plan on workings they feel are needed in their own lives.
* Song: "Ocean Mother" by MotherTongue.
* Making of meditation bags/sharing: participants can share their experiences on their journey-if they want to. While this is happening, items particularly associated with Water will be passed around. This will include herbs such as thyme, feverfew, skullcap, passionflower, yarrow and rose as well as small lapis and myrrh so participants can make a meditation bag suited to the working the individual wants to do. At this time, participants can share knowledge, legends and experiences they have brought to the circle about Water and West.
* Power chant: "We are flow." Everyone will stand and form a circle, then start moving as they begin chanting. Three rounds will be sang to gain the attention of Water and West. Then one round will be sang to each individual member as they step into the center. As this is done, everyone will concentrate on that member, sending them energy. The individual will charge their meditation bag with this power, concentrating on the work they have chosen to do. The last three rounds will be sang in thanks to the Element. Bring drums, rattles or other musical instruments.
* Release sacred space: we will thank the Directions and Elements then open the circle.
As I am always interested in different paths and other ways of doing things and other beliefs, please bring your knowledge and experience to share with the group. I also encourage you to bring your own tools and items for Water and West.
Ocean Mother healing;
She is the healer of the Earth.
Ocean Mother crying;
She is the mourner of the Earth.
Ocean Mother laughing;
She is the brightness of the Earth.
Ocean Mother birthing;
She is the cradle of the Earth.
Emapthy
Stability
Endurance
Prosperity
Fertility
Respect
Purpose in life
Where I sit is holy,
Holy is the ground.
Forest, mountain, river,
Listen to the sound.
Great Spirit circle all
Around me.
* A green candle will be passed around so everyone can put their energy into it. This will be used to call Earth and North. During the full moon, I cleansed and consecrated it, carved carefully chosen runes into it and anointed it with oils that are particularly associated with Earth and North.
* Make sacred space: we will cast a circle and volunteers will call the Directions and Elements. Gryphon will have a special call for Earth and North.
* A bag with stone animals will be passed around. Each person will choose (w/out looking) a piece. This can be kept by the person, put in the meditation bag made later, put on the person's alter, buried, etc.
* Readings: Short story from Native American heritage: "The Woman Who Lives in the Earth" and excerpts from several different writers with various paths and beliefs about Earth and North will be passed around to read.
* Journey: into a cave to meet with a being of Earth and be shown the interconnectedness of all things. In this journey the individual can clarify and plan on workings to be done.
* Song: "I am the Earth" by Mother Tongue
* Making of meditation bags/sharing: participants can share their experiences on their journey--if they want to. While this is happening, items particularly associated with Earth will be passed around. This will include herbs such as corn, mugwort, horehound, horsetail, patchouly, and vervain as well as small emeralds and soil so participants can make a meditation bag suited to the working the individual wants to do. At this time, participants can share knowledge, legends and experiences they have brought to the circle about Earth and North.
* Power chant: "Where I sit is holy, holy is the ground..." Everyone will form a circle and begin chanting. Three rounds will be sang to gain the attention of Earth and North. Then one round will be sang to each individual member. As this is done, everyone will concentrate on the member in the center of the circle, sending them energy. The individual will charge their meditation bag with this power. The last three rounds will be sang in thanks to the Element.
* Release sacred space: we will release the Directions and Elements then open the circle.
Workings associated with Spirit and Center:
The Great Spirit
Self
Balance
Community
Earth my body,
Water My blood,
Air my breath and
Fire my spirit!
Let's welcome Center to our circle and celebrate the Sacredness within each of us...
* A white candle will be passed around so everyone can put their energy into it. This will be used to call Spirit and Community. During the full moon, I cleansed and consecrated it, carved carefully chosen runes into it and anointed it with oils that are particularly associated with Spirit and Center. After the circle, I will relight the candle and allow it to burn completly. Any left over wax wil be burned in a Ritual fire.
* Make sacred space: we will cast a circle and volunteers will call the Directions and Elements. Gryphon will have a special call for Center.
* A box with elemental disks will be passed around. Each person will choose one. This can be kept by the person, put in the meditation bag made later, put on the person's alter, buried, etc.
* Readings: excerpts from several different writers with various paths and beliefs about Center will be passed around to read.
* Journey: first to acknowledge each of the Directions and Elements, then into the Center to meet with the most sacred of all Beings and be shown the interconnectedness and sacredness of all things. In this journey the individual can clarify and plan on workings to be done.
* Song: "Air I Am" by Mother Tongue
* Making of meditation bags/sharing: participants can share their experiences on their journey--if they want to. While this is happening, items particularly associated with Earth will be passed around. This will include herbs such as corn, mugwort, horehound, horsetail, patchouly, and vervain as well as small emeralds and soil so participants can make a meditation bag suited to the working the individual wants to do. At this time, participants can share knowledge,
legends and experiences they have brought to the circle about Earth and North.
* Power chant: "Earth My Body." Everyone will stand and form a circle, then start moving as they begin chanting. Three rounds will be sang to gain the attention of Center. Then one round will be sang to each individual member as they step into the center. As this is done, everyone will concentrate on that member, sending them energy. The individual will charge their meditation bag with this power. The last three rounds will be sang in thanks to Center.
* Release sacred space: we will release the Directions and Elements and then open the circle.
