FEMINIST WITCHCRAFT in the DIANIC TRADITION

This class series introduces participants to the philosophy, cosmology, ethics, and political dimensions of Dianic Feminist Witchcraft. Students are introduced to fundamental Dianic teachings, ritual practices and spellcraft to empower their lives and inspire connection and commitment to themselves, their communities, and the Earth Herself. All sessions in this series comprise both cognitive and experiential ways of learning.

 

MAGICK AND SPELLCRAFT

A six-week class series that follows Feminist Witchcraft in the Dianic Tradition, and focuses on experiencing, understanding, and developing specific areas of magick and ritual arts. These topics include: perceptual magick, developing spellcraft, the Dianic Wheel of the Year, the art of invocation, ethics, and spellcraft, and more.

 

ENERGETICS FOR MAGICK & RITUAL

Exploring a feminist partnership model approach to the practice of ritual magick, this workshop will discuss and teach energetics to enhance and prepare for more effective Goddess work. Through interactive and participatory exercises, participants will learn energetic techniques for circle purification, invocation, and the casting and maintenance of the ritual circle.

 

INTUITIVE PERSONAL RITUAL MAKING

When women ascribe her own meaning, like a snake, she sheds her old skin and emerges into a new reality, a new conscious awareness. The mundane world of the previous moment is transformed and she is brought closer to a greater understanding of the sacred empowers herself by ritualizing passages based on the realities of her life experiences, and to which she can ascribe her own meaning. 

Participants will learn how to design personal rituals for themselves and others through a unique guided intuitive process that includes how to develop the purpose, theme, energetics, and appropriate structure.  Participants will learn how to design a ritual to initiate a life change or attitude, facilitate a change already in process, or name and claim a change or transformation that has already occurred. When a woman creates a ritual from remembering the white crystals of her first snowfall, a warm full moon ocean breeze, the first touch of her newborn, the ritual is truly hers. This process of ritual creation is authentically from her and about her. Her ritual becomes a beautifully powerful experience in self-intimacy.

 

INTUITIVE PERSONAL RITUAL MAKING 

(for everyone or women in spiritual leadership)

Whether to meet your own needs or to assist community members in marking significant or necessary life passages is an important aspect of participating in Pagan religion and leadership. In this workshop, participants will learn helpful skills in how to design personal rituals for themselves and to work effectively one-on-one with others to initiate a life change or attitude, facilitate a change already in process, or name and claim a change or transformation that has already occurred. Ruth’s unique guided intuitive process includes how to develop the purpose, theme, energetics, and appropriate structure. 

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THE ART OF INVOCATION FOR PERSONAL AND GROUP RITUAL 

(This intensive is for women who are solitary practitioners and those who provide spiritual support or facilitate group ritual.)

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Invocation is the act of inviting deities or elemental spirits into a specific time and place to witness, grant support, a request, for protection, or to praise, thank, or honor them. This intensive workshop will address invocation for both personal ritual and seasonal group rituals. Participations will gain invaluable hands-on experiences and a deeper understanding of the various purposes of invocation by creating, delivering, and energetically addressing the powers they invite into their circles.

 

INVOKING YOUR SACRED SELF - A WORKSHOP/RITUAL FOR WOMEN

Invocation is the act of inviting a deity or spirits into a specific time and place to witness, to grant a request, for protection, or to praise, thank, or honor Her or them. What if you could invoke and bring forward your own sacred presence into time and place as you would when invoking a goddess or elemental being? Participants will learn about invocation as a magical skill and participate in a creative process that culminates in a ritual of healing and empowerment.

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UNDERSTANDING THE DIANIC TRADITION: Lecture

Dianic High Priestess and Elder, Ruth Barrett will share the her-story, philosophy, cosmology, ethics, and political dimensions of Dianic Feminist Witchcraft and the Goddess movement. Bring your curiosity and questions. Open to everyone!

 

THE PRIESTESS PATH

Through group discussion, practices, meditations, and Q & A, we will discuss, and explore the Priestess Path for women interested in spiritual service. What is spiritual leadership to you?  What do you feel are the talents and skills needed for effective leadership?  How do you envision “leading?” What does the title of “priestess” mean to you? What are your expectations for a woman who calls herself a priestess, and what are these expectations based on? What does the term “spiritual service” mean to you?  Why is service integral to priestess work? What are the challenges that can and do occur among women in women's spiritual community and how you might responsibly address these issues as a Priestess or a woman in leadership. ("What would a Priestess do?"). Bring your assumptions, questions, and expectations.

 

SINGING THE WOMEN’S WHEEL of the YEAR

Dianic seasonal rituals celebrate the mythic cycle of the Goddess within the earth’s seasonal cycles of birth, death, and regeneration, and it’s correspondences to Women’s Mysteries. Ruth will share an overview of the seasonal Wheel of the Year festivals in the Dianic Wiccan calendar and discuss the individual holidays with appropriate chants and energetics. Drums and percussion toys welcome.

 

SONGS AND CHANTS FOR FEMALE RITES OF PASSAGE

This singing workshop focuses on songs and chants for the female life cycle, from birth to death, including the uterine blood mysteries. Bring your voice, drums, and percussion toys (optional).

 

OUR SONGS AND CHANTS AS LITURGY FOR MOTHER GAEA

The pagan movement has used chants and songs as our ritual liturgy since the resurgence of pagan traditions in the 20th century. They have affirmed our values, ethics, and interdependence with our planet and other sentient beings. Let’s sing together and affirm our love for our sacred earth. Bring your favorite chants or songs, percussion toys, and your voices.

 

MAGICKAL CHANT

Women were the first singers of magic. Ancient women’s music was created to do something.  In this workshop, we will learn and share Goddess and woman-centered magickal and seasonal chants for personal and group ritual, inspiration, centering, raising power, and fun. Ruth will share an overview of the seasonal Wheel of the Year festivals in the Dianic Wiccan calendar and teach about the individual holidays with appropriate chants and energetics. Drums and percussion toys welcome.

 

ARCHERY AS A MAGICAL PRACTICE

With Falcon River

In this supportive and non-competitive environment, participants will learn how to apply the practice of archery as a metaphor for attaining goals in daily life.  Participants will learn basic archery skills, equipment use and selection, and archery range safety practices, and how to practice archery to hone your magical skills. Learn to center, raise energy, focus your will and release your intention toward a specific goal. All archery equipment will be provided. All experience levels welcome. Bring your own bow and arrows if you have them, and a portable chair. Children ages 12-18 welcome with parent or guardian. ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE PRIOR TO THIS WORKSHOP.  Anyone who shows up under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be asked to leave. No exceptions!

 

CASTING THE CIRCLE

An Introduction to Energetics for Magic and Ritual
With Ruth Barrett and Falcon River
This hands–on workshop covers the fundamentals of energetic practices for creating an energetic container for ritual workings.  Participants will receive training for casting, maintaining, and taking down, the ritual circle, how to give energetic support, personal preparation for magic and ritual work, and preparation of the ritual space.
 

GUARDIAN, A PRIESTESS PATH

In the Dianic Wiccan tradition, Guardian and journey to other realms. Do you walk between the worlds? Through energetic practices, explore the role of guardians in women’s magic, ritual, and community. Priestesses provide energetic support and magical containment for rituals. They may also practice weather- working,glamory, interspecies communication 

 

COMMUNITY CRONING RITUAL

Co-create and experience your Croning ritual at your festival with your sisterhood of other crones. The workshop involves discussion and a guided group process to create a ritual experience that will be enacted later in the festival week with invited supporters attending.

 

A “Croning” ritual marks the life transition of women 58 and older, into honored elderhood, celebrating their power and accumulated wisdom. Co-create and experience your Croning ritual at the Gathering with your festival sisterhood of other crones. The workshop involves discussion and a guided group process to design a ritual experience that will be enacted later in the festival week with invited supporters attending.

 

WALKING OUR TALK AS DIANIC WITCHES

What are the basics and bottom lines to feminist Dianic cosmology, politics, and rites, and how do they inform the ethics we strive to walk every day? Let's discuss and affirm how a goddess-centered practice guides us in the 21st century.

 

TREE LORE

Learn about the tree lore of Northern Europe and explore the mythical, magical and healing properties of trees.

 

KNOTTED TABLE

Create a rustic table from found materials in the woods, using simple hand tools and twine.

 

CRAFT OF THE CRAFT: THE SACRED BLADE

Working in sacred space, you will craft your own sacred blade. We will be using hand forged blade blanks made especially for these workshops by a pagan blacksmith. You will polish the blade and craft the handle from an assortment of woods, join the handle to the blade, and create the leather sheath. Along the way, you will also learn the lore of the athame and deepen your relationship with sacred fire.