Tuesday, March 29, 2011

My Workshops for April and May

I have three workshops coming up at Le Mélange Magique (1928 Ste-Catherine W) in April and May; and of course, Gaia Gathering (Concordia University) is coming up over the May Victoria Day long weekend and I'm sure I'll be on some panels there too.

Both the Powers of Air and Crafting Ritual workshops need a minimum number of participants to run, so advance registration is strongly encouraged. You can show up on the day of the workshop without registering, however, if the minimum registration was not reached by 48 hours before the workshop start time then it gets cancelled. Register at Le Mélange Magique (514-938-1458). No advance registration is required for The Pagan Umbrella. I run it whether there is one person or 20 people!

Thursday April 14th, 6:30 pm
Powers of Air
The elements of earth, air, fire, water (and aether) are foundational underpinnings of many esoteric traditions. Through a combination of lecture and hands-on exercises, we will delve into the element of air, the direction of east, power of new beginnings, knowledge and ideas, and beings like birds and sylphs. You will also be provided with activities to continue to deepen your relationship with this element on your own. (2 hours; $20; advance registration required; minimum enrollment required for the workshop to run)

Thursday April 28th, 6:30 pm
Crafting Ritual: An Introduction
Ritual is a space in time carved out for spiritual or transformative work. It usually involves set forms to create and contain the energy of that moment; and is an integral component of many contemporary Pagan practices. This introductory workshop provides an overview of common ritual formats and some basic considerations when crafting a ritual for yourself or small groups. (2 hours; $20; advance registration required; minimum enrollment required for the workshop to run)

Sunday May 8th, 2pm.
The Pagan Umbrella
What is Paganism? Ask a dozen people and you’ll get at least a dozen answers. In reality, paganism is probably best considered to be an umbrella term for a variety of spiritual and religious traditions. In this brief introduction, we will discuss what we mean when we use the word Pagan in a religious or spiritual context, discover some of the more popular Pagan paths being followed today (such as Wicca, witchcraft, Druidism, Heathenism, or simply Pagan), and explore some of their commonalities and differences. (2 hours; free)

Friday May 20th to Monday May 23rd
Gaia Gathering
The Canadian National Pagan Conference (CNPC), Gaia Gathering, is a grassroots national Pagan organization founded in 2004. Each year the conference is hosted over the Victoria Day long weekend in a different Canadian city through a bidding process similar to the Olympics. Past host cities include Edmonton, Halifax, Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Vancouver. This year (2011) it comes to Concordia Univesity in Montreal. The conference is organized collaboratively by Canadian Pagans and brings together Pagans, Pagan-curious, Pagan elders and community leaders, and interested others for a long weekend of networking, discussion, and community. Traditionally, the panels and discussions have focussed on the issues we experience as Canadian Pagans living in the 21st century, with special emphasis on the experience of being Pagan in the host city. For more info visit their website, blog, or Facebook page!

2 comments:

Oliver said...

Hey. Would you recommend 'The Pagan Umbrella' to curious newcomers? I'm not sure where to start exploring and this sounds like it could be a good spot.
Thanks.

Amanda said...

Hi Oliver,

Yes, the Pagan Umbrella class is designed as an intro class to give you an idea of the different flavours of Paganism out there so that you can see which ones resonate with you philosophically. It's free and I run it a few times/year.

Thanks for stopping by! I look forward to meeting you.
Amanda