2013

At Friends General Conference Gathering:

The Goddess Is Alive and Magic Is Afoot

Workshop Number: 13

Who may register?: Open to All (adult & high school)

Time Breakdown

Worship/Worship-Sharing: 33%

Lecture: 1%

Discussion: 33%

Experiential Activities: 33%

The Goddess can be a powerful experience for Friends. Magic can be a powerful tool for transformation and change -- spiritual, personal, political, cultural. We’ll spend time with the Goddess in nature, ourselves, and each other, and working with magic as a spiritual and creative discipline. All genders welcome.

Daily format:

* Opening worship, 9:00-9:15

* Check-ins, 9:15-9:30

* Today’s topic, 9:30-11:30 (with a 10-minute break at roughly 10:20, that day's work permitting)

* Closing worship, 11:30-11:45

Daily topics and exercises include:

* Experiencing the Goddess in the elements (Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Spirit) in ourselves and connected to each other

* Experiencing the Goddess in the elements in nature and connected to each other

* Recognizing and connecting with the Goddess-within ourselves and each other

* Labyrinth walk or spiral walk (hopefully on-campus; if not, at a local church, in our workshop space, or outdoors of our own devising)

* Listening for the Goddess in Meeting for Worship

* Practical orientation to magic as a spiritual practice

* Worship-sharing

* Transforming shame into pride and power-from-within

* Meeting for Worship for Healing and/or energy work

* Singing the Goddess

Recommendations for advance reading:

* Faith and Practice of your own yearly meeting. If that is feeling like too much, I highly recommend F&P of North Pacific Yearly Meeting, which is short, sweet, and very readable!

* Any reputable book about Goddess spirituality, Witchcraft, or Paganism. Feel free to contact me if you need title suggestions.

Items to bring:

* Spiritual notebook / Book of Shadows / something to take notes in and with.

* Anything that will help you be more comfortable in/during the workshop.

About the leader :

I have led interactive, participatory workshops and interest groups at Quaker Gatherings since 1998. I have been involved with music ministry since 1986, have facilitated feminist spirituality groups since 1990, and have taught sacred vocal music since 1997. My other teaching experience includes Scottish Country Dance, in which I hold an international teacher's certificate, English Country Dance, humanitarian work, trauma recovery, basic life support, and computer skills.