2009 Workshops

   

   

Acts of Love and Pleasure  Jodi KentSpencer
The more we tap into our ability to experience here and now, the more happiness, creativity, inspiration, and abundance we invite into our lives. In this circle, we explore how to create everyday acts of love and pleasure.

Animals of the Grain Goddess   Sid Reger
As women of the earth, most of us have close relationships with creatures of other species. We adopt (and are ruled by) our pets, we feed the birds, we fight for the rights of wildlife and farm animals. So, how do wild and domestic animals fit into a goddess-centered cosmology? Why for instance, have ducks, chickens, and cattle all been entwined with goddess stories? Why do bears, spiders, and bees figure in many creating myths? We’ll examine images from prehistoric art, and myths from many cultures, to help us better understand the critters we love, and some that we might not think of as loveable. And we’ll build on what we know to create rituals to honor some of our “unfamiliars.”

Building the Sacred Temple   Leah Jeannesdaughter
Calling all maidens, mothers, crones...blood sisters, lovers, amazons...midwives, matriarchs, priestesses! Explore the Sacred aspect you currently embody in relationship to your blood. Claim your story and your wisdom, and share them for the wholeness of the community.

Calling Your Community  Jodi Kent Spencer and Robbi Albert-Jones
Are you ready to call your support circle into being?  Know that you are ready to connect and co-create, but unsure of where to even begin? Join us for a lively discussion that is sure to inspire your community-calling creativity.

Come True My Heart  Victoria Pendragon
You may have heard of goal-oriented colleges called Vision Boards. Imagine that power magnified exponentially. Come True My Heart boards go deeper, yielding a small work of art that speaks powerfully to the soul to set your destiny in motion.

Council of All Beings  Paula Hendrik
In this spontaneous ritual we step out of our human identity and speak on behalf of another life-form. We give voice to its suffering in these times, receive gifts of strength and beauty, and experience our interdependence in the living body of Earth. This ritual form was co-created by Joanna Macy

Dance of the Hoop  Shenandoah Mariah Sluter
EARTH SPINS WITHIN. Be centered in the circle surrounding you. Release into this movement of infinite whirling to the core. Mind unwinds into the rhythm, grace, connection, and reflection. Your bodies innermost direction is perfection through this smiling, spiraling, surrendering dance with presence.

Dove Tales: The Image of the Dove as a Symbol of Sacred Sexuality  Julie Strong and Joann Lutz
We will explore the image of the dove as a symbol of sacred sexuality from prehistoric times to the present. This theme will be explored through illustrated lecture; individual creative working clay, writing, drawing, dance or song; and examples from the life and music of Laura Nyro, feminist pioneer singer/songwriter. Participants will each receive a CD of Lauren’s goddess-themed music.

Earth Healing  Rachel Ginther
We are the same composition as the Earth, same percentages of water, minerals, and more. So when we speak about “Healing the Earth” what are we really saying? Learn ways of communing and coming into alignment with the Earth. Find ways to speak her language and listen to what she has to say in return. Understand your role as healer of Self and Planet.

Element Percussion Circle-Rhythmic Release   Tracy Hamilton
This gently guided drum circle uses percussion instruments to honor the elements/directions. This year we welcome all earth sisters to bring their drums, wooden percussion instruments and moving bodies in a special ritual of “rhythm release” and celebration.

Grounding in the Arms of the Mother  Opeyemi PARHAM
The most enlightened and self-actualized of us have had COMPLICATED dealing with doctors. Pap smears. Birth, Surgery. Cancer. Deaths. We will use ceremony and circle, the elements of air, fire, water, and earth to make meaning of our shared stories.

Healing our Connection with Food, Healing Food’s Connection with Us  Mary McClintock
How do our food choices honor the earth and our communities? Food sustains us, yet food production can also harm the earth. Through song, reflection, discussion, and guided meditation, we’ll explore possibilities for healing our connections with food and the earth.

Herbal Medicine Walk  Robin Rose Bennett
Wildflowers, weeds, and trees are medicinal Green treasures. Come to explore the land under our feet and the trees that rise above us. Simple ways to identify, ethically gather, prepare and use wild medicines will be shared. Abundant, effective, empowering and free.

Herbs For Your Nerves-Herbs to Soothe Stress, Ease Pain, and Lift Your Spirits  Robin Rose Bennett
Herbs reconnect us to ourselves, and to the joy of being alive. Lavender lifts our spirits, lemon balm soothes stress, and goldenrod relieves pain. Taste, touch, and smell many delightful remedies that you can easily use in your everyday life.



Isolations, Undulations, Body Rolls, and Their Relationship and Effect Upon the Chakras   Alia
All of the above plus: In depth discussion of the Chakras, Kundalini energy, and the use of eternal muscles in belly dancing to initiate their activation and their effect on personal evolution. Mature content. Adult women only. No toddlers or infants please.

Making Flower/Vibrational Essences Rachel Ginther
Learn how to connect and communicate with Nature; how to “Become”; how to prepare and use your Essence. We will co-create an Essence with the Natural Spirits, Devas, and other energies in our surroundings. Each participant will be able to take a bottle of the Essence home.

Magikal Mud  Malorie Joy Winerman
Come shape the earth and create a meaningful, one of a kind art piece to represent your connection to our mother. Naturally, clay in itself has many therapeutic applications. These will be discussed and you will learn simple hand building techniques to help you find a deeper meaning relationship with our planet. Plenty of clay, tools, and additional earthly embellishments will be provided. Be prepared to get dirty! Pre-registration is required and a $5.00 material fee to be paid to a facilitator.

Mindful Communications  Esyule
Open up to new earth moving ways of communication. Differing from the method we have learned to address issues in life which often fails, this form of communication opens the heart and creates real relationship between us and others.

Moving with the Rhythm of Life
     Nana Baakan Agyiriwah
Traditional West African Drumming Techniques (Intermediate): Interactive, spiritually uplifting and enriching cultural presentation which includes West African percussion patterns and a demonstration of the instruments; such as the Sekere (shay-ka-ray), sangba drum, djundjun, djembe and Agogo (ah-go-go), the double headed bell and ends with a drum circle.  
 
Moving with the Rhythm of Life
   Nana Baakan Agyiriwah
The DjunDjun (Beginners and Intermediate) is the heartbeat of the djembe drums ensemble but can also be played in its own battery. Discover the dexterity needed to play this drum using a stick and a bell. Delve into the strong root connection to the earth’s rhythm.


Mystical Movements  Kacy Baecker
Within every woman is the urge to dance. Overwhelmed by whatever music or rhythm they hear, their body is calling to respond. In modern times, we often hold back from our true desires. This workshop is an opportunity for women of all shapes and sizes to hear the beat of their heart and allow it to move their body!

Peresephone’s Journey, the Powerful Daughter   Jacki Schreiber
Are you a “Good Daughter,” “Wild Child,’” or “A Queen?” Have you received your ultimate birth day gift? What was your family mythology and are you still creating from that pattern? By heading our family relationships we can access our innate power, create abundance in our lives and open the door to fulfillment!

Primal Rhythm 1  Sue Balaschak
Expand your connections between yourself, your drum, and Mother Earths energy. We will discuss the Spirit of the drum, drumming techniques, basic rhythms, and raising energy at drum circles. Bring your drum.

Primal Rhythm 2- “How’d They Do That?”    Sue Balaschak
E
ver see an amazing drummer and wonder “how’d they do that?” Well let me show you. This workshop will provide you with the tools and confidence to allow your own personality to speak through your drum. You will learn exercises to improve your skills and announce rhythms and techniques. We will review dynamis and syncopatton. Bring your drums and questions!!

Reawakening Our Ecological Selves  Carol Harley
To feel the profound interconnectedness of all life is a radical act. We will create safe space to explore the depths of our gratitude and then, honor our pain for the world. Using proven exercises (groups and pairs), we will practice seeing with new eyes and empower ourselves and each other to go forth with courage. Based on the teachings of Joanna Macy, this workshop is for anyone involved in the healing of our world.

Shedding with the Serpent  Serpentessa
In Paleolithic & Neolithic times, serpents & womyn were recognized & honored as transformative, in synchronicity with the moon& cyclic change.  Today, cultural programming creates false expectations & hatred of the amazing transformative capacities within ourselves.  Snakes living in the power of the mysterious moment reconnect us to cyclical change.  Belly to belly with live gentle snakes we will shed our old skins into renewal& reclaiming.  Short snake orientation included. Sign up sheet to enroll.

Sounding Optimistic, Singing the Earth  Mosa Baczewska
Sound creates form. Part ceremony, part jubilation, we sound our voices and our intentions to enhance well-being, to give rise to optimism and possibility. Collectively sounding we create an alchemy of transformation, attuning to each other, EarthMother, EarthMaid, and EarthCrone.

Starting and Growing a Holistic Business  Conny Jasper
For women who want to empower themselves by starting and running their own business. Learn what it takes to accomplish your goals and achieve success. Discover all of the steps necessary to make your dream a reality.

The Full Spirited Four Fold Goddess  Donna Henes
Meet the full spirited Goddess who has four faces, which correspond to and embrace all four directions, elements, and seasons. She also represents the four stages of a woman’s life: The Maiden, The Mother, The Queen, and The Crone.

The Ghuedra (Blessing Ritual)  Charlene Roberts
The Ghuedra is an ancient blessing dance practiced by the nomadic Berber tribes of North Africa. It is a ritual using counter clapping and chanting to trance dancers performing in the middle of a sealed circle. It is a powerful raising of Energies that will bring you into a blissful state of release and healing. Truly transformational and bonding to all in involved.

The Secrets of the Goddess Mounds   Eclipse Fey
We will explore three gateways to our sacred power by experiencing with lecture and meditation the ancient mysteries of Danu, whose symbol is the belly of the goddess, who birthed the Tuatha De’ Danann-beings of light whose quest is to create order out of chaos and who are returning through gateways of earth, stone, and wood.

The Queen’s Guide to Power: Claim It! Embrace It! Use It!  Donna Henes
We become queen when we step into our sovereignty and become the ruler of our own life. Now is the time to take that power out into the world for the good of all. Come drum up your purpose, passion, and power!

Turning our Mother with Song and Chant   Shelley Graff and Kathy Crocco
Come sing in sacred circle as we shed old skin to renew and regenerate our purpose and passion to turn our Mother. As we share songs/chants, we will literally plant new seeds rooted in our optimistic vision of healing ourselves and our Mother. Like Spiderwomyn, we will weave our connections to create a peaceful, compassionate way of life.

Tribal Roots: The Elements of Dance  Jamie Waggoner
Music make you tap your feet? Your heart longs to dance? If desire is there, but fear glues you to your chair, this is your workshop! Join us in safe space to explore the tribal roots of dance through gentle movement.  Limited to 20

Veil Dancing  Alia
Learn to fly! Dancing with a veil is a sensual & exhilarating experience. The dynamics of body posture while spinning extensively will be taught as well as some basic positions to create various patterns with the veil. Soft, light material such as chiffon (2-1/2 yds) is required. Veils will be available to use and purchase.

Viva la Vulvalution  Amy Jo Goddard
Wimmin need venues for exploring their power: to take control over their choices, their bodies and their lives. In this workshop, we explore how we honor ourselves, the women in our lives, and our mentors, while creating new paths for living harmoniously with our bodies and our femaleness. Create Vulvalution!

Women’s Holy Book: An Art Creation  Isadora Gabrielle Leidenfrost

Create your story in the “ Illuminated Womanscript”, a fabric book and a woman’s holy book. Of women and by women stories, gifts, wounds, lessons, experiences. Create chapter four by illustrating and writing your story: How do you celebrate the many aspects of the Goddess.

    
   
   
 
 
  PO Box 559, Franklinville, NJ 08322
Email: Womongathr@aol.com