THE DARK MOTHER. THE SHADOW OF THE DIVINE FEMALE
With Christina Pandolfo (Sicily/Wales)
During this workshop we will explore some of the Dark archetypes of the Goddess, their power, and learn about the process of demonization of the female and re-narration of myths done by patriarchy. We would also journey to connect with our own Shadow-self and discover its gifts.

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COMMUNITY CRONING PREPARATION with Caterina Fiordellisi Nelli (California)

The PREPARATION: A “Croning” ritual marks the life transition of women 58 and older into honored elderhood, celebrating their power and accumulated wisdom. Preparing involves discussion and a guided group process to create a ritual experience to be enacted on Saturday afternoon with DoD attendees welcome to witness and support the new Crones. If you have already had a personal Croning ritual, you are also welcome to celebrate this rite of passage in this group ritual of elderhood. You must participate in the preparation in order to be Croned.

 

COMMUNITY CRONING RITUAL with Caterina Fiordellisi Nelli (California)

The RITUAL: This ritual experience is for the women who participated in the Croning Ritual preparation workshop earlier in the Gathering.  All DoD attendees of any age are welcome to witness, support, and celebrate the new Crones. You must have participated in Friday’s preparation in order to be Croned.

 

AMAZON ARCHERY - Basic Ground Archery Skills for Mounted Archery

with Nicki Harris, Sara Macaluso, Falcon River, and Kathy Crocco

Amazon Nation Rise! Learn the ancient art of intuitive archery, including basic ground archery techniques used for mounted (horseback) archery. Tap into your ancestral memory and shoot like your Amazon foremothers. Hone your personal will, step up to the mark, focus, and release your energy toward your target. Girls under 17 must be accompanied by parent or guardian. All equipment provided.

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DRUM CIRCLE JAM - With Larissa Montfort (California)
Bring your drums and/or percussion toys, and/or dance, shake off the travel, and just enjoy the vibes before getting a good night’s sleep!

WOMEN AND THE DRUM - With Larissa Montfort (California)
Larissa is excited to offer an all-level drum class which will cover basic technique and engaging women's rhythms from West Africa. Bring your rattles, bells, drums, and dancing feet.

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DRUMMING FOR OUR HALLOWMAS COMMUNITY RITUAL with Catherine Ridder (California)

If you have experience as a drummer and interested in drumming for our community ritual on Saturday night, please attend this meeting. Bring your drum and/or percussion toys.

 

​TENDING HOPE – with Ruth Barrett, Hestia Bee, & Falcon River (Michigan)
As Maine writer E. B. White famously wrote to a man who said he had lost faith in humanity: “Hang on to your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day.”
There are many contradictory definitions of “hope”. What exactly is “hope”? And how do you tend it? Is hope simply wishful thinking or is it about making choices in the most challenging times and circumstances? How can we ethically source our lives from hope in alignment with radical feminist Dianic values? Join us for a kitchen-table discussion and exploration of “hope.”

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THE GUARDIAN PATH: A Fireside chat with the Guardians
with Guardian Priestesses Falcon, Sara, Nicki, Tracie, and other Guardian facilitators Shawna, Temple, and Jacqueline
Women who serve as Guardians in sacred space have specifically honed their skills of elemental and energetic awareness through training and practice, standing in service to those who are facilitating or participating in a ritual. These women stand in the portals of the cast circle and use their skills to support the intentions of a ritual as they work in sacred partnership with ritual priestesses and facilitators, monitor the flow of energy, keep facilitators and participants safe. This chat is for those curious about what the Guardians do during ritual, how they do it, and why – and for women who may feel called to this particular kind of spiritual service - join us for a fireside chat with the team of women who have served together as Temple of Diana Guardians for 10+ years.
 

HEALING THE VILLAGE: A Healing Circle with Cerridwyn RoseLabrys (California) and Community Sisters

​It has been a challenging year for many of us in the community —-globally, nationally, and personally. Who isn’t in need of some healing at this time? This session will provide an opportunity for us to raise healing—-physically, mentally, and spiritually, in an atmosphere of drumming, chanting, and meditation. We will have altars to work at for Hygeia, Greek goddess of health, Brighid, Irish goddess of healing, and the Bees of Malia altar of peace. This will be our safe space to empower ourselves for the months to come.

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 SINGING IN SACRED CIRCLE with Shelley Graff (Ohio)

Singing In Sacred Circle is an opportunity for each womoon to share voice and spirit through song/chant. While learning short, repetitive women-centered and earth-based songs/chants from a wide variety of traditions, power rises from the center of the circle as all voices create an energy that is both empowering and healing. This opportunity is intended to allow womyn, regardless of singing experience, to share their voices in a noncompetitive, relaxed, safe space. Percussion instruments are welcome! Come sing along!

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THE ART OF KITCHEN WITCHERY: INCENSE MAKING with D. Ebony Labrys (Washington State) 

 “Kitchen Witchery” as I use the term, is the concept of “What have I got on hand that will help me to achieve my magical/spiritual/personal goals?”. Many of the tools we need to tap into our spiritual selves to create magical incense, hides in plain view right in our own kitchens! Cinnamon, nutmeg and chamomile are definitely examples of herbs we use for teas or pies. But did you know they can also be used in incense magically attuned towards love, protection and psychic energy? In this workshop, we will work with these tools to make magical incense for prosperity, love, purification and psychic enhancement. We will discuss ceremonial magic, and kitchen witchery, and examine the lenses through which we view our magic when spell casting and creating ritual. LIMITED TO 15 WOMEN. Tools: Herbs and info sheets are provided; if possible, please bring your own mortar and pestle. I will, however, bring some to the workshop, which participants are welcome to use, and/or purchase.

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​TAROT THREADS OF WISDOM AND HOPE: EMPOWERMENT IN THESE TIMES WITH Hestia Bee (Michigan)

The practice of tarot can open doorways of insight and inspiration when we heed our intuition. And it can illuminate the way forward through values-oriented action and commitment to the community/whole. Join Hestia to explore the use of divination for personal and collective empowerment. Bring your tarot deck(s); some will be provided, too.

 

TRUSTING YOUR GUT - LEANING INTO YOUR SOMATIC KNOWING with DiAnna Ritola (NY City, NY)
In this workshop we will explore several modalities for listening to our bodies and discerning the messages we receive. Our bodies receive information all the time, and we can learn how to divine the meaning of that information for ourselves so that we can take the next right step for our paths as women, as leaders, and as change-makers. 

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COMPOSTING THE PATRIARCHY WITH GARDEN GODDESSES with Temple Ardinger (California)

In the safety of sisterhood, we give up the negative messages learned from patriarchy to Goddess.  She is there, our oldest and closest friend, to listen and help us let go of these messages that do not serve us.  We will get our hands dirty as we work our magic forming Goddess out of clay and asking her to compost these messages that we have carried for too long. 

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DEVELOPING PSYCHIC SKILLS with Sandy Cybele (California)

Remember how we innately used to see, hear and sense the world?  Like most womyn, you have probably had some “psychic” moments in your life, but under patriarchy maybe you’ve suppressed them.  As womyn we aren’t allowed to acknowledge or talk about our innate female wisdom without ridicule or punishment.  We are taught to know nothing of our power.  By sharing our stories and exploring our diverse ways of knowing, we can begin to reconnect to our sisters and ourselves and trust our individual processes.  We are our own best teachers to reclaim and empower our deep female inner knowing.  In this workshop we will explore and share various ways of accessing our psychic skills as well as how to use them.

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