I am now officially back from the New Hampshire feri_camp and am happy to report that it was a huge success. I met so many wonderful people and I learned a lot. My classes were well received, even when during my Amethyst Pentacle class I completely blanked out on one of the pathways! Thank goodness for ryanfirewitch who was able to invoke the power of technology to summon the page from my website to fill in my blank! I even got an opportunity to learn from the other fabulous teachers and now have some more pieces to inform my own practice. As has been tradition, Michele (mrj15) and I stayed up all night on the last night, much to the chagrin of Thorn (yezida) who apparently didn't believe us when we warned her that it was our intention. Next camp: separate sleeping/hanging-out areas for the teachers, or barring that, earplugs. ;) (Sorry, Thorn! I hope you have recovered nicely.) Karina (loveandpower) did a great job of staying up until 3am, falling asleep while laughing, as is her custom at these things. What an exercise in BlackHearted joy!

I had a great time teaching with Karina again.. upon arriving at camp, and comparing notes, we realized that we were about to offer what pretty much amounted to the same class. So we decided to combine our talents and our efforts to present one class together. We have such similar approaches that at times it's scary, as if we are living in each other's heads.

My Daemon Lover class went really well. I read some Rumi (a common theme for this camp) and we did some energy exercises based on projecting the fetch-body and infusing it with the presence of our holy daemon in the context of the Pearl Pentacle. Tingly!

Michele's Creating a Feri Retreat at Home class was very well presented and it provided the impetus that I needed to get back on track with my visual art. As a result I will re-visit my Tarot art project starting in the next few days. Stay tuned!

I am also going to be re-opening my Feri classes. After seeing so many talented and dedicated people who are really doing the work, I just can't sit back and keep things as small as I have been. I'm also going to be starting a new in-person class as soon as I have enough people. If anyone is interested please send an application and cover letter.( My Mailing Address )

I am really grateful for this work. I was blessed to be in the presence of so many people who are really invested in doing the hard (and joyous!) work necessary to become fully possessed by their own divinity. Every once in awhile I hear murmurs of discomfort from the more secretive factions of our community that these sort of things are being publicly offered. But each and every time I see the level of sheer commitment and wild power that these people demonstrate I am even more convinced that this is the right direction for myself, my community, and my tradition.

So... to each and every one of you who is doing this work... whether you are secretive, open or anywhere in between... thank you. You make this tradition the most powerful and beautiful thing I have ever known. Together we will move forward and learn the deep magics. Together we will claim our divinity and our power. Together we will change the world.

Forwarded from a list I'm on:

http://www.slate.com/id/2193841/?from=rss

Scary.

Dandelion
thou strange and beautiful weed!
That spreads aloft on wings of air
by chance to rest and go to seed
to grow with golden plumage soft and fair.
When you as angels gowns have turned
We make a wish and set you free
Words take flight with tufts of white
to land unknown just beyond our our sight.
Fear not the seeds that spread so wide
though suburban lawns shall scorn your sprouts
For all the scorn in all the world
Shall hinder you not
thou fairy seed, thou wild flower.

Because of recent discussions going on in the Feri community I have decided to post my article from Witch Eye #15 concerning my take on the Wand system.

So, for those who may be interested, I offer The Colors of Power: Exploring the Wands of the F(a)eri(e) Tradition.

I have updated my schedule with a few more classes, located at my shop in Walnut Creek.

Parking can be validated at the Cypress St. garage across the street. Call the shop at 925-933-2342 for more information or to register.

In Honor of GLBT Pride Month:
The Amethyst Pentacle
with Chas Bogan and Storm Faerywolf
Sunday, June 22
6-8pm
$20

Meditation is a powerful tool that we can use to gain awareness and to live our lives more fully, but many of the tools and models employed by the main-stream religions are heterosexist, if not blatantly homophobic. The Amethyst Pentacle was created with this in mind, providing a symbolic map of some common experiences of the queer practitioner – regardless of sexual identity.

The Amethyst Pentacle seeks to illumine certain experiences and to show them as a healthy part of a larger whole. Each point on the pentacle embodies these concepts in such a way so that we may then approach them from a place of balance and clarity, seeing our experiences as necessary catalysts for transformation. We will journey in trance to each of the points on the pentacle so that we may cleanse our relationships to them and reclaim our birthright as queer spiritual beings.

Chas Bogan and Storm Faerywolf are both initiated priests of the Feri tradition and have been partnered for over 15 years. In addition to his spiritual pursuits, Chas is an artist and craftsman, and Storm is a poet and visionary artist. For more information, visit their websites at www.carnivalia.com and www.faerywolf.com.

The Three Souls of the F(a)eri(e) Tradition
Tuesday, June 24
7-9pm
$20

Many cultures espouse the multiplicity of the human soul. From Polynesian Huna, to traditional Jewish & African beliefs, an awareness of our three souls has manifested in many ways through time. Modern spiritual systems often recognize and encourage communion with our “higher self”, but this is but one of the facets of our existence. In this class we will explore the three souls as taught in the Feri tradition of witchcraft and learn how to commune with each of them in order to bring them into alignment, assisting us in one of the most vitally important foundational steps toward our own spiritual evolution.

Foundations of Feri: The Water Cleansing Rite (Kala)
Friday, July 11
7-8pm
$20

Cleansing rites are an important part of any spiritual path, and especially so in the Feri tradition. In this class we will discuss different methods of cleansing, and especially the Water Cleansing rite (Kala). We will then perform a version of the rite together to help assist our transformation of weakness into power.

Foundations of Feri: The Iron Pentacle
Friday, July 18
7-9pm
$20

The Iron Pentacle is one of the most important tools of self-transformation that the Feri tradition has to offer. In this class we will delve into each of the five points of our beloved pentacle to see how they play out in our lives, as well as invoke this symbol in ritual to see how and where we are in or out of balance so that we may then begin to reclaim our lost power.

I hope to see some of you there!

I have been toying with the idea of doing a poetry reading project for awhile now... and when Onyx asked me and several other Feri initiates to read Victor's poetry for the A Jewel for Cora project, I decided it was time to start getting busy. So here is a preview of my latest poetry project.

Black Heart Thrum (MP3)

I've been seeing a strange trend lately... well, strange to me. Since acquiring the store a few months ago, we have heard a few times that people were concerned that the energy there would become "too dark" now that we have taken over. Now, in general the response has been overwhelmingly positive... but as for the negative responses, I can only assume it's because of our involvement in the Craft.

For example: A woman came in a couple months ago and said, (with a definite tone of sharp concern) "The store's not going to become more WICCAN is it???"

I let her know that, yes, it WAS going to become more Wiccan... and more Buddhist, and more Christian, and more Native American, and more Voodoo, and more Thelemic, and more everything else, to boot.

I am wondering how that would have gone over if she was concerned about the store becoming more Jewish, or more Buddhist, or more <fill-in-the-blank>? Certainly there seems to be a disconnect here. These people honestly believe that they are part of the open minded elite, and I'm sure would be shocked to learn that they are just as small-minded as those fundamentalists that they look down their noses at.

Anyway... I think it's a good thing, actually. Mamma always said if you weren't pissing somebody off then you weren't doing anything important. Our goal has been to change the clientèle of the place and I think it's happening organically. Even just the colors we have chosen to paint the place changes the vibe dramatically... and I'm sure will contribute to some feeling that the store has changed too much for them. That's fine. We know that change is good... and let's face it... the place had gotten so damned saccharine that I'm surprised no one ever went into a sugar-coma.  We've been working hard to ground the place. And I am finally really happy with how it is turning out.

So if you are one of those people who is out there reading my blog because you are concerned about how the store might change... that it might become "too dark" for you... then don't bother coming back in. The store is not for you anymore. We are more Pagan... more Santeria, more Hoodoo, more Islam... we are more Taoist, more Feng Shui, more everything. We are a bit more enlightened (and yes, a bit more endarkened!) now. And if that scares you well, good. We are a mirror. The demons that you see are your own.

I was hoping that someone (or several someones) could help me with a little project I'm working on... as part of our remodel and restructure of the store, we have decided to rename the suites (what are currently used as reader or massage rooms) after constellations. I wanted each name to reflect what type of thing generally goes on there, so I was thinking that the main reader room could be named Delphinus (connecting it to the Dolphin; the mediator between Gods and mankind in Greek Mythology as well as connecting it to the Oracle at Delphi) and the main massage room Ophiuchus; after the celebrated healer... although I'd be open to something else here. I still need a name for another reader/massage/whatever room, as well as a name for our classroom. Also, a name for our office would be nice, too... but I'll take what I can get.

Does anyone have any star trivia bouncing around their heads? Anyone inclined to make any suggestions? Thanks in advance...

crossposted to feri_camp:

Feri Camp '08: Sex, Love, and Power
With Thorn Coyle, Storm Faerywolf, Michele Jackson, and Karina
June 26 - 29, 2008
New Hampshire

Join Feri students and practitioners for Summer Camp in New Hampshire this June as we explore the mysteries of Sex, Love and Power in the Feri Tradition. Cost of camp is $350 and includes all workshops, intensives, rituals, meals and lodging. There is a discount for tenters, but due to limited space this is on a first come, first served basis. This is a drug and alcohol free event. For more information and a registration form, please email chelidon@mythosphere.com. Space is limited to 40 and is filling fast!

It's taken me a few days to sum up enough clarity to be able to chronicle my experiences at this year's Pantheacon. Things have been rather busy for me this month... a major business trip right before the con... getting sick right after returning... the con itself...  performing my first Feri initiation... and then getting sick all over again! I'm still pretty tired, but I wanted to make sure to at least jot down some bullet points of the major experiences that I had at the con:

( Behind a cut, because it's long... )

All in all it was a great experience. It was the first time that I have been able to be there for the whole time, and with Chas, no less! We both had a great time hanging out together, and we celebrated an early 15th anniversary there (which was lucky, since on our actual anniversary we were both sick!)

I was very happy to see some old friends, and to make some new ones. It is certainly an experience that i would recommend to everyone who is interested in Pagan spirituality, as there are so many different types of people and presentations there that there is certainly something for everyone. I already can't wait for next year.

But for now I am tired and am going to bed... for all of those whom I saw at the con (and probably didn't have near as much time to hang out with as I would have liked): I miss you already.

I am pleased to announce that last night, in the presence of the Old Ones and blessed by the auspice of a blood red moon, my apprentice, Puck D. Coyote (puckdecoyote), was brought into the inner circle of the Feri. He has studied with me for several years and I am proud to now call him a Feri initiate, priest, and brother.

Welcome to the wild dance, Puck. I know that you will make us all proud.

Coyote howling at the moon
A primal song that stirs the blood
Sacred laughter is thy gift;
To let it flow forth as a flood.

At the crossroads stand you now
Dancing wild with inner flame
The bluest rose above your head
Nourished by Her Secret Name.

Between the Worlds we dance and sing
The faery ring is now complete
Together now beneath the mound
Drumming to the Black Heart's beat.

I just updated my teaching schedule with three four six new events for the coming year:

Beginning with events I will be participating in at Pantheacon 2008 (San Jose, CA): Magical Ethics: Feri Tradition Perspectives with various Feri initiates Friday, Feb. 15 9pm Location: Pantheacon: San Juan Room A panel discussion on ethics in the Craft as understood and practiced by witches of the Feri Tradition. A discussion on the meaning of honor; warrior spirituality; ethics in practice; the Middle Road to Faery; Kala practice; healing and hexing, and more. Ritual: Catching the Promethean Spark with Feri Priests — Doors Closed at Start Sunday, Feb. 17 7pm Location: Pantheacon: Fir Room In this devotional Feri rite our intention is to catch the Promethean Fire of Creation and then pass it on. We will hear the lore of the gifts brought to us, dancing and singing in celebration of our inheritance and great promise. It is our hope that this ritual will spark the fire within us all, opening us to pass that spark to all that we touch and all that we do. The Guardians of the Feri Tradition with Storm Faerywolf — Doors Closed at Start Monday, Feb. 18 9am Location: Pantheacon: Pine Room An important aspect of various forms of witchcraft is working with discarnate beings. In the Feri tradition we work with many, but those known as the Watchers or Guardians are perhaps among the most important in terms of their impact on our personal evolution. We will discuss these ancient and mighty beings and then perceive them directly through invocation and simple ritual. And now on to my regular schedule: The Elements of Witchcraft Fridays in May 2008 (2, 9, 16, 23, and 30) 7-9pm Location: Dolphin Dream, Walnut Creek, CA $25/class, or $100 in advance for entire course The powers that witches call upon are anything but supernatural. Through training we can learn to see beyond the limits of everyday reality, and begin to weave our own threads into the Pattern; to make magick. In this five week course we will open ourselves in trance and experience the five elemental powers of the magickal arts: Air, Fire, Water, Earth, and Spirit, and discover how this ancient model can connect us to the land on which we live, and also to the deepest levels of ourselves. We will experience each of the elements in turn and see how they unfold in our lives, bringing us closer to balance, strength, and alignment to our power. Feri Camp: Sex, Love and Power New Hampshire with T. Thorn Coyle, Storm Faerywolf, Michele Jackson, and Karina June 2008 Details Forthcoming Between the Worlds: An Alternative Spiritual Gathering for Gay & Bi Men Sept 9-14, 2008 In scenic Southeastern Ohio Registration begins Mar 01, 2008 Registration ends Aug 17, 2008 Keynote Speaker: Storm Faerywolf Musical Guest: Mac Apodaca of Sevenrepeat

As more details are finalized I will post more here.

Shamelessly stolen from my buddy lonespiritwolf2:

Rules

1. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The first article title on the page is the name of your band.

2. www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four words of the very last quote is the title of your album.

3. www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days/
The third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

( My First Album... ;) )

This came my way on a list today...

What Storm Means

You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong. You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know. You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do. You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life. You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You're most comfortable when you're far away from home. You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble. You are well rounded, with a complete perspective on life. You are solid and dependable. You are loyal, and people can count on you. At times, you can be a bit too serious. You tend to put too much pressure on yourself. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated. You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want. You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way!

Well, it's been quite awhile since I have posted. We've been working hard over at the shop to "re-paganize" the place, as well as simply bring it back up to what we consider to be a higher standard. We immediately increased the witchcraft section to over three times its previous size and have been busily stocking athames, statues, and ritual tools. We've also been working hard to give the place a make-over, which it was sadly in need of. (The major stuff, like carpet and paint) will come later, but for now we have contented ourselves with re-arranging some of the current fixtures, and doing general decor and cleaning.)

It's been quite an experience. We've worked many, many hours, and are pretty happy with what we have done so far. But there is still so much more coming! Our plans include carrying more herbs, oils, and incense, as well as increasing the book and music selections. The store is certainly more full than it has been in years, so those of you in the bay area are invited to stop by and take a look at what we've done so far. Those of you who are interested in crystals and gemstones will be happy to find a wide range of selection which will only grow after we visit the Tucson International Gemshow this coming February.

And our class selection will change. I will be offering some classes in the future and am in negotiations with some other teachers (both Feri and non) to do events there as well. Offerings include Chi Gong, Sacred Dance, Working with Crystals, Meditation, Yoga, Tarot, Astrology, Witchcraft, and much, much more.

So please visit us. Drop by and say hello!

Dolphin Dream
1437 N Broadway
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
925-933-2342

We have extended our hours for this month for the holidays. M-F, 10am-9pm, Sat & Sun 10am-6pm. (We will close on Monday, Dec. 24 at 6pm)

Chas and I hope to see some of you there soon!

This is the funniest thing I've seen all week. Look what came to our PO Box today:


(click image for larger view)

**EDIT: Yes... this is real. It is a church in Pittsburg, CA, not far from where I live.

And here is another meme! Comment on this post. I will choose seven userpics from your profile and you will explain what they mean and why you are using them. Post this along with your answers in your own journal so others can play along.

I responded to grey_twolf and he asked me to explain the following icons:

 Peacocks: This is from one of my pieces, "The Love of Gods and Men". Drawing form imagery from the Feri tradition, it's about same-sex male love, and pride... things that I'm totally into. ;) I tend to use it when I am talking about something sexy, compassionate, or dealing with my relationships.


 Bluegod: Again with the Feri! The BlueGod is the spirit of eroticism, as well as spiritual enlightenment. As a priest of the BlueGod I tend to scatter his images about me wherever I go. Again, I use this when speaking of things sensual, or spiritually erotic.


 Bloodrose: This is a tip-of-the-hat to that lineage of the Feri tradition in which I was originally trained and initiated. The rose is the Western equivalent of the Lotus, signifying enlightenment, and the continuous unfolding of awareness. The five petals are reminiscent of an inverted pentacle, representing spiritual energies mediated down to the physical. The oroborus surrounds it all, signifying the ever-presence of the Goddess. I usually use this when talking about Feri, especially things specific to my original lineage.


 BlackHeart: In the Feri tradition (are we seeing a theme here?) the term The Black Heart of Innocence  is used to poetically refer to the natural state of the soul, unfettered by outside social restrictions. I use this in Feri posts, especially those centered around freedom, or just when I want to draw particular attention to the post, since it is animated. ;)


 Wonder Woman - Bracelets: She was my original Goddess figure. A spirit of truth, compassion, and non-patriarchal power, I use this when speaking of woman's rights, spirituality in pop-culture, or just when I'm feeling sassy. ;)


 Melek Ta'us: The Peacock Angel, a representation of the Blue God as described in Middle Eastern myth. This particular image I based on Paul B. Rucker's piece of the same name. Again, I use this primarily for Feri related posts.


 Bluerose: A reworking of Bloodrose (see above) and used to represent posts that have to do with my unique lineage of Feri also called Bluerose. In various myths, the blue rose is a symbol of that which is just beyond our reach... a spiritual goal that exists not in the physical, but perhaps in the otherworld. It feels very Faery to me.

I'm sure I can't be the first to post this, but...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071020/ap_on_en_ot/books_harry_potter

I'm in ur Hogwartz...

...teaching ur children tolerance.

I'm back from Feri Death Camp, and while it was a wonderful experience it almost killed me.

Well, sorta.
( Musings on Poetry, Madness, and Death. Feri style... )

In other news, I decided on a name for my particular line of Feri: Bluerose. It's both a tip of the hat to my Bloodrose-derived origins, while moving outward into the realm of my own trance experiences, in which I have seen the blue rose as my own Holy Daemon (God Self). The blue rose is the ever unfolding mystery; the holy grail which we strive ever toward, but is just out of reach. It feels very faery to me.

So I'm home now... rested... but still exhausted because I am sick. Happy to be home, but also hopeful that I will get to see everyone again soon. Point me in the direction of the next camp!