EarthSpirit presents a series of classes in Eastern Massachusetts

EarthSpirit members in Eastern Massachusetts are excited to announce that we will be offering a variety of Sunday afternoon classes in the Boston area with many of our most experienced facilitators.

Location: the First Church Somerville, 89 College Ave, Somerville, MA 02144 (directions)
Time: Sunday afternoon 3-6:30 pm

Registration: $20 for each double session, $12 per single workshop
First worshop starts at 3 PM , Second workshop starts at 4:30 PM
Pre-registration is required

To pre-register, please use the paypal buttons below

We hope you can make it to these Eastern Massachusetts classes.

Note: If you need to cancel your registration, you must notify us as soon as possible. Full refunds will be made for requests e-mailed or postmarked two weeks before the event. 50% refunds will be made for requests e-mailed or postmarked one week before the event. Credits may be given after that by individual agreements.
Problems or cancellations e-mail to eastevents@earthspirit.com

Class Descriptions:

Traveling with the Drum - March 6
with Joanne McLernon and Sarah Twichell
For thousands of years humans have used the drum to journey to other realms for visions, guidance, and healing. This workshop teaches the basic technique of the shamanic journey, a tool for changing consciousness and moving into "nonordinary reality", in an earth-centered pagan context.

Earth, Air, Fire, Water – What’s Your Temperament? - March 6
with Chris LaFond
Most of us are familiar with the four major elements that come mainly from Mediterranean paganism and philosophy. But these elements are also the basic astrological building blocks in delineating an individual’s “temperament,” which determines personality and health prospects, as well as establishes a basis for predicting how someone will respond throughout their whole life to ongoing astrological influences. In this workshop, we’ll look at how these simple building blocks come together in a person’s astrological chart and how to do basic prediction with them. We will examine the charts of as many participants as possible in the time we have. If you have your chart, bring it; if you know your time and place of birth, I’ll provide your chart during the workshop. No prior astrological knowledge is necessary.

Peace/Earth/Healing/Sing -- Sacred singing for the Earth, spirit and community - April 3
with Sarah Stockwell Arthen
Singing can open the mind, free the spirit, create community and inspire action. Come immerse yourself in a Spring flow of opening, growing and creativity by singing rounds and chants together. Use them to create ritual and to deepen your connection to seasonal changes, the land and dreams in your daily life.

ShapeShifting: Get Your Guise On - April 3
with Moira & Kaye
Our everyday selves yearn to stretch and grow, and yet there are many forces working to keep us just as we are. Guisers were once costumed revelers who dressed in the form of animals or fantastic beings. As a magical practice, Guising allows one to shift and stretch your boundaries, to take on dreams, shed some skin, and explore different aspects of Other.

In this workshop we will work with energy and movement as methods for personal transformation. We will create space for allowing ourselves to expand, step into other shapes, and gently witness each other's work. No previous experience is needed -- but if you like the results, we invite you to join us at future Guisers events.

The "Indians" of Old Europe - May 15
with Andras Corban Arthen
European paganism never died out completely; to this day, survivals of traditional pagan religious practices can still be found in remote areas of Eastern and Western Europe. Andras has spent over 35 years seeking out such surviving traditions, and in this workshop he will discuss the nature and scope of some of these practices, how they managed to survive, and the striking similarities they share with indigenous spiritualities from other parts of the world. The presentation will also include slides of people and places, as well as a short film.

Energy Focusing Techniques - June 5
Focus is an essential component of any magical or creative process. This workshop will introduce you to three techniques designed to sharpen that focus: an aura charging meditation, a candleburning exercise, and making a creation board or box. Discover how the three complement each other to help you contain and direct your energy.

Transformational Breath Work - June 5
with Karina & Arana Fireheart
Learn to use your breath as a transformational tool to release emotional and physical blockages.
Wear lose and comfortable clothing. No belts or tight waist bands.
Bring a yoga mat if you have one and a blanket and small throw pillow.

Magic 7, My Favorite Card Spread - July 10
with Sue Curewitz Arthen of Black Pearl Tarot
Some people use a number of different card spreads to do readings, and some find one that works and stick with it. This class will be about my favorite card spread, Magic 7, which is one of the first that I learned and that I use almost exclusively.for 30 years. It has undergone a deepening and an expansion of meaning over time and since there are only seven cards laid out, it is relatively easy to use. There are several of the card positions that lend themselves to things you can actually do to help the "story" of the reading unfold. This class is terrific for both beginners and more experienced card readers and was first taught at Feast of Lights 2011 and was part of a Tarot Intensive in April of 2011.

Deepening the Well- July 10
with Sarah Twichell
We all lead busy lives filled with urgent demands on our time and attention. In the swirl, it's easy to lose touch with ourselves and our deepest desires. In this workshop, we will step back and make time and space to hear from ourselves in a variety of ways, and then craft a talisman to help draw that clarity and connection into our daily lives.

Naming Your Magical Work - August 14
with Duncan Eagleson & Moira
Words are a powerful magical tool. By naming our intentions and distilling them down into a short phrase or even a single word, we both focus our energy and make room for the quality we seek to appear in unexpected ways. In this workshop, we will consider how to choose a word for our magical work, expand and focus our understanding of it, and discuss how to incorporate it into our daily activities.

Crayons and Spirit: Collaborative Drawing - August 14
with Kaye
When we are connected to the world around us, it can seem like the right things just happen. Whether we call that "flow" or "enlightenment" or something else, we can access it in many ways. In this workshop, we will connect with it through collaborative, non-representational art. We will approach this playfully, without judgment about our skills or results, immersing ourselves in the process of creation.

Bios of Facilitators and Teachers

Andras Corban Arthen, founding director of the EarthSpirit Community, was adopted in 1969 into the traditional pagan practices of a Gaelic-speaking family from the Highlands of Scotland. He serves on the executive committee of the Parliament of the WorldÕs Religions, the oldest and largest global interreligious organization, and also sits on the board of directors of the European Congress of Ethnic Religions as its international interfaith liaison. Andras has taught and lectured publicly about the pagan traditions throughout the U.S. and abroad since the 1970s.

Andrew Arthur is a therapist, teacher, and dramatist who has written award-winning screenplays and directed numerous stage plays and several short films. A long-time student and teacher of shamanism, he studied anthropology and psychology at Harvard University and has led workshops on shamanism and empowerment at leading centers in both Europe and North America.

Arana Fireheart has been walking the healing path for over 20 years. He has facilitated many ceremonies for healing and celebration. He is a Transformational Breath Facilitator, Teacher and a dancer who enjoys reaching ecstasy through dancing with spirit.

Christopher LaFond is a Master Astrologer in the Society of Astrologers, and works, teaches, and lectures throughout the Eastern USA. He has lectured at local, national and international astrology conventions. He specializes in classical and medieval astrological method of prediction and is available for private readings and for private or group classes. As a performer on harp and guitar, Chris both delights and rouses the spirit with a mix of traditional and modern Celtic music. Jigs, reels, airs, ballads and folks songs reconnect us both to Celtic heritage and to the Earth. Chris performs on Cape Cod as part of the Pilgrim Celtic Harp Trio, whose CD "Garden Concert" is available from Chris or at cdbaby.com; he mainly performs solo at pagan and folk events throughout the region. Chris is the music director of MotherTongue, the ritual performance troupe of the EarthSpirit community. Their CDs are also available through Chris or at cdbaby.com.
www.lafond.us (astrology) www.celticharper.net (harp) http://www.facebook.com/astroharpfans

Painter, sculptor and maskmaker Duncan Eagleson has walked the Path of Craft for over 30 years and has lead clans at Twilight Covening for 11 years.

Joanne McLernon is used to negotiating the path between worlds, as she was born in Ireland, grew up in western Canada, and now lives and practices in the Boston area. She has degrees from the University of Alberta in both Chemistry and English and works during the day as a design consultant and usability expert. She's been an active shamanic worker since 1996, apprenticed with Caroline Wilkinson, and holds a Silver Certificate from the Foundation for Shamanic Studies. Since 2005, Joanne has been teaching small groups, running a drumming circle, and practicing shamanic healing combined with body/energy work techniques.

Jane LeCompte has been learning from/journeying with the drum for more than twenty years. She had led circles on the shamanic journey in Europe and North America. As a writer, her novels focus on women negotiating the pitfalls of culture, and on how mythic patterns manifest in our lives.

Karina Fireheart has been a member of the EarthSpirit community for 18 years. A lifelong dancer, she danced professionally for 12 years nationally and internationally. She brings the experience of her professional performing career to her work teaching sacred dance, Sacred Circle Dance and Moving Meditation. Karina has been a sacred dance and movement educator for 30 years. Karina is a Certified Color Me Yoga® Instructor and Certified Transformational Breath Work Facilitator.

Kaye is a witch, mother, and ritual artist/performer of the Glainn Sidhr Order. She has co-created ritual and led clans and workshops at EarthSpirit gatherings over the last 20 years. Her interests and skills focus on dreamwork, shapeshifting, trance journey, silence, and perception. She also likes to draw on pretty much anything.

Miriam Klamkin is a Glainn Sidhr Witch, professional astrologer, teacher and spiritual coach. She has been teaching and leading Clans at EarthSpirit events since 1993, exploring the human experience as a vehicle for Spirit.

Moira, shapeshifter, artist, dancer and witch of the Glainn Sidhr Order. She has a MA in Theater from Emerson College and has been leading clans at Twilight Covening for 18 years. She also co-creates rituals and workshops at Rites of Spring and A Feast of Lights and is a member of the EarthSpirit Board of directors.

Sarah Stockwell-Arthen is a long-time leader and creator of ritual in EarthSpirit, and a Witch in the Glainn Sidhr Order. Through singing she seeks gateways to internal and other-worldly places of mystery, power and healing, and is committed to furthering our use of music to deepen community and ritual experience. Thus, she leads "Peace/Chant/Healing/Sings" about once per season to share the courage, guidance, joy and even physical energy she finds in the music. A lover of the green world who is into sustainable living, permaculture and transition towns, she lives in a solar-electric house that is off the grid. She thinks her CD from the early 90s, "Dark of Moon", still holds up pretty well. (www.sarahstockwell.com)

Sarah Twichell is a witch, writer, teacher, foodie, gardening enthusiast, wannabe knitter, and all-around logistics maven. Her formal training is in Anamanta and the Feri tradition, but her influences range from fairy tales to popular gurus. She is committed to the power of self-care, connection, and story to mend our lives, the world, and everything in between.

Susan Curewitz Arthen has been studying, reading and teaching tarot since 1981. Her perspective about tarot draws strongly on its origins as an oral tradition, a form of storytelling that imparts insight and perspective about our lives. She also has refined her teaching and reading of Tarot from her work with EarthSpirit Community and from her spiritual path as an Elder of the Glenshire Order. She is available for tutorials, classes, readings, parties as well as legal weddings and other Rites of Passage ceremonies.

Directions:

By the MBTA
Take the Red Line to Davis Square. Use the "College Ave." station exit, and take a right out of the station. Walk up College Ave, four blocks. First Church will be on your right, at the corner of Francesca and College Ave. For more information on taking the T, visit the MBTA web site.

Driving Directions From the West:
Take route 2 East to the split just past Alewife T station. Bear left onto Route 16. Follow it past Massachusetts Ave., taking a right on Broadway at the next big intersection (Foodmaster is on the corner). Follow Broadway less than a mile to the Powderhouse Rotary. Take an immediate right onto College Avenue. First Church is just over a block down on the left.

Driving Directions From the North:
Take 93 South to exit 31, Revere/Route 16. Get into the right hand lane as you come off the ramp, and take a right at the light onto Harvard St. Follow Harvard St. straight through four lights, until you come to Powderhouse rotary. Take the rotary half-way around, exiting at the arrow to Davis Square. First Church is just over a block down on the left.

Driving Directions From the South:
Take 93 North to the exit for routes 28 and 38. Follow the signs for Route 38 (Medford), which runs parallel to the highway. Staying in the left hand lane, follow route 38 for about a mile. Just past Staples, take a left onto Harvard St. (a sign on the right will say route 16/Everett). Follow Harvard St. straight through four lights, until you come to Powderhouse rotary. Take the rotary half-way around, exiting at the arrow to Davis Square. First Church is just over a block down on the left.

Parking:
Free Sunday parking is available anywhere on College Ave.