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    • Tribal Dance Performance and Workshops Feb 1st-3rd – Interview

    Posted on January 11, 2013 by Nels Linde

    ATS Master Wendy Allen

    Kamala Chaand Dance Co and Bohemian Underground Workshop

    and Fuse: A Tribal and Tribal Fusion Belly Dance Magazine  present

    Something Tribal This Way Comes…

    Wendy Allen of FatChanceBellyDance ®
    February 1-3, 2013
    Workshops and Performances at
    St. Paul’s Wellstone Center ***

    With Special Guests: Kelly Holder, Cassandra Shore & Tim O’Keefe

    Gala Show Spectacular February 1, 2013  featuring

    Wendy Allen, Kelly Holder, Cassandra Shore
    Kamala Chaand Dance Co, Bougouis Bohemians, Luna Rouge
    and STTWC Instructors

    Editor’s note:  ***Venue change

    Something Tribal This Way Comes will take place at Minneapolis’  Old Arizona at 2821 Nicollet Ave.  The  Gala Show Spectacular and Participant Showcase are combined into one Friday night event. Registration for the workshop and tickets for the Gala can be purchased online at http://somethingtribal.com or at the door.

    Please check the event website and Facebook page  for programming additions and changes prior to the event !

    All forms of belly dance have had an explosion of popularity in the Pagan and Twin Cities community the last few years. I talked to Tasha Rose of Kamala Chaand Dance Co  about the event:
    What is unique about this event?
    Tasha:   It is the first Minnesota workshop setting bringing together a collaboration of  three great talents and aspects of the Tribal Belly Dance world;
    American Tribal Style (ATS) Master Wendy Allen of FatChanceBelltDance®
    Kelly Holder who is an up and coming teacher in the Tribal fusion dance world
    Cassandra Shore, a local but world class dancer and teacher who is versed in the tribal roots and history of Tribal dance and the rich folkloric heritage of the Middle East. (more…)

    Filed under: Arts & Entertainment, Interview, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , | 1 Comment »

    Restorative Justice II at Sacred Harvest Festival – Editorial

    Posted on August 23, 2012 by Nels Linde

    Thursday, August 9th, the second community Restorative Justice (RJ)  circle was held at Sacred Harvest Festival,  a year after the first. The festival was a lot different place this year, it was observable that an immense amount of grief resolution and healing had taken place over a year. A focus on the festival theme of the sacred in our lives, and the power of love, had seemed to replace a sense of anxiety, hurt, grief, and fear that many had felt a year ago.

    The Circle was much smaller this year, down to 15 participants, with 6 having their first experience with RJ at this circle. The feelings of the nine who returned were softened,  and reflected a feeling of a return to normalcy, which in this case is defined by the tribal sense of family this festival has generated based on the feedback of thousands of individuals over fifteen years.

    Crystal Blanton had offered to facilitate this RJ circle again.  Crystal began with establishing a talking stick. This year she used a personal Phoenix tradition piece because:

    “What we are doing in this community. We are rising from circumstances, regardless of what those circumstances have been, and where everybody falls in that. Taking where we are at, and using it as a catalyst to grow into something beautiful and bigger, and in some ways unimaginable.”

    Crystal solicited;  “Any questions before we begin?   None were asked.

    Crystal Blanton

    Crystal:

    “We open with two pieces to set the tone for where we have been, and where we are going :”

    “The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence, when mindfulness embraces those we love they will bloom like flowers. “

    And from an article: “Contact beyond the Gods”

    Crystal read a quote about the spiritual importance of connection, and the connection we all have with each other. Acknowledging the importance of the process we are in, how we integrate the lessons we have learned into our spiritual being, and into the path before us. Not only learning how to work in community, but teaching how to work in community, for our children. Preserving what we have worked so hard for here.

    Crystal begins the RJ circle offering two values she brings, asking each participant to state a value they bring to the circle.

    (more…)

    Filed under: Editorial, Festivals, Human Interest | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

    Ubaka Hill at Women’s Drum Center – Interview

    Posted on August 22, 2012 by Nels Linde

    Ubaka Hill

    Ubaka Hill is appearing in Minnesota this week, sponsored by the W0men’s Drum Center.

    CONCERT: Rhythms for the Trees: A Concert of Percussion, Poetry, Song and Vision

    Featuring Ubaka Hill and with Drumheart. Open to the general public Saturday, August 25, 2012

    Doors open at 6:00 p.m. for the Marketplace , Performance begins at 7:00 p.m.

    Jeanne d’Arc Auditorium, Whitby Hall, St. Catherine University 2004 Randolph Ave., St.Paul, MN

    Ubaka’s 2-day Workshop: Drumsong: the Art and Spirit of Drumming

    (for women and girls)

    Friday, August 24, 2012, 6:30-9:00 p.m. & Saturday, August 25, 9:30-1:30p.m.

    At Carondolet Center, 1890 Randolph Ave., St.Paul

    Register for workshop ($60) at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/258804

    Ubaka arrived Monday to prepare for a week of appearances around Minnesota, we talked by phone.

    What brings you to Minnesota?
    The Women’s Drum Center ( WDC ) is responsible for brings me out and setting up the workshops and concert, and setting up the Million Women Drummers Gathering 2013 , what we call, “Meet and Greets”. One of those will include a workshop but these are primarily to speak about the Million Women Drummers Gathering 2013 initiative/movement and how local and global communities and individuals can be a part of it.

    What is the Million Women Drummers Gathering 2013?
    It is a two tiered, tow levels, and two phased program. There is a gathering planned for October 11-13th, 2013. Between now and that date it is about raising our consciousness, and becoming more awake and aware that our wooden musical instruments are trees. As simple as that is, it is quite profound to become aware that we are participating in the deforestation of our old growth forests, our third world local woods, and of our wooded areas within the US and around the world. I have been drumming on the wooden drum for over thirty years. There was a point where I was not as awake and aware, and mindful of my participation indirectly, by being a consumer of drums, in the deforestation and the senseless cutting and disrespect of the trees, and the woods. In the sustainability of our future. Around 2007, something awakened inside of me. That awakening had to do with our unconscious consumption of wooden instruments. I am including all wooden instruments, from acoustic guitars, to upright bass’s; pianos, marimba, clarinets, flutes, violins, cellos harps, all the instruments. If we do not sustain the trees that our wooden instruments are made from, we do not have a future for those instruments that we love to play, and listen to, that we enjoy dancing to. We won’t be able to sustain the music of those trees and so won’t be able to sustain the folkloric traditions of our various cultures. Generations that will follow us, will also not have the trees or the wooden instruments for those trees to play.

    The Million Women Drummers Gathering 2013 initiative is essentially about creating a new mindful model as musicians and listeners, and players of wooden instruments. This call is coming from the leadership of women who love drums and who love trees. The Gathering in 2013 is a celebration of our new awake and aware selves, and our effort to create a new mindful model through planting trees, through having conversations about trees and creating a sustainable future, and to celebrate this by creating local rhythm circles including all players of wooden instruments while we plant trees and while we begin to create new technologies, ideas, and new approaches to a sustainable green policy for manufacturers, new traditions and new ways to approach the trees and the forest with gratitude and appreciation and the their replenishment.

    (more…)

    Filed under: Happenings, Human Interest, Interview | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

    Kirtan from the Heart – Gift to Sacred Harvest Festival

    Posted on August 18, 2012 by Nels Linde

    A Kirtan in Sanskrit means  “praise, eulogy” . It originates in India and has spoken only forms and the more “liberal” Eastern Indian sung forms.  It is a call response form of expression of devotion, and is at its essence a ritual to the Gods.  It is from a world of 100′s of millions of Hindus and some forms of Buddhism, who celebrate their spirituality through the Kirtan. Alliances between these forms of spiritual Pagan expression are flourishing on the West Coast of the USA. Polytheists find more similarities in their worship than the vast cultural differences between Eastern practice and Western Pagans. Relatively new to Midwest Pagans, but becoming increasingly popular in “New Age” and Yoga based communities, the Kirtan movement is growing. Neo-Pagan connections to call and response, and voice based devotional ritual seems a logical extension in the range of Pagan practice.

    Sacred Harvest Festival guest, Yeshe Rabbit, brought this workshop as a taste of this form of expression. The workshop guided participants through, “… a magical progression to align body, mind, and spirit.”  I was drawn in and enthralled by the magic of this workshop.  The power of Rabbit’s voice was inspiring to festivants as the sound drifted through the village. The workshop participants were ecstatic afterwards, and bliss enveloped the village for the week. Jai Maa!  *

    Gift yourself seven minutes, close your eyes and join in the song as you hear the culmination of what was  over a 90 minute ritual Kirtan.

    Listen to Kali Mata – Kirtan From The Heart

    This slideshow requires JavaScript.

    Jai Maa : This is a call to the Divine Mother, ‘Maa,’ a singing of Her glory. Literally, ‘jai’ means ‘victory,’ although we often translate it as ‘hallelujah’ or ‘praises.’ Speaking ‘Jai Maa’ in puja (worship ceremony) is an affirmation of the Divine Mother’s blessings, a chant of gratitude for all Her gifts and the challenges She provides that help us grow spiritually.

    Nels Linde

    Filed under: Arts & Entertainment, Festivals, Happenings, Human Interest | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

    Yeshe Rabbit – Sacred Harvest Festival Guest – Interview

    Posted on July 20, 2012 by Nels Linde

    Lady Yeshe Rabbit
    Sacred Harvest Festival Guest

    I talked to Lady Yeshe Rabbit of the Come As You Are (CAYA) coven. We talked about her work in the San Francisco Bay area, her appearance at Sacred Harvest Festival, and her thoughts on gender issues in the Pagan community.

    How do you like to be addressed?
    For the most part you can call me Rabbit. My title in my coven is Yeshe, it is a word that has a few different meanings. In Tibetan it means “primordial wisdom”, and that is why I took the title, because I wanted to be guided by that primordial wisdom that resides within. It was also a childhood nickname, because I am Polish and my birth name is Jessica.

    Tell me about CAYA?
    CAYA coven is my coven.   There is within CAYA several different layers of membership. Some people have a casual relationship and may just attend our rituals. There is also an inner circle of trained clergy. These are people who have been with the group for a number of years. They would be my ‘closer’ coven you might say.

    What is the role of CAYA in the Bay area?
    CAYA stands for “Come As You Are”, and it is a coven that is built around the principles of eclecticism, inter-faith, and support for a wide variety of different paths. An individual who maybe has a very strong personal path, or, one who might be  just starting out and wants to learn about many different paths to see which one is the right fit, would find themselves very comfortable in CAYA. Each of us in CAYA feels that it is the utmost importance the we determine our own personal relationship with the divine. We then share our own individual practices and spiritual beliefs in the spirit of generosity without presuming that we know the one way that is right for everyone. What that means is that we are a coven “filled with solitaries” (jokingly), because everyone has their own individual practice. When we come together we join around a central core of protocols of how we do rituals in an outlined format, a baseline of ethics that we have all agreed to, and principles of community that we think are essential:  Cooperation, conflict resolution, clergy conduct and comportment. When people come into CAYA they feel very welcome, even if a beginner, or if they are extremely experienced and just don’t want to be told what to do because they are confident in their own path.

    (more…)

    Filed under: Editorial, Festivals, Human Interest, Interview | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

    Christopher Penczak – Interview with Paganicon Guest

    Posted on March 7, 2012 by Nels Linde

    Christopher Penczak at Stonehenge

    I talked to Christopher Penczak about his appearance as featured Paganicon guest March 16-18th.  He is an energetic, prolific, and well spoken author whose writing have sought to synthesize and integrate many magical concepts with the practice of the Witchcraft.  He is offering three workshops and a ritual at Paganicon, so if you don’t come away understanding his perspective, you have missed out!

    Have you visited the Twin Cities area before?

    I have! Many years ago, right after I signed with Llewellyn, I spoke at Magus books, and visited. It was right after “Inner Temple of Witchcraft” had come out. I came out a few years later when Llewellyn moved, and believe I again visited Magus, and the Eye of Horus, I think they had just opened.  I am excited about my Paganicon experience, and my first real teaching opportunity in the area.

    Tell me about your presentations at Paganicon?

    The Awen Symbol

    The Three Rays of Witchcraft is from the book I am most excited about, it is from a few books back, the first one released from my own publishing house, Copper Cauldron.  It came to me from a vision, trying to reconcile my own experience differences between Wicca based Witchcraft and more folk-loric based Witchcraft, along with my more Qabalistic side, shamanistic side, and more “New Age” side.  A lot of my influence for the book ‘Ascension Magic’ came from theosophy, New Age, and light worker material which really doesn’t fit into the Witchcraft paradigm. I was experience a schism in my own spiritual practice and this is how it all came together for me. In meditation I experienced an image, a  vision of the Awen, the symbol from Druidic tradition, that was a little bit different. It brought together all these different ideas for me.  I got bolted right out of the meditation. It was a really unique experience for me because nine days later, I had the draft of the book written. It was inspired, and is my favorite book to date. For me it gets into deeper thoughts about magic and Witchcraft. What are we seeking through magic? What is the Witches version of ‘enlightenment’ ? The The Three Rays really deals with the concept of power, and your true will; Love, unconditional love; and wisdom. How do we get to be creatures that can hold love, power and wisdom at the same time?

    (more…)

    Filed under: Editorial, Happenings, Interview, News | Tagged: , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

    Empowerment Training Day for OccupyMPLS

    Posted on December 8, 2011 by Nels Linde

    Tuesday, Dec 6th, OccupyMpls sponsored Empowerment Training Day at Walker Church in S. Mpls. It was a day to focus on skill sharing. training, and discussion around the core issues facing OccupyMpls. It was designed to build a respectful and empowering culture within the movement.

    Afternoon round table discussions

    I participated for a few hours in both the morning and the afternoon. The event had a full schedule from 8am – 5pm.  I arrived about 10am to a room of about 60 people. Starhawk was going over the principals of meeting facilitation and consensus process.  Many present had some experience with these subjects before, and so the depth of the discussion during the presentation was directed at the particular problems facilitating a ‘general assembly’ presented to occupy organizers.

    About 10.25 am the meeting was interrupted by an announcement the Plaza security had ‘raided’ the camp earlier that morning as about 8.30am and had taken all unattended items from the Plaza. Several county commissioners phone numbers, who were reported to be meeting Tuesday, distributed and calls were made in rotation as the workshop training continued.

    The importance of incorporating core values into the consensus, and general assembly processes was emphasized, as well as the need to select the best decision-making process for each issue the group faced. Consensus Process is not needed for many movement decisions, just the major ones where core values are being defined.

    I returned after lunch when open group meetings, now about fifty with many new people, were in progress. Five topics were under discussion at smaller round tables :

    1. Direct Action Strategy
    2. Visioning
    3. General Assemblies
    4. Guideline for “New Norms”
    5. Diversity within the Movement

    Each group kept notes on its discussion with the aim of discovering insights, and gleaning items for later general assembly proposal and consideration. Every fifteen minutes or so, the groups paused and people rotated among them as they felt called. I participated in the visioning, direct action, and diversity groups. At the end of the session, spokespersons from each group summarized the discussion and outlined items that deserved further work to integrate the ideas within OccupyMPLS.  A contact person and email  was established for each work group and a sign-up for messaging within each group was posted.

    (more…)

    Filed under: Community Notes, Editorial, Happenings, News | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

    Magus Books and Herbs Customer Appreciation Day held Sept 17th 2011

    Posted on September 28, 2011 by Nels Linde

    The pagan community turned out in droves to the Magus Books event held to celebrate and thank them for their loyal support over the last 19 years. Free BBQ’ed vittles were served to all customers and passersby and the day was packed with fun. Tarot cards were read, astrology charts deciphered, auras photographed, soothing massages thoroughly enjoyed and … not to be forgotten, fabulous door prizes proliferated the day!

    Magus Books and Herbs thanks all of their customers for their support and also thanks the following for their discussion groups and contributions that made it such a fabulous day for all:

    • Alex and Matt for presenting the “TC Solitary Practitioner Tea Time”
    • Bobby Sullivan for the aura photography and aura photography discussion
    • Alferian for the Wander lore workshop
    • Babette Sicard/Mugwort Maggie for the talk on “What Works as a Small Business Owner”
    • The Standing Stones for the discussion comparing “Living the Wheel of the Year … Then and Now”.

    A special Thanks and Appreciation goes out to our local artisan vendors who donated items for door prizes! Babs of Mugwort Maggies Apothecary, Ardus of Crescent Moon, Pauline Kabe of Squirrely Girly, Alan Olson, Cathy from The Edge newspaper, Alferian Gwydion MacLir, Marie Booth of Meadowlake Arts, Liz Johnson – herbalist, Mela Amara – shiatsu practitioner, Laurel Redd of Opinicus Soaps, The Standing Stones who catered the event and all others who contributed to our fun day!

    Standing Stones outside the Magus Store Front

    Nels Linde

    Filed under: Community Notes, Human Interest, News | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

    Largest Upper Midwest Pagan Festival opens in 10 days! – Interview

    Posted on July 27, 2011 by Nels Linde

    Sacred Harvest Festival (SHF), located in southern Minnesota near Albert Lea, opens Saturday, August 6th, The last day to register online  and before gate rates is Sunday, July 31st.  I had the chance to interview Bress Nicneven, festival site director and board member of Harmony Tribe , the event’s sponsor.

    Why do people continue to return to Sacred Harvest Festival?

    SHF has gained a national reputation for quality and timely speakers and musicians. Celia’s video for the song ‘ Symbol’ was filmed at SHF, before the Pentacle Quest  became a household Pagan word. It is known for having a defined theme each year, and presenting profound rituals and speakers that all build on that theme for a complete experience. One of the few festivals that does this each year. In stressful financial times, this festival offers the cheapest per day rates of any festival in the country for the quality of the programming and activities.

    It is a really reasonable family vacation for Pagans. It is an upper Midwest tradition, going on 14 years. SHF is really a place for everybody. There is a Kid’s cauldron, operated by parents and volunteers, that keeps kids happy all week. Families get the time and space to worship together as a family. They get time together and also adults have time for individual experiences. It is really strengthening for both families, individuals, and our community relationships. We have a great location in a shady oak grove with easy access from Des Moines, Madison, and the Twin Cities.

    What is this year’s theme about?

    Forest Family, Roots and Branches Intertwined  is our theme this year. It encompasses the roots of the Tribe itself, the thousands of people who have grown this festival over the years. We come each year to celebrate at this magical grove, and this year we specifically want to connect with the marvelous shady and protective trees there. Trees are an appropriate symbol of how we are also all connected, and essentially like the forest that we camp under. Like the burr oaks, we are still growing, and changing, and each season together we reach out within the festival and our home communities to integrate our spiritual experience back into our foundation, our roots. (more…)

    Filed under: Editorial, Festivals, Happenings | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

    Crystal Blanton – National Guest at Sacred Harvest Festival – Interview

    Posted on June 29, 2011 by Nels Linde

    Author Crystal Blanton

    I had the opportunity to interview Crystal Blanton about her appearance as featured guest at this years Sacred Harvest Festival presented by Harmony Tribe, inc.  Blanton’s first book, Bridging the Gap, was published in 2010 with Megalithic/ Immanion Press. Her new work, ” Shades of Faith; Minority Voices in Paganism”  is forthcoming. Included at bottom is the content of her main workshop offerings at Sacred Harvest Festival.

    What do you hope to offer our community at SHF?

    The scope of the work that I do is centered around group dynamics and learning how to navigate some of these dynamics in our community. To help with promoting healthier spiritual experiences for people. I take a lot of that material from being a counselor in my day life.  I take the skill I use in my everyday job and bring them over to our spiritual community. Many spiritual communities have already done this, it is just we haven’t gotten to that place yet in the Pagan community.  I will bring a lot of tools and skills around how to navigate certain group dynamics, how to create more communicative communities, how to navigate conflict and disruptions that can happen in any community dynamic. We’ll cover how to learn and pass on these concepts and tools after the workshops. To create a general sense of optimism in adding these tools that can help to enhance our community at large. That is what I hope to bring to the festival. (more…)

    Filed under: announcements, Community Notes, Festivals, Happenings | Tagged: , , , , , , | 10 Comments »

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