Minneapolis Collective of Pagan Artists – Art Show Opening

mcpa“Doorways to the Underworld”, the debut exhibition of the Minneapolis Collective of Pagan Artists (MCPA) will celebrate the shows opening reception Saturday October 25th, 2004 7:30-11pm.

Stevens Square Center for the Arts (SSCA)
1905 Third Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN 55404

There will be live music performance by Comets Ov Cupid  and a dance presentation by Alana Mari.

This group of artists considers this time of year to be sacred for remembering loved ones who have passed away. In this exhibit, Halloween is explored through the eyes of those who experience the season as a profound time to commune with the ancestors and the spirit world. For these artists, the work is an extension of their spirituality, allowing a glimpse into what is often an unseen tradition.

Featured MCPA artists are Ali Beyer (Artemis Namaste), Anne Marie Forrester (Helga Hedgewalker), Paul B. Rucker, Roger Williamson. The show includes guest artists Ellie Bryan, Katie Clapham, and Rmay

MCPA is a collective of artists who work in a variety of media and styles with a shared spiritual philosophy.  To them making art is a way of connecting with and paying homage to the Divine.  They use their artwork to create further dialogue about contemporary Pagan culture with those who may not be familiar with this spiritual path.

Gallery viewing hours
Saturdays and Sundays 1pm – 5pm through November 15th

Closing Reception: Saturday November 15th, 2014 7:30-11pm Live Music Performance by Crow Call

Eye of Horus Metaphysical Store Faced with Relocating

Thraicie and Jane

Thraicie and Jane

You would never guess from the business-as-usual appearance at the Eye of Horus Metaphysical Store that the owners are faced with the sudden challenge of relocating it by the end of this month and finding the funds to do so. As I enter “the Eye”, I am still greeted by the customers browsing, buying and getting their questions answered by upbeat staff. Stones of all types glisten beside cards stating their magical properties. A client seeking spiritual guidance exits into a room with one of the divinational readers. In the background a CD plays musical selections from an upcoming Wendy Rule concert being held there this Sunday. Thraicie Hawkner, her long silver hair flowing down her shoulders, and Jane Hawkner, with a short, cute pixie cut, approach me from across the busy room with undaunted looks on their faces.

Their confident appearance shouldn’t have surprised me. They have been running The Eye of Horus since October 31st 2003 in a previous location just a few blocks from their current space and even earlier as an internet business with booths at community gatherings. Meeting the challenges of entrepreneurship over the years has made them seasoned businesswomen with a fair amount of mettle. But, even so, finding out the first of July that they would need to find a new space and move the store into it by the end of July, would have been enough to make even experienced business owners sweat.

“During this crunch time it has been particularly motivating to remember how many times people have come in and said things like, “I did not know there was a place like this, I feel like I have come home” or “Your store is the reason I was able to reconnect to my faith”, said Jane. It keeps us tuned into the reason we are here and to what the Eye of Horus means to so many people. Knowing that we have been of meaningful service to the community has been fuel for problem solving through this challenge.”

“We have found a perfect size space for us that we can move into,” Thraicie said. She explained that the challenge has been raising the funds for the move. “We just found out July 1st that we would need to move, so we had no money to secure the new location, or any money to cover the closing of the store during move time, a rental truck or other moving expenses. So we developed the current fundraiser.”

Eye of Horus has a GoFundMe website  that enables people to either purchase “perks” or make a straight donation. The perks are in the form of discounted services such as divinatory readings, therapeutic massage, discounted gift certificates, or a book shelf in their name.  In this way, people can choose to donate or purchase “perks” at attractively discounted prices.

Continue reading

Sparky T. Rabbit Passes

Spark T. Rabbit at Sacred Harvest Festival 2004

Sparky T. Rabbit – Bruner Soderberg of Rock Island, Il.,  passed over Monday June 2nd, 2014.

Born February 3, 1954 he was a prominent Midwest heathen,  singer, song-writer, rite-maker, gadfly and friend of Freyr.   Sparky;  “I critique and satirize neopaganisms,monotheisms, and any other-isms that seem appropriate.”    Handfasted [married] to Ray Bayley since 1984 (Sparky: “That’s 93 anniversaries in straight years!”)
Sparky was a nationally known singer, bard, master ritualist, and pot stirrer.  His recording “Lunacy”, done as a duo, is still one of the most prized pagan recordings of all time.
Sparky was often quoted for his wisdom and satire;

http://witchesandpagans.com/EasyBlog/the-once-future-people.html

Thinking in Pagan

Words from his friends and  colleagues:

Sparky T. Rabbit’s voice is intertwined with the roots of my development as a witch, and we still use the chants that he wrote and the chants that he popularized within our covens today. I played the cassettes for his two albums so often that I wore them out and had to buy replacements twice. I cherish the one time that I had the opportunity to sing with him. It is still a luminous fan boy moment for me. I grieve the loss of such a beautiful man and his beautiful talents, but I also grieve that so many in the current generation of Pagans have not heard of him. What is remembered lives. Take the time to look him up and find copies of his music which is finally available again in digital formats. Then you’ll feel the joy of discovering his music, and also share my sense of loss as well. May he go forth shining.

– Ivo Dominguez, Jr. Elder, Assembly of the Sacred Wheel

Sparky was my dear, dear friend for many years.  I am heartbroken at his passing.  A ritualist extraordinary, singer and songwriter, Sparky was a world-class cauldron stirrer, and a giant of Pagan culture….  My life has been enriched immeasurably by my long and deep friendship with Sparky.  His talent was sparkling.  He contributed much of great value to the Pagan movement and to the world.  In love may he return again.

– M. Macha NightMare (Aline O’Brien)
Witch at Large

May his gentle heart and spirit-filled voice live with us always.

Thanks to Steve (Posch), I got to meet and exchange enthusiasms with this wonderful man. I am shocked to hear of his passing, and I truly hope that his music and other works will live on with us.
– Paul B. Rucker
Sparky T Rabbit Bruner Soderburg

Sparky T Rabbit – Bruner Soderburg – Feb3, 1954 – June 2nd, 2014

“Coven brother, teacher, friend. Wicked Witch. Master rite-maker, singer, altar builder. Trouble maker. Sitting across from you at a kitchen table in Minneapolis, I found my life’s work.
You have left us so many gifts. We will carry them forward, Bruner. We will remember. “– Frebur C.  Moore

Nels Linde

Judy Ricci, Minneapolis Pagan Passes

Judy Ricci 2003

Judy Ricci 2003

Judy Marie Ricci, Age 61 of Mpls. passed away Thursday, September 19, 2013. on the harvest full moon. She was a nature lover who loved mother earth. She is survived by an uncle, Fabio; companion, Phillip;and friends, Shelley, Jimmy, Diane, Tom, Grace and Lynette.

Judy was part of Coven Elysium for 5 years. She became a solitary after that. Judy owned her own custom drapery business for 15 years. Phil said that Judy LOVED coffee, but had to give it up for health reasons.  Since her passing Phil has woke up to a very strong COFFEE smell in the house!  She is around, and definitely making her presence known!

Celebration of life will take place on Wednesday, September 25th, 6-8 PM at Cremation Society of MN, 4343 Nicollet Ave. South, Mpls. (612-825-2435) Memorials preferred to the family or to the Animal Humane Society.

See Star Tribune Obituary

Judy Ricci Samhain 1999

Judy Ricci Samhain 1999

Roger Williamson Solo Exhibition Opening Sat. August 3rd

Paintings by Roger Williamson

Roger Williamson, Pagan artist and  founder of Magus books has a show of recent works  opening  Saturday August 3rd, 2013 7-10pm at the Stevens Square Center for the Arts, and running through August 25th, 2013.

In the exhibition, Williamson presents a series of artworks that trace a specific understanding the artist has of Chimera.  Williamson refers to Chimera as a quality of the mythological sphinx, that is mystery rather than Chimera’s usually accepted quality as an illusionary entity or fabrication of the mind; especially as an unrealizable dream.

Mystery is energy, a fitting title of the sphinx and while she retains her mystery she maintains her power.

Only when she gives up her secrets does she lose her power and die.

It is this theme of mystery which permeates the works on display and the viewer is led through a labyrinth of images that challenge one to quest through the door that leads to our inner selves where the answers to all our questions reside.

Williamson’s installation is composed of oil paintings on both wood panels and canvas.

OPENING:  Saturday August 3rd, from 7-10 p.m., for the exhibition opening and to meet the artist.


Roger Williamson is a Minneapolis-based artist who has exhibited his paintings in local galleries.

He is also the author of several books which include The Sun at Night and the Lucifer Diaries and is the

creator of Tarot of the Morning Star tarot deck. Some images from the deck will be included in the exhibit.

Comets Ov Cupid is a space rock project by Jason Kesselring, formerly of Skye Klad and Satyrswitch.

Darkly cosmic the music evokes a sense of eternal twilight creating sonic landscapes of distorted voices,

cosmic pulse and hazy drones. Guitar based in composition the sounds range from full-blown metalgazer

walls of sound to ethereal astral folk.

Stevens Square Center for the Arts (SSCA)

1905 Third Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN 55404

T (612) 879-0200 ssca@stevensarts.org

Gallery Hours— Friday thru Sunday, 1:00 – 5:00 PM (During Exhibitions).