I attended the Sacred Fire Circle [SFC] this past Labor day weekend sponsored by Circle Sanctuary. This event takes place near Mount Horeb, just outside of Madison, Wi. Sacred Fire Circles have developed as individual events, each with it’s own character over the past fifteen years. Mainly building on the creative impulse and vision of Jeff Magnus McBride and Abigail Spinner McBride, these events are emerging all over the country and world. While total participation is relatively small [this event had nearly 60 attend], the impact on those involved is large. Many of your favorite songs and chants likely come from Abby Spinner and were written for use in Sacred Fire Circles. Below are interviews from eight participants.
Tag: interviews
Community Gamelan – Gift from White Deer and Violette Rose
At this years Sacred Harvest Festival, guests White Deer and Violette offered much. Following each day from a series of six workshops for drummers by White Deer, Violette offered workshops in Improvisational Belly dance for bonfires. Members from the drumming class stayed on to provide live drumming for the dance classes.
Both men and women participated in Violet's improvisational dance workshps, often 10-15 people
Drawing from their backgrounds in formal music and years of performing at national Pagan Festivals and reinvigorated from a recent trip to Bangalore, India, they masterfully offered this exceedingly ambitious series for drummers and dancers….. but that’s just the start of it. Continue reading
Cherie Sampson – International Artist at SHF
Cherie Sampson is a visual artist working in environmental sculpture, performance and video, exhibiting her work in the US and abroad. She currently resides
Cherie Sampson
in Columbia, Missouri and is an Assistant Professor of Art at the University of Missouri where she coordinates the Foundations program and teaches Foundations and Video Art. She contributed as a national guest at Sacred Harvest Festival and offered a series of workshops on “Embodying Sacred Space”, and a Thursday night performance piece multimedia premier, entitled “One of Many Limbs”. This interview is in its entirety, but somewhat edited for flow. You can listen to the whole interview here.
What was your experience like this year, coming to Sacred Harvest Festival and presenting to a bunch of Pagans camping out?
It has been really good, really great, and I haven’t been to this festival. This is the first time. I am familiar with many people who have been really close for a long time, Alvin and Lila, and I’ve known you for probably twenty years. I still remember many of the songs from the ritual you did years ago, so I feel certainly a part of this community, although there are many people I don’t know.
Set Created for Cherie's performance photo: jtouchette
Well, when Judy emailed me in February, I just felt really honored to be asked to come as guest artist. I have been kind of reflecting on how in some ways in my work, career, especially in an academic environment at a research university, there are certain expectations to be showing your work, and doing your research. It becomes very externalized, the work becomes part of this career chase. I knew this would give an opportunity to connect with a community that understands the deeper spiritual dimensions of my work. Also for me to reconnect with those dimensions as well, which are always present. When I am seeking the gallery venues and that art world sort of channel, it (spiritual dimensions) becomes quieter. Continue reading
More Local Reaction to Target Campaign Contribution
In continuing coverage of the Target Corporation campaign contribution story, the PNC interviewed local Pagans for their reaction. Robin Grimm lives in Minneapolis and is a prominent member of the Pagan community. Paul Anders is a Solitary living in the Rochester area.
To read our previous article about the cause and background of the issue, plus an interview with a Minneapolis GLBT Pagan who works for Target, please go here.
Late last week, Laura Hedlund (right) and Sue Skog, both of Eagan, Minn., protested in front of a Target store. Photo credit - Craig Lassig
Question: In general, what do you think about corporations and unions spending funds on political issues?
Robin: Generally I am opposed to anything other than individual human beings being able to contribute to political campaigns or political issue campaigning. Corporations, unions, etc. are all made up of individuals that have the right to have their voices heard. Non-biological entities have no business in politics.
Paul: I don’t like how much money is in politics. It makes it hard for individuals to be heard. I guess all that money is just how it is, though. I believe in freedom of speech and I guess if a guy believes in that he can’t just say that only some people get it. Groups should be able to express an opinion on most anything and if you want to express a political opinion you need to use cash to do it.
Pagan Newswire Collective - Minnesota Bureau 