Herbal Medicine Making
Herbal Medicine Making Presented by Joan
Let’s do some Medicine Making – tincture, glycerite, oil, &/or salve;
and we’ll explore some herbal topics, maybe
Heart Health, the Bitter/Liver Connection, Men’s Health, Medicine in
the Kitchen, or come with your questions and we’ll explore where to find
answers, as time permits
Spa Goddess
Spa Goddess Presented by Joan
Relax, refresh, de-stress – explore some relaxation techniques and
experience hand, face, and foot treatments – dedicated to the beauty of
the Goddess (but Gods are welcome, too)
Aissawa Trance Rhythms
Aissawa Trance Rhythms Presented by Greywolf
This workshop will present deeply orchestrated trance rhythms from Morocco.
The Aissawa are a mystical order of Sufis who perform music and dance to
accommodate trance and spiritual healing. Greywolf has been studying and
performing with Quentin Shaw, founder of Chicago Aissawa, and is excited to
present these very differeny rhythms! Traditional instruments for these
rhythms include Bendir, Tareyja, Tabl, and Tasa; some of these will be
available for use in the workshop but also feel free to bring your drums.
Greywolf (Martin Murphy)
Greywolf has been teaching hand drumming and facilitating drum circles since 1992, after years of (ongoing) study with modern day masters from West Africa, the Congo and the Middle East. He has completed the Remo Health Rhythms Facilitator training; is a Rhythmic Entertainment Intervention Authorized Provider; and has performed and recorded from coast to coast.
Jammin! West African Style
Jammin! West African Style Presented by Greywolf
This workshop will present a traditional rhythm from West Africa (Dibon) and
will focus first on the DunDun/Sangban/Kinkini/Bell patterns and variations,
then on the Djembe accompaniments, so bring your bass drums as well as
djembes! The emphasis is going to be on understanding the rhythm focusing
first on the melody created by the interlocking bass patterns, second on the
added layering of djembe patterns, and finally on endeavoring to hear the
“beat never sounded” within that rhythm as a basis for solo phrasing.
Drum Circle Dancing
DRUM CIRCLE DANCING Presented by Devonne LaBonte with live drumming
1 ½ hour workshop
Celebrate the community as we dance around a drum circle in continuous motion
with and around dancers, drummers and fire.
This improvisational style dance workshop will focus on a variety of belly dance
techniques, articulated isolations, soul thumping bumps, crisp pops and exhilarating
fire shimmies that are deeply grounded in awareness of the rhythm. We will play with veils
and use them in our dance. (Veils available for use to the first 15 participants.)
You will learn how to use these simple belly dance techniques to create
traveling movements to dance O’s and move around the fire circle with a
presence and social awareness of others dancing in the same space.
We will look at dance etiquette and learn how to engage other dancers
and drummers and how to politely decline.
Dancing with the elements, a new segment of this workshop, explores our connection to the Divine. Dancing with Air, Water, Earth, Fire and Spirit. The elements of nature affect our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. Our awareness of these natural life forces and how we connect to it through our intentional dancing and awareness of our movement brings an energy of passion, intuition, healing, and joy to our dance.
Explore the ancient art and spirituality of feminine movements and share
some of your favorite moves while letting the God/Goddess in you become
the soul and spirit of the drums.
No dance experience is necessary. Wear danceable clothes and bring a hip scarf and a veil if you have one.
BIO
Devonne LaBonte has been studying the ancient art of Egyptian belly dance for more than 10 years. She has taught goddess/bellydance/drum circle dance workshops to beginning through advanced level dancers for more than 5 years. Devonne loves sharing her Passion of the dance with all Goddesses/Gods.
Djembe Carving
DJEMBE CARVING presented by Bezl LaBonte Master drummer
“Chainsaw LaBonte”, has been chainsaw carving African style drums, Djembe’s, Djuns etc., for more than 15 years. He brings his skill, talent, and art form to his workshop where he will carve a djembe with a chainsaw in 1 1/2 hours. This is a workshop you won’t want to miss! Don’t try this at home folks until you know how to safely use a chainsaw!
Magical Songs presented by Lady Ardy
Magical songs do not have to be written, or sung, by Pagan musicians to
be “magical.” We all grew up with music. Popular music. Classical music.
Nursery rhyme jingles. These sounds are a part of us. They evoke
feelings within us. Yet we fail to regard them as “magical.” And by this
failure, we lose a powerful source of energy for our rituals. So, let’s
discover some “magical” songs.
Lady Ardy has been a part of the Phoenix Phamily since it’s inception and first festival, in March of 1992.
She is our honored staff crone, and former head of the Phoenix Phamily crone circle.
Her current responsibilites are to host the Festival 101 meet and greet workshop and Facilitate the Honoring ritual.
Rupert Tales and Tunes
Rupert Tales and Tunes, presented by Kyrja
Kids of all ages are invited to bring their parents to hear how Rupert the Rabbit meets the Lord and Lady, and many other new friends while he learns about the seasonal holidays of the Wheel of the Year in this story-time workshop. Many surprises are in store for everyone who joins us. Please bring a chair or blanket.
Kyrja is a Priestess of Undia in the Elemental Witchcraft tradition and an author. She is currently in the process of publishing a series of read-aloud stories for Pagan children called “Rupert’s Tales” which combine story-telling with teaching the Pagan seasonal holidays, as wel as other Pagan tools and ways. Kyrja also loves to write and sing children’s songs, so may burst into song at any given moment!
Astrology and Alchemy
Astrology and Alchemy Presented by Dr. Skip Clark
Deep in the earth, lead is slowly turning into gold through the influence of the stars. In the alchemist’s workshop, the process of turning lead into gold proceeds at a different rate. Meanwhile, the alchemist himself is being changed. This workshop will discuss the historical development of the relationship between astrology and alchemy and the transformation of the alchemist.
Dr. Charles “Skip” Clark has a PhD in Medieval History and is currently teaching at a university in Georgia. Besides courses on the middle Ages, he teaches a course on the history of Witchcraft that covers the period from the ancient world to the present. He also teaches the History and Philosophy of Science. He has published works on astrological medicine and witchcraft and has just finished an edition and translation of a thirteenth century medical astrological work. His next project if he ever finishes being an administrator is a study of northern Italian witches. Skip is a regular presenter at Phoenix Phestival and Autumn Meet and other festivals. He lives in Georgia with a wife, a large number of cats and a dog. Now that he’s getting older, he hopes he’s getting wiser, but the jury is still out on that!
Gathering Etiquette
New to our Festival Environment? We’d like to invite you to attend Gathering Etiquette in the workshop area near the Showers. Lady Ardy hosts a small meet and Greet on Wed. to help you get to know the festival and understand how some things we do, are done a little differently and why.
All social interactions have certain customs that have evolved as ‘correct’ behavior; Pagan gatherings are no different. Included are tips on how to interact with the friendly naked pagans, when throwing a cigarette into a fire is a bad idea, attending ritual, and more!