Molly Blue Dawn's List of Events for February 2013 and beyond - Mark Your Calendars!

Molly Blue Dawn's List of Events for February 2013 and beyond - Mark Your Calendars!

Mark your calendars for:
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PantheaCon
Friday-Monday, February 15-18 (President's Day Weekend)
Doubletree Hotel, 2050 Gateway Place, San Jose
$75 for the whole weekend,  $35 for a single day, $20 for an evening only (after 5:00PM)
http://www.pantheacon.com

An enormous, magical, festive and reverent gathering of Pagans from all over the world!

Watch this space for a list of CAYA-related events at PantheaCon!
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PantheaCon 2013 Blood Drive

A message from Rynn Fox:

Be a Blood Hero at PantheaCon

Coru Priesthood and Solar Cross Temple team with Blood Centers of the
Pacific to host Blood Drive at PantheaCon 2013

The Coru Priesthood and Solar Cross Temple invite all Pagans to donate blood at the ‘Blood Heroes Blood Drive’ being held on Saturday, February 16 and Sunday, February 17 from 11:00AM to 4:00PM at PantheaCon.

Blood Donation as Devotion:

Every three seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. The Coru Priesthood and Solar Cross are hosting this blood drive as an act of kinship, hospitality and devotion to our community and to the Morrigan, Celtic Goddess of sovereignty, prophecy, and battle. We encourage all people to donate the gift of life, whether in the name of your own deities, the Morrigan or without devotional intent.

How to Participate:

Go to www.bloodheroes.com and register as a donor.
Click on ‘Donate Blood,' and enter the sponsor code ‘PCon’.
Select your preferred appointment time.
Show up to the bloodmobile at your appointment time at PantheaCon.

Eligibility and Blood Facts:

Potential blood donors can volunteer beginning at age 16 with a parent’s consent, and 17 year olds can give independently. There is no upper age limit for giving. All donors must weigh at least 110 pounds, be in good general health and present a photo ID each time they donate. It’s also a good idea to eat a nutritious meal and drink plenty of water before giving blood. For more information about donor eligibility, call Blood Centers of the Pacific at 1-800-393-4483 or visit www.bloodcenters.org.
Please visit the Coru Priesthood’s event page for additional event information:
www.facebook.com/events/438611166191966.

Petition to Reverse the Ban on Gay Men from Donating Blood:

A petition will be on hand at the blood drive booth to urge the Food and Drug Administration to reverse their ban on queer men from donating blood. We believe a blanket deferral of gay men for any length of time both perpetuates the unwarranted discrimination against the bisexual, gay and queer community and prevents healthy men from donating blood without a definitive finding of added benefit to the safety of the blood supply. Blood Centers of the Pacific supports these efforts to change the current policy.

About Coru Cathubodua:

Service, sovereignty, kinship and warriorship are the values that guide the Coru Priesthood (full name Coru Cathobodua Priesthood). We are Pagan priests on the move, ready to take action to advance our mission to bring about sovereignty and kinship to the world through acts of community and individual service. Guided by our the matron the Morrigan, Celtic Goddess of sovereignty, prophecy, and battle, we welcome all who share this vision of service to bringing these values to life for all people. For information about Coru Cathubodua, visit
www.facebook.com/CoruCathubodua.


About Solar Cross:

Solar Cross community is comprised of practitioners of many different Pagan and magical traditions, all working toward spiritual growth and religious expression. We come together as seekers, teachers, and people of good will to learn, practice and engage in various projects
together. Our Statement of Experiential Belief includes the following:
‘We experience divinity as both a unifying force in the cosmos and as an energy of myriad expressions. Divinity is not distant from us, but is both immanent in the physical world and beyond the physical world.’

This concept of divinity is pervasive, carrying over into work in prisons, with elders, the environment, with low income and homeless people, and myriad other expressions. For information about Solar Cross, visit
www.solarcrosstemple.org.


About Blood Centers of the Pacific:

Blood Centers of the Pacific is the nation’s oldest nonprofit community blood center, providing volunteer blood donations to more than 50 hospitals throughout Northern California. For more information call Blood Centers of the Pacific at 1-800-393-4483 or
www.bloodcenters.org.


Media Inquiries

Rynn Fox
Coru Communications Officer
Mobile: 408-510-1272
rynnfox@gmail.com
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Conference on Ecopoetics
Friday-Sunday, February 22-24
see website for detailed schedule
Wheeler Hall, University of California, Berkeley
for more information, e-mail ecopoetics.conference@gmail.com
http://ecopoeticsconference.blogspot.ca/search/label/About

“The term ecopoetics has become increasingly important to scholars and poets alike. It is certainly a critical moment for the field and practice. Please join us in February for a three-day conference that will focus specifically on exploring ecopoetics, taking up such questions as: What is ecopoetics? What representational strategies and sociopolitical commitments might characterize this practice? How might we periodize ecopoetics and situate its modes of cultural production? It is our hope that the conference will bring scholars, poets, and creative artists into sustained dialogue on the historical and contemporary practices of ecopoetics.

The Conference on Ecopoetics will feature scholarly and creative panels, seminars, poetry readings, multimedia presentations, outings and excursions, and a group service project. The conference will bring together scholars and artists, both inside and outside of the academy.”
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7th Annual Bee Symposium
Pollinator Habitat and Forage
Saturday, March 9, 9:00AM-5:00PM
Sebastopol Veterans Building, 282 South Hight Street, Sebastopol
$35 in advance/$45 at door
http://www.beekind.com/2013BeeSymposiumFlier.pdf
http://pfspbees.org/store

“7th Annual Bee Symposium
A Fundraiser for Partners for Sustainable Pollination

This fun and informative symposium is for gardeners, farmers, and beekeepers of all experience levels, as well as anyone simply interested in the miraculous world of pollinators, which do more for the vitality of the Earth than we can possibly imagine. This year our theme is ‘Pollinator Habitat and Forage’. The availability of nutritious food and a clean, safe home is the most important issue facing pollinators today; fortunately, each of us can make a difference, right now.

This year a varied group of speakers will share experience and advice from a number of perspectives. No doubt there will be some impressive slides, and plenty of time will be set aside for questions and discussion. Also, various local groups will be tabling, so come early for coffee, tea, snacks, and plenty of interesting people to chat with and cool stuff to see. Pollinator-friendly plants will be on display and for sale, as well.

All proceeds from The Bee Symposium go to Partners for Sustainable Pollination (PFSP), a locally based non-profit organization whose mission is to work with farmers and beekeepers to improve the health of honey bees and to support native pollinators. We foster awareness and support for providing increased availability of flowering plants to honey bees and native pollinators, generating funds for the planting of pollinator forage plants on farms, schools, and parks through the Bee Friendly Farm and Bee Friendly Garden certification programs.”
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The Faery Oath of Oak Ash and Thorn
with RJ Stewart and Anastacia Nutt
Saturday-Sunday, March 23-24
exact location in Santa Cruz given upon registration
for more information, please contact Andrea at deepestmeaning@gmail.com
http://rjstewart.org/calendar.html
http://rjstewart.org/images/Oak-Ash-Thorn.pdf

The Faery Oath of Oak Ash and Thorn
A Faery Ritual Magic workshop

Part of the ongoing Faery Ritual Magic workshop program of Earth Light, Power Within the Land, and The Well of Light.  A New Initiative first launched at the June 2012 Fairy and Human Relationship Congress on Washington state..

Oak Ash and Thorn are the faery trees that will bring together the sacred spirits of ancient Britain and America. Join us for this remarkable new workshop drawing on powerful ancestral faery magic, offering methods that have long been hidden, now re-created for the present day, and taught for the first time. This is part of a series of workshops building a network and membership of traditional Oak Ash and Thorn faery magic practices.”
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CAYA’s Second Annual Ball for the Bees
Saturday, March 30, 8:00PM
details to be announced

Watch this space for more details about this festive fundraiser benefitting bees!
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Wellness Essentials For Women
Wednesday, April 3, 6:00-9:00PM, and each Wednesday in April
Berkeley location given upon registration
$240 for all four sessions
http://wellnessessentialsforwomen.com
http://www.amymitchellacupuncture.com
http://dhyanacenter.com
http://www.saragottfriedmd.com
http://www.livingawareness.com

“Bay Area Women: Build Your Wellness Tool-Kit!

Four deep-dive sessions taught by world-class women’s health practitioners bringing you practical tools you can use to boost your health now and for the long term.

Join us Wednesday evenings in April for all this wisdom:
We’ll meet from 6:00-9:00PM on Wednesdays in April, at a beautiful venue in central Berkeley.

April 3: Chinese Medicine for Fertility and Reproductive Health
with Amy Taylor Mitchell, M.S., L.Ac.
Traditional Chinese Medicine is known worldwide as a highly effective, safe treatment to enhance fertility and support menstrual cycle health and regularity.  Acupuncture and Chinese herbs treat women’s reproductive imbalances holistically, by alleviating stress and re-balancing the whole person.  Amy will provide a Chinese medical perspective on supporting women’s reproductive health at every age, with a focus on optimal fertility.  She’ll also offer a range of practices, tools, and lifestyle modifications to support reproductive wellness.

April 10:  Ayurvedic Tools for Breast and Lymphatic Health
with DeAnna Batdorff of the dhyana Center
The lymphatic system brings nutrients to all tissues, enables endocrine function, and supports immunity. The breasts are surrounded by a high concentration of lymph nodes and vessels, and lymphatic blockage can impede breast health.  DeAnna will provide an overview of Ayurvedic approaches to lymphatic and breast health, teach you how to assess and care for the condition of your breast tissue, and share lifestyle tools to support overall lymphatic health.

April 17: Integrative Medicine for Hormonal Health
with Dr. Sara Gottfried
Your hormones are probably working against you, and you may not know it. We’re culturally conditioned as women to overprovide and this causes a chain reaction of feeling stressed out, irritable, and fat – not to mention a libido that is missing in action – all due to changes in your brain, brain chemicals, and hormones. Dr. Sara has identified the top 5 imbalances affecting your hormones and brain chemicals. Using cutting edge science, such as the serotonin gene, and ancient wisdom, such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dr. Sara will show you how to reset your system naturally.

April 24: Western Herbs for Healthy Digestion
with Kami McBride
The old saying, ‘you are what you eat’ is only partially true. ‘You are what you digest!’  Healthy digestion supports the entire body - no matter what you are dealing with, improving your digestion will enhance your health.  Kami will guide you to increase the digestibility of your food with herbal remedies, tea blends and delicious herbal condiments. You will learn tools to assess your own digestive health and leave with lots of easy and tasty recipes to support your optimum digestive wellness.”
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Sonoma County Maker Kids Mini Maker Faire
Saturday, April 13, 10:00AM-3:00PM
Sonoma Country Day School, 4400 Day School Place, Santa Rosa
free
http://makerfairesonomakids.wordpress.com

“The Sonoma County Maker Kids Mini Maker Faire was first held in 2010. Now in its third year, the event was the first of its kind to focus specifically on youth makers. This youth-oriented DIY festival encourages attendees to roll up their sleeves and take part in a wide-range of hands-on activities, all aimed at promoting invention, creativity, and a sense of wonder.”
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San Jose Fantasy Festival
Saturday-Sunday, April 13-14,
Saturday 10:00AM-6:00PM, Sunday 10:00AM-5:00PM
Guadalupe River Park, 494 West Santa Clara Street, San Jose
Adults $12, ages 13-17, seniors and military $10, ages 6-12 $7, under 6 free
Parking $5 at HP Pavilion
http://www.sjfantasy.com
http://www.renaissanceproductions.com

“The San Jose Fantasy Faire offers visitors the opportunity to step into an enchanting fantasyland, where you will have more fun than you can shake a wand at.

The event is a family-friendly festival, a blending of myth and popular fantasy. You will find yourself a part of a wondrous gathering of knights and princesses, as they stand side-by-side with hobbits, fairies and pirates, on a weekend filled with performances that will enchant children and grown-ups alike. Some of the characters you'll meet include Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, Troll and Goblin Kings, Viking Gods, Rumpelstiltskin, Satyrs, Pirates, Mermaids, Witches and Fairy Godmothers from various fairy tales and many more. This year we're adding more of a steampunk feel to the show.”
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Nova Albion Steampunk Exhibition
Friday-Sunday, April 26-28
Hyatt Regency, 5101 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara
see website for registration information
http://www.steampunkexhibition.com

“Get Your Gear On!

Your Interplanetary Exploration Gear, that is…
The time has come to explore new, uncharted lands, to seek your fortune and adventure in the vast expanses of our known and unknown universe… to trip the light fandango on the dusty red surface of Mars, join a safari in the swamps of Venus, hunt leviathan on Jupiter and race your aerial chariot around the wild rings of Saturn… the possibilities are limitless, as Nova Albion presents:

Steampunks in Space!
The Grand Nova Albion Steampunk Exhibition returns to the decadent Hyatt Regency Santa Clara in 2013 for three glorious days, April the 26th, 27th and 28th. Come rub elbows with preeminent scientists and planetary ambassadors, hob-nob with famous airship captains and explorers, and of course imbibe a proper cuppa with the crème-de-la-crème of Victorian society.

We shall present the Foremost Authorities to enlighten and enrich you, provide Grand Entertainments for your amusement and edification, and fill our market stalls with Fine Purveyors of exotic artifacts, rich clothing and jewels, the newest ingenious gadgets, sturdy exploration gear and more.
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Norway Day Festival
Saturday-Sunday, May 4-5, Saturday 10:00AM-6:00PM, Sunday 10:00AM-5:00PM
Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason, Buchanan Avenue and Marina Boulevard, San Francisco
(parking available at the Marina Middle School, 3500 Fillmore Street, San Francisco)
$13
http://www.norwayday.org

“The Norway Day Festival, celebrated every year in San Francisco, is the largest and most prestigious festival of its kind in the United States with more than 5,000 visitors!

Take a trip to Norway without ever leaving the Bay Area!”
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Bay Area Storytelling Festival
Friday-Sunday, May 17-19
Craneway Pavilion, 1414 Harbour Way South, Richmond
see website for detailed schedule and registration information
http://www.bayareastorytelling.org

Oral storytelling is an art for all ages, from the cutest kids and the hippest adults through the wisest grandparents. Every year, the festival offers a school study trip and a professional storytelling workshop on Friday. Saturday and Sunday we offer several performances for adults, a family program and more workshops. In 2013, we are hosting an invitational spoken word slam for local high school students.

We are pleased to announce the tellers for the 2013 Bay Area Storytelling Festival! Award- winning storyteller and NPR commentator Kevin Kling tells hilarious, often tender stories. Megan Wells seeks the story eclipse when the ordinary world gives way to the light of the imagination. When Len Cabral tells stories, coyotes turn into ducks and we travel from Ethiopia to New England cranberry bogs. Yvette Brandy weaves stories and songs, and Will Hornyakpromises to captivate, surprise and intrigue.

The Bay Area Storytelling Festival promotes the timeless, contemporary art of storytelling by presenting todays finest talents. The festival showcases the power of stories to bridge generations, celebrate diverse cultures, and build and connect communities.
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Himalayan Fair
Saturday-Sunday, May 18-19, Saturday 10:00AM-7:00PM, Sunday 10:00AM- 5:30PM
Live Oak Park, 1301 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley
$5 donation includes raffle ticket
http://www.himalayanfair.net

“Under the towering oaks and redwood trees in the midst of a quaint Berkeley neighborhood, Live Oak Park becomes a vast marketplace with over 100 privately owned shops, free live music and several food vendors including Momos freshly made by the Tibetan Community, Nepalese and Indian foods. We do not accept any commercial vendors or commercial support at the fair so to keep the experience authentic and specifically Himalayan in nature. The Himalayan Fair offers a rare occasion to experience a unique Himalayan festival without leaving the Bay Area.”
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Northern California Women's Herbal Symposium
Session 1: Friday - Monday, May 24-27
Session 2: Friday - Monday, August 30-September 2
Black Oak Ranch, 50350 Highway 101, Laytonville
see website for detailed schedule and registration details
http://www.womensherbalsymposium.org/pages/symposium.html

“PlantWomen gather! The Tribe comes together!

Now, two times a year, women from many backgrounds of life gather together in great celebration for four full days of inspiring Herbal and Sustainability classes, gourmet vegetarian meals, talented campfire capers, amazing handcrafted marketplace items, Rites-of-Passage Ceremonies, powerful campfire drumming and dancing, refreshing swimming hole dips, and conversations with remarkable and inspiring women!

We meet together under the ancient oaks, douglas firs, and bay trees of Northern California. Our main gathering area is encircled by sixteen tipis with a large firepit in the center. All classes are held sitting on the ground under these majestic trees, or under shade tarps that we have set-up. At night we camp together, either in the tipis or in tents that we each bring.

During the days we are a gathering of women and children studying, teaching, learning, networking, and talking about plants, healing, and healthy lifestyles. When the sun goes down we become a playful and celebratory group, chatting, chanting, singing, showing off our talents, drumming and dancing into the night around the campfire.

We are a group of 350-400 women and children and we gather to learn from each other, to nurture and nourish each other, to take a break from our daily lives, to regenerate, refresh, dance, frolic, talk plants, and most of all, to have a REALLY GOOD THYME together!

Each session is a separate event. Do join us for one or both sessions!”
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Valhalla Renaissance Faire
Saturday-Sunday, June 1-2 and June 8-9,
10:00AM-6:00PM Saturdays, 10:00AM-5:00PM Sundays
Camp Richardson’s Wood, 1900 Jameson Beach Road, South Lake Tahoe
Adults $18, ages 13-17, seniors and military $13, ages 6-12 $8, under 6 free
http://www.valhallafaire.com
http://www.renaissanceproductions.com

“Two weekends of fun and excitement for the whole family.

Rub elbows with nobility, immerse yourself in the Renaissance village, enjoy continuous entertainment in the streets provided by close to 900 costumed actors, action packed stage shows, music, dancing, jesters, Shakespearean vignettes, expertly staged battles, storytelling, archery tournaments and much more.

First Weekend, June 1-2:
Scottish invasion! The first weekend is geared more toward younger audiences with tons of shows, dancing, theater plays, and music for your whole family.

Second Weekend, June 8-9:
Pirate and Barbarian Hordes invade the festivities. Let loose and have a jolly good time while you participate in Scavenger Hunts, Costume contests, and a Talk Like a Pirate Competitions.”
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