What do you wish for?

Do you base our choices on what you want, or what you think you're supposed to want? Let yourself feel what you feel and want what you want, THEN engage your mind in the process. The best wishes are born from your heart.

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Molly Blue Dawn's List of Events for the Week starting Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Network for a New Culture Gathering, Garden Fresh Luncheon at Gamble Garden, This Lingering Life, Sail on the Alma, Concert in the Redwood Grove, Fermentation is Easy! Cultured Veg and Dairy, The Bee and the Goddess, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, Lessons from Earth and Spirit: A Vortex Journey Beyond Beliefs, Temple of Aphrodite, An Evening of Robert Louis Stevenson, The Fertile Void, Brahman/i: A One-Hijra Stand-Up Comedy Show, In the Tree of Smoke, Pearls Over Shanghai, Macbeth at Fort Point, The Crazed, Mutt: Let’s All Talk About Race!, Stories of Superstition and Luck, Word/Play: Shenaniganery Of The Highest Brow, Magical Transformation and Group Energy Healing, Exploding Stars Dark Energy And The Fate Of The Universe, As You Like It, Tenth Annual Queer Women of Color Film Festival, The Taming of the Shrew, BritWeek Festival, The Home of Truth Rummage Sale, The Neverending Story, Singing Our Bodies Awake!, Polishing the Holy Stone: Cultivating Inner-World Sovereignty, Dia de Portugal, Monthly Open Village Celebration, Family Fun Day at Alameda Library, The 2nd Annual Herbal Medicine and Then Some Fair, Day in the Life 1901, Summer Vegetable Gardening, Deep Dreaming: Finding Interconnection through Shared Dreaming, Sail on the Alma, Community Seed’s Open Circle, Sexual Enlightenment Workshop, Writers With Drinks, East Bay Waltz, Singing Moon - A Full Moon Circle for All Genders, Frankie Bones and Fire Hazard, Robin Flower and Libby McLaren, San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, Live Oak Park Fair, Pirate Festival, San Francisco Crystal Fair, SF Juneteenth Festival, East Bay Open Studios 2014, Fairfax Festival, Hats Off to Dad at Roaring Camp, Great Train Robberies at Roaring Camp, Bud Discovery Day, Berkeley Juneteenth Festival, Native Contemporary Arts Festival, The Princess Bride Quote-Along, Open Shamanic Journey Circle, Modern Conjure: Candles Lamps and Lights, Fathers Day Pig Roast at Tara Firma Farm, A Cup of Tea with Spirit, Ya Elah Online Concert, Day of the African Child, CircleSong, Where To?: Place and Performance, A Circle of Witchery, Doctor Who + Wings 3D: A David Tennant Celebration, Solaris, Sakha Cultural Festival, Juneteenth, Aligning Heaven and Earth: Astrology, Herbs, Consciousness, and Energy, 9th MMTB Producer's and Directors Challenge Film Fest - Berkeley, The Chill Lounge, Sacred Intimacy and Erotic Arts: Introducing Tantra, Online Art of Tarot with Rabbit, Essential Oils and SoulCollage Retreat, Sacred Hoop Medicine Drum Making Playshop, Summer Solstice Herbal Beer Making
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Network for a New Culture Gathering
Wednesday, June 11, 6:00-10:00PM
LoveJourney Temple, Sebastopol, exact address given upon RSVP
$10, please bring a potluck item
Please RSVP to John Horrell at 707-304-6359 or seajohnkayak@yahoo.com

“Our community is deeply enjoying hosting the Network for a New Culture evenings here for the North Bay.  Please come to our next gathering Wednesday, June 11,  6:00-10:00PM at LoveJourney in Sebastopol. Directions will be sent to you once you reply that you're coming. We request a $10 voluntary donation at the event to cover costs of the space.
Network for a New Culture (NFNC) is part of the larger global movement to create local communities where transparency, self-awareness, love, trust, and compassionate honesty are the new cultural norms. We believe that it takes a village to raise a consciousness.  We, of course, intend that our work and play together will be transformative not only for small communities, but for the community of the world as well.
We will start with a delicious potluck dinner - please bring something fun and nutritious to share. We then gather for some bonding exercises, dance and joy. Then, as promised, we will learn about the ZEGG forum (see below for description) in a learning exercise then share our findings. We will share ourselves and express with the group.  Feel free to stay after to dance, hot tub, schmooze, and snuggle.

Forum is a facilitated awareness and communication training for groups of 12 to 50. It was designed in the Zegg community in Germany so the community has a way to communicate with itself. It provides an artistic way of personal sharing where an individual moves in the center of the circle and shares whatever is alive in them. Our true motivations, our deep feelings, longings, ideas, and emotions become revealed. This focus on transparency, sharing, and clarifying unsolved situations makes it an invaluable catalyst for growth. Forum is a personal process in a social context.  We discover how our personal issues resonate with everyone, and learn how each theme is part of a common human experience.”
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Garden Fresh Luncheon at Gamble Garden
Wednesday, June 11, 12:00-1:30PM
Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden, 1431 Waverley Street, Palo Alto
$25

“Garden Fresh Luncheons are the perfect setting for your next birthday celebration, ladies lunch, lunch date, or book group.

Luncheons are followed by a complimentary docent led tour through the garden at 1:30PM.

Reservations are required for all luncheons, no cancellations, 60% of the cost is a donation. Sorry, we are not able to accommodate special dietary requests.

Please call the office to make your reservations: 650-329-1356.

A non-profit horticultural foundation in Palo Alto, south of San Francisco, Gamble Garden’s two and a half acre property includes formal and demonstration gardens, as well as an historic house, carriage house, and tea house.

The garden is free and open to the public every day.”
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This Lingering Life
presented by Theatre of Yugen
Wednesday-Saturday, June 11-14 - final week
Wednesday-Thursday 7:00PM, Friday-Saturday 8:00PM
Z SPACE, 450 Florida Street, San Francisco
see website for ticket details

“Theatre of Yugen presents a two-week run of a premiere, full stage presentation of This Lingering Life, written by the New York based Chiori Miyagawa and directed by Yugen's Artistic Director Jubilith Moore.

This Lingering Life is a new kind of play that hearkens to tradition while also reaching out from it, and its performance, likewise, will juxtapose traditional and modern dramatic paradigms. Miyagawa has written a distinctly contemporary and Western play with the intensity of classical Japanese drama at its root. A battle is fought on a shore (Atsumori), a crazy woman looks for her kidnapped son at a bus station (Sumidagawa), a father and son have a falling out that results in the son's becoming blind and homeless (Yoroboshi), parents conspire to break up their daughter's relationship by drowning her lover (Funabashi), a poor old man falls in love with a wealthy young girl and commits suicide (Aya no Tsuzumi), and life goes on with everyone bumping into one another before and after death and in between.

Playwright Chiori Miyagawa made this statement about the piece:
‘I am interested in the place where the mystery of the theatrical world and human reality intersect. In traditional Noh Theater, this is an ordinary place - a grieving mother whose child was kidnapped would naturally have a reunion with the dead son's spirit; and it's never over until a ghost lover comes back and does a demon dance. These fantastical elements actually make Noh Theater deeply human. Contained in the original tragedies are essences of centuries-old struggles of the human heart that I hope to also depict in my new play.’”
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Sail on the Alma
Thursday, June 12, boarding at 12:30PM, returning to Hyde Street Pier at 4:00PM
board at Hyde Street Pier, 499 Jefferson Street, San Francisco
Adults $40, Seniors 62 and over $30, Children 6-15 $20, Ages 5 and under Free
pre-registration recommended

“Haul lines to raise the sails with National Park Service Rangers as you explore the Bay aboard the historic 60 foot Alma! Take in dazzling views and San Francisco's riveting history: Native Americans, Spanish explorers, the Gold Rush, lighthouses, the Barbary Coast, Fisherman's Wharf, earthquakes, shipbuilding and more! Before highways and bridges, hundreds of scow schooners like Alma plied San Francisco Bay, hauling goods as the ‘flatbed trucks’ of their day. The last of her kind, Alma will transport you to a long ago era on this unique, hands-on, educational sailing program with the National Park Service. Sailing runs on selected Thursdays and Saturdays from June to November.”
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Concert in the Redwood Grove
featuring Blind Boy Paxton and Markus James
Thursday, June 12, 5:30-7:30PM (and every Thursday through August 28)
“Doors” open at 5:00PM  
UC Berkeley Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive, Berkeley
Adults $19, Children 5-17 $10
Please register online at the website below
for more information, e-mail garden@berkeley.edu

“Join us this summer for a series of concerts in our beautiful Redwood Grove!

Jerron ‘Blind Boy’ Paxton is an American multi-instrumentalist blues musician and vocalist from Los Angeles. With a strong interest in blues and jazz music before World War II, Paxton’s sound is influenced by the likes of Fats Waller and ‘Blind’ Lemon Jefferson.

NPR calls Markus James’ Mali-meets-Mississippi sound ‘Rock with a West African twist’.

Ticket includes admission to the Garden before 5:00PM. BYO picnic and non-alcoholic drinks welcome.”

Thanks to Pixie for letting me know about this event!
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Fermentation is Easy! Cultured Veg and Dairy
with Rosie Ueng
Part Three of the Nourishing Traditions Cooking Basics Series
Thursday, June 12, 6:00-9:00PM,
and three more Thursdays through July 3
Three Stone Hearth, 1581 University Avenue, Berkeley, 510-981-1334
$95 per class

“From bone broths and stews to fermentation and sauces, this six-class series covers everything you need to get started, or to expand your knowledge of nutrient dense cooking.  Whether you’re new to cooking or are just looking to broaden your skills and enhance your knowledge, these hands-on cooking classes will be fun and educational. Class is 3 hours and ends with a collectively prepared meal! Sign up early! Registration is limited to 12 students.

Class Schedule is as follows:
Thursday, June 19: Soaking, Sprouting and Fermented Beverages
Thursday, June 25: Eggs and Organ Meats
Thursday, July 3: Vegetables, Sauces and Condiments

Do microscopic organisms growing in your kitchen give you the heebie jeebies?  Don't worry - they can be your friends, keep you healthy, and make your food delicious!  In this class learn how to make your own fermented vegetables: kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickles are just the beginning.  You will also learn how to make yogurt, kefir, clabbered milk, creme fraiche, and fresh cheese!

Bring jars to take home some fermenting goodies.  Delicious snacks as well as a sampling of some fermented foods will be provided.

Instructor Rosie Ueng holds a Masters in Nutrition and a B.A. in Molecular and Cell Biology. She has worked as a cook at Three Stone Hearth as well as a private chef and caterer. Rosie combines science, traditional wisdom, and her cooking background to offer this unique cooking series. Rosie Ueng is founder of Rosewater Cooking and Science.”
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The Bee and the Goddess
with Loretta Farris, Goddess Devotee and Sacred Bee Enthusiast
presented by Joy Reichard’s In Her Name Circle
Thursday, June 12, 7:00-9:30PM, and the second Thursday of each month
Ann Benner Room, UU San Mateo, 300 E Santa Inez Avenue, San Mateo, 650-342-5946
$15 in advance, $20 at the door

“The voice of the Divine Feminine is re-emerging in human consciousness, bringing us a new vision of the sacredness and unity of life.

Her mythology from diverse cultures around the globe illustrates her many representations and rich symbolism offering role models and guidance to modern women and men. Her message is one of peace, compassion, and respect for all life.

If you are seeking to learn more about the Divine Feminine, then please join us on the second Friday of each month as devotees of the Goddess gather to celebrate her many manifestations with ritual, movement, myth, song, divination and guided visualization. A $10-$20 donation is appreciated.

In this In Her Name circle, learn about the sacred connection between the Goddess and the not-so-simple bee, a powerful symbol for the feminine archetype.

Are you feeling called by the bees?
Do you know that they are believed to offer healing and prophecy?
Learn how the divine feminine is connected with bees and how they can empower you.
Experience the meditative sound of the bees and more!
Discover the magical ways the bee can nourish your spirit!

Loretta’s curiosity with metaphysics began over twenty years ago as she used different techniques of divination on her spiritual journey. The year 2010 was a pivotal time, as she yearned for a deeper connection and a community that would support her spiritual endeavors. Joy Reichard, her first mentor and dear friend, introduced Loretta to the divine feminine and her devotion to the goddess has never wavered. As a result of working with other amazing women such as Elizabeth Barton and Marguerite Rigoglioso, she unearthed a special connection with the sacred honeybee.

She has lived in Redwood City for over fifteen years, next to Ohlone Indian burial grounds, and mystical experiences have opened up and guided her as she shares her knowledge and symbolism of the Goddess and the honeybee and ways to save the honeybee from the plight she faces. Loretta holds her workshop called Healing Bee Gatherings in her magical meditation garden.”
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Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Thursday, June 12, 7:00PM
The Cerrito Theater, 10070 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito
$8

“Don’t miss this brilliant black comedy!

Director Stanley Kubrick skewers the nuclear age - in the wake of the Cuban missile crisis - with a dazzling cast.  Peter Sellers got an Oscar nomination for portraying three wildly different roles: inept U.S. President Merkin Muffley, British Air Force captain Lionel Mandrake, and the title character, Dr. Strangelove. But also not to be missed is the deranged U.S. General Jack D. Ripper played by Sterling Hayden, as well as a standout role by George C. Scott as Air Force Chief of Staff Buck Turgidson. Other notable star turns include James Earl Jones, Slim Pickens, and Keenan Wynn. The movie, and director Stanley Kubrick were Oscar-nominated.

Dr. Strangelove is listed third on the American Film Institute’s ranking of the top 100 comedies.

Dr. Strangelove plays on Thursday, June 12 at 7:00PM.  All seats are $8.00.  Moviegoers are advised to get advance tickets at the box office or online, as shows may sell out. Arriving early is a good idea, in order to choose your seat and also order delicious food and wine or beer.

Check out The Scene, on the right side of the lobby. The Scene wine/food bar offers tempting food such as panini, snacks and salads - and they can all be brought to your seat in the theater. The Scene opens daily at 4:30PM and is a great place to visit - even when you’re not going to a movie.”
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Lessons from Earth and Spirit: A Vortex Journey Beyond Beliefs
with Jan and  Marystella of Vortex Journeys
Thursday, June 12, 7:30PM
Many Rivers Books and Tea, 130 S. Main Street, Sebastopol
Free

“What do a wedding ceremony at Athena's Temple in Greece and the unveiling of earth vortex energies in Santa Rosa have in common? Join us for stories from Jan's forthcoming memoir, Lessons from Earth and Spirit, A Vortex Journey Beyond Beliefs. There will be abundant time for questions and answers.

Jan Boddie, PhD and Marystella Church, CHT are stewards and gatekeepers of a half acre of former Pomo healing land, where a dozen vortices and portals have reawakened under their care. There they live and teach classes, facilitate circles and honor the seasons.”
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Temple of Aphrodite
Thursday, June 12, 8:00-9:00PM (Please arrive a few minutes before 8:00PM)
The Sacred Well, 536 Grand Avenue, Oakland, 510-444-9355
Donations gratefully accepted

“The Temple of Aphrodite in Oakland was founded in 2010 at The Sacred Well, where Priest/esses maintain a monthly liturgy and support space for those who wish to experience the mysteries of the goddess in Her many forms.

Our monthly liturgy is an exploration and celebration of the many ways love, beauty, desire and pleasure shape our decisions, choices, actions, and lives.

We research and study historical aspects of Aphrodite, such as praise hymns, epithets, and classical symbolism. We also recognize Aphrodite in the world around us today, in Her contemporary guises with modern sensibilities.

Date for 2014:
July 13
August 10
September 7
October 8
November 5
December 6”
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An Evening of Robert Louis Stevenson
part of  Butterfield 8’s Third Thursday series
Thursday, June 12, 8:00PM, typically the third Thursday of each month
Orinda Community Center Amphitheater, 26 Orinda Way, Orinda
Donations accepted
“On the third Thursday of every month (other events permitting), Cue Productions Live plays host to a reading of selected short stories. Join us as we explore some great writing in an informal setting. This event is open to the public on a pay-what-you-can basis.

This week, on a special Second Thursday, we pay tribute to the adventure novel that influenced the popular perceptions of pirates with such elements as treasure maps marked with an X, schooners, the Black Spot, tropical islands, and one-legged seamen bearing parrots on their shoulders!
Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, using the pseudonym Captain George North, first serialized his tale of ‘buccaneers and buried gold’ in the children's magazine Young Folks between 1881 and 1882 under the title Treasure Island or, the mutiny of the Hispaniola. The novel was published as a book on May 23, 1883, and has been inspiring the imaginations of readers of all ages ever since!
 
Join us as we bring to life Stevenson's classic tale and visit such well-known characters as young Jim Hawkins and the notorious Long John Silver. The evening features the vocal talents of Elinor Bell, Matthew Gardner, Kerry Gudjohnsen, and Peter Jonathan McArthur.
This month, our reading takes place at the outdoor Orinda Community Center Amphitheater, home to our friends the Orinda Starlight Village Players! If you've ever been to an OrSVP production (or to the nearby Bruns Amphitheater for a Cal Shakes production), you'll know that the evenings can get chilly if the summer fog rolls in, so please come prepared!
Refreshments will be available, and as always, Third Thursdays is free to the public, although we welcome donations at the door!”
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The Fertile Void
in concert
presented by Samavesha
Thursday, June 12, 8:00-9:30PM
Rose Labyrinth, 2138 Cedar Street, Berkeley
$15 in advance, $20 at the door

“The Fertile Void is a new musical ensemble made up of singer and composer Carrie Katz, founder/composer/singer for Rosin Coven, multi-instrumentalist Laura Inserra, and the string quartet Squid, Inc.”
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Brahman/i: A One-Hijra Stand-Up Comedy Show
by Aditi Brennan Kapil
presented by Crowded Fire
Thursday-Saturday, June 12-14, 8:00PM
playing through June 28
The Thick House, 1695 18th Street, San Francisco, 415-746-9238
$15-$35

“A stand-up comedy routine that takes on history, mythology, and high school through the lens of a feisty Indian intersex youth named Brahman from Athens, Georgia. Tethered by neither gender nor culture, Brahman examines both with a ferocious wit and a no-holds-barred attitude. In its world-premiere production critics declared Brahman/i ‘goes for the funny bone!’ and is ‘full of sharp observations, heartbreaking truths, hilariously told anecdotes, and entertaining takes on history.’”
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In the Tree of Smoke
presented by Circus Automatic
Thursday-Saturday, June 12-14, 8:00PM
playing through June 28
The Great Star Theatre, 636 Jackson Street, San Francisco
$25

“In The Tree of Smoke is the third installment in a series of shows whose end goal is to create a fully realized production in the face of a lack of resources. It is a circus show that is both a swan song to a San Francisco that no longer exists, and a celebration of the cutting edge in American un-step performance. Featuring world renowned circus performers and set in an infinitely branching network of recursive and contradicting realities, In the Tree of Smoke is, above all, an experiment. Inside the maze of its un-storyline the question is posed: Is there space for art in a world which no longer deems it relevant?

The show is a story of trying to escape from a reality that crushes you by virtue of your very nature.  In the end, you can't escape the prison you are blind to; like a tangle of branches that barely has substance but still holds you captive.  The first step to being free is to acknowledge that you are trapped. Finding the way out and taking it are two different experiences- this presentation deals with the former.

In the Tree of Smoke creates worlds and moments in time rather than stories.  Set in a place with no endings, it seeks to find a beginning in the middle.  The characters- poor artisans who are masters of their craft, practice their work for a world that endeavors to blot them out with nothing more than indifference.  The very act of creation becomes defiant, a refusal to perish in an environment that demands your death.  

Each character is a response to this conundrum. The minimalist set rises and falls, a contradiction of brevity and deceit. Whatever dreams live and die in this setting, its very makeup stands as a reminder that ultimately, everything falls apart.”
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Pearls Over Shanghai
presented by the Thrillpeddlers
Thursday-Saturday, June 12-14, 8:00PM
The Hypnodrome, 575 10th Street, San Francisco
held over - playing through June 28
$30-$35

“Our award-winning production of Pearls Over Shanghai, San Francisco’s longest-running Cockettes musical hit, is back on The Hypnodrome stage for a Fifth Anniversary Revival Production.

Pearls Over Shanghai is a comic mock-operetta about white slavery, opium dens, and miscegenation set in the colorful world of 1937 Shanghai. The story is set at the crossroads of good and evil; an exotic ‘old sin town’ filled with singing sailors, humorous whores, foolish immortals, handmaidens and henchmen, all taking their places in streets teeming with a mix of foreign aristocrats, opium addicts, and gangland slave-trade czars.

With a cast of over 20, costumes a-plenty, and a score of 24 original songs, this production is the most eye-popping and toe-tapping in the Hypnodrome’s history, with the scent of intoxicating perfume, poisonous flowers, opium, and sex oozing from every scene.

Three original Cockettes, Scrumbly Koldewyn, ‘Sweet Pam’ Tent, and Rumi Missabu, who were in the original production of Pearls Over Shanghai, will perform in this production, bringing to life the whimsy and the madness that were the ‘all singing, all dancing, all cardboard’ Cockettes.

Our original production of  Pearls Over Shanghai ran for nearly two years and received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. It’s a phenomenon that keeps on growing! Get your tickets soon for this sure-to-sell-out musical event of the season.”
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Macbeth at Fort Point
presented by We Players
Thursday-Sunday, June 12-15, 8:00PM
playing through June 29
Fort Point, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, 999 Marine Drive, San Francisco
Thursdays $45, Fridays and Sundays $60, Saturdays $75

“This spring, We Players remounts its epic production of Macbeth at Fort Point. Multiple performance trajectories wind through the dark stone corridors, narrow passageways, expansive brick casemates, and inner chambers of the fort. On the parade ground, in the direct onslaught of the billowing fog and relentless wind, the witches work their charms. The Golden Gate Bridge soars overhead, the city skyline flickers - a full sensory immersion into Macbeth’s Scotland as it collides with Civil War era and modern day San Francisco. In collaboration with the National Park Service.

In our 2014 production, we explore this tale of blood and the thirst for power through the lens of the ‘old guard’: warriors who have engaged in battle for decades; who are older than their young wives; who are the same age as their King. We infuse the space and the story with tremendous detail, and collaborate with the forces of nature in the form of wind and billowing fog. A full immersion into the world of play, audiences can catch glimpses of moments that traditionally occur off stage: Duncan’s body in blood soaked bed sheets, the Macbeths feverishly washing the still-warm blood from their hands, Macbeth’s coronation, Lady Macbeth alone in her bedroom, and the otherwise private lives of the Weyard Sisters.

The Weyard Sisters are nearly omnipresent throughout; some audience members may be able to decipher the code these Sisters use to communicate with one another, or catch them at work in secluded corners of the fortress.

Prepare yourself for the sound and fury of the elements… Fort Point is a very cold place. Long underwear, down jackets, windbreakers, hats and gloves are recommended.

You will be on your feet throughout the 3 hour event, and navigating narrow passageways, spiraling stone staircases and dark chambers. If you have any mobility disabilities that prevent you from climbing stairs, please call us. If you want to limit your stair climbing, be sure to state so on your registration form.

There are no bathrooms within the Fort. Provisions exist for emergencies, but in the absence of such circumstances, the doors of the Fort will remain sealed for the duration - once we go in, we’re in.

We will offer tea and snacks at a few places to keep you fueled.

We Players does not recommend bringing children less than 12 years old. Parts of the Fort are dark and creepy, it is COLD and DAMP, and there is a good deal of violence in this play. Please be aware of this when deciding whether or not to bring children.

No cameras or recording devices allowed.

No refunds. No exchanges. Please choose your dates carefully.

Questions? Call 415-547-0189 or email reservations@weplayers.org
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The Crazed
A world premiere from the Central Works Writers Workshop
Thursday-Sunday, June 12-15,
Thursday-Saturday 8:00PM, Sunday 5:00PM
playing through June 22
The Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Street, Berkeley
Thursdays pay what you can, regular performances sliding scale $15-$28

“The Crazed
Written by Sally Dawidoff
Based on the acclaimed novel by Ha Jin
Directed by Gary Graves
A world premiere from the Central Works Writers Workshop

A new play by Sally Dawidoff based on the acclaimed novel by National Book Award winner Ha Jin, about a young scholar coming of age in Communist China on the eve of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

When the venerable Professor Yang suffers a stroke, his student Jian Wan is assigned to care for him.  But when the professor begins to rave like a madman, the student is thrown into a quandary: are these the outpourings of a crazed mind, or is Yang speaking the truth - about his past, about art, about how to live a meaningful life?

This spring marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. The Crazed joins commemorations around the globe.”
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Mutt: Let’s All Talk About Race!
Thursday-Sunday, June 12-15 - final week
Thursday-Saturday 8:00PM, Sunday 7:00PM
Impact Theatre at La Val's Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Avenue, Berkeley, 510-224-5744
$20 in advance, $25 at the door

“A world premiere by Christopher Chen
Directed by Evren Odcikin
A co-production with Ferocious Lotus Theatre Company

The Republican Party finally - finally! - realizes it has a problem with race. So it decides its best chance for success in the 2016 presidential election is to back a candidate who's hapa - of mixed Asian descent. They think they've found their man in Nick, a promising Congressmember. But when Nick doesn't conform to their expectations of who he should be, they turn to Len, a multiracial war hero who can check off every single box - and maybe a couple more boxes no one knows about. A blisteringly funny satire that skewers not only the elephants in the room but the donkeys too, Mutt burns down the entire house of racial cards.

Christopher Chen, a playwright of immense talent on the rise, was the visionary behind the Glickman Award-winning cosmic explosion The Hundred Flowers Project at Crowded Fire last season. Mutt is a co-production between Impact and Ferocious Lotus, a new company devoted to promoting Asian-American theatre artists led by co-artistic directors Lily Tung Crystal and Leon Goertzen.

Featuring Patricia Austin, Michael Uy Kelly, Matthew Lai, Marilet Martinez, Lawrence Radecker, and Michelle Talgarow.”
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Stories of Superstition and Luck
with Lila Nelson, Maya Dorn and other special guests
Friday, June 13, 7:00PM (doors 6:30PM)
Subterranean Arthouse, 2179 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, 510-508-3492
$10-$15 sliding scale

“Lila Nelson has released several albums on her label Madeline Music, has toured extensively, and more recently gave birth to a baby at her house.  She lives in Oakland with her husband Ian and her daughter Viva.
Maya Dornis a Bay Area based singer-songwriter and performance artist.  Aside from her solo work, she can be seen and heard as MC Ladyfinger in the electro pop band Sweet Snacks.  ‘Born from a lotus flower and raised by literary wolves, Maya spins stories from subatomic particles and sings from the cosmic frontier of an open mind.’”
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Word/Play: Shenaniganery Of The Highest Brow
Friday, June 13, 7:00PM
The Booksmith, 1644 Haight Street, San Francisco
$10
21+

“Word/Play is a book and lit-themed game show for nerds like you.

Six writers, two teams, three rounds.

Points awarded on the basis of wit, whimsy, and audience favoritism.

Ten US dollars for an open bar, plenty of nonthreatening participation, and two hours of putting your B.A. in English to good use.
Featuring:
Team Napa Bookmine vs. Team Litography
Tickets $10 (includes drinks) available in the store or at Brown Paper Tickets online. 21+, please.
Buy your ticket ahead of time, and we'll reserve you a seat.”
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Magical Transformation and Group Energy Healing
with Dragonfly and Justin K. Prim
Friday, June 13, 7:30-9:30 PM
The Sacred Well, 536 Grand Avenue, Oakland, 510-444-9355
$35 for the group healing
Please register in advance to reserve your spot for this event

“Bring the mysteries of Merlin and the Lady of the Lake into your life. Join Dragonfly and Justin K. Prim for an evening of shared magic and healing.

Together these modern wizards will present an introduction to the current deep healing modalities formed from the lineage of Merlin and the Lady of the Lake, followed by a powerful transformational group healing. This is your chance to begin to clear emotional blockages, help relieve stress, and nurture your spirit as you open your heart to the wonder of your life and deepen your spiritual connection by empowering your own magical path.
Justin K. Prim is an energy healer, a shamanic practitioner, and a spiritually focused artist. He recently became a teacher in the Magical Awakening lineage and is excited to share these spiritual gifts with the world!

Dragonfly is a VortexHealing Divine Energy Healing practitioner Class Organizer for Gailynn Carroll in Berkeley CA, a Reiki Master teacher and body energy practitioner for 18 years, and owner of ArunaBliss Body Energy Center in Oakland.”
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Exploding Stars, Dark Energy And The Fate Of The Universe
with Dr. Brad Tucker
The Monthly Meeting of the Peninsula Astronomical Society
Friday, June 13, 7:30PM, and the second Friday of each month
Room 5015, next to Parking Lot 5, Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills
Admission Free, Parking $3

“‘Most stars end their lives in brilliant explosions known as supernova.  These massive bursts briefly outshine all the light from the galaxy wherein they occur.  The past 15 years has been a ‘boom’ period for supernovae, with vast amounts of time and effort being invested in these objects.  Not only are they important for understanding the life of stars, but they can be used use as cosmological probes to study what the Universe is made of and how it is growing.  This use has shown that the Universe is accelerating in its expansion, the subject of the 2011 Nobel Prize, and is being caused by dark energy which will cause the end of the Universe.  I will show how our understanding of these objects has been revolutionized and what this means for the Universe.’

The Peninsula Astronomical Society is a group of some 200 Bay Area astronomy enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds. Some members are professionally trained in astronomy, others are just starting and have never looked through a telescope before. One thing that we all have in common is an interest in the sky.

The PAS holds meetings on the second Friday of each month at 7:30PM on the campus of Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, CA (between San Jose and Palo Alto).  The meetings are usually held in Room 5015, next to Parking Lot 5 (see map). Each meeting features a speaker (or speakers) bringing us up to date on different topics in astronomy. The public is welcome to attend these meetings; there is no charge to attend.  Note, however, that there is a $3 charge for parking - visitor parking permits are available from the machines in the parking lots.  Dispensers accept one-dollar bills and quarters; bring exact change. Please do not park in spaces marked Staff - you will be ticketed!

As part of its commitment to bringing astronomy to the public, the Peninsula Astronomical Society operates the Foothill College Observatory http://www.pastro.org/dnn/Observatory/FoothillObservatory.aspx.
The Observatory is staffed by members of the society who volunteer to conduct the regularly scheduled public programs.

In addition to operating the Foothill Observatory, the PAS has its own observatory in the nearby Santa Cruz Mountains. This location has AC power and room for members to set up their own telescopes at our monthly star parties. This site is also the home of the society's 12" telescope, available for member use after a checkout.”
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As You Like It
presented by The Novato Theater Company
Friday-Sunday, June 13-15 - final week
Friday-Saturday 8:00PM, Sunday 2:00PM
NTC Playhouse, 5420 Nave Drive, Novato
$25 general admission, $22 seniors/students, $12 youth 12 and under

“It’s the Summer of Love in the Forest of Arden! The timeless topics of love, loyalty and life are explored in this lively 1960s staging of the Bard’s outrageously gender-bending comedy. Come prepared to have your mind blown and your funny-bone tickled as Shakespeare’s grooviest heroine, Rosalind, matches wits with Orlando, Jacques, Celia, Touchstone and a trio of sex-crazed country lovers. You’re sure to dig the play we like to call: Four Weddings and No Funeral!”
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Tenth Annual Queer Women of Color Film Festival
presented by Queer Women Of Color Media Arts Project
Friday-Sunday, June 13-15
Brava Theater Center, 2789 24th Street, San Francisco
Free

“The 10th annual Queer Women of Color Film Festival celebrates A Decade of Love! with 32 new films in 4 screening programs that are fully captioned and subtitled. For the first time ever, ALL the films, including world premieres and festival circuit faves, will be accessible to Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing members of our community. Our 10th anniversary will showcase films from the QWOCMAP Film and Freedom Academy tour of California, and new documentaries from Colombia and Paraguay.
From the first bloom of desire between two queer Asian women to a juicy Black femme understanding her own allure, from young Iranian and Black Latina girls budding with their own power to the monumental strength of queer Asian refugees, these films sow seeds of fearless resistance, and cultivate joy and liberation.”
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The Taming of the Shrew
presented by Shady Shakespeare
Friday-Sunday, June 13-15,
Friday-Saturday 8:00PM, Sunday 7:00PM,
playing through June 29
Willow Street Frank Bramhall Park, 1320 Willow Street, San Jose
Free, donations welcome

“Shady Shakespeare Proudly Presents Shakespeare San Jose - Free to the public!

Surf's up, Shakespearean moon doggies! The Bard's timeless battle of the sexes is coming to a beach boardwalk near you as Shady Shakespeare reprises our wildly successful Free Shakespeare in the Park program in the heart of Willow Glen. The spirited and independent Kate has no time for the beach bunny antics of her boy-magnet kid sister Bianca, but when charismatic big kahuna Petruchio comes to town looking for a wife, she suddenly finds herself caught up in a contest of wills that will challenge her, exhaust her, infuriate her.. .and possibly prove that she's finally found a true partner. Audiences of all ages are invited to pull up a beach blanket and watch as these two mavericks ride the wild surf of love and finally meet their match.

Bramhall park features a natural amphitheater covered in grass. Bring a blanket or a chair no higher than 25". To ensure the best possible experience for all guests, chair height will be rigidly enforced. Seating is first come - first served. Picnics are welcome. Beverages and snacks will be available for purchase.

No tickets are required. The actors will pass the hat at the end of the performance. A $10 donation per adult is recommended and very welcome, but not required.”
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BritWeek Festival
Saturday, June 13-21
see website for detailed schedule
Union Square, San Francisco
Free

“Get ready San Francisco, for the first annual BritWeek Festival presented by British Airways!

Join us at the iconic Union Square for a fun day out of British themed festivities. Sit back and enjoy the sunshine in our typical British beer garden, or browse through the Festival Village for British treats and souvenirs. Theatre, live music and other entertainment acts will be taking place on stage throughout the day. And don’t forget to send your friends a postcard, as British Airways transports you to London.

Check out what’s on the BritWeek Festival Village!
Fiona’s Sweet Shoppe
SF Teatime
Roxie Market
King Knish
Old Skool Cafe
Cable Car Clothier
Neil’s Yard Remedies
Alexander G Hair Salon
BritArt Gallery
American Conservatory Theatre
SF Playhouse
Dickens Fair

The BritWeek Festival is completely free for the public to attend.”
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The Home of Truth Rummage Sale
Saturday, June 14, 8:00AM-5:00PM
The Home of Truth, 1300 Grand Street, Alameda, 510-522-3366
Free
 
“We help people in our community to acquire things they need at low prices.  We price to sell, and at about 1:00PM we sell bags for $1 - each can be filled with as many things as will fit in.  Last sale saw 3 bags go all the way to China for poor relatives living in the countryside!

Things that are left are given to groups providing items to the poor in Alameda County who really need things.
It's A Win-Win-Win-Win Event!!!!  And A Lot Of Fun Too!!!!”
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The Neverending Story
part of the Popcorn Palace series at the Balboa Theatre
Saturday, June 14, 10:00AM
The Balboa Theatre, 3630 Balboa Street, San Francisco
$10 includes popcorn and a drink

“Bastian Bux (Barret Oliver), a quiet boy who loves to read, is accosted by bullies on his way to school. He hides in a bookstore, interrupting the grumpy bookseller, Mr. Koreander (Thomas Hill). Bastian asks about one of the books he sees, but Mr. Koreander warns him it is ‘not safe.’ Nevertheless, Bastian ‘borrows’ the book, leaving a note promising to return it, and races towards school. He then hides in the school's attic to begin reading The Neverending Story.

The book describes the fantasy world of Fantasia which is being threatened by a force called The Nothing, a void of darkness that consumes everything. The Childlike Empress (Tami Stronach), who rules over Fantasia from the Ivory Tower, has fallen ill due to the Nothing, and she has summoned Atreyu (Noah Hathaway), a young warrior from the Plains People, to discover the means to end the Nothing. Atreyu is given AURYN, a medallion to protect and guide him.”
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Singing Our Bodies Awake!
a Day-Long Retreat for Women
with Betsy Rose and Jackie Long
Saturday, June 14, 10:00AM-4:30PM
Sacred Stream Center, 2149 Byron Street, Berkeley
suggested donation $80-$120)

“Greetings All!  Come renew your spirit, heart and body with the magic of women making music together, sharing the practice of mindfulness through yoga, sound, and improvisation.

This daylong body/voice/spirit journey will include meditation, ritual, song, and movement, creating an alive and hopeful sense of integration and empowerment, as individual women, as connectors and as sisters.

We'd love to have you bring your gifts and dreams to the day. We want this to be accessible to you, so we are offering a sliding scale for donations ($80-$120). Limited work exchange is also available. Those who can pay at the higher level will make it possible for other sisters to attend.

We hope you will join us for this nourishing day!”
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Polishing the Holy Stone: Cultivating Inner-World Sovereignty
with Orion Foxwood
Saturday, June 14, 10:00AM-5:00PM
Serpent's Kiss, 2015 N Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, 831-423-5477
For registration details, please contact Serpent’s Kiss

“As Faery Seers, we must ‘see’ through the false forms cast onto the canvas of creation masquerading as our destiny. In this intensive, we shall perform reclamation of our presence to become conscious co-creators. This work is done in partnership with the ancestral, elemental, planetary and underworld spiritual forces and soul-world beings. This reclamation requires us to unearth the cumulative wisdom buried within us, bring it to the surface world and set it in manifest creation. The Holy Stone is both the profound anchoring point and a key in the Tree of Enchantment.

This session will include, but not be limited to the following:
Developing the subtle senses to feel the language of life
Unbinding the fear that makes us forget
Drinking from the waters of song, blessing and consecration
Detanglement and the revelation of inner vision
Freeing the four holy winds
The sevenfold mystery of the Utterer and the Star-Father
Clearing the shadow-roads and opening the wisdom-paths
Hearing the song of the soul
The village of voices in the cave of wisdom
Encountering the architects of form
Lifting the veils of fear
Clearing the shadow-shaper residue from the golden cord
Aligning the star and stone voices
The Well of Enchantment as the meeting point between magic, mind and matter
The power of the ‘chosen life’
Living life in active and aware alignment
Life as your beloved partner
Embodying the threefold life as spiritual, mystical and magical
Discerning, disciplining and directing threads of being, life-force and vision into unified presence.
Growing the spirit within you.
Rejoining the Tribe of Nature”
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Dia de Portugal
Saturday, June 14, 10:00AM-6:00PM
History Park, 635 Phelan Avenue, San Jose
Free

“In June, Americans of Portuguese heritage join together with others throughout the world in a celebration of Portuguese culture - Dia de Portugal, de Camoes e das Comunidades Portuguesas. On the second Saturday of the month, the Portuguese Heritage Society of California hosts its Dia de Portugal Festival. Enjoy a day of entertainment, savor a variety of Portuguese foods and watch a traditional Portuguese parade - there’s enjoyment for the entire family. It all takes place at History Park San Jose, location of the Portuguese Historical Museum.”
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Monthly Open Village Celebration
at Green Valley Village
Saturday, June 14, 10:00AM-8:00PM
Green Valley Village, 13024 Green Valley Road, Sebastopol
RSVP required; please e-mail gvv.events@gmail.com
Donations accepted

“Here is a sample of the schedule for a typical Second Saturday Event: (remember that this is just a sample schedule and you should check the website for the actual schedule before each event!!)

10:00AM: Community Work Party - One of the best ways to get to know our Village Members is to work with us!!  Get your hands dirty by helping us with a project.  Past work parties have included garden work, firewood chopping, building projects, event set-up and more.

1:00PM: Community Lunch - Work party participants are welcome to join us for our Saturday community lunch.  Eat fresh produce grown right on our farm and prepared by the loving hands of Village members.  If you just show up for lunch (without the workparty involvment), please feel free to bring a potluck dish to share.

2:30PM: Eco-Village Tour - Led by a seasoned Village member, you can get a lay of the land and find out more about the projects we have going on at Green Valley Village!!

3:30PM: Skillshare  - Cultivate a new skill!!    Past Skillshares have included African Dance and Drumming, Basket-weaving, Drum and Instrument Making, The NorthBay Burner Skillshare, Building with On-Site Forestry Resources, Building a Hohlzenhaus, and More.

6:00PM: Potluck Dinner - Our Village provides some simple dinner dishes, but the bulk of this food share is left up to luck, and the kindness our visitors bringing a dish to share!!

7:00PM: Evening Entertainment - Our Village event coordinator always makes sure there is something fun for us to do together at the end of the long day!!  Past evenings have included Live Performances by The Easy Leaves, Afia Walking Tree and Friends, Liz Boubion, The Dandelion Dance Theatre, Queen Hollins, Debbie Nargi-Brown, Copperwoman, The Hobo Goblins as well as our own Green Valley Village Annual Variety Show, and our Free Store Fashion Show.

We generally request a small donation for the day's events!!

Remember that by giving to Green Valley Village you are supporting the continued existence of this evolving Eco-Village!!

We also have Handmade Eco-Village Products and Services Available!!  

These products and services support the right livelihoods of members of our Village.  Look at the Village Marketplace section of our website to find out more about the products and services offered at our Eco-Village.  

Thank you for your support of and interest in our Village!!”
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Family Fun Day at Alameda Library
Saturday, June 14, 11:00AM-4:00PM
Alameda Main Library, 1550 Oak Street, Alameda, 510-747-7777
Free

“On Saturday, June 14 from 11:00AM-4:00PM, The Alameda Free Library will host their Family Fun Day. This event is free and all families are welcome! Children’s activities including ventriloquist show (11:00AM-Noon), games (Noon-3:00PM), arts and crafts (Noon-3:00PM), dance party (1:00-2:00PM), movie (3:00-4:30PM) and book giveaway (Noon-4:00PM).”  
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The 2nd Annual Herbal Medicine and Then Some Fair
Saturday, June 14, 11:00AM-3:00PM
Homestead Apothecary, 486 49th Street, #C, Oakland, 510-495-6549
Free

“Last year’s fair was such a blast we are hosting it again! You'll see some of your favorite makers and practitioners here this year, but mostly all new folks. Plus Hopothecary, the much anticipated collaboration between Calicraft and Homestead Apothecary, will be making its debut for all you herbal beer lovers out there!

Check out the amazing group we're hosting below:
Ancestral Apothecary
Grateful Body
Bee Healthy Honey
Urban Comfort Acupuncture
Sojourn Wellness
Holy Sponge!
Builders of the New Dawn
Strong Arm Farm
Taproot Medicine
Sister Spinster
By Nieves
Eye of Crow Herbs
Herbalish
Tarot Readings by Yeshe Rabbit of Sacred Well
Adee Roberson Massage
The Homestead Apothecary Nursery

NonProfit:
Berkeley Seed Library
The Mobile Herb Clinic

Food and Drink Vendors:
Phat Beets
Calicraft
The Living Apothecary
Kaleidoscope Nourishing Foods”
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Day in the Life 1901
with the Hyde Street Living History Players
Saturday, June 14, 11:00AM-5:00PM, and the second Saturday of each month
Aboard the historic vessels at Hyde Street Pier, San Francisco
included with vessel admission, Adults $5, 15 and under free

“Step into the past as you board our historic ships. Help the sailors on Balclutha raise the staysail in the morning and return for musical fun during the afternoon dogwatch. Learn about life in 1901 from the ferry passengers on Eureka, or join Mrs. Galan on the Ark houseboat for an afternoon tea to discuss issues of the day.

June 14, 2014:  Chautauqua at Hyde Street Pier. At noon, a special program of visiting luminaries sure to enlighten the hearts and minds of all who witness this amazing Chautauqua. Reprise at 3:00PM.

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park is located at the west end of Fisherman’s Wharf, in San Francisco. The park includes a magnificent fleet of historic ships, visitor center, maritime museum and library. For more information about the park, or its public programs, please call 415-447-5000 or visit the park’s website. To contact Hyde Street Living History directly, please email David Hirzel at sfmaritime1901@sbcglobal.net.”
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Summer Vegetable Gardening
Saturday, June 14, 12:00-1:30PM
Ploughshares Nursery, 2701 Main Street, Alameda
Free

“Join us for a discussion of summer appropriate vegetable gardening followed by a demonstration of proper planting techniques and a garden tour.

Ploughshares Nursery is a social enterprise of the Alameda Point Collaborative supportive housing community. 100% of our sales support housing for formerly homeless families.”
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Deep Dreaming: Finding Interconnection through Shared Dreaming
facilitated by Richard Russo, M.A. and Meredith Sabini, Ph.D.
Saturday, June 14, 12:00–2:00PM
The Dream Institute of Northern California, 1672 University Avenue, Berkeley, 510-845-1767
$20 per session

“Just as we can’t see the roots of a circle of redwood trees, we also don’t see the ways our individual dreams weave together in the mycelial root system of our species. But we can try to open ourselves to this level in the process we call ‘deep dreaming’.  It begins with a period of quiet meditation that allows us to sink below the level of the quotidian. Called by our intention, dreams slowly emerge from their rhizome, not ones we’ve chosen ahead of time, but ones that surprise us, dreams we may not remember, or ones from long ago. Using the ‘culture dreaming’ method, we tell the dreams that emerge spontaneously, one at a time, for perhaps twenty minutes. Then we take a brief break, and return to hear all the dreams read again as one narrative. Their interconnectedness, and ours with all life, may reveal its mysterious presence.”
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Sail on the Alma
Saturday, June 14, boarding at 12:30PM, returning to Hyde Street Pier at 4:00PM
board at Hyde Street Pier, 499 Jefferson Street, San Francisco
Adults $40, Seniors 62 and over $30, Children 6-15 $20, Ages 5 and under Free
pre-registration recommended

“Haul lines to raise the sails with National Park Service Rangers as you explore the Bay aboard the historic 60 foot Alma! Take in dazzling views and San Francisco's riveting history: Native Americans, Spanish explorers, the Gold Rush, lighthouses, the Barbary Coast, Fisherman's Wharf, earthquakes, shipbuilding and more! Before highways and bridges, hundreds of scow schooners like Alma plied San Francisco Bay, hauling goods as the ‘flatbed trucks’ of their day. The last of her kind, Alma will transport you to a long ago era on this unique, hands-on, educational sailing program with the National Park Service. Sailing runs on selected Thursdays and Saturdays from June to November.”
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Community Seed’s Open Circle
Saturday, June 14, 2:00PM, and the second Saturday of each month
Quaker Meeting House, 225 Rooney Street, Santa Cruz
$7-$15 donation, no one turned away for lack of funds

“We meet on the 2nd Saturday of every month. Gather at 2:00PM, begin ritual at 2:30PM. The intention of this circle is to provide a regular meeting place for Earth-Spirit, Pagan worship in Santa Cruz. Newcomers are welcome! Let us meet together in sacred trust to create closer spiritual bonds of love and understanding within our community and within our tribes. There is only one love.

Following ritual will be a simple feast, and the opening of circle. (No potluck, except on occasion). After circle has been opened, we invite you to stay to socialize, and perhaps have some tea and snacks.

What to bring?
Yourself, your open heart and mind. We ask for a small sliding scale donation to cover the costs of the hall rental ($7-$15). No one will ever be turned away for lack of money.

This month Marjorie will lead Open Circle.  The working will be about how to take the strengths that enabled you to be your own guardian and do some knot magic, tying in those qualities so that the next time you need them you have both a reminder of your strength and maybe a little backup of extra power.”
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Sexual Enlightenment Workshop
with Dr. Elsbeth Meuth and Freddy Zental Weaver
Saturday, June 14, 2:00-4:00PM
Open Secret Bookstore, 923 C Street, San Rafael, 415-457-4191
$10

“Creating Intimacy and Love: An Introduction for Singles and Couples of any Sexual Orientation.

Are you ready to expand joy, pleasure and creativity in your life? In a safe, respectful and joyous environment, you will be introduced to principles and practices of the ‘Yoga of Love’ as developed in the TantraNova approach.

Your will learn about:
Tantric meditation and breathing practices
Life force energy awareness practices
Powerful solo and partner connecting practices
What’s Sexual Enlightenment all about

Dr. Elsbeth Meuth and Freddy Zental Weaver are the authors of Sexual Enlightenment: How to Create Lasting Fulfillment in Life, Love and Intimacy. They are the founders and directors of the TantraNova Institute in Chicago, offering workshop retreats throughout North America, Europe and Australia and the producers of the bestselling DVD Series Creating Intimacy and Love. They were featured on Showtime’s documentary series Sexual Healing and the Emmy Award-winning NBC show Starting Over.”
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Writers With Drinks
Saturday, June 14, 7:00-9:00PM
The Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd Street, San Francisco
$10-$20, no-one turned away for lack of funds

“Writers With Drinks combines erotica with literature, stand-up comedy with science fiction and poetry with essays. Plus mystery, romance, memoir, rants and ‘other’.

This month’s writers:
Daniel H. Wilson (Robogenesis, Robopocalypse, How to Survive a Robot Uprising)
Mimi Lipson (The Cloud of Unknowing)
Adam Rogers (Proof: The Science of Booze)
Jordan Ellenberg (How Not to Be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinking)
Kendra De Colo (Thieves in the Afterlife: Poems)

All proceeds benefit the Center for Sex and Culture.”
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East Bay Waltz
Saturday, June 14, Lessons: 7:00-9:00PM, Dancing: 9:00PM-Midnight
Finnish Hall, 1970 Chestnut Street, Berkeley
$12 for lesson and dancing, $8 for dancing only

“East Bay Waltz is a monthly casual social dance featuring mostly waltz and cross-step waltz, with polka, swing, schottische, and latin dances thrown in to mix things up.

Every month, there is a class for beginners and a class for more experienced dancers, from 7:00-9:00PM. Then, there's DJ'd social dancing and fun times from 9-midnight. $12 gets you the lesson and dance, or $8 for just the dance.

Upcoming dates:
Saturday, July 12
Saturday, August 9
Saturday, September 13
Saturday, October 11
Saturday, November 8
(no dance in December, since the hall is busy)
Saturday, January 10, 2015 (hey, that's 2015!)

Come by yourself, or with a friend, or a crowd. People of all ages are welcome. Dress in jeans and a t-shirt, or dress up all fancy-like if you'd like.”

Thanks to Ivy for letting me know about this event!
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Singing Moon - A Full Moon Circle for All Genders
presented by CAYA Coven’s Ekstasis Guild
Saturday, June 14, 7:00PM
The Home of Truth, 1300 Grand Street, Alameda
$10 donation requested

“Come As You Are Coven welcomes all people to...

The Singing Moon - A Full Moon Circle for All Genders

This ritual welcomes people of all genders. We are very excited to create magic together!

CAYA Coven's Ekstasis Gild devotional group invites one and all to join us in celebration of the Singing Moon!

Please join us as we lift our hearts and our voices in song to Green Tara, the compassionate Goddess who makes herself manifest in our Earthly realm to bring aid, comfort, and blessings to all who call upon her!

This entire ritual will be conducted in song, allowing our minds to let go of ordinary perception and access the realm of the Divine.

Please feel free to bring small items to charge on the altar and any of these seven offerings for the Goddess: candles, flowers, sweets, dry packaged rice, non perishable milk, red wine, incense.

We are also encouraging donations to support Tibetan nuns on behalf of The Yeshe Rabbit. Please see the campaign here:

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Frankie Bones and Fire Hazard
featuring Albert Robles
Saturday, June 14, 7:00-10:00PM
The Pour House, 2241 First Street, Livermore
Reservations recommended; please call 925-215-2656

This band features Albert Robles, the gifted drummer who livens up many CAYA rituals and is also the beloved consort of Yeshe Rabbit!
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Robin Flower and Libby McLaren
Saturday, June 14, 8:00PM
Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse, 2020 Addison Street, Berkeley, 510-644-2020
$23 in advance, $25 at the door

“Freight favorites Robin Flower and Libby McLaren return for an exhilarating evening of innovative instrumentals, tight vocal harmonies, wild creative energy, and loads of fun with some very talented musical friends, including bass player extraordinaire Jan Martinelli and the inimitable Danny Carnahan of Wake the Dead. With Robin on fiddle, mandolin, and guitar, Libby on piano and accordion, and both of them sharing vocals, this polished and passionate duo creates their own marvelous blend of Celtic and American roots music, grounded in tradition but with a sound that’s always fresh and contemporary.
Their musical partnership, which Ronnie Gilbert called ‘a musical marriage made in heaven,’ has flourished for more than two decades. Robin has played in acoustic duos and trios with such musicians as Barbara Higbie, Nancy Vogl, and Laurie Lewis; toured with finger-picking legend Elizabeth Cotton, old-time music stars Hazel and Alice, and Holly Near; and recorded four albums as leader of the Robin Flower Band. Libby played in several bands before teaming up with Robin, including a long stint with the Roches. Together, the two have toured America and Canada, New Zealand and Ireland, and shared the stage with Pete Seeger, who afterwards sent them a note saying, ‘It was a real pleasure to hear you sing. You keep singing!’ Their most recent album, Twenty Years - Twenty Rivers, showcases their powerful vocals in a brilliant mix of Irish songs and outstanding originals.”
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San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival
Saturday-Sunday, June 14-15, and each weekend through June
see website for detailed schedule

“An unparalleled series of inspiring performances is in store at the 36th annual San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, highlighting the rich cultural and artistic diversity of the Bay Area. This year’s Festival includes 10 world premieres, 16 Festival debuts, and features dances from Bali, Bolivia, China, Congo, Hawai'i, India, Lebanon, Mexico, Okinawa, Peru, the Philippines, South Africa, Syria, Tahiti, the continental United States, and West Africa. Each weekend’s program is a different lineup and includes nine to ten performances in a show, with numerous cross-cultural, collaborative, and transitional pieces.

Weekend Two:
This weekend’s program is special, featuring all eight classical Indian dance forms on one stage for the first time in the United States. While the Festival has often featured four of the classical Indian forms - bharatanatyam, kathak, kuchipudi, and odissi - rarer are the remaining four: kathakali, manipuri, mohiniyattam, and sattriya.

This weekend of Indian classical dance performances is presented in partnership with Sangam Arts, a Bay Area non-profit dedicated to connecting cultures through Indian classical arts. Artists performing for the Indian classical weekend are a combination of artists selected from the January auditions and artists commissioned to perform in partnership with Sangam Arts.”
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Live Oak Park Fair
Saturday-Sunday, June 14-15, 10:00AM-6:00PM
Live Oak Park, 1301 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley
Free

“Come and Celebrate Creativity and Community at this Family-Friendly Fair!

A cornerstone of the vibrant North Berkeley art and crafts community, the Live Oak Park Fair showcases affordable contemporary art, fine crafts, handcrafted jewelry and accessories, couture adult and kids’ clothing, handmade quilts and baskets, plus sculptural and functional objects in clay, fiber, glass, metal and wood.  Plus, kid-friendly entertainment all day including live music, magic shows, puppets, and face painting. Excellent food purveyors and for the first time this year, samplings and tastings of edibles and body products. Enjoy all the delights among the heritage oaks and redwoods and alongside the charming Codornices Creek. No cost to attend. You can catch a free shuttle from the North Berkeley BART Station every half hour from 10:00AM to 6:00PM both days.”
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Pirate Festival
Saturday-Sunday, June 14-15, 10:00AM-6:00PM
Vallejo Waterfront, next to Vallejo Ferry Terminal, 289 Mare Island Way, Vallejo
$10 at the gate, Children under 12 Free

"The Northern California Pirate Festival has one goal:
To create an entertaining event where everyone who loves pirates will have a great time and feel welcome!

Whether you love nautical music, swordfighting, sailing, cannon-battles, theater, maritime crafts, food and drink, or just shopping fer' pirate booty... there's something here for YOU!

Fun For ALL AGES: Children, Adults, Teens and  Whole Families!

We encourage coming out in costume... whether you dress as an historical era pirate from the Golden Age of Sail or a bejeweled Mardi-Gras Krewmate from New Orleans... whether your taste runs towards Hollywood Swashbucklers or Foreign Buccaneers from international waters! Dress up and share in the experience...

You certainly don't need to come out in costume, but when you leave you're sure to feel like a pirate!

Sail out to the PirateFest and join us for a great time!"

CAYA Sprouts will be at the Pirate Festival on Sunday, June 15!
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San Francisco Crystal Fair
Saturday-Sunday, June 14-15, Saturday 10:00AM-6:00PM, Sunday 10:00AM-4:00PM
Fort Mason Conference Center, Building A, 99 Marina Boulevard, San Francisco
$6.00 for both days (children under 12 free accompanied by adult)
You can get a flyer/coupon at The Sacred Well for $1 off admission

“The Crystal Fair is a magical mix of crystals, minerals, beads, jewelry, and the healing arts. It takes place 6 times a year in 2 different locations. With over 40 vendors at each show, there are thousands of items available at affordable prices.”
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SF Juneteenth Festival
Saturday-Sunday, June 14-15, 11:00AM-6:00PM
see website for detailed schedule of events and locations
Free

“Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration among African Americans across the country commemorating the announcement of the end of slavery in the United States.  It has been an African American tradition since the late 19th century.  Economic and cultural forces caused a decline in Juneteenth celebrations beginning in the early 20th century.  The Depression forced many African Americans off farms and into the cities to find work.  In these urban environments, employers were less eager to grant leaves to celebrate this date.  July 4th was already established as an Independence Day Holiday, and a rise in patriotism among African Americans steered more toward this celebration.

The Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s yielded both positive and negative results for the Juneteenth celebrations. While it pulled many of the African American youth away and into the struggle for racial equality, many linked these struggles to the historical struggles of their ancestors.

Again in 1968, Juneteenth received another strong resurgence through the Poor Peoples March to Washington, D.C.  Rev. Ralph Abernathy called for people of all races, creeds, economic levels and professions to come to Washington to show support for the poor.  Many of these attendees returned home and initiated Juneteenth celebrations in areas previously absent of such activity. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Juneteenth continued to enjoy a growing interest from communities and organizations throughout the country as African Americans have an interest to see that the events of 1865 in Texas are not forgotten. Many see roots tying back to Texas soil from which all remaining American slaves were finally granted their freedom.   

This year marks the 150th Anniversary of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by former President Abraham Lincoln on January 01, 1863. It also marks the 50th Anniversaries of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (August 28, 1963) where Dr. Martin Luther King gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech; the assassination of Medgar Evers, the NAACP’s 1st National Field Director in Mississippi (June 12, 1963);  and the letter from Birmingham Jail (April 16, 1963) written by Dr. Martin Luther King.”  
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East Bay Open Studios 2014
Saturday-Sunday, 14-15, 11:00AM-6:00PM
art studios all over the East Bay
see website for schedule and location details

“East Bay Open Studios offers an awesome opportunity for art fans of all ages to meet artists, discover new neighborhoods and purchase affordable art. This year, June 7-8 and June 14-15, over 400 hundred artists open their studios to art adventurers across the East Bay.

Plan Your Open Studios Experience!
Use the Directory of East Bay Arts to view artist listings, maps of open studio locations... and start planning your self-guided tour!

View the expanded Artist Gallery and Maps.

Check out the Preview Exhibition in downtown Oakland at Pro Arts’ gallery.

Check out our growing list of Artist Special Events throughout the East Bay!
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Fairfax Festival
Saturday-Sunday, June 14-15, 11:00AM-6:00PM,
Parade on Saturday at 10:00AM
Bolinas Park, 78 Bolinas Road and Peri Park, 40 Park Road, Fairfax

“Proudly Announcing 2014 Grand Marshal:  Phyllis Gould - aka Rosie the Riveter!

Welcome to the 37th annual Fairfax Festival, Marin’s premier community celebration. The Fairfax Festival embodies the values that are dear to all Marinites: community, family, social responsibility, sustainability and, of course, a great party.

It kicks off with a Family Film Night in the Ballfield on Friday night, June 13 at 8:00PM. Join us for the parade at 10:00AM on Saturday, then enjoy two days of celebrating the good things in life and in Fairfax. Hear great local music at three stages, shop for crafts and flea market treasures, enjoy fresh, wholesome food, organic wine tasting, entertain the kids in our expanded children’s area, and ponder social and environmental issues at the Ecofest.

The Festival offers something for everyone who attends. The Festival is put on by a volunteers group of your friends and neighbors. We take special pride in being a 100% volunteer group (no outside promoter needed). So come enjoy our hometown event, and be sure to support your local craftspeople, artists, flea marketers, breweries, and food purveyors.”
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Hats Off to Dad at Roaring Camp
Sunday, June 15
Roaring Camp Railroads, 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton, 831-335-4484
see website for schedule admission details

“Salute Dad on Father's Day by treating him to a ride on a steam train and then tuck into an old-fashioned Chuck Wagon BBQ platter. Each dad will receive an engineer's cap and one dad will be selected to go on a cab ride in the locomotive!”
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Great Train Robberies at Roaring Camp
Sunday, June 15
Roaring Camp Railroads, 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton, 831-335-4484
see website for schedule admission details

“Witness shootouts between famed lawmen and notorious outlaws from the 1880s aboard the Redwood Forest Train to Bear Mountain. See why the West was wild!!”
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Bud Discovery Day
Sunday, June 15, 10:00AM-2:30PM
UC Berkeley Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive, Berkeley
included with garden admission, Adults $10, Seniors (65+) $8, Juniors (13 - 17) $5, Children (5 - 12) $2, Children (under 5) Free
for more information, e-mail garden@berkeley.edu

“Celebrate Father's Day at the UC Botanical Garden!
Bring Dad and the whole family on June 15 for the UC Botanical Garden's Bug Discovery Fair.
10:30-11:30AM: Pollinators tour for Families  
10:30-11:30AM: Beetles: Built for Survival with Dr. Jan Washburn
12:00-1:00PM: Urban Bees with Dr. Gordon Frankie
1:30-2:30PM: Plants of the World tour
See live specimens of aquatic insects, butterflies, silkworms, walking sticks, tarantulas, hissing cockroaches, centipedes and more.

Look inside insectivorous plants.

Make homeless bee houses and other bug themed crafts.

Learn from entomologists and experts in the field.

Special guests include Dr. Gordon Frankie, UC Berkeley professor and world renowned bee expert, Lawrence Hall of Science docents, Dr. Peter Oboyski of the Essig Museum of Entomology, and the 'Butterfly Lady' Sally Levinson.  

Discover honey bee biology, the butterfly life cycle, cochineal insect dye, silkworm fabric, insect fossils, insect photography, and oak galls - the fascinating relationship between wasps and oak trees.

All Bug Discovery Day tours and activities are free with admission!”
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Berkeley Juneteenth Festival
Sunday, June 15, 10:00AM-6:00PM
South Berkeley’s five-block Alcatraz-Adeline corridor
Free

“The Berkeley Juneteenth Festival is free and open to the public. Family entertainment is the focus of all Berkeley Juneteenth Festivals, and no alcohol and tobacco sales or sponsorships are allowed.

The RD Bonds Main Stage is the heart of Juneteenth-in-Berkeley. The music incorporates the best of the African American experience: African drumming, jazz, blues, neo-soul, gospel, rhythm and blues, and reggae. Local talents, like John Handy, Faye Carol and Pharoah Sanders have graced our stage, but the BJF is a vehicle for showcasing 'up and coming acts', providing them with an opportunity to show their talents.

The Lothario Lotho Community Stage features specialty performances like dance, spoken word, fashion, as well as local talent. Auditions are held 60 days prior to the Festival.

Health Fair: Alameda County health agencies offer informational workshops and health screenings.

Two On Two Basketball Tourney provides wholesome, physical competition on event day.

Historical Exhibits includes exhibits featuring a collaboration of presenters.

Art For Children programs and for-fun activities which are coordinated by practicing artists.

The Vision Magazine is a BJF souvenir publication sold on Festival day that features highlights about the performers and artists, and stories pertinent to the community.”
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Native Contemporary Arts Festival
Sunday, June 15, 12:00-3:00PM
Yerba Buena Gardens, 750 Howard Street, San Francisco
Free

“A great Father’s Day tradition, the 17th annual Native Contemporary Arts Festival showcases the best in Native American art, music, and culture. The family-friendly program includes dance by Dancing Earth, Medicine Warriors, and music by Brianna Lea Pruett, The Cruisin’ Coyotes and All Nations Drum, plus opening prayer song by L Frank Manriquez, and MC Lakota Harden. With artist vendors and kids craft activities, it’s a perfect time to enjoy a family picnic and Native talent. Curated by Janeen Antoine; organized by American Indian Contemporary Arts with YBG Festival.”
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The Princess Bride Quote-Along
presented by The RetroDome
Sunday, June 15, 2:30PM
Center for Performing Arts, Menlo-Atherton High School, 555 Middlefield Road, Atherton
$5, Fathers get in free!

“As You Wish - Quote along with The Princess Bride

When the City of Menlo Park Community Services Department learned about our wildly entertaining sing-along events, they thought, ‘Why don't we ask the gang from The Retro Dome to come to our brand new performing arts center?’ We were happy to oblige and have since brought such ‘-alongs’ as Grease, Willy Wonka and Toy Story to Atherton.
This Father's Day weekend, they're offering a one day only Princess Bride Quote-along!

Tickets are only $5, and dads get in free! Admission includes a fun pack and other in-movie surprises.

(A Note to our Movie Goers: This presentation is not in a movie theatre. It's in a live theatre auditorium with suspended screen and digital playback. There is no food or drink allowed in the venue.)”
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Open Shamanic Journey Circle
with Anne Hatfield and Stuart Dole
Sunday, June 15, 3:00-5:00PM, and the third Sunday of each month
The Volunteer Center, 153 Stony Circle, Santa Rosa
$20

“We are going to be meeting in circle again this Sunday - though this will be something of an experiment. Anne recently had a fall and broke her hip, and it's ‘iffy’ whether she will be able to join us this time - though she would definitely like to, and if she's feeling good enough she'll be there. In any case, we're going ahead with the circle.
Come join us! I think our theme will be something about healing...
Come join us in creating the magic! Experience the joy of travelling through the portals into the other worlds! Feel the power and healing of drumming in community!
We will create sacred space, drum together, then journey together. There will be time to share journey experiences for those who wish to do so.
The shamanic journey is a way to explore the non-ordinary realms, interact directly with personal power animals and spirit guides, and access divine information.

This is a journey circle - it's best if you already have had some experience with shamanic journeying. If not, or if you want a review, come at 2:30PM for introductory information and mentoring.

Bring a drum or rattle if you have them, an eye covering for journeying, and a notebook to record your experiences.

We plan to offer this every third Sunday afternoon.

We're asking a $20 donation to help with the site rental. Details will be sent to those that are coming.”
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Modern Conjure: Candles, Lamps, and Lights
with Chas Bogan and Storm Faerywolf
Sunday, June 15, 3:00-6:00PM
The Mystic Dream, 1437 N Broadway, Walnut Creek, 925-933-2342
$40

“Conjure, rootwork, and hoodoo are some of the more notable terms used to describe this particular style of cross-cultural American folk magic. Join the rootworkers behind ‘Modern Conjure’ for a year-long journey - or just one step on the path - as each month they present another installment of this practical form of traditional spell casting.

The use of candles and flame in magic has a long history. This month we learn the power of the flame and how it shines the power of our prayers into the world, as well as how to dress and ‘fix’ a candle for magical use, as well as how to read the results of a completed candle spell.”
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Fathers Day Pig Roast at Tara Firma Farm
Sunday, June 15, 3:00-7:00PM
Tara Firma Farm, 3796 I Street, Petaluma
$40 per adult, Children 12 and under Free

“Come join us for a Father's Day Pig roast! We'll be roasting pigs and barbecuing all day. Bring your friends and family for a celebration with good eats, great pork, music and tours.

Come join us for a Fathers Day Pig roast! We'll be roasting pigs and barbecuing all day. Bring your friends and family for a celebration with good eats, great pork, music and tours.

Bring a side dish to share along with your own plates and utensils. Kids 12 and under Free!

Tara Firma Farms is a sustainable, farm producing food that connects the community to each other.  In 2009, we set off on a mission to create a source of food produced with the highest integrity and to allow the people who consume our food full access to our farm. From the inception we have offered FREE weekend tours, providing education to the public. This allows the community to learn where their food comes from, how they can be accountable in the process, choosing between conventional, organic or local and knowing all the differences to make educated decisions. By including our customers, it keeps us accountable to produce the highest quality food in the most sustainable and ecologically sound way.”
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A Cup of Tea with Spirit
with OwlSnake
Sunday, June 15, 4:00-5:00PM, and the third Sunday of every month
Julie’s Coffee and Tea Garden, 1223 Park Street, Alameda, 510-865-2385
suggested donation $5-$10

“Esoterica Shamanic Center invites you to join OwlSnake (Medicine Woman/Shaman Lineage) for...

A Cup of Tea with Spirit
We will sip tea,  and eat tasty treats as we connect and receive messages from Spirit and the Ancestors to guide us in our daily lives. We will Journey, Chant and Listen within, and be Inspired. A relaxing afternoon gift to yourself and others.

Who is OwlSnake?
Born into a long lineage of Medicine Men/Women, Spiritual Healers, Seers, and Shamans, on both her maternal and paternal ancestral lines, she was first called to this sacred path at the age of 4 years old from her Great Aunt. She was chosen to continue the family tradition of Spiritual Medicine work, some would call Shamanism. Through the years she would experience many of life's challenges and growth opportunities that have allowed her to learn and experience firsthand some of the greatest issues that plague this world today. From those experiences, along with her direct connection with Great Spirit, Guides, Angels, and Ancestors, OwlSnake has awakened into being a compassionate healer that is willing to be used as a ‘Hollow Bone’ for Spirit to assist all those that seek healing and inspiration on their journey.”
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Ya Elah Online Concert
Sunday, June 15, 5:00PM
Pay what you will
Buy tickets and watch concert here: https://www.concertwindow.com/shows/6903-ya-elah

“Hello friends all over the world, we are coming to you!

Join us for a live concert in your house via Concert Window - pajamas recommended

Sunday June 15, 5:00PM PST, 8:00PM EDT, Midnight GMT

We will be chatting directly with you during this dedicated online concert!

Equal parts musical fireworks/healing ritual/rollicking good time, Ya Elah sparkles with Bulgarian song and Middle Eastern melody

Ya Elah is rooted in cantorial, classical, ethnic, folk and jazz styles. Composer, arranger and singer with Kitka for 14 years, Ya Elah's Director Bon Singer is recognized as one the premiere US directors of Balkan music

Ya Elah is Bon Singer, Erica Hockett, Evelie Posch, Jeannette Ferber, vocals
Diana Rowan, harp.”
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Day of the African Child
Monday, June 16

“Take action on June 16 in support of global education.

In June, thousands of people across the world will mobilise in support of the Nigerian girls of Chibok (#BringBackOurGirls), safe schools, and the right of every child to go to school. You can be part of this mobilisation by hosting an event and mobilising your community on Day of the African Child on June 16.

We have everything you need to organise an event in honour of Day of the African Child and in support of the Chibok Girls and safe schools for every child.

Here’s what you need to do:  

Download the action tools and build a team - we have all of the information and tools you need to plan an event.

Create or join an event in your community or school. Our map shows you the events taking place across the globe.

Join the online conversation: Follow us on our Facebook and Twitter pages for the latest updates and ask others to join!  Take photos and/or videos of the event planning with you and your friends and tweet why education is important to you using these hashtags: #BringBackOurGirls #SafeSchools #AfricanChildDay #EducationCountdown

Donate to the Safe Schools Fund  - Can't attend an event?  You can support the Safe School Initiative and help make safe education a reality in northern Nigeria.  

This is just the beginning. The June mobilisation leads up to the 500-Day Countdown Campaign to get every child to school.

So, this June, organise a youth takeover event in honour of Day of the African Child. You can register your own event or see if an event is taking place near you.”
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CircleSong
with Copperwoman
Monday, June 16, 6:30PM
Jasmin's house, 414 Emeline Avenue, Santa Cruz
$5-$10 suggested donation

“All are invited to come together and feel our unity with each other and Spirit through Song.

Music IS the Medicine.

Come, bring yourself with you. Whether you think you can sing or were told to just ‘move your lips’ in class when you were young, you can feel safe to open up in this Circle.

There will be songbooks with lyrics. The songs are simple and easily learned - collected circlesongs, and many brought through by Copperwoman.

Feel the vibration raise and the prayers sent where they are needed in the universe as we sing together and feel the DIVINE in the silence that ensues.

Love makes the world go round. Come feel it!”
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Where To?: Place and Performance
A Salon presented by Mugwumpin
Monday, June 16, 7:00-10:00PM
Intersection for the Arts, 925 Mission Street, San Francisco
Free

“Come have bites and beverages and discuss how where we live affects what art we make and what art we see. Featuring a new performance by A Host of People. A Host of People is the Detroit-based collaboration between Sherrine Azab and Jake Hooker. They say: ‘We locate our work around the idea that ‘alternative’ and ‘;experimental’ art-making is not the elitist practice it is so often made out to be, but an inherently populist one. We strive to offer work that gives the viewer agency in their interpretation, as we work to entertain. We invite our audience into our art as we would guests into our home, whether it is in our house, on the street, in a gallery or in a theater.’”
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A Circle of Witchery: The Mystery, Magic and Mechanics of the Witch's Circle
with Orion Foxwood
Monday, June 16, 7:00-10:00PM
Serpent's Kiss, 2015 N Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, 831-423-5477
Sliding scale $45-$65

“One of the most utilized yet overly generalized and misunderstood tool of the witch, is the magical space referred to as ‘the circle of the old art’. It is not a symbol of the cosmos or merely sacred space.The circle is a powerful tool for shifting into the Mill of Magic and it is a gateway into the spirit world. It is a place-that-is-not-a-place and a portal of creative power that is ever present but drawn forth by the witch for their magical crafting. It is an opening into the forces of active creation, a secret meeting place for the witch and their potent magic, and a place of communion with the Old Gods. When worked with skill, it is the dancing floor of the elemental winds, the weaving loom of Mother Fate, and the Crossroads of the Horned Guardian. In this workshop, Orion Foxwood will share insights, lore, and techniques that he has gleaned in 30 years of circle-work. We will move ourselves between the worlds where we make the magic that made the world.”
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Doctor Who + Wings 3D: A David Tennant Celebration
presented by Fathom Events
Monday-Tuesday, June 16-17, 7:30PM
see website for local event detauils

“Special Fathom Features: A two-night celebration of David Tennant including a special interview with the man himself at the end of the Doctor Who evening.

Monday - Doctor Who: Rise of the Cybermen/The Age of Steel
Tuesday - Wings 3D

Fathom Events and BBC Worldwide are thrilled to bring the Tenth Doctor, David Tennant, to select cinemas nationwide for a world-altering two-night event on Monday, June 16 and Tuesday, June 17.

The two-day celebration kicks off with a thrilling Doctor Who adventure, featuring the two-part story, Rise of the Cybermen and The Age of Steel seamlessly tied together as one continuous story. Starring David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor, this special event will also include an exclusive interview with David as he reflects on his time as the Doctor.

But that’s not all! Hang onto your ticket and join David Tennant the following night for another exciting evening at the cinema. Night Two offers an entirely unique event experience as fans get to take flight and soar alongside birds in a groundbreaking 3D aerial adventure narrated by David Tennant. Specially reversioned for cinemas from the BBC/Discovery program Earthflight 3D, Wings 3D, presented in RealD 3D, will put you high in the sky, in the middle of flocks of birds as they soar above the most iconic landscapes and witness the greatest animal spectacles on Earth.

Don’t miss this two-night celebration when it comes to your local cinema this June!

Doctor Who Fans: We want you to have fun at these cinema events - but safety is paramount. Please note that attending in costume is fine; however, masks, face-concealing make-up, fake weapons, tools, accessories (like sonic screwdrivers) as well as any costumes that conceal what you are carrying, your natural body shape or face are strictly prohibited.”
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Solaris
Thursday-Sunday, June 18-21
Earth Matters Retreat Center, 11629 Love Creek Road, Ben Lomond
see website for detailed schedule and registration information

“Solaris is a 4 day, 3 night camping festival in the forested mountains of Ben Lomond. There are playshops each day and rituals each night. The small size and inclusive nature of the activities leads to a wonderful sense of Tribal affinity.

HEAR YE! HEAR YE!!
Hello Nature Lovers. Mark your calendars for the weekend of June 18th-21st, 2014 and get the days off work now: Solaris is back for another long, leisurely weekend of Deep Play and Spiritual Joy.

Two-tracks of playshops: A more meditative track and a more energetic one.
Our Grand Poobah this year will be the alluring alliterative Alisa.

The Thursday Tea Party returns! Bring your hat!

Clothing Optional camping.
Morning gourmet pancakes from the Chef Without Pants.
A community ritual presented on the day we all write it as a group.
The entertaining and moving evening Bardic.
Snaps. Hundreds and hundreds of Snaps.
The wood-fired hot tub.
Jigsaw puzzling, dancing, lounging, laughing and on and on.”
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Sakha Cultural Festival
presented by Gualala Arts Global Harmony Season of Offerings
Wednesday-Sunday, June 18-22,
various venues in Mendocino and Sonoma Counties
see website for schedule, location, and admission details

“The 2014 Global Harmony Season of Offerings culminates with a week-long Days of Sakha Culture Festival on the Mendonoma coast with activities at Gualala Arts Center, Fort Ross State Historic Park and Gualala Point Regional Park.

The scheduled events further strengthen the bond between the coast community and the Yakut people of the Sakha Republic in the Russian Federation, who first arrived as hired workers at Fort Ross and reconnected during the two-hundredth anniversary of the settlement in 2012.

On Wednesday, June 18, the Festival begins at Gualala Arts Center with a reception and official opening of the Sakha Culture art exhibit. It will feature the art of Andrey Chikachev, a well-known Sakha artist, whose work captures the daily life of the Yakut people. He has had exhibitions throughout Russia, as well as in Mongolia, Poland and New York. It will also include the jewelry designs of noted Sakha artist Luka Yegorov. Sakha costumes and various cultural artifacts are also expected to be part of the exhibit. More information and examples of some of the artists' work can be found on the Gualala Arts Sakha Culture exhibit page.

The same evening, from 6:00-9:00PM, several films will be shown which showcase this intriguing culture. The Yakut people are the largest ethnic group in the Sakha Republic, a state with a population of almost a million people. It is located in eastern Siberia and spans three time zones.

The Yakut share a story remarkably similar to the local Pomo in California. The discovery of gold and the building of the Trans-Siberia Railway brought ever-increasing numbers of Russians to their isolated region. Persecution by the Soviet government in the 1920s reduced their numbers to one-half of the current population, but they now form the federation's majority population and are experiencing a revival of their culture.

The Festival continues on Thursday, June 19, from 10:00AM-2:00PM, with master classes presented at Gualala Arts Center that will teach participants traditional Sakha crafts. Svetlana Petrova will teach classes in creating traditional Sakha clothes, jewelry and carvings, sewing Chepparak (horse saddle cloth) and making toys from fur and cloth. For the musically inclined, Galina Fedorova will demonstrate and teach the Khomus (jaw harp). Luka Egorov and Yuriy Ksenofontov will teach a woodworking class that will show students how to create human and animal figures and decorative home items such as candlesticks, window and door trim, etc. These classes will be offered again on Saturday, June 21, at Fort Ross State Historic Park. The classes are free to the public at both locations, but the normal State Park admission charge to Fort Ross State Historic Park will be required to enter the park if students want to attend at that venue.

The day's events at Gualala Arts Center will conclude with Festival film presentations from 4:00-5:30PM and a lecture on Shamanic Spirituality from 7:00-9:00PM. The films and lecture are free, donations to support the Festival costs are encouraged.

Friday, June 20, Gualala Arts Center will host three unique performances. At 6:00PM there will be a theatrical performance of Pier of Unfulfilled Hopes. A live theater performance of Shaman's Rite starring Liliana Pavlova will be presented at 7:00PM. The evening will close with an 8:30PM live music concert of contemporary and traditional Sakha music which generally falls into the ethno/folk rock musical genre and will include guitar, bass and drums. All events are free, donations to support the Festival costs are encouraged.

The Festival moves exclusively to Fort Ross State Historic Park on Saturday, June 21, for a day of round table discussions by panels of distinguished guests, underwritten by the Fort Ross Conservancy. At 10:00AM the round table topic will be ‘Indigenous peoples, identity, history and post-colonialism’, chaired by Aleksey Istomin of the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg. Panelists will include Jurgen Kremer from Saybrook University, William Yakovlev from Yaroslavskii Historical Museum, Takasayeva Kunney from the Warsaw University, and Ekaterina N. Romanova from the Institute of Humanities, Yakutsk.

The second round table discussion, ‘The Interconnection of Ecology and Spirituality in Modern Society’, will start at 1:00PM and will be chaired by Marjorie Mandelstam Blazer of Georgetown University. The panel will include Stanley Krippner of Saybrook University, Julian Lang, a Karuk artist from the Karuk Cultural Center, Elenita Strobel, Chair of American Multicultural Studies at Sonoma State University and Alexander Artemev, Sakha healer and ecology activist from the Sakha Republic.

When the round table discussion ends at 3:00PM, the Sakha Master Classes presented at Gualala Arts Center on Thursday, June 19 will be repeated. The day will finish with a live acoustic performance of Sakha Folklore music from 4:30-6:00PM.

The Festival concludes Sunday, June 22, with a sunrise greeting at Gualala Point Regional Park including traditional rituals and dances. The Sakha people will welcome the sunrise at 5:49AM, perform the traditional Kumis ritual and Ousuohay dance and dedicate the Serge that the Sakha woodcarvers have created during the Festival. At 7:30AM a light buffet of fruit and other food and coffee and tea will be available.

At 9:00AM there will be a national sport competition which will feature championship Mas-wrestling. This traditional Sakha sport features participants sitting in front of each other, propping their feet against the board that divides the competition area and tugging on a wooden stick (mas), making sure to keep it parallel to the propping board. Mas-wrestling demands great muscular strength from the hands, legs, back, and abdominals and has recently been added as an event at World Strongman Federation Cup events. At noon a lunch of traditional Sakha foods will be served, and the Festival will be formally closed between 2:00 and 3:00PM.”
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Juneteenth
Thursday, June 19
see website to find events in your area

“Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond.

Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement and for planning the future. Its growing popularity signifies a level of maturity and dignity in America long overdue. In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities and religions are joining hands to truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today. Sensitized to the conditions and experiences of others, only then can we make significant and lasting improvements in our society.”
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Aligning Heaven and Earth: Astrology, Herbs, Consciousness, and Energy
with Rae Diamond
Thursday, June 19, 6:00-8:00PM
Homestead Apothecary, 486 49th Street, #C, Oakland, 510-495-6549
$25

“This workshop offers a contemporary twist on the classic pairing of astrology and herbalism. Using an energetic (rather than medical) approach, we’ll connect herbal remedies to specific imperatives in the coming season’s planetary configurations through engaging lectures, group activities, and healing meditations. For Summer 2014, we’ll be exploring the heart-opening transits of Jupiter’s journey through Leo and the completion phase of the Mars retrograde cycle in Libra, plus other surprises.

Rae Diamond’s work arises from a devotion to the interrelation of matter and energy. She has practiced professionally as an astrologer, energy healer and teacher for over a decade. Rae apprenticed with Lakota shaman, Char Sundust, 2002-2006, became a Reiki master in 2005, and recently transplanted to Oakland from Seattle. She is also the director of the Long Tone Choir, plays synthesizer in an art-rock band, makes meticulous black and white drawings and frequent forays into nature.”
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9th MMTB Producer's and Directors Challenge Film Fest - Berkeley
Thursday, June 19, 6:00PM
Landmark Shattuck Theatres Berkeley, 2230 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley
$10

“9th MMTB Producer's and Directors Challenge Film Fest

Films Made in the Bay Area at our March and April Directors Challenge Event and
All Producer's Challenge Contestants + Bonus Bay Area Films Screened and Voted On!

Brought to you by MMTB - Movie Making Throughout the Bay.

The Shattuck Cinemas opened in May 1988 on the ground floor of the lovely Shattuck Hotel in downtown Berkeley, just one block from the University of California-Berkeley. It features an eclectic mix of Hollywood favorites, foreign language cinema and independent film. Its location is just one block from Downtown Berkeley BART station, convenient to all the Bay Area, including San Francisco, just 12 miles away.”
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The Chill Lounge
Thursday, June 19, 6:00-10:00PM
The Chill Lounge, 1850 Houret Court, Milpitas
see website for more details

“Art, music, wine, and an interactive graffiti wall!

Come enjoy an evening of art viewing and make some yourself.”
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Sacred Intimacy and Erotic Arts: Introducing Tantra
this session is for Women only
with Evalena Rose, M.A.
Thursday, June 19, 7:00-10:00PM
LoveJourney Temple in Sebastopol, address given upon registration
$25 per person, $40 per couple

“This pleasant introductory session lets you sample the work offered by LoveJourney. We explore the arts of connection and passion through spiritual practices and safe, heart-centered interactions, do a meditation of reclaiming our sexuality, demonstrate tantric breathing, share one on one exchanges and enjoy a mini-puja, a ritual of celebrating the Divine in each of us.

Explore energy-moving breathwork and imagery
Deepen contact with your inner lover
Feel honored as the Goddess you are
Enjoy a gentle ritual and safe, sacred exchanges
Open your heart to greater love

Experience how the ancient arts of Tantra can enhance your capacity for intimacy and open you to full sexual aliveness

Awakening the Goddess Within!”
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Online Art of Tarot with Rabbit
a six class series
Saturday, June 21, 10:00AM-11:30AM
and five more Saturdays, June 28, July 5, 12, 19, and 26
online via video conference
$35 per class or $200 for all six classes
Please register in advance to reserve your place for this class.

“Rabbit brings one of her most popular classes online, specifically designed to help you learn to tune in and trust your own intuition as a reader.

Sure, you can look in the books at the traditional meaning of the cards, but in order to truly be a reader you must learn to listen carefully to the whispered secrets that underpin the surface meanings. This class will get you OFF the book and help you turn ON your own personal intuition.

Rabbit's self-styled methods will help you offer accurate, compassionate, helpful readings after your very first class, as long as you are willing to develop the ability to listen to your inner voice. Practical exercises and demonstration readings take place in each class, so you have the opportunity to give and receive practice readings, trouble-shoot areas of insecurity, and begin to build your internal reference library of tarot symbolism.”
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Essential Oils and SoulCollage Retreat
with Le’ema Kathleen Graham
Saturday, June 21, 1:00-7:00PM
Goddess Garden Sanctuary in San Rafael, address will be given upon RSVP
$97 includes all supplies, oils, and an organic, gourmet meal!
Please RSVP by June 18 to 415-302-9568 or leema@dancingpriestess.com

“Tending the Garden of the Soul for Summer Solstice
A One-Day Retreat at the Goddess Garden Sanctuary
with Essential Oils and SoulCollage

Come play at this marvelous day of connecting with top quality essential oils and making SoulCollage cards for or inspired by the scents!

Priestess Le’ema Kathleen Graham, an aromatherapist with 20 years experience, will introduce us to five marvelous oils including lavender, frankincense, and Young Living’s Transformation blend, and guide us in ceremony with them.

Priestess Jennifer Mantle, SoulCollage facilitator, will introduce this fun, insightful process of collaging our inner voices. We will marry the two modalities by creating personal wisdom cards for or inspired by the personalities of the oils! We’ll interact with the oils in five different ways, and enjoy a light dinner also prepared with essential oils!

The Goddess Garden Sanctuary is near the 101 freeway in San Rafael, and features wonderful indoor space as well as a fabulous outdoor labyrinth!

Class fee of $97 includes all supplies, oils, and an organic, gourmet meal!

ASL/English accessible

Please RSVP by June 18 to 415-302-9568 or email leema@dancingpriestess.com

I can't think of a better way to celebrate this Summer Solstice than this day of sensuous pleasure with yummy essential oils and art!!! It's a luscious way to pamper yourself!!!

And even the STARS of the Seven Sisters support us taking this time to honor our Goddess selves!!!  
June 21-22- Venus Conjuncts the Pleiades on Summer Solstice -
A very special Download of LOVE.

See you soon at the Goddess Garden Sanctuary in San Rafael!”
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Sacred Hoop Medicine Drum Making Playshop
with Evelie Delfino Sales Posch
Three Days:
Friday, June 27, 7:30PM: New Moon Blessing Ceremony
Sunday, June 29, 1:00-6:30PM: Sacred Hoop Medicine Drum Making Playshop
Friday, July 11, 7:30PM: Full Moon Drum Song Ceremony
Bay Area location, address given upon registration
see below for registration details, must register by June 17

“The drum, the rhythm of the heart, the heart beat of us all and Mother Earth.
Drums, and in this case, frame drums, are known in every culture around the world: bendir, bodhran, deff, pandeiro, tar.
In First Nations of North America, the sacred hoop signifies the directions, and in making the medicine drum we weave together strands signifying connection: to ourselves, our circles, the sacred hoop of the cosmos, bringing together and unifying parts into a whole, into remembering wholeness.
We will begin our journey together with a Blessing Ceremony. We will have a day to prepare and meditate on our Intention for making the sacred hoop medicine drum. We will gather for the actual making of the drum, then get together to have our drums sing their first song.
Two years ago in May, my birth month, I traveled widely lending support, teaching, co-leading ceremonies and prayers, and made my ninth Sacred Hoop Medicine Drum. I learned a few more skills which I shared in a playshop, and made my tenth drum in August last year.
If you would like to make your own Sacred Hoop Medicine Drum, please RSVP as soon as possible. I will give you additional guidelines on preparing for the playshop.
The playshop includes materials for the drum. We will also be making a drum stick, singing and telling stories.
I have reduced the regular rate due to these still challenging times so as to make this accessible to as many people as possible.
Schedule:
Friday, June 27, 7:30PM : New Moon Blessing Ceremony
Saturday, June 28 off to prepare
Sunday, June 29, 1:00-6:30PM: Sacred Hoop Medicine Drum Making Playshop
6:30PM: Drum Journey (Open to the public)
Friday July 11, 7:30PM: Full Moon Drum Song Ceremony
ocation given upon receipt of $95 non-refundable deposit (for handling/processing and holding your space)
Investment:
Buffalo and Moose:
A. 18" $235
B. 16" $215
C.  15" $185
D. 14" $170
Deer:
A. 18" $210
B. 16" $190
C. 15" $160
D. 14" $145
E. 13" $95
Elk:
A. 18" $225
B. 16" $205
C. 15" $175
D. 14" $160
Horse:
A. 16" $245
B. 15" $225
C. 14" $205
To register and reserve your space:
1. Please RSVP by email to Evelie511@gmail.com, indicating what animal skin (Buffalo, Deer, Elk, Horse, Moose) and size drum (A, B, C, D, or E, if applicable) you want.
2. Send a non-refundable deposit in the amount of $95 to
Evelie S Posch, PO Box 1867, El Cerrito, CA 94530.
If you want to pay via Paypal, please let me know or just email me your payment.
3. Full remaining payment is due by Saturday, June 21.
4. Registration ends Tuesday, June 17, to allow additional materials to be ordered.
You are welcome to attend only the Drum Journey and Full Moon Drum Song Ceremony. Entrance is $10 to $30 sliding scale! Bring your drum! All are welcome!
Should you have any questions, I’d love to hear from you. Please email Evelie511@gmail.com.
Please invite to your family and friends!!!
BlesSings
Evelie”
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Summer Solstice Herbal Beer Making
with Jen Bredesen
Saturday, June 21, 10:00AM-4:00PM
California School of Herbal Studies, 9309 Highway 116, Forestville, 707-887-7457
$85-$70 sliding scale Includes materials fee

“Brewing Beer is an ancient craft that combines cooking skills, art, and science into a potentially healthy beverage. With the addition of herbs, this hearty brew can become a unique fermented drink, a seasonal tonic or even a personalized remedy. In this class, we will brew a Summer Solstice partial-mash herbal beer. We will learn the concepts of beer-making, as well as successful techniques and strategies for incorporating tasty and medicinal herbs into the brew.

A fabulous way to spend the Summer Solstice!”
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Have a Week of Deep Enlightenment and Lucky Discovery!

Molly Blue Dawn

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