THE FIREFLY HOUSEWARMING
July 28 to August 1, 2010
Hilton Garden Inn Courthouse
Arlington, Virginia
http://www.fireflyhousewarming.org
Let us whisk you away on a Firefly to a magical land of deepening your
spiritual path. During a time of the year when most pagan events rightly
take us outdoors for wonderful adventures in the natural world, the
Fireflies of DC wish to show you how a bunch of city witches put on a show.
Full Conference: $50
One Day: $20
Murder Mystery Costume Ball: $50
FEED YOUR THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE
Featuring local teachers and practitioners Charles Butler, Frank Stormcatcher, Lord Rath, and Mahayogi Das, as well as many Fireflies, including Iris Firemoon, and others from the Coven of
the Spiral Moon. When the schedule is complete, there will be many classes ranging from beginner to advanced. For information about our schedule, click here: http://www.fireflyhousewarming.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=3
STUMBLE UPON A RITUAL OF AN EXPERIENCE
Join us for rituals to mark the opening and closing of the conference. Wake up to a morning session of yoga each day. Friday evening, join us for a ritual to celebrate the season of Lughnassadh and honor the divine. Choose to dedicate yourself to a new path, or rededicate yourself to your current path on Saturday morning.
COME TO HAVE A BLAST!
Wednesday night, conference attendees are invited to a small social in the hotel bar to chat and to make new friends. Thursday night includes a casino night and Pagan Jeopardy, so put on your thinking caps. The excitement of the conference culminates Saturday evening with a Murder Mystery Costume Ball!
MURDER MYSTERY COSTUME BALL - July 31st at 7:00pm
It is time for the Hidden Councils Annual Costume Ball. And, you're invited! This is the social event of the year. The Royalty of the Mage Guild, Were Clans, Vampyr Houses and Fae Court will be in attendance. As always when the Immortal Court gather's you can expect political intrigue, barbed innuendos, backstabbing and betrayal. Not much different than any other day among royalty. Murder, weapons, spells, oh my!
Attendees of the ball have the option of playing a character in the murder mystery or just coming for the food and games. Includes a buffet dinner, desert, and cash bar. Ticket price is $50.
DISCOVER THE MAGICK OF THE NATION'S CAPITAL
Whether you are coming from out of town or local to the area, Washington, D.C. is a place built ripe with magick. There are many optional group field trips to explore the city. If you arrive before the conference begins, we will take a shuttle tour of the historic and breath-taking monuments. Thursday morning, we will tour the National Masonic Memorial, which is undoubtedly much more pagan than you would think. Friday morning, we will take a lunch cruise on the Potomac River, seeing glorious perspectives of the city and its monuments from the water. Saturday night, we will venture to an outdoor walking labyrinth on the revitalized Georgetown Waterfront. Sunday morning, we will watch "Arlington's Stonehenge, " a small, man-made solar event in line with the spirit of Lughnassadh.
A SAMPLE Of CLASS DESCRIPTIONS:
LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP #1 and #2 with Lady Iris Firemoon. Regardless of whether or not you are serving in a designated leadership role, your ideas and decisions at any level of participation can aid to the success of your organization. From participants and members of our organizations at all levels, to high priests and priestesses, ministers, business owners, etc., of all kinds, we can all be leaders. What does it take to be a leader? What does it take to be a revolutionary, outstanding, community-building leader? Every person has the potential in every situation to lead. Leadership is about group unification toward a common goal. The way we respond in various situations is directly related to our leadership ability. Join us as we explore through lecture and discussion what makes a leader, how we can be better leaders, and how to suport our leaders in various roles in the Pagan community.
30 MINUTE YOGA with Mahayogi Das: Join us for a fun filled Ashtanga Vinyasa Solar/Lunar Flow. This yoga flow is geared for practitioners of all levels. Bring the body into energetic balance, open and de-stress the physical body, and bring peace into all aspects of your life.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF PAGAN INTEREST IN GERMANY with Flatlander. This workshop will cover interesting locations and their curious histories from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages.
ARCHETYPES FOR PAGAN MEN with Lord Rath. This workshop is geared towards pagan men and boys, as well as those who love them. It will cover some of the issues and concerns of pagan men in the modern world. The discussion will focus on how our gods can give us examples to live up to and learn from. Note: this workshop may not be considered politically correct. Pagan men when gathered together frequently say things that are meant to be shared by men alone. Not good. Not bad. It just is.
CRAFTING A BOOK OF SHADOWS with Lady LaVada Niamba Damara. Come put on your craft hat and put together a Book of Shadows! The finished product will be a decorated and personalized binder that can be used as a BOS, magickal journal, or notebook, etc. Lady LaVada will provide binders, glue, stickers, and other materials. Feel free to bring your own materials. Must sign up at the registration desk, as space is limited to ten people.
DEVELOPING INTUITION with Mahayogi Das. In this class you will learn the fundamentals of connecting with your intuitive voice. You will learn to listen, feel, see and most importantly trust the information you are receiving from your soul. We will also have an opportunity to practice reading for others and self using touch, thought, and psychometry (using objects borrowed from another). We will discuss methods for opening your chakras, clearing negative energies, and using intuition to maintain a healthy lifestyle. (Friday at 12:00pm)
JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY with Sir-Kyo-Loti. "Chado" (literally "the Way of Tea") is a synthesis of numerous arts and philosophies that combine into a systemized method of preparing, serving and drinking tea. preparing, serving and drinking tea. Chado is a discipline nourished and refined by the Japanese since the fifteenth century. It is based on the simple act of boiling water, making tea, offering it to others, and drinking of it ourselves. Served with a respectful heart and received with gratitude, a bowl satisfies both the physical and spiritual thirst. The study of Chado cultivates physical discipline and concentration and may be enjoyed as a lifelong study. Although much has been written about Chado's meditative qualities, quiet aesthetic, graceful dignity and its importance within Japanese culture. Chado is based upon personal experience and deep reflection; the Chado experience leaves one with a profound feeling of well-being and nourishes the soul. Come, sit, and watch Lightarian Sir-Kyo-Loti and his Chado teacher for the past ten years discuss about Chado and make you a bowl of tea for your enjoyment - maximum # of guests - no more than twelve.
PASSING THROUGH THE VEIL IN PAGAN TRADITIONS: PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE with Lady Corbee Willow. As Pagans, how do we perceive and celebrate this final journey as we accompany loved ones to it's threshold, and that we eventually must take ourselves? We will explore how Pagans celebrated this final passage in the past. The options available to us presently, and discuss what we think and feel should be available to us in the future.
POTION MAKING with David Salisbury. Learn how to make your very own, expertly crafted, Witches potions! We will go over the history of herbal infusions, uses for the magickal properties of herbs, and practical instruction for making your own easy everyday potions at home. This will be a hands-on workshop so bring your favorite apron (unless you don't mind getting a little messy)and get ready to brew!
SPIRITUAL STEEL with Frank Stormcatcher. Living in a magical cosmology opens us to wonders we might otherwise never experience, both good and ill. While it is easy to get caught up in the beauty and joy, we must remember that not everything or everyone out there will be friendly, and on occasion may even be outright hostile. The Spiritual Steel workshops provide an understanding of metaphysical protection techniques, as well as best methods for applying them. The level I workshop introduces techniques to protect both yourself and the place (or places) you call home. The first half will cover simple techniques that anyone can use, some using everyday items you can find just about anywhere. The second half will cover more complex techniques meant for those familiar with ritual and magical workings.
SPIRITUAL STEEL: THE GATHERING with Frank Stormcatcher. Living in a magical cosmology opens us to wonders we might otherwise never experience, both good and ill. While it is easy to get caught up in the beauty and joy, we must remember that not everything or everyone out there will be friendly, and on occasion may even be outright hostile. The Spiritual Steel workshops provide an understanding of metaphysical protection techniques, as well as best methods for applying them. This level II workshop is designed for experienced practitioners, and will cover techniques for protecting groups and group workings, as well as those for public spaces. Level I is required to take Level II w/o prior arrangement.
TRANSFORMATION (PART 1) with Charles Butler. A Five-Suit deck based on a double-interlaced pentacle for divination, meditation, and energy work. This two-part class starts with introducing the five suits and the Lesser Court. The second half is the Greater Trumps which bind the energies of the deck together. Fee if one wishes to purchase the Transformation Tarot.
TRANSFORMATION TAROT (PART 2) with Charles Butler. A Five-Suit deck based on a double-interlaced pentacle for divination, meditation, and energy work. This two-part class starts with introducing the five suits and the Lesser Court. The second half is the Greater Trumps which bind the energies of the deck together. Fee if one wishes to purchase the Transformation Tarot.
