Workshops Offered
Raven offers a large number of classes and workshops. He appreciates, but does not require, a small speaker's fee. He does, however, require that his admission fee be waived to any events which charge one. For events outside of Central Massachusetts, Raven also requires that his travel expenses be reimbursed and that he be provided with lodging for himself and, ideally, his assistant. He can also give small classes or private lessons at Cauldron Farm, and will barter for services in cases of financial hardship.
Here are a few of his more popular workshops. If you have any questions about workshop content or Raven's availability, please contact him at cauldronfarm@hotmail.com or 978-928-4198.
Pagan Workshops
1) The Tribe of Hearts: Pagan Polyamory
Polyamory, or ethical, negotiated non-monogamy, is a lifestyle that is growing by leaps and bounds in the Pagan community. This workshop discusses how we Pagans do it differently from other groups, and how polyamory can be used as a spiritual discipline of love and relationship. It's also a good basic primer for people who just want to know what polyamory is all about, what it is that we do and don't do. By the author of "Pagan Polyamory: Building A Tribe Of Hearts".
2) Pagan Homesteading
The wheel of the Pagan year is based around a rural agricultural calendar, but most pagans no longer live that kind of life. This workshop is about those who do: the pagan homesteaders who went back to the land and stayed there. It's for those who do it, those who'd like to, and those who'd just like to find out about what it's like to live the cycle of the year this closely. Even if you live in the city and only have a tiny backyard garden, you can learn more about how our ancestors saw the turning year, and enrich your life. By the author of "EarthBound: Pagan Homesteading".
3) Pathwalker's Guide to the Nine Worlds
For those who work with Norse/Germanic/Saxon cosmology, and who journey or pathwalk to the Nine Worlds that surround the World Tree, or who'd like to try it but want to know what to expect. We'll share our experiences with geography, using runes for journeying and pathwalking, otherworldly etiquette, making magical gear, and not getting lost. Please have some basic familiarity with the general Norse/Germanic/Saxon tradition, or you might be a bit bewildered. Taught by a northern-tradition shaman.
4) Northern-Tradition Shamanism
This workshop introduces a shamanic tradition that is being slowly reconstructed by modern practitioners, based on the spiritual paths and tools of Germanic, Norse, Anglo-Saxon, and Saami ancient tribal peoples. We'll discuss tools and techniques, Gods and spirits, roles and taboos, and the difference between a shaman and a shamanic practitioner. Come learn the shamanic traditions of my ancestors...and perhaps your own.
5) Psychic Vampires
What are psychic vampires, really? Are there different types? Can anyone become one, or are you born that way? How can you protect yourself, and what do you do if you think you might be one? How does psychic vampirism fit into energy work, and is it good for anything? We'll discuss the answers to these questions, and more. Please have some familiarity with the concept of "energy work", or you may be somewhat bewildered. By the author of "The Ethical Psychic Vampire".
6) Hera's Blessing: Pagan Handfastings
Thinking of getting handfasted, or do you simply dream about it? Or are you pagan clergy, getting ready to perform weddings for pagan lovers? This workshop is about the practicalities of pagan weddings and handfastings - building your ritual, choosing your site, dealing with the issues of being "out" to your relatives. Interfaith, polyamorous, and nonheterosexual pagan weddings are also covered, as is the ethical issues pagan clergy face in dealing with marrying people. By the co-author of "Handfastings and Wedding Rituals".
7) Mythical Pathworking With Astrology
Astrology is a tool not only of divination, but of spiritual understanding....but far too often, novice astrologers get swamped and confused by all those abstract symbols, strange jargon, and shallow "cookbook" descriptions. That's the "scientific" way to learn astrology....this workshop will talk about the shamanic way to learn it, which is all about understanding the myths and stories that the cosmic clock has to tell us, and how to work with them to change your life. By the author of "MythAstrology".
8) Pagan Prayer Beads
Religions all over the world - Buddhist, Hindu, Catholic, Muslim, even African tribal religions - use prayer beads as a tool of meditation and worship. Paganism has also recently discovered the usefulness of prayer beads, and many different types are springing up. This workshop gives an overview of many different sorts of pagan prayer beads, both pantheon-specific and purpose- specific, how to choose, and how to use them...and why it's a good thing, sometimes, to pray.
9) The Magic of Fiber Arts
Do you handspin, or knit, or weave, or embroider, or do other fiber arts? These crafts have been used for sacred and magical purposes since Neolithic times, and still are! Come learn to use fiber arts for all manner of magical possibilities! Beginners are welcome and so are people of all genders. Bring your string!
10) Dealing With Deities: How To Manage A Polytheistic Pantheon
We neo-pagans are as eclectic about our gods as we are about everything else. However, there's more to the nature of most deities than you can find in the average high-school book of myths. This workshop will explore the experience of connecting with different deities, their intrinsic natures, and how to respectfully deal with them. We'll cover appropriate offerings, offering places, altars, and rituals for a wide variety of gods and goddesses from many cultural pantheons. We'll also discuss how to communicate with the gods of foreign places without letting too many of our own cultural biases get in the way....and we'll explore our favorite little-known gods and goddesses as well.
11) Magical Gardening
Are you a witch who's planning your garden? This class covers how to create magical gardens for protection, love, and other influences.
12) Elemental Magic: Spells From The Four Directions
Learn the magic of earth, air, fire, and water! We'll spend one class on each element, learning its nature, its spirits and devas, songs and chants, and how to use it magically. Each class will also allow you to make and take home several charms and spells. Get a start on your own Book of Shadows.
Elemental Magic I: The Magic of Air.
Folk spells and magic throughout the ages with wind, breeze, and breath.
Elemental Magic II: The Magic of Fire.
Folk spells and magic throughout the ages with flame of hearth and candle.
Elemental Magic III: The Magic of Water.
Folk spells and magic throughout the ages with river, ocean, and your own faucet.
Elemental Magic IV: The Magic of Earth.
Folk spells and magic throughout the ages with tree, plant, stone, and soil.
13) The Futhorc Runes Inside And Out
Learn to do divination and magic with the ancient Runes of the Norse and Germanic peoples! This class covers the 33 Futhorc runes, including both divinatory uses and magical uses - runemalen and galdr; rune staves and stones, and how to write in Old English runes for magical prescriptions. Bring your own runeset, or order yourself a custom-made set of wooden or semiprecious stone runes.
14) Palmistry: Your Life Is In The Palm Of Your Hand
Like the archetypal travelling fortune-teller, the art of palmistry - reading your fortune from the lines on your hand - has come through many countries and many centuries. Learn how to do this witchiest of divinatory arts.
15) The Adrinka Symbols: African Divination
The Ashanti people of Africa use a set of sacred divinatory symbols that are drawn on funeral shrouds and sacred garments; you can learn divination with these African emblems. Optional Adrinka kits cost $30 extra.
16) Mask Magic: The Ritual Art of the Second Face
Masks have always been a part of ritual and religion, going back to the era of the hunters clad in animal-skins who danced around prehistoric fires. You'll experience a mask ritual, and learn how to craft sacred masks for your own magical and ritual purposes. Come prepared to let your second face speak to you!
17) The Eightfold Path of Altered States
Spirit-workers and magicians the world over, and all throughout time, have used a variety of methods to go into altered states. From there, they could access other worlds and touch divine forces. This class will give you a map of the eight roads to that unique place, covering methods of altered states used by all cultures, some more dangerous than others. From the Path of Rhythm to the Path of Sacred Plants to the Path of Meditation to the Ordeal Path, we'll explore them all. We will not, however, be using these methods in class; this is discussion only.
Intersex/Transgender Workshops
1) Transgender Spirituality
We have been symbols of the sacred two-in-one for thousands of years. Come hear the ancient stories about us, and rediscover our sacred nature. For transgendered people of all stripes, and anyone who is just interested in more direct ways of spiritually balancing male and female. By the author of "Hermaphrodeities: The Transgender Spirituality Workbook".
2) Transgender Relationships
It takes a special kind of person to be in a relationship with a transgendered person. We're complex people with a lot of special needs, but we're worth it. We'll explore what it takes to date, love, and commit to people who are more than just male or female. For transfolk of all stripes, their lovers, and anyone else who might be interested.
3) Intersex Issues in Social Health and Politics
How does the conundrum of intersexual identity fit in with the various facets of gender politics and activism? How does it figure as a social health issue, or as an issue of feminist and progressive politics? More to the point, what can we actually do about the problems of intersex people, without seeing them as theoretical justifications, colonizable poster children, or circus freaks? This workshop will discuss practical possibilities for all of us.
4) The Two-Ton Gorilla Standing Between Us: The Feminist-Transgender Barrier
The feminist movement and the transgender movement have gone back and forth between being uneasy allies and being outright enemies, when both sides would be better off being friends - especially when so many more cross over both groups every day. Still, issues of ideology keep us apart, and it's time to face and discuss the two-ton gorilla in the corner: the politics of gendered body modification. This is a controversial, in-your-face workshop; heated debate is fine, but let's remember to be respectful with each other.
Other Workshops
Raven can give workshops, classes, lectures and private lessons on a number of topics, including ritual creation, homestead and craft skills, Pagan BDSM, and the mythology of many cultures. Please contact him for more details. He does not offer any lessons online or over the telephone.
Raven Kaldera
cauldronfarm@hotmail.com
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