Author: WomenandMyth

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Modern Matriarchal Studies Panel

 

Matriarchal Studies Max Dashu writes of early feminist theory, “In 1970 we began asking, where are women free? Where are the egalitarian cultures, and why don’t we know about them? How can we access a fuller record of human experience, that acknowledges female sovereignty, elders, wisewomen, and spheres of power?”

Academics in the US tend to avoid the term Matriarchy to describe these cultures, because it is seen to project a mirror image of Patriarchy, with women dominating society. In Europe, however, the term has been brought into clear focus through the work of Dr. Heide Goettner-Abendroth and others.  This panel at the ASWM conference will explore the development of modern Matriarchal Studies and efforts at serious study of non-patriarchal, egalitarian societies past and present.  The panelists will be Dr. Heide Goettner-Abendroth, Max Dashu, Lydia Ruyle, and Vicki Noble.

Click here for a complete description of the panel and panelists:  MS Panel ASWM 2012

And–continue reading for information about these presenters and their topics.

Continue reading “Modern Matriarchal Studies Panel”

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Voices of the Mothers: A Ritual-in-progress

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The arts of ritual are as old as humanity, and still have a profound impact on those who witness them.  We’re proud to include in our conference a ritual in progress, Voices of the Mothers, created by Macha NightMare and employing sacred goddess masks especially created for this event by  Lauren Raine.  (See below!)

At the conference you will have a chance to experience portions of this powerful ritual, which combines elements of rhythm, movement, and chant with scientific knowledge.  You will also be able to go behind the scenes to learn about the process or creating of a large public ritual that brings ancient goddesses into the present day.

Pachamama mask by Lauren Raine
Pachamama mask by Lauren Raine
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Call for Proposals: Brigit: Sun of Womanhood

Goddess, Ink is seeking proposals comprising works about the Celtic Goddess and Christian Saint Brigit in any printable form, including but not limited to:
  • Scholarly essays
  • Personal essays
  • PoetryInterior artwork (including small line drawings, in black and white)
  • Cover and Back artwork (color)
  • Chants and Invocation
  • translations of ancient poems, prayers and invocations to Brigit

Co-editors Michael McDermott and Patricia Monaghan are scholars and followers of Brigit.

Deadline for submissions: July 1, 2012  Planned publishing date for the anthology: Imbolc 2013.  Send submissions to Submit to Goddess Ink Press

Please direct inquiries to BrigitAnthology@gmail.com

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Featured Speakers for ASWM Conference: Judy Grahn

We are fortunate to be able to offer excellent keynote presenters at the 2012 Conference!  Watch for updates in the coming days.

Judy Grahn is an internationally known poet, writer, and social theorist.  Her work underpins several movements, including Gay, Lesbian, and Queer; Feminist/Woman-Centered; and Women’s Spirituality, but it has spread far beyond any of these.  She currently serves as Associate Core Faculty for the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in Palo Alto, California, in their Women’s Spirituality Master’s Program.

Her presentation is titled:  Goddess Is Alive! But How Do We Know…?

We have gathered the images and myths, the rock art and the archeological speculations, the myriad clues in ancient literature and contemporary ritual. Practitioners from living traditions have surfaced to teach and demonstrate. Many if not most of us have felt the presence of a living goddess energy at some time in our lives, and maybe we have students who hunger for this or have experienced “something” from a different dimension. How do we track these occasions, how do we teach methods for recording and analyzing rare happenings, how do we know, “this time it’s real—?”   And just what is “real”? Some thoughts on Organic Inquiry methods, art-based research, teaching divination as a method of gathering data. 

To learn more about Judy’s work, see her web site.

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Program Preview for “Creating the Chalice”

Charlene Spretnak, Judy Grahn, Ana Castillo, Max Dashu, Miriam Robbins Dexter, Heide Goettner-Abendroth, Ava Park, Luisah Teish, Jean Shinoda Bolen, Macha NightMare, Amejo Amyot, Lauren Raine, Patricia Monaghan, Cristina Biaggi, Sudie Rakusin, Vicki Noble, Lydia Ruyle, Arisika Razak, Mara Keller, Joan Marler, Jennifer Berezan, Annie Finch, Grrrl Brigade!*

What do these great women and girls have in common?  They are some of the speakers and presenters at the ASWM National Conference!

 Panel topics include:  Place Wisdom, Womanism, Cultural Appropriation, Archaeomythology, Matriarchal Studies, Women in Publishing, Visionary Films, Ritual Creation,  Restorative Feminism. 

Conference also features Film Series, Workshops, Networking Luncheon, and Marketplace.

Registration is now open—early bird fees are $190 for members, $235 for nonmembers until April 17, 2012.

Join and register at this Conference Link!

*Note:  Presenters may be subject to change as life intervenes.