Category: Conferences & Symposia

Traditional Designs and Contemporary World Patterns: Connections with Prehistoric Images of the Human and the Animal Feminine

In this presentation I examine how feminine images and symbols that blend the human and the animal divine have dominated the visual language of artistic representations, as they developed in Eurasia, the Near East, and the Americas. In particular I focus on embroideries, paper cutouts, hand-woven laces, painted Easter eggs, wood, metal, and leather carvings, as well as on abstract symbols on ritual cloths, folk costumes, and kilims. I pay special attention to the prominent place two female elks/deer, considered the mothers of humanity, as well as the frog, play in these designs.

Since her childhood, Dr. Malgorzata Oleszkiewicz-Peralba has lived and studied in many countries and continents, and is fluent in seven languages. Different cultures and languages became the subject of her research and her passion. Her cross-cultural, women-centered interests are reflected in her two recent books, The Black Madonna in Latin America and Europe: Tradition and Transformation (UNMP) and Fierce Feminine Divinities of Eurasia and Latin America: Baba Yaga, Kali, Pombagira, and Santa Muerte  (Palgrave), as well as in her numerous presentations and articles around the world.  She is Professor of Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Kathy Jones, the Nine Morgen Sisters and Animal Mysteries of Glastonbury

“Nine Morgen Sisters dwell on the Isle of Avalon. The most famous of them is Morgen la Fey, Morgana, Moraine, in the Arthurian legends, but she is just one of nine sisters. Over the last 35 years the Morgens have been appearing once again in Glastonbury, England, which is the Outerworld counterpart to the Otherworld of Avalon. Within Her nature they appear in the forms of crows and as weather.”

We are very pleased that Kathy Jones will be a featured speaker for this year’s conference. Her presentation will combine myths and animal mysteries of the land. Kathy is the founder of the Glastonbury Goddess Conference and the author of many books such as Priestess of Avalon, Priestess of the Goddess; The Ancient British Goddess: Goddess Myths, Legends, Sacred Sites, Present Revelation; and most recently Soul and Shadow: Birthing Motherworld.

Kathy describes herself as “a ceremonialist, teacher, writer, wounded healer, initiator, Temple Melissa and sacred dramatist.” Most recently she has helped create the Motherworld Political Party to support “a society where Mother Earth, mothers and the values of mothering – love, care and support for each other, are placed in the centre of life, rather than being left out on the periphery.”

Kathy has lived on the Isle of Avalon in Glastonbury for forty years and loves this sacred land of Goddess. www.kathyjones.co.uk http://www.goddesstemple.co.uk/

We have now opened registration for the 2018 conference!

Early bird rates apply until Feb. 2, 2018.

Register and renew membership.

See you in March!

Registration is also open for the 2018 Matriarchal Studies Day, March 18,
2017, 9-5.  Learn more and register for this event.