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Under the veneer of shame, menstrual rituals have created the most priceless and sacred aspects of culture. Judy Grahn uses her own “Metaformic theory” and photographs to display a powerful new perspective.
Judy Grahn is an internationally known poet, woman-centered cultural theorist, co-founder of lesbian feminism, and early contributor to literature of women’s spirituality. Her work centers on reclamation of stores, values and methods of Sacred Feminine traditions.
The Divine Feminine is central to the sacred grove (kavu) rituals of Kerala, India and women are frequently the ritual specialists who bring the auspicious energy through their bodies on behalf of their families and communities. This multi-media presentation is based on ten years of interdisciplinary research on these earth based community rituals of renewal and regeneration.
Dianne Jenett’s research focus is on women-centered rituals in Kerala, India, qualitative research methods and women's psycho-spiritual development. Dr. Jenett's publications include Menstruating Women/Menstruating Goddesses: Sites of Sacred Power in South India in Menstruation: A Cultural History and A Million Shaktis Rising: Pongala, a Woman's Festival in Kerala, India.
"The woman is by nature a shaman," wrote a Russian ethnographer in the early 20th century. The oldest word for shaman means 'female shaman,' also referring to the Goddess Artemis and the constellation of the Great Bear, as well as Mother Earth, and even 'housewife." Facilitating rituals of birth, death, healing, and divination, until recently women as a group were everywhere relied upon for their extraordinary powers and magical abilities. Whether they are called priestesses, sorceresses, yoginis, wise women, or witches, we can trace a long lineage of shaman women throughout world history and across vast geographic areas.
Vicki Noble  is a feminist shamanic healer, author, scholar and wisdom teacher. She has written several books, developed a powerful ritual healing process, taught and lectured internationally, and led tours of women on pilgrimage to sacred Goddess sites around the world. She teaches in the Women's Spirituality program at New College in San Francisco and sees private clients for astrology readings and healing sessions.
The presentation is based on Ana’s up and coming book, Sweet Reign in which she will present a phenomenological study of 50 spiritually devoted women, ranging from Medieval to Contemporary periods and their contribution to the potential awakening wisdom qualities arising in all beings.
Bio: Ana is the Chair of ITP’s Global Ph.D. Program. She also is a Professor at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, teaching in the Distant Learning Program in the Department of Religion and Philosophy. She specializes in subjects such as Comparative World Religions, the Mystical Traditions, Ethics, Eastern and Western Philosophy, Women Saints and Prophets-East and West, Jungian Psychology, Psycho-spiritual Synthesis, Culture and Consciousness and Contemporary and Wisdom Psychologies.
Luisah Teish and Kate Wolf-Pizor will talk about the coming of the dark times with the decline into Winter. The Goddess' cycle tells us that this is the time the veil is thin and the Goddess enters the Crone phase. This story time will include a ritual to help us begin to use the powerful energy of decline and the mystery of transformation that waits in the darkness for us all.
Bios: Kate, a Marriage and Family Therapist in California, is also the faculty Chair of the Residential Master's Program, a Senior Clinical Instructor, and is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology. She has also taught at Santa Clara University and National University. Kate has a strong interest in ritual and works with the labyrinth as a healing practice. She has a background in Western mystical traditions.
Luisah Teish is a storyteller and author, and priestess of Oshun, the African Yoruba goddess of love. She is also on the faculty of the University of Creation Spirituality and a board member of the Association for Transpersonal Psychology. Luisah is author of Jambalaya and Carnival of the Spirit.
November 19: Lilith & Shekhinah: Honoring All Aspects of the Sacred Feminine Deborah Grenn, Ph.D.
Through images and discussion of Lilith as both symbol and archetype, Dr. Grenn will trace Her historical development and metamorphosis from goddess to demon to contemporary symbol of independence, just anger and proud sexuality. There will be an open discussion after the slide presentation on how we can co-create a culture which again honors the Sacred Feminine as we re-frame her presence in ancient art and rituals.
Bio: Deborah J. Grenn, Ph.D., is founder and director of The Lilith Institute and Voice of the Spirit, a mobile women's spirituality/study group and lecture series. She has hosted Honoring The Sacred Feminine on KVON Radio, Napa, and Empowering Girls & Women and Shekhinah Sanctuary events. Dr. Grenn also co-created and produces the annual Women's Rites of Spring Festival (Napa) with Leilani Birely. Core faculty in our Women's Spirituality MA Program, Dr. Grenn also serves as adjunct faculty at Napa Valley College and California Institute of Integral Studies.
Leilani will explore the faces of each of these Goddesses through storytelling, chant and pule/prayer. Learn what the Hawaiian Goddesses share and teach about the Spirit of Aloha as well as the ceremonial protocol and etiquette of the Native traditions. Learn about what Aloha Aina/Love of the Land means and how to integrate the sacred into everyday life.
Bio: Leilani Birely, Hawaiian Dianic Priestess and ceremonialist, brings ancient Hawaiian healing and Goddess wisdom to the community. She is graduate and faculty of the Women’s Spirituality Masters Program at New College, San Francisco and ordained High Priestess of Northern California by Zsuszanna Budapest.
In this unusual format — unique to Westerners but routine to earth-based tribal people around the world, the "audience" or community of people become the "healers." Whoever in our community is sick is encouraged to come to the center of the circle and to be energized by the drumming, chanting, and the intentions and presence of all members of the circle. Everyone participates — everyone benefits. The high-vibrational energies that are magnetized through this contemporary version of an ancient shamanistic practice are powerful and intelligent.
No prior experience of healing is required — as there is an intelligence in the hands of each participant that knows exactly what to do. Donation of $5-10 requested for non-WS students or alumni.
Through slides collected from art and pilgrimage throughout the world, the vastly different myths of Mary Magdalene from the French, Gnostic and Eastern Orthodox traditions will be told, focusing on her presence and influence as a passionate and powerful spiritual leader. Music, small group sharing and art journaling, along with the ancient meditative practice Lectio Divina, will deepen and illuminate our connection to the “Women Who Knew All”.
Bio: Kayleen Asbo is a musician, writer, historian and expressive arts therapist whose lifelong fascination and dream encounters with Mary Magdalene have led her on extensive research pilgrimages throughout France, Italy and Great Britain. A professor at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and a core faculty member of Veriditas’ School of the Sacred Feminine, Kayleen lectures widely about the intersection of the arts, mythology, psychology and history.
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