Fires of Venus 2008 Draft List of Presenters Fires of Venus 2008 Draft List of Presenters Anita Wagner is a polyamory advocate, writer, spokesperson and educator. She serves as a member of the Board of Directors of LovingMore, is co-founder and past board member of Chesapeake Polyamory Network and is co-founder and former member of the Board of Directors of the Institute for 21st Century Relationships/the Foundation of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom. She currently serves as CPN's representative to the Coalition Council of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, and is a past member of NCSF's Board of Directors. She is also a founding member of the Greater Washington Area chapter of Unitarian Universalists for Polyamory Awareness. Anita serves as a non-affiliated member of the Institutional Review Board ('IRB') of the Community-Academic Consortium for Research on Alternative Sexualities. Anita has appeared on television in interviews on polyamory in Washington, DC and Baltimore, in newspaper articles in the Baltimore Sun, Washington Post and Salon.com, amongst many others, and has presented educational programs on polyamory at Dark Odyssey, Black Rose, Building Bridges, Free Spirit Beltane Gathering, Florida Poly Retreat, and the Loving More® West Coast and East Coast conferences. She was keynote speaker on polyamory and the media at Florida Poly Retreat 2008, and a featured speaker at the 2007 Polyamorous NYC Polyamory Pride celebration. She has authored articles on polyamory and bisexuality published in Loving More® Magazine and ITCR's Relating newsletter, respectively. Visit Anita online at http://www.practicalpolyamory.com.
Avoid the Pitfalls and Reap the Rewards of Poly Relationships
Polyamorous Relationships Facilitated Discussion
Polyamory as a Spiritual Path
Arakeane exploits the diversity of his religious, sexual, and spiritual background to bring a unique mix of talent to the pagan community. His Baptist, Methodist, Evangelical, Thalamic, and Mormon background from his early years intermingles with his vast experience in sadomasochism, liberal sexuality, and avant-garde spirituality tempered by his various Wiccan experiences and practices for the past 20 years. A Naval Officer, Engineer, Physicist, Computer Scientist, and Dungeon Master by trade, Arakeane interleaves his professional training into his quest for spiritual awareness and comprehension. The thrice sworn soul-mate of the High Priestess Selene, Arakeane has been in the public Pagan forum since the late 1980s. Most noted for his open work entwining diverse pagan practices with Wicca, Arakeane has been an embarrassment to fundamentalists from many Pagan traditions for well over a decade. A Distinguished Toastmaster, off-Broadway New York actor, trained in NLP, holistic healing, and a diverse set of other spiritual disciplines, Arakeane's spontaneous and entertaining presentation style typically delights his audience. Even if you've taken a previous year's workshop, you're sure to be delighted with the continuous changes introduced, and Arakeane's ability to spiritually immerse you in the subject matter.
Getting in Your Sub's Head: Psychic Experiences During Spanking and Mind Games
Positive Transformational Spanking
Arakeane & Selene: Namasté. I'm Selene. I Became a High Priestess in 1980. I have been a Starwood Elder for the past several years. My husband Arakeane and I have taught at FSG since the mid 1990s. I am the mother of two rambunctious teenagers, and pagan mentor to several others. I hold a B.A. in Psychology, and an M.B.A. in Management Information Systems. I have been exploring weaving, macrame, knotwork, jewelry-making, gemlore and herbalism as long as I can remember. I have 20 years' experience enjoying the exploration of alternative lifestyles. Arakeane and I have been involved in several successful long-term polyamorous relationships.
A Brief History of Sacred BDSM
Beth & Preston: Beth is a professional massage therapist and doula (childbirth assistant). She has a long history of using touch for relaxation and healing through massage, for assisting mothers through the birth process, for supporting infants in her water babies classes, and for working with animals. She has adapted her touch training to the scene, frequently joining Preston in conducting a Sensation Station at BDSM Exporatoriums in a variety of settings. After helping Preston through his issues with erectile dysfunction, she faced breast cancer surgery, chemo, radiation and long term treatment on hormone suppressive drugs with Preston's support. Through all of this they have mastered the art of a very satisfying sexuality that goes way beyond hormones. Her focus is on touching lives in ways that enhance and enrich. She is especially proud of touching her step-daughter's life and nurturing her growth both in and out of the scene. Preston brings balance and humor to Beth's presentations. A technical person by profession, he keeps Beth on focus. He made his 30-year marriage to an unhappy woman a study in what satisfies a woman. While it may not have succeeded with his first wife, he has developed an incredibly sensitive approach to touching others which he frequently uses to introduce newbies to BDSM through a Sensation Station at Exploratoriums in various settings. He has also paired massage training from Beth with his foot and touch fetishes to offer a truly wonderfully sensual foot or full body massage. After working with Beth through his own issues with erectile dysfunction, he supported Beth through breast cancer surgery, chemo, radiation and long term treatment with hormone-suppressive drugs. Through all of this they have mastered the art of a very satisfying sexuality that goes way beyond hormones.
Play with Intent
Intentional Sexuality Workshop
Intentional Sexuality
Sensual Massage
Caroline Kenner is a Washington Witchdoctor, a shamanic healer trained for twelve years with Michael Harner and Sandra Ingerman of the Foundation for Shamanic Studies. In addition to her shamanic training, Caroline has received initiations and ceremonies in diverse spiritual traditions. She is a craft daughter of Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone, and has been initiated by the Assembly of the Sacred Wheel into their Order of Wandering Stars. Caroline has received several ceremonies in La Regla de Ocha de Lukumi, often known as Cuban Santeria. She wears the Necklaces, and holds the cauldron of the Warriors, and the soperas of Oya and Obatala. Caroline is legally ordained in the state of Maryland. She has worked as a religious freedom activist and media spokesperson for many years for the Washington, DC/Baltimore Pagan community. Caroline has an A.B. degree from Bryn Mawr College in Anthropology, and an M.S. in Communications from Boston University. See www.mythkenner.com for information about Caroline's shamanic healing practice in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Trance Dance for the Spirits of Romance, Love, Beauty and Sensuality
Cat Castells, Coordinatrix owns a craft (note the small “c”) gallery in New Hope, PA. She lives in NJ with her small daughter and partner in a big house which hosts regular rituals and other events related to her Wiccan practice. Cat's personal practice involves her connection with the Gods and her work in helping others in her tradition through transformational experiences. In her copious (ha!) spare time, she helps to run several events a year.
Morning Walk with Cat
Christina 'slavette' Parker began exploring alternative spiritual practices over a decade ago. Although most of her experience has been as a solitary practitioner, Christina is an active member of Quarterstones Circle. Not content with leading one alternative lifestyle, she enjoys multiple polyamorous relationships and has also been a collared 24/7 slave since 1996. Committed to promoting healthy alternative practices through education, Christina has given over 150 workshops across the U.S. and in Canada. Christina also served on the faculty of Apex Academy/Butchman's Experience, an organization dedicated to promoting the spiritual growth
opportunities available through SM techniques and Master/slave relationships. While she speaks on a variety of topics, her primary educational focus is on spirituality, polyamorous relationships, and Master/slave relationships. As part of her commitment to fostering respect for the value of service as a life path, Christina is the author of The Path of Service: Guideposts for Excellence. With her first Master, Christina was honored to receive the Pantheon of Leather Awards for Couple of the Year (2001) and Small Event of the Year for Together in Leather 2004, in addition to holding the title of International Master and slave 2002. Christina has been owned by her current Master, Todd, since 2004. The latest twist in Christina's spiritual path has led to her to exploring life's joys with her elfmate/boyfriend, Fletcher.
Creating Sacred Space: What, When, Why and How
Weird, Silly, and Scary--Vulnerability as a Spiritual Path
Christina 'slavette' Parker and Todd of Quarterstones Circle: Todd has been practicing neo-paganism since 1985 and would say he is 'still learning.' In a reverse generation event, his mother Bobbi became active in the pagan community in 1995, thus making him a second generation pagan. Todd is a founder and active member of Quarterstones Circle. He also studied with Elspeth & Nybor of Haven Community in 1997 and has been active in the Leather lifestyle community since 1998. Todd is happily married to Kristine as well as having a poly relationship with Christina Parker.
Sacred Sexuality for the Inhibited
Deborah (aka Dakota) is a certified professional hypnotist, certified massage therapist, pagan and bisexual lifestyler whose journey has surely been a roundabout one. This long-time computer programmer found her true path in alternative therapies—and entertainment! After becoming an established massage therapist, Deborah felt that hypnosis would be a good complimentary therapy to help her clients alleviate problems that were affecting them physically and emotionally. After using hypnosis to help with everything from smoking cessation to test anxiety, she decided to take her skills to the stage. In addition to her Richmond, Virginia practice, 'Dakota' performs tailored stage hypnosis shows for clubs and private events. She can be found on the web at www.DakotaHypnotic.com
Sinduction
Tapping Into Hypnosis
Denise Cumor is devoted to making vaginas happy and empowered; she has dedicated most of her adult life to this single purpose. Growing up in a patriarchal culture where womyn are objectified, sexually abused and shamed for there acts of sexual exploration, she found herself being pushed under. This is when she began to reclaim her sexuality and to help other womyn do the same. Identifying as a Pagan and learning to embody the Goddess in all her forms has given her the confidence to build on this reclamation. Experiences that have profoundly strengthened her commitment; working as a stripper for 4 years on Baltimore's infamous 'Block,' teaching OB-GYN protocol to medical students with Johns Hopkins, selling adult novelties with Athena's Home Novelties, working as an Ad Rep for $pread Magazine, directing and acting in various productions of the Vagina Monologues, being a part of the Spiral Dance Womyn's Center collective where she teaches sex workshops, making music with her band Dirty Mothers and making ceramic Goddess and vagina rattles. This is her first year vending at The Red Tent, where she sells adult novelties, sacred feminine art, books/media and organic feminine hygiene products. Vist her online at http://www.dirtymotherproductions.com.
Sacred Blood Rites
Sacred Yoni
The Spiritual Hooker
Edie Weinstein-Moser refers to herself as a Renaissance Woman and Bliss Mistress who lives in a sense of wonder and delight. Her work and play are one and the same. Free-lance journalist, author, workshop facilitator, interfaith minister, radio talk show host, massage and energy worker. She is also a Cuddle Party facilitator, one of 43 certified to teach this healing and empowering workshop.
Cuddle Party
Firesong (aka Cat, aka Cathleen, aka Rev Cat McGowan) is a professional artist and singer, and a certified art teacher. She has a master's degree in education and has been working with the Spirits of the African Diaspora and leading creative rituals for 17 years. She is a Sanba (traditional song mistress) and a root worker. Cathleen conducts regular chant sessions, Global Spirits services with the Universal Temple of Spirits, rituals, and pours for the Starry Night Sweat Circle. She has put out several teaching CDs of Orisha, Lwa, and Hindu chants, and her art can be viewed online at www.purringbanshee.com.
Trance Dance for the Spirits of Romance, Love, Beauty and Sensuality
Miss B. Haven is a child of the universe and practices an inclusive, pluralistic, and holistic
spirituality. She has earned a Masters of Theological Studies from Drew Theological School, with
a concentration in spiritual disciplines, healing and retreat ministry. She has been ordained by the
Universal Brotherhood Movement and works as a program director at a retreat center in
Vermont. She practices several different styles of meditation and chanting and has studied and
worked with the labyrinth in a variety of settings. The divinity that abides in Miss B. Haven seeks
the divinity in all who she encounters.
The Labyrinth: A Spiritual Path
Pyro Sadist aka Brian has been in the scene for nearly a decade. He has been with his collared slave dottie (slutress) since he entered the scene. Between the two of them they have collared their femsub caroline and have their boy rain under a collar of protection. Together with dottie Brian founded The Gate, one of the of largest munch groups in the Philadelphia area (which is still going strong), and then started a second chapter of The Gate in Massachusetts. The two of them own Needle Play Design, their custom embroidering company. Brian and dottie have traveled as far north as ME as far south as VA and as far west as MO to play and teach. They have given instruction in Fireplay, Needleplay, and Singletails at various venues including The Space, the play space of The Society [www.thesocietyct.org], Behind The Scenes (now closed but hopefully to reopen in the future) in Philadelphia, and Camp Crucible, where they are on staff. At Beltane, Camp Crucible, Leather Retreat & Dark Odyssey Winter Fire earlier this year, between scening and instructions, over 5 gallons of alcohol was burned up. Visit Brian and Dottie online at www.NeedlePlayDesign.com.
Dancing with Flame: Sensual & Spiritual Fireplay
Rebecca Proch is a writer, filmmaker and artist with a theater education and many years of experience as a performer, which she now brings to the practice of sacred dance and ecstatic ritual. An eclectic Pagan and 'kitchen mystic,' she is dedicated to the path of sacred romance, which celebrates the Divine in the context of Lover and Beloved. She is leading the development of the Temple of Amor as a spiritual home of sacred romance and the path of the Lover. Visit her online at http://thebloomingheart.wordpress.com
Sensual Puja
Two Right Feet: Sacred Dance For All
Rill is a pansexual, polyamorous, perverse, pagan who has begun working and teaching in the
area of Sacred Sexuality after more than 10 years as a member of, teacher within, and organizer
in, the BDSM and leather arenas. She was a founding member of MOB New England, the
region's first woman to woman BDSM group. Rill is strongly committed to helping others
discover the wealth of spirit within Sacred Power Exchange and sees this as an integral part of
her spiritual path. She is a devotee of the Dark God, and cherishes the opportunity to facilitate
safe opportunities for exploration of the Shadow.
In Service to the Gods (Intermediate/Advanced)
Sex, Craft, and Ethics (Intermediate)
Sexuality and Invocation (Intermediate/Advanced)
Robin Murphy has been involved in sacred exploration for over 25 years. She has facilitated many community rituals and rites of passages, being passionate about the personal transformation and group impact of such events. She has served as doula for several births and has led celebrations of life transitions such as infant naming ceremonies, puberty rites, marriages and deaths. Robin is a high school drama teacher with a Masters in Liberal Arts. She is committed to working with youth to encourage their growth as spiritual beings, to help awaken their potential as aware and enlightened individuals. This year she will serve as Ritual Committee Chair for the Heartland Pagan Festival in Kansas City. She is currently participating in the leadership training program at Diana's Grove and is a member of their Mystery School. She has been in a polyamorous marriage for over 15 years and has spent much time exploring the permutations of that life choice as a Priestess of Aphrodite.
The Pagan Girl’s Guide to Sex
Sacred Mark Sanctuary (SMS - www.sacredmarks.com) is an organization that combines
ancient, modern, and tribal spiritual practices to promote and explore the interconnection of
body and spirit. SMS members assist individuals and communities along their spiritual journey
through offerings such as workshops, group ordeal and ecstatic ritual facilitation, individual ritual
body modification, reiki, energy healing, and the arts.
Beating The Energetic Body: Tantric Practice And BDSM
Fires of Venus 101
Selene
Become the Firebird
SwitchMe is a co-gendered, bisexual, polyamorous switch who finds joy in helping others
discover the sheer joy and bliss of a free and uninhibited sexuality. He has been presenting and
teaching for over 10 years on a variety of subjects, including body image, touch, deviancy,
anthropology and computing. She is currently working on an advanced degree (sigh!), conducting
fieldwork in the Caribbean, and has several publications. His workshops focus on the body and
self-image and the many ways to let go of our inhibitions and simply enjoy sex and sexuality.
Ritual Cleansing
The Sacred Mark
Sexual Meditations
Tigre is a rhythmancer (a drum mage), a drum instructor and a drum circle facilitator. In his thirty-four years of drumming, studying, training, and/or instructing classical and modern percussion, he has acquired a wealth of experience in band, orchestra, marching band and competitive drum corps. He is immersed in traditional West African Djembe drumming and technique. He has studied drumming and drum circle facilitation with Jaqui MacMillan. He has performed and/or studied with many artists including David Korup, Aesa Grayson, Sogjbeti Diamante, Jaqui MacMillan and Jim Donovan of Rusted Root. Tigre facilitates groups to shape intentions and drum circles for a variety of reasons: ritual, meditation, inspiration, trance, healing and enjoyment. Tigre has co-created formal and informal ceremonies, and taught classes for many regional and nationally recognized organizations and events such as Drum and Splash, The Mid-Atlantic Men's Gathering, The Sacred Space Conference, Fires Rising, Sacred Well, and Carolina Spirit Quest. He joined the band Kiva in 2005 and now resides in Baltimore, MD.
How to Ride a Drum!
Rhythmic Fusion!
Tom Swiss describes his spiritual path as 'Zen Pagan Taoist Atheist Discordian,' which usually
baffles questioners enough to leave him alone. A 'perennial Pagan presenter,' Tom has taught
subjects spanning the gamut from acupressure to Zen to audiences ranging from troubled
teenage mothers to attendees of FSA's Beltane and Free Spirit Gatherings. He is an NCCAOM
Diplomate in Asian Bodywork Therapy and a karate student and teacher, holding the rank of
yondan (fourth degree black belt), as well as a poet, a singer/songwriter, an amateur
philosopher, and a professional computer geek. You can read rough drafts of some chapters
from his forthcoming book about Zen Paganism at
http://infamous.net/WhyBuddhaTouchedTheEarth.
Cultivating and Controlling Sexual Energy
How Not to Flirt With a Goddess
Zen and the Art of Love
Whittney Matlock is a professional massage therapist, Pagan priest, healer and educator. His path to the Old Ways began when he was very young and every step has been an exciting journey. After years of exploring his connection to the Gods and Goddesses, in the early nineties, he began a journey into the world of BDSM. Discovering the magick in BDSM pushed him deep into the world of ecstatic trance, giving him the tools to explore this amazing world of consciousness. All of these experiences have taught him to help others learn to heal through trust, touch and ecstasy. He has learned his crafts from the bottom up, beginning by following the path of ordeal and coming to discover his personal power through it. Now, a teacher in the BDSM and Pagan communities, he combines his experience of healing, faith and trance work to offer insights into the many ways in which magick manifests itself around us in every aspect of life.
Whittney is a perennial presenter for Black Rose Society and The Crucible, in DC. He explores and teaches about the ordeal path with the members of Kindlers of the Sacred Rhythm. He and his partner are facilitators for a public ordeal rite called SuspenDC. He and his lover are also working on many projects to be of service to their community. Their ultimate goal is to create a fall healing retreat, Healing the Spirit, focusing on teaching people through trance to use the healing power inside themselves to change their lives.
Whittney's classes are not for the faint of heart. He'll see to it that everyone gets involved. His charm and panache will captivate you, as he pulls you out of your chair and eggs you on to discover what's inside yourself. Take a chance, risk discovering parts of yourself that you lost track of, or, maybe, even find something in you which you never knew existed.
Conspire-Ring