Events for April 2009

STORE CLOSED FOR INVENTORY WEDNESDAY APRIL 1st

PAGAN DISCUSSION NIGHT (MPRC)
First Thursday of every month, the MPRC hosts a discussion on various themes. Watch for each new theme! This month's theme: Topic for Pagan Discussion Night: Powers of Divination
Thursday April 2nd, 6:30-8:30 pm FREE

REIKI LEVEL ONE (Robyn)
Join us in this two day long course to learn all you need to know to become a First Degree Reiki Practitioner. Topics covered will include: the history and origins of Reiki, the ethics of being a Reiki practitioner, what the hand positions are in a full Reiki session, how to treat others as well as yourself, and formal initiation to the Usui Shiki Ryoho style of Reiki using the American Reiki Mastery Association's style of initiations. Ample time will be given for practice as well.
Sunday April 5th, 11 am - 5 pm, $150

FULL MOON Thursday April 9th

PSYCHIC DEVELOPMENT LEVEL 1 (Catharine)
Discover the many ways we receive our psychic gifts. Intuition, Clairvoyance, Clairaudience, Channeling etc. Practical exercises to help identify your particular gift. Discussion and questions answered. There will be a guided meditation and message circle where everyone will get psychic messages from Catharine!
Thursday April 9th 7-9 pm $30

WARRIORS OF THE CRAFT: PART I - Deities and Heroes (Scarlet)
There are warriors in every culture, a class of fighters and guardians to stand against the dark. Every religion has its gods and heroes from myth and legend to mundane reality. Archangel Michael, Thor, Morrigan, Hercules, Cuhulain, Wolf, Diana, Templars, Samurai, Jedi, Soldiers, Officers of the Law, Wiccan Warders... you.
This is an overview of the myths and legends we draw upon to inform of about the role of the warrior. What are their stories? Who are they? Is there an archetype we can relate to?
Friday April 10th, 7-9pm, $30

VISUALIZING THE CHAKRAS SERIES: ROOT CHAKRA (Catharine)
The root chakra is the base of our sense of belonging, safety - surviving or thriving. Using a guided meditation practice you will be able to re-balance this chakra and feel reassured.
Saturday April 11th, 12-2pm $30

ANIMAL LORE (Scarlet)
Animals influence our lives and our environment, from the pets we have in our homes, the the local wildlife, to the advertising we are inundated with. Animals have meanings and energies we can draw upon and symbolism we can refer to in order to understand how they are used and what they mean when we even see them in our dreams. This class will explore the symbolic meaning of over 20 animals. It will help you understand the animals in your life and how to connect with them. ** prerequisite to the class on Totems and to the class on Shapeshifting**
Saturday April 11th, 1-3pm, $30

CHAKRA CLEANSING WORKSHOP (Catharine)
Intro to energetic cleansing of the chakras. Guided meditation to cleanse.
Saturday April 11, 3-5pm $30

INTRODUCTION TO STONE HEALING (Robyn)
Sunday April 12th, 1-3pm, $30

I HAVE A ROCK... NOW WHAT? (Sam)
Wondering whether to use a rough stone or a tumbled stone? Maybe you want to know how to cleanse different stones. Having trouble remembering which one does what? Discuss the answers to these questions and learn how to incorporate stone-work in your life.
Thursday April 16th, 6-8 pm, $30

PSYCHIC DEVELOPMENT LEVEL 2 (Catharine)
Take the next step in your development by exploring multiple ways of receiving messages and visions. We will do more in depth work with meditation, energy work and practice readings on each other. Guided meditation and message circle follows, where everyone will get psychic messages from Catharine!
Thursday April 16th 7-9 pm $30

Annual Gem, Mineral and Fossil show of the Club de Mineralogie de Montreal
DATES April 18-20
TIME Friday 3 pm – 10 pm, Saturday 10 am – 7 pm, Sunday 10am – 5 pm LOCATION
Center Pierre-Charbonneau 3000 Viau St. (Viau Metro), Montreal, Quebec. CONTACT 514-955-3758 or 514-332-9028 for more details.
WEBSITE - http://www.salonminerauxmtl.com

EARTH DAY April 22nd

TREE RITE FOR EARTH DAY (Scarlet)
Adopt a tree, bless a tree, plant a tree for Earth Day! Scarlet will host this workshop/ritual for selecting a tree, understanding its magical energies, tapping into its spirit to awaken it and blessing it. Take home a little tree and plant it in your yard or other natural setting.
Wednesday April 22nd, 7-9pm, $30

PAST LIVES (Catharine)
Discussion of theory of past lives, karma, remembering them, relationships from past lives and meditation/regression.
Thursday April 23rd, 7-9pm $30

WARRIORS OF THE CRAFT: PART II - Warriors & Warders (Scarlet)
There are warriors in every culture, a class of fighters and guardians to stand against the dark. Every religion has its gods and heroes from myth and legend to mundane reality. Archangel Michael, Thor, Morrigan, Hercules, Cuhulain, Wolf, Diana, Templars, Samurai, Jedi, Soldiers, Officers of the Law, Wiccan Warders... you.
Heroic knights and guardians have walked among us throughout history and even today. We will explore the warrior class in society and its various manifestation from the contemporary film representation of the Jedi, to knights of chivalry, to the honor-bound samurai. Then we will look at today's warriors: soldiers, firefighters, EMT's, police officers, and our very own warders of the public rituals.
Friday April 24th, 7-9pm, $30

BELTANE FAIR
April 25th & 26th 10am - 6pm both days
** Seminars, Author & Artisans **
Schedule is now online

BELTANE RITUAL & FEST
Ritual, May Pole dancing, Celtic music, tarot readings, feast & more. This is a CHILDREN FRIENDLY event! All are welcome! Hosted by Wiccan Sacred Circle and Avalon Centre.
*Please bring a wide ribbon 3 meters long and a $5 donation*
1510 Chemin Herron in Dorval (Hall across from the Avalon Centre and the park)
Sunday April 26th from 6pm to 11pm

COVENS vs SOLITARIES (Scarlet)
Wednesday April 29th, 7-9pm $30

ENERGETIC SELF-HEALING (Catharine & Nicholas)
Discussion of energetic healing, how it works, techniques and healing session.
Thursday April 30th, 7-9pm $30

More About Our Beltane Authors and Guest Lecturers

Asherah and Apollonius are High Priestess and High Priest of the Isis Hathor Coven. They have extensively studied and practiced not only Traditional Wicca, but also Hermetic Magick as well.

Sarah Comrie has been telling stories in the Montreal community for the past five years. She has a background in theatre, performing around the world from 1996 to 2003 with a small repertory company.

Meri Fowler is a practicing Wiccan who belongs to a Celtic Shamanic Coven in Montreal. She has been Wiccan for 18 years and runs the Wiccan Sacred Circle Network and the Young Pagan's Circle.

Melanie Halpert: After years of trying to find solutions for personal health challenges within the medical system to no avail, Melanie turned to alternative medicine. Now, with almost ten years of experience in the field of natural health, she has finally found her niche practicing BodyTalk and continues to unravel the threads of her own healing while facilitating treatments for others.

Helmut: Blacksmith by trade for 39 years, Helmut has been making ritual tools and studying metal magic for over 25 years.

John David Hickey has been telling tales in schools and festivals across Canada for over 13 years. In 2005, he published collection of tales in a book/CD called You Don't Know Jack.

Judika Illes fell in love with the magical arts when she was a little girl and has been studying and practicing them ever since. She is the author the ' Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells', 'The Encyclopedia of Spirits', 'Element Compendium Of 1000 Spells', 'The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft', 'Pure Magic', and ' Magic When You Need It'.

T. Scarlet Jory is a 3rd Degree Wiccan High Priestess in the Black Forest tradition and coordinator of Crescent Moon School. She has devoted her university studies in anthropology and religion to further the academic studies of Wicca and to augment her own personal growth.

Valerie Laville has a background in Biology and Ecology, and completed these studies in Canada and South Africa. She is currently studying to become an osteopath. She has had strong interests for the world of the occult and its mysteries throughout her life.

Arin Murphy-Hiscock is a Montreal author and editor whose books include 'Power Spellcraft for Life', 'Solitary Wicca for Life', 'The Way of the Green Witch', and the forthcoming 'The Way of the Hedge Witch' (April 2009). She is currently editing an anthology of personal stories about coming out as Pagan titled 'Out of the Broom Closet' (September 2009).

Brendan Myers is the author of several well-respected philosophical books, including ' Mysteries of Druidry', 'The Other Side of Virtue' and 'A Pagan Testament'. He earned his Ph.D in philosophy from the National University of Ireland, and currently lectures at the University of Guelph.

Sian Reid holds a PhD in Sociology. She is the editor of 'Between the Worlds: Readings in Contemporary Paganism', and the co-author (as Meredith Macdonald) of 'An' Ye Harm None: Magical Morality and Modern Ethics'.

Greg Stroll is a 27 year old author from Montreal who only found his calling when schizophrenia helped him write his first book, 'In the Heart of Fear One Forgets One's Self' . He volunteers with Ami Quebec, giving talks about mental illness in front of school classes, as the need arises. He also dabbles in poetry and digital artwork.

Karyn Torrie is currently enrolled in the third level at Crescent Moon School. Learning a bit more each day, but knows enough to realize that we really only skim the surface of knowledge and understanding. By no means an expert, she tries to find truth in the simplest of places and things, and always tries to have a positive and sunny disposition, which rarely includes being too serious.

Beltane Fair Information is now available!

We've been teasing with rumors for weeks now, about our upcoming Beltane Fair. Now the speakers' schedule is available at last! Click here to download it as a pdf document. (To download this document, you will need a copy of Adobe Acrobat, available as a free download here).

The Mélange Magique Beltane Fair will be held over the weekend of April 25th and 26th, from 10am to 6pm on both days. There will be FREE workshops and discussions all day long (see the schedule for details) as well as an artisans' crafts fair, storytelling, 6 authors signing books and a 10% sale off everything in store (as if the rest were not incentive enough!!).

Our honored guests and authors include Helmut (of Helmut's Forge), Judika Illes, Arin Murphy-Hiscock, Brendan Myers, Sian Ried (aka Meredith Macdonald), Rob St. Martin and Greg Stroll, along with local guest speakers Asherah and Apollonius, Meri Fowler, Melanie Halpert, T. Scarlet Jory, Valerie Laville, and Karyn Torrie. Whats more is that we have two wonderful storytellers at the open and close of our fair, Sarah Comrie and John David Hickey (aka Hobbes).

We are very excited to be hosting what looks to be the event of the season, and truly hope that you will come and join us!

New Finds in Our Store!

BOOKS OF INTEREST

CRYSTALS
By Jennie Harding ISBN: 1600610412 $21.94
This is an incredible find! It is a FULL COLOUR book so you can have a clear visual aid for stone identification. Also, the stones are organized through the book according to colour. Harding includes all the physical geographical and healing properties of each stone, as well as its "personal" uses which are her version of magical uses that are true on! Add this book to your collection along with the Crystal Bible and Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic.

CUNNINGHAM'S HAWAIIAN MAGIC & SPIRITUALITY
By Scott Cunningham ISBN: 9780738715469 $19.95
Finally back in print! This is one of the early books written by Cunningham and among the very few of this cultural form of magic. He explores the history of the people, their deities and their ancestors. He teaches us about their spirituality, their taboos and their rites and rituals through the various aspects of magic and sorcery found in Hawaii.

VOICES OF THE EARTH: THE PATH OF GREEN SPIRITUALITY
By Clea Danaan ISBN: 9780738714653 $18.50
Awaken your psychic powers, talk to nature, and hear her reply. Take 'green living' to a new level and cultivate a deep and intuitive relationship with the land. This rewarding connection with nature offers healing, renewal, knowledge of your life purpose, and a spiritual oasis in a chaotic world. Nature intuitive Clea Danaan gives lessons in building psychic awareness and communicating with plants, trees, and nature spirits. Each chapter features meditations, journal exercises, and art projects to help you open psychically to the earth and deepen your spiritual practice. From gardening to herb work to water conservation, this book explores the many ways to apply and incorporate nature's wisdom into daily life. Danaan's personal anecdotes also illuminate how green spirituality can be translated into a fulfilling, holistic lifestyle that supports the earth and your Spirit.


OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

RESIN BURNER
Ever hoped to NOT need charcoal for burning your resins? Well we have the solution! This works just like an oil burner. It uses a tea light. There is a mesh grill on top where you place the resin and the tea light heat burns it cleanly! Washing the steel mesh is EASY, just wash under hot water. We have these in a couple sizes. Small for $15.95 and Large for $30.95.

EVIL EYE TALISMANS
For so long we have had trouble meeting the needs of our client seeking the traditional Evil Eye talismans to counter jealousy and evil eye curses. We have found a new distributor and have blue "eye" talismans. Single large eye talisman for $5.95 and three smaller eyes string together for $7.95.

SELENITE MASSAGE STONES
Selenite is powerful enough to clear negative energies and help reprogram other crystals. It never needs recharging! It can help in expanding awareness and contacting angel and spirit guides. Rubbing the stone helps you enter the world of dreams, intuition and a meditative state. Selenite is excellent for the Third Eye chakra and Crown chakra, increase your intuition and healing potential.


OILS OILS OILS
We have connected with some NEW oils companies! Please understand that some of our traditional oils have changed consistency and/or shade, a few have changed scent, for which we apologize.

Along with these small changes, we have a VERY LIMITED but so EXCITING selection of NEW oils in a great display. Come discover them for yourself and provide us with some feedback on which you find are amazing. We will try to have them again if you love them!

Judika Illes' Message about "Brick and Mortar" Pagan Shops

Author Judika Illes (Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells, Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, Pure Magic, Magic When You Need It, Encyclopedia of Spirits) made a beautifully heartwarming post on her journal recently. With her permission, I have posted it here to share:

Brick-and-mortar stores (meaning real, physical stores with doors and walls where you can visit and interact with real flesh-and-blood, knowledgeable employees) that cater to the metaphysical/magical/witch community are an endangered species. This has been true for years but even more so now under the present economy.

People ask me where I learned what I know. My metaphysical education started very early because I was lucky enough to live in the vicinity of the old Samuel Weiser bookstore, one of the first and at that time only bookstores dedicated to metaphysics. Then as a teenager and young adult, I was privileged to live near a variety of witch stores (the late, lamented Magickal Childe among them) and many botanicas.

I spent a lot of time in those stores (sometimes just standing there, looking stupid) and people-- other customers as well as proprietors-- were very kind to me and very patient. I learned quickly that if I stayed in such a store long enough, someone would eventually teach me something. And I was a teenager with a very limited budget. People spoke to me from a sense of community and sharing, not because they were aggressively trying to sell me something. That's something I try to pass forward in my books, especially as I know that so many of us live where no such stores are easily available. I learned my basic skills from other people but in the 21st century, many learn only from books because that personal, human touch is now very rare and hard to find.

If I was a teenager now, would I grow up to author my books? Honestly, I don't know. Those early mentors provided me with a sense of safety and direction. Those old stores were the equivalent of universities. Then as now, most metaphysical stores are owned and staffed by knowledgeable adepts: people who are committed to the traditions they represent among their wares. It's not just a money-making venture: operating a brick-and-mortar witch store means total, public commitment and dedication to the preservation of our community.

Readers e-mail me searching for craft materials but also for human contact: they seek interaction with kindred spirits. When I first began receiving these e-mails, I answered each one individually and at lenght but this became very time-consuming and I began to post links on my website(http://judikailles.com/market.html scroll all the way down), so that people could easily find conveniently located stores. Links are arranged by state and by country.

Brick-and-mortar metaphysical stores are the hearthfires of the greater metaphysical/magical community. They are the public front-line. They provide intangible gifts as well as items for sale: a sense of community and welcome for adepts and new witches alike. Rents tend to be ridiculously high. Stores must purchase stock without any guarantee that customers will buy. When you're thinking about where to spend YOUR money, think about using it to support our community because that is exactly what these stores do. I am old enough to remember when no mainstream bookstore (big chain or otherwise) would carry magical books such as those I write. Once upon a time, occult tools often HAD to be mail-ordered. Unfortunately, with the disappearance of so many magical retailers, we seem to be returning to those days.

I'm grateful for on-line sellers, too. (And many brick-and-mortar stores also offer on-line shopping, the 21st century equivalent of mail-order. Check their websites.) They make a broad selection of products more easily available to more of us. For those still lingering in the broom-closet, on-line sellers provide privacy and discretion. (No need to worry that inquisitive eyes will see you venturing into a witch store.) But even though many offer forums and do provide a measure of community, by their very virtual nature, they cannot provide what a brick-and-mortar store can. I'm sorry for rambling on like this but I feel so strongly about this issue. It KILLED me when my Element Encyclopedias became unavailable to independent retailers and I'm so glad 5000 Spells will once again be accessible to all stores, not just one big chain.

So anyway, to get to the point, I am so honored to belong to the magical community and I'm trying to do my bit to support it. If you are a brick-and-mortar store catering to the metaphysical shopper in any capacity (books, herbs, candles, crystals) or if you know of such a store, please feel free to e-mail me with a link and I will do my best to add it to my website as quickly as possible.
Two conditions:
* It must be an actual store (walls, shelves, door, etc.) that people can visit
* I must receive the request for the link from someone who actually works in the store (owner, manager or so forth). I need to have their permission before adding the link.

So go support your community: SHOP!

Come and meet Judika Illes, along with other authors like Arin Murphy-Hiscock, Brendan Myers, Meredith Macdonald, Greg Stroll and Rob St. Martin at our upcoming Beltane Fair, April 25th and 26th from 10am to 6pm both days. They will all be giving free lectures all fair long, as will many other wonderful speakers from our pagan community. Join us to enjoy discussions, workshops, an artisans' crafts fair, refreshments and 10% off everything in store all weekend long!