PantheaCon 2007, San Jose, CA
Well, here’s the report and reflections of my experience at this year’s PantheaCon: A Gathering of the Tribes. This was my first P-Con, and I thank all my author (and non-author) friends and the folks at Llewellyn for encouraging me to go; I hadn’t heard enough good things about the convention. I’ll be sure to bring Estha next year; finances have been a bit rough for us lately so I was on my lonesome this round–but it was, of course, meant to be, and turned out being an immensely personal healing experience.
I’m glad I decided to go despite my fears of going into such a new territory. I suppose I’ve become accustomed to judgements and criticism (and recently, slanderous lies spread about myself and friends) around town. The Con was so refreshing in that I witnessed nobody arguing with each other or saying hurtful things about other people. It was all spiritual conversation, merriment, teaching, learning, celebration, and ritualism. In many ways, the whole convention was pure and progressive. I even handed out about 100 flyers for my book (comes out in September) and gave some very reassuring/helpful tarot readings to quite a few people (a couple of who allowed themselves to cry and Release).
I went to some incredible workshops there, including one by Christopher Penczak on invocation/godform assumption/possession; an empowering Feri exercise/teachings by T. Thorn Coyle; a lecture on secret societies and historical developments of magick by John Michael Greer; a talk by famous (and amazing elder) witch and NPR reporter Margot Adler; a Llewellyn authors panel Q&A presentation; a conversation on the Crossroads concept in paganism by Raven Grimassi, RJ Stewart, and Orion Foxwood; an informative on the Lwa of Vodou, etc, etc. I also met some WONDERFUL folks, some of whom include Michelle Belanger (author of the ‘Psychic Vampire Codex’ amongst others), LaSara FireFox (author of ‘Sexy Witch’), Regan High Priestess, Ruth Barrett, Ed Fitch, S. Rune Emerson (RuneWynd), Kenaz Filan, Donald Michael Kraig, Old Grey Badger, Taylor Ellwood & Lupa, as well as the wonderful fellows from Between the Worlds (a gay/bi Pagan men’s gathering), and of course my publicist Jen and Acquisitions Manager Elysia. There are tons of others who I don’t have the room to list here, too! What a blessing it was to encounter such amazing people.
I ENCOURAGE ALL PAGANS, MAGICIANS, AND EARTH-SPIRITUALISTS TO ATTEND PANTHEACON AT ANY COST! ^_^ My Georgian priestess Zanoni calls things like this a “booster shot.” Indeed, indeed.
I feel Actually Empowered. For too long, I’ve been in a funk. Slipping my interactions to the background, observing too much, not interacting with others in Reality as actively as I should being a spiritual person and priest. I’ve let nervousness and melancholy override my optimism lately, and it took immersing myself in the greater Pagan/occult scene to re-cultivate confidence and peaceful radiance within. Now I feel even more charged up and Directed to continue my creations through writing (and other artforms) and through my/Estha’s new tradition, Orbis Aima Obscurae. I know better how to conduct my energies and have a much more acute awareness (by the help of a number of people) of my energetic (and thus mental/psychological/spiritual) blockages and how to Dance with Life much more easily.
I’m grateful to the Universe for such an experience, and to all the people I got the pleasure of interacting with and sharing perceptions of life and the magick that flows through our blood.
BLESSED BE!
~Raven~
November 4th, 2007 at 6:42 pm
I love your book! I had just writen a journal entry about it my deepest love for writing it…blessed be
May 10th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
Hey you! I found your website!
I love you, hon! And I miss you! We REALLY need to plan some sort of thing for when we go to BTW. Because you WILL be there, even if I have to drag you myself!
LOL
Anyway, when and how did you meet Ed Fitch? You’ll have to tell me that story… he’s one of my favorite authors. *grins*
K, love you! Talk to you soon!
April 16th, 2007 at 11:31 pm
Very cool site! …Your talent for writing is a Joy to read, your art a Joy to gaze upon, and your passion for our brother and sister animals and Mother Earth..a Joy to Behold! Anyone whom comes here shall leave, wiser. May Many Blessings come to You and Yours :)
Something you said on these pages should be made a Quote, imho. Tis a profound Truth that ought be up on Billboards, all around this sad, disturbed country..it would give the disheartened, Heart
” There Is No Part Of You That Is Not Of The Gods;
Attain Perfection Through Diligence;
Every Man And Every Woman Is A Star,
~OakRaven & Estha McNevin~ “
March 24th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
Hey man! Congrats on getting the site up. It looks great :) It was awesome meeting you at P-Con, I had no idea what to expect going into that place but I’m so glad I went. I don’t think I’ve been that at ease since when I moved back to California after living in Salt Lake for 8 years. If you’re every in the bay area drop me a line and we’ll go ou and have some fun. Typically I have an extra room too for guests but I’m moving to another neighborhood in June and don’t know quite what my new living arrangement will be like there. Don’t hesitate to ask though if there’s something going on here in SF that you’d like to come out for and need to save money by not renting a hotel room.
March 24th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
you i can say are truely a delight to know..i love reading things you write to know that this world has more to offer if you just take the time to look hard enough…we all have the ability to teach, learn and pass on great things to help us all grow.to pass down the things we learn in our life time down to our children and our childrens children…that is our purpose in life…and not to be shielded off to learn and understand one thing but all things in our universe.i feel truely blessed to know that there are still pure people in this world like you colin..and you have my blessing.
and thanks for being my friend in return.
blessed be,
jendacirce nightgoddess.
March 24th, 2007 at 9:10 pm
Hi Raven - I had a wonderful time seeing you again. Next time… dancing! And we are getting you to BTW sometday soon.
Love,
Christopher
February 23rd, 2007 at 3:43 pm
You are such a love! I wish we lived closer to one another. Please stay in touch with me, and let me know when and where we will meet again. You’re a true delight. Yummy!
Have you been to Starwood yet? I hope to go again this year. It’s very different from P-Con, but just as essential.
Much love, total presence, and besitos from your nose to your toes!
-LaSara