New
April 15, 2011
Voices of CHS

LauraI wanted to attend Cherry Hill Seminary about three years before I actually applied.  As an undergraduate student, knowing that there was a graduate school out there that actually catered not only to my religious needs but my educational needs as well was a beautiful thought.  I watched, finished my undergrad degree, and then CHS began revamping the master's programs.

 

They were getting better.  Not only did they start offering even more fascinating classes, the school was really solidifying the degree programs and what types of courses would be offered.  And then the big day hit: CHS would begin working on the process to become an accredited university.

 

That was when I realized I had to apply.  I had to become a part of what was being built very slowly over time.  And I've never regretted that decision.

 

Cherry Hill Seminary has challenged me in ways that I never thought possible.  I've learned about how to start a religious organization; I've learned how to build a website; I've taken a really deep look at diversity in the world directly around me; and I've learned the foundations of what advocacy is.  And all of this was done allowing for a pagan worldview.

 

That's the most wonderful thing about CHS.  I'm being challenged and learning how to make a difference in the world around me and I'm being encouraged to do so from a pagan perspective.  I'm examining my religious worldviews and incorporating them into the classes I take, and I can easily discuss them with my classmates and professors.

 

The day I began my studies at CHS was the day my life changed for the better.  It was the day I began moving in a direction to make the world - and my world - a better place.

 

- Laura Anderson 

Important Dates

For Students

May 9, 2011 - End Summer Registration

May 16, 2011 - Begin Summer Semester

May 23 - Add/Drop Last Date

July 14 - 17, 2011 - Summer Intensive

 

For Faculty

May 1, 2011 - Fall Course Information Due

May 6, 2011 - Spring Grades Due to Office

 

Foundations Courses

May 16 - June 11, 2011 - Foundations Summer One

June 13 - July 9, 2011 - Foundations Summer Two

July 11 - August 6, 2011 - Foundations Summer Three

 

Ready to buy textbooks for your classes?
 By shopping at Cherry Hill Seminary's Amazon.com store, you can purchase all of the books you'll need for class while supporting CHS!

All purchases you make through the Amazon.com store benefit CHS.  So whether it's texts for classes or just a good Pagan book to read, make the CHS Amazon.com store your first choice for Pagan books. 

 

 

Theurgy is an understanding of how worship and magick works for us, and for those who design such practices, it gives direction how. We will explore together the justification, meaning and purpose of our worshipful and magical practices, especially with respect to how they support or advance us spiritually as individuals and collectively. Students will apply theurgical methodology to analyze their familiar practices and design new ones in class. We will use theurgical practices and other supports throughout the intensive and conclude the weekend with a rite designed by the attendees.

 

In the past, this material was explored directly through meditation and visualization practices. We will use some of what means have come down the ages to us in class as a way of engaging with these heady notions in a non-discursive manner and make these abstractions more immediate.

 

Intensive will be held July 14-17, 2011, at the Azure Green, Middlefield, MA, one and a half hours from Albany, NY or Hartford, CT. There is an online component that will utilize Cherry Hill Seminary's Moodle classroom. Registrants will receive login info one month prior to the intensive. Class is open to non-matriculated students with permission of the instructor.

 

For more information, please visit the Summer Intensive website

 

Required text book:

Theurgy and the Soul: The Neoplatonism of Iamblichus. Gregory Shaw, Pennsylvania State Univ Pr (1995)

ISBN-13: 978-0271023229

 

More about Sam Webster. 

 

Register Now 

 

Pagan Elders and Ancestors: Starhawk

Starhawk is best known for writing The Spiral Dance and co-founding the Reclaiming tradition of Witchcraft, but what don't you know about Starhawk? Her contributions span the gamut from composing ritual chants that have come to be known as traditional, to blending magical practice with anti-globalization activism, to teaching the practical skills of permaculture. Her theology - about gender, about politics, about the purpose of magic - has shifted substantially along the way. In this course, we'll sample Starhawk's writing from the 1970s to the 21st century, asking what changes her work has wrought in herself and in Pagan communities. Many readings will be available digitally, but you must have access to the 20th anniversary edition of The Spiral Dance -- earlier editions will not do for the purposes of this course.

 

"Pagan Elders and Ancestors" is part of a planned series of Foundations courses covering important figures in the history of magick and contemporary Paganism.

 

This course is taught by Sarah Whedon, Ph.D., and will run from May 16 - June 11.  There is no required meeting time.

 

Required Texts:

 

Starhawk. The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Goddess, 20th anniversary edition. HarperOne, 1999.

 

Visit our website to register now for this and many other great classes. 

 

Introduction to Heathenism and Northern European Pagan Traditions

Individuals labeling themselves "Heathens" have largely separated from the rest of the pagan community and have established their own religious and social practices. This course provides an introduction to the ethics and philosophy of those following the Northern European paths commonly referred to as Heathenism. Students will learn about why this has occurred, study the unique values of the Heathen community, and emerge better prepared to handle diversity in a ministerial context. Additional electronic resources will be provided in the classroom.

 

This course will be taught by Scott Mohnkern, J.D..  It will run from June 13 - July 9 and meet Mondays, 8pm EST

 

Required Texts:

 

Mohnkern, Scott. Hanging From the Tree: Living with the Runes. Modern Heathen, 2009.

 

Additional resources needed: Students should be able to download and play .mp3 files. Students will need Skype.

 

Visit our website to register for this and other great classes. 

 

Sacred Egypt, Sacred Science

Egypt had unique geography, art and architectural canons. This class is an overview of the religious foundations and spiritual practices of ancient Egypt, drawn from its language and literature - textual and monumental. Students will learn how ancient Egypt's enigmatic approaches to life, death, and the afterlife were profoundly expressed in these forms and formed the basis of what we know as Sacred Science.

 

This course will be taught by Rosemary Clark.  It will run from July 11 - August 6 and has no weekly meeting.

 

Recommended Texts:

 

Clark, Rosemary. The Sacred Tradition in Ancient Egypt: The Esoteric Wisdom Revealed. Llewellyn Worldwide, 2000. ISBN: 1567181295

 

Clark, Rosemary. The Sacred Magic of Ancient Egypt: The Spiritual Practice Restores. Llewellyn Worldwide, 2003. ISBN: 1567181309

 

Oakes, Lorna and Gahlin, Lucia. Ancient Egypt. Barnes & Noble, 2003. ISBN: 0760749434

 

Register now!
 

Logo no wordsCherry Hill Seminary provides quality higher education and practical training in Pagan ministry.

 

Cherry Hill Seminary is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organized in the state of South Carolina. Web site copyright by Cherry Hill Seminary in 2010, all rights reserved.

 

Contact us at P.O. Box 5405, Columbia, SC 29250-5405, 888.503.4131or by email