|
Voices of CHS
 As I was finishing my doctoral dissertation and preparing to defend it before my Committee, I made two very serious promises to myself which were contingent upon my academic triumph. I promised to kiss the tail of Testudo, the great bronze terrapin who guards the University of Maryland. And I would never write another research paper. I got my PhD and Testudo got his tail kissed. But I am now enrolled at Cherry Hill Seminary writing research papers, and wondering what happened to cause me to break a promise to myself.
It has been said that obtaining a doctoral degree is one's commission to go out into the world and begin to Learn. The need to learn and discover had been calling to me subliminally for some time, but the call had been handily ignored. I learned about Cherry Hill from a friend of mine and visited the website. On about my third visit, I found myself getting very excited by the courses being offered and the philosophy of the institution. After a not-so-subtle nudge from the Universe, I found myself resigning my position as Executive Director and Musical Director of a local opera company and enrolling at Cherry Hill for one class this summer. I researched and wrote my brain out, and apparently enjoyed it enough to enroll in two classes this Fall. So what is it about CHS that has snagged my imagination, intellect and soul?
There is a palpable element of excitement at Cherry Hill. It seems that everyone - staff, students and faculty - all sense that we are a part of something vital and growing and extremely important to the world. People here feel that we are on the cutting edge of something that is new and different. Cherry Hill is innovative in its concept, progressive in its approach and futuristic in its mandate and application. The very idea of building an academy which enables mature and committed individuals to learn the skills they need to underpin their ministries is revolutionary. Small classes, student diversity, faculty excellence and accessibility foster growth and change within the context of an academic environment. Utilizing current technology to bring classrooms onto our computer screens provides students with an educational opportunity that they may have had to forego due to finances and/or life circumstances. CHS serves the entire Pagan community in all its myriad of presentations without prejudice or labels, again setting itself apart from traditional seminaries.
And so, with doctorate in hand, I am once again a Student, a Learner, and a Beginner embarking on a new path through the forest. This is a tremendous opportunity for all of us at Cherry Hill to create something exciting, and useful and beautiful and take it out into the world at large, while simultaneously allowing us to awaken to new perceptions and possibilities within ourselves.
- Karel J. Bouse, PhD |
|
The Hypatia Society
 Join The Hypatia Society and become a part of the growing Cherry Hill Seminary family. A true passion for learning and service light these virtual halls. As a member of The Hypatia Society, you carry the light of knowledge further and higher.
Benefits for joining The Hypatia Society and supporting Cherry Hill Seminary are as follows:
$20 Astronomer - Vinyl CHS logo decal 5" square
$45 Mathematician - Enamel CHS pin 3/4" round, plus Astronomer benefits
$95 Philosopher - 10% discount on one Foundations course, plus Mathematician benefits
$150 Teacher - 20% discount on one Foundations course, plus Philosopher benefits
$250 Mystic - Free registration at any CHS one-day event, plus Teacher benefits
$500 Beloved - Glass Yule commemorative ornament, plus Mystic benefits
$1,000 Divine Guide - Online link as sponsor, plus Beloved benefits
Cherry Hill Seminary gratefully acknowledges the kind permission of artist Max Dashu to reproduce her haunting painting of Hypatia. Click here to order a printed poster of Dashu's painting.
|
|
Important Dates
For Students
November 14 - Spring Registration Opens
December 17 - End Fall Classes
January 9 - End Spring Registration
January 16 - Begin Spring Classes
January 23 - Drop/Add Last Date
For Faculty
December 31 - Fall '11 grades due to office
January 1 - Summer '11 course information due to office
Foundations Courses
October 10 - November 5 - Foundations Fall Two
November 7 - December 3 - Foundations Fall Three
January 16-February 11 - Foundations Spring One
|
|
|
Pagan Elders and Ancestors: Aleister Crowley
 Aleister Crowley is often attributed with revitalizing Occultism in the English speaking world and shifting it's focus away from specifically Christian spirituality, laying the groundwork for the mid-20th century Pagan revival. Many Pagan traditions borrow explicitly or implicitly from his writings on magic and the traditions he help directly shape. This class provides a brief introduction to the work of Aleister Crowley, providing an overview of his life and work, and emphasizing his writings on magical practice and ritual construction. Most readings will be through online texts, though students should possess a copy of Kaczynski's Weisers Concise Guide to Aleister Crowley, which will provide a key reference text for students. "Pagan Elders and Ancestors" is part of a planned series of Foundations courses covering important figures in the history of magick and contemporary Paganism. Pagan Elders and Ancestors: Aleister Crowley is taught by Grant Potts, Ph.D., and has no weekly meeting. register for this four week foundations course today! |
|
Introduction to Druidry
 Participants are invited into a discussion of modern Druidry balancing information with personal experience. The course introduces participants to what we know about historical Druids, surveys the variety of modern Druid approaches, and invites them into the development of a Druid ethic and the use of a form of Druid divination. Through the four weeks, participants will read and reflect on several resources including the websites of a variety of modern Druid groups; mythological stories that are central to Celtic cultures and Druid spirituality; and select writings of modern Druids about their path. Participants will be expected to participate in forum discussions each week after reading the assigned readings for the week and listening to the instructor's prerecorded mini-lecture. The four weeks will center on these themes: 1. An overview of modern Druidry set against what we can know about historical Druids 2. A Consideration of modern Druid worldviews 3. Creating and working with A Druid ethic 4. Working with the Tree Ogam as a modern Druid divination tool Participants should purchase one book and will be given a follow up list of suggested books for further investigation as well as a set of websites for use during the course. At the end of the four weeks, participants will be asked to write one blog entry of no more than 1000 words in which they highlight what of our introductory investigation has them wanting more (and why) and to identify important questions that this study has raised for them. Introduction to Druidry is taught by Robert Patrick, M.Div., Ph.D., and has no weekly meeting. register for this four week foundations course today! |
|
6 Great Reasons to Take Classes at Cherry Hill Seminary
 For Pagans by PagansCherry Hill Seminary specializes in higher education and practical ministry training for Pagans, by Pagans. Our courses on leadership, chaplaincy, understanding and creating ritual, and more were created to suit the special needs of the Pagan community, which we understand from first-hand knowledge and experience. We offer more than a magickal educationCherry Hill Seminary aims to help Pagans in their hands-on work with the community. Our teachers and students are people that provide spiritual resilience for Pagans in our military, prison, and hospitals; that perform rites of passage; that provide mentoring and counseling. That's why our course catalog includes classes such as Addictions and Recovery, Religion and the Law, and Survey of Chaplaincy. We are pan-PaganOur instructors come from different Pagan backgrounds and our course catalog includes classes such as Foundations of the Celtic World View and Introduction to Heathenism. Learn from the expertsThe board and faculty of Cherry Hill Seminary includes notable Pagan scholars and community leaders such as Kirk S. Thomas, M. Macha NightMare, Margot Adler, Sabina Magliocco, Patrick McCollum, and Michael York. This fall, our instructors include Chandra Alexandre, Vivianne Crowley, York Dobyns, and Candace Kant. We've got the 101 and the 102Our Foundations courses such as Introduction to Druidry and the Pagan Elders and Ancestors series are perfect for people seeking an introduction to various topics in Paganism. We also offer a number of more advanced courses such as Death, Dying & Grieving: Call of the Dark Mother for people seeking specialized training. Anyone can take classesAll of our courses are open to the public. Bachelor's degree needed to apply for admission to a master's degree program. See all of our current courses at Cherry Hill Seminary. |
|
Buy Books; Support CHS
 Shopping for books? Looking for a fun read, or need a textbook? Whether you need them for class or you just want a good Pagan book, you can pick up many books from Cherry Hill Seminary's Amazon Store, including:The Rebirth of Witchcraft by Doreen Valiente Neopagan Rites: A Guide to Creating Public Rituals that Work by Isaac Bonewits Researching Paganisms (The Pagan Studies Series) by Jenny Blain Book of the Goddess Past and Present: An Introduction to Her Religion by Carl Olson Spiritual Mentoring: A Pagan Guide by Judy Harrow And many other books! Every purchase helps support Cherry Hill Seminary.
|
|
Tarot Conference
 | | Niina C./Flickr |
The Popular Culture Association / American Culture Association is accepting submissions in the area of tarot for its 2012 conference in Boston.
- Possible topics may include, but are not limited to:
Tarot and art history
Tarot and literature
Tarot artists, writers, and readers
Individual decks and their guidebooks
Tarot as a motif in comics, literature, and film
Playing cards in art history
Participants should be prepared to present their work as scholarly research and/or for the benefit of an interested audience of academics.
For more information, please visit PCA/ACA.
|
|
|
