Editor's Corner
The vernal equinox approaches and spring is in the air. The newness of spring is observed in the tender green of the bough and the eminent potentiality of life's re-awakening. The sky, no longer empty, resounds with the joyful song of birds. The equilibrium between polarities brings us awareness of the duality of nature; light balances the dark as life balances death. The snows of winter have melted, leaving the earth supple and moist. The branches of trees that stood stark and bare for so long are now covered with tight buds, soon to erupt in an explosion of color and scent. The world seems to awaken; newness, possibility, and purity are in the air.
As we approach the equinox, start thinking about what seeds you want to plant for yourself this year (personally, professionally, and as a community). Cherry Hill is already planting seeds this year with the Leadership Conference, Agora Movie Fundraiser, and much more. What are you doing for yourself and for your Pagan community this year?
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Featured Article
The month of March brings us together in celebrating of the life of Hypatia. Hypatia was a philosopher and mathematician in Roman Egypt. In a time where there were few women of learning (or at least documentation about them), Hypatia was well respected. More important, she is often seen as a voice for humans thinking for themselves. This idea of critical reasoning is still important to Paganism today. As humans beings, we experience our religion. There is a sense of being self-reflective in our experiences. Education can help with this process of self-reflection and critical reasoning. This is one of the many skills that Cherry Hill Seminary offers.
So to celebrate the life of Hypatia of Alexandria, join us for the many local Agora Movie Parties (Agora is a historical drama movie about the philosophy and mathematics professor Hypatia of Alexandria).
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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.
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Important Dates
For Students
February 11 - End Foundation Courses 1
February 13 = Foundation Classes 2 Begin
For Faculty
February 25 - Foundations 1 grades due to office by instructors
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CHS welcomes new librarian!
Cherry Hill Seminary is pleased to welcome Scott Martin as our new librarian. Scott holds an MSI in Library and Information Services from the University of Michigan and an MS in Genetics from the University of Chicago. His research interests include medieval Irish literature and comparative Indo-European mythology, both of which strongly influence his spiritual practice.
Scott has been a full time librarian at the University of MIchigan for the last seven years and is pleased to bring his expertise and enthusiasm to the students of Cherry Hill Seminary and the wider Pagan community. I asked Scott what he thought his major function would be as the new librarian. His vision includes four major focal points:
- He wants to provide academic references and instruction on how to best utilize them - assistance in the research and navigation of the academic source material.
- The increased provision of available resources for use by CHS students. Direction and guidance on how to access available sources and/or how to obtain them if not currently available through CHS.
- He is also very interested in the creation of a technical infrastructure that will assist with ease of access to open-source material and be a gateway for access to more restricted material as well.
Scott's five-year goal is to have a robust library collection that serves CHS students and faculty and, secondarily, the wider Pagan community. The ultimate goal is to have a good set of references and instructional services available. This will partially occur through the collection and subsequent availability of journals, books, and other academic source material.
I asked Scott to share his opinion on the role of scholarship in the Pagan community. He replied that scholarship gives us a set of objective rules to reflect on the history and operation of the community. It's not the end game, but rather a lens through which we look at the world; the more education we have, the wider our lens and the more we can take in.
I also asked him to speak to the concerns of some Pagans that higher education will establish a hierarchy of control, reminiscent of Christendom. Scott replied that there is, currently, no institutional framework for people to excerpt authority even if they are educated. Our communities invest us with authority and they can just as easily take it away. We serve the community, and as a result, there is little in the way for abuse of power or authority.
If you have any questions regarding library material, need help locating source material, or have any questions at all for Scott, you can reach him here. His email address is librarian@cherryhillseminary.org
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There is still time to register for the "Transforming Our World" Leadership Seminar.
"Transforming Our World" earns conference credit towards CHS certificates. Master's students will receive an announcement about the opportunity to complete additional online coursework to earn intensive credit.
Location: Austin, Texas, March 22-24, 2012. Interfaith Chapel of Trinity United Methodist Church, 4001 Speedway, Austin, Texas.
Cost: $150, Includes conference registration. Meals on your own, many nearby restaurants, some walking distance.
Learn more and register here.
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Introduction to Pagan Birth
 Come experience the miracle of pregnancy and birth with Dr. Sarah Whedon as she gives you a Pagan perspective on this beautiful rite of passage. If you would like to learn a little more about Dr. Whedon's thoughts on the intersection of Paganism and birth, you can check out her fantastic blog Pagam Families. This class begins March 12th. Don't miss out!
Instructor: Sarah Whedon, PhD
Class Meetings: No class meetings
Description: Bringing a child into the world can be a disorienting, transformative, magical, terrifying, and joyful process. We'll frame the journey as a labyrinth walk, spiraling in through pregnancy, experiencing the revelation of birth at the center, and spiraling back out through the postpartum period. We'll focus on how to honor what is sacred in this birth journey. Suitable for anybody involved in welcoming new babies into the world - clergy, parents, birth professionals, or godparents.
Your can register for this course here.
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Agora Movie Night Fundraiser
Agora was the movie American theaters were afraid to show at the same time that it was the highest-grossing film of 2009 in Spain. Agora has everything: sexual tension, historical drama, gorgeous Greco-Egyptian sets, and - surprise - religious conflict. At the center of the film is Cherry Hill Seminary's own guardian ancestor, Hypatia of Alexandria, the most renowned mathematician and philosopher of her time (370-415 C.E.), a celebrated teacher, head of the Platonist school of Alexandria, and the last librarian at Alexandria before it was burned by mobs.
Some people are advocating the designation of March 15th as a holiday to mark the birthday of Hypatia of Alexandria, Cherry Hill Seminary's guardian ancestor (she was born in March 350 C.E., though we don't know what day). You can find more information on the history of Hypatia here.
Invite your friends to join you for a movie night and a dessert group discussion afterwards. Cap off the evening by inviting your guests to join The Hypatia Society. The fun kicks off on Hypatia Day (March 15). Hold your party between Hypatia Day and May 1 and you can enter a competition for great prizes. We'll loan you the movie, and everything you need to know is at including a party planner, post-movie discussion questions, postcard invitations, a handout for your guests about Hypatia, an outline of exactly how to do it all, and more. At the end of the party you can invite your guests to join The Hypatia Society of Cherry Hill Seminary.
Prizes will be awarded in these categories:
a. Most memberships turned in
b. Most dollars turned in
c. Most new memberships turned in
d. Most new parties recruited
You can find brochures, flyers, party planners, movie trailers, and all you need to host a successful party here.
Fantastic prizes for party host winners in Hypatia Day campaign! Special thanks to our prize donors:
- Azure Green - $75 gift certificates in each category
- Llewellyn - selection of new titles in each category
- The May Tree - ritual robe
- Ellen Friedman - professional mind-mapping session
- Sage Woman, Witches & Pagans, Crone magazine subscriptions
- And more from Bellandonna's in Columbia, SC, Widderschynnes in Greenville, SC, and Charming Bear in Charleston, SC!
Register your party here.
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