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The Director's Desk
The zephyr breath of spring ushered in a wave of home parties by Cherry Hill Seminary supporters around the country in observance of Hypatia Day. The parties will go on through May 1, but already we are hearing poignant comments by hosts who have shown their guests the movie Agora. Most are deeply touched by the similarities between 4th century CE Alexandria and our current times. The sharpest impression is of the critical importance of education, shared knowledge and the free discussion of ideas in a safe public place (the agora).
Many people tell us how much Cherry Hill Seminary means to them, just as the Library of Alexandria was prized as the jewel of the classical period. Human nature is prone to leap to assist in an emergency, but less inclined to provide the ongoing support needed for community resources such as CHS. Why does Cherry Hill Seminary need and deserve your support when there are so many other needs around us?
Changing times force us to re-examine what we will need to face the future, what things we wish to bequeath to our children and grandchildren. Cherry Hill Seminary has worked for years to cut and polish our jewel, make it stronger and more business-like, respond to the needs of an ever-widening Pagan world, and become sustainable over the long haul. A host of generous volunteers collaborate to create the learning opportunities found in our virtual walls.
A program like Cherry Hill Seminary with no endowment to support it is almost unheard-of. Even the for-profit colleges dotting today's educational landscape start out with significant investment capital (and often significant debt). By contrast, Cherry Hill Seminary has grown slowly and naturally, like the fruit tree in our name. But every orchard needs tending; without public support we remain vulnerable, a resource used primarily by the few who can pay our modest tuition. With financial growth and stability will come the ability to apply for accreditation; with accreditation Cherry Hill Seminary students will be able to use federal student loans and veterans' benefits.
Like no other season, spring manifests with dramatic bursts of color, scent, rainstorms and fertility. Make your own dramatic flourish by hosting an Agora party and by making a contribution to our spring drive.
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Student Profile - Eric Kalkhurst
Eric Kalkhurst speaks English, Madarin, and French and is currently living in Hong Kong. He is 66 and very much enjoying his retirement. Eric is a man of few words and a solitary practitioner; however, he has an avid thirst for learning and this is what ultimately brought him to Cherry Hill Seminary.
"What brought me to CHS was the assortment of courses that will expand my reading lists."
Eric has no specific plans for the utilization of the knowledge or degree gained at CHS, but simply enjoys the vast array of topics and coures offered in a professional atmosphere.
Eric is a wonderful example of the amazing diversity of students, in terms of age, location, and reason for attending.
"I am almost 66 years old. I am retired and plan to remain retired. The only goal is learning and Cherry Hill Seminary is the best place I know of to do that."
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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
May 14 - End summer registration
May 21 - Begin summer classes
May 21 - Foundations 1 classes begin
May 28 - Drop/Add deadline midnight tonight
For Faculty
April 21 - Foundations 3 grades due to office by instructors
May 6 - Grades due to office by instructors
May 10 - Fall course proposals due to department chair
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New Artist-in-Residence, Annie Finch
Annie Finch received her BA in English from Yale, her MA in Creative Writing from the University of Houston, and her PhD in English and American Literature from Stanford. She has served as both adjunct faculty and as a professor at a number of universities and is the author of several books and collections of poetry. Her full CV can be seen here.
Annie: "As the Artist-in-Residence at Cherry Hill Seminary, I will be doing my best to embody what CHS is about, channeling everything I can from the CHS community and expressing that in my poetry. I will also be producing four original pieces of original poetry or prose for Cherry Hill Seminary four times a year. I look forward to getting to know people in the community!"
Annie describes her background as an eclectic, earth-centered Pagan with a focus on women's mysteries. She has been absorbing different spiritual paths since she was a small child and has had a deep connection with the Reclaiming Path since moving to San Francisco. Starhawk has been a large influence in Annie's life, especially her book, Dreaming the Dark, as well as Susan Reed and Patricia Monaghan.
She has written poetry her whole life and published more than 20 books. Her role models are the Celtic Bards who "knew the craft of poetry so thoroughly that it became something of a spiritual path itself." Annie is also passionate about the use of meter in poetry. She considers it a lost art and has dedicated her life's work to exploring poetry's rhythms. She has been inspired by WB Yeats, who has been an enormous influence based on his dramatic rendering of poems and lyricism. Like Yeats, she is inspired by ritual theatre. Annie: "I am so excited to be a part of Cherry Hill Seminary. CHS seems to be upping the ante for Contemporary Paganism, bringing a needed centrality to Pagan thought and sensibilities. It is the only institution doing the things it does and I am impressed." I asked Annie what unique things she brings to the Cherry Hill Seminary family. Annie: "Any complete approach to the world needs to deal with the soul, the mind, the body, and the heart. Through poetry, I hope to bring the heart to meet the mind and soul of Cherry Hill Seminary. With rhythm and image, the tools of my art, I hope to express and strengthen the heart of this wonderful community, to help integrate soul and mind with heart and body. Annie Finch in a line? "Word are performative and our tools to make magic. Words are magic and I am waver of their spells."
EVE
When mother Eve took the first apple down
from the tree that grew where nature's heart had been
and came tumbling, circling, rosy, into sin,
which goddesses were lost, and which were found?
What spirals moved in pity and unwound
across our mother's body with the spin
of planets lost for us and all her kin?
What serpents curved their mouths into a frown,
but left their bodies twined in us like threads
that lead us back to her? Her presence warms,
and if I follow closely through the maze,
it is to where her remembered reaching spreads
in branching gifts, it is to her reaching arms
that I reach, as if for something near to praise.
You can learn more about Annie Finch and her work by visiting her website. |
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M. Macha NightMare Receives Prestigious Award.
The Patrick McCollum Foundation has awarded a grant to M. Macha NightMare (Aline O'Brien) in support of her work in interfaith relations.
As a National Interfaith Representative of the Covenant of the Goddess (CoG), and as an individual Pagan, Macha has been actively involved with Marin Interfaith Council, the Interfaith Center of the Presidio, and other interfaith organizations. She participates in the Marin Interfaith Street Chaplaincy's annual Thanksgiving program for Marin County's homeless population, as well as its annual memorial for those who died in the streets. Currently she is collaborating on Beyond Memorial Day: Understanding the Hidden Wounds of War, a conference focusing on the spiritual needs of returning military veterans and their families, under the overall aegis of the Interfaith Center of the Presidio.
"I take the words of Swiss Roman Catholic theologian Hans Kung seriously when he says, 'There will be no peace among nations until there is peace among religions. And there will be no peace among religions until there is dialogue among religions.' My life has been enriched by my friendships with my interfaith colleagues of many different religions. I am both proud and humbled by this award," says Macha.
The Patrick McCollum Foundation's work "focuses on seeing the sacred within each and every human being and bringing together people of all spiritual paths, to work together toward global sustainability and world peace."
Macha reports on her activities on her blog, The Broomstick Chronicles , and on CoG's interfaith blog . For more information, contact Macha NightMare at herself@machanightmare.com or 415 454-4411.
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Registration for Summer 2012 is open!
Class: Indigenous Religions and Cultures T6475/N6125
Start Date: May 21, 2012
Instructor: Grant Potts, Ph.D
Class meetings: None
Description: As Pagan media outlets grow and diversify, it can be confusing to navigate and effectively communicate your goals and values to the very people you hope to serve. In this 4-week course, we will discuss and explore how to engage with Pagan media outlets, what to do, what not to do, and why this sort of outreach matters.
 Class: Dreams in Spiritual Mentoring M5009/P5009Start Date: May 21, 2012
Instructor: Anne Hill, D. Min.
Class meetings: Wed. 5pm
Description:Dreams have played an important historic role in Pagan traditions as a reliable means of direct communication with the Gods, ancestors, and nature spirits, for healing, prophecy, and intercession. Our use of dreams today is heavily influenced by Jung and other modern thinkers, as well as traditional and shamanic ideas about dreams. The first part of this course highlights some of the ways human cultures have viewed and interpreted their dreams, and used them in a ritual or sacred context. The second part of the class concerns dreams as a modern source of divination and spiritual direction. Using current research, their own dream material, and an interactive class dream group, students will develop a framework for using dreams in spiritual mentoring, and identify approaches to dreams that make the most sense for contemporary Pagans. Students will be expected to participate in regular discussion forums, as well as submit periodic reflective writing.
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Class: Introduction to Fundraising, Foundations Session 1
Start Date: May 21, 2012
Instructor: Holli S. Emore
Class meetings: 8pm (ET) Mondays.
Description: Philanthropy is a bedrock of American democracy, providing a balance between a purely corporate or a purely socialist state. But not only is it key to our survival, it's a joy to give! Pagan groups and organizations are emerging from half a century or more of conflicted emotions about money, crippling growth or even sustainability. And yet, many potential donors say that they wonder why they are not asked to support the causes they believe in. Fundraising is not about selling things for profit, or harassing people you don't know. It's about building long-term relationships using time-tested and proven-effective strategies. Over the course of the class you will begin to develop your own fundraising plan. Four Monday evening live Skype chats (9PM ET), plus online classroom discussion and light assignments.
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