In Search of Aphrodite: Finding and honoring the Goddess within

A healing and support group for women

This discussion and support group is facilitated by Thuri Calafia, and is designed to help women explore, discover, heal, and nurture their sexuality in a support group atmosphere where everyone has a voice. Admission is free – but donations are always welcome.

*****Unfortunately the Aphrodite group is on hold for right now, as I've lost my venue. As soon as I can get another venue secured, we'll be up and running again and I'll post details. Thanks for your patience!*****


Topics will include both new and different subjects, and subjects from past group discussions - all around finding and freeing our truest sexuality. Some nights will be discussion, some nights, ritualized activities designed to help women discover and free the deeper mysteries of their sexuality, some nights will be field trips to local venues for entertainment, refreshment, and blatant acting up!

Topics include but are not limited to:

Finding Partners - Dating with an Aphrodite consciousness
Erotica vs. pornography
Who is/was Aphrodite, anyway?
The darker side of human sexuality
Contradictions in advertising (sex as taboo, sex as commodity) & other cultural messages.
Overcoming western domestication
The fusion of sex & violence
BDSM and power exchange relationships.
Body image
Gender -based differences in how children are treated
What is "normal" or "natural" sexuality/cultural swings - from puritanical to permissive and everything in between.
Self-discovery in spite of a rigid cultural philosophy - what are our choices, really? (orientation, drive, and lovestyle - from monogamy to swinging to polyamory).
Sacred sexuality, sex magic and Tantra
Finding and freeing your inner Aphrodite
Labels and taboos

All Circles class levels are set up like college courses, with homework, required reading, regular quizzes, and testing before any Rite of Passage (such as initiation) takes place. Students who do not wish to pursue initiation are not required to do the homework or reading of other books, but those things are encouraged, as they help a person learn.

Orientation and The Basics:
The first class for any student is the Orientation and Basics lesson, which gives the student the foundation for the Wheel of the Year classes. The O&B clases are scheduled for each student or group of students as needed. The beauty of this system is that it eliminates the frustrating period of time students must often wait (as with most Wicca 101s) before the next class session begins. Once the Orientation and Basics class is completed, the student simply "jumps on the wheel", joining the rest of the class in a smooth and seamless transition.

The Wheel of the Year Classes:
The first class of each month is the Monthly Lesson, which is lecture/discussion, and the students are encouraged to ask questions and contribute their ideas and insights to the discussion. These can get pretty lively, and we all learn a lot!

Pathworkings:
The second class is the hands-on portion of study, which can be anything from making Witchy brews like healing ointments and magical powders and incenses, to divination practice, energy work, Pagan songs and chants, holiday-oriented crafts, and many other things, even including rituals which the students help write and participate in.

Meeting days and times:
Dedicant Monthly Lesson - 1st Tuesday evenings of the month, from 7pm to 9pm
Initiate Monthly Lesson - (starting in October) will meet on the 2nd Tuesday evening, also from 7pm to 9pm.
Pathworkings - all levels meet together for these - are on the 3rd Tuesday evening, also from 7pm to 9pm.
*Class activities in Pathworkings, if involving cleanup, end a little early so we can all clean up and be out of the shop by the time it closes.

Class Fees:
Orientation and Basics -
As stated, this class is scheduled on an as-needed basis (the student simply needs to let me know they want to start), and is a longer class - it's 4 hours (the regular classes are 2 hours), which costs $50. The fee for O&B includes a copy of my book for that level. Dedicants (beginning level students) will recieve DEDICANT: A Witch's Circle of Fire; A Course of Study in the Old Religion, and Initiates will recieve a copy of INITIATE: A Witch's Circle of Water, in manuscript form (Initiates will recieve a copy when the book comes out). Other textbooks are required as well, but for the more financially challenged student (who isn't financially challenged in these trying times?) there is a loan library available with all the required books.

Wheel of the Year classes cost $25 each and meet twice a month. I offer a $5 discount for pre-pay, which makes the classes $20 each (you only have to pay one class in advance for this discount). I also offer a "friends" discount - if two or more people sign up at a time, they'll get another $5 off as long as both folks remain in class, so that would bring the price down to $15 per class (if they also pre-pay, of course).

Circles School Location:
Circles School has lost her home, but will be back stronger than ever soon! For now, I'm holding classes in my home. If you're interested, please feel free to contact me and we can meet for coffee.

Getting Started:
Is easy - just let me know you want to come to class, and we'll schedule an O&B class for you at both of our earliest convenience!

Bright Blessings,
Thuri

Like any experienced Witch, I do readings for folks - my chosen method is the runes. Prices for readings of course will vary according to the amount of time spent. I also do energy exchanges - one reading for another works, as do other exchanges. If interested, message me and we'll open a dialogue about it.

Currently, I'm exploring a new kind of intuitive reading, called "Soul Portraits" and "Soul Masks", and am looking for victims, errrr volunteers to help me build my portfolio. These are free of charge at this time. Again, if interested, let me know and we'll talk.

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Soul Portraits and Soul Masks...
Relax into the moment and enjoy candlelight, incense, your favorite music, and the presence of the Divine. Visualize the face of your chosen deity… connect... deepen... reveal your innermost self and let your spirit soar! As you do so, Thuri sinks into trance and creates a soul portrait just for you. Using her deepest intuition, psychic vision, and artistic skills, she will create for you a one-of-a-kind piece you can use for meditation, contemplation, and celebration of self and spirit. For an even deeper imprint, lie down and go into trance with her as she applies masking material to your face and creates your personal soul mask from the cast. Soul masks can be used for all the same things soul portraits can, plus they can be worn and used in meditations, sacred dance, spiritual journeying, and invoking your chosen deity.