Places I’ll Be in 2010

While my daily blogging routine entails quite a lot of me sitting on my butt behind a desk, I do get out now and then to talk to folks about issues and topics related to the work I do here at The Wild Hunt. So if you are interested in seeing me speak, I have a couple of important engagements scheduled in 2010 that I thought you might like to know about. First, I’ll be attending and presenting at Pantheacon in San Jose, California, this coming February. Pantheacon is the largest indoor gathering of modern Pagans in America, and I’m honored to have been selected as a presenter (I’ll post the schedule once it becomes publicly available). This year’s theme is “Back To Basics”.

“This year’s Theme is Back to Basics — As energy and economics implode we look for more simple ways of life. Our pagan ethics and worship of our Earth Mother help us forge new sustainable lifestyles as we honor the old ways. What we know about the old ways of life, others now acknowledge as new imperatives to be the custodians of our earth. What is the bottom line when it comes to our lives and our spirits? What living skills of our traditions are especially needed for the future?”

I’ll be giving a talk on Pagans and the new media, and while that may not sound very “back to basics” on its surface, I think it certainly covers “living skills” that our interconnected religious communities need for the future. Since the hotel has wireless Internet, I’ll also be blogging from the event, and hopefully conducting interviews with some notable and prominent Pagans while I’m there. So stay tuned for that!

Then, later this year, I’ll be one of the presenters (along with T. Thorn Coyle) at this year’s Pagan Spirit Gathering in Missouri. PSG, which is organized and run by Circle Sanctuary, is one of the oldest and largest Pagan festivals. This year is the event’s 30th anniversary, and I’m truly honored to have been asked to present there.

“At PSG 2010, there will be presentations by a variety of authors including T. Thorn Coyle, Jason Pitz-Waters, and Selena Fox. In addition there will be workshops and performances by musicians including Coyote Run and Damh the Bard. Additional presenters and performers will be announced in coming weeks. As in past years, PSG’s spiritual community begins emerging as participants arrive on opening day, set up camp, meet and greet others, and create a Pagan Town together which will last the entire week of the Gathering. The Sacred Fire is lit during the Opening Ritual and is kept burning throughout the Gathering to symbolize the Solstice Sun and Spirit of the PSG community.”

PSG runs from June 20 – 27, and there is apparently no Internet, or cell coverage, at Camp Zoe, so I’ll be unable to report from the event directly, or access the blog. So expect  to have a whole week of wonderful Wild Hunt guest bloggers!

In addition to my formal talks at these events, I’m hoping to have informal discussions with folks about the importance of building a robust Pagan journalism, along with meeting some of my awesome readers! So if you see me in San Jose or Missouri, don’t be shy, say hi!