Spirituality Track is a Must-See This Year!

Hi, Everyone!

We're really excited about our spirituality panels this year.  We'll be offering an unprecedented NINE panels this year plus a Christian furry panel hosted by mwailmu.  We'll be digging into everything from the mysteries of Bigfoot to the myths of bear behavior.  You never know what you might discover!  Here's your sneak peek at our action packed schedule:

Creating a Pocket Shrine: Friday 3pm-4pm

P'shaw will be hosting this one again (minus the unwanted spider guest this year, we hope!)  She'll be showing you examples of her own shrine work and demonstrating some of the techniques as well as covering a list of hard-learned do's and don'ts when it comes to shrine making.  Totems love these things! They're simple, they're fun, they can go anywhere, and they can be made from found materials.  Come join us, you know your totem wants one!

Christian and Furry - When Worlds Meet: Saturday 10am-11am

mwailmu will be discussing the problem of integrating furry fandom with its infamous reputation and your Christian religion.  No bashing of other religious lifestyles and beliefs, please!

Introduction to Meditation: Saturday 11am-noon

Is it a mystery to you?  Do you have no idea how to get rid of the ten thousand chattering monkeys in your head?  Do you find yourself sprawled on the floor drooling and snoring instead of traveling the dreamtime with your animal companions?  We'll explain what it actually means to meditate and cover some techniques which will help you reach that higher plane of consciousness.  It's not required, but we do strongly suggest that you attend this panel prior to attempting the guided meditation.

Guided Meditation: Saturday Noon-1pm

You've unraveled the mystery, now experience it for yourself.  We'll set the mood and go through a few preparation exercises before taking you on a journey to find your animal guide.  Get comfortable, relax, and follow your subconscious into an exploration of the unknown.

Mysterious Mythicals - Bigfoot: Saturday 1pm-2pm

Does he or doesn't he?  Exist, that is.  He's the original anthropomorphic, often overlooked because of his ape-like connections and too-human nature.  We'll look at sightings from around the world,  investigate several theories for and against his existence...and then let you decide for yourself.

Anthropomorphics Through the Ages - Pacific Northwest: Saturday 2pm-4pm

Most of what we have about these cultures comes to us from totem poles, and those who can read their stories have --- like many of the animals in those stories --- been brought to the brink of extinction.  We'll be exploring these mysterious cultures through its connections to the animals upon which they depended:  Raven, Whale, Loon, Bear, and even Coyote!  It's not what you think or even what you dreamed;  come see why these anthropomorphic animal tales are different from any other.

Pacific Northwest Totems: Saturday 4pm-5pm

Throw everything you thought you knew about totems out the window and come see what the original ones were really like.  We'll be discussing the symbolology and placement of the animals on totems,  the significance of the shapes used to depict them, and you'll have the chance to make your own out of soap.

Shamanic Shapeshifting: Saturday 8pm-9pm

This year's topic is the alchemy of shapeshifting:  the types of shapeshifting which exist, how shapeshifting occurs, its impact on your life and society at large, and how to begin your own shapeshifting journey.

Creative Mythology: Sunday noon-2pm

We all know that mythology exists and we've all heard the old addage that if something isn't used regularly or doesn't adapt and change with the times, it dies.  Are myths useful any more or just entertaining tales for pre-schoolers?  What shapes a modern myth?  Is the change good or bad?  We'll be putting these questions and more in context with our own mythology, the mythology of the fandom and the mythology of MFM.  You'll have the opportunity to help create a collage depicting our mythology, the mythology which made MFM what it is.

Bear Necessities: Sunday 2pm-3pm

If you think you know all there is to know about bears, you just may be wrong.   We'll be addressing the various myths people hold about bears,  inspecting his role in mythology, and addressing his future co-existence with human beings.  This common animal has some not-so-common things to say to all of us.

The following is a list of references for the various panels (some books served as resources for more than one panel):

Meditation

Andrews, Ted.  Animal-Wises
-------------------  Animal Speak
Conway, DJ.  Animal Magick.
Farmer, Steven D.  Power Animals.
Feinson, Roy.  The Animal in You.
Feldman, Christina.  Beginners' Guide to Buddhist Meditation
Kriyananda, Goswami.  Beginner's Guide to Meditation
Scully, Nicki.  Power Animal Meditations

Mysterious Mythicals - Bigfoot

Coleman, Loren.  Bigfoot!  The True Story of Apes in America
----------------------   The Field Guide to Bigfoot and Other Mystery Primates
Meldrum, Jeff.  Sasquatch:  Legend Meets Science

Anthropomorphics Through the Ages - Pacific Northwest

Beck, Mary L.  Hearoes & Heroiens in  Tlingit- Haida Legend
Cameron, Anne.  How the Loon Lost Her Voice
---------------------  How Raven Freed the Moon
---------------------  Orca's Song
Coates, Peter.  Salmon
Goldin, Barabar Diamond.  Coyote and the Fire Stick
Harris, Lorle K.  Tlingit Tales: Potlatch and Totem Pole
Jackson, Kevin.  Moose
McDermott, Gerald.  Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest
Reid, Martine J.  Myths and Legends of the Haida Indians of the Northwest:  Children of the Raven
Roman, Joe. Whale.
Ruddell, Nancy.  Raven's Village:   The Myths, Arts, and Traditions of Native People from the Pacific Northwest Coast

Bear Necessities

Biedar, Robert E.  Bear
Brunner, Bernd.  Bears: a Brief History
Dolson, Silvia.  Bear-ology.
Poulson, Else.  Smiling Bears.

Creative Mythology

Campbell, Joseph.  The Masks of God:  Creative Mythology

Totem Poles

Garfield, Viola E. and Linn A. Forrest The Wolf and the Raven:  Totem Poles of Southeastern Alaska
Halpin, Marjorie M.  Totem Poles: an Illustrated Guide
Hill, Wayne and James McKee.  Carve Your Own Totem Pole
Kramer, Pat.  Alaska's Totem Poles.
Stewart, Hilary.  Looking at Indian Art of the Northwest Coast

Shamanic Shapeshifting

Andrews, Ted.  The Art of Shapeshifting
Eliade, Mircea.  Shamanism.
Frazer, James. The Golden Bough.
Lupa.  Fang, Fur, Blood, and Bone
Madden, Kristin.  The Book of Shamanic Healing
Perkins, John. Shapeshifting.
Ryan, Robert E.  The Strong Eye of Shamanism
Vitebsky, Piers.  The Shaman: Voyages of the Soul
Wolfe, Amber.  In the Shadow of the Shaman.