Spirituality Track Schedule for 2010
Boy, are we excited to present our final schedule. It's just jam packed with activities, old and new. Take a look and come see us!
Thursday
Meet and Greet - 7pm-8pm (Chestnut)
Just come by and chat about spirituality, make new connections, and get to know one another better. We'll be providing drinks and a cheese and meat selection in addition to some home made Middle Eastern sweets for you to gnaw on while you do. Afterwards....
Lawrence of Arabia - Thurs 9pm-1am (Chestnut)
Actually held in our room. We'll post a notice on the door and make an announcement at the end of the meet and greet. Why this movie and what has it got to do with spirituality? Many of you may know that this man's politics helped shape the region as it is today but what you may NOT know is that he was also an expert in camels (one of the main sources of our knowledge about this animal) and that he was an archeologist before he was a politician. Few references for the region refrain from citing at least one quotation from his writings and he is responsible for unearthing much of the original information found about the Hittites at Charchemish. It's well worth a look at his life in the Middle East, if only for the cinematic brilliance of the movie itself...and perhaps for the camels.
Friday
Yoga With Simtra - Fri 10am-10:30am (Fir)
Simtra will teach you a bit about yoga and its benefits and then show you some basic poses. It's a great way to wake your mind up and prepare for the exciting things MFM has to offer this year.
Intro to Meditation - Fri 11am-Noon (Pavilion)
NEW! For the first time ever we'll be able to offer this panel in a natural setting, weather permitting. If you've got a yoga mat or other materials you use for meditation, bring them along so that you can use them. If you're new to it or have never meditated before, just relax in the background of our natural setting and let your mind figure out the rest. Highly recommended that you bring a blanket or a pillow; we can't guarantee that we'll be on grass or that, if we are, the ants and other insects won't decide to join us.
Guided Meditation - Fri Noon-2pm (Pavilion)
NEW! Again, for the first time ever this one will be held in a natural setting. We'll talk about animal messengers, what they mean, and how you may encounter them before sending you on a journey of your own. We plan on using a real drum while one of us recites the meditation instead of using a CD so this is a real must-see experience.
Mysterious Mythicals - Sphinx - Fri 2pm-4pm (Chestnut)
Almost everyone recognizes THE Sphinx from Egyptian lore and the monument which resides by the pyramids at Giza. What you may not know is the the sphinx in one form or another is present in many other cultures throughout the world, each with its unique form, lore, and meaning. We invite you to explore the many forms, meanings, and stories of this fascinating mythical creature. He's even found his way into contemporary works and novels.
Anthro Through the Ages - Fri 7pm-9pm (Chestnut)
Cradle of Civilization: We'll be examining some of the earliest available lore humanity has to offer. The cultures of the Tigris and Euphrates which became the peoples of the Middle East first took root along these two rivers and the spot is one of only three in the world designated as a source from which humanity spread throughout the globe. We'll be examining the symbolic meaning of the animals found in the area, their role in the mythology, and what they may mean to us now (excludes Egypt, which we plan on covering another year).
Howl - Fri 9pm-11pm (Pavilion)
Got a drum or rattles? Dying to dance in ceremonial gear with your totem? Want to howl at the moon in remembrance? Come out here under the stars and join us for just that. Bring your own instruments, your own ritual gear, and celebrate or mourn. It is what you make it.
Saturday
Furry and Christian - Sat 10am-11am (Chestnut)
Presented by the same faithful panelist as last year, this round table discussion provides a venue through which Christian furs can make contact with others of the same faith and discuss the joys and difficulties of mixing an often misunderstood hobby with a religion which may misinterpret or outright reject involvement in that hobby.
Yoga With Simtra - Sat 10am-10:30am (Fir)
Personal Shrines - Sat Noon-1pm (Chestnut)
P'shaw has learned all sorts of new tricks and techniques which she hopes to share with you in this panel. Again, because we have the advantage of being able to go outside it may be possible to demonstrate the making of a shrine from painting to punching. See what she has to offer.
Creative Mythology - Sat 1pm-2pm (Chestnut)
Just how does a myth form? How does it change in context with the changing of a society? We'll be looking at these questions with the furry fandom in mind. What is our mythology? What is yours? Where is it going next?
Shamanic Shapeshifting - Sat 8pm-10pm (Chestnut)
The context of shamanic shapeshifting isn't new, but its application to the furry fandom may be. We'll be demonstrating some general guidelines built upon prior techniques talked about in Meditation and making suggestions for progressing toward a better shapeshifting experience for those who wish it so.
Furry Fems Pajama Party - Sat 10pm-1am (Chestnut)
The furry fems pajama party is back! For the first time ever, we're holding it as an actual pajama party. Come in your jammies, make yourself comfortable, and we'll sit around gossiping and talking the night away. E-mail myself or P'shaw prior to the convention with a movie we might all enjoy and we can gather around the DVD player. You are encouraged to bring your own snack items to share; we'll have some drinks and one or two main dish type items. No men allowed. No alcohol permitted (don't bring it and don't ask for it).
Sunday
Bear Necessities - Sun 11am-1pm (Chestnut)
NEW! (but old) This panel was presented last year but so many people liked it that it's getting an encore presentation. Just about everything you thought you knew about these creatures is dead wrong. Stupid? Slow? Slothful? Perhaps not. Come find out more about these awesome, terrifying, and misunderstood critters.
That's Bull - Sun 1pm-3pm (Chestnut)
Well, maybe not quite bull....but that's what a male camel is called all the same. In spite of our modern times, this mammal is still one of the least understood and seldom studied. So little is known about it that even the basic biological facts are often in dispute. We are lucky enough to be having someone who actually works with camels helping to present this panel. You'd be surprised at what they can do, and you might even find yourself wanting one.
If you think you might be able to contribute to the panels, please contact us. We always welcome another opinion or another wise head. Also, please give us your ideas for cultures you want to see explored in the coming year and panels you would like to see make a re-appearance. Like some of the genies in "Arabian Nights", we're yours to command!