February | 2018 | Stone and Stang

The Brothers of the Unnamed Path are excited to announce that Stone and Stang returns in 2018!

Stone and Stang 2018
Into the Cauldron: Silence and Renewal

In these times of chaos and strife, we return to the Cauldron of the Goddess to incubate new wisdom and understanding within. Practices of silence creates space for our spiritual gifts as Men Who Love Men. We come together to connect with each other, the Land, Ancestors, Spirits of Nature, and the Gods.

Poster art by St. Jinx

Friday Night Keynote Speaker

ANDREW RAMER

In 1990 Harry Hay blessed Andrew Ramer as “a younger elder of the tribe.” Mark Thompson interviewed him for his 1994 book Gay Spirit along with fifteen other writers, healers, teachers and visionaries of the gay spirituality movement. Andrew’s own books include Two Flutes Playing: A Spiritual Journeybook for Gay Men, Queering the Text: Biblical, Medieval, and Modern Jewish Stories, and Revelations for A New Millennium. You can read more about him and his work at andrewramer.com

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Feb 10 – July 31 – Registration Fee: $100 (Includes Dinner Friday, Lunch & Dinner Saturday & Sunday) + Lodging Choice (See Below)

August 1 – September 21 – Registration Fee: $125 (Includes Dinner Friday, Lunch & Dinner Saturday & Sunday) + Lodging Choice (See Below)

Lodging Options Include

Camping: $40/night @ 3 Nights = $120

Dorm: $70/night @ 3 nights = $210

Onsite Tents (shared): $55/Night @ 3 nights = $165

STONE AND STANG 2018 SCHEDULE

Friday October 5th, 2018

4pm – Orientation (Stone and Stang Planning Committee)

5pm – Dinner

7pm – Keynote Address – Awakening the Elder Within: No matter your current age (Andrew Ramer)

Inner Child work was popular in the 1970s and ‘80s. If we are going to survive and thrive on this planet we need a counterbalance to that energy, which we can access by connecting with our Inner Elder. Grounded in the Goddess and in Father Earth, we will journey together through sound and silence, using movement and meditation to help us awaken and active a newly evolving chakra in our bodies. Doing this will empower us to more fully take our place as gay elders in a world that sorely needs our wisdom, our visions, and our innate healing gifts.

9pm – Opening Ritual – Entering the Cauldron (Dayan Martinez)

We enter the Womb of the Goddess, which is the Cauldron of Rebirth, by first placing ourselves in the embrace of the Land. Supporting the theme of this year’s gathering, we call upon the Land of the Santa Cruz Mountains to enfold and nurture us as we embark on these journeys. With our bodies, minds, and spirits, we learn to embody the divine vessels needed to carry this wisdom into the depths of our being.

Saturday, October 6th, 2018

9am – Exercise – Aligning the Three Selves (Buck Agrios)

We will be exploring the concept of the 3 Souls as identified across a number of traditions and cultures. We will learn about their individual identities and placement as well as a practical meditation technique to bring them into alignment as taught through the Unnamed Path.

10am – Talking About Two Flutes Playing (Andrew Ramer)

First published in 1990 by Body Electric and moving toward a new incarnation, the subtitle of Two Flutes Playing – A Spiritual Journeybook for Gay Men – says it all. There are stories, meditations, exercises, and spiritual practices, some of which we will explore in our time together. You don’t have to have read the book to participate in this workshop, which will include time to discuss and ask questions about the book, and time to explore ways that it can be used in the 21st century.

Noon – Lunch

2pm – Working with the Fetch (Buck Agrios)

Through this workshop we will be developing a deeper understanding of and connection to our Fetch also known as our Double Skin. This is the part of us that can be sent out in spirit journey work and hedge crossings. Through this workshop we will be calling on and seducing our Fetch to come forward and craft its own fetish. This can be used for offerings, magical workings and to continue to develop a stronger bond.

4pm – The Three Cauldrons and Shadow Work (David Shorey)

Within the Unnamed Path and across many magical & spiritual communities, there have been identified 3 Cauldrons which serve as a source of power and healing. In this workshop we will focus on utilizing these energy centers to draw upon when we do shadow work, both for personal empowerment and also as a means of healing your shadow.

6pm – Dinner

8pm – Shamanism & the Cauldron of Regeneration (Jan Kinsey) & Main Ritual (Tommie StarChild & All)

We will journey to the Cauldron of Regeneration for our own renewal and the renewal of our queer tribe. We will be working with our spirit helpers and gatekeepers. We will explore how gay men can help each other restore & renew. What do you need from your brothers to renew and regenerate? What do you offer? What do we need from our tribe, and how do we create that?

This workshop will transition directly into the Main Ritual for the weekend

Sunday, October 7th, 2018

9am – Exercise – Aligning the Three Selves (Buck Agrios)

See Saturday – 9:00 am

10am – The Art of Silence and The Power of Listening (Mathew Sydney)

The practice of silence is a lost art in the modern world. Drowning out mental silence with television, music, reading etc. prevents us from hearing the voice of our deeper self. This workshop focuses on the cultivation of the art of silence with three goals. One: connecting with self – hearing the voice of one’s own feelings with more clearly while using the silence to as a tool of discernment and analysis. Two: connecting with others – using silence as a tool to help us listen with an aim towards understanding others rather than focusing on how we are going to respond. Three: connecting with spirit – cultivating silence in order to improve our ability to hear the spirits.

Noon – Lunch

2pm – Radical Silence and Group Shadow Work (Donald Hua)

Shadow Work as practiced in Western traditions is often an individual journey. However, most of our Shadow wounds are caused by unhealthy relationships with others – whether it be with our parents, peers, communities, or with society. As such, truly powerful Shadow Work should include healing with other people. During this workshop we will discuss power dynamics, systems of oppression, how silence can contribute to our Shadow wounds and oppression, and how to heal in community. Trigger warning as trauma, sexism, racism, and queer phobia will be discussed.

4pm – Spiritual Cleansing (David Shorey)

As spiritual and magical workers, we often find ourselves dripping with the Ick and Muck of our work. This is a workshop focused on self-care techniques to utilize when the weight of the world is sitting on our shoulders.

6pm – Dinner

8pm – Patrick Cowley Dance Party (Matthew Sydney and All)

Patrick Cowley (1950 – 1982) was a pioneer of electronic dance music. Cowley collaborated and toured with Sylvester in the late 1970s. In the early 1980s, Cowley enjoyed solo success with his hits “Menergy” and “Megatron Man.” Cowley’s music was popular in the gay club scene of the 1980s and has influenced succeeding generations of dance music composers and producers. We recognize Patrick Cowley as one of our Ancestors of Men Who Love Men and we seek to use his music not only to celebrate life but also to honor both the artist and, by extension, all of our queer ancestors.

Monday, October 8th, 2018

9am – Exercise – Aligning the Three Selves (Buck Agrios)

See Saturday – 9:00 am

10am – Closing Ritual

Noon – Depart