Montreal Pagan Resource Centre presents: Pagan Art Expo 2010

The Montreal Pagan Resource Centre (MPRC) is proud to host Montreal’s first Pagan Art Exposition. Our goal is to showcase artistic work created by pagan artists from our community, but also to give these artists a venue in which they can present their work to a larger audience.

The art exposition will be held above the MPRC space on the 3rd floor (1928 Ste. Catherine Street West) from Friday April 23rd to Sunday April 25th, 2010.

The artwork can reflect pagan themes, but this is not a requirement. In the spirit of promoting artists within our pagan community, we are looking to work with artists who themselves follow a pagan spiritualistic path.

We must receive your application no later than April 12th 2010. You can submit your completed application, along with your $20 processing fee, to Le Melange Magique (1928 Ste. Catherine Street West).

You can download a copy of the application from here: Word Document // Adobe PDF

Roles and Responsibilities

• All artistic submissions will be reviewed by a jury that consists of MPRC volunteers. The MPRC jury reserves the right to choose the art works as they see fit. The MPRC jury will NOT select art that promotes violence or hatred of any kind.
• All artwork must be delivered to the exposition space by the artist on April 23rd and must be removed from the exposition space by April 25th.
• All art work must be ready for display.
• All pieces must be firmly attached to a base.
• For three-dimensional pieces, we suggest that the artist provide proper display supports.
• IMPORTANT: Artists are responsible to insure their own art works.  The MPRC is NOT responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged works.

Application Fees and Sales
The MPRC is asking for a $20 processing fee per artist who wishes to submit their work for the Art Exposition. If the artist’s work is not retained for the exposition, the artist will be refunded their $20.

The MPRC requires 10% of any sales made during the Art Exposition, which is to be collected at the end of the exposition (Sunday April 25th).

Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact us at mprccrpm@gmail.com.

The image (entitled Pierre de Lune) was painted by the fabulous Segolene Gautier and used with permission.

Pagan Sunday Brunch for February 2010

February 28th 2010, 10 am sharp
Resto Burgers & Benedicts
2313 rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest (AMC)
(514) 228-5210
Breakfast: <$15

Winter is on its way out, but a hearty breakfast and excellent company can help to stave off the cold! We had such a great brunch here in December during the Yule Fair that we decided to move the brunch here. Come join us!

No level of pagan experience is necessary, but as long as you can wield a knife and fork like a guru master, you'll be respected and admired by your peers.

This is a kid-friendly event, so feel free to bring your offspring.

If you have any questions, send me a message on FB or email me at jdhobbes @ yahoo.ca. If you don't know anybody, don't fret. Ask the resto guys for Hobbes or look for the pentacle.
--
Hobbes

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DIRECTIONS

Resto Burgers & Benedicts is in the Pepsi Forum that houses the AMC Movie theatre and is across Atwater from Alexis Nihon.

BUS/METRO/WALK:
Get to Atwater metro (Green line), cross Atwater from Alexis Nihon, and enter the Pepsi Forum. Its the first resto inside.

Recent Additions to the Library

We've been busy cataloging and shelving a lot of new donations to the MPRC library. Here are three of the recent highlights. We'll be letting you know of others in the coming weeks.

Ritual Magic by E.M. Butler
First published in 1949 by Cambridge University Press, this book explores ritual magic from the pre-Christian era right up to the turn of the last century, including the careers of some notable magicians. It is well referenced and quotes extensive from original documents.

Italian Witchcraft by Raven Grimassi
Written by a long-time and well-known teacher and practitioner of the Craft, Italian Witchcraft explores the roots of Italian Pagan traditionand how it survives today. It includes rites, rituals, correspondences and spells. Some of the historical information is footnoted and there is bibliography.

Principles of Druidry by Emma Restall Orr
This is a nice quick introduction to a spiritual path that more and more people are exploring. In it Emma Restall Orr, who is Joint Chief of the British Druid Order, gives a little bit of histroy and lays the foundation of how Druidry is practiced today.

If you'd like to take a look at these books, or any others in the library, they are available for onsite consulation whenever the MPRC is open.

Divine Relief was a huge success!

Divine Relief, the fund-raising event for Haitian relief, was held today on the 3rd floor of Melange Magique from 12pm to 4pm. This event was sponsored by Montreal Diviners, Catharine Allan, in conjunction with the MPRC and sponsored by Le Melange Magique.

In just four hours, the event raised over $1300, which was given to the Red Cross. Thanks to a commitment from the Canadian government to match any donation amount made to the Red Cross, this increases our donation to over $2600!

The Montreal Pagan Resource Centre itself contributed $65 by selling duplicate books from the community library. The MPRC was also able to contribute $200 on behalf of the Montreal Pagan Community.

Thanks to all who supported this event!

Big Weekend of Events on February 6th and 7th 2010

Loads of stuff going on this weekend. Don't miss any of it!

Saturday:
Public Imbolc Ritual, 2:30pm
Melange Magique, Upstairs
A Ritual For the Season: "Saving the Seed Corn"

February is the time of retreat, contemplation, and discipline.
Beyond our eyes, growth is still happening deep under the snow-covered ground.
We need to be patient to ensure an abundant future: we cannot squander our seed corn.

To bring: A handful of pennies, Drinking vessel for ritual.
Optional: Drum, rattle, pillow
Finger food to share, Eating utensils.

Cost:: A donation as you see fit.
Donations to the Haiti disaster will also be accepted

Sunday:
Divine Relief: a fundraiser for Haitian relief

Time:	12:00pm - 4:00pm
Location:	Le Melange Magique (3rd floor)

Fundraiser for Haitian Relief sponsored by Montreal Diviners, Catharine Allan, in conjunction with the MPRC and sponsored by Le Melange Magique.

This is shaping up to be a great event! We have several well known readers coming to give short readings to you for a suggested donation of $20 for 15 min, $10 for10 min, anything more is greatly appreciated, and anything less will be a really fun quickie reading :) We have Tarot readers, Astrologers, Mediums, Clairvoyants, Palm readers, and a Reiki master all available in one spot so take advantage of this opportunity and give generously to the Red Cross for Haiti as you do!

There will be an opening prayer led by Catharine Allan to kick off the event at 12pm, and a public ritual by JD Hobbes of the MPRC to close the event at 5pm for all who want to attend them.

Healing and Growth Public Ritual
5pm, Melange Magique (3rd floor)
led by Hobbes

Following the Divine Relief fundraiser, there will be a public ritual to raise healing and growth energy for the people of Haiti. This ritual will focus on the power of the earth, so please bring your drums (which is a traditional Earth instrument). 

March Discussion: Internal and External Perceptions on our Beliefs

Good day!

The MPRC holds public discussions on random subjects pertaining to paganism and/or alternative beliefs every first Thursday of the month.

The upcoming discussion:

Topic: Our Pagan/Alternative Spirituality Identities: Internal and External Perceptions
Date: March 4th 2010
Location: (MPRC) Melange Magique boutique; 1928 Ste-Catherine Ouest, Montreal
Cost: Free (change donations welcomed to support MPRC’s community activities)

Let’s Discuss:
How we see ourselves living our paganism/alternative beliefs:
- As practicing individuals
- In our personal circles of family and friends
- As students
- As professionals
How we see ourselves as “communities” or movement:
- Personal Covens or spiritual groups
- Cultural influences on our beliefs (QC-Ont. Example)
- Is there a “need or want” for community/unity?
How the outside sees “us” / their misconceptions and our reputation:
- Are we still perceived as ‘evil worshippers’?
- Are we seen as simply following a “freak” belief system?
- Is the outside opinion important or not? Should we care?
- Discussing our beliefs, still the taboo subject?
- Should we “advocate” as once happened in the early movement?

Looking forward to seeing familiar and new faces.

Cheers,

REMINDER: Thursday, Feb.04 Discussion Night

Happy 2010 Folks!

The MPRC returns to it's monthly discussions. Upcoming:

Topic: Humanity’s Quest for Enlightenment/Ascension
Date: Thursday February 4th, 2010
Location: At the MPRC in the Melange Magic Store 1928 Ste-Catherine West, Montreal
Time: 6h45-8h45pm
Cost: Free! Donations always welcomed

Many People today and throughout history have been on a quest for spiritual or religious enlightenment/ascension. The meaning behind this process has so many variations for different people.

Do you relate to ascension as being the shift of consciousness to another level; finding the true relationship with oneself; or the reuniting with the “source of all”?
Are their stages of evolution that we must go through prior to reaching higher levels of consciousness?
Does enlightenment come with the ascension into higher “realms”?
Is ascension a process of “grades” to go through or simply a moment in which we claim “I’m ready, the time is now.”?

What are your opinions on Christopher’s Penczak’s theories of Ascension (from his book Ascension Magick) such as:

- Literal Ascension: The literal shift of our bodies and souls from this physical plane of existence (3D) to another plane of reality?

- Posthumous Ascension: Occurs when one completes all necessary “levels” of this world and no longer required to return to the cycle of reincarnation?

- Enlightenment: A continuous state of consciousness and in communion with the divine. (ego ascension)

- Next Age Ascension: What does it mean to enter a New Age? Leaving the zodiac Age of Pisces into Aquarius… how do you relate?

- Returning to Source: After having gone through the cycles of life, we return to the source of life. The universe folding “back” into the divine.

- Personal Initiation: The levels of ascension of one’s personal consciousness through experiences on the spiritual path. This includes all life experiences, from pleasures to painful illnesses. Etc.

- The Unknown and Unknowable: It’s a perception thing. Ascension an enlightenment cannot be truly known through our current perceptions or at it’s opposite will be known “depending” on our perceptions…

- Symbolic Ascension: Ascension is not about going anywhere, but about a deeper expression of the spiritual life on a daily basis. Influencing the world around us simply by living a better life. A combination of the personal initiation and the unknowable. Inner and Outer realities being reflections of each other. What separate the two are our perceptions.

Come share with us your opinions, comments and arguments!

Cheers,