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Saturday, November 9, 1:45 pm to 3:45 pm
201 We Are the Stories We Tell Renée Brachfeld
Sacred stories may wear the clothing of a single tradition, but the
truth contained in them often resonates across traditions. Deepen your
understanding of the power and importance of stories in Jewish
tradition. Through discussion, guided practice, games and
improvisation, we will learn about the art and skill of storytelling and
the importance of stories in our lives and faith. Come gain new stories
to tell as your own. Renée Brachfeld is a professional storyteller who
works in worship, workshop and performance settings.
202 Women’s Paths of Prayer Sophy Burnham
Prayer is the power of thought and the palpable energy that we call
love. Using lessons from five principle traditions, we will discuss and
practice different ways of prayer. We’ll explore what happens when we
pray, whether prayers are answered and what to make of unanswered
prayer. Learn principles and practices of prayer that you can carry
forward and apply to wherever you are in your spiritual life. Sophy
Burnham was raised Episcopalian and has studied Buddhism and Hinduism.
She is author of 13 books including A Book of Angels, Angel Letters and
the new title The Path of Prayer.
203 The Values of Belonging Carol Lee Flinders
Are you weary from the gender struggles in your spiritual community?
Women of faith in different religions and cultures experience “the
gender knot,” low-level skirmishes or bitter public confrontations that
exact a heavy toll on communities of worship. Through lecture,
discussion and meditation, we will look at the roots of differences
through history and prehistory and learn a new story line where the
value of belonging is alive and well. Carol Lee Flinders is the author
of The Values of Belonging: Rediscovering Balance, Mutuality, Intuition
and Wholeness in a Competitive World and two other books on the
intersection between feminism and meditative spirituality.
204 One Light but Many Lamps Michele George
We are created from the vibration of sound. Creation stories from all
times, all cultures and all religions celebrate this. As women we
possess one unique voice, as seekers we possess voices of glorious
diversity and profound harmony. Come for a playful session as we
acknowledge the universality of the voice, both literal and
metaphorical, that unites us as the feminine manifestation of creation.
We will play through song, story, breath, laughter and the silence
through which true insight is revealed. Michele George is an actor,
singer, director and corporate communications consultant who helps
others reclaim their true, natural voices.
205 Path of Devotion and Heart of Healing Kamakshi Hart
Open to the possibility of touching the universal understanding that
allows us to embrace ourselves and each other. Through devotional
chanting of the names of God and the use of rituals and movement, we
will become a voice for the Divine Love that holds us all in Sanatana
Dharma, the world as one family. Sanskrit chanting, readings from
sacred Hindu and Yogic scriptures, stories of the deities and moderate
yoga movements will allow us to experience Bhakti yoga, the path of
devotion. Kamakshi Hart is the founder and director of DancingHeart
Center for Yoga on Capitol Hill.
206 Interfaith Spirituality for Our Children and Ourselves Julia
Jarvis and Ellen Jennings
What is “interfaithness” and how do we
incorporate it into our families? Come hear how one woman’s dream of
creating a spiritual home for interfaith families evolved into a large,
thriving, spiritually growing community. Share stories about how
interfaith children are being raised and how we would like them to be
raised, and learn about resources that will help make religious
education more fun and creative. Julia Jarvis is the director and
spiritual leader of InterFaith Families Project of the Greater DC Area.
Ellen Jennings is the director of religious education for the
Project.
207 Unfolding the Wings: Stories of Baha’i Women Mona Khademi
Come hear the inspiring stories of women who have put their faith into
action and strengthened their bonds globally. Through their tales, we
will learn about how the Baha’i principles of peacemaking and work as
form of worship have been translated into action. Take in the poetry of
Tahirih, a poet who worked to emancipate the women of 19th century Iran,
and experience Baha’i prayers through live and taped chants. Mona
Khademi is a member of the elected administrative council of the Baha’is
of Washington, DC. She will be assisted by Donna Denize, Leyli
Miller-Muro and Ruth Sakwa.
208 What the Body Holds Patricia McMillan LaViscount
Deepen your
familiarity with the spiritual practices that utilize the unity of mind
and body. Discover what the body holds in the eyes, hands and knees and
how it meshes with the spirit. Using the practice of Quaker centering,
we will be guided into silence. Out of this silence, we will share the
messages that our bodies hold. Through creative play exercises and
discussion, we will share prayer at the conclusion of this time
together. Patricia McMillan LaViscount is a poet, writer, storyteller
and member of the Religious Society of Friends.
209 Bridging Troubled Waters Michelle LeBaron
Differences can be
bridged when we use the full range of our gifts. Put your spiritual
awareness into action and discover resources for transforming conflict.
Together we will explore how our diverse spiritual ways of knowing
create openings, connect us across differences and help us through
conflict. We will learn about a relational approach to transforming
conflict that draws on and mobilizes our spiritual resources and leads
us on the path to peace. Michelle LeBaron is a professor at the
Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason
University in Fairfax, VA.
210 Honoring Oneness Through Cultural Diversity Kiamsha Madelyn
Leeke
Diverse cultures beautify Mother Earth and human skin
decorates the universe in a rainbow of shades. Come discuss and
artistically express how our gender and spiritual, cultural and ethnic
identities help us appreciate our connection to all human beings. Learn
about sacred traditions, scriptures, proverbs and affirmations from
diverse sources that promote human oneness and in the creation of
artistic expressions of our womanist spirit. Kiamsha Madelyn Leeke is
the owner of Kiamsha.com, a company that allows her to share her gifts
as an artist, poet, writer, workshop presenter and business consultant.
211 Marking the Passages as Sacred Tiffany Montavon and Kathryn
Wysockey-Johnson
Marking the passages in our lives connects us to
community, our deeper selves and the Divine, and reminds us that we are
not alone. Each of us will name a life event or passage that we wish to
mark. Then, we will create a ritual or ceremony, based on our own faith
and cultural traditions, to honor the event. Tiffany Montavon is a
Coach for Life, a yoga teacher, a Faith at Work retreat leader and a
moderator of the Seekers Church Learners and Teachers mission group.
Kathryn Wysockey-Johnson is a visual artist and teacher, a group
facilitator for a domestic violence program, a counselor and a new
mother.
212 Faith and Love from a Buddhist Perspective Sharon Salzberg
Faith and love connect us all no matter what our religious preferences
might be. By combining devotion and the intellect, we develop genuine
ease with the world and ourselves. We will experience lovingkindness
meditations and have the opportunity to talk and ask questions. By
stripping away negative conceptions that dismiss faith as divisive or
requiring blind adherence to a belief system, we begin to understand
faith as a healing refuge that can be nurtured in us all. Sharon
Salzberg, author and meditation teacher, has been leading Buddhist
meditation retreats worldwide for almost 30 years.
213 Befriending the Inner Soul Sister Pythia Peay
Though our
lives may be busy with social networking and professional
accomplishments, many us yearn for a relationship with our true self.
As found in the Sufi tradition, we will explore our connection to the
“feminine soul” — that invisible being who guides our footsteps and
watches over us with love and attention. Through readings, meditation,
chanting, sacred music, drawing and journaling, we will connect with and
talk about our inner lives to satisfy the nameless longing for something
more. Pythia Peay is a longtime student of the Sufi Order and a
journalist on spiritual and psychological topics. She is the author of
Soul Sisters: The Five Sacred Qualities of a Woman’s Soul.
214 The Orthodox Journey Lynn Pedigo
How do we pray without
ceasing? Come explore the richness of Orthodox Christianity’s efforts to
live out this sacred goal. It is an act of prayer to “write” an icon and
we will experiment with praying and meditating on a selection of these
profound images. Simple prayers will be taught and experiment with,
including the mantra-like Jesus prayer that helps to empty and focus the
mind. Lynn Pedigo is a member of St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral whose
interests include how the advice of Eastern Orthodox writers of the past
is useful to women today. Iconographer Colette McHarry Kalvesmake will
provide her icons for this workshop.
215 Drawing Strength From African American Spirituals Pam Rogers
Come prepared to experience the power of congregational singing where
every voice can join in. Draw upon the strength found in the rhythms
and harmonies of traditional African American spirituals and freedom
songs. Learn about each song’s origins and then learn to sing the lead
and background parts. We will come to understand how these songs, that
have never separated spirituality and justice, can bring us all together
as a community. Pam Rogers is the director of In Process, an African
American women’s ensemble and a member and trustee of New Hope CME
Church in Washington, D.C.
216A Divinity through Devotional Dance Meena Telikicherla
Almost all classical art forms are spiritual, philosophical and devotional in
nature. Come and be introduced to the classical Indian dance form,
Bharatanatyam, and learn about the history of classical dance in
temples. As a group, we will try some of the basic movements. Then, we
will hear devotional songs by famous women composers and see a dance
demonstration. Meena Telikicherla is the artistic director and lead
dancer of Nrityanjali, an institution based in Gaithersburg, Md. that
promotes and performs Indian classical dance.
217 A Vision of Your Stories Deborah Zavos and ShemaMa!
Our communities can heal by telling stories, even those that are painful to
voice. Using playback, a form of improvisational theater, actors will
listen to stories from members of the audience and then play them back
to us, using a combination of drama, music, mime and costume. The
experience affirms the dignity and importance of personal experience and
enables us to view our lives in new ways that draw us closer and help us
to see our common humanity. Deborah Zavos is founder and director of
ShemaMa!, a Jewish Women’s Playback Theater Company, whose members are
Helene Brenner, De Herman, Judy Madden, Barbara Orden, Stephanie
Putnam, Marianne Ross, Roya Fahmy Swartz and Tami Wendrow.
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