Long Beach Pagans

One constant around the world, both today and in the past, is the belief not only in the supernatural, but in what are often called "ghosts" yet great confusion exists in this word, for what exactly is a ghost? Get your Pay What You Wish tickets via Eventbrite for this lecture on Wednesday, October 28, 8 p.m. with Dr. James Rietveld: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/117145199445 Is a "ghost" the spirit of a lost soul, a spirit of a soul that is sending a specific message or prophecy, telepathic entities entering our mind, glitches in the fabric of time-space, spirit beings that have never been living souls, an angel or demon, a natural phenomena or historical echo that occurs when the time or temperatures are just right, or even an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese, a fragment of underdone potato? What is most curious is that from the Greco-Roman Era to the present-day, the descriptions of ghosts are more alike than different. Is this due to the transmission of similar stories and ideas across cultures, a result of human psychology reacting to perceptions in a similar way because of our intrinsic commonalities, or is it because there is really something out there that could be understood as a "ghost" and that is why the responses are so similar? Yet, most scientists will either deny the existence of ghosts or will not comment on this topic, leaving the research often to those who are deemed to be advancing a pseudo-science. For this lecture at Ipso Facto, we will investigate the history of ghosts as well as the research into this topic, seeing if we have a ghost of a chance in deciphering this mystery. "An Exploration of Ghosts, Spirits & Apparitions From the Greco/ Roman Era through Present Day Through an Anthropological Lense." Your entry information for this Zoom lecture will arrive via your email order confirmation and in email reminders sent prior to the event. Thank you for your patronage

Creating and Working with Poppets-Witchcraft Dolls virtual Workshop October 29, 7:30 p.m. with Jennifer Morris. This is a Pay What You Wish Event through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/120676299059 Learn how to create your own magical “doll” to help you lose weight, bring the perfect love into your life, or fill your world with abundance. The old technique requires nothing other than the things in the list (paper, fabric, pins, scissors, stuffing), your imagination, and your intention. The use of poppets (by many different names including moppet, pippy, corn dolly, voodoo doll, etc) span many cultures and times including Great Britain, Ancient Rome, Africa, Latin America, Southern USA. The doll is meant to represent a person for casting spells or ones self for magickal purposes. The term "kitchen witch" was originally used for those dolls hung up in the kitchen to oversee cooking and magickal preparations. They would have been made with paper, wax, a potato, clay, branches, corn husks or cloth. There's even a modern version made of plastic wrap. Stuffed with herbs, purpose and intent, the actions performed on the doll would be transferred to the subject via sympathetic magic, wherein whatever happens to the doll will happen to the subject. The more personal items you add to the doll, the more potent the magick will be. Historically, poppets were used to heal and curse, for positive and negative magick, sometimes on others, but our concentration will be on a doll for personal use. Making your own poppet will usually provide the best result as you put a piece of yourself and your intention into its' making. Join us for this fun and useful project in the spirit of the Samhain season. This is a Pay What You Wish event. Jennifer Morris is a certified Crystal Healer/Teacher, Reiki Master, Energy Healer, 5th degree Black Belt, and holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. As a practicing witch since 1972, and student of Victoria Arkle (Crystal Instructor based in Claremont, CA) and Diane Newton (Reiki master, Los Angeles), she is a life-long practitioner of the intuitive arts, offering years of knowledge and experience to her students. With her knowledge and expertise, Jennifer is actively involved in the healing community. In addition to teaching, she participates in Healing Fairs, ministers to those in need, and works in concert with other practitioners to bring the alternative healing arts into the mainstream. Your Zoom code will be sent via email confirmation and in reminders prior to class.

We've all heard the myth of Missisippi blues legend Robert Johnson entering into a pact with the devil at the crossroads, in exchange for his musical genius. But did you know that you can use the power of the crossroads for prosperity, clearing obstacles and making decisions? Join us on November 5 via Pay What You Wish Eventbrite tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/123785003277 Since ancient times in many cultures, crossroads have been seen to have great magical significance, a place of spirits. Ancient Greeks believed that Hermes ruled four road crossways and Hecate the three way junction. Crossroad magick is also connected to the Hoodoo tradition. Forces of energy cross at a junction where roads come together, creating a place of change and great magical power. Crossroads are said to be unhallowed ground by some, peopled by restless ghosts, vampires. Folkloric traditions specify that this is where murderers, suicides and the unbaptized should be laid to rest, and some tell of workings for gold finding, spirit conjuring, sacrifices, even necromancy. They can also be places to leave offerings, burying spells, spirit communication and perform candle magick with a makeshift altar on the ground. Some spellwork particular to crossroads include skill learning, to attract lovers, acquire property or wisdom, or leave or dispose of a petition. Also crossroads can be worked for removing blockages, bringing prosperity and abundance, honoring the dead, making wishes, finding direction and making choices. If collecting crossroads dirt for a spell at home, it is traditional to "pay for the dirt" leave behind something like coins at each corner of the crossroads, as is common in witchcraft tradition, thanking nature for what is taken. If this sounds interesting, you won't want to miss this class with Jennifer Morris on Thursday, November 5, 7:30 p.m. Jennifer Morris is a certified Crystal Healer/Teacher, Reiki Master, Energy Healer, 5th degree Black Belt, and holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. As a practicing witch since 1972, and student of Victoria Arkle (Crystal Instructor based in Claremont, CA) and Diane Newton (Reiki master, Los Angeles), she is a life-long practitioner of the intuitive arts, offering years of knowledge and experience to her students. With her knowledge and expertise, Jennifer is actively involved in the healing community. In addition to teaching, she participates in Healing Fairs, ministers to those in need, and works in concert with other practitioners to bring the alternative healing arts into the mainstream

Join us on Wednesday, November 11, 8 p.m. for Dr. Rietveld's virtual lecture "Artemis of Ephesus," a "Pay What You Wish" Zoom event. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/125418360693/ Delving into personal religious perspectives and relationship to the Ephesus’s sacred geography, Dr Rietveld will discuss how this belief system permeated the daily lives of the Ephesians via material culture they left behind. Although understandings of Artemis Ephesus changed as Christianity spread, her legacy survived as goddess of protection, material prosperity, and guardian of virginal chastity. Artemis Ephesia was a figure in constant flux, with interpretations dependent on the particular time period and audience viewing it. Artemis Ephesia had an interesting relationship with the city’s sacred geography, where her worship permeated the daily lives of the Ephesians . As Christianity spread, Artemis Ephesia eventually succumbed to the forces of the new religious perspective, yet some aspects survived. Ultimately, Artemis Ephesia, was a goddess of protection, her sacred space understood as a place of asylum for individuals seeking refuge; a bank for those wishing to secure their material wealth, and a shrine for virgins desiring to protect their chastity. Via the Via Sacra, Artemis’ role as protective mother extended beyond the Temple of Artemis to the city itself, and throughout the Greco-Roman world via the Via Sacra and Ephesian Letters. Along with the images of Artemis, the Ephesian letters carried her perceived magical protective powers even further, all along the shores of the Mediterranean and even to the very ends of the Greco-Roman world. Our lecturer, Dr. James Rietveld has written a definitive book "Artemis of the Ephesians" which is available on Amazon. Dr. James D. Rietveld is an adjunct professor at California State University, Fullerton, CA and Cal Poly, Pomona, CA in both History, Anthropology and Religion. His specialties include the History of Christianity in the Early, Medieval and Byzantine periods, New Testament Studies and Greco-Roman religions. He received his PHD from Claremont School of Religion and is the author of another book entitled "London in Flames: Apocalypse 1666."