Sanctum Samhain
A Sword Magick™ Intensive & Ritual Theater Production
To work magic is to weave the unseen forces into form; to soar beyond sight; to explore the uncharted dream realm of the hidden reality.
-Starhawk
Use the power of witchcraft to unlock the inspiration and potency that already lives within you.
YOU are powerful
you ARE powerful
you are POWERFUL
Are you inspired to create something new, but don’t know where to start? Maybe you’re blocked or experiencing the ever-dreaded Blank Page Syndrome?
Or maybe you don't feel like you have the authority to try to create something new, or the ability to create something powerful?
Or maybe you’re new to dancing? Or to dancing with a sword?
Or maybe you don’t feel like you look like a dancer, or fit the profile of a dancer - like maybe it’s not ok for you you take up space in a movement art form?
Whatever the case, I have some encouraging news for you:
You are not too new at this - don’t forget that the beginner’s mind is unencumbered of pre-existing habits or rules and so is free and unfettered to experiment, limited only at the level of the sky.
Your body is not too [fill in the blank].
You are allowed to take up space.
Even if you don’t move the way you once did, or you aren’t as bendy as some other dancers- there is deep power in simplicity, of moving slowly, and of stillness.
You are allowed to be beautiful in whatever way beauty means for you.
You are allowed to be feminine.
You are allowed to be masculine.
You are allowed to be both or neither.
You are allowed to blur the lines.
You are allowed to dance with a sword and been seen and be loved and be admired for who you are, right now, today.
You are allowed to - and are able to - create your own deeply potent, valuable, significant magick and share it with the world.
Sanctum Samhain:
What if I told you that you already are potent, valuable, and significant?
What if I told you that you already have that magick inside of you?
That you are able to break through your creative blocks, and go from a place of not knowing to a place of knowing and believing.
That you can tap into your innate connection to the elements and create something from nothing - birth something into the world that didn’t exist before.
To give yourself permission to be the powerful dancer you already are, and to breathe your own unique magick into a ritual dance that you have created? That is your own?
What if you could wrestle with your imposter syndrome and win?
What if you did all this and were finally able to give yourself permission to be the fierce, potent, beautiful, magical being you already are?
There is so much to dancing that you do NOT need to be an acrobat or have extreme flexibility to bring power and intention to your dance. You can absolutely have all of those things, but really all you need to add power and dynamics to your dance is YOU.
EVERYTHING else can be modified to fit you where YOU are right now. So you can create a powerful ritual dance that works for YOU.
Sanctum Samhain: A Sword Magick™ Intensive & Ritual Theater Production takes students through a journey of sword dance technique and experimentation that helps them to find their own pathways and movement, layered with their own intentions, and guides them to create a ritual sword dance that is truly and uniquely their own.
After the intensive ends, you will have a different, deeper and more powerful relationship with your blade and your dance practice. Not only will you will walk away from this experience with a brand new dance that you created yourself, you will have a deeper understanding of how to create your own movement vocabulary from here on out.
You will walk away full of new ideas and strategies that will continue to keep your creative forge ablaze, and help remind you to keep your sword practice alive with magick.
What It Is:
Sanctum Samhain - A Sword Magick™ Intensive and Ritual Theater Production is an 11-week series that moves students through five phases of ritual dance from creation to performance:
Steel & Bone:
The Element of Earth, the nurturing power of foundation. students delve into technique to get comfortable moving with their swords
Logic & Thought:
The Element of Air, the inspiring power of wisdom and strategy. This phase dives into movement creation and experimentation to begin to create their own vocabulary and movement.
Cast & Create:
The Element of Fire, the power of molding and forging something into shape. Students are guided through the creation of a ritual sword dance that is truly and uniquely their own.
Innovation & Dreams:
The Element of Water, the power of intuitive emotion. Layering intention and correspondences as well as creating smooth transitions and pathways between the movements that were created in Air.
Sanctum Samhain:
Ritual, Magick, and Celebration: The Element of Spirit. Bringing the power of culmination. A ritual theater production where all dancers will have the opportunity to share their finished piece if they would like to.
Class Schedule & Information:
All classes are hybrid, all are recorded (with recordings available until Dec 21)
Online classes will be offered on zoom
In person folks will meet at Spring/Fall Studio in Berkeley
Classes are boutique sized to allow for individual feedback and coaching so that every dancer, no matter their level, can be successful:
Classes are limited to 11 spaces in person, and 5 spaces online.
Dance Class:
Sundays Aug 16- Oct 25
12:45 -2:45pm PST
In person or online
Magick Class:
Wednesdays Aug 12-Nov 4
6-7:30pm PST
Online Only
Ritual Theater Production in collaboration with Circus Something
Saturday, Oct 31
6-7pm Ritual, 7-9pm Show
Spire The Church:
825 Athens St., Oakland, CA
Sanctum Samhain:
This is for anyone who wants to connect their movement practice to their spiritual practice. For folks who want to connect more with the cycles of the earth and the cosmos. Should be comfortable with witchcraft and the idea of moving in space with a sword. Adventurous beginners welcomed and encouraged.
The idea of ritual dance connects our spirit to our movement practice. This enables you to create dances from a different place in your mind. The concepts taught in this series create a different dynamic that can be used in performance or for private practice and teach that crafting powerful ritual movement is something you can do yourself, for yourself, for and with others.
The mission of Sword Magick is to help people connect to each other, themselves, to their spirit, and to their inner strength. To build each other up so we can create art and beauty for ourselves and each other as a means to recharge, enlighten and inspire. Art is how we process life. Why not do it with witchcraft and a big sword?
PHILOSOPHY:
The definition of Sword Magick™ is: A pattern of movement in which a sword is used as an athame in conjunction with dance to build and direct energy and intention toward a specific task or goal.
Definition of Athame (in Sword Magick™ terms): A ceremonial blade used to direct energy and draw boundaries. Usually, a sword is seen as an elemental tool of air or of fire, depending on one's system of beliefs. In Sword Magick™, the sword is used to represent all five elements:
Steel and Bone: The Element of Earth
Logic and Thought: The Element of Air
Cast and Create: The Element of Fire
Innovation & Dreams: The Element of Water
The final spark, the charge of electricity that is Spirit, can come only from one place - You. The minute you pick up your sword with intention, You are the final element that brings the magic to life.
You, and only you.