You know what I discovered over the last week I’ve been on an internet hiatus? I really like it out here in the wilds. Big surprise, huh?
Truth is, it wasn’t a complete break from the ‘net. A crazy amount of stuff has been going on with the Toys of Dionysos class and the planning team for the bebakcheumenia at Many Gods West. I may even have been spending more time online the last couple days than I normally do. The difference is, I wasn’t blogging, or reading blogs, or stalking people on social media for a change. And it was nice. Real nice.
I mean, there was still clashing ideas, and text-based misunderstandings, and even a little personal conflict thrown into the mix, but nothing we couldn’t sort out by talking to one another like real human beings and not just names on a screen. Significantly, all the effort expended is going to result in something tangible. Something that can’t really be said about most online interactions.
So I’ve decided to considerably scale back my webesence. I’ll keep the House of Vines up because I’ve collected a lot of valuable information here over the years and it’d be a shame to see that lost, but I won’t be posting any new content except announcements for upcoming classes, book releases or assorted projects I’m involved with.
Specifically, I’m going to be rolling out a three-tier class system.
The first will cover the foundations of practice within the Starry Bull tradition and will consist of a series of independent modules on various topics such as making offerings, keeping festivals, divination and the like. There’ll be reading assignments, exercises, group discussion and a weekly chat. People can remain in the class indefinitely or just pop in for one of the modules. I’ll be offering this free of charge to anyone who’s interested as a way of building community. At some point I may pass these off to competent individuals who have already gone through them.
Next I’ll be running an introduction to the gods and spirits of the Starry Bull tradition course. This will be done according to the old “God of the Month” template I came up with in my Greco-Egyptian days, where a divinity will be chosen through divination for study and devotional engagement each month. We’ll learn about them through research, reflection, formal worship, devotional exercises, art projects and group discussion. We will also meet monthly for a chat. The price of admission to be part of this group will be $10 a month, or equivalent value in barter. (I’d much rather barter than swap filthy lucre.)
Finally I’ll be offering classes on more esoteric topics, such as working with ecstasy and related altered states of consciousness, Bacchic Orphic healing and magical techniques and material pertaining to the mysteries of the Starry Bull tradition. Like the first category this will consist of a series of independent modules, though some of them may have other classes as a prerequisite or the demonstration of an equivalent level of knowledge and proficiency. I am going to be very selective about who I let into these classes as they will come to represent the heart of our tradition. The classes will be offered on a sliding scale of $30-75 or trade of equal value.
Most of the books I write henceforth will be outgrowths of these classes.
Considering all of that, even if I wanted to I wouldn’t have the time or resources to keep this blog going.
I admit I’m a little anxious about this decision. In this digital age it’s very difficult to do anything if you aren’t constantly promoting yourself. I can offer the greatest curriculum imaginable but if I’m not on social media or blogging or doing the pagan scene festival circuit how are people going to hear about these classes?
I don’t have that part figured out, and I don’t need to. If this tradition is meant to thrive, I trust its gods and spirits will ensure the right people find their way to these teachings.
And if it doesn’t work out that way, meh. At least I’m out of the cesspool that is our blogosphere.
Cheers, bastards!
Tagged: the starry bull tradition
