.jpg)
Vision Cafe
Sacred Global CosmoPop Concert & EcoFest
Gabriel of Urantia and The Bright & Morning Star Band’s most recent Sacred Global CosmoPop Concert and Eco-Festival in June will be followed up with another one October 23-25—with even more vendors and campers. Held at sacred Avalon Gardens next to the historic Tumaccori Mission in Arizona (the first mission in the United States), this is a “Festival of Hope.” Activities include live music, independent film, activist theater, eco-conscious speakers, a unique eco-village experience, a sweat lodge and Medicine Wheel ceremony, a variety of ethnic foods, vendors of all sorts, and the Camelot Kids Village. With the theme of creating our future together as a global ecovillage, the activities and games inspire kids to have hope for our world and empower them to be a part of the change.
With the continued recession and economic crisis, more people are open to CosmoPop’s spiritual lyrics, as they are looking more inward and upward. What’s more, Gabriel of Urantia is bringing in a new paradigm in concert-going; rather than charging for tickets, he is only asking for suggested donations. Therefore, many people from all walks of life are making pilgrimages across the country and the world to gain faith and hope in these troubled times.
Many formerly distant fans have now become permanent community members, coming from various parts of the planet and staying to learn about permaculture and organic gardening. CosmoPop attracts people from all religions who come together under the banner of one God and one planetary family. Gabriel makes no bones about telling people to come out of the fallen system and join his community or start their own and create a new society. He believes that the present system is fallen because it is solely based on greed and has become corrupt beyond repair.
Gabriel of Urantia’s community, Global Community Communications Alliance (also called Divine Administration), creates a forum, a learning center and a Planetary Sacred Home where people can live and feel supported by others of like mind. Together for over 20 years, the community consists of people who believe that they have a special calling from God to help make the world a better place.
CosmoPop is a fusion of mantras with rock, pop, jazz, folk, Celtic, and even country-western. Added to the mix is a unique style of dancing, called CosmoDance, in which people seem to be following the Spirit within them. It’s a rare experience with the supernatural, minus any drugs or alcohol.
Avalon Gardens is 165-acres of organic gardens and farm fields, with fruits, vegetables, and beautiful ponds. The Santa Cruz River flows through the ranch, adding beauty and serenity. A stage was built near one of the ponds, big enough to host the 11-piece Bright & Morning Star Band. It’s a three-day festival, with other bands from the Global Change Music Nonprofit Record Label, founded by Gabriel of Urantia, including VansGuard, Starseed Acoustic Ensemble, and The Change Agents Band.
To reserve your camping spot or learn more, call 520.603.9932 or visit www.CosmoPopFestivals.org.
Our Own Village Witch
by Ashlie Rodriguez
Alan and Valera Childers love celebrating Halloween, but for this San Diego couple, it’s more than just candy and costumes.
Owners of The Village Witch temple in San Diego, Alan and Valera are leaders in the pagan community. Alan is a shaman who studies Native American spirituality overlaid with scientific theory, while Valera is an ordained witch of the Bruja tradition. Seemingly dissimilar, the couple follows different paths of spirituality, yet in essence, they are united.
“Pagan is a big umbrella term for basically earth-centered religions,” says Valera. “In our temple we bring in all kinds of teachers from all kinds of traditions so people can get a broad look at what’s available.”
From Native American shamanism, Wicca and witchcraft, pagans harness their power from the Earth, and namely, the moon.
“My body energies go in cycle with the moon,” Valera tells me. “When I’m more balanced and in tune with my spirituality, I find my body is more in tune with the moon.”
Alan agrees with his wife. He believes the power of the moon to be a tool each one of us can use to heal and regenerate.
“The moon is the sunlight reflected back onto us,” Alan explains. “As the moon waxes, I’m getting more and more access to that energy. If I want to grow something or bring something new to prosper, I do it during the waxing moon, because it represents greater and greater energy.”
The best way to gain energy from the moon is to wait until the day after the new moon. Then, day by day, through daily meditation on a desired goal, the phases of the moon lead to a culmination of energy and a stronger, empowered self.
“On the other hand, if I wanted to get rid of a bad habit,” says Alan, “I would wait until the moon is waning to represent the decrease in energy. Start the day after the full moon and by the new moon, whatever you wanted gone, will be.”
During the month of October, The Village Witch hosts a Full Moon Ritual where new and seasoned pagans alike can unify and celebrate their newly-acquired energy. This month is also the sacred time of Samhain, which is observed on the night of Halloween. Samhain is a magical interval when the thin veil between the spiritual and physical world is lifted.
“Most pagans love Samhain,” says a smiling Valera. “For us it’s a time of honoring our ancestors. There’s a ritual called The Dumb Supper where you have a dinner and you leave one space at the table open for your ancestors. The whole meal is spent in silence so you can receive messages from your ancestors because that is when the veil is the thinnest,” she explains. “It’s really beautiful.”
Leave trick-or-treating to the kids and spend time enhancing your spiritual journey with Alan and Valera Childers at The Village Witch temple this month.
For more information on upcoming events, classes and healing services, visit www.thevillagewitch.org or call 619.255.5776.