Sex, Religion, Power and Politics

The noted Foremother and Pagan Elder, Margot Adler, author of "Drawing Down the Moon" considered a watershed in American Neopagan circles, as it provided the first comprehensive look at modern nature-based religions in the US. A journalist, lecturer, Wiccan priestess, radio journalist and correspondent for National Public Radio will discuss her work in the world and her insights into what's ahead for Goddess Advocates and Pagans, how things have changed in the last 15 years, the good and bad of the movement going more mainstream, feminist spirituality and closing of feminist bookstores and the passing of Pagan elders. We'll also go off-topic and discuss the spirit of the times, the interest in vampires. What do powerful Bill Compton and Stefan in the Vampire Diaries have in common and the feminist the environmental thrust in the vampire phenomena.

Pagan Leader, Forefather, Minister and Goddess Advocate, Patrick McCollum, will bring us up to date on his court case with the State of CA regarding religious discrimination and lack of equality for second tier religions as well as discuss the Mahatma Gandhi Award for the Advancement of Pluralism which he will receive on September 14 at the Capitol in Washington D.C.

Sacred traveler and pilgrim, Laura Amazzone, author of the soon to be released book, Goddess Durga and Sacred Female Power, will discuss her rich experiences traveling to Goddess sites of India and Nepal, as well as share her knowledge of the Goddess, Durga, the Kumari or Living Goddess, and Durga's festivals. At the bottom of the hour, Stephen Gerringer, of the Joseph Campbell Foundation will discuss Recovering the Goddess as we touch on his transcending programming from a fundamentalist cult to becoming a Goddess Advocate. Stephen will discuss the male contributions to rediscovering the Goddess, Joseph Campbell's evolution of mythological thinking, emergence of the patriarchy, and how to engage the dominant patriarchal paradigm today by not being adversarial but by promoting Goddess virtues.

At the top of the hour, Lady Brenda McKoy, expert on Egypt and author of Wings of Isis will discuss her life as a priestess of Isis and her experiences leading tours on her many sacred pilgrimages to the Goddess sites and temples of ancient Egypt. At the bottom of the hour, Ruth Gould Goodman, author of The Sacred Book of U: Unveiling the Lost Teachings of the Deep Feminine, will discuss "Healing our Trauma and Healing our World" by uncovering the Deep Feminine in the body, using physical movement and vocal processes, for both men and women

At the top of the our tune in to hear our guest Lydia Ruyle, author, artist, scholar and world traveler, creatrix of the Goddess Icon Spirit Banners discuss the stories and sacred sites of Kwan Yin in China, Cambodia and S. E. Asia, as well as discussion of the faces of the Sacred Feminine, including indigenous Rice Goddesses of the region. At the bottom of the show, Gloria Amendola, author of The Tower and the Dream, will discuss Mary Magdalene's relationship with Jesus, the Templars, Cathars, current theory and rumors, Isis connections, the movie Bloodline, sacred sites of Mary Magdalene and much more. Quite a jam-packed hour that flies by!

Poke Runyon, founder of The Ordo Templi Astartes (O.T.A.)is part of our Men and Goddess summer series and will discuss A Bridge Between Magick and Paganism. Areas of discussion will range from Victorian magical traditions, to whether King Solomon was a worshiper of Astarte, the original Canannite pantheon, Yaweh vs El, and secret Pagan cults behind medieval Hermetic Magick. In the bottom of the show we'll interview by Joyce Chapman who will teach us how to Live Your Dream and Discover and Achieve Your Life Purpose....a magick of sorts of a different flavor!

Resit Ergener calls in from Turkey to discuss The Great Mother Goddess of Anatolia, which in contemporary times is the region we recognize as Turkey. Themes of our discussion will include the great Goddess Mother of Catal Hoyuk, Phyrigian Cybele, Cybele transplanted in the West, and other names under which Goddess was venerated in Anatolia, i.e., Artemis, Kubaba and Aphrodite. Discussion will include Christianity and Goddess and the role of Mary, the end of the Goddess civilization, what the Trojan legend signifies and relics of goddess traditions in present day Turkey.

John Lamb Lash, often called the true successor of Mircea Eliade and the rightful heir of Joseph Campbell will discuss Sophia Returning: The Path of Planetary Tantra. Self-educated, free-lance scholar who combines studies and experimental mysticism to teach directive mythology: that is, the application of myth to life, rather than its mere interpretation. He has authored The Seeker's Handbook, Twins and the Double, The Hero - Manhood and Power, Quest for the Zodiac, and Not in His Image (2006)

MARY LANE, author of Divine Nourishment: A Woman's Sacred Journey with Food will be our guest from 6-7PM PST followed by HEATHER MENDEL, author of Dancing in the Footsteps of Eve: Retrieving the Healing Gift of the Sacred Feminine for the Human Family through Myth and Mysticism from 7-8PM PST. Mary Lane, as a professional chef awakened and deepened her understanding of the connection between food and nourishment, the wisdom of nature, sexuality and the Divine Feminine and will share her experience with listeners. Heather Mendel, mystic and author will discuss EVE and why it is important to reinterpret and reclaim her story in these times.(Our regularly scheduled guest, Stephen Gerringer, is under the weather and will be on the show in the coming weeks. Stephen is on the staff of the Joseph Campbell Foundation will participate in our Men and Goddess Series discussing the topic RECOVERING GODDESS and the men who have played key roles in that recovery!)

Hear scholar Marguerite Rigoglioso discuss the foremothers of the Greek Amazons - the Amazon women of Tunisia, N. Africa. She will discuss who they were and if they were real. How Medusa and the Gorgons fit into this story - as well as Athena. Is there evidence of female warriorhood in Africa and what happened to the Amazons? Do the Amazons relate to the contemporary Tuareg or Berbers of N. Africa and why the Amazons are a useful image for women to reclaim today.

At the top of the hour, Helen Hye-Sook Hwang, Ph.D., teacher for Religious Studies and Women's and Gender Studies at University of Central Missouri will discuss her ongoing research concerning Mago, the Great Goddess of East Asia and Her tradition of Magoism, an ancient culture originating in the pan-East Asia gynocentric cultural matrix that venerates Mago as Supremely Divine. At about 6:45 our second guest of the evening, Sandra Kirkpatrick returns to the show to discuss developments in Human Trafficking and her recent trips to offer relief in Haiti since the earthquake.

A Crone of wisdom and power who has touched the lives of many women through her writing and teaching, the Reverent Shirley Ann Ranck brings both personal and professional insight to her work. Trained in education, psychology and ministry, she has drawn upon all these disciplines as well as her various personal lives as wife, mother and single parent to create the female spiritual journey contained in Cakes for the Queen of Heave.

Harita Meenee, a Greek independent scholar of classical studies and women's history has presented cultural TV programs and has lectured at universities in Greece and the US. She is the author of five books, as well as numerous articles published in Greek, British and American magazines. Harita calls in at a special time - 11AM Pacific because she's calling in from Greece.

Producer Roberta Cantow discusses her three-part documentary Bloodtime, Moontime, Dreamtime, an important resource for women and men everywhere to help us all reclaim life passage rituals and the power and sacredness of their body and Sacred Blood.

Long time teacher within the Women's Spirituality Movement, foundress of the Women's Mysteries of the Ancient Future Sisterhood, discusses Women's Natural Spiritual Authority. Vajra Ma is a priestess, educator, sacred dancer, shamanic healer, minister and performer.