Welcome to the November 2007 edition of the Laconneau Monthly
Newsletter.
Laconneau Newsletter Archive:
http://www.laconneau.com/NewsletterArchive.html
IN THIS ISSUE
• Book of the Month
• Upcoming Festival
• Upcoming Pilgrimage
• Regional Events & News
• Contact Laconneau
NOVEMBER BOOK OF THE MONTH
The End of America: Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot
by Naomi Wolf
This latest offering from best-selling author Wolf, The Beauty Myth, is a
harbinger of an age that may finally see the patriarchal realm of political
discourse usurped. Here is Wolf’s compellingly and cogently argued political
argument for civil rights, not women’s rights. ... Readers will appreciate her
energy and urgency as she warns we are living through a dangerous "fascist shift”
brought about by the Bush administration. Her chapters outline the “Ten Steps to
Fascism” citing historical corollaries (as well as the pigs in Orwell’s Animal
Farm), with headings like “Invoke an External and Internal Threat,” “Establish
Secret Prisons,” and “Target Key Individuals.” In other words, fascism can exist
without dictatorship.
Visit the Reading Room:
http://www.laconneau.org/readingroom.html
LACONNEAU SPRING FESTIVAL
Laconneau Spring Festival
Friday, April 25 - Sunday, April 27, 2008
Artemis House, Greenville, NC
All across Celtic Europe, the season of Imbolc ended at the spring festival,
marking the beginning of summer. As with the Fall Festival, this is a time
between dark and light, night and day, winter and summer. The veil between
worlds therefore is thin, allowing this world and Other World to intermingle.
We are holding the Spring Festival in the old way, in full accord with the
principals of our Tradition. Come join us at Artemis House in Greenville, North
Carolina for this wonderful weekend of council discussion, workshops, feminine
spirituality and festivities. Lend your voice to the power and love of other sisters
such as yourself who feel a burning need to see change in this world.
The fee for the festival is $275.00. To register, please contact Elaine at
Greenville@laconneau.org. To reserve your space, please submit your deposit in
the amount of $150.00 by March 25th. The remaining balance for this event is
due at the festival. Housing is $40.00 per night, payable to your respective
hostess. Please also budget for $20.00 per day to cover lunches, altar materials,
and Elaine's increased electric bill.
More Information on the Spring Festival:
http://www.laconneau.org/festivalspring.html
LACONNEAU SPRING PILGRIMAGE
Magdalene: Mother of France
A Pilgrimage to Southern France
Tuesday, April 1 – Thursday, April 10, 2008
For centuries, pilgrims have ascended the winding way to the abbey church of the
Magdalene crowning the hill at Vezelay, often crawling on their hands and knees
in penitence and petition. Construction on the basilica of La Madeleine began in
1096 and it very quickly became the fourth most popular of all sites of Christian
pilgrimage, attesting to the enormous sway that the Magdalene still held over the
hearts and minds of the population of that time, a thousand years after her death.
Based on legends that she and her family had fled to Gaul as refugees before the
first orthodox gospels were even written, the fascination and hold that Mary
Magdalene held over this ancient land was both powerful and mystifying. What
was the fascination that has held a whole nation in its thrall for nearly two
millennia? Was Mary really the founder of the Celtic Church? Was there a
connection between Mary and the Cathars? If so, has her cult survived to this day
in the countryside of Celtic Europe?
After the death of Yeshua, did Mary really flee from Jerusalem to travel to
Southern France with her sister Martha, her brother Lazarus, Joseph of
Arimithea, and other disciples, to work and preach among the people of Gaul and
eventually to found the Celtic Church before supposedly retiring from public life
to spend the last thirty years of her life in a hermit’s cave in the mountains of Ste.
Baume? Is there any real evidence to support the popular theories and legends
behind the life of this mysterious woman?
What, if any, was the connection between Mary and Joan of Arc, the Fifteenth
Century teenage heroine and prophetess, who liberated France and crowned her
king under her curious battle standard bearing the names IhesusMaria, only
then to be condemned as a heretic and to die, abandoned by her king, in the
flames of the stake upon the orders of the Roman Church and its Inquisition?
What was it about this mysterious woman that led her followers, Cathar and
others like them, to die in their thousands during the holocaust of the
Albigensian crusade rather than deny their faith and belief? Join with us as we
travel through the magnificent country of Southern France to make a spiritual
journey back in time to explore this fascinating legend, and attempt to find
answers to some of these questions. Marvel with us as we seek to understand the
wondrous power of this extraordinary yet enigmatic woman who left behind such
a rich spiritual heritage, and yet with whom history has dealt so harshly, and with
such premeditated injustice. Our pilgrimage starts upon your arrival in Marseille
on the morning of Monday, March 31, 2008, and ends when we deliver you to
Toulouse Airport on the afternoon of Thursday, April 10, 2008. Please note that
should you wish to travel earlier, or remain later than the dates above, you are
free to do so. As stated above, our pilgrimage starts on April 1 and finishes on
April 10.
Pilgrimage Online: http://www.laconneau.org/Pilgrimages.html
FRANCE: November Events
April 1 – April 10, 2008
Laconneau Spring Pilgrimage
Magdalene: Mother of France
A Pilgrimage to Southern France
GEORGIA: November Events
Friday, November 9, 2007
Circle 6:30PM
Atlanta, GA
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Meditation 6:30PM
Atlanta, GA
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Meditation 12:30PM
Film Screening 1:00PM
The Peaceful Warrior
Gainesville, GA
Monday, November 26, 2007
Women’s Circle 6:30PM
Atlanta, GA
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Atlanta Calendar Online: http://www.laconneau.com/CalendarAtlantaGA.html
Atlanta Region Coordinator: Lorrie - georgia@laconneau.org
THE CAROLINAS: November Events
Friday, November 9, 2007
Circle 8:30PM
Durham, NC
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Circle 8:30PM
Greenville, NC
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Meditation 12:00PM
Greenville, NC
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Women’s Circle 8:30PM
Greenville, NC
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Meditation & Book Discussion
What is Gnosticism?
By Karen L. King
Greenville, NC
Greenville Calendar Online: http://www.laconneau.com/CalendarGreenvilleNC.html
Greenville Region Coordinator: Elaine - Greenville@laconneau.org
PENNSYLVANIA: November Events
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Meditation 12:00PM
Philadelphia, PA
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Circle, 7:30PM
Philadelphia, PA
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Film Screening 7:30PM
What the Bleep Do We Know?
Philadelphia, PA
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Level II Intermediate Course 10:00AM
Philadelphia, PA
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Level II Intermediate Course 10:00AM (Continued)
Philadelphia, PA
Monday, November 26, 2007
Women”s Circle 7:30PM
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia Calendar Online: http://www.laconneau.com/CalendarPhiladelphiaPA.html
Philadelphia Region Coordinator: Anna - philadelphia@laconneau.org
WASHINGTON, DC: November Events
Friday, November 9, 2007
Level II Intermediate Course 7:30PM
Washington, DC
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Level II Intermediate Course 10:00AM (Continued)
Washington, DC
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Circle 7:00PM
Washington, DC
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Sunday, November 11, 2007
The Cathar Seminar 10:00AM
Washington, DC
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Dinner & Debate 4:00PM
Can Different Spiritual Paths Lead Towards the Same Truth?
Washington, DC
Monday, November 26, 2007
Women’s Circle 6:30PM
Washington, DC
For students who have completed the Level II Course
Friday, November 30, 2007
Level III Advanced Course7:30PM
Washington, DC
For students who have completed the Level II Course
DC Calendar Online: http://www.laconneau.com/CalendarWashingtonDC.html
DC Region Coordinator: Lorely - dc@laconneau.org
REGIONAL NEWS
France News:
Laconneau is planning to offer a limited opportunity for a small group of
Tradition members to complete Le Sentier Cathares in the Languedoc in the
Autumn of 2008. More details will be available in upcoming newsletters.
Georgia News:
The Atlanta circle is proud to host the upcoming Laconneau Level I and Level II
classes December 7th-9th. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to get in-depth
information on the Tradition’s history, migration and eventual integration with
Early Gnostic Christianity in Southern France. We invite everyone to join us for
these wonderful events.
We are also busy preparing for our second yard sale of this year. It is our hope
that it will be as successful as the one we held earlier in the year. All contributions
and volunteers are welcome and much appreciated.
If you would like to contribute to the yard sale, please contact Lorrie - georgia@laconneau.org .
News from the Carolinas:
The cost for the construction of La Chapelle de la Madeleine has been fully
covered by contributions from a variety of sources. These include individual
contributions and proceeds from yard sales conducted by the various circles.
Many thanks to Elaine, to the Greenville circle and to all who have contributed
through their labor or finances to making the chapel a reality.
A reunion is planned for all women who have attended a Laconneau class in the
Carolinas in the past. The date for this is Saturday, January 5, 2008. The reunion
will provide opportunities to meditate, eat together and reconnect..
The first Laconneau of the Carolinas weekend was a great success. Our next
Laconneau of the Carolinas weekend is planned for February 9-10, 2008. The
weekend will include mediation, book review, a Circle and time to spend with
your sisters!
If you are interested in either of these events, please contact Elaine at
Greenville@laconneau.org
Philadelphia News:
The Philadelphia Circle will host our first Level II course this month! Using what
we have already been taught, we continue working to build and strengthen our
community of women. To that end, we are excited about holding the Level II
course, which will provide the tools to further inner spiritual work. The
Philadelphia Circle is working to create an open environment where women can
come together, discuss relevant political and historical issues and enjoy the
comradeship of other strong women. Through documentaries, discussions and
meditations, our focus remains on the actions we can continue to take to effect
positive change, beginning on a personal and local level. There is an
understanding of the importance of inner spiritual work as the core and
foundation of the greater change.
Washington, DC News:
Four members of the DC circle were fortunate enough to attend this year’s France
fall trip. They were thrilled and awed by the many images of the Divine Feminine,
some in plain view and some hidden from sight.
The DC Circle’s second yard sale on Saturday October 13 to benefit La Chapelle
de la Madeleine in Greenville was a great event with donations of vintage Laura
Ashley and Ralph Lauren clothing, 22 cases of vintage wine, and new designer
shoes and handbags, among other treasures.
The Cathar Seminar on November 11 at Montgomery College, Takoma Park,
Maryland is the first presentation of this exciting program. For details on this
event and to download the postcard, click on http://www.laconneau.com/Cathars.html
CONTACT LACONNEAU
Please contact your coordinator with questions or updated regional information.
In France: Jehanne jehanne@laconneau.org
In Georgia: Lorrie georgia@laconneau.org
In the Carolinas: Elaine Greenville@laconneau.org
In Pennsylvania: Anna Philadelphia@laconneau.org
In Washington, DC: Lorely dc@laconneau.org
Contact Information Online: http://www.laconneau.com/Contact.html
Please visit our website, www.laconneau.org, for the complete calendar,
further articles, the book of the month, Laconneau’s history and additional
information.
You are receiving this newsletter because you attended a Laconneau course or
seminar. If you would prefer not to receive emails from Laconneau, kindly email
Laconneau’s Administrator at admin@laconneau.org to be removed from our
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