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Bay Area Reclaiming Classes

Welcome to Reclaiming Bay Area class listings! Introductory classes are open to all adults. Some classes are also open to youth. Advanced classes sometimes have pre-requisites - see listings or contact teachers for more information.

Six-week classes are $90-240 sliding scale unless otherwise listed. Some scholarship assistance is often available. Classes welcome all genders unless otherwise specified. For the health of all participants, please refrain from using scented products, including natural and organic scents. All classes are drug and alcohol free - thank you!

Please Note: Although studying and practicing the Reclaiming Tradition can be profoundly healing, Reclaiming classes are not a substitute for medical or psychiatric care. Teachers are not responsible for diagnosing illnesses or recommending treatments. The teachers' cell holds students responsible for seeking professional help if they need it.

There are several types of classes listed here:

Bay Area Core Classes

Core Classes are Reclaiming Classes which have been designated by the Bay Area Teachers' Cells as the basic curriculum in the Reclaiming Tradition. Completion of one or more of the Core Classes may be a prerequisite for other classes.

More Bay Area Reclaiming Classes

Additional classes taught by two or more teachers. These classes offer advanced training in specific aspects of the Craft. Contact teachers for more information.

Additional Bay Area Classes Offered by Reclaiming Teachers

Additional classes taught by a single Reclaiming teacher. While these are not official Reclaiming classes (which require two or more teachers), they offer advanced training in specific aspects of the Craft. Contact teachers for more information.

Witchcamps offer weeklong intensives in the Reclaiming tradition - click here for more info.


Reclaiming Core Class Listings

Elements of Magic

With the art of magic, we deepen our vision and focus our will, empowering ourselves to act in the world. In this class we begin the practice of Magic, Witchcraft, and Goddess spirituality by working with the Elements of Magic: Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit. Techniques include: visualization, sensing and projecting energy, chanting, trance, creating magical space, spellcraft, and structuring rituals. Group experience follows feminist consensus process. We hope to provide a fair and nurturing environment for all participants.

Each class is structured as a ritual, and includes practical ritual and magical skills. Elements of Magic allows us to explore these skills in a supportive group setting. This class is a great way to connect with other people exploring Reclaiming-tradition magic and witchcraft.

We welcome both beginning students, and advanced students who want to deepen their experience of the sacred elements.

Prerequisite: Reading of the first six chapters of The Spiral Dance by Starhawk. We ask that applicants be committed to attending all classes, or let us know in advance if not.


Elements of Magic in Oakland
Teachers Tarin Towers and April Taylor
Date and Time Six Wednesday nights, May 1-June 5, 7 pm
Cost $90-240 sliding scale
Location Oakland (location sent with registration)
Contact Tarin, tarintowers@mac.com, or call 415-271-1418
Additional Information
With this class, we begin the practice of Magic, Witchcraft, and Earth-based spirituality by working with the elements of life: Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit. Each week we will practice the art of magic and ritual to deepen our vision and focus our will, empowering ourselves to act in the world. We will cultivate the skills of visualization and imagery, sensing and projecting energy, and creating magical space, and we will use trance, spell craft, movement, our senses, voices and bodies to reignite our connection to nature, ourselves and one another.æ

We welcome both beginning students, and those who want to deepen their experience of the sacred elements.

Prerequisite: Read the first six chapters of The Spiral Dance by Starhawk. We ask that applicants be committed to attending all six classes.ææ

Elements of Magic in Sebastopol
Teachers Phoenix LeFae and Root
Date and Time Weekend intensive - June 7-9, 2013
Cost $90-240 slidng scale
Location Sebastopol
Contact Contact Phoenix LeFae, phoenix_lefae@comcast.net
Additional Information
We welcome both beginning students, and advanced students who want to deepen their experience of the sacred elements.

Prerequisite: Reading of the first six chapters of The Spiral Dance by Starhawk. We ask that applicants be committed to attending the whole class, or let us know in advance if not.

Elements of Magic in Los Angeles
Teachers Laura Wyrd and Laurie Lovekraft with AnaMaria Bahiana
Date and Time Six Thursday eves beginning January 17
7:30-10pm
Cost $250-120 sliding scale
Location The Green Man Store, North Hollywood
Contact Laurie, laurie@lovekraft.com
Additional Information
Join us for a magical journey based in the Elements - Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and that mysterious fifth element known as Center. We will return to The Green Man Store, conveniently located in North Hollywood.

We welcome beginning or advanced students - Elemental magic can be worked at multiple levels, and specific exercises and focus change from class to class.

Contact Reclaimingla.org/classes-events/ for future classes in the Los Angeles area.

Iron Pentacle

Using our magical skills, moving and shaping energy, transforming ourselves through trance to explore the five points of our inner pentacle: Sex (primal energy), Self, Passion, Pride (self-esteem), and Power (effectiveness in the worlds). Six or seven classes depending upon the teachers; the final class is a ritual created by the students. We ask that all applicants be committed to attending all classes.

Prerequisite: Elements of Magic class.

Iron Pentacle - Sebastopol
Teachers Copper Persephone and Justin
Date and Time Weekend intensive - March 8-10, 2013
Cost $90-240 sliding scale
Includes dorm-style or tent sleeping. Ask about scholarship assistance.
Location Sebastopol
Contact Copper, CopperPersephone@aol.com or call (707) 396-8514
Additional Information
Reclaim the qualities of Sex, Pride, Self, Power and Passion. Call them back to you and claim them as your birthrights. In this workshop, looking through the lens of the story of Freya and the Brisingamen, we will be using our magical skills to examine our shadows and transform - reclaiming ourselves as free beings. Through trance, movement, singing, journaling and interactive exercises, we will be exploring and balancing those points of the Iron Pentacle. Step into your whole radiant self...

Prerequisite: Elements of Magic, Witchcamp, or equivalent magical experience. Class size limited, Pre-registration required.


Iron Pentacle - San Francisco
Teachers Laurel, Tarin, and Abel
Date and Time Six Thursday evenings at 7pm - March 7 to April 11, 2013
Cost $90-240 sliding scale. Limited to 13 students. Nonrefundable $30 deposit to reserve your spot.
Location San Francisco (near BART)
Contact Tarin, tarintowers@mac.com or call (415) 271-1418
Additional Information
Sex, Pride, Self, Power, and Passion. These qualities - the five points on the Iron Pentacle - are integral to our being in the world. The Iron Pentacle is deep and empowering; it's a tool both for contemplation and for integrating powerful qualities into our bodies and our lives. Working with these energies can enrichæand also make us question the way we see ourselves and others. Through running the energy of the Iron Pentacle, we strengthen our personal work and empower ourselves to embody magic in our lives.

The Iron Pentacle is an invitation to dive into the core of our humanity. Through magic, trance, song, and ritual, we will explore the five points on the pentacle: Sex (Primal Energy), Pride (Self-Esteem), Self, Power (Effectiveness in the Worlds), and Passion. Like the iron in our blood and in the core of the earth, these are our holy birthrights.

The Iron Pentacle can be deep and intense work. We ask that you commit to attending all six classes, to the best of your ability.

Prerequisite: Elements of Magic, Witchcamp, or equivalent magical experience. Class size limited, Pre-registration required.

Iron Pentacle - Vacaville
Teachers eddy, Yule Danu, and Thibaut
Date and Time Weekend intensive - May 31 - June 2, 2013
Cost $90-240 sliding scale -- worktrades and scholarship assistance available.
Location Vacaville (rideshare available from Del Norte BART)
Contact Yule, yule1222@yahoo.com or eddy, cfitwitch@gmail.com
Additional Information
Come join us as we work the Iron Pentacle using the myth of Psyche and Eros as a magical map and running the energies of: Sex, Pride, Self, Power, and Passion. Beginning with our own primal life-force energy, moving outside of the mundane and beyond the binary, exploring gender, identity, power dynamics, creativity and iron itself, we'll invoke this pentacle through the mythic lens as a tool for transformation and reclaiming lost parts of ourselves.

We will deepen our relationship with each of the five points: *Sex - primal energy and life force *Pride -self-esteem and self perception *Self - our core and our boundaries *Power- effectiveness in the worlds *Passion - moving, motivating, and manifesting.

We recognize this pentacle to be liberating and evolutionary as it allows us to build trust in our inner knowledge and embrace our shadow with compassion. Following the arc of the story and running the lines of the pentacle, we will hone our magical skills as we work with ritual, aspecting, trance, movement, music, storytelling, and energy moving, sensing, and shaping. We will be connecting with the world around us and our authentic selves. We dare to go deep. We step into the cauldron of Transformation, as magical beings, knowing that what happens between the worlds changes all the worlds.

Elements of Magic, Magic 101 or equivalent magical/energetic experience.


Pentacle of Pearl

We will work with the deep, healing energies of the Pentacle of Pearl, moving through the five points: Love, Law, Wisdom, Power and Knowledge.

Pearl Pentacle - Marin
Teachers Urania, Laura Maples, and Irisanya
Date and Time Six Wednesday eves - March 27 - May 1
Cost $90-240 sliding scale
Location Marin
Contact Urania, cobalturania@yahoo.com
Additional Information
Through trance, movement, singing, journaling and interactive exercises, we will be exploring and balancing those points of the Pearl Pentacle. Step into your whole radiant self...

Prerequisite: Elements of Magic, Witchcamp, or equivalent magical experience. Class size limited, Pre-registration required.

Pearl Pentacle - Sebastopol
Teachers Copper Persephone, Todd, and Irisanya
Date and Time Weekend intensive - May 3-5, 2013
Cost $90-240 sliding scale
Includes dorm-style or tent sleeping. Ask about scholarship assistance.
Location Sebastopol
Contact Copper, CopperPersephone@aol.com or call (707) 396-8514
Additional Information
Through trance, movement, singing, journaling and interactive exercises, we will be exploring and balancing those points of the Pearl Pentacle. Step into your whole radiant self...

Prerequisite: Elements of Magic, Witchcamp, or equivalent magical experience. Class size limited, Pre-registration required.

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Rites of Passage

Rites of Passage focuses on dreams, myths, and language, using traditional and non-traditional tales and techniques to create a personal rite of passage. Through storytelling, trance, release work and dreams we receive our challenge(s), meet our helpers, work through our blocks and emerge renewed, reborn. Six classes (or weekend intensive), culminating with a ritual created by the students.

Prerequisite: Elements of Magic class or equivalent.


Rites of Passage
Teachers Seed, George, and Phoenix LeFae
Date and Time Six Monday eves starting April 8
Cost $90-240 sliding scale
Location Terras Temple - Oakland-Piedmont
Contact George at george@directaction.org, (415) 255-7623.
Additional Information
Reclaiming Rites of Passage focuses on our personal dreamwork, using traditional myths, storytelling, and development of advanced magickal skills, to help us honor our personal rites of passage. We will dance, drum, sing, dream, storytell, and use shamanic trance work, to deepen the magick....

Join us in the ritual room at Terras Temple in the Piedmont area of Oakland, a residential area above Piedmont Avenue.

Prerequisite: Elements of Magic or attendance at a Witchcamp.

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More Reclaiming Classes

More Reclaiming classes taught by two or more teachers, at least one of whom is a Reclaiming teacher. These classes offer advanced training in specific aspects of the Craft. Contact teachers for more information.


Holy well and Sacred Flame - Geneaology of Brigid
Teachers Riyana, Rebecca Tidewalker, and Chuck
Date and Time Weekend Intensive - March 2-3 - 10am-6pm
Cost $100-150 sliding scale (some financial aid available) - pre-registration necessary
Location Berkeley
Contact Riyana, rebeccasangasong@yahoo.com
Additional Information
Brigid, triple Goddess of Healing, Smithcraft and Poety, tender of the holy well and sacred flame, beloved protector of the land and people. The Bright One who has been adored in her homeland through the great passages of time that mark the shifts from Pagan to Christian, Goddess to Saint, and from the old wisdom ways to the brutal effects of colonization and materialism.

We gather together in her name, to honor and reforge our connection with this goddess and ancestor of path, to heal and strengthen ouræroots as witches and deepen our practices of poetry, healing, and Craft. Through storytelling and song, poetry and art, trancework and embodied prayer, we will explore the mysteries, wisdom and magic embedded in her living memory and the stories that have inspired her people for generations. Through rituals of water and fire, we will carry the torch of our lineage more fully into the present moment as a gift to the generations to come. Through connection with our plant allies and medicine making, we will awaken our powers as healers of people and healers of the land.

Join us as we gather to honor Brigid and the ancestors of path who have tended the holy wells and fire temples, and infuse ourselves with the power of our dedication to the protection of the land and all that we hold sacred and dear to our hearts.

Class size limited, Pre-registration required.


Inanna: Knowing Ourselves, Knowing Power, In All of Our Parts
Teachers Cypress Fey, Inanna Hazel, and Irisanya
Dates and Time Friday May 10 - Sunday May 12, 2013
Cost $90-240 sliding scale - limited space - deposit required to secure your spot!
Location Sebastopol (dorm style accommodation available)
Contact Email Irisanya, irisanya@yahoo.com
More Information  
"Her destiny was a small shoot reaching up. Her name was Inanna." (Inanna: from the Myths of Ancient Sumer by Kim Echlin).

This mystery of power, how we hold it, how we share it, how we grab onto it, how we are called into it and changed by it. Inanna collects the Huluppu tree, ripped from the ground by a storm, planting it in her holy garden and nurturing it until the tree is tall and thick. But then, something happens?

In our personal journey and in the collective journey, we ask the question: what are the gifts that arrive when we are willing to step into our power? Has fear ever led us to interpret gifts as threats? Have we sought to banish gifts before finding out they held for us?

Together, we explore our relationship to beauty, to power, and to community. Perhaps this journey is something that requires help, that requires cunning, and that requires courage in the face of monsters (some that are sent after us, some that we send after ourselves).

Through trance, through spontaneous co-created ritual, through dream work, through wild journeys under the embrace of the sky, and through deep introspection, we may come to know our power better. We may come to know ourselves better so that we can bring gifts (both expected and unexpected) to the world.

As witches, we will gather to craft a spell as the gifts we wish to bring to our culture rise from our hearts.

Inanna brings the gifts of wisdom to her people, and in her time and place, out of her heart, more are revealed. Following her journey, what arises from of our hearts to bring to human culture? What more do we bring for our time and place?

That's where this magick begins. That's where our magick shoots up from the ground and into the sky.

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Advanced Elemental Magic in the Wild
Teachers Cypress Fey and Brook Schonfield
Date August 12-18, 2013
Cost $250
Location Sierras (about three hours from Oakland)
Contact Contact Cypress Fey, cypress@alteredstates.org
 
Are Elementals simply entities used to build a magic circle? Or is there more? Are they a path to power, transformative shapeshifting, and deep magic? One way to find out is to ask Air, Fire, Water, Earth, to join our Spirit in a week of magic.

On the path, we will live for 5 days asking Air, Fire, Water, and Earth to support our journey and our living being. We will live in the elements, seeking each Element's native habitat. Participants will have opportunities to become each Element in turn, thus allowing the Elements to reveal their Mysteries to us. Then, we will both work with and embody each Element in a cycle of Elemental magic. This is not your parents' Elements. This is your Neolithic Shaman's Elements.

What will we be doing? - Held in the the embrace of Sierra Wilderness we will spend the day doing exercises and journeys that explore the varied dynamics of each element. We will push our edges to find new ways we can work with them and of them in ritual and daily life. Every day we will co-create a ritual for night time together, and explore the ancient art of shapeshifting.

Elementals can be deep partners in magical working. They charge and give power to the heart of the magic. We "call" them as presences at the beginning of rituals. But Elements can be woven in dynamically to the heart of the magic and the intentions that we work. Through relationship and connection to their presence in our bodies, our world, our souls.

Who is this for? - Those who feel called to a journey in the wild working the edges of Elemental Magic. This advanced Elements will explore tools, techniques and craft group experiences to catapult your relationship with the elements and interactions with them in personal practice and group rituals.

For those who have not yet had Reclaiming Elements of Magic, we will ensure that the work will also provide the Reclaiming Elements course. You will be organically folded into the work and be able to experience both Elements of Magic and Advanced Elements at the same time.

Where and when: In the Sierras, meeting about 3 hrs away from Oakland, CA
Monday afternoon/evening, Aug 12th (lodging provided)
Hiking out Tuesday morning to backpack to site
Coming out on Sunday, Aug 18th

You bring your equipment and food. (Some equipment is available to borrow.)

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Sacred Spa Space for Water-Loving Witches
Teachers Ewa, Urania, and Ian
Dates and Time Friday February 22 to Sunday February 24, 2013
Cost $225-325 sliding scale
Location Salamander Camp (Santa Cruz Mountains)
Contact Email Urania, cobalturania@yahoo.com or call (415) 596-1961
More Information  
The planets will be deep in the late-winter waters, and Brigid's gren will be back with us. We're envisioning a weekend of healing, magic, relaxation and sacred play including Yoga, art making, communal cooking and co-created ritual when the spirit calls.

Rustic luxury provides: Hiking trails through redwood, madrone and manzanita forests; fabulous views, hot tub and deck area, fire pit. Vegetarian breakfast and dinner. Accommodations: delightful communal sleeping yurts with futons and wood stoves or camping area.

Early reg by the 7th of January is $175. After 7 January sliding scale $225-325. $125 deposit holds your space. Includes lodging and food. Refunds at our discretion.

Facebook events Page - click here

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Deity Connection - Aspecting Your Way to Devotion
Teachers Brook, Laurie Lovekraft, and Robin LaSirena
Dates and Time Weekend Intensive - May 17-18, 2013
Cost $90-240 sliding scale
Location Oakland
Contact Robin, lasirena23@gmail.com
More Information  
Do you want to deepen your connection to the divine? Why call a deity into your self? Inviting the Mysterious Ones (beings, qualities, deities) to come to us via aspecting allows us to receive blessings and guidance and to offer our gratitude through celebration.

Also known as channeling and mediumship, Aspecting is a powerful tool when approached with a commitment to your spiritual path. When a goddess or god is present "in aspect" we explore our relationship to this being, their impact on our lives, and the ways we carry this energy.

We will explore: preparing the container, anchoring, tending, service, finding allies, personal authority, mapping fear, and other techniques. This is not merely a "how to" class. We'll use meditation, movement, song, and prayer to cultivate an intimate relationship with the divine.

Pre-requisite: Have taken a core Reclaiming class, such as Elements of Magic, a path at a Reclaiming witchcamp, or equivalent experience.

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Tarot: A Transformational Journey
Teachers eddy and George
Dates and Time Saturday May 18, 2013
1:00-6:00pm
Cost $29-49 sliding scale - some partial scholarships or work-trade available
Location Berkeley - one block from Ashby BART
Contact George, george@directaction.org, (415) 255-7623 or eddy, cfitwitch@gmail.com
More Information  
Join us for a magical journey with the Tarot!

Cultivate your personal relationship with the cards, to gain greater clarity, personal insight, and new perspectives.

Together we will work with a variety of techniques from the intellectual to the embodied as we deepen our magical understanding and craft our own right relationship with the cards.

Whether you have years of experience working the cards or have never even held a Tarot deck before, we hope you'll join us for as we engage the transformative magic of the Tarot. Our work will be experiential, creative, and collaborative.

We will work with multiple decks including the deck that eddy designed. To see samples, visit cfitwitch.wix.com/tarotransformation/

Come join us as we dance with divination and co-creation - when we have insight, we open space for true transformation!

Class meets Saturday May 18, 1-6pm near Ashby BART. Cost $49-99 sliding scale - some partial scholarships or work-trade available - please donate generously to support our sliding scale!

Class is one block from Ashby BART. Wheelchair accessible by request. Scent and perfume-free space - please ask if you have questions about location, access, or scents.

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Power and Mystery
Teachers Georgie Craig and Copper Persephone
Date January 18-20, 2013
Cost $90-240 sliding scale
Location Sebastopol
Contact Contact Copper, CopperPersephone@aol.com
 
Join us for this powerful Reclaiming class that has not been offered in the North Bay for many years.

Check back soon for a full description.

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Teen Earth Magic 2013 - California
Teachers Recent teams have included Riyana, Allison, Jason Scarecrow, George, Seneca, Abel, Captain, Sid, Sophie, and eddy
Date Northern California - June 11-16, 2013
Cost $179-399, with some scholarships and parent work exchange available
Location Camp Epic, near Nevada City, CA
Contact George or Riyana, or call (415) 255-7623
 
Join us for the sixth annual California Teen Earth Magic retreat - six days of deepening our relations with the Earth and with one another.

Come together with other young people ages 13-25 who care about the world. Group building will be part of our work, and we hope to create lasting connections.

The 2013 camp will include a mentoring path for youth 19-25.

We'll be doing tarot, habitat restoration, spellwork, composting, labyrinth rituals, singing and music, campfires....

The retreat was initiated by teachers from Witchlets in the Woods family camp, with the support of parents and site-owners. Teachers and organizers from several other Witchcamps (Winter, Free Activist, Vermont, and Loreley) have been part of our teaching teams.

We are keeping the sliding scale as low as possible ($179-399), and offer some scholarship and parent-work-trades. Basically, we want any teen who wants to attend to be able to join us. Parents' consent required for age 17 and under.

Contact us if you have questions or suggestions.

Click here for photos and brochures from past Teen Earth Magic retreats.

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Additional Classes by Reclaiming Teachers

Additional classes taught by a single Reclaiming teacher. While these are not official Reclaiming classes (which require two or more teachers), they offer advanced training in specific aspects of the Craft.


Awakening the Heart, Spirit and Voice
Teacher Evelie
Dates and Time Friday afternoons 4-5pm
Cost Sliding scale of $20-30 (discount for full sessions)
Location Garden Gate Creativity Center - Berkeley
Contact Email Evelie at Evelie511@gmail.com or call (650) 275-3884
 
Lessons will cover general music theory, harmony, improv CircleSinging, Sound Healing through Chant, Mantra, Toning, world genres (classical to gypsy; Brazilian jazz to folk-rock; musical theatre to Balkan; catches/rounds to creating your soul song) including singing in many mother tongues. Discover the beauty, joy, strength and sweetness of your voice when it arrives from an open and loving heart. Please RSVP so I can prepare a space for you.

Also offered are lessons in hand drumming, guitar and other sacred world instruments; music consultation; band or ensemble coaching; sacred hoop medicine drum-making playshops. Please inquire.

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The Magical Writer - Berkeley and Online-Skype Classes
Teacher George Franklin
Dates and Time Berkeley class - six Monday evenings - begins Tuesday June 25, 2013

Online skype class begins June 23 - meets six Sunday afternoons from Noon-1:30pm Pacific Time via skype-audio (free web-based program)
Cost $90-240 sliding scale
Location Berkeley (One block from Ashby BART) / or Online via skype
Contact Email George at george@directaction.org or call (415) 255-7623
 
Want to write a novel, memoir, or other narrative? Working on a dissertation, magazine articles, or an epic poem? Want to jump-start your writing, regardless of the style?

Let Reclaiming magic help!

In this class, we will work with both the craft of writing and the emotional blocks that keep us from reaching our full artistic potential. We will do plenty of free and directed writing and share our work in a supportive circle.

Click here to see handouts and syllabus for the class.

Class meets in sacred space. With magical tools such as circle-casting, ancestor invocations, trances, and spellwork, we'll free our expressive gifts and strengthen our belief in ourselves as artists.

We will spend at least half of each class writing, and will work on expressing our unique voice, creating simple plot-structures, developing characters, and other aspects of the writers' craft.

This class is suitable for those already writing who want a supportive circle and new inspiration, and those looking to begin the process. Although you'll determine your own work-pace, be prepared to dedicate time each week to your writing, and to write for at least ten minutes each day.

This class is also offered online - visit our webpage for upcoming classes. We meet via skype-audio for about 90 minutes each Sunday, at Noon West Coast time. Contact me if you have questions.

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Drum Class for Intermediate/Beginners
Teacher Jeffrey Alphonsus Mooney
Dates and Time Monday evenings - 7-9pm - ongoing
Cost TBA
Location 1668 Page St. near Clayton St., San Francisco
Contact Call Alphonsus, (415) 867-8268
 
We practice energy raising and grounding techniques

Trance states. Body awareness. Deep grooves. Voice work with drum.

Magic.

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