Melissa Madara
Lecture & Workshop Host
LECTURE: Adversarial Animism : Compelling Magic in Botanical Charms
For many practitioners who walk the green path, considering plants as allies and collaborators is the logical conclusion of an animist perspective. In acknowledging the spirit and selfhood of a plant, we access deeper capacities for relation, craft, tutelage, and affinity. However, history presents another side to this relationship, in which plant allies can be dominated by the practitioner to ensure their magical assistance. Here, the relationship between plant and practitioner becomes adversarial, and green spirits can be manipulated, controlled, and adjured by force into surrendering their virtues. In this lecture, students will analyze charms and rituals which employ this dominating form of green magic, and compare the techniques, tools, and praxis within.
WORKSHOP: Techniques of the Honorable Harvest
1.5 HOUR INTENSIVE– space is limited to 20 participants
In navigating the ethics of animism and plant allyship, students of the green path must eventually consider the nature of the honorable harvest. How can we harm, and even kill, our plant allies by harvesting them? How does this necessary violence fit within the context of animist relationality? In this workshop, students will examine the tools and techniques of the honorable harvest, followed by a brief walk through the woods to experiment with these methods in practice.
$35 workshop add on fee
$0 materials fee
BIO: Melissa Madara is an author, educator, and occultist based in NYC. Their research explores ancient religions, plant folklore, and a comparative analysis of magical techniques. Find Melissa’s articles, curriculum, calendar of appearances and more at mooncvlt.com or on IG @saint.jayne
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