Descent of the White Eagle Best Western Hotel, Evanston Descent of the White Eagle     Interview With Lady Olivia Robertson Interview With Demetria Nanos Interview With Kiel Ankh-Nem-Ti-Ra Intervieew With Joan Forest Mage Program    10 am:  Registration and Meditation 10:30 am:  Procession and blessing 11am to 12 noon:  Fellowship of Isis Reconnection and Renewal. 12 noon- 1:30pm: Lunch at one of Evanston's many delightful rerstaurants. 1:30 - 2:30 pm:  presentation by Lady Olivia Robertson 2:30 - 3:00 pm:  "A Modern Bard's Circle", by Carole Linda Gonzalez of Grove Argentum, Druid Clan of Dana, NYC 3:00 -3:45 pm:  "Winged Goddesses" by Rt. Rev. Michael Starsheen AU, of  Isis of the Stars Lyceum. 3:45 pm-4:15:   "Sacred Birds:  Ogham, Omens & Deities,"  by Demetria Nanos Jones.  This presentation will focus on European, Asian, and North American raptors and other bird spirits/gods,divination, and omens. 4:15 - 5:00pm:   "The Warrior Spirit," by Joan Forest Mage.  The presentation leads participants through the Creative Community Medicine Wheel, a contemporary spiritual teaching for harmonizing the individual, human society, Nature and the Spirit Realm.  We connect to the 4 Skills of Relationship which help us foster healthy community, focusing specifically on the Warrior Archetype. 5:00-6:00:  "Rune Lore and Runagaldar," Presented by Kiel Milner and Ray Butta. The class will be in twoparts: lecture and doing a Galdar. The Galdar will included stodda warm up rune ring/hammer rite/and making a bind rune Galdar style. 6:00:  Celebration of the FOI Liturgy, "Ascent of the White Eagle." 7 pm: Farewells Main Liturgy    The ritual, "Descent of the White Eagle," is found at this link: http://www.fellowshipofisis.com/liturgy/mel3.html This liturgy awakens us to actively healing the earth. It was chosen as a means of invoking the aid of all winged goddesses that we may heal and restore the Birdsof the world, who are suffering terribly with the avian flu and other miseries. This powerful rite builds on last year's ritual, which focused on awakening the forces of balance and compassion. White Eagle Reading List    Falcon Feather and Valkyrie Sword by DJ Conway Gods and Myths of Northern Europe, H. R. Ellis Davidson, first published by Pelican Books, London, 1964, reprinted and published by Penquin Group, 1990. Kalevala: The Land of Heroes, in two volumes, no. 259 and no. 260, translation by W. F. Kirby, Everyman’s Library, 1962. Medieval Myths by Norma Lorre Goodrich Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe: Early Scandinavian & Celtic Religions, by H.R. Ellis Davidson Northern Mysteries & Magick: Runes & Feminine Powers, by Freya Aswyn. The Perfect Wagnerite, A Commentary on the Niblung’s Ring, George Bernard Shaw, Archibald Constable & Co. Ltd., London, originally published in 1898, several later reprints. The Prose Edda of Snorri Sturluson, Tales from Norse Mythology, translation by Jean I. Young, University of California Press, Berkeley, 1964. The Rites of Odin, by Ed Fitch Teutonic Magick Series, published by Llewellyn, in particular Rune Magick  and The Nine Doors of Midgard by Edred Thorsson (aka Stephen Flowers) Teutonic Religion, by Kvendulf Gundarsson Well of Remembrance: Rediscovering the Earth Wisdom Myths of Northern Europe by Ralph Metzner.      Glossary    there is fuller information at the Goddess Festival Wiki...click here:   http://goddessfestival.pbwiki.com  Brynhilde:  chief of the Valkyries, and daughter of Odin.  Freya: goddess of magic Freyr: god of fertility Norns:  mistresses of fate; ancient deities of destiny. They water the roots of the world ash-tree, Yggdrasil. Odin: One-eyed chief of the Aesir gods, and god of wisdom, war, and the gallows.  Son of Bor and Bestla, brother of Vili and Ve, married to Frigga, father of Thor.  He is the wisest of the gods, who governs all things, and other deities come to him for advice. His two ravens are Hugin (thought) and Munin (memory). Seidh: originally included runic magic, but gradually became more involved with shape- changing and trance possession by the gods, particularly Freya, Freyr, and Odin.  Seiokona: another word for the priestess, the volva, who performs the seidh or seidr ritual. Sigurd:  the name used in this ritual for the character more commonly referred to as Siegfried.  Siegfried and Sigurd are variations of the same name. Sigurd, more properly, Sigurðr, is Old Norse, while Siegfried is German. Urda:  eldest of the Norns; she was both just and inexorable. Valkyries:  goddesses who give victory to one side or the other, choose warriors destined to die in battle, and decide which of them will be admitted to Valhalla.  They can appear in human or swan form.