Brian has been actively interested in Paganism for 28 years and a priest in the Céilí Sídhe tradition of Celtic Paganism since 1990. He holds a B.A. in Celtic Studies and Religious Studies from the University of Toronto, as well as an M.Phil. from the University of Wales. His book, The Secret Commonwealth and the Fairy Belief Complex (2002) was based on his Masters thesis on fairy beliefs and Second Sight in Early Modern Scotland.

Within the community he strive to emphasis a personal, intimate, and joyful relationship with the deities, ancestors and spirits of nature in the Living World; preferring to emphasize magical Religion over superficially religious Magic. He also feels it is important to have a good grasp of religious history of one’s faith, acknowledging the collective wisdom and insight of who and what has come before us, as well as the differences that make each deity and each culture distinct and valuable.
He currently works as a spiritual care provider at a major Toronto hospital, and as a Pagan (Celtic and Reconstructionist) chaplain at the University of Toronto. Also, as a licensed Wedding Officiant, he is able to perform legal weddings in the province of Ontario. For more information go to www.newtara.org

Introduction to Vedic Magical Chant
Why do people chant ‘OM’? What is ‘OM’, anyway? What other sounds are part of Vedic mantra magic and why would a modern pagan care? Come explore these questions, and the powerful seed syllables that go into mantra yoga, the harnessing of sacred names, words, and sounds. We will also explore how some modern pagans have experimented with seed syllables for western cultures in an effort to gain deeper attunement with the gods or certain powers.

Sacred Stories: Narrative as Magic and Sacrament
How can you provoke an experience of the gods? How do you connect the events in your life to the deep themes of the sacred? Would you believe it may be as simple as telling a story? Come discover the powerful, passionate, and sometimes playful, power of myth.

In this blend of cool lecture and hot tale-telling, we will examine the value of myth by exploring Celtic and other Indo-European narratives as a means of honouring the gods and bringing blessings upon the teller and the audience. With stories from Ireland we will let the magic flow!

Introduction to Celtic Reconstructionism
Using story-telling, lecture, and discussion, we will explore how some pagans are honouring our Celtic source culture by reconstructing the worship of the ancient Celtic gods, in the context of their own cosmology, their own holy days, folk customs and practices interpreted as best we can for a modern world. This will also be a good primer for those interested in knowing more about the main ritual on Saturday.

Main Ritual: Sorrow and Celebration
The main ritual will be honouring the relationship between land and culture, in this season of harvest and abundance. While the paradigm will be culturally specific (Celtic Reconstructionist), I hope the meaning will be understood as universal - counting the cost of our impact on the earth, and expressing a hope for a better future, born not from merely turning back to the past, but carrying the wisdom of our ancestors into a new and better future for all.