[convention/event] Crucible, Invitation to Crucible: A Magic(k) Convention, Oct. 6 in Edison, NJ Options

Hello everyone! I just would like to extend an invite to all of you to a convention my group is organizing on October 6 in Edison, NJ called Crucible. Crucible is a magic(k) convention open to members of all walks of magic. During the event, we will have a number of speakers from a variety of traditions. It's a great way to meet others who are into magic(k) and to get an idea of the vast amount of traditions/paths out there. Some of the speakers we have and topics include:

• Rouhaniat, also known as Al Hikmah by Jow. Rouhaniat is a form of contemporary, medieval-based Arabian Magick. The lecture will cover magical theory, history, and practical applications.
• Magickal Combat by Inominandum (Jason Miller). In this class Jason Miller, the author of Protection and Reversal Magick, will lay out strategies and methods used in magickal conflicts, either between sorcerer and spirit, or magician vs magician. Methods of protection, obfuscation, binding, expelling, jinxing and cursing will all be discussed. Material will range from High Ceremonial magick to Hedge Magick and everything in between.
• Beliefs and Practices of Haitian Vodou by Houngan Hector, Haitian Vodou High Priest. The overview will include God, Spirits (Lwa), Magic, Initiation, and a variety of other topics. We will be discussing in-depth about certain Lwa of the Vodou and some of Haiti's History.
• The Place of the Mage and Magic in the Modern World: A Panel Discussion
• Dowsing as a Therapeutic Art for Better Health by Dimitri, a Wiccan High Priest Dowsing in this method is a similar approach to kinesiology, in which the body is its own tool. Dimitri will provide a demonstration using pendulums.
• Egyptian Magick by Shawn Knight
• Basic Yoruban Gods, Beliefs, Practices, and their Adaptation to Modernization by Dimitri and Deserie (High Priest and Priestess). Deserie will close with a modern Yoruban-based ritual cleansing and blessing.
• The Relationship between Quantum Physics and Chaos Magic by Shawn Knight.
• Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n Roll: Alternative Ways of Achieving Gnosis and their Implications: A Panel Discussion
• Omnimancy: Intermediate by Arthur Moyer

We have a couple more speakers whose topics are yet to be announced.

If you would like a chance to spend time with a diverse group of magic practitioners and learn/discuss about various paths of magic(k), please drop by! Again, Crucible is on October 6 in Edison, New Jersey. You can check out our site at www.CrucibleConvention.com for more information. Pre-register for discounted tickets as well as a preprinted badge.

Thanks all!
Arthur

I went to Crucible last year and have to say I was less than impressed. While it might have gotten a little better since then, last year it could have been done out of someone's garage and been every bit as interesting. Shawn Knight did about the only interesting talk, one on Thelema and one on Quantum Uncertainty, and beyond that the attendance was made up of a lot of anti-social individuals, many of whom were clamoring for the attention of the omnimancer group for one reason or another.

Mr. Moyer 'imself did a short introduction on Omnimancy during which he revealed the first 'amp' in their system of tech - and I'm afraid in my estimation the entire discussion greatly damaged my previous opinion of omnimancy and the group, which had appeared to be a rather innovative approach to direct magick.

All in all, you could probably learn more by spending less money to buy a dowload pass from the website here at sacred-magick. While there are likely to be a handful of serious practitioners there for networking, friend-making, etc., you'll have to pick through everyone to find them. God forbid you should go for the attention of one of the Omnimancers, as you're more than likely not worth their time (unless it's the girl with the long brown hair, I forget her name, but she's alright).

As a side note, you know, we get a fair number of authors and 'big' occult names here... you know, maybe we should plan a convention. I'm willing to bet we could pull of a much better one.

peace

@Vagrant Dreamer

Honestly, you are the first complaint I've ever gotten about the event (or even past events for that matter). Everyone has always commented how much they really enjoyed the events. The only "complaint" I've gotten until now was there was too much to attend and not enough time (ie. sometimes there would be things scheduled across from each other that the attendee wanted to see both). I'm sorry you didn't have a good time. We can discuss in PM what you feel would add to the event. Admittedly, last year was more thrown together than I would have liked because of the original hotel backing out of their contract "last minute" when it actually hit them we were serious about the subject matter. That meant a more diverse set of speakers was harder to get last minute and advertisement for attendees started far later than normal, not to mention skipping a year of not having the event in the first place which lost it's momentum from previous years. The 2004 event had a far greater attendance by about 3-4 times actually and we are hoping for that or greater this year. Please see the Crucible's past part of the website to see who was speaking then, which included Isaac Bonewits and a few other well known people.

I do think the picture you are painting is rather harsh and not realistic of what happened last year. While I would agree you might learn more from a subscription to a library with hundreds of books than an hour seminar on a subject, I don't think it's a fair comparison. An hour versus the literally hundreds of hours one can spend researching and learning at a library by yourself. So I don't see the relevance. But the difference you get in person is the speakers and other practioners who have "been there", who have real experience in the subject. That is why one goes to this kind of event, to network, even if it is just with the speakers. Or even just to get exposure to things you might not have an opportunity to learn about otherwise.

As far as your issues with the Omnimancers, that seems to be a personal thing and more the crux of your post, and I'd rather take that to PM. I will say since they are the staff, their priorities might be different than you expected running the convention, but I won't know what incident put you in such a bad mood. Hopefully it was simply a misunderstand or different expectations. The Omnimancy lecture itself had more than what you describe, so I don't understand why you felt it had so little.


I still invite everyone to attend. This year we have the most individual and diverse set of speakers of any Crucible to date! Check out the site and see if the speaker set interests you!

Arthur

This post has been edited by LordArthur: Sep 7 2007, 10:53 AM