2025 Spiral Dance Planning Cell and Volunteers
***Planning Cell***
Project Manager: Delyla Wilson (also Kids Korner creatrix; Kitchen crew; Widdershins with kids; Mysterious One spoken invocation ~ Coyote
Elder advisor: Arisika Razak
Volunteer Coordinator: Brenda Palmer-Novick (also Front of House Coordinator & set-up; Chorus)
Flyer creatrix/outreach materials: Coyote Wilson (also scribe; Kitchen witch; Livestreamer with Nolan Orion)
Front of House Altar: Christina Aenestad (also Widdershins witch sweeping with broom; spoken invocation of the Goddess in the form of the wrathful Dakini/21 Taras)
Front of House set-up: Peter Silverman (also God spoken invocation; Clean up Coordinator)
Front of House set-up: Lilitheve (also Altar creatrix, Beloved Dead Reader)
Divine Feminine Altar creatrix: Sridevi Ramanathan
Beloved Dead Co-coordinators:
* Jim Haber (also Altar coordinator & creator; Beloved Dead reader; Beloved Dead Names & music lyrics projection; Facebook Live; God spoken invocation)
* Megan Stoddard (also Beloved Dead reader)
Ritual Co-coordinators:
* Starhawk (also Melting ICE Altar, brief history of the Spiral Dance; Spell working with cloth ripping; Benediction; composer of many Spiral Dance songs we sang)
* Evelie Delfino Såles Posch (also Richmond Auditorium on site liaison; writer of Cue Sheet, Emcee script, Ritual Rubric, Lyric Slides; Back of House volunteer check in; Call to Ritual with conches-ness; West/Water invocation with ‘flocking’ movements; Chorus and Band arranger, conductor and co-composer with Starhawk of two songs we sang this year ~ “Hymn of Forgiveness” {bookending the Ancestors/Beloved Dead/Mighty Dead invocation with “Weaver, Weaver} and “Elixir” {sung to devoke the Directions/Elements}
MC: Sherri Maurin (also Back of House Covid tester; Beloved Dead reader)
Land Acknowledgment: Doug Chambers (also Call to Ritual with didgeridoo; Band member {didgeridoo, doumbek, theremin}; Chorus soloist on “Hymn of Forgiveness”)
Spirits of the Land Invocation: Kathy Riehle (also Chorus member; West/Water invocation playing the rainstick)
Circle Caster and Opener: Violetta Osgood
***Volunteers***
Musicians
Belinda Salvidge ~ cellist, violinist, singer
Chelsea McCallister ~ alto/soprano
Danny Grobani ~ also “The God Song” soloist, “Elixir” trio
Dave Bick-Maurischat ~ bass
Dress Wedding ~ also Call to Ritual; clarinetist; Ancestors/Beloved Dead/Mighty Dead spoken invocation
Eileen Hazel ~ also Call to Ritual; conductor of “Behold, There is Magic”; soloist for “The God Song” women’s verse, “Weaver Weaver,” & “Let It Begin Now/Litany” for the spiral dance
Eve Chosak ~ Soloist for Directions/Elements invocation with “Behold, There is Magic” & West/Water invocation with ‘flocking’ movements; “Let It Begin Now” for the spiral dance; for Directions/Elements devocation with “Elixir”
George Franklin ~ rhythm guitarist
Ilaya Malaya Bolacito ~ soloist for “Ili-ili, Tulog Anay” lullaby from the Southern Philippines, post-ritual; South/Fire invocation dancer
Jedi Delfino Såles ~ also Call to Ritual; West/Water invocation playing the rainstick; Dedicated Quatrain singer
Karianne Burns ~ soprano/alto
Kim Bick-Maurischat ~ alto, verse soloist in “Let It Begin Now/Litany” for the spiral dance
Lovi ~ also verse singer on “The God Song”; Rage Ranter on “Burning Times” (Goddess song invocation)
Lynn Luna Orlando ~ soprano
Misha Michelle Reddington ~ also Evelie’s Tender; Stage Manager mentee; Dedicated Quatrain singer
Nancy Donald ~ also harmonium player in the Band; verse soloist in “Let It Begin Now/Litany” for the spiral dance
Patty Rose Costa ~ Rage Ranter & soloist on “Burning Times”, “Weaver Weaver,” & “Let It Begin Now/Litany” for the spiral dance
Randy Blaustein ~ alto, Dedicated Quatrain singer, verse soloist in “Let It Begin Now/Litany” for the spiral dance
Stan Ali ~ talking drummer
Tisay Opaon-Ali ~ also North/Earth dancer
Thorn Filipeli ~ drummer
Tony Salvata ~ lead guitarist
Violetta ~ soprano, soloist for “Weaver Weaver,” & “Let It Begin Now/Litany” for the spiral dance
Virginia Northrup ~ alto
Vivian Gold ~ also Altar Creatrix
Spiral Dance Chorus & Band Rehearsal Spaces Sponsors ~ Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Univesalists {bfuu.org}, First Unitarian Church of Oakland {uuoakland.org}
Starhawk’s Tender ~ Victoria Scott
ASL Interpreter for Dress Rehearsal ~ Annie
Pre-Ritual
Lights & Sound ~ John Brearton, Paul Knight with help from Solomon, Evan Brown
Facebook Live Event ~ Jim Haber
Livestreamers ~ Coyote, Nolan Orion
Back of House
*Covid testers & Check-in Volunteers ~ Catalin Kaser, Evelie, Megan, Sherri
Front of House
*Covid testers & Check-in Volunteers ~ Gail Marquette, Dahlia Bender
*Altar/Decor/Set up ~ Brenda Palmer-Novick, Christina Aenestad
*Lobby Set up ~ Peter Silverman, Patch, Richard Robinson, Sybille, Leo Herod, Moss
*Ticket Takers ~ Lori Goldwyn, Sybille, Catalin, Inna
Banner Maker ~ David Solnit
Day Support ~ Matthew Jones
*Altar Creators*
Altar Assistant to Jim ~ Mallory
Cardinal Directions: East/Kate LeGros; South/Patricia Miller; West/Eileen Hazel, Mel; North/Christina, Tay, Jen'e, Breena
Earth Protection Altar/Feather; Altar to Deceased Children and Teens/Christie Angelo; Beloved Pets Altar/Chelsea; Melting ICE/Carter Brooks, Lilitheve and Starhawk; Divine Feminine/Sridevi; Homage to Her/Aishah Pat; Beloved Dead/dress; Dead Journalists in Gaza/Christina
Midway Plaisance (outdoors for attendees waiting in line) ~ Belinda Salvidge on violin; Eve Chosak, Danny Grobani leading a group singalong
Anchors Coordinator ~ Rune
Anchors ~ Bella Strix, Alison Byrne, Mei Lia S, Rose Bonedust, Stardust
Tenders ~ Cole Jones, Thorne, Hillary Bowers, Wildbone, Danielle Jones, Jennifer (Wildflower) Miller, Marion Graham
Beloved Dead ~ Co-coordinator/Jim Haber, Co-coordinator/Megan Stoddard,
Beloved Dead Readers ~ Mimi Gamson, Xenia, Lilitheve, Sherri Maurin, Richard Robinson, Yule Emerson; Tigris; Beautiful Egret
Dragons ~ Sonder, Leo Herod, Deanne Quarrie, Kate LaCosta
Graces Coordinator ~ Stella Bay and Grace/Eric Bowers
Ritual
ASL Interpreters ~ Kevin Mogg, Christiane Crawford
Photographer ~ Brett Fisher
Call to Ritual {Conches-ness} ~ Doug/didge, Dress, Eileen, Evelie, George, Ilaya, Jedi, Nancy
“Lyke Wake Dirge” {Trad. Celtic Tune} ~ Chorus and Band
Widdershins ~ Delyla Wilson and kids; Witches on brooms or sweeping
Land Acknowledgment/Spirits of the Land Invocation ~ Doug Chambers and Kathy Riehle
“2025 Spiral Dance Intention Round” {©Evelie Delfino Såles Posch} ~ Evelie, Chorus and Band
Grounding ~ Suzanne Pullen
Casting ~ Violetta Osgood
Welcome/Short History of the Spiral Dance ~ MC Sherri Maurin and Starhawk
“Behold, There is Magic” {Abbi Spinner, adapted, arr. ESP} ~ Chorus and Band; Dancers: East/Air Lilia Leshan & Nick Vengoni; South/Fire Ilaya Malaya Bolacito; West/Water Ev, Eve {Mystic Muses} & Jedi Delfino Såles and Kathy Riele {rainsticks}; North/Earth Tisay Opaon-Ali; Center/Spirit All dancers and prancers
Greeting the Fae ~ Riyana Song
God Invocation:
*Spoken ~ Jim Haber and Peter Silverman
*“The God Song” {Starhawk, Michael Charnes} Dancers ~ Antoine Hunter, Paunika Jones, Zahna Simon; Singers: Soloist Danny Grobani, plus Doug Chambers, Lovi Fynn, Eileen; Chorus and Band
Goddess Invocation:
*Spoken ~ Christina Aenestad & Wrathful Goddess movers; Delyla Wilson aspecting “Coyote” Trickster
*“Burning Times” {Charlie Murphy; arr ESP} Dancers ~ Maiden Diana Tenes; Mother Aishah Pat Rusich; Crone Penny Hackett-Evans; Mysterious Ones Nicki Koether; Activists All and attendees; Rage Ranters: Evelie, Lovi, Misha; Soloist Patty Rose Costa; Chorus and Band
Ancestors/Beloved Dead/Mighty Dead Invocation:
*“ Hymn of Forgiveness” {Poem: Starhawk; Tune: Evelie Delfino Såles Posch} ~ Soloist Doug Chambers, Chorus and Band
*Spoken ~ Jim, Megan, Dress
*”Weaver, Weaver {Lyrics: Starhawk; Celtic Tune ‘Mo Ghile Mear’; arr ESP}
Spell Working with Ripping Cloth ~ Starhawk
Trance Induction ~ Urania and Suzanne Sterling
“Set Sail” {Starhawk, M.J. Quicklightning; arr ESP} ~ Chorus and Band
Trance Tofu ~ Urania and Suzanne Sterling
“Let It Begin Now/Litany” {Starhawk} ~ Soloists, Chorus and Band
Benediction ~ Starhawk
“Through All the World Below” {Susan Rothbaum; arr ESP} ~ Chorus and Band
Trance Return from the Isle ~ Urania and Suzanne Sterling
Food BlesSING ~ “Demeter’s Song” {Starhawk; arr ESP} ~ Duo Evelie & Patty Rose
Devocations:
*Dead Leaders (Megan, BD readers, & Dress): say farewells and blessings
*Goddess/Mysterious Ones spoken devocation by Christina, Delyla
*God spoken devocation by Jim & Peter
*Riyana - Fae Hail and Farewell
*Land Acknowledgement/Spirits of the Land devocation by Doug & Kathy
Deities Devocation ~ “No End to the Circle” {Starhawk} ~ Soloists: Danny, Doug, Lovi, with God dancers: Antoine, Paunika, Zahna; and Soloists: Eileen, Patty Rose, Evelie, with Goddess dancers: Diana, Aishah, Penny, Nicki
Directions/Elements Devocation ~ “Elixir” {Lyrics: Starhawk; Tune: Evelie Delfino Såles Posch} ~ Soloists: Doug, Danny, Eve, Evelie, Lovi
Circle Opener ~ Violetta Osgood
Gratitude and Thank You’s ~ MC Sherri
Happy New Year!
Post-Ritual
“Ili-ili, Tulog Anay” {Trad. Southern Philippines Lullaby} sung by Ilaya Malaya with harmony by Evelie}
Clean up ~Peter, Andrea, Kimba Joy, Eric Bowers, Wildflower
Website Mistresses ~ Evelie & Kimba Joy