Samhain Weekend Celebrations for MEC

Oct 27 - hosted BTV

Oct 28 - supported Witches Bizarre

Oct 28 - attended Michigan Witches Ball

The M.E.C. board is excited about seeking out instructors, presenters, and guests of honor who are aligned with mystical and esoteric Paths.

Class submission and Teacher Bios links are up and waiting for you to submit your offerings! We love to have a variety of topics, skill levels, and age level workshops for all attendees - including young people and children! They are our future - let's help them learn. Deadline is October 1st, 2023! That's only 26 days away!!!

Exciting News: Pre-Registration Is Officially Open!

We're thrilled to announce an exciting update for ConVocation! In our ongoing efforts to improve your experience, we've made a significant change. We are now using Sched not only for the event schedule but also for registration. This means you can register for ConVocation through the same platform that you use to view the schedule. We've streamlined the process to make it more convenient for you.

With Sched, our attendees will have the opportunity to create a personalized profile, engage in chat conversations, and easily connect with fellow participants. You'll be able to build your own schedule and seamlessly sync it with your calendar or print it out for quick reference. We believe this integration will enhance your overall ConVocation experience.

Exciting News for ConVocation 2024: A New Location!

We are thrilled to announce that the Magical Education Council's ConVocation 2024 has found its new home at the beautiful Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti Eagle Crest Resort Hotel. Get ready for an unforgettable experience from February 22nd to 25th, 2024, as we gather at this stunning location:

🏨 Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti Eagle Crest Resort Hotel

📍 1275 S Huron St, Ypsilanti, MI 48197

Why the New Location?

The decision to move ConVocation to this incredible venue was made with the aim of enhancing your ConVocation experience. The Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti Eagle Crest Resort Hotel offers a breathtaking setting that will truly elevate the magic of our gathering.

What to Expect:

Beautiful Surroundings: Nestled in Ypsilanti, MI, this venue offers picturesque views and a tranquil ambiance, providing the perfect backdrop for a magical weekend.

Enhanced Facilities: The Eagle Crest Resort Hotel is equipped with fantastic amenities, ensuring your stay is comfortable and convenient.

Exciting Workshops: As always, ConVocation 2024 will feature an array of workshops, presentations, and activities to enrich your mystical and esoteric journey.

Unity and Diversity: We look forward to continuing our mission of fostering inclusivity, unity, and the celebration of diversity in this new and enchanting location.

Save the Date:

Mark your calendars for February 22nd to 25th, 2024, and join us at the Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti Eagle Crest Resort Hotel. This new location promises to add a touch of magic to ConVocation, creating an experience that you won't want to miss.

Stay tuned for more updates and details as we embark on this exciting new chapter in the ConVocation journey. We can't wait to make memories with you in this enchanting setting.

See you at ConVocation 2024! 🌟🔮

Exciting News: MEC Launches New Sponsorship Program for ConVocation!

The Magical Education Council (MEC) is thrilled to announce a major development in our ConVocation journey. We've just launched a brand-new Sponsorship Program for ConVocation, and we can't wait to share the details with you!

Why a Sponsorship Program?

ConVocation has always been about unity, diversity, and fostering an inclusive and welcoming community. We believe that by introducing a Sponsorship Program, we can further strengthen these values and create a more vibrant and enriching experience for all attendees.

What Does the Sponsorship Program Offer?

Our Sponsorship Program opens the door to a host of exciting opportunities:

• Support for All: The program is designed to support individuals and organizations who may not have had the means to attend ConVocation otherwise. We're committed to making the magic of ConVocation accessible to all.

• Diverse Perspectives: Sponsors will help us bring in a wide range of perspectives, backgrounds, and traditions, enriching the ConVocation experience for everyone.

• Community Building: By sponsoring, you're not just supporting an event; you're investing in our mission of building a more connected and engaged community.

• Recognition and Gratitude: Sponsors will receive recognition for their contributions, and our heartfelt gratitude for helping make ConVocation 2024 even more magical.

How Can You Get Involved?

• Become a Sponsor: If you or your organization would like to be a part of this exciting initiative, reach out to us to discuss sponsorship opportunities.

• Spread the Word: Help us by spreading the news about the Sponsorship Program. The more sponsors we have, the more we can do to create an incredible ConVocation experience.

• Stay Tuned: Keep an eye on our updates as we reveal more details about how this program will enhance ConVocation 2024.

ConVocation has always been about coming together, learning, and celebrating our unique paths. With the introduction of the Sponsorship Program, we're taking another step towards making this experience more inclusive, diverse, and magical.

Let's make ConVocation 2024 the best one yet, together!

Hello everyone - After three long years, multiple stops and starts, some serious rough patches, and a lot of craziness - We did it!!!

I'll be completely honest; it still doesn't feel real.

Way back in 2019 I started studying the sephirah we would be working through for this ConVocation and I set goals for myself on what I wanted to bring to all of you. Diversity, inclusivity, accessibility - it was all in there. Then covid happened and my goal posts started to shift. I saw the stress and pain moving through our community along with the sense of isolation and disconnection from each other, our spirituality, and our core selves, as well as the feelings of helplessness and loss that just seemed to be everywhere. I started to think about what we as a group needed to be able to move forward through Tifferet and Netzach and this time in our lives. What tools and supports we needed to be able to pull ourselves together individually, as a family, and as a greater community. I made a list of what we needed in addition to diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility and this is what was on it:

• Kindness

• Empathy

• Compassion

• Reconnection

• Healthy grieving

• Grace (for ourselves and each other)

• Acceptance

• Love

I saw all of this, this past weekend, in all of you.

I have so many thank you's to say that I know some will be missed. I can only apologize and claim exhaustion and an amazing overload of emotion.

To all of our teachers - You were incredible. I've only glanced through the class reviews a little so far, but they are by far the most positive I have ever seen.

Mary K. Greer, Jason Mankey, Oberon Zell, Ivo Jr. Dominguez, Elizabeth Hazel, Clifford Hartleigh Low, Ted Jauw, Kate Henriot Jauw, and Diana Rajchel - Thank you for joining with us this weekend and sharing your knowledge. I know that every single person who attended your classes walked away knowing a little more than they did when they walked in. You were all a joy to work with through this entire time and I hope you will all consider joining us again sometime in the future.

Baba Teddy and Lady Kate - Thank you for broadening my understanding of Tifferet and Netzach and for both an opening and closing ritual that allowed all of us to share the challenges and losses of the last three years together in a way that honored every person there. I believe the saying is " Joy shared is doubled, sorrow shared is halved". The beautiful rituals you both wrote and presented for opening and closing as well as the multiple other rituals you carried out through the weekend helped the entire community halve their sorrow and double their joy - and let us find and feel hope. Again, thank you.

To all of my staff - I am so proud of you. This was hard. The hardest ConVocation I've ever worked and I am including the year of the Tower in that. All of you rose to the occasion and did it anyway. I could not have done this and would not have survived it without you. I noticed every single time one of you did something extra, took over a task for someone else struggling, and how you all did it with every bit of kindness and compassion you could bring to that moment. I'm humbled by your trust in me to keep things moving forward and am completely beyond words grateful for each and every one of you. I also noticed all the sneaky taking care of the con-chair when you didn't think I was paying attention. As much as I grumbled, I appreciate that as well.

To all of our attendees - Thank you as well. You are the sole reason that we keep doing this. No amount of work would have made this happen if you hadn't shown up, opened yourself to the energy, and gone on the wild ride we had this weekend. I know that we had some seriously frustrating challenges this weekend, particularly early on, and yet I still saw kindness and compassion being displayed. You proved that even under pressure it is possible to include everyone and treat them well. We're a family and we act like it - with everything that entails.

Here I'm not going to name names but there are those among all the groups who went even further in their care and support over the years and over the last week. Words truly do fail me. Thank you for being a shoulder to lean on and cry on, someone to vent to and complain with.

As a group ConVocation still has a ways to go with increasing our diversity, accessibility, and inclusivity. This year though all of you helped meet my goals and I think it will only get better from here.

Thank you all for allowing me the privilege of being your Con-chair for ConVocation 2023. I hope that you will join me one last time on March 26th, 2023 at 3pm for the Transition Meeting at the Dearborn/Detroit DoubleTree hotel. We will be going over all the things that happened at ConVocation 2023, discussing ConVocation 2024, and performing a short ritual to transfer the energy of ConVocation to the new Con-chairs.

Lindsay Moss, Convocation 2023 Con-Chair

MEC Votes in New Board Members!

Let's welcome our newly voted board members:

Meg Raphoon ( New BoardSecretary)

Meg Raphoon was raised in a multicultural and multi-faith town on the north shore of Long Island, NY. She studied History and Anthropology in her undergraduate studies and is ABD for her PhD in History at the University of Michigan where she studied the history of Alchemy. She presents on her scholarly research on Alchemy and on Hermetic paths within many practices. She has been a resident of Detroit, MI since 2010 and continues to love living in the city with her cat, Puck who adopted her on Friday 13th. Feel free to reach Meg at meg.raphoon@convocation.org.

AQuil Dennison

Growing up with an instinctive desire to pierce the veil, AQuil has continuously explored the connectedness between humankind and the spiritual realm throughout his life. Following the stronger elements of Metaphysic Philosophy, Hermeticism, American Paganism, and Witchcraft has formed his learning and teaching path throughout his years.

His strong point with the board lies in strengthening public visibility through effective marketing, and growth through networking and community relationships from years of experience in this field. With his organizational, strategic, and solution-based talents, AQuil is passionate and committed to be of help and service to MEC. AQuil can be reached at aquil.dennison@convocation.org.

Barb Stenger

Barb Has been a part of the M.E.C. Pagan community for 17 years. A practicing witch and leader in the pagan community.  As an avid volunteer for many non profit organizations, a business owner and entrepreneur in Mid-Michigan, she brings her expertise to the M.E.C. Board, focusing on advertising, sponsorships, and community outreach. For inquiries in these areas, reach out to Barb at barb.stenger@convocation.org.

These three wonderful members will be joining our veteran members:

Moira Payne — President

Louis Pezet — Vice President

Kelley Emerson — Treasurer

Enafae Moore-Sweet

Lindsay Moss

Jack Mercer

Hello all,

During the last MEC board meeting we discussed the current stage of the pandemic, Covid rates, and the Omicron variant. We have concluded that no matter what protocols or rules we put into place, we cannot safely place 1,000 or more people in a hotel next month. This decision was not made easily, lightly, or without a risk to ConVocation and MEC.

Instead of going forward with ConVocation 2022 as planned, we have decided to reschedule it for February's 23rd to 26th 2023. We know this is a long wait and a big disappointment. We’re disappointed as well.

We are also aware that there will be many questions about refunds on registrations and hotel rooms, as well as questions about myriad other things. We shall attempt to answer all of them in this post, but please feel free to reach out here or contact us directly at conchair@convocation.org for any additional questions.

Refunds -

For hotel room reservations please contact the hotel directly. They will help you through the process of getting your reservations moved or refunded.

For attendee registrations through eventbrite - you will all be receiving a refund from us within the next 30 days. Please bear with us as we move through the process of returning everyone's money. If you haven't received your refund by February 18th, 2022 please email us at info@convocation.org and let us know.

We are doing our best to make as few changes as possible going forward into 2023. The theme and art work will not be changing. As we move through the next year updates will be provided here and on our website www.convocation.org.

For any questions not answered here please feel free to reach out here or to email the relevant department @convocation.org, conchair@convocation.org, or info@convocation.org for answers.

Thank you all for the immense support and patience you have all provided over the years the last 2 and a half years in particular. It wouldn't be worth all the hard work without you.