Thursday: Raising Up the Courageous Voice
Invitations to be our whole selves together
Hi!
This is a shorter message than usual from me. To counter the miserable weather this time of year, I have packed February with opportunities to be in community and connect with me and my work and I wanted to make sure you know about them.
Here’s an overview and you can scroll down for all the details and links:
This Thursday, I will return to the stage as Floxy Blu for the first time since 2019 and I will be joined by amazing, powerful, singers, storytellers, and poets. I hope you’ll join us in Raising Up the Courageous Voice in a musical and spiritual experience that showcases the original, authentic and vulnerable stories that need telling.
Then a little later in the month, you can come and celebrate the new moon at one of two gatherings - the New Moon Red Tent Circle for women on Feb 8 or the Danforth Jewish Circle Rosh Hodesh Intro Night for All Genders on Feb 10.
Matanot Lev | Gifts of the Heart, a radically inclusive, Feminist, Queer+, and interfaith Jewish community returns on February 16 with a Chanting unservice and dinner, sponsored by One Table. It’s been more than 4 years since I have hosted a Matanot Lev Shabbat and I am excited to be back!
And if you scroll to the end of this list of events, you’ll find a little prayer poem, inspired by the Jewish holiday of Tu Bishvat, which we just celebrated last week.
Enjoy!
5th Instalment of Raising Up the Courageous Voice at the Free Times Cafe on Feb 1.
Featuring music, poetry and storytelling by:
Kohenet Annie Matan - (AKA Floxy Blu)
Annie Xiong
Click here for details and tickets. Seats are limited.
In-Person New Moon Red Tent Circles have returned! Next one is on February 8.
A monthly sacred, women’s space in which to celebrate our vulnerability and power as well as the themes of each month. Click here for more details and to register.
Celebrate the New Moon at the Rosh Hodesh series for All Genders at the Danforth Jewish Circle starting on Feb 10. Have you always wanted to attend a Rosh Hodesh (Jewish New Moon) circle? Are you interested in co-creating sacred spaces for all genders to learn to witness, share, and celebrate together? Rosh Hodesh is historically a women’s holiday and now that it’s 2024, in service to the unification of all genders and all of our parts, I am honoured to be hosting this inclusive series. At the intro night on Feb 10 (attendance is required at the Intro Night for participants of the series), we’ll experience the Rosh Hodesh ritual framework I have been leading and teaching for 16 years and co-create community guidelines for our time together, holding space for all of the feelings that may come with our first gender-expansive Rosh Hodesh experience. Let’s make space for the Sacred Feminine in and for us all. Click here for more details.
Chanting Kabbalat Shabbat and dinner in a welcoming home environment? Yes please! Matanot Lev | Gifts of the Heart returns on Feb 16! Dinner will be provided with the help of One Table. This will be the first Matanot Lev Shabbat since 2019 and I am so excited to be back! Let’s celebrate Valentine’s Shabbat with a love-themed dinner and Chanting Circle.
We’ll bring in Shabbat with feminist, queer+ prayers and intentions that can deepen our experiences of Shabbat, community and love in all its forms and then enjoy dinner and schmoozing (and maybe some more singing) together. Click here to reserve your spot. One Table is taking care of dinner and donations to support my work and the hosting in my space are greatly appreciated and can be sent by PayPal at this link.
Goddess Art Judaica
I’m back in the pottery studio this month, sculpting expressions of the sacred feminine. I am inspired by the East Toronto Judaica shop to start making functional goddess art Judaica. If you would like to commission a custom piece, (e.g. wine cup, candle holders, mezuzah, spice box, challah plate, or something else featuring a goddess or tree of life, send me a message. You can also peruse more examples of my work on Instagram and let me know what you think.
Happy Tu Bishvat/Imbolc. Even if we cannot see it yet, Spring is on its way. Check out this post from 2021 for a poetic prayer for the season.
Blessings,
Annie