Rogue Valley Men’s Circle Fire Ceremony
2024-05-20 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Lithia Park, Winburn Way, Ashland, OR, 97520
Weekly: A weekly Men’s Circle Fire Ceremony on Monday nights from 6:30-8:30 pm around the fire at the Island Fire Pit in scenic Lithia Park in Ashland, Oregon.
What could be more natural than gathering around the fire and talking about the challenges of being a man and/or assuming masculine roles in our current culture?
Ceremony: This Men’s Circle is conducted as a shamanic ceremony to establish connection and community. It is compatible with any religious and spiritual beliefs. We offer intentions, smudge with sage, and release things into the fire. A weekly theme such as “confidence” or “purpose” is introduced.
Talking Stick and Fire Ceremony: A talking stick is passed to speak your truth on this topic and things coming up in your life. The Men’s Circle will be conducted as a fire ceremony as long as we are allowed to build fires this year. After this time, a new form of ceremony will be considered to continue the Men’s Circle.
Inclusive: This ceremony is for anyone looking to awaken and integrate dynamic masculine energy and roles. This includes all gender identities and sexual orientations.
Drug and alcohol-free: This form of ceremony does not utilize plant medicine or psychedelics. Please do not be under the influence of any drugs or alcohol during this ceremony.
Age: This ceremony is for ages 18 and older.
Facilitator: This ceremony is conducted by Michael Hoffman, LCSW. He is a licensed psychotherapist and spiritual coach. He trained with a spiritual teacher/shaman for 22 years and offered psychotherapy and relationship counseling for the past 28 years. Michael’s role and responsibility as the facilitator is to ensure that the ceremony is emotionally safe. Judgment and criticism will be stopped. He will also encourage you to venture deeper into your dynamic masculine energy.
Directions: The ceremony is at the Island Fire Pit in Ashland’s scenic Lithia Park. It is just south (away from downtown) of the Parks Office between the Cotton Memorial and Hillside on a small island in Ashland Creek. There is a parking area off Granite St.
You can just show up or register at https://www.naturalwayofbeing.com/rogue-valley-men’s-circle-ceremony. You can also get more information on this webpage.
Cost: The suggested donation is $15 per circle. You can pay at the ceremony with cash or Venmo. You can pay online with a credit card, debit card, or HSA credit card by registering at the above web address.
Questions: Feel free to call Michael Hoffman at 541-639-6246 with questions or concerns. Hope to see you there!

The Sacred Cell with author Diane Tegtmeier and Circle Culture Tools for Cooperative Work with author Lauren Oliver
2024-05-20 19:00 - 20:00 | Bloomsbury Books, 290 E. Main St., Ashland, OR, 97520, United States
Join two friends, Lauren Oliver and Diane Tegtmeier, who have just published two books that they discovered carry complementary messages. Dr. Oliver’s book, Circle Culture: Tools for Cooperative Work, exemplifies the principles Diane Tegtmeier describes in The Sacred Cell: What Nature Teaches Us About Relationships.
Come to hear them read and discuss how their books offer co-creative approaches to healthy relationships that follow Nature’s principles to activate a paradigm shift toward our collective well-being. If you struggle in relationships and long to work with others to co-create solutions to the challenges we face, this event is for you.

Cozy Crafts & Parallel Play at the Ashland Library
2024-05-21 16:30 - 18:00 | Ashland Library, 410 Siskiyou Boulevard, Ashland, OR, 97520, United States
Do you enjoy being around creative people but not so much the social aspects of a crafting group? Come down to the Gresham Room to work on your own latest creative endeavor, with no pressure to interact and be social.
Don’t have a project at this time? No problem! We will also have supplies and instructions available for you to try your hand at something new. We hope to see you there!
Best for ages 16 and up.

Healthy Living with Safe Tech by Kelly Marcotolli with Lindsay Marilyn
2024-05-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Rogue Valley Metaphysical Library, 1757 Ashland St., Ashland, 97520
Understanding how to use technology in a modern world is easy! Discover tricks and hacks that will allow you to stay connected with loved ones while staying healthy and balanced in the process.
Knowing that your cell phone comes with a warning to not hold it next to your brain is the first step and recognizing the habits of overuse and misuse will be keys to your greater well-being. Learning how to adapt your digital devices for safer usage will be the primary focus of our workshop. Join Kelly Marcotulli and Lindsay Marilyn as they take you on a deep dive into the safe use of technology in your home, work, car and social settings.
Kelly Marcotolli is a Certified Pilates teacher and a life-long teacher and learner. In her realization of her own sensitivity/reactivity to electromagnetic fields, she has years of research and discovery under her belt. She has 30+ years in formal educational settings. She is a founding member and Executive Director of Oregon for Safer Technology, a non-profit that helps people understand the benefits of safer tech.
Lindsay Marilyn is a NANP Board Certified Holistic Nutritionist, Certified HeartMath Healthcare Professional with a Master’s of Science in Education. Prior to her career in public education and natural health care, Lindsay worked as a technology instructor for ten years. She taught Local Area Network engineering courses on the installation and operation of office automation hardware and software products. Lindsay is also a Board member of Oregon for Safer Technology.
FREE ADMISSION – 1757 Ashland St., Ashland, OR. One mile west of I-5 Exit 14

Wednesday Open Meditation
2024-05-22 12:00 - 13:00 | Kagyu Sukha Choling, 109 Clear Creek Drive, Ashland, 97520
Each Wednesday from noon to 1:00 pm, the KSC Sanctuary will be open to all for meditation.
We invite you to come and meditate quietly in your own way.

Southern Oregon Law Day Conference
2024-05-23 09:00 - 15:00 | Southern Oregon University, 1250 Siskiyou Blvd, Ashland, OR, 97520
Join us for Jackson County’s inaugural Law Day, hosted by the Civics Learning Project in collaboration with the SOU Criminology Club. This engaging event will take place on May 23rd at Southern Oregon University, bringing together students, educators, and legal professionals to explore the theme “Voices of Democracy.”
Law Day is designed to deepen understanding of legal, social, and political issues while providing high school students with a unique opportunity to explore careers in and around the law. Attendees will enjoy a variety of activities including workshops, panel discussions, and interactive sessions led by a diverse group of speakers from various backgrounds.
Don’t miss this chance to engage with community leaders and gain insights into the democratic processes and legal systems that shape our society. Whether you’re a student interested in law, a teacher looking for enriching experiences, or a community member eager to learn more about civic engagement, Law Day promises to be an educational and inspiring event. For questions or more information, please reach out to the event organizer, Timaree Joe, at tjoe@civicslearning.org.

Bill Saltzstein Art Show and Wine
2024-05-23 13:00 - 18:00, 2024-05-24 13:00 - 18:00, 2024-05-25 13:00 - 18:00, 2024-05-26 13:00 - 18:00 | Resistance Wine Company, 322 N Pioneer St, Ashland, OR, 97520, United States
Art by Ashland artist Bill Saltzstein will be available for purchase 1 to 6 p.m. Friday, May 17, at Resistance wine. (Saltzstein will not be on site.)
Bill is an Electrical Engineer by training, and photography has long been a part of life to exercise his ‘right-brain’. He is a landscape and architecture photographer living in Ashland, and has completed several self-published books of photography and works with several nonprofit organizations to contribute images for their marketing and media needs.
About the Work: The images hanging in the show were taken during a workshop in Loften, Norway in March 2024. Thirteen images will be shown and are available for purchase.

City of Ashland Housing and Human Services Committee meeting
2024-05-23 16:00 - 18:00 | Community Development building, 51 Winburn Way, Ashland, OR, 97520, United States
The City of Ashland’s monthly Housing and Human Services Committee meeting.

Nina St Pierre discusses her memoir – Love is a Burning Thing
2024-05-23 19:00 - 20:00 | Bloomsbury Books, 290 E. Main St., Ashland, OR, 97520, United States
A riveting memoir about a daughter’s investigation into the wirings of her loving, unpredictable mother: a woman who lived her life in pursuit of the divine, and who started two big fires, decades apart.
Ten years before Nina was born, her mother lit herself on fire in a dual suicide attempt. During her recovery in the burn-unit, a nurse initiated her into Transcendental Meditation. From that day on, her mother’s pain became intertwined with the pursuit of enlightenment.
Growing up, Nina longed for a normal life; instead, she and her brother were at the whims of their mother, who chased ascension up and down the state of California, swapping out spiritual practices as often as apartments. When they finally settled at the foot of a mountain–reputed to be cosmic–in Northern California, Nina hoped life would stabilize. But after another fire, and a tragic fallout, she was forced to confront the shadow side of her mother’s mystical narratives. With obsessive dedication, Nina began to knit together the truth that would eventually release her.
In Love Is a Burning Thing, Nina interrogates what happens to those undiagnosed and unseen. This is a transfixing, moving portrait of a mother-daughter relationship that also examines mental health, stigma, poverty, and gender–and the role that spirituality plays within each. Nina’s writing skirts the mystical, untangles it, and ultimately illuminates it with brilliance.

"Declare the Good News"! Convention
2024-05-24 09:20 - 16:55, 2024-05-25 09:20 - 16:55, 2024-05-26 09:20 - 15:40 | Oregon State Fairgounds & Exposition Center, 2330 17th St NE, Salem, OR, 97301, United States
One of the largest convention organizations in the world returns to Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center in Salem, OR with a much-anticipated motivational program to comfort and encourage the public.
In a world where bad news endlessly streams on social media, TV and radio, Jehovah’s Witnesses will present their 2024 “Declare the Good News!” convention series, beginning the weekend of May 24, 2024. The free, three-day live event is expected to draw more than 14,000 attendees to the city over the course of 4 weekends – fueling the city’s economy with local spending at stores, hotels and restaurants.
The “Declare the Good News”! convention will present Bible-based videos, discourses and interviews on topics such as…
• Why Do We Need Good news?
• Use Good News to Defeat Bad News
• Why We Don’t Fear Bad News
Saturday features a baptism of candidates from surrounding communities, while a two-part video feature will captivate the audience on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. This is a free event and open to the public.

2024 Rogue World Music Festival Percussion Workshop
2024-05-24 16:00 - 17:30 | Pear Blossom Park, 32 E. Fourth St., Medford, OR, 97501, United States
A sleeper-hit of the festival every year, this event is a must-attend for novices and experts alike. All are welcome to learn and immerse themselves in a culturally-specific percussion practice. The best part? No drums are needed!
THIS year, we present the percussive practice of Gumboot Dancing – a form of body percussion and dance from South Africa, originating as a symbol of unification and resistance to oppression during Apartheid and an enduring expression of hope & solidarity. Taught by John Mambira.

2024 Rogue World Music Festival Pear Blossom Park Concert
2024-05-24 18:00 - 20:00 | Pear Blossom Park, 32 E. Fourth St., Medford, OR, 97501, United States
A rockin’-good time on a journey through Americana, Appalachian, Bluegrass, & Rock, with hints of Zydeco, Country, & Classical music. Food trucks and beer garden on site. Bring your dancing shoes! Free.

Beginner's Bird Walk along Bear Creek with Rogue Riverkeeper
2024-05-25 09:00 - 12:00 | Lynn Newbry Park, Bear Creek Greenway, Talent, OR, 97540, United States
We will meet at the covered picnic pavilion at Lynn Newbry Park, Talent and walk around 0.6 miles upstream along the Bear Creek Greenway. While we walk and look for birds, we’ll discuss the recovery from the Almeda Fire and riparian habitat and restoration.
These educational events are free and great for people of all ages.
If you need help filling out an event form, please call Allee Gustafson, our Events and Volunteer Manager at 541.488.5789, extension 1014.
Space is limited for this hike, RSVP at https://www.kswild.org/upcoming-events/2024rogueriverkeeperbirdwalkbearcreek to reserve your space, and for more details about where to meet up and what to bring.

Lithia Park Guided Walks
2024-05-25 10:00 - 11:30 | Lithia Park, Winburn Way, Ashland, OR, 97520
Lithia Park Guided Walks are back for 2024!
Walks take place every Saturday morning at 10 a.m. Please meet at the Lithia Park sign at the entrance to the park across from the downtown plaza.
Walks are led by passionate and knowledgeable volunteers and last between an hour and an hour and a half. Walks are FREE for everyone and cover the history, flora, and fauna of Ashland’s crown jewel.
For more info please visit: www.ashland.or.us/lithiaguidedwalks.

Central Point Woodcarvers
2024-05-25 11:30 - 15:00 | Woodcarving, 123 N St, Central Point, OR, 97502, United States
The Central Point Woodcarvers carving group meets from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays at the Central Point Senior Resource Center, 123 N. Second St., Central Point.
There is a fee of $10 per month, or $55 a year if paid annually.
We teach and share ideas for beginners, novices, and intermediate woodcarvers. The various members do several styles of woodcarving. Recommended beginning tool sets are available for purchase. Please call Ron Chappell 541-944-4535 for more information.

A Bee C’s of Pollinators
2024-05-25 13:00 - 14:30 | Zoom
Join JCLS and the Jackson County Master Gardeners to learn more about pollinators! This virtual presentation by Master Gardener will cover information about the incredible creatures that do so much for this planet and how to create an attractive, sustainable, and connected landscape for our native pollinators, especially the bees.
Kristina moved to the Rogue Valley in 2012 and immediately became enamored with the region’s flora and fauna, especially our pollinators. At the same time, she began learning about the unprecedented decline of all pollinators and the associated implications for our food system and ecosystem. She and her husband turned their barren property in Ashland into a pollinator garden, with many native plants and trees — but of course it’s never finished. Kristina loves talking about our native bees, butterflies, flies, wasps, beetles, and hummingbirds,  and connecting people to her dream that everyone’s yard or landscape will include a little or a lot of pollinator habitat, even if it’s just a corner filled with California poppies. She is passionate about growing, sharing, and planting the native annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees that create the habitats that best support our region’s native pollinators, and thus, all the creatures that depend upon them.
Kristina led the effort for Ashland to become the fifth Bee City USA in 2015, and continues to serve on the subcommittee. She also serves on the board of Beyond Toxics, and is a member of the Native Plant Society of Oregon, Siskiyou Chapter. Kristina is honored to serve as president and volunteer director of Pollinator Project Rogue Valley.

2024 Rogue World Music Festival SongWeavers Circle
2024-05-25 14:30 - 16:00 | Talent Commons Library Park, 101 Home Street, Talent, 97540
An interactive, playful, & multigenerational community singing experience!

2024 Rogue World Music Festival HeartBeat Stories
2024-05-25 17:00 - 19:00 | Talent Commons Library Park, 101 Home Street, Talent, 97540
An intimate evening of music and stories on the theme of ‘home’ featuring festival artists and community members.

Sunday Service: Giving Life the Shape of Justice
2024-05-26 10:30 - 11:30 | Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 87 4th Street, Ashland, 87 4th Street, Ashland, OR, 97520
In the beloved hymn, Carolyn Dade writes, “Spirit of Life, move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice…” What does a justice-shaped life look like? How can our congregations be more justice-shaped?
“Love is our doctrine, the quest for truth is our sacrament, and service is our prayer. ” -Trad. UU affirmation
This Service will include time to share Joys & Sorrows.
Attend in person or watch live or recorded on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@roguevalleyunitarianuniver8871

South Mountain Friends Meeting
2024-05-26 11:00 - 12:30 | South Mountain Friends Meeting, 543 S. Mountain Ave., Ashland, OR, 97520, United States
South Mountain Friends Meeting meeting for worship held 11 a.m. Sundays at 543 S. Mountain Avenue, Ashland.
All are welcome. Activities for children provided. With any questions, call David Runkel at 541-210-0031 or email at davidrunkelor@gmail.com

2024 Rogue World Music Festival Park Performances
2024-05-26 12:00 - 18:00 | Litha Park Butler Bandshell, Winburn Way, Ashland, 97520
An exciting lineup of 6 captivating concerts with world-class musicians, performing live at the enchanting Butler Bandshell in beautiful Lithia Park, located in the vibrant heart of downtown Ashland, OR.
Beer Garden, Food Trucks, and Family friendly activities.

A Children’s Puppet Show by Nancy Wilkinson
2024-05-26 15:00 - 16:00 | Bloomsbury Books, 290 E. Main St., Ashland, OR, 97520, United States
A children’s puppet show will be performed at 3 p.m. May 26th. The puppet stories will be told by Nancy. She may need your help with controlling the puppets. They can be unruly but are always playful!

5-Day, 4-Night Raft-Supported Hike Along the Rogue River Trail
2024-05-27 08:00 - 2024-05-31 17:00 | Morrison’s Lodge, 8500 Galice Rd, Merlin, OR, 97532, United States
The best way to experience the Rogue River Trail, hiking with a daypack while rafts shuttle the gear and friendly guides provide delicious meals and water along the way.
Join KS Wild and American River Touring Association (ARTA) on their 9th annual trip together down the Rogue River Trail to support environmental conservation. You will always have the option to shorten your hike and spend half the day floating downriver in one of the rafts.
KS Wild will provide you with the nature nerds to point out the amazing plants, geology, and other wonders along the trail, and a pocket guide with map and points of interest, to keep and carry with you.
For more information, please visit https://www.arta.org/rafting-trips/hiking-the-rogue-river-trail/ and https://www.kswild.org/upcoming-events/roguehike.

Siskiyou Crest Conifer Field Trip Series
2024-05-27 09:00 - 17:00 | OR
The Siskiyou Crest Conifer Field Trip Series will visit all 25 species of conifers that grow in the Siskiyou Crest region, over the course of eight separate field trips, in a wide variety of locations, and led by local experts, botanists and ecologists.

Intermediate Tai Chi for Older Adults
2024-05-27 09:30 - 10:45 | The Grove, 1195 E Main St, Ashland, OR, 97520, United States
Tai Chi is a moving meditation that strengthens bones and muscles, improves balance and increases flexibility. Qi Gong, the movement of energy through the body, is also incorporated.
Pre-registration required: ashland.or.us/register or 541.488.5342.
