Course Catalog
 
Addictions & Recovery
As Pagans, we celebrate our world, seeing the Divine in virtually everything and everyone. Addictions of any kind will always distort, diminish and eventually destroy relationships, moving us away from ourselves, our world, and others. Recovery from addictions of any kind can be a powerful experience, both for Pagan clergy and those they counsel. In this class, students will gain insight into the the processes of addictions, the paths to recovery, and the Pagan perspective on both. We will explore 12- Step programs, native ways of knowing and other traditional and non-traditional paths to recovery.
 
Being Thea/ologically
What have you experienced? What do you know that you know? What do you sense and what do you think? How is it the same, or different, for you as an individual, a part of community, a being in the world? What, then, do you do, believe, and value? And what preconceived notions, which no longer apply, are operating? What questions inform your curiosity? How can you use your insight, your questions and your scholarship to be of service?  You will be asked to raise up the skin, the muscles, the blood and the bones of your true self, and to reflect carefully on your thoughts, your experiences, your feelings, your traditions and your communities. Your ruminations will be expressed in an academically-credible way that helps equip you for being Pagan clergy.
 
Boundaries & Ethics
An exploration of the ethical limits and responsibilities of Pagan ministry and pastoral counseling. By the end of the course, students will be required to articulate their own personal ethical code in regards to their work with others. Note: This class is a Cherry Hill Seminary core requirement.
 
Building A Pagan Community
Through reading, chat-room class discussion, role-playing and essays, students will gain an understanding of what is community, basics of group relationships, and the process of community -building and -maintenance. In addition, they will develop the tools and resources needed for the development of their own communities.  Prerequisite: Participation in Group Dynamics or (since the Cherry Hill course in Group Dynamics is in development) permission of the Instructor.
 
Call of the Dark Mother: Working with Death & Dying
A survey course in death, dying and grieving, to better prepare Pagans who hear the call to this sacred work, and for those who encounter it as part of their overall priest/esshood.
 
Children In Contemporary Paganism
A survey course exploring various issues of Pagan parenting and education, the ways in which children are incorporated into Pagan communities across traditions, and how this next generation is shaping (or re-shaping) Paganism. The course is primarily designed for Pagan parents and other community leaders who are responsible for, or interested in, facilitating the participation of children in Pagan spiritual life. While the course is not specifically-designed for counseling professionals, those who are engaged in pastoral counseling of Pagan families may also find the class informative.
 
Compassion Fatigue: Protecting the Spirit of the Helper in the Real World
Healer Heal Thyself: All helping professionals know that we must be in good shape ourselves to take good care of others, but too often we take risks with our own health and spirit as we strive to help those in need. Compassion Fatigue (CF) is a well-researched construct that includes secondary trauma, burnout, and compassion satisfaction, and all helping professionals are vulnerable. This class will cover information about constructs and identification of CF, risk and protective factors, healing from CF, and a discussion about how our identities as Pagan professionals strengthen us or put us at risk
 
Crafting A Wedding:  A Guide For The Officiant
The celebration of marriage is one of many rites of passage our society recognizes. Whether enacted with or without religious association, in order for the marriage to be considered legally-binding, the ceremony requires the presence of an individual acknowledged by, or bestowed with the power of, the state to perform or witness the rite. Along with an understanding the legalities, the job of a Celebrant or Officiant is to guide a couple, their family, friends and other witnesses, through this sacred rite - the transformation of two people into a married or spiritually united couple. This course is to teach the Officiant the ins and outs of facilitating the often complex rite of marriage. Through readings, listserve dialogue, personal creativity and active participation, you will examine the many facets involved in both writing and officiating a wedding or union ceremony. Topics covered include: pre-marital counseling, legal issues, lesbian and gay unions, inter- and intra-faith ceremonies, stage directions, spiritual and logistical considerations.
 
Crafting Public Liturgy
Learn about creating large-group and public ritual, new forms of ritual, ritual design, ensemble work, and some interfaith ritual creation. Covers motivation; purpose; venues; music; rhythm; lighting; dance/gesture/movement; chants and songs; mask work; costumes/makeup/clothing; seating, if any; acoustics, indoor & outdoor, altars, if any; rituals for different age groups or all age groups; guided meditation, if any; scripts; events insurance, if required; permits, if required; promotion/publicity; tickets/pricing, if any; candles and/or open flame, or facsimiles thereof if no open flame permitted; etc. This is the intersection where theater and ritual meet; performance ritual and participatory ritual.
 
Disaster, Trauma and Psychological First Aid for Pagan Counselors
This course will explore the strategies we can use as Pagan counselors to help survivors of disasters and other traumas begin their recovery. We place our faith in Mother Earth and yet She sometimes wreaks havoc with our lives. How do we cope with the immediate aftermath of disaster and ultimately make sense of our losses? In this course, we will also explore issues related to compassion fatigue, self-care, and the practicalities of being a Pagan counselor in disaster settings.
 
Dynamics of Group Leadership
Understand stages of group development, dynamics of member interactions and factors in group failure or success. Learn to put communication techniques to practical use in groups to which student already belongs, or plans to organize. Develop skills which better prepare the group leader to deal with group issues and lead more effective, cohesive and productive groups. Prerequisite for 'Community Building. Exercises, class interaction, readings and written assignments.
 
Ecopsychology
This course will look at how Western culture has moved away from seeing itself as a part of a larger system and how human biology fits within the biosphere. There will also be experiential opportunities to reflect on how students' spiritual life and worldview as Pagans affects the world around them.
 
Foundations of the Celtic World View
Examines several important texts in the Celtic literary tradition. In them we shall look for instances of central ideas in the iron-age Celtic world view, such as the transience of things, the dominance of fate and destiny, the use of poetry for magical purposes, the roles of the gods, and the nature of a heroic and magical life.
Grant Writing & Fundraising
This course will explore the basics of grant writing and fundraising. Learn the fundamentals of how to write a successful grant proposal including research, correct composition, program evaluation and more. We will also explore the various ways and means of fundraising including sponsorships, organization, and delegation. Students will end the course having completed an actual grant application and fundraising action plan.
 
Human Development In A Pagan Context
In this course students will become familiar with psychological development throughout the lifespan. For each stage of development we will examine current psychological theories and research regarding physical, cognitive, social, and personality development. The primary focus of the course is to consider the ways in which a Pagan lifestyle and a Pagan world-view might influence an individual's development. This course provides clergy with developmental information that can be applied to age-related ritual design, curriculum, and counseling.
 
Introduction To Interfaith
The world is getting smaller and we, the peoples of the world, are getting to know each other better. We have entered a critical and thrilling time of developing global community which makes interfaith dialogue a crucial issue. As representatives of contemporary Paganisms, and world religions in our own right, we as Pagan clergy are now more than ever faced with the challenge of operating in many worlds -- in the inter- and intrafaith environments, building community among the religions, and defining common principles of a global ethic. Working with a variety of principles and techniques, this introductory class will help you identify those other religions, put a face on them, and get to know them. It will offer suggestions as to how to make contact with them, and provide you with information and skills for establishing lasting dialogue and working relationships once contact has been made. It is through the realm of interfaith work that the cycle of religious superiority and intolerance, and ignorance of other religions, can be broken and replaced with something positive, nurturing and unifying. We can learn to work together while preserving our own distinct visions of the divine and our unique cultural differences. In order to do this, we need to understand the benefit of blending versus cloning, and the distinction between harmony and consistency. We need to show that we care enough to become familiar with the things of greatest import that we all share.
 
Introduction to Pagan Nonprofit Management, Fundraising & Communications
Pagans throughout the U.S. and beyond are finding that one effective way to achieve their ministry goals is through a nonprofit organization. Pagans are also entitled to the same organizational benefits enjoyed by churches and synagogues. A nonprofit is much like a business, but with a different bottom line – rather than a financial profit, nonprofits work for changed lives and strengthened communities. Course will cover basics of forming a Pagan nonprofit, board governance, basics of management, legal and ethical issues, basics of fundraising and how to create a fundraising plan, and basics of branding and communication.
Issues in Adult Development and Aging
Topics discussed in this course include physical and mental health (both prevention and illness), cognitive abilities and changes, relationship and family issues, living arrangements, work and retirement issues, and dying, death and bereavement. In all cases the discussion will include the application of information to Pagan lifestyles and information of use to clergy.
 
Life Work / Work Life: Pastoral Counseling For Right Livelihood
Occupation, vocation, career – the choices we make, the context of our experience, faith and practice, and the results of how we develop and navigate our life work and our work life are fundamental concerns. Each of us comes with a unique set of aptitudes, talents and interests that can enhance the potential of satisfying, meaningful work and a good livelihood. The expression of those skills offers opportunities to negotiate relationships with self, others and our world. In this class students will explore their personal patterns and values relating to occupation, vocation and career. They will explore how these can be expressed in economically and ethically viable venues. They will then be introduced to some standardized evaluation procedures, apply those measures to themselves and others, and design an instrument that will be uniquely suited to their career choices and foci. Finally, they will design a project, including the evaluation instrument, which will assist them, as Pagan pastoral counselors, assist others in their journey.
 
Media & Public Relations
This course will teach you how to get media coverage of your events, and what to do when you get unsolicited-and maybe even unwanted-media coverage. Topics will include finding your story peg, writing press releases that get results, selecting appropriate media outlets, and determining who your press spokesperson ought to be. In addition we will cover crisis PR, how to talk in sound bites, and how to be a superstar in every reporter's Rolodex.
 
Pagan Personal Spiritual Development
An examination of staged models of spiritual development, and of a variety of techniques for developing conscious contact with Deity. This class is both theoretical and experiential -- in addition to reading, students will be expected to do a series of exercises and to share their experiences and reflections. We will consider how these theories and methods apply -- or do not apply -- to Pagan concepts of Deity and of the interactions between us and our Gods. Open to all Cherry Hill students, continuing education or matriculated in any department. This class will not count toward a Pastoral Counseling major unless the student also takes and passes PCA 610.
 
Pagan Spiritual Mentoring
Spiritual mentors are called to guide and assist others as they work towards establishing, deepening, clarifying and sustaining conscious contact with Deity. This class is an introduction to that process. Each student will be responsible for finding a Pagan spiritual seeker. During the semester, they will guide that person through a series of exercises designed to facilitate their connection with the Ancient Gods. We will share and reflect upon our experiences of guiding another, and give each other feedback as appropriate. Students will also do an independent research project related to Pagan spiritual development and/or mentoring. Prerequisites: PCC 550 (Boundaries and Ethics) and PCA 600 (Pagan Personal Spiritual Development).
 
Psychology of Religion Applied to Paganisim
Through reading, coursework, and listserve dialogue, students will become familiar with psychological principles and research in general, and then apply that information to Paganism in particular. Topics include psychological and religious development, religious experience and mysticism, group dynamics in religious organizations, religion and mental disorders, and the role of religion in mental well-being. This course is designed to provide Pagan clergy with useful information to inform their work as counselors and educators.
 
Psychology of Gender
Following a brief introduction to the field of psychology, both theory and research, the topics of biological development and sexuality, emotional development, cognitive abilities and educational systems, social environments (including family, school, and work environments), gay and straight love relationships and lifestyle choices (including cohabiting, marriage/union, parenting, and ending relationships) moral, political, and ethical issues, and mental and physical health issues are explored. All discussions will include respect for differing points of view, sensitivity to the diversity of expression of gender and related areas, and the application of information to Pagan lifestyles and Pagan clergy.
Religion & The Law
In 'Pagans and the Law' you will receive an overview of our legal structure and learn how find the law you need online. You will learn how the First Amended protects us from government assault and interference. You will understand what freedom of speech and assembly means. You will know how to confront discrimination in housing, employment and in child custody conflicts. Students will be trained to counsel Conscientious Objectors. Our free 'public access' right to television will be explored. With this knowledge, you can become a sword and a shield for our community.
 
Rites of Passage
This course is designed to be practical, thought-provoking, and a chance to develop several skills. One of the biggest challenges to a Pagan Minister is following legal guidelines when necessary, bridging any gap between the Pagans involved and their non-Pagan friends and family and still help create ritual that is deep and abiding. Ritual design, counseling specific to each type of Rite and field work will also be included.
 
Sacred Layers-Uncovering Stories in our Families and our Relationships: Systemic, Marriage and Family Therapy
One of the ways we can help our counselees uncover more of their own sacred stories is to provide a different, or more inclusive, perspective. Using a Systems Theory model, this course will consider how our formal, or informal, chosen, or given, families and relationships cast both light and shadow to make a whole icon of being. We will experiment with a series of lenses and structures to expand our perceptions in societal, social and personal contexts. Students will be invited to examine the ethics, thea/ology, theory and practice of interactions with individuals, groups and systems.
 
Survey of Chaplaincy
This class will explore the issues faced by Pagan clergy who minister to the religious needs of our people within non-Pagan institutional settings, such as college campuses, hospitals, military bases and prisons. Each of these situations presents specific spiritual challenges. Chaplains also need to work with non-Pagan colleagues and administrators, some of whom are clergy of other religions, and to comply with institutional procedures and other requirements. By keeping their balance, Pagan chaplains bring spiritual support and guidance to Pagans in unusual situations.
 
Survey of Contemporary Paganism
[insert description]
 
Survey of Counseling Issues
This course will examine some of the typical situations in which people seek counsel from respected others, such as their clergy, and some approaches to helping with these situations. Students will explore the ways in which their own Pagan beliefs and values guide their approaches to helping people work through normal life issues. Each student is expected to write a paper reflecting on a topic related to this class.
 
Survey of Counseling Methods
[insert description]
 
Survey of Counseling Theories
An in-depth examination of current psychotherapies and the underlying framework on which each is built. The psychodynamnic, cognitive behavioral, and humanistic approaches will be compared and contrasted. How race, gender, ethnicity and culture impact on approach and outcome to counseling will also be explored.
 
Survey of Neo-Pagan Traditions
An introduction to the various traditions subsumed under the umbrella term "NeoPagan", including Wicca, Druidry, Heathenry, Ethnic Reconstructionisms, Innovations, and Syncretisms. This course is a Cherry Hill Seminary core requirement.
 
Theories of Personality
This course is an in-depth exploration of human personality, presenting the psychoanalytical, neopsychoanalytical, life-span, trait, humanistic, cognitive, behavioral and social-learning approaches, as well as clinical and experimental work. The course will explore how race, gender, culture and religious/spiritual issues figure in the study of personality assessment. Finally, the class will briefly examine some of the issues of genetics, environment, learning, parental influences, developmental aspects, consciousness and unconscious influences on personality.
 
Understanding Ritual Experience
World Religions From a Pagan Perspective
An examination of the theologies and practices of the major world religions from a Pagan perspective. Broadly speaking, the fundamental spiritual options are Abrahamic, Dharmic, secular and Pagan. We want to ask: How do they differ from one another, what is a pagan perspective and what does paganism offer to the world's theological/spiritual forum that the other positions do not?

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