Robin Douglas & Sasha Chaitow

What threads connect historical paganism and contemporary Paganism? Attend to hear fascinating insights into both historical and present day Paganism. Dr. Robin Douglas is a historian and writer based in London. writing on the history of minority religious traditions and their relationship with the hegemonic majority. He is particularly interested in the history of revived paganism and the history of esoteric and occult movements. Dr Sasha Chaitow is an independent scholar of Greek cultural history whose work focuses on ancient, Byzantine, and modern traditions. She is the author of Son of Prometheus, a new study of Horapollon’s Hieroglyphica, and forthcoming studies of Byzantine demonology and of living Greek magic. Join the conversation on Coming to the Center, Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET. Click to register for Zoom link

Samhain Kispum: A Ritual for the Honored Dead on Oct 30, 2025

This Samhain, as the veil thins and shadows stir, join us in sacred remembrance.
Step into the ancient rhythm of Kispum, a 5,000-year-old Mesopotamian ritual of ancestor veneration that bridges worlds.

In this immersive rite, Silent, Pagan priest, student of Spiritual Direction at CHS, and end-of-life doula, will guide us through a ceremonial act of libation and love, honoring our dead not with mourning, but with memory, presence, and reverence.

With water poured and names spoken, we nourish the spirits who walk beside us still. Dressed in garments meaningful to your ancestors—be it a ritual robe or a well-worn shirt once shared—bring a candle, a vessel of water, and your stories. This is not just a ritual. It is communion across the veil, a thread woven through time.

Hosted by Cherry Hill Seminary, this Samhain Kispum is a living ritual of connection, a declaration that love does not end—it transforms.

Come. Speak their names. Pour the libation. Be the bridge.

If you cannot attend in person, email the beloved dead’s name, your relationship to them, and their favorite libation. Send the email to chs@cherryhillseminary.org. Click to register for Zoom link.