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DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20241220T100000
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DTSTAMP:20260408T203512
CREATED:20241205T040517Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T151158Z
UID:60566-1734688800-1734710400@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Vintage Christmas Festival at the BMI
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/vintage-christmas-20/
LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350
CATEGORIES:Christmas,Film,Important Dates
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/image-square-promo-v6.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20241221T093000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20241221T160000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203512
CREATED:20241205T040653Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T151154Z
UID:60568-1734773400-1734796800@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Vintage Christmas Festival at the BMI
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/vintage-christmas-21/
LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350
CATEGORIES:Christmas,Film,Important Dates
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/image-square-promo-v6.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250115T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250115T204500
DTSTAMP:20260408T203512
CREATED:20241113T003024Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T192558Z
UID:59922-1736967600-1736973900@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Medieval to Metal Rockumentary Film Series: 'This is Spinal Tap' 1984
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/this-is-spinal-tap-1984/
LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350
CATEGORIES:Art Gallery of Ballarat,BMI Produced Event,Film,Important Dates
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/spinal-tap-square.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250116T173000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250626T223000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203512
CREATED:20250107T014921Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250313T030852Z
UID:60938-1737048600-1750977000@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Ballarat Chess Club
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/ballarat-chess-club-2025/
LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Ballarat Chess Club
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ballarat-chess-club-square-with-boarder.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250122T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250122T204000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203512
CREATED:20241113T005429Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T192735Z
UID:59934-1737572400-1737578400@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:'Gimme Shelter' 1970 | THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO TECH ISSUES
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/gimme-shelter-1970/
LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350
CATEGORIES:Art Gallery of Ballarat,BMI Produced Event,Film,Important Dates
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/mich-jagger-square.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250124T193000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250124T230000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203512
CREATED:20250110T013352Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T163216Z
UID:61048-1737747000-1737759600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:HIP HOP ELEMENTS
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/hip-hop-elements-bmi/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Live Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/sqaure-promo-hip-hop.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250129T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250129T203000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203512
CREATED:20241216T233250Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T151012Z
UID:60722-1738177200-1738182600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Finding Joy: Meditation in a Busy Life - Public Talk with Gen Kelsang Rabten
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/finding-joy/
LOCATION:VIC
CATEGORIES:kadampa,Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Finding-Joy-Ballarat.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="KMC Australia & Melbourne":MAILTO:info@kadampa.org.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250205T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250205T203000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203512
CREATED:20250106T012015Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T161202Z
UID:60892-1738782000-1738787400@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | New Beginnings: How to Start Meditating
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kadampa-meditation-series-new-beginnings-1/
LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:kadampa
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/new-beginnings-squre-v2.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Kadampa Meditation":MAILTO:info@kadampa.org.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250207T183000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250207T203000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203512
CREATED:20250110T034631Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T163211Z
UID:61064-1738953000-1738960200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:BMI Live: Olybird and the Milla Williams Duo
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/olybird-milla-williams-duo/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:BMI Live,Important Dates,Live Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_0066A.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250209T150000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250209T173000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203512
CREATED:20241113T233828Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T163224Z
UID:59974-1739113200-1739122200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Adam Harvey | Live at the BMI
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/adam-harvey/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Live Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/rdKZB_7g-socials.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250212T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250212T203000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203512
CREATED:20250106T014304Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T161159Z
UID:60901-1739386800-1739392200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | New Beginnings: How to Start Meditating
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kadampa-meditation-series-new-beginnings-2/
LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:kadampa
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/new-beginnings-squre-v2.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Kadampa Meditation":MAILTO:info@kadampa.org.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250213T193000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250213T210000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203512
CREATED:20250203T001511Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T113214Z
UID:61630-1739475000-1739480400@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Ballarat Film Society | KNEECAP
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/bfs-kneecap/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Ballarat Film Society,Externally Produced Event,Film
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/kneecap-square-promo.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250218T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250218T193000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203512
CREATED:20241202T031650Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T160628Z
UID:60438-1739901600-1739907000@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Jane Cafarella
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/jane-cafarella/
LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Fundraiser,Library
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/jane-cafarella-sq-promo.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250219T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250219T203000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203512
CREATED:20250106T014520Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T161156Z
UID:60903-1739991600-1739997000@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | New Beginnings: How to Start Meditating
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kadampa-meditation-series-new-beginnings-3/
LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:kadampa
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/new-beginnings-squre-v2.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Kadampa Meditation":MAILTO:info@kadampa.org.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250221T193000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250221T210000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203512
CREATED:20250121T235526Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T163205Z
UID:61399-1740166200-1740171600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:BMI Live: Hot Club Swing & Amie Brûlée
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/hot-club-swing-amie-brulee/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:BMI Live,Important Dates,Live Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/udwcV2RW-e1738021755508.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250225T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250225T200000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203512
CREATED:20250109T010836Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T160554Z
UID:61027-1740506400-1740513600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/megan-brown-lucy-sussex/
LOCATION:VIC
CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Fundraiser,Library
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/square-promo-megan-brown.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250226T173000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250226T183000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203512
CREATED:20250108T015354Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T113129Z
UID:60976-1740591000-1740594600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/twilight-talks-atauro-timor-leste/
LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/square-promo-dancers-on-the-sea.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250226T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250226T203000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203512
CREATED:20250106T014730Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T113222Z
UID:60905-1740596400-1740601800@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | The Path of Peace: Three Ways to a Simpler Life
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kadampa-meditation-series-26-feb-25/
LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:kadampa
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/square-promo-path-to-peace.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Kadampa Meditation":MAILTO:info@kadampa.org.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250305T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250305T190000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203512
CREATED:20250108T035746Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T121648Z
UID:61006-1741197600-1741201200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:A BMI Fundraising Public Talk | The world in 2025 and beyond with Professor Geoffrey Blainey AC
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/the-world-in-2025-geoffrey-blainey/
LOCATION:VIC
CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Important Dates,Members,Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/geoffrey-blainey-book-cover-before-i-forget-promo-square.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250305T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250305T203000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203512
CREATED:20250210T054914Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T113211Z
UID:61868-1741201200-1741206600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | The Path of Peace: Three Ways to a Simpler Life
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kadampa-meditation-series-5-mar-25/
LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:kadampa
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/square-promo-path-to-peace.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Kadampa Meditation":MAILTO:info@kadampa.org.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250312T173000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250312T183000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203512
CREATED:20241107T052354Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T113149Z
UID:59773-1741800600-1741804200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1 | Ballarat's Changing Scene - Ballarat's Growth: Infrastructure Pressures
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/twilight-talks-ballarats-growth/
LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Important Dates,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/square-promo-individuals-infrastructure.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250312T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250312T203000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203512
CREATED:20250210T055148Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T113209Z
UID:61870-1741806000-1741811400@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | The Path of Peace: Three Ways to a Simpler Life
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kadampa-meditation-series-12-mar-25/
LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:kadampa
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/square-promo-path-to-peace.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Kadampa Meditation":MAILTO:info@kadampa.org.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250313T193000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250313T210000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203512
CREATED:20250211T042522Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T061217Z
UID:61914-1741894200-1741899600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Ballarat Film Society | The Movie Teller
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/bfs-the-movie-teller/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Ballarat Film Society,Externally Produced Event,Film
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/sqaure-promo-bfs-update3.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250319T173000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250319T183000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203512
CREATED:20241219T033900Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T113146Z
UID:60810-1742405400-1742409000@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1 | Ballarat's Changing Scene - Change in Ballarat's Car Industry
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/ballarats-car-industry/
LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Ballarats-car-industry.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250319T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250319T203000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203512
CREATED:20250210T224700Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T074547Z
UID:61877-1742410800-1742416200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | Calm Amidst Chaos: How to Deal with Difficult People
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kadampa-meditation-series-19-mar-25/
LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:kadampa
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/square-promo4-final.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Kadampa Meditation":MAILTO:info@kadampa.org.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250319T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250323T220000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203513
CREATED:20250131T042444Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T091428Z
UID:61594-1742410800-1742767200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Broadway to Ballarat: The Haunted Theatre
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/broadway-to-ballarat-the-haunted-theatre/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Comedy,Live Music,Theatre Production
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/broadway-to-ballarat-promo-square.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Reuben Morgan":MAILTO:reuben.i.morgan@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250324T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250324T193000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203513
CREATED:20250213T025304Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T051403Z
UID:62065-1742839200-1742844600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Charlotte McConaghy
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/charlotte-mcconaghy/
LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Fundraiser,Library
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/charlotte-sq-promo.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250326T173000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250326T183000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203513
CREATED:20241219T034349Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T113143Z
UID:60812-1743010200-1743013800@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1 | Ballarat's Changing Scene - Changes to the Canadian Corridor
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/canadian-corridor/
LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Important Dates,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/square-promo-individuals-canadian.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250326T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250326T203000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203513
CREATED:20250210T231615Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T074545Z
UID:61884-1743015600-1743021000@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | Calm Amidst Chaos: How to Deal with Difficult People
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kadampa-meditation-series-26-mar-25/
LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:kadampa
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/square-promo4-final.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Kadampa Meditation":MAILTO:info@kadampa.org.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250330T140000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250330T173000
DTSTAMP:20260408T203513
CREATED:20241126T231156Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T161603Z
UID:60217-1743343200-1743355800@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:70th Anniversary Minerva Social | Scottish Country Dancing
DESCRIPTION:Victorian Occult Conference 				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			May 16\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n8:30 am\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:00 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$140 – $150 				\n				\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Minerva Space 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									The Victorian Occult Conference: ‘Mercurialia’ 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									A day of finely curated lectures on Western Esotericism also featuring an occult market\, speaker panel and door prizes. This year’s theme is “Mercurialia”; celebrating and exploring all things Hermetic in Western esotericism. The Victorian Occult Conference was created in 2025 to help bridge the gaps in Victoria\, Australia that exist between communities in different branches of the Western Occult Tradition\, also called the Western Esoteric Tradition and the Western Mystery Schools. These branches can include but are not limited to: Freemasonry\, Hermeticism\, Kabbalah\, Paganism\, Rosicrucianism & Theosophy; encompassing traditional practices like alchemy\, traditional witchcraft\, ceremonial magic\, astrology\, theurgy\, tarot\, divination & more. ​​ The conference brings together people from all these communities\, facilitating the spread of ancient spiritual techniques\, illumination and networking. Our hope is that this encourages comradeship\, eclecticism in occult practice and a holistic appreciation of the rich and varied esoteric knowledge held in these communities. New friendships and learning opportunities can be made.​​ We aim to offer a safe and inclusive space for like minded folk of all genders\, races\, ethnicities and ages to come together to learn with these shared values and visions. 								\n				\n									Lectures this year include 								\n				\n									Josephine Winter – “The Other Underworld: Witchcraft and Occultism in Australia\, 1970s-Present”. 								\n				\n									Setken – “A Monumental Egyptian Tomb In Melbourne”. 								\n				\n									Benjamin Turale – “The Enigma of the Mercury Archetype in Alchemy”. 								\n				\n									Dr. David Waldron – “The Almanac of a Cunning Man”. 								\n				\n									Shu Yap – “Secrets of the Mercury Cycle”. 								\n				\n									Peregrin Wildoak – “Go Gentle into that Good Night: the Esoteric Dimension of Death”. 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Josephine Winter | Witch\, Teacher\, Author\, High Priestess Josephine Winter has been a Pagan or witch of some flavour for most of her life\, beginning as a daggy teen witch in the 1990s before joining Norse-inspired Heathenry and later the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca. She holds degrees in education\, literature\, and the arts. She lives in country Victoria\, in Australia’s leafy southeast. Over the last few decades\, Josephine has been a regular volunteer and organiser at various Pagan and Witchy events around Australia\, including the Mount Franklin Pagan Gathering\, the Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC) and countless meetups and public rituals. She co-founded the Pagan Collective of Victoria in 2014\, organising several Pagan Pride Days and the 2019 AWC under the Collective’s auspices. Josephine is a cofounder of Lepus Lumen\, a teaching collective of covens\, outercourts\, and solo practitioners founded in 2019 with Jason Tremain. The Lepus Lumen course is now taught across multiple Australian states and is offered free of charge. Josephine has written several books on witchcraft\, all available from good booksellers everywhere. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Setken | Artist & Researcher Setken is an accomplished artist and researcher whose work explores themes of mythology\, history\, and spirituality\, especially Kemetic (i.e. Ancient Egyptian) spirituality. With a background as an actor and another in visual arts\, and years dedicated to uncovering hidden stories from Australia’s past\, Setken brings a unique perspective to historical narratives. Passionate about preserving cultural heritage\, Setken combines meticulous research with creative expression to shed light on forgotten histories. His documentaries have won awards on the alternative film festival circuit. His paintings have been featured in academic Egyptology books\, including on the cover of one\, and most recently in the Complete Encyclopedia Of Egyptian Deities. His book The King Of Melbourne: the spiritual life of David Syme\, his newspaper The Age\, and the legacy of his monumental tomb is being published in 2026. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Benjamin Turale | Lab Alchemist & Teacher Benjamin Turale is a practicing laboratory alchemist whose work spans the three kingdoms of nature\, specifically the vegetable\, animal and mineral/metallic kingdoms\, with a focus on metallic alchemy and the antimonial path to the Magnum Opus (Great Work). His creative output also focuses on the manufacturing of spagyric products and teaching traditional Hermetic alchemy through his enterprise the Temple of Mercury\, for which he received the prestigious Paracelsus Award in 2021 for outstanding contributions to alchemy. Benjamin has been a teacher in one form or another since 2007. A former psychotherapist and university lecturer\, now full-time Hermetic alchemist\, he has a diploma in Hermetic Science from the International Alchemy Guild (IAG). Having also studied at the now closed Paracelsus College in Australia\, he completed his training in the Frater Albertus alchemical lineage under Robert Allen Bartlett in the USA. Benjamin has spoken at many occult conferences internationally. He currently serves the IAG as Director of Education and on the executive board. Benjamin’s focus is to preserve and pass on the Hermetic tradition. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Dr. David Waldron | Associate Professor Dr. David Waldron is an Associate Professor of History at Federation University Australia\, specialising in folklore and community heritage. He is the author of Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival (2008)\, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay – A Case Study in Local Folklore (2010)\, Snarls from the Tea-Tree: Victoria’s Big Cat Folklore (2013)\, editor of Goldfields and the Gothic: A Hidden Heritage and Folklore (2016)\, and author of Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum (2020). Dr Waldron is widely involved in public history through festivals\, tours\, and multimedia\, including the Ballarat Heritage Festival and the award-winning podcast Tales from Rat City (winner of the 2019 National Trust People’s Choice Award & the 2023 Victorian Community History Award). In the tabletop role-playing community\, he is an award-winning writer whose scenario William Bailey’s Haunted Mansion received a Silver ENNIE and a Victorian Community History Award\, and The Last Dance of Lola Montez was nominated for an ENNIE. He is also a TEDx speaker and dramaturg. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Shu Yap | Teacher & Consultant Shu Yap is a globally recognised consulting astrologer\, writer\, and teacher\, based in Central Victoria\, Australia\, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Certified through the Melbourne School of Astrology and the School of Traditional Astrology in London\, with a passion for Medieval Astrology throughout the Persian\, Arabic and Latin periods\, Shu maintains an international consulting practice and lectures to professional audiences worldwide. Shu leads the Medieval Astrology Certificate program at Kepler College\, mentors foundational to advanced students\, and contributes monthly planetary forecasts for The Interpsycle Observator. Shu is also a dedicated practitioner of Jyotish under the lineage of Śrī Achyutānanda Dāsa of Orissa\, India\, bringing an integrated Eastern and Western perspective to her research\, teaching\, and practice. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									Peregrin Wildoak | Esotericist Author of By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life\, Peregrin was born in Warwickshire\, UK and emigrated to Perth\, Western Australia at age 12\, where he has lived ever since. In his youth he came into contact with the western mystery traditions and was initiated into the Golden Dawn\, eventually running an Order based in Perth. He holds a Masters of Divinity and has received initiation and training in several other traditions including Wicca\, Vajrayana Buddhism and an Isis Mystery School. 								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n									More about The Victorian Occult Conference  								\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Cost: $140 – earlybird\, until 31 January 2026 								\n				\n									Cost: $150 – Thereafter Speakers and stallholders will be donating door prizes\, all ticket holders are automatically eligible.   								\n				\n										\n						\n									Get Tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n									This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land.
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/scottish-country-dancing-2025/
LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350
CATEGORIES:external event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ballarat-scottish-square-promo-final.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Ballarat Country Scottish Dancing":MAILTO:heathermross2021@outlook.com
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END:VCALENDAR