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DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250603T140000
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DTSTAMP:20260509T001729
CREATED:20250113T050930Z
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UID:61155-1748959200-1751382000@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Day Tours of the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute | Series
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/day-tours-may-jun-2025/
LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/BMI-woodcut_bags-low-res-1kb-e1703024949185.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250601T094500
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250601T150000
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250526T015210Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250528T003449Z
UID:65124-1748771100-1748790000@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Ballart Pride Market 2025
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-pride-market-25/
LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350
CATEGORIES:Ballarat Pride,Festival
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ballarat-pride-month-sq-promo.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250531T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250531T214500
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250512T012032Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T005051Z
UID:64934-1748718000-1748727900@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Sweet Mona's Choir | On Tour: Let the Good Times Roll CD Launch
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/sweet-monas-choir/
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/2025/05/SMC-LTGTR-BMI-SquareImage.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250531T100000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250601T140000
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250409T000912Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250409T012549Z
UID:64380-1748685600-1748786400@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Winter Book Sale | Stockpile your winter reading
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/book-sale-june-2025/
LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Culture,Fundraiser,Library,Members
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/book-sale-winter-sq-promo-pexels-clem-onojeghuo-375892-v2.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250529T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250529T200000
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250506T005821Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250506T012923Z
UID:64894-1748545200-1748548800@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Ivan Aristeguieta: All Bangers No Mash
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/ivan-aristeguieta/
LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350
CATEGORIES:Comedy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BANG_BALL_SQUARE.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250528T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250528T200000
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250408T022323Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250408T022528Z
UID:64331-1748458800-1748462400@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | Healthy Habits for A Happy Mind
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-28-may/
LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:kadampa
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Healthy-Habits-square-promo.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Kadampa Meditation":MAILTO:info@kadampa.org.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250528T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250528T193000
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250313T021402Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T013932Z
UID:62648-1748455200-1748460600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Nicole Alexander
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/nicole-alexander/
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/2025/03/sq-promo-nicole-alexander.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250525T140000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250525T173000
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250422T011809Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250516T034922Z
UID:64638-1748181600-1748194200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Sweet Sounds for the Otways
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/sweet-sounds-of-the-otways/
LOCATION:VIC
CATEGORIES:Live Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/sq-promo-otways.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250524T200000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250524T210000
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250423T040828Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250423T060001Z
UID:64663-1748116800-1748120400@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Wizard Oil and Wonders: Frank Weston the Wizard Oil Prince
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/wizard-oil-and-wonders/
LOCATION:VIC
CATEGORIES:Ballarat Heritage Festival,Festival,Theatre Production
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/square-promo.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250524T150000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250524T163000
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250424T001228Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250428T040455Z
UID:64688-1748098800-1748104200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Open House Melbourne Presents\, Heritage Conversations: A Life in photos - John Gollings
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/a-life-in-photos-john-gollings/
LOCATION:VIC
CATEGORIES:Ballarat Heritage Festival,Festival,Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/john-gollings.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Open House Melbourne":MAILTO:info@ohm.org.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250524T100000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250524T122000
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250417T024436Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250507T035052Z
UID:64583-1748080800-1748089200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:The Vegas 70 returns to Ballarat | Ballarat Heritage Festival | Mary Poppins
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/vegas-70-mary-poppins/
LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350
CATEGORIES:Ballarat Heritage Festival,Festival,Film,Fundraiser
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/square-promos-mary-poppins.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250524T100000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250524T110000
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250520T051053Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250522T034211Z
UID:65020-1748080800-1748084400@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Whispers from the Garden | In Partnership with Friends of Ballarat Botanical Gardens Inc.
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/whispers-from-the-garden/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Art programs,Ballarat Heritage Festival
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/sq-promo.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250523T203000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250523T224500
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250417T020931Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250422T060211Z
UID:64570-1748032200-1748040300@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:The Vegas 70 returns to Ballarat | Ballarat Heritage Festival | Chinatown
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/vegas-70-chinatown/
LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350
CATEGORIES:Ballarat Heritage Festival,Festival,Film,Fundraiser
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/square-promos-chinatown2.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250523T183000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250523T201500
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250409T021703Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250422T060122Z
UID:64409-1748025000-1748031300@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:The Vegas 70 returns to Ballarat | Ballarat Heritage Festival | Blazing Saddles
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/vegas-70-blazing-saddles/
LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350
CATEGORIES:Ballarat Heritage Festival,Festival,Film,Fundraiser
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/blazing-saddles-sq-promo.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250521T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250521T200000
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250408T020418Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250408T022213Z
UID:64321-1747854000-1747857600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | Healthy Habits for A Happy Mind
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-21-may/
LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:kadampa
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Healthy-Habits-square-promo.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Kadampa Meditation":MAILTO:info@kadampa.org.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250521T110000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250521T120000
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250317T031650Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T070359Z
UID:62934-1747825200-1747828800@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Day Tours of the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute | Ballarat Heritage Festival | Tour 3
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/day-tours-ballarat-heritage-fest-3/
LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Ballarat Heritage Festival,Festival,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/BMI-woodcut_bags-low-res-1kb-e1703024949185.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250520T140000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250520T150000
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250113T050453Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T070422Z
UID:61152-1747749600-1747753200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Day Tours of the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute | Ballarat Heritage Festival | Tour 2
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/day-tours-ballarat-heritage-fest/
LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Ballarat Heritage Festival,Festival,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/BMI-woodcut_bags-low-res-1kb-e1703024949185.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250520T110000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250520T120000
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250317T030244Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T070405Z
UID:62929-1747738800-1747742400@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Day Tours of the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute | Ballarat Heritage Festival | Tour 1
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/day-tours-ballarat-heritage-fest-1/
LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Ballarat Heritage Festival,Festival,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/BMI-woodcut_bags-low-res-1kb-e1703024949185.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250518T213000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250518T223000
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250210T012647Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250423T003042Z
UID:61846-1747603800-1747607400@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Minerva's Secrets | Night Tour\, Ballarat Heritage Festival
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/minervas-secrets-night-tours-bhf-18-may-2/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Ballarat Heritage Festival,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Night Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/received_265285705882698-e1708919200874.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250518T193000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250518T203000
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250210T002829Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250515T223444Z
UID:61827-1747596600-1747600200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Minerva's Secrets | Night Tour\, Ballarat Heritage Festival
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/minervas-secrets-night-tours-bhf-18-may-1/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Ballarat Heritage Festival,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Night Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/received_908662326866361-e1708918930337.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250518T140000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250518T160000
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250114T215837Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250515T060728Z
UID:61189-1747576800-1747584000@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Dame Nellie Melba Celebration Performance
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/melba-opera-trust/
LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350
CATEGORIES:Art programs,Australian Heritage Festival,Ballarat Heritage Festival,Classical Music,Important Dates,Live Music,Theatre Production
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/mot-performance-promo-sq.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250517T183000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250517T230000
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250114T223422Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250508T064422Z
UID:61199-1747506600-1747522800@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Dame Nellie Melba Birthday Dinner - This event has now been CANCELLED.
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/melba-opera-trust-dinner/
LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Art programs,Australian Heritage Festival,Ballarat Heritage Festival,Important Dates,Live Music,Theatre Production
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/about-dame-nellie-melba.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250516T213000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250516T223000
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250210T001340Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250515T222405Z
UID:61817-1747431000-1747434600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Minerva's Secrets | Night Tour\, Ballarat Heritage Festival - NOW FULLY BOOKED
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/minervas-secrets-night-tours-bhf-16-may-2/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Ballarat Heritage Festival,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Night Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/received_265285705882698-e1708919200874.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250516T193000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250516T203000
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250210T002600Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250515T222312Z
UID:61825-1747423800-1747427400@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Minerva's Secrets | Night Tour\, Ballarat Heritage Festival - NOW FULLY BOOKED
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/minervas-secrets-night-tours-bhf-16-may-1/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Ballarat Heritage Festival,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Night Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/received_908662326866361-e1708918930337.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250514T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250514T200000
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250211T002910Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250408T022228Z
UID:61905-1747249200-1747252800@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | Find Your Flow: A Buddhist Guide to an Effortless 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-14-may-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-promo3.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Kadampa Meditation":MAILTO:info@kadampa.org.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250514T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250514T193000
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250304T015324Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T024750Z
UID:62426-1747245600-1747251000@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Darcy Tindale
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/darcy-tindale/
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/2025/03/darcy-tindale-sq-promp.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250510T193000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250510T210000
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250320T035214Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250430T042820Z
UID:63032-1746905400-1746910800@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:The Amazing Lucas Girls by acclaimed playwright Cate Whittaker - Session 3
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-amazing-lucas-girls-3/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Australian Heritage Festival,Theatre,Theatre Production
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/A-Hs-LG-hero320-promo-square.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Lost Voices":MAILTO:lostvoicesnsw.au@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250510T143000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250510T160000
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250320T034846Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250430T042629Z
UID:63030-1746887400-1746892800@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:The Amazing Lucas Girls by acclaimed playwright Cate Whittaker - Session 2
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-amazing-lucas-girls-2/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Australian Heritage Festival,Theatre Production
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/A-Hs-LG-hero320-promo-square.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Lost Voices":MAILTO:lostvoicesnsw.au@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250510T140000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250510T150000
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250415T235811Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250417T041141Z
UID:64553-1746885600-1746889200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Seedpod Ballarat 2025 | Gemma Cavoli - 'Oubliette' | Artist in Residence
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/seedpod-oubliette-session-2/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Artist in Residence,Australian Heritage Festival,Theatre Production
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/oubliette-sq-promo-v2.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Punctum":MAILTO:hq@punctum.com.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250509T193000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250509T210000
DTSTAMP:20260509T001730
CREATED:20250318T025201Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250430T042710Z
UID:62953-1746819000-1746824400@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:The Amazing Lucas Girls by acclaimed playwright Cate Whittaker
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-amazing-lucas-girls/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Australian Heritage Festival,Theatre Production
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/A-Hs-LG-hero320-promo-square.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Lost Voices":MAILTO:lostvoicesnsw.au@gmail.com
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END:VCALENDAR