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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#4F6228'>In case you are interested, these free events will take place on Tues. 12/13 in Parkersburg, and Wed. 12/14 in Marietta. </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#4F6228'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Edwardian Script ITC";color:#4F6228'>Brenda Stetson<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#4F6228'>for Soul Connections Group</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#4F6228'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#4F6228'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><b><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Tuesday, Dec. 13</span></u></b><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>KRAMPUS FOLKLORE Speaker: Christopher Friend<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>7:00 pm, 1400 Washington Ave, Parkersburg, WV at corner of Latrobe St./Washington Ave. (1st Christian Church Basement)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Have you ever heard about a hairy, brown or black half goat-half human creature with cloven hooves lurking about at this time of year with his tongue lolled out? Some say he carries a bundle of birch branches with which he swats naughty children and may even haul them down to the underworld. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>In some areas, especially Alpine, parades and events occur every year with people dressed as Krampus dancing around the streets. In Europe, since the 1800’s, people have exchanged greeting cards featuring images of Krampus and often containing humorous rhymes/poems.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>If you aren’t familiar with this story, or even if you are, you’ll enjoy hearing Chris share the origins and folklore around another wintertime figure, who traditionally can be found making appearances this time of year in some countries. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><b><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Wednesday, Dec. 14<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>“WHEN SANTA WAS A SHAMAN” Speaker: Susan Sheppard<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>7:00 pm, 232 Third St, Marietta, OH (UU Church basement)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>** We’ll start gathering at 7 pm, Susan’s talk will begin at 7:30 and end approximately 8:30, with open discussion afterwards among the participants.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Susan Sheppard will be with us to trace the shamanic roots of Santa Claus through the old gods of Europe, the Wild Man, Green Man, Cernunnus, through the Christianized St. Nicholas into our modern reinvention of Santa Claus, who still holds his pagan beginnings among the old gods, the fairies and elves, the elementals and entheogens, or sacred herbs as well as later Christian influences.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Both events are open to the public – HOWEVER they <u>are not</u> child friendly.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Love donations accepted to cover group operating costs and allow offering free events.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Pre-registration preferred, but not required - facilitates space setup and provide any handout materials.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Sponsored By: SOUL CONNECTIONS GROUP, non-profit, shares information and knowledge about a number of topics pertaining to personal awareness and growth in a non-judgmental atmosphere. Open to any and all holistic interests, looking at various techniques with openness so each person can learn about areas of interest and identify what works for them. Soul Connections Group is neither affiliated with any religious organization or professional business, nor promotes any particular belief system. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>On Facebook: <u>Marietta-Parkersburg Soul Connections Group </u>public page for more information and details on upcoming events<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Call or text: Rex Scarberry (740-629-4579) <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Email: Brenda Stetson (</span><a href="mailto:GaiaGal1975@gmail.com"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>GaiaGal1975@gmail.com</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> )<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></b><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#4F6228'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>