Bio:

Brian Walsh works as a multifaith chaplain at a local Toronto hospital, and is one of two pagan chaplains at the University of Toronto utps.sa.utoronto.ca. He is also a licensed Wedding Officiate www.allseasonsweddings.com  for the Province of Ontario , performing weddings in the Greater Toronto Area.

Brian has been a priest in the Céilí Sídhe  www.newtara.org/ceilisidhe  tradition of Celtic Paganism since 1990.  He enjoys learning about all paganisms, and has a B.A. in Celtic Studies and Religious Studies from the University of Toronto , and an M.Phil. from the University of Wales . His thesis was published as "The Secret Commonwealth and the Fairy Belief Complex" /www.newtara.org/newtara_shop.asp in 2002.

Brian first guest lectured at Wilfred Laurier University followed closely by the 1996 Annual Conference of the American Academy of Religion, and has never stopped.  He continues his active and passionate speaking for university classes and groups, high schools, various pagan gatherings, and anyone else interested in Paganisms.  He is an advocate for pagan rights and visibility in local hospital and university settings.  For more information go to www.NewTara.org .

Topic:

Samhain: the Feast of Death and Beginning
The New Year! Trick or Treat!

After the sun goes down, then what?  Who’s lighting whose fire?  Who’s sleeping with whom? Ghosts and monsters are not the only ones bumping in the night.
Is orange the new red? Are pumpkins the new turnip? And what about the cows?
In this fourth and final installment of the TPC series on the Celtic Ráithí (quarter-days), come explore the mythology, folklore, themes, and history of the November 1st holiday.  This is Samhain as you've rarely seen it before.