Mary Beth Moser is available for presentations to your cultural group, classroom, or organization. Her presentations are brought to life by illustrations gathered from local artists and her own photographs. Click here for a PDF description of available presentation topics.
The following is a summary of Mary Beth’s past presentations, lectures, workshops, and interviews.
2023
“Ten years ago, I fulfilled an important goal – the completion of my dissertation, The Everyday Spirituality of Women in the Italian Alps, about my ancestral heritage, with a focus on women and folk wisdom. On April 30, 2023, I had the opportunity to publicly thank the very people who helped me along the way. I’m honored to have been invited by the Centro Studi per la Val di Sole in Trentino, Italy to introduce my dissertation. It feels especially meaningful because my maternal grandmother, Edvige Albasini, emigrated from the Val di Sole in 1906 to “L’America,” never to return. It feels like a cycle completed to be recognized in this way.
A big thank you to Marcello Liboni, president of the Centro Studi per la Val di Sole, who invited me, to Anna Benedetti for your outstanding real-time translation, and to Michele Bezzi for technical support; and to Andrea Lazzaroni, the mayor of the Comune di Dimaro Folgarida, and to Armando Maistri, president of Trentini nel Mondo, for your kind words.
I know I speak for so many of us descendants when I say that Trentino is very important to us. Noi discendenti siamo grati per i nostri legami con voi.”
Please see a recording of this event and the presentation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVJ_Wh4ekBs
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2022
“Listening to Ancestral Voices: Folk Stories of Resilience and Renewal in the Italian Alps,” The International Tyrolean Trentino Organization of North America (ITTONA) 2022 Convention, Albany, NY August 6, 2022. Recording available at: https://youtu.be/HxtsON__wuA
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2021
“Sacred Stones and the Immanence of Life in the Alps” Association for the Study of Women and Mythology, March 24, 2021, Monthly Speaker for Scholar Salon. Recording is available for ASWM Members: https://womenandmyth.org/2021/03/24/scholar-salon-24/
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2020
“She Who Shows the Way: Agency and Awe in the Miracle Stories of Black Madonnas of Italy,” Monastery of St. Gertrude, Online L.I.V.E. Art Series, September 2020. Recording available at: https://deamadre.net/videos/
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2019
“Submerged Spirituality in the Italian Alps: Goddesses, Ancestresses, and Women’s Ritual in the Archaeological Evidence,” American Academy of Religion Pacific Northwest Region, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA, May 2019
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2018
“The Everyday Spirituality of Women in the Italian Alps: A Trentino American Woman’s Search for Spiritual Agency, Folk Wisdom, and Ancestral Values,” presentation to the American Academy of Religion National Meeting, Denver, Colorado, November 2018
“Old Wives’ Tales: Folk Wisdom, Women’s Spiritual Agency and Ancestral Values in the Folk Stories of the Italian Alps,” Women’s Spirituality Conference, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA, October 2018
“Magic and Wonder in the Land of the Pale Mountains: Folk Stories of Trentino and the Italian Alps,” International Tyrolean Trentino Organization of North America, Cleveland, OH, August 2018
“She Who Shows The Way: Agency and Awe in the Miracle Stories of Black Madonnas of Italy,” American Academy of Religion, Tacoma, WA, May 2018
“When There Were Anguane: The Wild, Divine, and Magical Women of the Waters in the Italian Alps,” Association for the Study of Women and Mythology, Las Vegas, NV, March 2018
“When the Trees Could Speak: Folk Stories of Nature as Ally in the Italian Alps,” Association for the Study of Women and Mythology, Las Vegas, NV, March 2018
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2016
“The Madonna and the Breath of Life: Sanctuaries of the Respirò in the Italian Alps,” American Academy of Religion, Moscow, ID, May 2016
“Sacred Landscapes: Folk Stories, Ancestral Values and the Importance of Place,” Association for the Study of Women and Mythology, Boston, MA, April 2016
“Flowing Across Time: Women, Water, and the Sacred in the Italian Alps,” Association for the Study of Women and Mythology, Boston, MA, April 2016
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2015
“Magic and Wonder in the Land of the Pale Mountains: Folk Stories of Trentino and the Italian Alps,” Dante Alighieri Society, Seattle, WA, May 2015. Recording available at: https://youtu.be/1TuI8zJ1auM
“Moonbeams of Mystery, Cycles of History: Lunar Presence in the Folk Wisdom of the Italian Alps,” Association for the Study of Women and Mythology, Portland, OR, April 2015
“Upon This Rock: Sacred Stones and the Immanence of Life in the Alpine Folk Traditions,” American Academy of Religion, Portland, OR, March 2015
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2014
“Frozen: The Creative Power of the Winter Goddesses in the Italian Alps,” American Academy of Religion, Calgary, Canada, May 2014
“Wild Women of the Waters: Remembering the Anguane of the Italian Alps,” Association for the Study of Women and Mythology (ASWM) National conference, San Antonio, TX, March 2014
“Black Madonnas,” ASWM Panel, San Antonio, TX, March 2014
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2013
“The Healer, the Sibyl and the Wife of the Devil: Magic and Spirituality in the Italian Alps,” American Academy of Religion, Seattle, WA May 2013
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2012
“Spirited Women of the Sacred Waters: Goddesses, Anguane, Grandmothers, and Madonnas in the folk traditions of the Italian Alps,” American Academy of Religion, Portland, Oregon, May 2012
“Moonbeams of Mystery, Cycles of History: Lunar Presence and Metaformic Themes in the Folk Traditions of the Italian Alps,” graduate lecture for Metaformic Theory class, Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, CA, February 2012
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MORE
2011
- “Submerged Spirituality in the Italian Alps: A Multi-Disciplinary Exploration and Excavation of Women’s Cultural History in Trentino,” graduate lecture for Dark Mother course, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA, March 2011.
2010
- “Submerged Spirituality in the Italian Alps: A Multi-Disciplinary Exploration and Excavation of Women’s Cultural History in Trentino,” invited guest speaker for Women’s History month, University of Texas at San Antonio, March 2010
- “Submerged Spirituality and Mountain Mothers: An Exploration of Metaformic Themes in the Cultural History of the Valleys and Villages of the Italian Alps,” graduate lecture for Metaformic Theory class, Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, CA, February 2010
2009
- “Women, Food, and Spirits: Carriers of Submerged Culture from the Alps of Trentino to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado,” American Italian Historical Association, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, October 2009
- “The Black Madonnas of Italy: Images, Miracles, and Traditions,” American Academy of Religion, Pacific Northwest University, Tacoma, WA, April 2009
- “The Metaformic Roots of the Black Madonnas of Italy,” graduate lecture, Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, CA March, 2009
2006
- “The Black Madonnas of Italy,” graduate lecture, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA, October 2006
2005
- “The Black Madonnas of Italy,” graduate lecture, New College of California, San Francisco, CA, December 2005
- “The Black Madonnas of Italy,” graduate lecture, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA, December 2005
- “Sardegna! Ancient Island, Timeless Island,” speaker for monthly program, Dante Alighieri Society, Seattle, WA, October 2005
- “A Pilgrimage to the Black Madonna of Oropa,” invited presenter for The Black Madonna and the Womb of God Conference, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA, June 2005
- “The Black Madonnas of Italy,” public presentation, Belladonna, Berkeley, CA, June 2005
- “Hidden No More: The Black Madonna Adonai of Sicily,” presentation for She Is Everywhere book release event, Belladonna, Berkeley, CA, May 2005
- “Sacred Sisterhood: The Black Madonnas of Italy and France,” presentation, Women’s Integral Leadership Center, Seattle, WA, February 2005
- “Sardegna! Mediterranean Island of the Dark Goddess,” workshop, Women of Wisdom Annual Conference, Seattle, WA, February 2005
2004
- “The Black Madonnas of Italy,” presentation for She Is Everywhere panel, annual conference, American Italian Historical Association, Annapolis, MD, November 2004
- “Honoring Darkness: Exploring the Power of Black Madonnas in Italy,” Workshop, Women of Wisdom Annual Conference, Seattle, WA, February 2004
2003
- “The Black Madonnas of Italy,” presentation, Center for Sacred Art, Ballard, WA, November 2003
- “The Black Madonnas of Italy,” monthly speaker, Dante Alighieri Society, Seattle, WA, May 2003
- “Honoring Darkness: Exploring the Power of Black Madonnas in Italy,” monthly speaker, Serpentina “Goddess is Alive” Lecture Series, Oakland CA, April 2003
- “Honoring Darkness: Exploring the Power of Black Madonnas in Italy,” graduate lecture, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA, April 2003
- “Honoring Darkness: Exploring the Power of Black Madonnas in Italy,” graduate lecture, New College of California, San Francisco, CA, April, 2003
Radio interviews by Mary Beth Moser:
- “Voices of Women” on Transformation Talk Radio, hosted by Kris Steinnes, guest together with Mary Saracino on book release of She Is Everywhere! Volume 3, April 20, 2012.
- “Sardegna/Italy Special” on Music of the World, KPFA Radio, 94.1 fm, Berkeley, CA. hosted and produced by Sandy Miranda. In-studio guest together with Dr. Lucia Birnbaum, June 2004