Sephera Giron is the author (under the name Ariana) of House Magic: The Good Witch's Guide to Bringing Grace to Your Space (Conari/Red Wheel Books), a book which blends concepts of wishcraft, feng shui and other disciplines to help people improve home, body and soul. She trained as a tarot counselor for three years with the Society of Metaphysical and Esoteric Studies International, and has received additional training and certificates in Reiki and Touch for Health. Sephera has been reading tarot professionally for over seven years, often under the name Ariana. Access Sephera's skills at her online office: http://www.sff.net/people/seph/horoscope.htm.


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Toronto loves the season of the witch and if you're within a few hours' drive, you might want to get out and do Masquerade Month up in style. Try out the new corset or who knows, find someone warm to slither up with. Here are some of the many colorful masquerade type events taking place -- get colorful, creative, kinky, and join them!




Saturday October 14

Fetish Masquerade usually happens on the third Saturday of the month, but for October, they are moving the party up. Fetish Masquerade is a monthly fetish night party at the Funhaus on Queen Street West. The scene is friendly, and in fact, you’ll find many of the same people at most of the fetish events yearlong. The Masquerade often has a theme so every month can be Halloween if you like. This month the theme is Android Kink.

The Funhaus has two rooms. One is a giant dance floor with couches and chairs on a couple of raised levels. There is a large screen on one wall that often plays interesting movies and scenes. There are two bars and a coat check. The music is danceable and the floor is always packed. On the stage there are many pieces of equipment including a cage. Sometimes there are demonstrations. You can also dance on the stage if you feel like it. It’s a lot of fun and a great way to case the room for a lonely looking soul.

In the second room, there is a dungeon with spank benches and a cross. There is a small screen that plays fetish movies. This room also has many couches and chairs where you can sit and watch others, or cozy up to someone that you are getting to know. If you want to have a cigarette, you have to go outside. However, once out there, you will find it easy to talk to other people and discover what you have in common.

For the weekend of October 20th

The Sex Show is the first in a series of great events downtown, so you may want to book a hotel room and stay on through the parties. This is a three-day event that takes place at the Exhibition Grounds in the Automotive Building.

The Sex Show is a lot of fun. I’ve been a few times and always had a great time. The show is a consumer’s paradise. There are booths for nearly every sex related theme you can think of with freebies, demos and samples you can take home.

You can buy vibrators, corsets, latex, lube, toys, bondage gear, and Jacuzzis. Browse around and learn about swingers clubs and club hedonism. The vendors are friendly and eager to explain their wares to you. Last year, I picked up good quality bras in a hard to find size for only five bucks each. I also played “Spin the Chick”, which is where you sit on a saucer type thing and are spun around until you stop. The saucer has an arrow and it will point at the prize you win. I won a giant bottle of good quality lube.

And seminars? This year you will find topics such as masturbation, strap on fun, how to attract the opposite sex, how to strip, kink 101 and how to make sex toys from things around the house, among many others. The seminars are often interactive although you don’t have to participate if you’re shy.

There are three stages where you will see all kinds of demonstrations, most of them involving scantily clad people with hot bodies gyrating lasciviously.

The Canadian Men International will perform their sexy numbers featuring well-chiseled bodies dancing to choreographed music. Aradia Fitness is a pole-dancing club where women go to learn fitness using a stripper pole. Ladies from Aradia Fitness will be showing off some of their techniques as they spin around gleaming brass poles. Rubberella will showcase her latex bondage balloon and rubber kitty. She will also demonstrate mummification and fun things to do with latex.

And what Sex show would be without a SX Fashion show so you can oogle the latest in fetish designs?

Other dance troupes feature sexy men and women strutting their stuff to a cheering crowd.For the first time, the Super Sex Freaks Side Show will be in attendance. Marvel at Mammarella, the thirteen breasted woman and gawk at Anna Conda, the snake mouthed felliator. Adult industry superstar and Toronto native, Nikki Benz will be hosting some exciting events at the Sex Show. She will judge the simulated blowjob contest and a sexy rodeo contest as the spokes model for Screaming O products.

Last year, there was a dungeon at the sex show and various alternative lifestyle clubs had booths set up around it with several pieces of equipment that visitors were encouraged to try. Dungeon mistresses and masters helped them use it by showing how the tools worked. (They also made sure everyone followed the rules.) If you're just into happy, juicy sex, the taste of dungeon can be a bit tart, but for the curious or those with kinky underbellies, dungeons are a hot, voyeuristic way to go there without going there.



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On October 21

Northbound Leather hosts their annual fashion show fetish party at the Docks. This is the tenth year celebration for their show, which will be named DECADANCE this year. Northbound Leather has been in existence for twenty years and is run by George Giaouris.

The event will feature a 45-minute fashion show based on the past ten years of designs by Marty Rotman. There is big surprise ending based on comic book characters featuring new one of a kind designs.

There is a huge dance floor and many rooms to party in. There will also be dungeon where people can play to their heart’s content. DJ Matt C and DJ Jimi Lamort will be spinning tunes. The rock band, Vampire Beach Babes will play.

Over 3000 people come from all over the world to attend the annual Northbound Leather party. There are a limited amount of tickets for the VIP room where there will be catered food and a bird’s eye view of the fashion show.

Northbound Leather is always showcasing new fashions at their stores in Toronto and Montreal. Now they’ve taken the fetish scene one step further with a new line of home decor. Imagine, once you’ve found that special someone at one of these great events, you can take him or her home to play in your newly furnished room. You can find sheep skin, natural and exotic hair-on cushions, natural hair on hair and exotic-looking hides, Capelli designer cowhide rugs and sheepskin rugs. There is leather and walnut bench, leather and stainless steel console table, and a tri color hide with fabric chair and ottoman.



On October 28

If you are into horror with a fetish flair, you will totally dig the Rue Morgue Halloween Bash. This year it's called The Chinese Torture Theater. Costumes are encouraged but not mandatory. The Rue Morgue Halloween party crowd is a mixture of horror fanatics and alternative lifestyle folk. The party takes place at a converted church called The Church at Berkeley on 315 Queen Street East, which is east of Yonge Street. This party is huge and the church is very cool. There is a balcony where you can look down on the dance floor and partiers. It is a great place to stand for stage acts as well. In the past they’ve had some very cool shows that evoke a sense of magic, illusion, pain, music, and kink.

You may find familiar faces at the Rue Morgue party that you recognize from the Sex Show and various Fetish nights. People into alternative lifestyles in Toronto are always eager to try new events, not to mention folks from as far away as Europe who come especially for these events. People are excited about Halloween and want one last grand adventure before settling in for a cold, snowy winter. The weather has been unusually warm and has been the past few years. There may be rain, so bring an umbrella or make sure you have a waterproof coat over your outfit. Enthusiasm is high as Halloween approaches. What a great way to meet other fellow wanderers in a sea of warm friendly flesh and curiosity?

At the Rue Morgue party, there is dancing and a few bars. The basement is broken up into a few rooms. Over the years there have been bands and movies in various rooms. Sometimes you may see reptiles on display. The atmosphere is pure horror and there are interesting props around that you can engage total strangers in conversation about. The restrooms at the Berkeley Church are limited, so you may find yourself befriending people in the lengthy lines. Ladies: use the opportunity to flirt and find out about the girls beside you. Compliment people on their costumes and be as quick as you can in the actual bathroom. There is lots of room to fuss with your costume outside of the little cubicle. Sometimes there is smoking allowed in the party in the basement. The laws may have changed again, so you may have to smoke in front of the church or they may open up the gardens.

Rue Morgue Magazine has been throwing Halloween parties for nine years in celebration of the season. Rodrigo Gudino (there’s an accent over the n) started Rue Morgue Magazine and it has since grown into an empire. Not only did Rod start a magazine, but he’s spawned movie festivals, radio shows, special events, the Rue Morgue Festival of Fear convention, and now has his own movie company. Rod and his staff are a great team and they love to hold this annual event. Rod is so busy that he’s often single, so ladies, take note.

You can express your inner you by choosing a costume that reflects your inner desires. Or you could be something totally opposite of who you really are. Try being a coquettish courtesan or a flowery virgin. Wear a military uniform or priest’s robe. Have fun with wigs and hats. Basic fetish gear is always welcome at all the events. Some people dress sexy for the Sex Show, but most people in gear are vendors and entertainers. At the Rue Morgue party, you don’t want to show up in street clothes, but you don’t have to dress up. A character from popular culture, such as a horror movie or comic book character is always a good option. The choice is yours.

On Halloween!

The Fetish Masquerade is the most notorious among no end of Toronto parties on Halloween night. This is a great place to stop once the kids are in bed after a night of trick or treating and gorging. It’s time for mummy and daddy to go out to play. I always hit the Fetish Masquerade at Funhaus because it’s friendly and I’m sure to know someone there. You can wear a Halloween costume or fetish gear. You can’t wear street clothes nor would you want to when you’re strutting down Queen Street. There are loads of parties and if you hook up with someone at the Masquerade, you are certain to find another party.

Sometimes it’s easier to meet people at Halloween parties because you have fewer inhibitions. Wear something sexy or interesting. Have a prop, wig or interesting piece of jewelry so that people can ask you about it. Ladies, try not to make yourself ugly. Show off what you have cuz you know the guys (and girls) are looking.

Men: wear some eye liner and don’t wear geeky costumes or clown costumes if you’re on the prowl. Be sexy and seductive. Pirates are always popular as are uniforms, leather pants and vampires. Sad and mournful costumes can evoke sympathy in a woman. The devil can be a good choice too, especially if you see a hot angel.

Have fun with your costume and use your character to meet new people. Even if you don’t connect with someone that night, you may find new ways to make conversation that you can store away for future use.

Want to know more? Here are the web sites.

Fetish Masquerade: http://www.fetishmasquerade.com
Decadance: http://www.northboundleather.com
Everything to Do With Sex Show: http://www.everythingtodowithsex.com
Rue Morgue Magazine Chinese Torture Party: http://rue-morgue.com
Fetish at Five: http://www.northboundleather.com


Ariana does "Spin the Chick"
[Photos: Ariana, from last year's "Northbound"]

Tell us in the "Comments", what Masquerade fun is going on in your area?