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The Association for Consciousness Exploration (ACE) is an American networking organization located in the greater Cleveland, OH area which produces educational events, books, and recorded media related to consciousness, spirituality, and multi-cultural subjects.

Contents 1 History 2 Activities and functions 3 Location 4 Notes 5 References 6 External links

The organization was founded in 1983 by members of the "Chameleon Club" (founded in 1978), and their fictional founder, C. C. Rosencomet, on the campus of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. As a campus organization they offered concerts of local musicians, a film series, and hosted appearances of Jim Alan and Selena Fox of Circle Sanctuary, Dr. Raymond Buckland, and the first Cleveland appearance of Timothy Leary (at Amasa Stone Chapel)^[1][2]. The primary directors are Jeff Rosenbaum and Joseph Rothenberg, and many of the founding members still make up much of the core organizing group. In the 1980s, they also ran a "mind spa", providing hands-on experience with mind-machines^[3], bio-feedback devices, and a sensory isolation tank^[4][5]. The motto of the Chameleon Club is "CHANGE", and that of ACE is "Dedicated to the Expansion of the Frontiers of Your Consideration".^[6] ACE was originally located at The Civic, a former synagogue in Cleveland Heights, OH, and there offered classes and featured appearances of Robert Anton Wilson^[7], Timothy Leary, Robin Williamson^[8], AmyLee, Ian Corrigan and Selena Fox. In 1985 it moved its offices to the Masonic Temple Annex Building in the same city.

ACE is best known for hosting the annual Starwood Festival in Sherman, New York (a six-day summer camping event featuring live entertainment and classes on a variety of subjects including Neo-Paganism, world spirituality and culture, consciousness, holistic health and other topics^[9][10]), and the annual WinterStar Symposium in Dellroy, Ohio ^[11], usually held in February. They have also created the MusicStar Festival, Opening Inner Doorways, and The Thing in the Woods. They have co-sponsored events with other organizations such as the SpiritDrum Festival (with Musart) and the Rant 'n Rave (with the Church of the SubGenius), and have participated in other organizations' events such as the Agora Psychedelic Festival, the World Magic Festival, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum's psychedelic exhibit I Want to Take You Higher: The Psychedelic Era 1965-1969.

ACE produces and distributes books, tapes, CDs and DVDs of performances, lectures and panel discussions from their events, and several obtained from other sources, including the ACE/Llewellyn Collection (a co-operative project between ACE and Llewellyn Worldwide) and the ACE/ADF Collection (a partnership with Isaac Bonewits and the Neo-Druidic group Ár nDraíocht Féin).

ACE maintains an office in Cleveland Heights, OH, and the Starwood Center: a workshop/seminar/bookstore facility in Cleveland, OH, which shares space with Audio Kreme Recording Studio, and hosts a weekly drumming circle. Classes and multi-media productions have been offered at these facilities featuring such notable individuals as occult author Isaac Bonewits, percussionist Jim Donovan, Church of the SubGenius Reverend Ivan Stang, Celtic Spirituality author and bard Ian Corrigan, Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart of the Church of All Worlds, Neo-Pagan folk singers Kenny & Tziporah Klein, and singer/songwriter Victoria Ganger. Stone Creed Grove, a local branch of the Neo-Druidic group Ár nDraíocht Féin, holds regular meetings and open rituals at the Starwood Center.

1. ^ Two 60s Cult Heroes, on the Eve of the 80s by James Neff (Cleveland Plain Dealer Oct. 30th, 1979)
2. ^ Timothy Leary: An LSD Cowboy Turns Cosmic Comic by Frank Kuznik (Cleveland Magazine November 1979
3. ^ Group Strives to Expand Matters of Man's Mind by Dan Jacobs (The Sun Press Nov. 23rd, 1989)
4. ^ Beating Stress Through Meditation by Donna Furman (The News Herald Oct. 5th, 1986)
5. ^ Tank Aids in Relaxation, Stress Reduction by Joan Burkhart (The Sun Press Jan. 17, 1985)
6. ^ Association for Consciousness Exploration: About ACE
7. ^ Local Group Hosts Dr. Timothy Leary by Will Allison (The Observer Fri. Sept. 29th, 1989)
8. ^ Celtic Musician Gives Concert (The Plain Dealer May 4th, 1990)
9. ^ Krassner (2005)
10. ^ Vale and Sulak (2001)
11. ^ Association for Consciousness Exploration: The WinterStar Festival

• Adler, Margot, Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today, Beacon Press, 1979; revised and updated 1987.
• Michael Carlson obituary of Robert Anton Wilson [1]
• "Expanding the Frontiers of Your Consideration" article [2]
• Circle of Ash - Michael Gill (Cleveland Free Times July 7th, 2005)[3]
• Hunter, Jennifer (2000) 21st Century Wicca: A Young Witch's Guide to Living the Magical Life Citadel ISBN 0806518871, ISBN 978-0806518879
• Klaus, Jared "Exploration, Psychedelia & Wicca" Cleveland Scene C-Notes. (Jan. 11th, 2007) [4]
• Klaus, Jared "Oldstock" Cleveland Scene (Feb. 21st, 2007) [5]
• Krassner, Paul (2005). Life Among the Neopagans in The Nation, August 24, 2005 (web only).
• Monaghan, Patricia (1999) Meditation, the Complete Guide New World Library ISBN 1577310888, ISBN 978-1577310884
• Nema (1995) Maat Magick: A Guide to Self-Initiation Weiser Books ISBN 0-87728-827-5
• Niesel, Jeff Slack Is Back: Quit Your Job! Make Waste! The Church of the SubGenius Has Come to Town! (April 6, 2000)
• Pike, Sarah (2006) New Age and Neopagan Religions in America By Sarah M. Pike Columbia University Press; New Ed edition ISBN 0231124031, ISBN 978-0231124034
• Seachrist, Denise (2003). The Musical World of Halim El-Dabh. Kent State University Press: World Musics Series. ISBN 0-87338-752-X
• Vale, V. and John Sulak (2001). Modern Pagans: an Investigation of Contemporary Ritual. (Interview with Jeff Rosenbaum). San Francisco: Re/Search Publications. ISBN 1-889307-10-6

• Association for Consciousness Exploration website