Classes are listed in alphabetical order by class name.

NEW FOR 2025:

 Roundtable Discussions are an opportunity for open dialogue to take place in a container of respectful communication among peers.  Roundtables are facilitated by speakers who have expertise and experience in certain subjects.  Our Programming Committee has observed that in past years, during our conference, many of the panel attendees had equal knowledge, experience, and passion about chosen topics, and that this was leading to some wonderful organic discussions throughout the weekend.  We hope you join us for our new program offering.  We hope that you enjoy the format and that you emerge magickally inspired.  

A Wiccan Cosmological View of Time

Presenter: Katrina Messenger

How do witches conceptualize the multiverse beyond the four seasons and the sacred circle? What are the commonalities between modern Wiccan views and ancient concepts of time and eternity? Together, let’s explore the mystery of time and the wheel of eternity.

Before the God and Goddess

Presenter: BJ Swain

For the most part, the pairing of a God and Goddess as a specifically linked pair, and as a structure for worship and ritual, is uncommon in historical Paganism. That doesn’t mean it was fully foreign to the world of witchcraft before Wicca. In this class we will explore information about the Queen of Elphame and the Witches’ Devil and methods for meeting them.

Bird House In Your Soul

Presenter: BJ Swain

Not bird houses, and not in your soul, but, we will build small houses for spirits. Giving a spirit an anchor in the world makes it easier for the spirit to work in the physical world. This also allows you to develop closer deeper relationships with the spirits to improve your magic and learn from spirits. Participants will get to keep the spirit vessel they assemble, and may be able to use it in conjunction with a ritual we will celebrate at the conference.

Body Wisdom: Healing the Schism between our Mind/Culture and our Animal Bodies Body Wisdom: Healing the Schism between our Mind/Culture and our Animal Bodies

Presenter: Katrina Messenger

Even as we attribute sacredness and divine presence to the soil, the
ground, and the Earth, we simultaneously abuse, ignore, and poison our
bodies, our flesh, our sacred temple of life itself. How can our bodies
be less sacred than the Earth of which we are made? How do we heal
the split between our minds and bodies? How do we heal the split
between our culture and the life of our own species?

Building Resilient Pagan Communities

Presenter: Irene Glasse

Along with providing spiritual union, opportunities for magical development, and social connections,
Pagan and metaphysical groups, covens, groves, and chapters face challenges from the outside. Our
communities are targeted by extremist organizations seeking to recruit and antisocial individuals
seeking power over others. Additionally, some Pagan groups use holdover practices that are
inaccessible or unwelcoming to the very people we are most hoping to help. Explore tools and
techniques for increasing accessibility, identifying red flags, building policies that make predation
more challenging for those who seek to do harm, conflict resolution, and more.

Charm Casting


Presenter: Maryalyce Merritt

In this class, students will create a personalized charm casting divination kit from the charms that they have collected throughout the Changing Times conference. We will discuss the history of divination using charms, explore how to use and create a variety of spreads, and perform a practice reading on each other. Students will be encouraged to use their intuition to make this modality into a meaningful personalized favorite that can grow with them in their magickal journey. This class will be fun and interactive.

Prerequisites: Students should bring any charms that they have collected at CTCW. This class is designed to specifically incorporate those. Exact materials fee will be no more than $10

Materials fee $10.00

Color Theory for Magicians

Presenter: Sara Mastros

We’ll start by talking about color theory generally, then enchant a set of colored pencils for future workings, we’ll make a rainbow star amulet, and then learn “The Greater Ritual of the Rainbow Star” an energetic rebalancing.

Preparations requested

I will have sets of colored pencils you can purchase for $5, but they are not the highest quality. If you want to use fancy artist pencils (or crayons or etc) please bring your own.

Consent-Focused Ritual

Presenter: Raven Kaldera

Many public rituals assume that everyone can do, or is willing to do, everything the planners have come up with for their ritual, and in their enthusiasm they forget that not everyone may be comfortable with dancing, singing, sharing personal feelings, or other taken-for-granted Pagan ritual activities. How can we create rituals for the public–many of which may have complete unknowns showing up–where no one feels pressured to do something uncomfortable to them? This class will discuss the lessons learned by our Pagan church on how to create entirely consent-focused rituals, and still have a strong experience.

Preparations requested/required:

Have been to Pagan ritual.

Dealing With Difficult Clients At Your Reader Table

Presenter: Conrahsarahteena

A run through of some of the most common challenging personalities every reader gets at some point in their career and some tips for how to deal with them.

Preparations requested/required

Bring your favorite divination stuff (tarot, pendulum, scrying tools,…) and we can role play through a few examples.

Deep Divine connection (in the manner of friends) (Ritual)

Presenter: Terence P Ward

Pagans can develop such a deep and profound relationship with their deities that the gods never seem to be distant. This is where Quakers begin their own spiritual journey, having stripped away the trappings of religious expression, using no altars, tools, ritual scripts, sacred circles, or intermediaries.
This intense method, “waiting worship,” demands much of those who brave it. An almost entirely silent hour is spent opening oneself—without the assistance of chanting, drumming, incense, or invocation–to divine communication. The gods who avail themselves to this technique speak in a still, small voice that but for the silence can be drowned out by the pedestrian details of our mortal lives. From time to time, they all but compel those individuals to share one of those messages aloud.
This is a practice that is deep and challenging for those who choose to attempt it. The facilitator brings 35 years Pagan ritual experience, as well as the spiritual support of a Quaker meeting.

Drum Circle

Facilitators: Ash and Irene Glasse

Grab your hand percussion (no melodic or electric instruments, please) and join Ash and Irene Glasse of Kindred Crow for a drum and chant circle! Drum circles are a facilitated co-creative space to connect with rhythm, creativity, community, movement, voice, and more.   (Please bring your own drums or percussion instruments). 

Energetic Clutter Clearing

Presenter: Sha the LoonWitch

Have you had days when you feel just overwhelmed and you cannot pinpoint why? It could even happen at the end of a good day. And despite having a good day, we still feel tired, overwhelmed, and sometimes just too stressed.

Sometimes your sleep is affected. Sometimes your appetite is affected. Often your mood is affected.

When you cannot pinpoint the cause of overwhelm, it is often hard to discover the cure. What is there to
do? Here, I offer you 3 simple techniques that work for me. You do not need to be a healer, or a master meditator. All you need is a willingness to try these transformational methods with an open mind, and a desire to feel better.

Escaping the Plateau: Ways to Enliven a Practice

Presenter: Irene Glasse

It’s easy to end up in patterns that begin as nourishing but eventually lose their effect. When our
practice of Pagan spirituality and witchcraft becomes stale, where do we go? In this workshop, we’ll
explore different tools and techniques for breaking the blahs and reawakening our enthusiasm for
magical practice

Finding Your People: Navigating Relationships in a Magickal World (Roundtable)

Facilitators: Mary D’Alba & Julie Atkinson

Are you a magickal practitioner seeking deeper connections? Do you struggle to balance your practice with outside relationships? This panel is for intermediate/advanced practitioners cultivating meaningful relationships within and beyond the magickal community. We’ll explore finding your coven/circle/tribe (online, local, workshops), balancing your magickal life with non-magickal relationships (communication, boundaries), discerning compatibility (shared values, red flags), and how shared practice deepens bonds (ritual, spellcrafting). Join us for an interactive discussion on building a supportive social circle. Bring your questions & experiences!

Gazing into the Dark Mirror

Presenter: Katrina Messenger

The shadow contains the parts of ourselves that we have not or cannot consciously accept. Our shadows often contradict our carefully constructed self-image or represent socially unacceptable dreams or desires. It is often said that we spend the first half of our lives creating our shadow, and the last half reintegrating it in order to become whole. This workshop provides an introduction to the spiritual, social, and cultural frameworks underlying shadow work – at the personal level and in relationship to community.

Gentle Yoga for Yin and Yang Balance

Presenter: Jennifer Bobbe

DesJennifer Bobbe (RYT-200, Yin-Yoga certified) will lead an all-levels gentle yoga session. “Yin” yoga poses, which take us into the dark and internal space, will be interspersed with more typical “Yang” poses and movements. This class is geared for esoteric practitioners who seek the “steady seat” offered by yoga for their spiritual pursuits. All levels/ages/abilities will be accommodated.
Yogas citta vrtti nirodhah: “Yoga is the cessation of the modifications of the mind.” – Patanjalicription

Prerequisites: Please wear comfortable clothing and bring yoga mat or bath towel.

Geomancy, Earthborn Astrology Part 1

Presenter: davis

In this class, we will discuss and learn to practice the divination method of Geomancy. In the Middle Ages, this technique flourished alongside its sibling Astrology. Geomancy uses the same theory and practice but with easier math, and substituting symbols related to the Hermetic elements for the seven visible planets of Medieval Astrology. In this class, we will start with the basics of divination and the history of Geomancy from the ancient world to modern magical lodges. Then we will learn the 16 symbols that form the core of this art and begin to see how they interact in basic divination.

Preparations requested/required

A penny, dime, nickel, and quarter.

Geomancy, Earthborn Astrology, Part 2

Presenter: davis

Geomancy, the art of earth divination, has had a rebirth over the past 100 years. This class will move from the basics of understanding the 16 symbols to developing Geomancy charts granting in-depth analysis of whatever the question might be. We will discuss techniques to assess root causes, involved persons, and even (given time) location of hidden treasure. We will discuss the connection with Astrology and how the two arts relate to planetary and elemental magics. You should be able to draw a geomantic chart and use it for most types of divination.

Preparations requested/required

Either part 1 or a working knowledge of the 16 Geomatic symbols.

Introduction to Medieval Astrological Magic

Presenter: Clifford Low

Associated with the talismans of Picatrix, Ficino and Agrippa, a major magical tradition arose during the medieval era called the Science of Images. It was a complex union of astrology, theurgy, minerology, and evocation that boasted vast power to warp reality. It was employed by princes and popes to alter the fates of both individuals and entire nations. Albertus Magnus, Joseph Smith, William Lilly, Paracelsus, Lorenzo de’ Medici, Giordano Bruno, and Pope Urban VIII were practitioners. Codified in the Middle East, it was transmitted into Europe where it flourished for six centuries. Today it is undergoing a revival. In this class we will cover the history of this tradition as well as the writings, beliefs and practices of its disciples.

Katabasis – Journey to the Land of the Dead

Presenter: Sara Mastros

Katabasis is the Greek name for a type of underworld descent journey. In this workshop, we’ll begin by discussing historical examples of the practice, focusing on those in the Odyssey and Aeneid, and then we’ll learn to do it ourselves. We’ll finish up by taking a journey together. Please bring a bottle of water to class. You may also want a shawl or sweater – trance work can be chilly. This work is not recommended for those recently bereaved.

Preparations Suggested:

No preparation is required, however it is always wise to take some time meditating and/or journaling on your relationship to death, dying, and grief before this sort of work.

Lecture + Workshop – Making Hebrew amulets – The Face of the Sun

Presenter: Sara Mastros

Following a brief lecture about the Hebrew amulet tradition, we’ll write our own. The one we’ll be making is called “The Face of the Sun”. The manuscript says about it “This seal’s segulah [“treasure” or magic virtue] is great for finding favor and respect in the eyes of kings and lords, and to get from them everything one wants, and so they won’t send one away empty-handed.” (what a useful thing in these “unprecedented times”)

Preparations requested:

Please watch the first 45 minutes of this lesson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aD8m-6BFyDs Feel free to watch the whole thing if you’d like!

Lessons from the Kingdom of Freaks and Monsters: Real Inclusivity in Pagan Groups

Presenter: Raven Kaldera

So many Pagan groups started as initiatory mystery covens, and now are intimate working groups. However, we chose a congregational model for our group … and we were promptly flooded with Pagans who found that they weren’t welcome in those small working groups, and wanted a place where no one would judge them. Our “welcoming congregation” includes Pagans who may be queer, transgender, intersex, non-binary, polyamorous, spirit-spouses, low-income, disabled, neurospicy, or have mental illness … as well as other challenges too long to list here. Let’s talk about how we as a legal Pagan church cope with these challenges and continue to make the atmosphere welcoming, especially when they clash with each other … and how we include the Gods, magic, divination, and our spirituality in this process.

Life with Death: An exploration of Santa Muerte (Ritual)

Presenter: Mary D’Alba

Santa Muerte is a powerful Mexican folk saint revered by people of all walks of life. She is known as the Saint Death and is said to be able to grant protection, guidance, healing, and all kinds of other miracles. Santa Muerte watches over all because all will meet her through death, and she helps guide us on the path of life.

What this class will cover:
The history and significance of Santa Muerte
The different ways that Santa Muerte is depicted and worshipped
How Santa Muerte can help in magic and life
A ritual to honor Santa Muerte

This class is intended for all interested in learning more about Santa Muerte and her power to help in magic and life. No prior knowledge of Santa Muerte is required.

Liminality & Trickster Wisdom: Walking a Shadow Path

Presenter: Chance J. Feldstein

This class covers the interplay and alchemy between light and darkness, via the concepts of liminality, trickster wisdom, and walking shadow paths. Chance will offer some personal narratives of their experiences with trickster spirits such as Eris Discordia, Hermes, Odin, and Anansi the Spider. A few of these stories come from Chance’s childhood, before they were aware that they would one day be both pagan and non-binary.

When we think of liminality in the modern world, the first thing that comes to mind may be an empty office or abandoned city. But the crossroads is the archetypal liminal place where travelers, tinkers, thieves, and other outsiders to mainstream society gather to trade. Trickster gods around the world are associated with the crossroads. While it is foolish to trifle with tricksters, they delight in foolishness. If you can challenge or surprise them, you may gain an ally for life.

This class is deeply informed by queer theory and the neurodiversity paradigm.

Magical Writing: Let the spirit of creativity fill your cup

Presenter: Julie Ann Stratton

This path will help you tap into your inner muse and creative flow. We will fire up our inspiration to express ourselves in writing and words. Everyone can be a writer. Whether it’s journaling for yourself, writing poetry, short stories, memoirs, or novels; we all have a story to tell.
We will be using different writing prompts to awaken the the flow of words and strengthen your writing skills, such as Tarot, images, sentences,& a guided trance. This class is not about grammar, sentence structure or what you learned in school. It is about letting your words pour onto paper without judgement.

Using our visions and dreams we will be writing about the world we envision for the future.

Where do ideas come from? Let the Goddess “in-spire” to claim our voices.

Prerequisites:  Bring a journal & pen.

Magick for Chronic Illness

Presenter: Danielle Dionne

Are you someone living with ongoing illness or love someone who does? Join us as we explore living with chronic illness and practicing witchcraft. With our time, we will discuss practical and magickal techniques to enhance living your best life with illness, examine allies of healing, spellwork for chronic illness, how to partner with the spirit of your illness, and ways to work with your illness as a spiritual practice.

Making a Besom

Presenter: Mary Kimball

Come and join us for this hand-on class to make your own magical broom. Besom’s have been used throughout the world for weddings, sweeping away negative energy, home protection, and more. This class is limited to 8 people.

Narrative Alchemy and Sacred Play

Presenter:Chance J. Feldstein

Learning and changing through imaginative play is the birthright of all mammals on this planet. But in the 1980s, certain humans decided it was sinful, and many of us have been living in the shadow of the so-called Satanic Panic over Dungeons & Dragons, ever since. Join award-winning transformative game designer and narrative alchemist Chance J. Feldstein for a hands-on workshop that will demolish the artifical walls between role-playing games, communal storytelling, improvisational acting, and ritual theater.

This class will cover the similarities and differences between narrative alchemy and sacred play; the concept of the imaginal plane, and how it differs from the astral; how to cast a semi-permeable imaginal circle; and how to design a character or game world in service of personal or community goals.

You may bring the core rulebook for a tabletop or live-action RPG that you already like. However, no prior experience with role-playing games is required.

Norseworking (Ritual)

Presenter: Jane Sibley

This is a high-energy circle in the Norse tradition, in which we will do healing, fertility magic, charging of major tools, experimental magic, distance work, and whatever else needs doing. Once the ritual begins, the room will be sealed and guarded, so please come on time, fed and rested, and pottied. Due to the high energies we will be working with, anyone (no matter their expertise) who has never been to a Norseworking before must be present for a brief grounding excercise, just before the circle is set. It is also recommended that babies and children do not attend; due to the high energy levels.

 Preparations requested/required

Please come on time, fed and rested, and pottied

On Plants and Planets: Planetary Approaches Towards Magical Herbalism

Presenter: Matthew Venus

You needn’t be an astrologer to empower your magic with the celestial spheres, nor do you need to be a trained herbalist to begin partnering with plants in your craft. Within this class we will discuss approaches towards working with both planetary influences and botanical spirits to aid in our magical work. Going beyond the common correspondences attributed to plants and planets, this class will explore why many of these correspondences exist and how we can employ similar thinking in our own work with magical herbalism. Further, this class will approach these subjects from an animistic lens which is centered upon a co-creative process of conjuration and partnership with spirits to achieve our goals. By the end of this class you should have a solid grounding in how you can partner with plant spirits and planetary virtues in ways which will assist in the making of talismans, magical formulas, and herbal preparations.

Pagan Pronouns 101

Presenter:Erick Sastre

Workshop Goal: To offer pagans a basic explanation of terms and issues important to the transgender community, with a focus on how to make our spaces, rituals, and circles more welcoming to gender diverse people. We will also be touching on the queer mythology and magic that brings context and affirmation to trans pagans and witches.

We answer common questions, what is gender? What are pronouns? Why are pronouns important? We discuss intersectionality, community and group dynamics, and how to find safe spaces. We touch on ancient AND modern cultures that recognize more than two genders, queer mythology, and queer magick!

Queer identities in Heathenry

Presenter: Ash Glasse

In today’s popular culture we see the Viking stereotype everywhere, complete with it’s focus on heteronormative, cisgendered, and white protagonists. Our written sources and the archeological record indicate that we are not being presented with the entire picture. This class will present evidence for the acceptance of multiple identities in the Heathen world that would be considered Queer by today’s standards.

Ritual with the Trans Dead (Ritual)

Presenter: Brandon E. Hardy

After the Transgender Day of Remembrance has been observed on November 20th, we’re calling on our dead once more. We will mourn their loss, share their anger, celebrate their lives, and ask those who are now Ancestors for their protection. The space will be held by deities who stand in the spaces between male and female, whose stories we’ll hear and whose blessings we’ll request.

Everyone is welcome to attend this ritual. Offerings for the gods and the dead are welcomed, but not required. We will make “mundane” resources and calls to action available at the end — as above, so below.

Sensual Healing with Rope: A Journey into Connection, Trust, and Transformation

Presenter: Christine Laplante

In this immersive and intimate class, we explore the powerful art of rope as a tool for sensual healing, guided by the principles of connection, trust, and personal transformation. Rooted in the traditions of rope bondage and contemporary practices of mindful touch, this workshop creates a safe and sacred space for participants to explore their boundaries, deepen their sense of self-awareness, and foster profound emotional release.

As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, I believe in the therapeutic potential of physical touch, consent-based intimacy, and the embodiment of emotional truths. This class offers a unique opportunity to experience how rope, when used with intention, can unlock stored emotions, release past trauma, and cultivate a deep sense of presence and connection with oneself and others.

 Preparations requested/required 

They should bring rope if they have it. No experience is required. An understanding that this is not a bondage class, but rather uses rope as a tool of healing.

Seven Hungers that Linger: Kiumbas & the Seven Kingdoms of Exu

Presenter: Jesse Hathaway Diaz

Quimbanda is an Afro-Brazilian witchcraft centered on Exu and Pombagira, spirits of the crossroads and agency. Intrinsically bound to the world of the Dead, they manifest across Seven Kingdoms: the Beach, the Woods, the Cemetery, the Cross, the Harp, the Crossroads, and the Souls. Each Kingdom colors the reach, power, and qualities of its Exus and Pombagiras, but they are not the only spirits found there.

Kiumbas are restless dead, hollow shells that bring unwanted emotions and obsessions in the living. They must be cleansed from the body, temple, and home. An experienced macumbeiro might work them, but it is always dangerous even with strict containment.

Looking at how and where they manifest in the body and psychology of a person, we can understand seven classes parallel to the Seven Kingdoms. Blurring the line between outer and inner demon, we are invited to examine the miasma of our work as magicians and witches to tame, pacify, transform, or eradicate such errant dead.

Preparations requested/required:

Some familiarity with Quimbanda is great, but not necessary, I am happy to scaffold and explain the relevant parts!

Sigils In Motion: Movement with Magic & Meaning

Presenter: Laura Tempest Zakroff

Our bodies are our most immediate and powerful tool – often underutilized and ignored in practice. When we engage in movement combined with intent and direction, the change is dramatic. Discover the energy and connection behind core moves, shapes, and patterns – which will in turn help you create more satisfying and impactful ritual work that is effective and profound – for individual and group work. All levels are welcome.

 Preparations requested/required

Bringing water for easy hydration and wearing comfortable clothing is encouraged.

Spirit Voices: The Mysteries and Magic of North Asian Shamanism

Presenter: David Shi

What is shamanism? Where is it from? Anthropologists tell us that the word “shaman” derives from the Tungus language and traditions, but few people understand the full scope of what that means. In this class, we will explore the history and practice of shamanism. We will walk through the landscapes of North Asia—the region known as the “Cradle of Shamanism”—and the largely hidden and unfamiliar traditions of Turkic, Mongolic, and Tungusic shamanism, exploring the subtle and unique aspects of each tradition.

This is a comprehensive class that will explore:
• Indigenous spiritual and shamanic traditions and beliefs of the Turkic, Mongol, and Tungus peoples.
• Broad cosmology and mythology of theses shamanic cultures.
• Shamanic tools used by these cultures.
• Practical concepts and methods that you can use in your own practice.

This class will largely draw from topics and themes from David’s newest book “Spirit Voices: The Mysteries and Magic of North Asian Shamanism.”

Standing at the Threshold: The Spirits, Lore, and Transformational Magics of the Doorway

Presenter: Matthew Venus

Many who have an inclination towards magic may not have a room or dedicated space set aside for performing spell work and ritual workings. However, most of us have a front door.

It this point of power that this discussion will explore. Here we are invited to engage with and perhaps re-enchant a part of our homes which is often taken for granted except when we find ourselves locked out or fumbling with our keys.

In this talk we will explore the front doorway of our home as a locus for spirit work, practical charming, and magical workings. We will examine diverse perspectives, folklore, and approaches towards engaging with our doorway as a nexus of power and potentiality. This work is practical, effective, and at times incredibly illuminating and enriching. And may be seen as an extension of working with and relating to the home as both a spiritual entity and an ecosystem of spirits that we might better know and form closer relations with.

Tending the Well in Chaotic Times (Roundtable)

Facilitators: Gretchen Schork & Irene Glasse)

Join Gretchen and Irene for a round-table discussion of magical and mundane techniques for building resilience, sustaining energy, and cultivating hope. Learn new ways to bolster your outlook and share your favorite approaches with others.

The Alchemy of Lucid Dreaming

Presenter: Nikki Wardwell Sleath

Come immerse in the idea that the space of lucid dreaming may be the ultimate alchemy lab, and the ability to become lucid may be the elusive philosopher’s stone. Explore the salt, mercury and sulfur of lucid dreaming, deepening your conceptual grasp of just how much sorcery skill can be facilitated through a lucid practice. Finally, come away with a clear set of instructions for predisposing yourself not only to become lucid in your dreams, but to be ready to execute magickal experimentation within them.

Prerequisites: No advanced preparation is necessary, but a deepening of this material can be found in “Dream Sorcery: The Ritual and Magick of Lucid Dreaming”, by Nikki Wardwell Sleath.

The Art of Candle Craft

Presenter: Julie Atkinson

Dive deep into candle magic! Explore creating candles for all types of intentions-from personal work to community care. Learn to dress your candles with intention and how to select & combine herbs, oils, and other spellcraft to enhance your magic. We’ll cover candle working fundamentals, using divination to aid your work, interpreting your results, and how to work with the unexpected! Participants will create their own spell in class and leave with the knowledge needed to work their intent at home.

The Art of Sigil Witchery

Presenter: Laura Tempest Zakroff

Sigils are magical symbols that are designed to influence ourselves and the world around us. Explore a fresh, innovative and intuitive approach to crafting your own designs. Tracing through history, art, and culture, we’ll look at the basic elements that make up all symbols, consider meanings, and see how to safely and respectfully incorporate them into your own personal practice. Bring a writing implement and notebook.

 Preparations requested/required

Bring a notebook and pen or pencil

Tibetan Death Ritual (Ritual)

Presenter: Jennifer Bobbe

Jennifer Bobbe, M.A., provides a deep dive into the subject of her Master’s Thesis, the traditional death rituals of Tibetan Buddhism. This presentation touches on many areas such as: shamanic practice, cosmology, and religious origins. We will examine these issues in our further discussions.

Traditional Norwegian Herbal Medicine

Presenter: Jane Sibley

A wide variety of herbs, fungi, etc. were used to treat medical conditions from pre-Viking times into the late 1800s in rural Norway. Many of these treatments were far more successful than what was used in the Continent. We will explore various types of treatment, herbs used, herbal concoctions and salves, etc. for ailments such as gout, dental problems, wounds and ulcers, anemia, constipation, respiratory problems, and more.

Training Tips for Solitary Workers and Teachers

Presenter: Gretchen A.L. Schork

Most modern magic users begin as solitary practitioners for at least a little time. With no guidance other than the shelves at Barnes and Noble, the array of information can be overwhelming. Then, when we are asked to train others, we may find that we have no experience organizing the training process, and are overwhelmed by the possibilities. We will use the training and mentoring skills developed in education and business environments as a basis for organizing the training process to maximize the learning and use of magic in our quest for more control over our lives.

Uses of Ritual and Ceremony (Ritual)

Presenter: Gretchen A.L. Schork

Ritual is a fundamental concept in our pagan community. What is it, really? How does it fit into an overall approach to magic? What makes it work better? This, and much more, will be covered. There will be discussion, and some practice, including the role of gods, use of tools, and the importance of outline and technique. If you already to ritual, this will expand your skills. If you have avoided using ritual, this will open the door to new skills that can expand what you already do.

Valfreyja: A Rite to Honor the Battle Queen (Ritual)

Presenter: Irene Glasse

Far more than a “love goddess,” the Norse deity Freyja wears many titles: she is Chooser of the Slain, Queen of the Valkyries, Lady of the Battlefield. Her stories are those of sovereignty: a being who makes her own way in the world according to her own values and desires. Learn about the fierce side of this beloved deity and find inspiration to step into your own power. Participants may wish to bring a drinking horn or ritual drinking vessel with them.

Yoga with Erick

Presenter: Erick Sastre

Connect with your inner self, gently stretch, breath deeply, find mindfulness. Yoga is an ancient practice from the Indian subcontinent. For time out of mind yoga has helped us deepen and connect to ourselves and the universe. Take a break from the busy conference traffic to connect to your body and yourself.