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.

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

DUE TO ADULT CONTENT, THIS CLASS IS RESTRICTED TO AGES 18+

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.