Schedule - Austin Witchfest

2026 Schedule

While downstairs there will be a bustling Pagan bazaar, upstairs we will have an array of presentations, workshops and rituals. These provide a great opportunity to learn different aspects of witchcraft from leaders in their respective fields*.
*Subject to change based on availability.

Room 1

11:00am-12:30pm

Introduction To Shielding and Warding by Ivo Dominguez Jr.

1:00pm-2:30pm

For the Fear and Love of Dolls: Haunted and Enspirited Dolls by Heather Greene

3:00pm-4:30pm

Neuroscience of Intention and Visualization by Siddharth Ramakrishnan

5:00pm-6:00pm

Host of Many by Jamie Waggoner

Room 2

11:00am-12:00pm

How Empathy and Anxiety... by Mish

12:30pm-1:30pm

Sound, Breath and Meditation Journey led by Kandy Mitchell (Ritual)

2:00pm-2:45pm

Journey to Mictlán: Mexica Devotional Rite to La Santísima Muerte Led by Alexis Arredondo (Ritual)

3:00pm-4:30pm

Dirty Magic: Sacred Soils for Protection and Justice by Mamba MiRah

5:00pm-6:00pm

Talking to the Dead: A Traditional Spiritualist Séance led by Alexis Arredondo (Ritual)

Room 3

11:00am-12:30pm

Objects of Meditation by Ivy

1:00pm-2:30pm

When Perfect Love and Perfect Trust Isn’t Reassuring: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Witchcraft by Kitty Ferguson-Mappus

3:00pm-5:00pm

Bee-Witched: A Meditation on Honey Bees and Their Magic by Eimi OstaraMoon

Room 4

11:00am-12:30pm

The Witch Exorcist: A Scholarly Exploration of Entity Work, Possession, and Ethical Intervention by Aly Cardinalli

1:00pm-2:00pm

Weather Magic for Protection and Prosperity by Debra Burris

2:30pm-3:30pm

Modern Totemism: Animal Totem Magick for the Modern Practitioner by Stephanie Brown

4:00pm-5:30pm

The Hell Is a Chaos Witch? by Thumper Forge

Room 5

11:00am-12:30pm

Fear to Power: The Magic of the Bat Community by Kacie Brunette

1:00pm-2:30pm

In the Mossy Margins: The Role of the Psychopomp in Celtic Polytheism by Izzy Swanson

3:00pm-4:30pm

Jewish Magic: Ancient into Modern by Tamar Baskind

5:00pm-6:00pm

Activating the Magick of Tarot and Using it in Your Practice by Samantha Rose

Introduction To Shielding And Warding

This is an introduction to basic techniques for protecting yourself, others, and places like your home or workplace. Several types of shielding and warding will be covered as well as their mechanisms of action. The pros and cons, the strengths and weaknesses of each method will be discussed. Some novel and lesser known techniques will be shared. There will be time for questions, discussion, and problem solving.

Ivo Dominguez, Jr. has been active in Wiccan and the Pagan community since 1978. Ivo is a founding member and first High Priest of Keepers of the Holly Chalice, the first Assembly of the Sacred Wheel coven. He currently serves as one of the Elders of the ASW. Ivo is the author of The Four Elements of the Wise; Keys to Perception: A Practical Guide to Psychic Development; Practical Astrology for Witches and Pagans; Casting Sacred Space; and Spirit Speak. He is the anchor author for the new twelve book Witch’s Sun Sign Series. In his mundane life, he has been a computer programmer, the executive director of an AIDS/HIV service organization, a bookstore owner, and more.

For the Fear and Love of Dolls: Haunted and Enspirited Dolls

Why let Annabelle get all the headlines? This workshop will introduce you to the concept of the haunted and magickal doll, what they are and what they aren't. You'll also get a look at doll history and maybe see a few of your own long-lost favorites. Heather will also discuss best practices in handling your dolls for magic and spirit world.

Heather Greene is a acquisitions editor at Llewellyn Worldwide, a journalist. film historian, and author of the award-winning book "Lights, Camera, Witchcraft." She is a witch in the Rising Phoenix Tradition. Heather is also passionate about dolls and dollcraft, music, and keeping life colorful.

Neuroscience of Intention and Visualization

Every piece of magic begins with intent. The more you infuse your imagery and intent into the spell or ritual, the more powerful the outcomes are. In this interactive workshop learn about the neural circuits behind intention and visualization and gain tools to become better at your magical practice.

Siddharth Ramakrishnan, PhD is a neuroscientist, artist, and educator. He is the Chair of Neuroscience and Professor of Biology at the University of Puget Sound and a recipient of the prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER award. His research spans developmental biology, neuroendocrinology and neuroethics. A Fellow of the UCLA Art|Sci center, his collaborations with artists have led to exhibitions and documentaries that blend the worlds of art and science highlighting topics like Hox genes, animal umwelts and biomimicry. An avid Tarot reader, he has designed and created the NeuroTarot deck based on the major arcana of Tarot and infused with neuroscience. He was the keynote speaker at NWTS 2023 and a panelist at the Masters of Tarot workshop (2023) with Mary K. Greer at Omega, Rhinebeck NY. His book "The Neuroscience of Tarot", is out now with Llewelyn Wolrdwide.

Host of Many

Curious about Hades, the Host of Many, Ruler of the Underworld? In this presentation, Jamie will share both well-known and obscure bits of Hades' mythos, introduce you to the magic and mysteries of the Underworld, and deconstruct some of the common misunderstandings about this enigmatic god from Greek mythology. We'll also discuss how to approach a working or devotional relationship with Hades, and engage in a guided trance journey to the Underworld. Your host on this adventure, Jamie, is a dedicated priestess of Hades, trained holistic deathcare guide, and author of Hades: Myth, Magic and Modern Devotion (Llewellyn, 2024).

Jamie Waggoner is an unapologetic expert in things that make mortals both fascinated and slightly nervous. She has been a practicing witch for 25+ years. Jamie is the author of Hades: Myth, Magic and Modern Devotion, and contributor to Witchology Magazine, Haunted Magazine, The Rebis tarot journal, and The Feminine Macabre, among others. Jamie is also a cofounder and teacher for Way of the Weaver, an inclusive program of magical study, social justice, and community building. Learn more at jamiewaggoner.com or follow @jmwaggoner on social media.

How Empathy and Anxiety..

This is related to my book that is coming out by Llewellyn late summer or early fall. There is a correlation between people who experience people who experience anxiety both in childhood and adulthood, that is due to being and empath. Most of this presentation will talk about the different moments that occur in our lives that have occurred that show people that their empathy has brought on their anxiety. Just realizing the source of the problem makes people feel a great deal of relief. A technique will be taught that helps with empathy shielding in the most basic way. There isn't a great time to get into that. The greatest amount of time should focus on recognition of our childhood triggers and how we trigger even now.

As a psychic medium, Mish has been helping people grow by teaching metaphysical classes and doing readings for over thirty years. Part of her favorite work is as a spiritual advisor. Though her family's training she was able to start early, but had to wait until she received the nod that she was ready to begin to working with others. Mish has performed readings for private clients and large public events and is available for both in-person or distanced readings. Now Mish has settled down at her shop in San Antonio, but previously traveled the world, and taking that knowledge and using these faiths allowing and experiences to impact her own practice.

Sound, Breath and Meditation Journey - Ritual

This immersive experience invites participants into a deeply restorative journey using the healing power of sound, conscious breathwork, and guided meditation. Designed to calm the nervous system and clear stagnant energy, this session offers a sacred pause from the external world and an opportunity to reconnect inward. The journey begins with intentional breathwork to ground the body, soften the mind, and create energetic presence. From there, participants are guided into a meditative state while being bathed in the vibrations of crystal singing bowls, chimes, drums, and other resonant instruments. Sound frequencies support energetic clearing, emotional release, and a sense of balance across mind, body, and spirit. This offering is gentle, accessible, and open to all — no prior experience required. Participants may lie down or sit comfortably and are encouraged to arrive as they are. The session closes with a guided integration, allowing insights and intentions to settle before returning to the day. This experience is ideal for those seeking grounding, energetic renewal, intuitive connection, and a moment of magic through vibration and breath.

Kandy Mitchell – Sound Healer | Space Holder

Kandy Mitchell is a sound healer and sacred space holder devoted to helping others return to balance, embodiment, and inner clarity. As the owner of Silver Moon Curios, Kandy weaves together ancient practices and intuitive energy work to create deeply restorative sound healing experiences. Her sessions blend crystal singing bowls, chimes, gongs, and other vibrational instruments to support nervous system regulation, energetic clearing, and emotional release. Guided by lunar cycles and seasonal energies, Kandy’s sound journeys invite participants into a state of deep relaxation where healing unfolds naturally and safely. With years of experience holding group ceremonies, moon circles, and sound baths, Kandy creates inclusive, grounded containers rooted in intention, ritual, and self-connection. Her work is especially supportive for those seeking stress relief, spiritual alignment, and a deeper relationship with their own inner wisdom. At Witch Fest, Kandy looks forward to offering a nourishing sound experience that honors intuition, magic, and the healing power of vibration.

Journey to Mictlán: Mexica Devotional Rite to La Santísima Muerte - Ritual

Step onto the ancestral road of bones, where Death is not an ending, but a sacred return. In this ritual presentation, we journey through the Mexica Aztec cosmology of Mictlán, the underworld of transformation, guided by the luminous presence of La Santísima Muerte, the Holy Death. Through ceremonial prayer, ritual, and offering, participants will experience a devotional rite that unites the ancient Mexica understanding of death and rebirth with the living current of La Santa’s magic. Together, we honor her as protector, teacher, and gateway to spiritual elevation. The mirror of the eternal cycle that connects all souls. This is a space of reverence, power, and sacred balance. Bring your devotion, your respect, and your readiness to walk between worlds. La Niña Blanca awaits in the stillness beyond the veil.

Alexis A. Arredondo having grown up on the border of South Texas, was fascinated by folklore and spiritual folk-practice from a very young age. He learned folk magic and traditional brujería from a local bruja (witch) in his hometown, and later embarked on a journey in the sacred healing art of Curanderismo, inspired by famous healers like Don Pedrito Jaramillo. Alexis also dedicated himself into the cult of the Holy Death and several necromantic systems, including Tantric Aghor Yoga, Brazilian Kimbanda, and Palo Mayombe. Alexis is a board member for the First Spiritualist Church of Austin and is currently studying for his Ministerial training in the American Spiritualist Church. He co-owns City Alchemist Witch Shop in downtown East Austin and has co-authored two books, Magia Magia: Invoking Mexican Magic and Blood of Brujeria.

Dirty Magic: Sacred Soils for Protection and Justice

Magic isn’t always clean, shiny, or sweet — sometimes it’s gritty, raw, and rooted in the earth itself. In this class, we’ll explore the hidden powers of sacred soils and how they’ve been used for protection, justice, and rebalancing the scales in folk traditions around the world. From crossroads dust to graveyard dirt, red clay to garden soil, participants will learn the spiritual signatures of different earths and how to work with them responsibly. We’ll discuss the history of soil-based practices in Hoodoo and global witchcraft, ethical considerations for collecting, and step-by-step workings for shielding, reversal, and setting boundaries. Expect both practical instruction and guided ritual work. By the end, you’ll understand how to use the very ground beneath your feet as an ally in your spiritual practice.

Mamba MiRah is a veteran Army officer turned spiritual teacher whose journey spans continents, cultures, and more than two decades of magical practice. While serving overseas, a tragic event in Germany led her to question her traditional faith and take her first steps onto the mystical path. Called to connect with the divine feminine, she began healing and expanding her practice through goddess work and ancestral exploration.
As a mixed-race woman, Mamba MiRah was attracted and initiated into Celtic magic via her maternal lineage but also sought to connect with her African ancestral magic from her paternal side, which she had been separated from. She found a Hoodoo mentor in Georgia who recognized her calling and guided her into rootwork, connecting her to the soul magic of her lineage. Later, after meeting her father’s family for the first time, her ancestral roots deepened into a source of empowerment and wholeness. MiRah believes that the integration of her magical diversity gives her great power and seeks to share that wisdom and experience with others.
In 2015, Mamba MiRah founded Hearth Wisdom Store in Texas — an inclusive, award-winning community space recognized as Best in Class for its commitment to representing diverse magical paths. Her vision has since grown into multiple spiritually aligned businesses, including marketplaces, a witchy clothing store, and the celebrated Texas Witches’ Ball, which has hosted more than a dozen enchanting gatherings in the Dallas–Fort Worth area.
With over 10 years of teaching experience and guiding others in magic, rootwork, tarot, and astrology, Mamba is passionate about empowering practitioners to honor their heritage, expand their craft, and build authentic connections. She has been married for 25 years and is the proud mother of two adult children. Today, she continues to share her knowledge and inspire seekers across the country with her blend of discipline, mysticism, and radical inclusivity.

Talking to the Dead: A Traditional Spiritualist Séance - Ritual

Step beyond the veil and into the world of spirit communication. Join Spiritulist Mediums Alexis A. Arredondo and Alejandro Castañeda III from the First Spiritualist Church of Austin for a live demonstration of a traditional Spiritualist séance, where energy and intuition intertwine to bridge the realms of the living and the departed. In this immersive presentation, we’ll explore the roots of 19th-century Spiritualism, the methods and ethics of mediumship, and the sacred tools used to open the circle of communication. Witness how mediums attune to spirit presence, interpret signs, and maintain balance between curiosity and respect for the unseen. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or simply curious about the mysteries of the afterlife, this session offers a rare opportunity to experience authentic séance practices in a safe, reverent, and enlightening setting. Let the dead come alive!

Objects of Meditation

Ivy will offer a brief lecture on different methods of meditation and trance, teach how they can differ, what to do if people are on the aphantasia scale and cannot visualize, and will offer ways to help interpret messages received during said processes. In the workshop each participant will be led through some trance exercises and interpretation assistance. Finally, they will lead the group through a guided meditation where they will use different animistic tools to help with immersion, where each participant will receive messages for their path. This is a beginner friendly opportunity and a great refresher course for the well-seasoned spiritualist or practitioner.

Ivy is a genuine and literal Seeress, having received visions and been able to use psychometry their entire life. With several hard-earned titles, she has more of an animistic approach to spirituality and with this Ivy makes waves in the witch/pagan community. They have been a practicing Seiðkona and priestess to Hekate for over a decade, with a 5 year spiritual sabbatical under their belt as well. With experience and natural ties to the earth and nature, they primarily spend their time in their craft centered in Spirit Flight, Seidr, Animism, Traditional witchcraft, Herbalism, Trolldom, Northern Tradition paganism and spirituality, divination, Weaving The Wyrd, and more. She wears many hats here at HPE including teacher, seeker, bonafide seer, witch, “mother”, “granny”, shop owner, wyrdo, social and spiritual activist and on. Ivy is also an award-winning artist, a singer, and a poet. They live out in the deep of the thick woods with their partner, their 2 dogs, a weird cat who adopted them, and the spirits of the forest.

When Perfect Love and Perfect Trust Isn’t Reassuring: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Witchcraft

“Perfect love and perfect trust” is a beautiful intention but for many witches carrying trauma, those words can feel like pressure instead of peace. In this experiential workshop, therapist and witch Kitty Ferguson-Mappus, LCSW-S, IFS Level 1 & EMDR Certified, invites participants to explore what happens in the body and psyche when spiritual ideals meet nervous-system reality. Blending Internal Family Systems, polyvagal wisdom, and earth-based ritual, we’ll meet the inner parts that protect, perform, or dissociate during magic, and learn gentle ways to re-establish safety, embodiment, and trust. Through guided meditation, reflection, and a legacy-unburdening ritual, you’ll discover how gravity itself can serve as a reliable attachment force when human trust feels uncertain. Come as you are; bring your body, your breath, and a willingness to let the Earth hold you.
Learning Objectives:

1. Explain how trauma shapes one’s capacity for “perfect love and perfect trust.”

2. Identify spiritual bypassing, boundary enmeshment, projection, and magical dissociation as adaptive parts-based responses.

3. How to work in circle with trauma survivors.

4. Practice grounding and embodiment using gravity and the Earth as secure-attachment metaphors.

5. Design or adapt rituals that honor consent, agency, and nervous-system safety.

Kitty Ferguson-Mappus, LCSW-S, MS, is a trauma specialist, IFS Level 1 and EMDR-certified therapist, practicum instructor for UT Austin and UT Arlington, and founder of Unbroken Abundance PLLC and The Wholehearted House framework. A practicing witch for over 25 years and Gardnerian Priestess for more than 15, Kitty bridges the worlds of therapy and magic with warmth, humor, and embodied integrity. She is opening a Wicca 101 Outer Court in 2026 in Georgetown, TX and is passionate about bringing trauma education and safe spiritual practice to witches and other marginalized practitioners across Texas.

Bee-Witched: A Meditation on Honey Bees and Their Magic

Since the dawn of human civilization, honey bees have always been an integral part of our history. As pollinators, they play a crucial role in both biodiversity and agriculture by facilitating the reproduction of flowering plants and crops. Honeybees are nature's alchemists, healers and skilled architects -- turning nectar into honey, creating medicines from tree resins, and building architectural marvels with beeswax. Honeybees are also revered as divine beings, spirit guides, and symbols of abundance and fertility. In Eimi OstaraMoon's presentation, we will examine our deep connections with these wondrous beings through history, science and folklore. We will also explore ways to bring honeybee magic into our lives.

Eimi OstaraMoon, the poison plant wrangler and honey bee steward behind Poison and Bee, started her journey on the poison path with a handful of Datura inoxia seeds, and a dream of having her own poison garden on her farm in rural Texas. She is also the mastermind behind the new podcast, Fancy As F**k, Not Afraid to Cut a B*tch!, exploring beautiful yet powerful plants with monthly special guests. Eimi focuses her work with poisonous plants and honey bees by understanding their nature and needs, and develops a harmonious symbiotic relationship between plants, animals, insects and humans. “Poison as medicine”, both physically and spiritually, is the guiding principle that Eimi follows on the poison path.

The Witch Exorcist: A Scholarly Exploration of Entity Work, Possession, and Ethical Intervention

Most witches and psychics are taught fragments of entity work. Very few are taught the system that actually connects it all. Aly Cardinalli presents a rare, academically grounded lecture on the witchdoctor as a spirit physician. This session walks through the historical origins of spirit mediation, the cross-cultural evidence of shamanic exorcist traditions, the anatomy of possession, and the ethical role of the practitioner in healing both humans and spirits. Participants will explore the psychology, and spiritual technology behind spirit walking to exorcise a spirit, diagnostic assessment, entity categories, and aftercare. You will learn why the witchdoctor must hold responsibility for the well-being of the spirit world, how harm occurs through spiritual mismatch, and why many modern practitioners unintentionally escalate hauntings through incomplete or culturally disconnected practices. This lecture brings clarity to the misunderstood edges of demonology, ancestor disturbance, wandering dead, artificial elementals, parasitic attachments, and the vulnerabilities that make psychic practitioners more susceptible to interference. Through grounded examples and case studies from the memoir and textbook portions of Aly’s work, attendees will gain a scholarly understanding of what safe, ethical, and culturally informed entity intervention actually requires.

Aly Cardinalli is an accomplished witchdoctor, performing arts specialist, psychic, and master educator with over 20 years of experience. Born into a family of witches and witchdoctors, Aly's upbringing immersed him in the world of spirits and indigenous remedies. He developed a deep passion for indigenous practices, becoming a sought-after exorcist specializing in entity identification and extraction. Alongside his being a top selling author in Shamanic and Native American Faith with his book Witchdoctor Kahuna Healer, Aly has published books in psychic development, spiritual self-help, exorcist training, and indigenous Hawaiian Healing. As a master educator, Aly conducts workshops for healthcare professionals, spiritual healers, and performers, and has held prestigious positions in educational institutions. Through his dedication, Aly is recognized as a valuable contributor to cultural education, inspiring others to embrace rich culture and find healing through music, dance, and other cultural expressions, including the craft and devotion.

Weather Magic for Protection and Prosperity

This ain’t your grannies weather magic! Except, yes it kind of is! We will talk about different ways we can use weather magic in our energy work. Of course the most common way is protection magic but what else can we use weather magic for? Once you understand a bit of science about weather it opens up a treasure trove of possibilities for what weather can add to our energy work.

Debra Burris is an elder in the Georgian Tradition of Witchcraft, holds a PhD in Astrophysics and is the author of Weather Magic: Witchery, Science and Lore published by Llewellyn Publications.

Modern Totemism: Animal Totem Magick for the Modern Practitioner

Totem Animal magick is ancient and primordial, as old as the magick of herbs, stones, ancestors, and bones, and is the birthright of humanity. Modern Totemism is a modern tradition created to help the magickal practitioner of today’s world connect with and work with those primordial animal energies within themselves. Totemism is a path of knowing the true self, a way of deep reflection, through understanding those essential animal energies of the human spirit. Explore the tradition of Modern Totemism with it’s co-creator and the author of the 2019 book “The Modern Totemist.” Discuss the nature of totems, the structure of Nine Totems within every person, and how to work with totems to improve your life, your magickal work, and your understanding of yourself.

Stephanie Brown is an artist, educated as an anthropologist, who has been a student of several branches of magick and metaphysical disciplines for over fifteen years, including eclectic paganism, witchcraft, and neo-shamanism, and is a founder of the tradition of Modern Totemism. She crafts fine art and original metaphysical tools that combine natural elements and primitive themes to honor the earth in both aesthetics and in function.

Scott Brown is a wildlife and portrait photographer and owner of Dream Wolf Photography. He has been a student of several branches of magick and metaphysical disciplines for well over twenty years, including most types of eclectic paganism, and he is a founder of the tradition of Modern Totemism. His formal education is as an electrical and computer engineer.

Together they are co-authors of the 2019 book The Modern Totemist.

The Hell Is a Chaos Witch?

Inspired by popular fiction and proliferating on social media, Chaos Witchcraft is a trendy topic of conversation, albeit one that is rarely explained, nor fully understood. But Chaos Witchcraft itself is surprisingly accessible, as it is, at its core, an experimental, non-dogmatic approach to magical practice within a primarily Pagan paradigm. Participants will learn to differentiate between a Chaos Magician and a Chaos Witch, explore how Chaos Magic works as a framework for magical experimentation, and try out a Chaos Witchcraft technique or two. They will also gain a clear understanding of the intersection of pop culture and occultism, and how to make that work in their favor.

Thumper (Horkos) Marjorie Splitfoot Forge is a Gardnerian High Priest, an initiate of the Minoan Brotherhood, a Discordian Episkopos, a recovering alcoholic, and a notary public from Houston, TX. Their latest book, THE CHAOS APPLE: MAGIC AND DISCORDIANISM FOR THE POSTMODERN WITCH, was released by Llewellyn Publications in November 2025.

Fear to Power: The Magic of the Bat Community

Bats have long invoked fear in the unsuspecting hearts of humans throughout history, but they have also invoked admiration and compassion as humans have learned to share their spaces with our little neighbors as we learn more about how important their nightly hunts are to our own survival. Austin has famously embraced this vital relationship with their local bat colonies located in the heart of downtown. By embracing their local colonies by building areas for the community to gather to visit with the colonies with access to educational material, they allow space for children and adults alike to go from fearful anticipation to joyful wonder when they finally witness the cloud swarm over them and off into the night. In this workshop we will learn about this community relationship with Bats, how they can help empower our own Community Magic, and work together to build Bat Boxes to in gratitude to our host city of Austin and the local bat communities.

Kacie Brunette is the host of “Kacie’s Corner”, where she shares her life as an “Out of the Broom Closest” Hedgewitch in rural North Texas, navigating the joy and fear that comes with building community in a region that doesn’t always welcome the many Pagans who live there. She is the Community Coordinator for the annual DFW Pagan Unity Fest, as well as a journeyman teacher sharing her practice in workshops across the country. Through her Fear to Power class series, she shares her practice of using knowledge and empathy to transmute Fear to Power using the help of our Animal Allies and the energies that connect us all.

In the Mossy Margins: The Role of the Psychopomp in Celtic Polytheism

The space of time that exists between the moment of death and the moment in which the soul reaches its final resting place can be vulnerable and unstable. It is the work of the psychopomp to guide the souls of the dead through these liminal spaces. In this presentation, we will the discuss various roles of the psychopomp. We will also explore the different ways in which we see those roles being carried out by the gods and other beings in the mythology and history of Celtic Cultures.

Izzy Swanson is a trauma-informed healer, mentor, and ritualist specializing in the intersection of mental health, trauma, and spiritual practice. Their work integrates evidence-based research methodologies with intuitive guidance and devotional polytheism. Izzy has been practicing Earth-based spirituality for more than 30 years and has cultivated a deep relationship with Irish and Welsh spiritual traditions. With seventeen years in recovery, Izzy brings both lived experience and professional expertise to this work. They have presented at Harvard Divinity School on abuse in alternative spiritual communities and have been a speaker and facilitator of courses focused on Celtic polytheism since 2013. They have operated Transformation Reiki in Austin for over 13 years, providing care to clients with PTSD, auto-immune disorders, and stress-related illnesses. Izzy is also the owner of Liminal Crossings and a co-founder of the Order of the Crows, a priesthood tradition honoring the Morrigan.

Jewish Magic: Ancient into Modern

According to Abrahamic spiritual traditions, the relationship between words and magic goes back to the very creation of the world. In this class, Tamar will focus on Judaism, the earliest of these traditions, and the deep and ancient magic it and its language hold. These include spoken and written practices, communal and solitary practices, in Hebrew, and English (and some Aramaic!). We will also touch on modern magical practices that derive from this ancient magic. She will explain the magic of the Hebrew letters (the Aleph Beit) themselves, the messages and meaning they contain, the words and sentences they make, and the ancient Hebrew writings that have survived into modern times. We will be using Aleph Bet lots, for divination, meditation, and spell work. Tamar will have several sets for participants to use as they explore this magickal practice.

Born and raised in Jerusalem, Tamar Baskind has been steeped in the city’s magic and energy all her life. This ancient place has shaped her development, as both a person and a practitioner. Always drawn to the unseen forces around and within us, she began consciously practicing at the age of 21, developing her reach and understanding ever since. As a result, she is knowledgeable in several types of work: ancestor, energy, herbal, divination, and more. Her experiences in New Orleans have further deepened and expanded her practice and understanding. Tamar has a unique perspective of Jewish Magic, given her depth of knowledge in Jewish custom, history, magical practice and the magic of place. She has spoken publicly and published articles about these topics and is currently writing a book on them.

Activating the Magick of Tarot and Using it in Your Practice

Activating the Magick of Tarot and Using it in Your Practice is a workshop that centers around delving into the mystical aspects of The Tarot and using it as a gateway to tap into one’s own inherent magick. During the workshop participants will learn how to infuse the Tarots energy into their practice, explore different techniques for using Tarot to manifest tangible results, enhance their spiritual workings, and develop their intuitive abilities.

Samantha Rose Hicks is a witch, tarot reader, Llewellyn author, and grief alchemist based in Atlanta. She is the author of Talking with the Tarot, a heartfelt guide to building an authentic, intuitive relationship with the cards. Through tarot, ritual, and holistic coaching, she helps others reconnect with their intuition, reclaim their power, and live in alignment with their magic. After leaving her corporate career in 2018, Samantha devoted herself to this path of healing and transformation. She now teaches through her online community The Ritual Garden and at a witchy storefront, Equinox Provisions, where folks gather for classes, rituals, and connection. When she isn’t reading tarot or writing, Samantha spends time with her husband, their animals, and her Sappony tribe in North Carolina. Her work is rooted in the belief that healing is sacred and magic lives within us all.