2018 Headlining
MPF Presenters
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Orion Foxwood is Traditional witch, conjure-man and faery seer; and, the author of “The Faery Teachings” (RJ Stewart Books), “The Tree of Enchantment” , “The Candle and the Crossroads” and "The Flame in the Cauldron" (Weiser Books). He was born with the veil (the second sight) in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, where he was first exposed to faith-healing, root-doctoring, faery lore and the second-sight practices of southern and Appalachian culture; and he has continued learning and teaching these spirit-doctoring practices in workshops, intensives and lectures in America and other countries. He is the founder, and primary instructor, in the House of Brigh Faery Seership Institute, where he teaches a multi-year teaching program in the "Tree of Enchantment" lore, practices, traditions and skills. He is a co-founder of Conjure Crossroads (CC), which is a collaboration between five (5) seasoned root-workers and witches focused on preserving and promoting the healing and helping benefits of southern root-work, witchcraft and other folk traditions. CC hosts the annual Folk Magic Festival in New Orleans, Conjure-Con in Santa Cruz, CA and an ongoing blog show. He is the Founding Elder of Foxwood Temple, a coven dedicated to passing on the traditional witchcraft of his elders. He holds a Master’s Degree in Human Services. His website is orionfoxwood.com.
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H. Byron Ballard, BA, MFA, is a western North Carolina native, teacher, folklorist and writer. She has served as a featured speaker and teacher at Sacred Space Conference, PantheaCon, Pagan Spirit Gathering, Southeast Wise Women’s Herbal Conference, Glastonbury Goddess Conference, the Scottish Pagan Federation Conference, Mystic South and other gatherings. She is senior priestess and co-founder of Mother Grove Goddess Temple in Asheville, NC where she teaches religious education, as well as leads rituals. She is one of the founders of the Coalition of Earth Religions/CERES, a Pagan non-profit and does interfaith work locally and regionally.
Her writings have appeared in print and electronic media. Her essays are featured in several anthologies, including “Birthed from Scorched Hearts“ (Fulcrum Press), “Christmas Presence“ (Catawba Press), “Women’s Voices in Magic” (Megalithica Books), “Into the Great Below” and “Skalded Apples” (both from Asphodel Press). She blogs as “Asheville’s Village Witch” (myvillagewitch.wordpress.com) and writes as The Village Witch for Witches and Pagans Magazine (witchesandpagans.com/The-Village-Witch), where she is also a regular columnist. Her pamphlet “Back to the Garden: a Handbook for New Pagans“ has been widely distributed and she has two books on Appalachian folk magic-- “Staubs and Ditchwater: an Introduction to Hillfolks Hoodoo” (Silver Rings Press) and “Asfidity and Mad-Stones” (Smith Bridge Press). “Embracing Willendorf: a Witch’s Way of Loving Your Body to Health and Fitness” was published in April 2017 by Smith Bridge Press. Byron is currently at work on “Earth Works: Eight Ceremonies for a Changing Planet” and “Gnarled Talisman: Old Wild Magics of the Motherland”. Contact her at www.myvillagewitch.com or info@myvillagewitch.com |
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Belladonna Laveau, APS
Bella is the Archpriestess of the Aquarian Tabernacle Church, Intl. and Dean of WiccanSeminary.EDU, the only formal Wiccan sponsored college. Bella’s book, Awakening Spirit, is used by our US Military to help chaplains minister to Wiccan Troops, and is part of the Freshman core curriculum in the Seminary. A Navy Veteran, Mother of three, and professional Spiritual Counselor; Bella is a full-time Wiccan Priestess. Her ministry helps professionalize Wiccan Clergy and provide resources for existing Wiccan ministers to be more effective in serving a modern congregation. Dusty Dionne, HP Dusty is the High Summoner for the Aquarian Tabernacle Church, and High Priest of the Mother Church Congregation. Studying for 10 years at Pete Pathfinder’s knee, he has taken up Pete’s work as a civil rights champion and protector of religious rights, working with churches of all faiths all over the country, who find themselves hindered by their local law officials. Torn between stand-up comedian and a calling to serve Goddess, Dusty entertains us with humor and anecdotes, while revealing the mysteries of the path. an Clergy and provide resources for existing Wiccan ministers to be more effective in serving a modern congregation. Awakening Spirit by Belladonna Laveau, APs The core series of the ATC’s own Seminary, WiccanSeminary.EDU. Come and learn the foundational principles of magic and Wicca, to organize your thoughts into spiral thinking patterns of the initiate.
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Lady Dame is first and foremost a teacher. She is an internationally known Moth host and story teller who has been delighting audiences around the world for 3 years. She completed her 3rd degree as a High Priestess in the Elder Faith Tradition Craft and a 1st degree High Priestess in the RavenMyst tradition. Lady Dame has been teaching everything from Wicca to Hoodoo and back again in southeastern Michigan for the past 20 years. As important as she believes teaching is, she is also a life long student. She counts Kenn Day, Dorothy Morrison, and every person who has ever attended ConVocation for the last 15 years as her mentors.
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Bona Dea (Patricia DeSandro) is a seer/wisewoman and serves as an elder and high priestess in the Romano-Celtic traditions. She is a public speaker and ritual artist and has presented around the country, including two universities. Through her work with sacred stones, Bona Dea also offers healing opportunities and spiritual guidance to others. As part of her service to the Pagan community, she founded The Circle of the Sacred Grove Temple of the Old Religion and the Woodland Wisewomen. Bona Dea is a contributing author for Christopher Penzcak’s book, Ancestors of the Craft, Serenth Odinsson’s book, Calling to Our Ancestors, and several periodicals. She has appeared on TV, Sicily Studios podcast; On the Edge, and Body/Mind/Spirit Radio’s Pagan Spirit, Shamanic Life. With her training in hypnotherapy, and meditation techniques, she has produced several guided journey CD’s focused on Pagan spirituality.
Through the character of Granny Root, she helps others rediscover the magic in their lives with her presentations, storytelling, and original fairytales. The book, The Granny Root Chronicles; Tales from the Wood is available at her speaking events and for purchase online through Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Bona Dea lives in Toledo, Ohio, surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and her little dog, too. Visit her Facebook pages, Bona Dea Lyonesse, and Granny Root. |
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Ted Jauw - is a Babal’awo (priest) and Oluwo (teacher) of the West African Yoruba tradition called Odu/Ifa. Additionally, he holds wheels and pipes from many North and Meso-American Native traditions and is a diviner in the tradition of Mayan Xultun medicine wheels called ‘Twenty Count’. He is also the last apprentice of Dr. Mary Loomis, and counts Babatunde Olatunji as one of his mentors. Writer, poet, ritualist , singer, drummer and anything that allows him to tell stories is what he does. His MythPunk thrillers, ‘The Fourth Choice’, and 'The Fifth World' are now joined by his latest YA Steampunk Thriller, 'Teslation' and his spiritual non-fiction, 'Rescension'. He is married to author Kate Henriott and, together, they have seven children and a grandson.
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