We are excited that the following presenters will be joining us at Mystic South Conference 2020. Be sure to register today so you can attend their presentations, workshops, and performances!
We’ve listed the workshops that will be offered by each of our headliners below. Final dates and times will be provided in our registration packet at check-in. Don’t miss a moment! Register today!
NAJAH LIGHTFOOT
Legendary Magickal Women of Color
Tituba, Marie Laveau, and Nina Simone
Their names are only known in certain circles. Utter the name “Marie Laveau,” and suspicious looks abound. Speak the name “Tituba,” and many will say, “Who?” And no jazz aficionado is worth their salt unless they know the magick and wonder of “Miss Nina Simone,” whose version of “I Put a Spell on You,” will give you chills.
This workshop will explore and celebrate the lore, history, and contributions of these three legendary women, whose lives influenced and changed our world in ways, mundane and magickal.
Let’s Go Down to the Crossroads Lecture and Ritual
Music, whiskey, prayers, and the hour of midnight. Was that a Black man that crossed your path? Did you see something, feel something? Did you get goosebumps or did your hair stand on end?
We’ll spend some time talking about the magick of the crossroads, rituals to be performed at the crossroads, and close with a ritual to honor the power and folk magick of the crossroads.
Papa Legba – African Religions and Ancestors. Is Vodou right for you?
Saying his name stirs fear in the uninformed. Vodou is a religion yet the very thought of it causes many to shake and profess they would never, ever practice it. In this workshop we will explore Najah’s path to initiation, and how she melds her religion and spirituality as a sister-priestess of the Divine Feminine.
DAVID SALISBURY
The Triple Soul of the Witch
The soul is many and one. The power of the witch comes from acknowledging the multitude of powers, experiences, and identities within us. The strength of the lower soul, the expression of the middle soul, and the divinity of the higher soul are all facets of the gem that make up our true selves. While often disconnected and even sometimes embattled with each other, true power comes from aligning the three into a state of communication and union. This class will focus on the lore of the triple soul in witchcraft and other magical and animist systems. Students will learn how to listen to the voices of our souls and ritually align them into a harmonious state.
The Iron Pentacle
The Iron Pentacle is a tool for revolution, for yourself and the world around you. Through the five points of Sex, Pride, Self, Power, and Passion, we will unshackle our currents of personal power from the overculture’s grip. Running this power through the body can help you cultivate a greater sense of your true nature and bring about increased integrity and authenticity. In these trying times, this simple but powerful concept from the Feri Tradition could benefit the entire world. Bring water for yourself to sip during class.
Witchcraft Activism
There is a movement on the rise, one that brings the worlds of social justice and political activism together with the practice of witchcraft. Activists wish to add magical methods to their arsenal, while spell casters seek to use their powers to resist oppression. Learn spells for self-protection and body shielding, as well as methods of developing enhanced psychic intuition and situational awareness. Explains how and why to conjure spirits of defense, land spirits, ancestral spirits of activism, as well as your own personal guardian spirits. Included are rituals, spells, and sigils so that even someone with absolutely no previous experience in spell casting can immediately feel empowered and join the “witch resistance.”
THORN MOONEY
Next Level Witchcraft
Are you stuck on a plateau? Are you wondering where the advanced books are? Feeling exhausted or bored? Or maybe you’re the opposite — new, and totally overwhelmed by where to start! You’re not alone. Practically every witch or Pagan, no matter their personal path, will hit a wall at some point, and probably more than one! Beginners tend to get stuck when they’re bombarded by all the new info suddenly available to them, while more experienced practitioners are quick to tire of reading the same books over and over, wondering what comes next. If you’re a community leader or teacher, you may be struggling with burnout. In this workshop, we’ll look at spiritual plateaus and discuss strategies for jumping off of them and taking things to the next level. You’ll leave with practical, real-life tips designed to help you recharge your practice, strengthen your magical connections, and get you feeling excited about being a witch all over again.
Exploring Traditional Wicca
Though eclectic and solitary forms of Wicca have come to dominate public communities and the Internet, older styles of initiatory, oathbound, traditional Wicca have remained and thrived just below the surface. In this workshop, we’ll take a closer look at Wicca from a traditional standpoint and address questions of hierarchy, initiation, lineage, and seeking. If you’ve ever suspected that Wicca is more than what you see on social media and in books, you’re right.
Reading the Tarot Without Memorization
Many of us have a tarot deck (or three) stashed on a shelf or under an altar, abandoned because we just couldn’t get the hang of it. With seventy-eight cards (and reversals!), there’s just too much to memorize. The cards don’t speak to us. In this no-frills, hands-on workshop, Thorn gives you a series of strategies for reading the cards — for yourself and for others — without reaching for that little white book. If you have a deck, bring it! If you don’t, we have some to lend! (More into oracle cards than traditional tarot? Come on down! These techniques apply equally well.)
CARLA-ELAINE JOHNSON (PAPERS Keynote)
From Outsider to Insider: How Earth Based Traditions Form a Haven
PAPERS description coming soon.
Blind Spots in the Faith: A Framework for Equity and Equality in the Contemporary Earth Based Tradition Landscape
PAPERS description coming soon.
All that’s missing is you!
Make your plans to join us July 17-19, 2020 in Atlanta, GA. Get registered today using the form below. Register safely and securely via PayPal!