Women in Magic Conference
Throughout the course of history and all over the world, there has always been a strong connection between women and the arts of magic, the realms of enchantment, and the most hidden of mysteries. This connection persists to the present day, and like our magical foremothers, modern magical women serve in many roles and are known by many names; they are priestesses and oracles, witches and wise women, sorceresses and enchantresses, magicians and occultists.
In honor of those who have come before us, and to celebrate the many paths and traditions of magic practiced by women today, The Coracle and the Sisterhood of Avalon are proud to sponsor the Women in Magic Conference.
The inaugural event was held virtually on Saturday, October 1st, 2022.
We have gathered together a diverse array of woman teachers, leaders, authors, and practitioners from a variety of magical traditions. The Women in Magic Conference will feature several dynamic workshops, an enriching keynote presentation, and a vibrant panel discussion where our guests will explore an array of topics from a broad spectrum of spiritual, magical, and occult perspectives.
Keynote Speaker
Brandy Williams
Brandy Williams – is the author of The Woman Magician and founder of Sisters of Seshat, a sororal order of the Western Magical Tradition.
She is a Wiccan high priestess, a Pagan magician and a Tantric yogini. She is a past president of Covenant of the Goddess and has worked with the Golden Dawn group Temple of Light and Darkness and with Ordo Templi Orientis.
Her books include For the Love of the Gods, Cord Magic, and Practical Magic for Beginners.
She teaches at magical conferences around the world and appears regularly on the Living Theurgy forum hosted by Hercules Invictus which brings teachers of theurgy together in public conversation.
She is a master gardener and sings with the Medieval Womens Choir. She lives in Washington state with her partners Alex and Ted, two cats and a dog.
Social Media:
2022 Workshops
Hecate, Boundaries, and Tarot
Many who come to Hecate are from differing paths. As a Goddess of the Crossroads and Queen of Magic, Hecate is a powerful conduit for looking at boundaries in all areas of our lives. Using the elements, tarot, and meditation, this ritual brings forth Hecate to help those who seek her help with finding where boundaries are weak, overly strong, and where life can be improved. In this ritual workshop, participants experience Hecate’s guidance through tarot and guided meditation. For those new to understanding or devotion to Hecate, this is an excellent opportunity to explore in a safe space. There will be time to share successes and connections at the end.
Clio Ajana is a practitioner of Baltic Heathenry and an Archieria in the Hellenic Alexandrian Witchcraft & Spiritual Tradition as a member of the House of Our Lady of Celestial Fire, E.O.C.T.O..
Ajana has studied astrology since 1975, numerology since 1980, and tarot since 2004. She has offered consultations and readings in numerology and astrology since 1994 and in tarot since 2007.
Clio is an educator, columnist for The Wild Hunt , and death midwife whose writings include contributions to the anthologies – Shades of Faith: Minority Voices in Paganism, and Bringing Race to the Table: Exploring Racism in the Pagan Community.
A frequent presenter at Paganicon and Mystic South she considers everything in her life to be touched by and guided by the Gods.
Social Media:
Priestess-Princess: Women and the Royal Arts of Theurgy & Thaumaturgy
Magic has sometimes been called the “Royal Art,” largely due to the propensity in the Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern world (and later in Early Modern Europe) for practices like theurgy and thaumaturgy to be reserved only for members of the royal house — or their designees. Women have taken an active part in these arts, though history and folklore have more readily recorded their gifts and contributions as something different than their fathers and brothers — usually as poetry, witchcraft, and even prostitution. Join Laurelei Black for a look behind the veil that has shrouded the power and impact of these mighty women of magic.
Laurelei Black is a hedge-rider, a Cunning Woman, a traveler on the crooked path. She is a priestess of love and pleasure, an Ishtar-woman, an Aphrodite-woman. She is a friend to daemons and a mate to the Red God. A bone collector; a temple dancer.
Laurelei is the author of several books (including Aphrodite’s Priestess and The Witches’ Key to the Legion: A Guide to Solomonic Sorcery), a co-Director and frequent presenter at the Babalon Rising Festival, an OTO initiate, a co-owner of Camp Midian, and the proud proprietress of Asteria Books and Events and of Blade & Broom.
Website and Social Media:
2022 Panelists
Clio Ajna
Clio Ajana is a practitioner of Baltic Heathenry and an Archieria in the Hellenic Alexandrian Witchcraft & Spiritual Tradition as a member of the House of Our Lady of Celestial Fire, E.O.C.T.O..
Ajana has studied astrology since 1975, numerology since 1980, and tarot since 2004. She has offered consultations and readings in numerology and astrology since 1994 and in tarot since 2007.
Clio is an educator, columnist for The Wild Hunt , and death midwife whose writings include contributions to the anthologies – Shades of Faith: Minority Voices in Paganism, and Bringing Race to the Table: Exploring Racism in the Pagan Community.
A frequent presenter at Paganicon and Mystic South she considers everything in her life to be touched by and guided by the Gods.
Social Media:
Laurelei Black
Laurelei Black is a hedge-rider, a Cunning Woman, a traveler on the crooked path. She is a priestess of love and pleasure, an Ishtar-woman, an Aphrodite-woman. She is a friend to daemons and a mate to the Red God. A bone collector; a temple dancer.
Laurelei is the author of several books (including Aphrodite’s Priestess and The Witches’ Key to the Legion: A Guide to Solomonic Sorcery), a co-Director and frequent presenter at the Babalon Rising Festival, an OTO initiate, a co-owner of Camp Midian, and the proud proprietress of Asteria Books and Events and of Blade & Broom.
Website and Social Media:
Najah Lightfoot
Najah Lightfoot is the multi-award-winning author of the best selling, Good Juju ~ Mojos, Rites & Practices for the Magical Soul. She is the Gold Medal winner of the 2020 COVR Awards, in the category of Wicca, Witchcraft and Magick, and a winner of the 2019 NYC Big Book Award.
She is a fellow of the Sojourner Truth Leadership Circle, sponsored by Auburn Seminary. Najah lives in Denver, CO. She is also an initiated member of a private New Orleans Vodou Society.
Najah is an in-demand speaker for conferences, classes and events. Her magickal staff is now on display at the Buckland Museum of Witchcraft, located in Cleveland, OH.
Her second book, Powerful Juju ~ Goddesses, Music & Magic for Comfort, Guidance & Protection, will be released in September, 2022. Her articles regularly appear in Llewellyn’s Magical Almanac, Witches’ Companion, Witches’ Datebook, and Spell-A-Day Series. She is also a contributor to the Library of Esoterica, Volume III, Witchcraft, published by Taschen Books.
Social Media:
www.twitter.com/NajahLightfoot
www.facebook.com/NajahLightfoot
Dr. Tamara L. Siuda
Dr. Tamara L. Siuda is active in both academic and religious spheres, as a professional Egyptologist and Coptologist and the founder of the Kemetic Orthodox Religion.
She is also a mambo (priestess) of Haitian Vodou, under the initiatory name Mambo Chita Tann, and has written numerous books and academic papers about both Egypt and Haiti over the last three decades.
Tamara’s newest book, An Encyclopedia of the Deities of Ancient Egypt, will be published in 2023.
Social Media:
Twitter @tamarasiuda
Instagram @tamara_siuda
Facebook – facebook.com/tamarasiuda
Jhenah Telyndru
Jhenah Telyndru is an author, speaker, and educator. She is the founder of the Sisterhood of Avalon, a Celtic women’s mysteries organization with world-wide membership, and is the academic dean of the Avalonian Thealogical Seminary. Jhenah holds a masters degree in Celtic Studies from the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, and did her undergraduate studies in archaeology. She teaches four-day residential training retreats around North America and the UK, and facilitates pilgrimages to sacred sites in the British Isles and Ireland through Mythic Seeker Tours. She is a frequent presenter and guest speaker at academic conferences, religious symposia, Women’s Spirituality gatherings, and Pagan festivals. A priestess in the Avalonian Tradition for over 30 years, Jhenah has been following a Pagan path since 1986.
Affiliations: Sisterhood of Avalon (SOA)
Publications: Avalon Within, The Mythic Moons of Avalon, The Avalonian Oracle, Pagan Portals – Rhiannon: Divine Queen of the Celtic Britons, and Pagan Portals – Blodeuwedd: Welsh Goddess of Seasonal Sovereignty
Website: www.ynysafallon.com
2022 Conference Host & Panel Moderator
Sydney Bell
Sydney Bell (MSW) is a psychotherapist, speaker, body-positivity advocate and priestess in the Avalonian Tradition. She believes that by providing spaces to challenge oppressive beauty and health paradigms and instead promote body diversity and radical self-love, we can turn the tide against rampant body dissatisfaction and the negative health outcomes that go with it.
Sydney currently resides in B.C. with her partner Jon, two dogs and one cat. You can find resources and learn more about her private practice work at: www.sydneybell.ca
