Speakers 2024
Dr. Daniel Ogden
Dr. Daniel Ogden is a Professor of Ancient History at the University of Exeter. His previous publications include: Polygamy, Prostitutes and Death: The Hellenistic Dynasties (1999; 2nd ed., 2023); (ed.) The Hellenistic World: New Perspectives (2002); (co-ed. with Elizabeth Carney) Philip and Alexander: Father and Son, Lives and Afterlives (2010); Alexander the Great: Myth, Genesis and Sexuality (2011); and The Legend of Seleucus (Cambridge, 2017).
Morgan Daimler
Morgan Daimler is a witch who has been a polytheist since the early '90′s, following a path inspired by the Irish Fairy Faith blended with neopagan witchcraft. Morgan teaches classes on Irish myth, fairies, and related subjects in the United States and internationally. Morgan has been published in multiple anthologies as well as in Witches and Pagans magazine, and Pagan Dawn magazine. She has written several dozen books, including Fairies: A Guide to the Celtic Fair Folk and Pagan Portals Aos Sidhe, has self-published books of Old and Middle Irish language translations, has a high fantasy novel 'Into Shadow', and an urban fantasy/paranormal romance series called Between the Worlds.
Dr. Ronald Hutton
Professor Ronald Hutton is an English historian who specializes in British folklore, pre-Christian religion, and Contemporary Paganism. He is a professor at the University of Bristol.
His books include titles such as the acclaimed The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles, The Stations of the Sun, and The Triumph of the Moon.
Joaquim Palma Pinto
Joaquim António Pinto holds a degree in Philosophy from the Portuguese Catholic University, a Master's in Philosophy Teaching from the Nova University of Lisbon, and a PhD in Philosophy of Education from the University of Évora. He is a professor, writer, and researcher, currently active at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Porto. Joaquim António Pinto has researched, published, and taught mainly in the fields of Philosophy in Portugal, Philosophy of Consciousness, Eastern Philosophy, Philosophical Anthropology, Emotional Intelligence, Politics, Pedagogy, Ethics, Culture, and Spirituality. He is also a member of the Luso-Brazilian Institute of Philosophy and the Interdisciplinary Center for History, Cultures, and Societies at the University of Évora, as well as the Department of Metaphysics and Current Trends in Philosophy, Ethics, and Political Philosophy at the University of Seville. Regarding his Spiritual Path, Joaquim António Pinto is better known as Arch-Druid Adgnatios (nickname: the Lusitanian Wolf) and is the highest religious authority of the Assembly of Lusitanian Druidic Tradition (www.atdlusiana.org) and is the current Duty Guardian of the Celtic Druid Alliance (https://celticdruidalliance.wixsite.com/celt.../guardians...), an international platform that brings together regular assemblies of the Druidic Tradition.www.atdlusiana.org
Vikki Bramshaw
She is an author and researcher committed to studying folklore, religious history and the esoteric since the late 90's. Following the successful publication of her first book, 'Craft of the Wise: A Practical Guide' in 2009 Vikki has contributed to a number of other essays for anthologies, including 'VS: Duality and Conflict in Magick, Mythology and Paganism' before releasing the groundbreaking 'Dionysos: Exciter to Frenzy' in 2013, which explored the Greek God Dionysos and the extent of his influence on the ancient world. Vikki's latest book, 'New Forest Folklore, Traditions & Charms' is a unique study taking a deeper look at the folklore and traditions of the ancient landscape of her native New Forest. Following this publication Vikki was a curator for 'The Spirit of the Forest' exhibition at the New Forest Heritage Centre. Her research has also been integrated into the projects of various New Forest Artists in Residence. She lives in the rural New Forest with her young son, hens, horses and one spirit cat.
Storm Faerywolf
Storm Faerywolf is a professional author, experienced teacher, visionary poet, and practicing warlock. He was trained in various streams of magic and witchcraft, most notably the Anderson Faery tradition, where he holds the Black Wand of a Master.
He is chancellor of Modern Witch University, co-founder of the Black Rose online course of modern witchcraft, a columnist for the Pagan news site, The Wild Hunt, and is the host of the Witch Power Daily podcast. He has written several books, including "The Stars Within the Earth," "Betwixt & Between," "The Witches' Name," and "The Satyr's Kiss." For more, visit faerywolf.com.
Halo Quin
Dr Halo Quin (they/them) is a pagan author, storyteller, singer-songwriter, and a lifelong lover of magic with a PhD in philosophy. They have been a witch since childhood, and are a devotee of the Faery Queen, a lover of the Welsh gods, and a sensual witch exploring the divine erotic and sacred nature of pleasure and beauty, to (re)enchant the world. With roots in Feri, Reclaiming Witchcraft, and Druidry, Halo's magic weaves together devotion, story, community ritual, and listening to the Fair Folk, in an animistic path with an embodied approach to the Craft. Their books include "Gods and Goddesses of Wales", "Faeries, Folktales, and Spirits" and "Crimson Craft - sexual magic for the solo witch". Find Halo's books, classes, and storytelling here: www.haloquin.net
Mhara Starling
Mhara was born in North Wales, and raised on the Isle of Anglesey. She is a modern day Swynwraig, a Welsh Folk Witch, and is an author who writes on the subject of Welsh Witchcraft, lore, and magic. Mhara is a coven leader, and also teaches workshops and delivers talks at various conferences, online events, and festivals. Her new book Welsh Fairies releases in the Autumn of 2024.
Ellen Evert Hopman
Ellen Evert Hopman is a Herbalist, author, and Druid who lives in an oak forest in western Massachusetts. Her volumes are far-ranging, including Celtic herbals, a trilogy of Druid novels and children's literature. Her most recent herbal offering is "The Sacred Herbs of Yule and Christmas – Remedies, Recipes, Magic & Brews for the Winter Season" and her next publication will be "Celtic Druidry – Rituals, Techniques and Magical Practices" (May, 2024). All her books can be found at www.elleneverthopman.com and they can also be ordered online in the usual places. She is the Archdruid Emerita and founder of Tribe of the Oak (Tuatha na Dara), a Celtic Reconstructionist Druid Order www.tribeoftheoak.org
Frances Billinghurst
Frances Billinghurst is an initiated witch, magical practitioner and metaphysician who has been fascinated with mythology, folklore and esoteric sciences for over half her lifetime.
A prolific writer, Frances is the author of Dancing the Sacred Wheel (one of the few books solely dedicated to the sabbats in the Southern Hemisphere), Encountering the Dark Goddess: A Journey into the Shadow Realms, Contemporary Witchcraft: Foundational Practices for a Magical Life and On Her Silver Rays: A Guide to the Moon, Myth and Magic amongst other titles. She is the editor of Call of the God: An Anthology Exploring the Divine Masculine within Modern Paganism, and her essays have appeared in numerous publications over the years.
Frances offers online courses through Udemy, has her own YouTube and can be found in several platforms. (Facebook and IG, https://mysticalsoulacademy.com or https://francesbillinghurst.blogspot.com.au).
Daniela Simina
Is a native of Romania, the granddaughter of a Fairy Seer and a medicine woman. She became acquainted with fairies through the local lore and folklore and through direct personal experience. Growing up, Daniela explored European nature-based traditions of spiritual healing and deepened her understanding of both energy and human physiology through practicing martialarts and yoga. Daniela Simina teaches courses, classes, and workshops on various modalities of energetic rebalancing and of course, fairies. She is the author of "Where Fairies Meet: Parallels between Irish and Romanian Fairy Traditions"- Pagan Portals, and "A Fairy Path: The Memoir of a Young Fairy Seer in Training" – Pagan Portals" and "Fairy Herbs for Fairy Magic- A Practical Guide to Fairy Herbalism".
Luke Eastwood
Born in Aberdeen but has lived mostly in England and Ireland since 1999. He began studying Druidry in the late 1990s and later joined both OBOD and the Druid Clan of Dana, being initiated in the later by Olivia Robertson in 2009. Luke has worked in many professions but retrained as a Horticulturist in 2006-9 at Dublin School of Horticulture. He is also a graphic designer, artist, and editor, as well as the author of several books on spirituality. https://lukeeastwood.com
Georgi Mishev
Georgi Mishev, PhD, born 1982, is a Bulgarian author and researcher in ancient culture and religion of the Mediterranean world and especially in magic practices, rituals and ancient relics in the folklore of the Balkan people. He has a bachelor's degree in Russian and German language, a master's degree in Preservation of the cultural-historical heritage in the Republic of Bulgaria (master's thesis on the subject Thracian material and immaterial cultural-historical heritage in the region of Thracian cult center Starosel), and a doctoral degree in the field of cultural-historical heritage (PhD thesis on the subject Bulgarian traditional culture as an information resource about the magica in ancient Southeastern Europe).
Ness Bosch
Ness Bosch, La Huesera, is an Iberian Shamaness and Priestess. Author and independent researcher, mother of 3, Ness lives in Scotland where she is a founding member of the Goddess Community Scotland. Founder of The Path of the Bones and the Clan of the Bone Woman (La Huesera), she shares the teachings of this path with those ready to move on into advanced animistic ways of working in the realms, with the spirits and teaches the ways of shadowhunting. She is the Head of the Covenant of the Waters and the Temple of Astarte. Before moving to Scotland, Ness was a Regional Coordinator for the Pagan Federation International in Spain.She is a Hierophant Priestess, Dame Commander, and Archdruidess of the Fellowship of Isis. Ness is the 1st Spanish to hold a seat in the Pagan Heathen Symposium.
Sian Sibley
Sian is an animist witch and the author of Unveiling the Green, a book on working psychologically, alchemically, and astrologically with plant spirits. Sian's second book has just recently been released and is called Black Paths and Green Cathedrals - Ecological Witchcraft. This new book details Sian's passion for the ecology of our pagan practice and how we interact with the other inhabitants of the land. Sian is the Leader of the DragonOak coven and has over 30 years of practical witchcraft experience. She holds an MSc in Applied Biology and Medical Genetics and is currently studying for an MA in Ecology and Spirituality at the University of Wales, Trinity St Davids. Sian's perspective as a witch who is also a scientist gives her a unique perspective on the worlds of ecology, science, and their relationship to the magical world.
Ben Stimpson
BA (Hons), MBACP (He/They/Them) is an integrative therapist, spiritual director, award winning author, podcaster, and independent scholar of folklore and history. A member of the modern NeoPagan and queer communities, Ben's personal life helps to inform his professional and research work. Ben holds a BA (Honours) in Medieval, Classical and Religious Studies from the University of Waterloo; a post-graduate Diploma in Spiritual Psychotherapy; and a Diploma in Social Service Work. As a therapist, he excels in working with members of the queer community and other marginalized populations, and ascribes to transpersonal, systemic and narrative approaches to therapy. He is the host of Essence podcast, a weekly show interviewing fellow authors and practitioners in the field of alternative spirituality and therapy. His debut title, Ancestral Whispers: A Guide to Developing Ancestral Veneration Practices was released by Llewellyn Worldwide and won the 2024 Gold Medal at the COVR Awards. His second title, Wise Ones: Legends of Witches, Magicians and Cunning Folk of England and Wales is set to debut June 2025 through Crossed Crow Books.
Moss Matthey
Is a Welsh-German folk Witch based in North Wales and raised in the Harz Mountains of Germany. He is an Author with Llewellyn, a public speaker and workshop host at various pagan events across the UK and online, as well as a member of OBOD and the Welsh Language Coven Cylch y Sarffes Goch.
Helena B. Scott
Helena is a writer and studied a BA in Law, with History, Anthropology, and Archaeology, and earned a Diploma in the history of magic, witchcraft, and the occult at the Imperial College London. Helena holds a Diploma in Psychic Development and various diplomas from the London College of Psychic Studies as well as a Diploma in Jungian Psychology, having also trained in archetypal psychology with Laurence Hillman.
She specializes in Secret history and the occult, sacred geography and ancient energies (Tantric background), Gothic literature and art history, Jungian psychology, spirituality, magic, and the paranormal. Her last published work (a factual revisionist account and interactive occult book on Ireland's most haunted house), Loftus The Hall of Dreams.
Garry Jeffrey-Nixon
Garry is a beloved Pagan Elder in the Southwest of Scotland. He is a Druid, Witch, and pagan Author. A former Forest Ranger, Garry is known for his deep knowledge of the sacred local landscape and its magical beings. Garry has been a prominent figure of the Scottish pagan scene for many years, as a regular of events and as organizer of moots and trips with his group: The Magicakally Inclined People of Scotland. Garry was for many years a member of the Druids of Caledon and is now a Beacon Bearer and Founding Member of the Goddess Community in Scotland.
Lisa McSherry
I have been writing and presenting since the early 2000s. My most recent book, Travel Magic, blends the art of travel with magical practice; how to stay spiritually grounded while on the road or aloft in the sky, how to feel at home while away. You can find out more about me through my website, lisamcsherry.com.
Brett Hollyhead
Known in the magical circles as the Witch of Salopia, Brett is a devoted folk practitioner, born and raised with the stories, traditions, and magic of the Welsh Marches. He is a workshop leader, public speaker across the UK, and author of an upcoming book on Sabrina: Goddess of the River Severn with Moon Books. Brett is also a regular contributor to several zines and has appeared on both Welsh and Japanese television to share the folklore of his home. He is also a professional pole dance instructor and proud member of both OBOD and the Welsh Coven Cylch y Sarffes Goch.
Mora Sininho Rosa
Mora S. Rosa is a Portuguese folk witch and Iberian polytheist, most known for her content on Social Media about mythology and witchcraft books. Graduated in Communication, she delves into literature to analyze the tales around her. She has contributed to Portuguese magazines and has participated as a speaker at local pagan events. She is now trying to bring Iberian folklore outside of her birth land and language, working on several projects.