The Sacred Space Conference

If there is one trend manifesting in spirituality worldwide, it is the rise of authoritarian, high control religious groups. Less noticed, but just as vital, are the growing currents of those who call for justice and shared liberation. In “Liberating Theology”, you will learn what the core ideas are behind this movement and how they align with broader Pagan, Witch, and Heathen values. In this class, you will engage with these questions through general and small group discussions with your fellow participants. Together, we will explore the roots of liberated spirituality, how it can empower practitioners, and become the foundation for creating truly free and safe communities.

This class will respond to questions that creative people are so often asked: “How do you come up with your ideas?” and“How do you go about creating your own deck?”. Paula will reveal insight into her process of creating a divination deck with both magical intent and practical know-how. She will then share how you can use the cards you have created, or another deck of your choosing along with assorted materia magica for magical manifestation layouts. These layouts are designed to consciously pursue your wishes, your will, and the future you want. The presentation will be augmented with an extensively illustrated slideshow. The familiar Rider Waite Smith deck will be used in diagramming the manifestation spreads. 

Dream magick can be an incredibly effective method for shadow and healing work, by connecting with the Underworld, building confidence in our magickal abilities, and achieving greater life satisfaction. Dream magick is accessible to everyone and can be a powerful tool for any practicing witch. This workshop will cover topics including: hands on techniques for remembering and understanding one’s dreams; dream incubation techniques used by ancient cultures such as Greece; types of dream work including lucid dreaming and prophetic dreams; communicating with ancestors and deceased loved ones through dreams; and the use of herbs, oils, and crystals in dream magick. The workshop includes a powerful guided meditation for dream recall. 

Join J.R. Mascaro in an exploration of the Rúnatal, a selection of stanzas from the Hávamál in which Odin tells the tale of receiving his rune-ken. Using the concepts found in Odin’s rune song, engage in a discussion on using runes as an all-purpose magical language, a language of existential programming, to craft technically simple and magically profound charms, protections, and other effects.

Reconnect with the shamanic power of the Bear by understanding the Paleolithic roots of these beliefs. Our relationship with Bear as a teacher, guide, midwife, and healer can be extracted from today’s fairy tales, heraldic designs, and current superstitions. While in prehistory, the lore of the Bear can be determined from archaeology, amulets, word origins, and plant names and uses. Learn about the Celestial Bear Mother and her daughter, the Bear connection to Groundhog’s Day, and the monasteries with healing bears that evolved from the Pagan practices. Dr. Woodruff’s research is filling in the Slavic-shaped hole in magical beliefs and connecting the missing links of cross-cultural studies.

Many who have an inclination towards magic may not have a room or dedicated space set aside for performing spellwork and ritual workings. However, most of us have a front door, and it is here that we are invited to engage with and perhaps re-enchant a part of our homes which is often taken for granted except when we find ourselves locked out or fumbling with our keys. In this talk we will explore the front doorway of our home as a locus for spirit work, practical charming, and magical workings. We will examine diverse perspectives, folklore, and approaches towards engaging with our doorway as a nexus of power and potentiality. 

The famous Rorschach test was created by Swiss psychologist, Hermann Rorschach. Rorschach used symmetric inkblot prints in a projective psychological test to analyze subjects’ perceptions. The Rorschach test is a psychometric examination of pareidolia, the tendency to perceive a meaningful interpretation of a stimulus and detect a pattern, object, or meaning from that stimulus. In this class, we will examine why using symmetric inkblot prints in a psychiatric setting is controversial and how using symmetric inkblot prints as a tool for divination can be pure magick! We’ll discuss examples of pareidolia in art and popular culture and how we can use the interpretation of inkblot prints in our own divinatory practices. 

Sefer HaOtot (The Book of Seals) is a Hebrew language manuscript of Solomonic pentacles. The specific manuscript we’ll be talking about was written in 1729, copied from older manuscripts. To the best of our knowledge, it was never published, even in Hebrew, and certainly not in an English translation, until our project. In this workshop, we’ll teach you about the text, but we’ll also talk about our personal journey with the text, about the nature of magical translation, interpretation, and illustration, and about what it means to bring a new grimoire into the world. This class will be co-taught with Elisabeth Empyrean.

You’ve probably heard of the twelve animals of the Eastern zodiac. We will cover what the animals are, how they relate to each other, and how the five elements influence a person’s life and relationships in romance, business, and friendships. We will also cover karmic numerology, and how the nine karmic relations influence astrological readings, as well as how each person’s trigrams rotate throughout the year and how it can be used to improve day-to-day life. This course will combine the two main astrological systems in Asia: the Chinese system and its influence sphere (Korea, Manchuria, Vietnam, Japan, parts of southeast Asia), and the Tibetan system and its influence sphere (Mongolia, Central Asia, Turkic & Tungusic Siberia).

Learn the powerful technique of placing circles of protection along your personal timeline, creating interlocking shields that safeguard your entire existence. Rooted in the belief that time is multidimensional, this method identifies critical junctures or ‘nodes’ in your life. Workshop Highlights: Understanding Temporal Nodes: Learn to recognize significant points in your timeline that influence your well-being. Creating Protective Circles: Master the art of reinforcing these nodes with protective energy, enhancing your resilience. Harmonizing Your Life Path: Positively influence your journey through time, ensuring a harmonious and empowered existence. Ideal for practitioners seeking advanced metaphysical techniques, this workshop equips you with tools to navigate life’s challenges with greater confidence and stability.

Oftentimes in rituals, music is only present in the background to help mask other noises, and physical movement is minimized. However, music and movement can be brought forward to play a more integral role in our rituals, taking center stage rather than being afterthoughts. Music can add dynamic layers; and movement – in the form of ritualized gestures or dance – can help you focus or express your intent in a way that words cannot. In this workshop we will discuss how to center music and movement into your rituals, including: their historical use, the considerations that go into selecting music, and the different ways we can move our bodies (seated or standing) to reflect and enhance our workings. 

For the first 4,000 years of astrological and magical practice, adepts worked with Saturn as an initiator into occult mysteries. As the lord of death and the world beyond the veil, he was the go-to planetary deity for cultivating psychic skill and forming relationships with spirits. In this workshop, Merlin will help you discover Saturn as the lord of witches and magicians. Using historical analysis, Ancient Greek translation, hermetic philosophy, and practical examples, he’ll demonstrate the value of working with Saturn as the astral lord of magic. At the end, you will have the opportunity to commune with Saturn directly by making your own Saturn talismans, and to begin cultivating a relationship with the great mage of the seven stars.

Sun worship is perhaps one of the oldest forms of ritual magic. From the hymns of the Vedas to the Temples of Ancient Egypt to the Sun cult of Mithras, mages have always called upon the Sun for clarity, vitality, and ultimately divine awakening. In this workshop, Merlin will show you how to work with the Sun as the ancient astrologers and magicians did. Drawing on ancient source texts, he’ll discuss how the Sun was worshiped within ancient Mediterranean mysticism, and its place in our cosmos as a vehicle for ascension into the heavens. You will also receive guidance for examining the Sun in your own natal chart. We will close with a group ceremony to this lord of light and life.

This class will present some of the 76 spells that were written down as part of the witch trial court records in the 15th through the 18th centuries. The circumstances of the trials, what we know about the players, and how they practiced witchcraft will be the core of the class. Interesting historical facts will round out the picture. Most importantly, we will explore how to replicate these spells in the 21st century.

Join us for an intensive workshop led by esteemed author and practitioner, Mortellus, as we delve into the mysterious and misunderstood art of necromancy, explore the intricacies of spiritual possession, the protocols of exorcism rituals, and practical techniques for dispelling malevolent entities. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to learn advanced techniques from Mortellus while expanding your magical repertoire. What You’ll Learn: • Understanding Spiritual Possession: Gain insights into the nature of spiritual possession, its manifestations across different cultures, and how to recognize signs of possession. • Exorcism Protocols: Learn the essential steps and rituals involved in conducting an exorcism, from preparation and protection to the actual rite of expulsion. • Techniques: Acquire hands-on experience with techniques such as banishing rituals, protective circles, and invoking divine or spiritual assistance to aid in exorcism. What Should You Bring? Bring along any items you prefer for note-taking, as well as any ritual instruments you may have on hand for directing energy if you’d like. A Little Show and Tell: Mortellus will be bringing along a few objects inhabited by malevolent spirits for participants to get hands on with. But don’t fret—they’re all carefully contained. Who Should Attend: This workshop is ideal for any practitioner who may find themselves engaging in spiritual warfare as well as those curious about the intersection of spirituality and the afterlife. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced practitioner seeking to deepen your understanding, Mortellus provides a welcoming space for learning and growth, along with a unique blend of scholarly knowledge and practical wisdom that renders complex subjects accessible and empowering for all participants.