Presenter Biographies
Drake
Spaeth, PsyD
Drake is a clinical psychologist, program faculty at The Chicago School
of Professional Psychology, Coordinator of The Chicago School Adult Blended
Learning Program in Grayslake IL, and Pagan minister. He is a long-time
presenter and ritual facilitator at PSG. His interests include the Faery
traditions, shamanism, ecstatic ritual, Humanistic/Existential/Transpersonal
Psychology, and Jungian psycho-spirituality (to name a few). Drake has
is a minister through Circle Sanctuary and offers classes through their
Leadership institute, and has taught classes for Cherry Hill Seminary.
David
Spellsinger
David has been facilitating rituals for 20+ years. Together,
David & his wife Katrinia have been the Elder Guides for the Daoshadru
Grove for the last 4 years. David was initiated into Cherokee shamanism
by his grandparents, Irish-Cherokee medicine woman Maggie Running Fox
and Cherokee Shaman Frank Fishing Bear. He began studing Daoism through
my study of martial arts, and has been initiated into several branches
of Wicca and Celtic Druidry. The Daoshadru Grove is an eclectic group
that meets for training and social purposes. They offer open circles,
rites of passage, discussion/social events, and educational classes. kspelldancer@yahoo.com
Rev. Donald
Lewis
Rev. Don Lewis is one of the Founders of Witch School,
and is the First Priest and Chancellor of the Correllian tradition. WitchSchool.com
is the first truly online school dedicated to Wiccan, Pagan, and magical
thought. The goal of Witch School is to share knowledge with all who genuinely
wish to learn as the founders believe that spiritual knowledge makes for
a better, well-rounded person, and better people make for a better world.
Don is also a co-founder and officer of the Pagan Interfaith Embassy.
Don is also known for his Magick TV videos, as well as a long-time presence
as a Chicagoland Pagan leader. www.witchschool.com
Louvel &
Lisa of Occult Bookstore
Louvel and Lisa own the Occult Bookstore. Both practitioners
have extensive experience with various occult and spiritual tools and
traditions including Sumerian, Vodou, Ceremonial and Hermetic Magick,
and more. They own Occult Bookstore, a purveyor of the finest in esoteric
texts and supplies for almost 90 years. www.occultbookstore.com
Rosina
Rosina is a hereditary witch, a Crone and Priestess of
the Goddess Morrighan. Rosina's main focus is to assist others in finding
their true perfection/Divine Spark that resides within. A High Priestess
in three traditions, she uses a variety of techniques and experiences
that truly change the lives of all who come in contact with her, She is
also the Founder and High Priestess of the Heart of the Morrighan Community
Interfaith Temple, a non-profit organization devoted to celebrating unity
and assisting those inthe community in need. Rosina is also a Reiki
Master Teacher in the Usui, Karuna, and Dar' Shem systems of this healing
modality. In addition, she is a Certified Melody Crystal Healing Instructor,
A member of the Sound Healer's Association, and a Metamorphosis Practitioner.
www.heartofthemorrighan.org
Chris Sherbak
& Jack Cole, ADF
Jack is the current Senior Druid, and Chris is the former
Senior Druid of Wild Onion Grove. They have been leading their local Grove
for many years, and bring a lifelong interest in learning to their druid
studies. (ADF)is
Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship. Wild Onion
Grove is the Chicago chapter of an international fellowship devoted to
creating a public tradition of Neopagan Druidry. Wild Onion Grove ADF
is an eclectic Druid Grove serving the Chicagoland area, holding public
rituals and committed to serving the Gods, Ancestors and Nature Spirits
within a modern context. We are currently in our 17th year as a Grove,
and keep the High Days, working strictly with Indo-European Gods and Goddesses,
finding new and creative ways to approach the Divine. Wild
Onion Grove
Nance
Klehm
Nance Klehm
is a radical ecologist, designer, urban forager, grower and teacher. Her
solo and collaborative work focuses on creating participatory social ecologies
in response to a direct experience of a place. She grows and forages much
of her own food in a densely urban area. She actively composts food, landscape
and human waste. She only uses a flush toilet when no other option is
available. She designed and currently manages a large scale, closed-loop
vermicompost project at a downtown homeless shelter where cafeteria food
waste becomes 4 tons of worm castings a year which in turn is used as
the soil that grows food to return to the cafeteria.
She uses decomposition, filtration and fermentation to transform post-consumer materials generated onsite (solid and liquid human waste, grey water from sinks and shower, food, cardboard and paper) as well as waste materials gathered offsite (casino food waste and grass clippings, horse manure from stables, spent coffee grounds) into biologically rich soil. The resulting waste-sponge systems sustain or aid: a habitat of native species of plants, digestion of the high salinity of the indigenous soils and the capturing, storing and using of precipitation. spontaneousvegetation.net/
Sayre Vickers
Sayre is a Chicago-based artist, permaculturist, bicyclist,
activist, and witch. Voted the 2nd "Greenest" person in Chicago,
Sayre offers workshops to help people live a more sustainable life. His
artwork
ranges from more traditional studio-centered approaches like ceramics
or pen & ink on paper, to functional fabric arts, to site-specific
installations including rooftop greenhouses made from dumpstered windows.
His projects honor connection and relationship to the Earth, and he works
sustainably whenever possible, using recycled/reused/reclaimed/dumpstered/scavenged
materials. I also work to minimize non-renewable energy use and 'waste'.
www.sevensapphires.net
Faith
In Place
Faith in Place
gives churches, temples, and other people of faith the tools to become
good stewards of the earth. We partner with religious congregations to
promote clean energy & sustainable farming. Since 1999, Faith in Place
has partnered with over 500 congregations in Illinois—Christian,
Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Zoroastrian, Baha’i, Unitarian,
and Pagan. Our mission is to help people of faith understand that issues
of ecology and economy—of care for Creation—are at the forefront
of social justice. www.faithinplace.org
Joan
Forest Mage
Joan, the founder and director of the Life Force Arts Foundation, is honored
to serve as a shamanic healer, educator and performing artist in her hometown
of Chicago. She has a Master of Arts Degree in Applied Professional Studies
from De Paul University's School for New Learning, with the focus area
"Creating Healing Ritual Through the Arts: A Contemporary Paradigm."
A Certified Movement Analyst, she has studied shamanism, energy work and
healing ritual with numerous teachers, including the Foundation for Shamanic
Studies, and has worked as a Shamanic Practitioner since 1995. Joan has
over thirty years of professional performing and teaching experience as
a dancer, singer and theater performer, and two music CDs to her credit.
Joan has taught workshops and training programs in the arts and body movement
since 1985, and in shamanism since 1996. www.lifeforcearts.org
Mark
Mandrake
A devoted Pagan community leader, Mark is the head of Earth
Spiritualists of Chicago and has been serving Pagan community in that
role and as a leader of a CUUPS group, covens, and other small groups.
His spiritual seeking has encompassed studying Buddhism, Hinduism and
Hari Krishna, Shamanism, Wicca, Ceremonial Magic, Chaos Magic, and many
other magical and spiritual tools. A tarot reader, chakra healer, and
channeler, Mark believes in marrying the metaphysical, magical, and the
mundane for mind, body, and spiritual health. He has taught classes for
beginners as well as more advanced work using magic as a tool for personal
growth. He is passionate for how we each can, through the alchemical process,
turn our spiritual lead into gold as individuals and as a community.
Shauna
Aura
Shauna is ignited by creating epic-scale events that awaken mythic imagination,
inspire vision, and offer transformative experiences for spiritual seekers.
Through her organization Ringing Anvil, as an Earth-Centered community
leader, and with her years of experience as a designer, artist, and strategic
team leader, Shauna has produced conferences, workshops, rituals, and
environments that facilitate transformation. She is a graduate of the
Diana’s Grove leadership
and ritual arts program.
Ringing Anvil seeks to Awaken Imagination, Ignite transformation, Inspire Creativity. This organization, founded by Shauna Aura, offers classes and an upcoming Mystery School for spiritual seekers who seek personal transformation and leadership. Using the language of myth, dream, and the arts, Ringing Anvil offers ecstatic, participatory rituals that facilitate growth, creativity, community building, leadership development, ritual skills, and environmental sustainability. www.ringinganvil.org
Alan
Salmi, LCSW
A
psychotherapist, counselor, and astro-psychologist, Alan combines his
training in psychology with his expertise in magical tools such as astrology.
He has experience with Ericksonian Hypnosis, Neuro Linguistic Programming,
Hakomi Body Centered Psychotherapy, and is also an initiate of the Hermetic
Order of Chicago. Alan's practice centers on helping people to change
their lives by working with the whole person to find out what really works
for them. Alan is also a long-time participant, and co-owner, in the Chicago
College for Healing Arts.
J.Sun
Winslade (PhD)
Jason has been a ritual and festival drummer for over 12 years and has
attended many different fire festivals in the midwest. He has led drum
circles in various communities, including Synphoria, and he is a member
of the musical group Faebotica (performing June 10 at LFAC). He is a scholar
of Pagan Studies and Performance Studies and has published essays and
book chapters on occultism and popular culture, including a recent chapter
in the Handbook of Contemporary Paganism entitled “Alchemical Rhythms:
Fire Circle Culture and the Pagan Festival.”
Marty Couch
With 21 years in Wicca, Marty Couch has earned his third degree in the
Alexandrian Tradition as well as his High Priesthood in the Elemental
Tradition. He’s had the privilege of serving as High Priest of two
Covens as well as serving on the counsel of elders for two others. Marty
has also spent a great deal of time as a solitary practitioner. On his
path he studied Shamanism, Buddhism, New Thought, Science of Mind, Transcendentalism,
and a variety of other paths. His writings have also been published on
Witchvox.com. Currently, Marty serves as the treasurer for Chicago's Peace
on Earth Film Festival, a festival dedicated to works about peace and
non-violence. www.centeroftheelementalspirit.com
Martin
Barba CTE
Martin has been practicing the Healing/Spiritual Arts since
the 1990s. His main focus of training has been Ortho-Bionomy®, Tantra,
Tantsu™, and Ritual (the art and heart of ceremonial magic) as a
means of bringing harmony and healing into the body and the lifestyle.
Hisfocus is on healing, personal growth, and spirituality through Tantric
(and other) techniques.www.thetantricheart.com
Renee
Renee is a bellydancer, Pagan, and green activist who works
to bring healthy body in alignment with spiritual practice and reverence
for the Earth. Renee will draw upon techniques found in the temple dances
of Bharat Natyam, Tai Chi, Dahn Chi, tribal belly dance, Kundalini, and
the mysterious Egyptian trance-dance of the Zar. shaktidance8@yahoo.com
Traci
Wood
Traci is a Joint Head of the Holy City Temple in the Correllian tradition,
as well as an Elder in the Correllian tradition. She has also been part
of running several major public events in Chicagoland including Pagan
Expo and the
Chicago Witches' Ball.
Josh
Ramos
Josh is an environmental activist who currently works to make organizations
more green from the inside.