The Schedule

Join us as we set our intentions for this weekend

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88334098591?pwd=U0YxUitlNUhRMk50blM2RzFhYmk1dz09

Meeting ID: 883 3409 8591

Passcode: 831559

On life, spirituality, and writing. Come join Jade Aurora as she opens the floor to questions from the audience about her life, her spiritual practices as an eclectic and Hoodoo practitioner, and what it took to create a book like “Motor City Witches”.

MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY - Jade Aurora will be delivering an exclusive reading from her new book, Motor City Witches: The Goddess Within

This lecture will dig into the ground of Heathen/Northern Tradition cosmology, exploring the World Tree Yggdrasil, where Its Roots run, and the Worlds that rest within It. We will explore who lives where, the tribes of Gods, what the Ancestors are and where They can be found, and what vaettir (spirits) there are. There will be a Q&A section, so come with questions!

In a world determined to make you a cynic you still have a secret seen of hope. Learn why this world needs our joy and inspiration-filled fiction.

Bringing your tarot deck, runes, crystal ball, or any other tools used in divining will not be necessary for this workshop. Instead we will explore, and try our hand at some lesser-known methods using common, every day, easy to find objects and interpretations. Join me in these acts of divination as we seek intuition, wisdom and guidance through the aid of: silverware; food and drink; dice and playing cards; candles and wax; coins, charms, and other small trinkets; books and magazines; needle and thread; and so much more In addition, everyone will have the opportunity to share their own personal favorites if you choose. Materials will be provided.

K. Tempest Bradford will read her steampunk short story "The Copper Scarab" and do a Q&A afterwards on setting steampunk fiction in ancient times.

(Moderator: Dave Robison, Panelists: Jane Bailey, Paul Kemner, Ted Jauw, K. Tempest Bradford.) Do you want to take your Steampunk, Horror, or Magic worlds off the European and American continents? Are you ready to expand the voices and history in your narratives? Is it time to include people from different cultures and orientations to your tales? From Egypt to the Mediterranean

What does safe spirit communication look like? How do you do it? Safe Spirit Communication is a class that goes over how to safely build a relationship with spirit and what tools are available to help with that.

Viki talks briefly about this encompassing goddess, and Then leads you through a ritual with the help of The Coven of the phoenixfire

Moderator: Dave Robison. Speakers: Jane Bailey, R. W. Whitefield. Understanding different perspectives can help you not only in the real world, but in your writing as well. Come join our panelists for Q&A about the viewpoints and challenges facing people who are gay, lesbian, transgender, asexual, bisexual, queer, gender-fluid and more.

How history can inform and enhance your magical worlds with Philippa Ballantine and Tee Morris.

Want to crowdfund, but don’t know where to start? This panel will cover all the basics. Madeleine Holly-Rosin, Author of “Boston Metaphysical Society"

Witchcraft is indeed a craft and something we carry with us every day. What exactly does it mean to build a magical lifestyle? How can we enhance our every day normal with the spirits at work? Join Nathan as he takes you through building a daily practice, and extra tips and tricks of building the witch life!

Readings from “Mise on Death”, a steampunk murder mystery novel.

Using magick to fight the oppressive and to protect the vulnerable has always had its place within the craft of the wise. Join Nathan as he gives you tips and tricks on magical protesting and putting your voice into your magick. Speaking from recent personal experience.

Do you want to learn protesting protection? How about hexing white supremacists? Did you know there are certain marches that make great rhythms for chants?

This workshop will conclude with a short ritual to give the blessings of protection and wisdom to all those engaging in this kind of spiritual work.

Find out how to mine detailed information to get insight from experts to build solid science in your fiction.

Black people and other POC interested in steampunk are doing so writing within a Eurocentric framework that doesn’t really take us into account. Panelists will explore their character back stories and how they navigate the space and still manage to have fun. (Panel with Ofeibea Loveless, Sistah Geek, Lord Chaos, and Cassandra L. Jones )

There is a world of magick out there and Africa is home to some of the oldest magick systems, which are entrenched in the cultures of the continent. Learn how the magick traditions from Southwest Nigeria and Congo view the world, the individual, and the importance and power of self-image and imagery.

MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY - Jade Aurora will be delivering an exclusive reading from her new book, Motor City Witches: The Goddess Within

Viki guides you through the basics of making teas and tisanes. Tools , some basic do's and don'ts, layering and etc to get you started. As taught at Conjurefest Detroit.

Steampunk Interested in adding some magic to your steampunk world? Catherine will discuss the intersection of magic and technology and give you things to consider when mixing the two elements. Includes a reading from How to Seduce a Spy, showcasing the magic-potion technology of the Potions and Passions series by Catherine Stei

Join the crew of the AeroShippe Cirque A Circa as they take us through time to discover the truth about Absinthe, Alewives, Alchemy and other forms of Magick, Mayhem and Mystery.

Thunder without clouds, a priestess rides to war. Ilsa is a mercenary and priestess who is an expert in gun-bonding. Tasked with protecting the keeper of the holy instruments called Tenlyres, she needs to move fast to save her charge. She and her mind-eater partner are going up against a modern army out of the West. It’s a race against time to find the Keeper of Tenlyres before everything falls apart.

Steampunk and other fantasy worlds often draw on the past for inspiration. Catherine Stein shares some of her research tips and discusses how real historical detail can add a richness to a fictional world. Includes readings from “Eden’s Voice” and her new release “A Shot to the Heart”. If you want some tips on how to add historical detail into your work, then listen in and Catherine will show you how attention to detail can anchor your own writing into the past. Will touch on the world of sports and the 1904 Olympic Games in the readings.

It is commonly understood that a regular hygienic regiment is necessary for, And contributes to A state of desirable physical health. The same holds true for our energy body

In this workshop we will explore and work with a myriad of modalities and technologies that will aid us in doing just that

Who is this workshop for? Anyone who works magic, with energy, healers and anyone else with an energy body

If you want to get more idea of writing about magic from other systems in the world or about what the spirits, Gods, and Goddesses are up to these days, come and listen. There will be time for Q&A (Moderator: Dave Robison. Speakers: Paul Kemner, A. Carina Spears, Star Stramel, K. Tempest Bradford)

(Moderator: Dave Robison. Speakers: Catherine Stein, Eva Gordon, Rachel Weisserman) Love, passion, lust, and loss are powerful drives for people and can be used to humanize, brighten, or even create a poignant note in tales. Even so, writing romance is a lot harder than it sounds. Get some advice on how to weave these powerful emotions into the lives of your protagonists and antagonists to create a more vivid tapestry in your own writing.

This workshop will explore what the predicaments of peak oil and climate change are, and how we can respond to them from the polytheist worldview. To begin with, I will lay out the ideas we will be talking on, framing the ideas of peak oil, climate change, and potential responses from a polytheist perspective. Then, we’ll open up the floor for discussion.

A excerpt from Suzi Madron's The Tower, part of the Immortal War Trilogy. The reading will be followed by a Q&A session with the author

Enjoy a little taste of paranormal romance tonight with a reading from the Urban Fantasy tale “The Hunt” by Jane Bailey . It’s a taste of something different. Trans and asexual characters are represented in it.

Who are the Powerful Ancestors? Who are the Dísir, the Väter, and the Ergi/þverr? What do They do? How do They relate to the rest of our Ancestors?

Join Sarenth Odinsson and explore how to engage with Them, keep good relations with Them, and how to worship and honor the Powerful Ancestors.

Reading from the first chapter of “Clockwork Dolls”, a lesbian erotica novel: Anke can do anything with brass and steam, springs and gears. What she can’t do is cross the lines of class and propriety that keep her from declaring her love for her patron, the beautiful Lady Phoebe. Lady Phoebe has long been entertained –and stimulated -- by the dancing dolls, she must marry for the sake of duty and family. She has one last commission for Anke-to build a doll that can love her as much as Anke does.

This class has formed around the melding of magic as seen in pop culture and magic as we actually practice it. Using the strong emotional associations, visuals, and lore created by our favorite media we can short hand a ritualistic experience and create powerful magic. This course will provide a definition of pop culture magic, as well as examples, and finally a guided meditation/ ritual where we throw our own evils into the fire of Tolkeins “ Mt Doom” from Lord of the Rings.

Writing is more than words on paper. It’s the very act of creation. In this discussion we take a look at the rituals and elements involved in the writing process with Suzanne Madron.

Reading will have a Q&A period for those with questions about writing and publishing.

"Throwing the bones", or "casting lots", is the ancient divinatory practice of throwing a collection of small objects such as bones, stones, nuts, shells, charms and other curios upon a casting surface; then interpreting the meaning behind the configurations with the aid of the ancestral spirits. In this workshop, we will explore historical and cultural perspectives; the casting surface; the pieces, assembling and assigning meaning; methods of interpretation; and have the opportunity to "throw the bones" for attendees - as time permits. Sit with me for a while, as we throw the bones and consult the ancestors and helping spirits in matters of clarity, guidance, and wisdom.

Ideas are everywhere! Authors are often asked where they get their ideas. Harlan Ellison used to tease proto-authors that he subscribed to a service in Schenectady that mailed him a postcard each month with several ideas. That was way back in the day when postcards were a thing (and Ellison was alive). Panelists will work through a series of pictures provided by the moderator, generating (hopefully creative) ideas. Panelists will also be offered the opportunity to share their own slice-of-life pictures for story idea generation.

While most of us are familiar with using energy work for "good," that's not always the situation we're presented with. When it's not all love and light, how do you use energy work to solve problems? How can we put the tools we have to work to help keep us safe in trying times? We'll talk about many sorts of energy work, and techniques anyone can use.

Want to know how this important tool changed and grew in the real world during the eras popular in steampunk fiction? Come join Ada Palmer as she demonstrates with a few actual printing presses and gives you a clearer perspective of how these powerhouses affected the world.

In this class we will go over what your Muse is, how to develop a relationship with it and how you both can create amazing Magic together.

When do you cross the line? When do you fall into that space between the world we know and the fantastic one, the mystic one that lies just beyond a distant sunbeam in woods? You might go down a side street to a land of wonders…but how do you keep the map straight in your head a you write such zones? Suzanne Madron will help you see how to tie your world of magic to your mundane one and what the process is to keep it all straight.

With over 50 podcasts from their Ministry series from around the world, Tee and Pip talk about how podcasting (and now streaming services) can offer fiction, cosplay, and more a new platform.