Mystic South: Full Schedule

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9:00am EDT

Mind over Magick: The Psychology of Ritual Magick

Saturday July 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

In this presentation, Richard Kaczynski draws on peer-reviewed research in psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and real-time brain imaging to show how and why ritual magick produces profound experiences with tangible benefits. For solitary practitioners and group participants alike, Richard shares what happens, on both a psychological and neurological level, when they enter sacred spaces, use ritual implements, enter deep meditative states, or experience the transformative effects of initiation. Attendees are encouraged to approach magick as a science to hone a more effective and empirically grounded practice.

Speakers

Richard Kaczynski

Saturday July 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Ashford

PAPERS

Take aways: An understanding of the role that psychology plays in magick and related spiritual practices, which will make their practice more effective and rewarding, and arm them with the tools to critically evaluate their own ritual work.

10:30am EDT

The Closeted Witch: Textiles, Colors, and Accoutrements for a Magical and Purposeful Wardrobe

Saturday July 18, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT

Ashford

Not every magical individual wears linen, earthy tones, or has a million piercings with tattoos galore and knows their way around a sewing machine. Sometimes, most times, we have to work with what we already have in our closet or what we have access to, and that's okay. The history of textiles, their uses, color language, and ceremonies is as old as time and textiles themselves. Let's see how this history and knowledge can be used with our wardrobes to guide us in protecting and arming ourselves for our daily lives and everyday adventures.

Speakers

Edna

Saturday July 18, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Ashford

PAPERS

Take aways: Power and strength, in themselves and in what colors and textiles they choose to wear. I want them to be able to feel like they've chosen pieces that can help protect, calm, or advance them in their day to day activities. The clothes, textiles, colors, and choices we make tell more about ourselves that we sometimes realize, and can also send powerful messages to our guides and spirts.

12:30pm EDT

Crafting a therapy ritual: Using your magic to support your inner work

Saturday July 18, 2026 12:30pm - 2:00pm EDT

Ashford

Therapy, like ritual, is a sacred space where healing and transformation unfold. In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore how pagan spiritual practices can be thoughtfully woven into personal growth and therapy work. We’ll briefly review the academic and clinical foundations that support integrating ritual, meaning-making, and spirituality into therapeutic practice, grounding this work in both evidence and lived experience. Together, we’ll explore how ritual—through engaging the senses, honoring the elements, setting intention, and creating protection—can deepen presence and support inner healing. Participants will learn the difference between habits, routines, and rituals, and will design a personalized therapy ritual to use before, during, or after sessions. We’ll also discuss how to talk with a provider (pagan or not) about incorporating spiritual practices into therapy. Presented by Rachel, a pagan therapist with over 20 years of experience and co-founder of Pagan Affirming Therapy & Healthcare (PATH), who is currently writing a book on this subject.

Speakers

Rachel Anne Kieran, PsyD

Co-Founder, PATH - Pagan Affirming Therapy & Healthcare

Presenting at Spirit Northwest 2026:
Crafting a Therapy Ritual: Using Your Magic to Support Your Inner Work

About Me:
I’m a psychologist, educator, and program director working at the intersection of ethics, inclusion, and access in mental healthcare and professional education.I a... Read More →

Saturday July 18, 2026 12:30pm - 2:00pm EDT
Ashford

PAPERS

Take aways: An understanding of therapy as a ritualized healing process grounded in both psychological science and spiritual practiceA brief overview of the academic and clinical support for integrating ritual, spirituality, and meaning-making into therapy workClear distinctions between habits, routines, and rituals—and why that difference matters for healing and personal growthA practical framework for creating personalized therapy rituals that support grounding, intention, safety, and integrationTools for engaging the senses, elements, energy, and protective practices in therapeutic or inner workConcrete tools for seeking pagan-affirming and spiritually responsive providers, including how to assess fit, ask informed questions, and recognize affirming vs. non-affirming responsesGuidance on how to respond when providers do not appear affirming, grounded in research on therapeutic alliance, client outcomes, and professional ethical responsibilitiesLanguage and strategies for advocating for one’s spiritual needs in therapy while maintaining safety and agencyIncreased confidence in ethically, intentionally, and sustainably blending magic and mental health

2:30pm EDT

Sex and Spirituality

Saturday July 18, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT

Ashford

What happens when we stop pretending sex and spirituality aren't already deeply intertwined? Explore the taboo space where faith, kink, and power exchange overlap - from Pagan ritual sex to Catholic guilt, ecstatic mysticism, and the spiritual undertones of D/s dynamics. We'll also discuss purity culture recovery and reclaiming pleasure as a path to psychological healing and spiritual transcendence. All belief systems welcome!

Speakers

Jess Renard

Saturday July 18, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
Ashford

PAPERS

Take aways: We want attendees to take away a feeling of validation in wherever their spirituality and sexuality intersect as well as have resources and vocabulary to better understand where things get complicated between sex and spirituality and to work on improving their experience in both.

4:00pm EDT

Plant Spirit Communication: Relearning the Language of the Green World

Saturday July 18, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT

Ashford

In this Plant Spirit Communication talk, we will explore how to go beyond simply identifying plants and dive deep into the art of building meaningful, reciprocal relationships with them. You will learn the language of the plants so you can commune with their spirits, for both personal and community healing. Cheyenne Jolene Yates, Ecologist (M.S.) and Herbalist of Among Oaks and Owls, weaves together both science and spiritual awareness to offer grounded, ethical ways to communicate with plants. We will learn how plants communicate through ecology, chemistry, and subtle perception, and how we can begin to tune into them. The talk explores practical foundations of plant spirit communication, such as connection to breath, sensory awareness, and consent. Cheyenne will also address common misconceptions, ethical considerations, and the importance of spiritual discernment.Participants will leave with simple, grounded practices they can begin immediately and a renewed sense of kinship and responsibility toward the green world. This presentation is ideal for anyone longing to reconnect with the living intelligence of the Earth.

Speakers

Cheyenne Yates

Saturday July 18, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
Ashford

PAPERS

Take aways: I want attendees to leave feeling open, curious, and willing to expand their understanding of how we relate to the plant world. My hope is that this presentation gently invites them to consider the possibility of plant spirit communication as a meaningful and accessible practice, rather than something abstract or out of reach. More than anything, I want to inspire participants to begin engaging with the unseen presence of the living world around them. Whether with a house plant on their windowsill, the herbs in their backyard, or the trees in a nearby forest, I hope they feel empowered to start listening, conversing, and building relationships with our more-than-human kin.

7:00pm EDT

The Language of Spirit: Understanding Mediumship in the Modern World

Saturday July 18, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT

Ashford

The Language of Spirit is an invitation to slow down and listen beyond the noise of everyday life. This talk explores mediumship as a subtle language of feeling, knowing, and connection, shaped by discernment and respect. It centers on the emotional truth that communication with Spirit is not about spectacle, but about presence, compassion, and meaning.

Speakers

austin dawson

Saturday July 18, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT
Ashford

Workshop

Take aways: A sense of peace, not fear.Mediumship is gentle, respectful, and rooted in love, not something to be afraid of or sensationalized.Clarity about what mediumship really is.An understanding that spirit communication is a perceptive language of awareness, feeling, and meaning, not a performance or a trick.Trust in their own sensitivity.Even if they never become a medium, they leave knowing their intuition and awareness are valid and worth listening to.Respect for ethical boundaries.Mediumship carries responsibility, consent, and compassion for both Spirit and the living.A reminder of continuity.Love, presence, and connection do not end with physical death.

8:30pm EDT

Voice of Power: Shamanic Singing with Spirits

Saturday July 18, 2026 8:30pm - 9:30pm EDT

Ashford

Experience the magical power of voice in this shamanic ritual that blends a short workshop on throat singing with an immersive sound journey to awaken your connection with sacred animal spirits.We will begin with a brief introduction to throat singing and the use of the voice in energy and spirit work. You’ll learn how voice can direct power, shift energy, and create sacred space. Then, we’ll explore a few basic techniques together — no singing experience is needed, and participation is always optional.The second and main part of the event is a full shamanic ritual with live drumming and throat singing. You will be guided into a trance to meet eight powerful animal spirits — each representing a different force or aspect within you. Through voice and rhythm, we will call upon these spirits to help balance your energy, deepen your awareness, and empower your path.You may join in singing, or simply receive. This ritual is open to all levels and does not require prior experience. It is a deep, meditative, and activating experience for anyone drawn to the power of sound and spirit.

Speakers

Aleksandra Shaman

Aleksandra Shaman is a pagan witch, shaman, and mystic, devoted to the deep and ancient traditions of magic, spirit communication, and the unseen forces that shape our world. Her spiritual path spans over 30 years of dedicated practice—performing rituals, working with spirits, and living the magical... Read More →

Saturday July 18, 2026 8:30pm - 9:30pm EDT
Ashford

Ritual

10:00pm EDT

The Rite of Kheperu: Awakening Through the Kheprian Current

Saturday July 18, 2026 10:00pm - 11:30pm EDT

Ashford

A ceremonial Kheprian working designed to assist individuals standing at the threshold of awakening. Warriors hold the space, Counselors guide integration, and Priests direct the ritual current to open participants to awakening through the Kheprian current. Through guided invocation and energetic alignment, attendees are assisted in recognizing dormant aspects of themselves. The rite is not an initiation, but an opening, designed to catalyze awareness, clarity, and remembrance.Participation is voluntary and consent-based, with grounding and aftercare provided.

Speakers