H. Byron Ballard,
BA, MFA, is a ritualist, teacher, speaker
and writer.
She has served as a featured speaker and teacher at Sacred Space
Conference, Pagan Unity Festival, Pagan Spirit Gathering, Southeast Wise
Women’s Herbal Conference, Glastonbury Goddess Conference, FaerieFest and
other gatherings.
She serves as elder priestess at Mother Grove Goddess Temple, a church
devoted to the many faces of the Divine Feminine, where she teaches
religious education and leads rituals.
Her writings have appeared in print and electronic media. Her essays are
featured in several anthologies, including “Birthed from Scorched Hearts“
(Fulcrum Press), “Christmas Presence“ (Catawba Press), “Women’s Voices in
Magic” (Megalithica Books), “Into the Great Below” and “Skalded Apples”
(both from Asphodel Press). She blogs as “Asheville’s Village Witch”
(myvillagewitch.wordpress.com) and as The Village Witch for Witches and
Pagans Magazine (witchesandpagans.com/The-Village-Witch), where she is
also a regular columnist.
Her pamphlet “Back to the Garden: a Handbook for New Pagans“ has been
widely distributed and her first book “Staubs and Ditchwater: an
Introduction to Hillfolks Hoodoo” (Silver Rings Press) debuted in June
2012. Byron is currently at work on the companion volume “Asfidity and
Mad-Stones” and “Earth Works: Eight Ceremonies for a Changing Planet”.
Contact her at www.myvillagewitch.com, info@myvillagewitch.com
Basic Practical Magic—Make magical practice a part of your everyday
life—never be “mundane” again. From a nifty Parking Spell to the fun
Marshmallow Hex, add some work-a-day spells to your work-basket for a more
efficient, juicy life. Magic is afoot!
Hillfolks Hoodoo: Appalachia’s Living Folk Magic Tradition—With its gnarly
roots in the British Isles, the German Palatinate and in indigenous
American tribal practice, Appalachian folk magic is characterized by its
hands-on and practical approach, as well as its use of available
materials. Though it has come down to us through a Protestant Christians
filter, this system is easily adapted to modern Pagan sensibilities.
Willful Bane: the History, Techniques and Ethics of Hexing
Willful Bane is about the ethics of banework, the history of it in
Appalachian folk magic, plus lots of practical experience that includes
dollies, sachets, vinegar, chicken feet, marshmallows etc. We'll dive into
history, legend, techniques and--perhaps most important--ethics. Come
learn about the joy of hex.
She has served as a featured speaker and teacher at Sacred Space
Conference, Pagan Unity Festival, Pagan Spirit Gathering, Southeast Wise
Women’s Herbal Conference, Glastonbury Goddess Conference, FaerieFest and
other gatherings.
She serves as elder priestess at Mother Grove Goddess Temple, a church
devoted to the many faces of the Divine Feminine, where she teaches
religious education and leads rituals.
Her writings have appeared in print and electronic media. Her essays are
featured in several anthologies, including “Birthed from Scorched Hearts“
(Fulcrum Press), “Christmas Presence“ (Catawba Press), “Women’s Voices in
Magic” (Megalithica Books), “Into the Great Below” and “Skalded Apples”
(both from Asphodel Press). She blogs as “Asheville’s Village Witch”
(myvillagewitch.wordpress.com) and as The Village Witch for Witches and
Pagans Magazine (witchesandpagans.com/The-Village-Witch), where she is
also a regular columnist.
Her pamphlet “Back to the Garden: a Handbook for New Pagans“ has been
widely distributed and her first book “Staubs and Ditchwater: an
Introduction to Hillfolks Hoodoo” (Silver Rings Press) debuted in June
2012. Byron is currently at work on the companion volume “Asfidity and
Mad-Stones” and “Earth Works: Eight Ceremonies for a Changing Planet”.
Contact her at www.myvillagewitch.com, info@myvillagewitch.com
Basic Practical Magic—Make magical practice a part of your everyday
life—never be “mundane” again. From a nifty Parking Spell to the fun
Marshmallow Hex, add some work-a-day spells to your work-basket for a more
efficient, juicy life. Magic is afoot!
Hillfolks Hoodoo: Appalachia’s Living Folk Magic Tradition—With its gnarly
roots in the British Isles, the German Palatinate and in indigenous
American tribal practice, Appalachian folk magic is characterized by its
hands-on and practical approach, as well as its use of available
materials. Though it has come down to us through a Protestant Christians
filter, this system is easily adapted to modern Pagan sensibilities.
Willful Bane: the History, Techniques and Ethics of Hexing
Willful Bane is about the ethics of banework, the history of it in
Appalachian folk magic, plus lots of practical experience that includes
dollies, sachets, vinegar, chicken feet, marshmallows etc. We'll dive into
history, legend, techniques and--perhaps most important--ethics. Come
learn about the joy of hex.
