Ellen Dugan
Ellen Dugan, is the award winning author known as the "Garden Witch". A psychic-clairvoyant, she has been a practicing Witch for over twenty-four years. She is a Master Gardener, and is also the Co-High Priestess of Greenwood Coven, a mixed magickal tradition Coven in the St. Louis area. Ellen teaches classes locally on Witchery and magick at Pathways. She is the author of the following Llewellyn books:
- Garden Witchery: Magick from the Ground Up
- Elements of Witchcraft; Natural Magick for Teens
- 7 Days of Magic: Spells, Charms & Correspondences for the Bewitching Week
- Cottage Witchery: Natural Magick for Hearth and Home
- Autumn Equinox: The Enchantment of Mabon
- The Enchanted Cat: Feline Fascinations, Spells & Magick- (2007 COVR Award Winner)
- Herb Magic for Beginners: Down-to-earth Enchantments
- Natural Witchery: Intuitive, Personal & Practical Magick
- How to Enchant a Man: Spells to Bewitch, Bedazzle & Beguile
Ellen's tenth book with Llewellyn Worldwide will be released in 2009. When she's not keeping up with her family (two of the kids are in college now and the oldest is out on his own), Ellen likes to unwind by working in her perennial gardens at home with her husband.
Ellen wholeheartedly encourages folks to personalize their Spell-craft. To go outside and connect with the spiritual side of nature. To get their hands dirty and discover the wonder and magick of natural world that surrounds them.
M.R. Sellars
An active member of SinC (Sisters in Crime) and the HWA (Horror Writers Association), as well as being an. Elder of the Grove of the Old Ways coven, M. R. Sellars has been called the "Dennis Miller of Paganism" due to his quick wit and humorously deadpan observations of life within the Pagan community and beyond. However, his humor is only one facet of his personality, as evidenced by the dark, unique paranormal thrillers he pens. That face has earned him another name-the "Pagan Stephen King." Even with all these comparative monikers he still likes to think of himself as just another writer trying to eke out a living doing a job he loves.
Born in the small town of Fulton, Kentucky, Sellars spent many summers during his formative years working on the family farm. He credits these "working vacations" with instilling his strong code of ethics and sense of family. While he readily admits that spending long days "bucking bales of hay" and "piloting a tractor or combine across seemingly endless acres" felt like unfair torture at the time, he misses it now and deeply appreciates the values he learned.
After graduating Ritenour High School in Saint Louis, Missouri, he went on for a short stint at College, majoring in Journalism and Literature. Due to unforeseen circumstances, he was unable to complete a degree and went to work as a Computer and Electronics Technician, which was one of his inherent skills. He never lost his love for writing, however, and continued to pen short stories and feature articles in his spare time. After 25 years in the industry, and achieving the level of CTIA Certified Senior Electronics Tech, his first novel, Harm None, was published. A few years later, with the growing success of the Rowan Gant Investigations series, he retired from the computer/electronics field in order to devote his time to writing and touring.
All of the current RGI novels have spent several consecutive weeks on numerous bookstore bestseller lists as well as a consistent showing on the Amazon.com Horror/Occult top 100. The Law Of Three, book #4 in the saga, received the St. Louis Riverfront Times People's Choice Award soon after its debut. All Acts Of Pleasure, the seventh book in the RGI series, (second book in the much touted MIRANDA TRILOGY), was released October 31, 2006 and in February 2007 became the recipient of the "2006 Preditors and Editors Award" for best novel in a mainstream genre. The End Of Desire, book eight of the series and third in the MIRANDA TRILOGY officially hit the streets October 31, 2007, immediately catapulting from its placement on the Amazon pre-release bestseller list to the top 10 hot new releases for November. Blood Moon, the next installment in the ongoing RGI saga is due for release October 1, 2008.
Sellars currently resides in the Midwest with his wife, daughter, and a host of what he describes as, "rescued, geriatric, special-needs felines". At home, when not writing or taking care of the household, he indulges his passions for cooking and hanging out with friends.
Dorothy Morrison
Dubbed by Publishers Weekly as "a witch to watch," Dorothy Morrison is the award-winning author of numerous books on the Ancient Arts and their application to modern life. She's won several awards for her writing, and has become a favorite of readers and critics from all walks of life. Some say it's because of the easily appreciated conversational tone she applies to her work. Others say it's her down-to-earth and humorous approach to the subject matter. But regardless of the debate, all agree on one thing: Whether in her writing or her interaction with the public, it's Morrison's personal style that makes her memorable. And it's that same sort of charm and grace that has some folks calling her "The Julia Sugarbaker of Paganism."
A practicing Witch since the early seventies, Morrison is an elder of the Georgian Tradition of Wicca, an initiate of the RavenMyst Circle Tradition, and a member of the Coven of the Raven in Flint, Michigan.
Morrison currently lives in Virginia with her husband, Mark, and their black lab, Sadie Mae. She handles a voracious tour schedule, and travels the country giving lectures and teaching classes related to witchcraft.
Mickie Mueller
Mickie Mueller has been working as a freelance artist since 1983. She is a Co-High Priestess of Coven of the Greenwood, and ordained Pagan Minister, and has been a Reiki healing master/teacher in the Usui Shiki Royoho tradition since 2001. She is a member of M.A.F.I.A. (Missouri Area Fantasy Illustrators Assoc.) Mickie is the illustrator of two divination decks, The Well Worn Path and The Hidden Path. She is also a regular article contributor to Llewellyns Magical Almanac, and has also published articles in Wicca and Witchcraft Magazine in the U.K. as well as Witchvox and several other online publications. Mickie periodically does interior book illustrations for Llewellyn as well.
Mickie’s art has been seen internationally on the covers of Witchcraft and Wicca, Raven’s Call, Spirit Seeker, and Oracle 200 to name a few. Her ever-growing line of products featuring her artwork has included sterling silver jewelry from Peter Stone this year.
River and Joyce Higginbotham
Joyce and River are the authors of Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions, and Pagan Spirituality: A Guide to Personal Transformation, both published by Llewellyn, with their third book, ChristoPaganism, due out in 2009. They are active teachers nationally, and appear as guest speakers at universities, high schools, and Christian churches. The Unitarian church has adopted their introductory book as a text for an adult religious education course on earth religions, and several universities use their writings as text or required reading for both graduate and undergraduate religious studies classes.
Terry Hinkle
Before sitting down to meditate one morning in the early spring of 2004, Terry had been thinking about all of the unanswered questions that he had about Divine Feminine Power and Feminine Energy. This subject was something that he had been discussing on his syndicated radio talk show for months. His listeners around the world were very interested in the subject and kept asking him for more information. The subject of the change in Feminine Energy on this planet had sparked a passionate interest in the shows growing audience and also in Terry.
What happened next in Terry's meditation that fateful spring day was a great physical and mental shock to him. As he quickly slipped into meditation that morning, Spirit sent him all of the answers to his questions about the lost Feminine Energy. The channel was open and the answers were "downloaded" into his consciousness. At the time, Terry didn't think that his physical body would survive the initial burst of higher Spiritual Energy that accompanied the information. Terry had no idea that he had ascended to the level where he could accept that kind of Energy or communication - but Spirit knew he was ready. That was all that mattered.
Terry found that all of the knowledge that he had gained from working with and interviewed many of the top authors, teachers and experts in the world of metaphysics, science, theology, spirituality, motivation, healing, ancient history and the paranormal had prepared him to receive and understand the powerful information that Spirit had given him. This personal depth of understanding enabled Terry to better interpret Spirits information and to complete Plan BE.
After working for many years in the creative world of advertising, Terry now lives with his wife, two daughters, cats and dog in St. Louis Missouri (the heartland) where he still does some business consulting, a little artwork now and then and continues to record all of the information that he receives in his daily discussions with Spirit. Life is good.
Mike Nichols
Mike Nichols is the celebrated author of The Witches' Sabbats (both the book and the website). He is also a contributing author to Creating Circles & Ceremonnies. He does extensive teaching and writing, guest lectures at Pagan festivals, and performs in a Pagan band called Spellbound. Mike has been a featured speaker on National Public Radio, Spiral Dance Radio, and Eclectic Pagan Podcast on iTunes.
A pioneer in the American neo-Pagan movement, Nichols taught classes in Witchcraft for twenty years continuously, from 1970 to 1989, in Columbia and Kansas City, Missouri, through the Communiversity; and will be teaching classes again beginning in January 2008. A founding member of the Coven of New Gwynedd, Nichols was the first Wiccan representative on the Kansas City Interfaith Council.
Tish Owen
Tish Owen is a woman of abundance. She is a daughter, a mother, a grandmother, a wife, a friend, a shop owner, and author, a seamstress, a sailor, and a brewer just to name a few. She reads tarot cards professionally and is the coordinator of the Pagan Unity Festival located in Burns, Tennessee.
Ten years ago she started with what she thought was a good idea, and that has now grown into the largest Pagan festival in the mid-South. Through the trials and tribulations of facilitating it each year, she has garnered a wealth of knowledge, which she wants to share with others so that no one has to reinvent the wheel.
She currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband Patrick, and a cast of characters starting with a very silly Rottweiler, a cat who bossess everybody, an Amazon Grey parrot who knows too much for her own good and a Vietnamese Fire-bellied tree frog. She loves her life and is grateful for more things than there is room to list here.
Tish Owen's first book, Chasing the Rainbow: Facilitating a Pagan Festival Without Losing Your Mind, was published by Willow Tree Press in 2007 to accolades from festival coordinators and guest speakers alike.
W. Lyon Martin
The author/illustrator of the Pagan children's books An Ordinary Girl, A Magical Child, Aidan's First Full Moon Circle & Watchers, W. Lyon Martin has followed a Pagan path all her adult life. She became a parent in March 1994, when her daughter was born.
She began to actively call herself Pagan in 1985 after she read Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler.
An Eclectic witch living in Eastern Missouri, she has written articles for Craft publications both on-line and in print including PanGaia, IF… (was PagaNet News), Broomstix, The Seeker Journal, NewWitch, Acorns Journal, Elements Magazine, Crescent Magazine, The Witch’s Voice and The Pagan-Wiccan Times.
She has been a working artist since 1981, when she received an Associate of Applied Science degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology. She continued her training at the School of Visual Arts where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1988. She has exhibited her watercolor paintings in art shows internationally. Her fine art paintings grace both public and private collections. Her illustration work has been featured in assorted publications, from books and magazines to corporate collateral materials and advertisements.
She lives with her husband, her daughter and two cranky cats of undetermined ancestry.
Susabelle
Susabelle has been in the community for nine years and active for almost the whole nine. She is best known as the Goddess who runs Kidzone at the St. Louis Pagan Picnic every year. An Eclectic Chaos Pagan, she practices a solitary path but spends many a weekend involved in public rituals of all kinds. She is a member of Four Winds Fellowship, the founder of Coffee Coven, the moderator of the Pagan Playground, and an author of Romance novels. Susabelle is also the secretary and WebMystress for the St. Louis Pagan Picnic, and secretary for the on-haitus St. Louis Pagan Pride.
Gengrafix
A St. Louis, Missouri native with a B.A. in painting from Webster University, Esson has won awards for music album cover art and was featured on the program cover for the Riverport Amphitheatre. Locally, her paintings have been exhibited at the St. Louis Artists Guild, the Randall Gallery, Richmond Heights Artists Group Shows, Cardeia's Coffee House, Peony Boutique, Hartford Coffee House, and other venues. In New York, she exhibited at the Great Salt Marsh in Manhattan. She recently had a booth at the 21st Wholistic Expo. She will have an art booth at Earth Day 2008. You may see Genevieve's work at the Soulard Art Market. She is one of 12 artists who has gallery space there. She also has artwork at A Floral Gallery in Clayton, MO and Mystic Valley in Maplewood. Upcoming shows are the St. Charles Spring Art Walk in April, a solo show at Crave Coffee House in May and June and Framations Art Gallery in August. You may visit her web site at www.genevieveart.com. Please contact the artist at genevieve_eus@yahoo.com to get on her emailing list for shows.
"My art is an extension of my inner world. The subject matter is surreal and dream-like...The environment reflected in some of my pieces is of a world of vivid color impressions, spiritual meanings and aspirations...The tapestry of music is another theme running through my pictures, bringing with it an abundance of movement...The scope of the human mind is infinite, with boundless possibilities to be explored, which is what makes art so exciting..."
Don Wildgrube
Don: Born and raised in St. Louis, I have been a part of the Pagan scene since 1971. I have been “out” most of this time. I spent about 12 years in Florida where I was a member of the Unitarian Fellowship of Hollywood and a member of CUUPS there
Jeness Trubic
Born in north western Pennsylvania but spending much time in Florida, Jeness is now in North Carolina. She spent quite a bit of time in Sedona, AZ where she read Tarot cards for a living while living in the mountains with her pet Coyote hybrid.
Eric Freidman
Rev. Eric C. Friedman discovered Magick at an early age. His studies include a diverse range of disciplines, including Wicca and Reconstructionist Paganism, both Hebrew and Hermetic Qabalah, and Ceremonial Magic of various forms. As a 2° Alexandrian Wiccan Priest, Eric is an ordained minister of the Church of Ancient Ways and the founder and former Director of the Long Island Open Circle. He is a Past Master of a Scottish Rite Lodge of Perfection and deeply involved in exploring the esoteric aspects of Freemasonry and other Ceremonial systems. Eric is presently working on several projects, including a translation of one of the fundamental Medieval Qabalistic texts and a series of rituals adapting the Wiccan Wheel of the Year to the Thelemic initiatory paradigm of the Crowned and Conquering Child.
Rose Wise
Rev. Rose Wise has been a practicing Wiccan and Goddess worshiper since 1980. Rose has a Masters in Business Administration, a nursing certificate and is a Reiki Master Healer. She is the founder and High Priestess of Ozark Avalon, a magickal land and Wiccan Church in Central Missouri. With her partner Sage James, a small group of on-site caretakers, and a great church community, she lives a magickal life- caring for the land, teaching classes, and organizing spiritual retreat festivals. Rose actively promotes Pagan Community though Mid-Missouri Pagan Pride, and Hearthfires Pagan Alliance. Rose has performed many handfastings and is looking forward to her own Handfasting with Sage on July 4th at Ozark Avalon.
Rev. Don Lewis
Rev. Don Lewis is the author of many works including the newly released "Witch School First Degree", "Witch School Second Degree", "Witch School Third Degree", and "Ritual in Theory and Practice" textbooks, available now in paperback from Llewellyn. Rev. Don will be available to sign copies of his books during the Pagan Picnic.
Rev. Don is co-founder of Witch School (www.witchschool.com), the worlds largest online school of metaphysics whose motto is "Anyone, anywhere, anytime education". Witch School offers Wiccan, Heathen, Voudoun, Psychic, and other metaphysical courses. Through the Mentoring system it invented, Witch School has taught literally hundreds of thousands of students all around the world.
Rev. Don is Chancellor and First Priest of the Correllian Tradition. Rev. Don has been an initiated Priest of the Correllian Tradition since 1976, and a Third Degree High Priest since 1979. Rev. Don is Chief Priest of the Correll Mother Temple and has also been the Head of Chicago's popular Holy City Temple since October of 1990. His years of service have given him a tremendous breadth of experience in dealing with the issues that face the Pagan community as well as individual Temples.
Rev. Don is also production director for Magick TV (www.magicktv.com) and host of the popular interview program "Living the Wiccan Life". Magick TV has featured a number of interviews from previous Pagan Picnic.
Rev. Don has edited several magazines over the years, including The Round Table magazine (1994 - 2001) and the Wheel Of Hekate magazine (1987 - 1989) and was art editor of Psychic Chicago Magazine (1990-1992).
Rev. Don is well known both as an artist and as an author. Rev. Don's writing or artwork has appeared in numerous Pagan publications, including Circle Network News, Green Egg, Panegyria (Newsletter of the Aquarian Tabernacle Church), Harvest, Covenant of the Goddess Newsletter, Gerina Dunwich's Golden Isis Magazine, and Silver RavenWolf's WPPA Newsletter. Rev. Don also illustrated the popular pamphlet "The Other People" available from Pathfinder Press.
Rev. Don has made numerous TV and radio appearances, was co-host of Chicago's "The Witching Hour" radio program in the early 1990s, and was a regular guest on the "Telepathic Radio" program.
In 1587 Pisces (1987 AD), Rev. Don was awarded the Silver Salamander Award for excellence in Pagan journalism, and is listed in the Who's Who of the Magickal and Pagan Community, published around the same time.
Rev. Don is well known as a professional psychic. He has been a professional clairvoyant since 1984, and is a well-known astrologer. But Rev. Don is best known as a Tarologist, and the designer of the Tarot of Hekate 1982).
Rev. Don is a co-founder and officer of the Pagan Interfaith Embassy. The Pagan Interfaith Embassy was founded in the wake of the Parliament of World's Religions (held in Chicago in 1993) with the intention of fostering greater communication and co-operation between Pagan groups and Traditions. The Pagan Interfaith Embassy has sponsored such events as the Chicago Pagan Leadership Conferences (in 1994), Pagan Unity Night (1994), and Pagan Expo 1997, 2000, and 2001. Rev. Don is also a prominent member of the Fellowship of Isis, holding the positions of: Priest of Isis (Sept. 2002), Knight Commander in the Noble Order of Tara (Sept. 2001), Adeptus (Sept. 2000), and Druidic Companion in the Druid Clan of Dana (Sept. 1999).
Rev. Donald Lewis of Illinois is the First Priest and Paramount High Priest of the Correllian tradition. He is active daily giving wise and kind leadership to a tradition that has worldwide membership. Rev. Don, as he is known in the tradition, is an ardent writer and outstanding graphic artist. He has written all of the course manuals for his tradition in a manner that is easily understood. His knowledge of Wiccan traditions adds richness to his works. All of his books include illustrations he drew making the material even more enjoyable. His course books are now being published by Llewellyn. Rev. Don will be available to sign his books during the Pagan Picnic.
Draco
Draco has been a student of the occult for 12 years now. Though she is an occultist in a general sense, she concentrates mainly on working with the Egyptian pantheon and studying the ways of ancient Egypt. As a Second-degree member of Coven of the Greenwood, Draco enjoys celebrating the sabbats with her Sisters, as well as participating in enlightening discussion with fellow pagans.
