Our presenters

Amara Willey	Amara Willey is a healer and priestess of 29-year-old Hands of Change, a Wiccan community in central New Jersey. She practices cross-cultural shamanism, abundance magic, and miracles. She runs a shaman school called the Ancient Healing Way, offers quantum physics-based rituals as part of Full Spectrum Magic Lab, and is a driving force in the international festival Ishtarfest. For more information, see her website www.amarawilley.com
Amy Rippel	I ran for Congress in my home area. I got just over 30 percent of the vote and spent less than 5 thousand dollars. I have been part of the pagan community for over 30 years. So first is how to run for office and stay true to who you are. Second I am an adoptive parent. How to adopt a child and stay true to who you are. Third I have been giving readings since childhood (hard to do in an extremist Christian family). Ways to get in touch with the part of you that knows/ building trust with your inner knowledge bank.
Ashlie Hardman	I’m a Rev. High Priestess with 27 years of experience in ritual and spell work. I teach classes monthly through my Wiccan Circle. I’ve been trained in High Magick and various occult practices, and I have a degree in religious studies.
Blake Leaf	Blake Leaf is an animist polytheist Pagan, shamanic practitioner, wilderness skills instructor, and spiritual guardian in training. Teaching is one of Blake’s many callings: in addition to a day job in secondary education, Blake has taught workshops on various metaphysical and naturalist topics at previous Free Spirit Gatherings, Hallowed Homecoming: A Samhain Retreat, and state and local parks. Blake lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with an ever-expanding herb garden and an adorably vicious cat.
Britt Koff	Britt Koff is a bilingual lyricist, freestyle facilitator, and creative guide who blends rhythm, intuition, and self-expression through music. Rooted in the art of freestyle rap, Britt creates spaces where participants can drop perfectionism, find their flow, and reconnect with their authentic voice. Their workshops weave together improvisation, mindfulness, and collective energy, helping people express themselves freely and feel the magic of words, rhythm, and presence.
Bruce Baker	Bruce Baker is the founder of Community Health and Empowerment through Education and Research. (CHEER) a community based nonprofit in Silver Spring and Takoma Park, Maryland. He has experience as a worship associate at two Unitarian Universalist congregations and is active in multiple efforts to promote justice, equity, and inclusion. He was raised Mormon and currently practices shamanic and pagan rituals
Carla Stayduhar	She describes herself as a Wiccan and a Shaman of the Light. KelpieKayt started coming to FSG in 1987 and has been coming more or less every year since then. Her training was mainly taking every class or workshop that she could find, especially those offered my Nybor and Elspeth. In June 2000, she was married/handfasted to Skywise Stormwolf at FSG by Nybor and Elspeth who said we were airheads then but “they got better.” KelpieKayt is a follower of Bridget, Odin and Loki. She lives with Skywise, their eight four-footed feline children, two gerbils and a leopard gecko.
Christina Van Pelt	I have been teaching fused glass at free spirit gathering since 2006 online in Greenbelt Maryland and enjoy sharing my craft with fellow pagans.
Claire Luminous	Claire / Luminous – Still just me…. Witch, Geek, Freak, Reiki Master Teacher, Grief & Trauma Healing Expert, Priestess, Minister, Counselor, Coach, Healer, Author, MaMa Bear, Cook, Performer, Dreamer, Builder, Druid’s Wife, Cat Mommy, Detroit and Jersey, Music and Mayhem, Above and Below. Blessed Be.www.miriamswellhealing.comwww.youcanhealyourgrief.com
Craig Setti	Gwaeron is a lineaged Warrior-Mage, Witch, Sorcerer, Core-Shamanic practitioner, and Water Pourer with three decades of esoteric experience. His diverse path spans Reconstruction Celtic Witchcraft, Scandinavian Deific and Magickal practices, Egyptian and Enochian Ceremonial Magick, Voodoo, Hoodoo, plus Maasai and Native American spiritualities. Known for offensive and defensive operative magick, or ‘Warcraft.’ Gwaeron bridges the mystical with the practical as a martial artist, wilderness survivalist, tracker, and wilderness medic. Professionally, he integrates science and mysticism, drawing on his background as a research scientist and throughout his career as a Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist.
David Stayduhar	A practicing Pagan for 28+ years. He attended his first FSG at the tender age of 28, back in 1996. He and his wife, KelpieKayt, were married under the pines near the dining hall by Nybor and Elspeth of the Haven community in June 2000. Skywise describes his path as eclectic, not following any given path and feels that he was fted to be a follower of Tyr from the day he was born. (If you want to hear the story, just ask). Skywise is a work-from-home employee of MOHELA. He shares his home with eight very demanding cats. A practicing Pagan for 28+ years. He attended his first FSG at the tender age of 28, back in 1996. He and his wife, KelpieKayt, were married under the pines near the dining hall by Nybor and Elspeth of the Haven community in June 2000. Skywise describes his path as eclectic, not following any given path and feels that he was fted to be a follower of Tyr from the day he was born. (If you want to hear the story, just ask). Skywise is a work-from-home employee of MOHELA. He shares his home with eight very demanding cats.
Deborah Becker	Sidhe Dances is a Third Degree Initiate of The Assembly of The Sacred Wheel. She is a Priestess of Bast and dedicated to Heimdall. As a Seer, she helps others to develop their psychic abilities.
Desert Star	I am a Unity & Earth Priestess. Desert Rose, my 87-year-old mother, was raised on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Lame Deer, Montana, where traditions of earth-based veneration and ancestral reverence shaped the foundation of our family’s spiritual path.Rooted in this sacred relationship with Earth and lineage, I have evolved into an ecospiritual mentor, trauma-informed facilitator, writer, and guide devoted to helping others rediscover their innate belonging within nature. It is my intent to bridge ancestral wisdom with contemporary ecospiritual teachings.I invite my students and clients to listen to the wisdom of land, air, water, and the living world and cultivate unity, remembrance, and embodied healing. Through safe containers, my goal is to empower individuals to rediscover their authentic voice, restore energetic balance, and walk a path of numinous connection with Earth.
Eric	I am an ex-military, practicing Norse Heathen and student of Stoicism (20+ years for both) with a strong Anti-Fascist bent. I concentrate on rituals and celebrations to keep people going in tough times.
Erika Palmer	Erika Wren is various things to a whole lot of people. Most recently they’ve added “clergy student, Troth Secretary, and Bone Whisperer” to the list of their kennings.Others are witch, Mama, Heathen, podcaster, and one heck of a good time.
Firesong	Firesong (Eshu Akoni) is a priestess and Pathway initiate at the Universal Temple of Spirits, a Global Spirits pantheistic trance possession temple.  She is a traditional and world music song mistress as well as a professional teacher, opera singer, artist, and a root worker with a long background in ceremonial magic and ritual and culture. Firesong conducts chant sessions, Global Spirits services, women’s rituals, herbalism classes, and pours for the Starry Night Sweat Circle.  She has recorded several teaching CDs of traditional chants and is the author of Global Spirits: Philosophies and Practices.  Firesong has sung with world class symphonies and performs in the US and Europe.
Giani Sirignano	Born and raised in Brooklyn. Never sent to Sunday school so I never lost a child’s magical thinking. Influences: science fiction, opera, Shinto, Buddhism, Jung, punk music and Monty Python.
Giani Sirignano	Born and raised in Brooklyn. Never unlearned magical thinking. Cultural influences: opera, science fiction, Shinto and punk music.
Gypsy	I have been a metaphysical world practitioner for almost 30 years.  I have used this time to dabble in most of the occultic sciences.  I use my knowledge to help myself and others fulfill their lives.
Hugh Eckert	Hugh has been a Pagan for more than forty years; he was at the very first Free Spirit Gathering and has attended almost every one since. He is an eclectic Polytheist and member of the Universal Temple of Spirits, a celebratory and devotional group working in the Global Spirits trance-possessory tradition. He has been awarded a Certificate of Continuing Education (with a concentration in Text, Tradition and Interpretation) from Cherry Hill Seminary. He writes poetry and LARPs, and reads a lot. A book of his poetry- “The Words Swim, Waiting”- is available on Lulu.com. His blog can be found at http://thewordsswimwaiting.wordpress.com.
James Welch	James (Jim) Welch is one of the artisan-owners of WizardsTower, supplier of ritual garments and custom wands for mid-level and advanced magickal practitioners. He is a writer, teacher and community elder. In his personal practice, Jim combines elements of both the Celtic and Norse traditions, following the Dragon Path. He began designing garments and bags 40 years ago and has used this skill to serve the ritual needs of the Pagan community for 20 years. Currently, he offers workshops about the magickal properties of color, woods/trees, crystals and stones, among others. He can be reached through the WizardsTower website, www.wizardstower1.com.
Jamie René Peddicord	Jamie has been making Faerie and Pagan inspired costumes and accessories most often, including machine embroidery for many years and would now like to bring her skills to share her knowledge.
Jason	Practicing Herbalist born in Russia and raised in Southern Maryland worked on my grandparents tobacco farm when I was younger.
Jeffrey Jones	Hi, I’m Jeff. I love workinf with wood and leather and creating beautiful usable one of a kind pieces. I also love teaching people how to use their own energy to create things as well!
Juliette Laclaire	Juliette Laclaire is a transgender heathen witch and spirit worker who specializes in chaos magic, Healing, Oracular Seidr and Divination as well as working with Unpredictable and Chaotic entities. She brings an eccentric and often ecelectic/unorthadox approach to magic, encouraging people to think differently about the kinds of magic that they utilize.
Kailey Hauser	As an 18 year old, I’ve faced more than I should have with a toxic family and an extremely abusive relationship, but these things have set me up to be the strong person I am today. I have found myself in kink and learned to cope with my trauma through reclamation.
Keiden Bren	Keiden Bren is a neurodivergent queer kinky pagan artist living with MS. They have a deep passion for identity, communication, and language which fuels their desire to create safe spaces for people to just be themselves and to generate learning experiences to grow. In addition to their work in education they are also a drum mage, sacred fire tender, ritualist, a member of the Universal Temple of Spirits, first-degree initiate in the Stone Circle Wicca tradition, graduate of Gryphon’s Grove School of Shamanism, and an ordained Priest by the Order of the Golden Gryphon.
Klytus	I (Klytus) am a solitary, eclectic, Pagan practitioner who has been teaching classes on “free form” (as in, not tied to any specific magical or spiritual traditions) energy work since 2016. In addition to being an energy worker and energy healer, I am also trained in Reiki III, shamanic journey work, and shamanic soul retrieval. During the festival, I am available for teaching private lessons and performing healing work for no charge. Just come talk to me to make arrangements.
Lamia Nightstorm	Lamia Nightstorm is a spiritual practitioner, folklorist, and researcher who bridges the worlds of history, traditional folk magic, and spirit communication. With a deep respect for historical spiritual movements, Lamia blends academic research with practical, real-world application to make the unseen world safe, verifiable, and accessible to all. Her classes span all levels of experience—from guiding folks through the vital foundations of grounding and energy management, to leading family-friendly nature walks to discover the magic of the Fae. For intermediate practitioners, Lamia brings a disciplined, no-nonsense approach to the history of Spiritism and the structured techniques of Scottish-style evidential mediumship. Across all of her work, Lamia focuses on safety, strong boundaries, and helping every student build a solid foundation for their unique journey.
Lauren G. Koch	Keeper of the Old Ways is an itinerant, small-batch herbal apothecary and integrative well-being practice rooted in seasonal wisdom, creativity, and mindfulness.Founded by Lauren G. Koch — a full-time creative, spirit worker, pagan clergy member, and educator with over 20 years of experience — blending traditional and modern holistic practices.Lauren’s work bridges ancestral traditions, trauma-informed somatic practices, self-expression, and correspondence work rooted in Appalachian and Northern European lineages. As an animist with deep knowledge of Zen Buddhism and an inclusive Norse Heathen practitioner, their work centers relationships — to land, ancestors, community, and the mind, body, and spirit — to cultivate authentic, abundant lives through creativity, mindfulness, and seasonal living.Find Lauren leading workshops, retreats, and rituals throughout Appalachia and beyond, sharing knowledge on herbalism, veneration practices, creativity, and self-care.
Liz Porter	Liz is an Astrologer, Manifestation Coach, Reiki Master, initiated witch, and farmer. A member of Minoan, Gardnerian, and Assembly of the Sacred Wheel traditions, Liz has been using practical magic to manifest goals into tangible reality for over two decades. She has taught at EarthSpirit festivals and intensives, Free Spirit Gathering, and Assembly of the Sacred Wheel’s Annual retreat. Liz has raised a coven of witches who are teachers and healers in their own right and is sharing this path with her partner and family, their animals, and the land.
Lory Starling	Lory Cosner (she/her) has been a practicing witch for over 20 years. She is on the board for the Frederick Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (FCUUPS), and the Sacred Space Conference. Though a city witch at heart, she also loves time out in the woods and in the water. Lory is an avid traveler and has been to over 40 countries and territories all around the globe; her favorite part of travel is learning about other cultures and practices. As someone who has spent most of her adult life as a fat person and just about her entire life with a surgical injury and a large scar that she used to be really self-conscious about, Lory is passionate about helping others find both magickal and mundane ways to feel more comfortable in their bodies, and recognizing that their body is a temple… be it a shining golden paragon or something ancient, crumbling, and haunted.
Maria Wander	Dr. Maria Wander is an NYC-based High Priestess, CAPISAR-certified astrologer, author, and holistic practitioner. Her expertise spans Hellenistic, Horary, and Uranian Astrology, Tarot, Lenormand, and Magi Destiny cards. Outside her esoteric work, she serves as President of the National Council of Geocosmic Research and Vice President of the United Astrology Conference, holds a doctorate in Nursing, and works as a university professor, nurse informaticist, clinical hypnotherapist, success coach, and fiber artist. Her practice synthesizes Astrology, Human Design, EFT, Quantum Alignment Systems, NLP, flower essences, and hypnosis-informed approaches.
Mark Delgado	Mark has assisted tina in teaching glass at FSG for the last 7 years.
Michael Boothby	Michael Boothby is a ConsciousBreathwork Practitioner, Improviser, and Transformational Guide who blends the healing power of presence with the joy of play. Through Conscious Comedy, he invites participants to reconnect with their inner child, release self-judgment, and step into the freedom of authentic expression. Combining breath, movement, and improvisational theater games, Michael creates a safe and playful space where transformation happens through laughter, spontaneity, and deep embodiment. His work is rooted in the belief that joy is medicine, and that when we stop performing and start being, we become creatively liberated.
Miriam Benson	For 40 years, I’ve been a 3rd degree Gardnerian of the Protean lineage, but I was a Discordian adept much earlier than that. I was a member of the FSA Board of Trustees in the 1990s, but left the organization when I moved to upper New York state in 2000. Since then, I’ve joined the Board of Directors of Panthea, a local pagan gathering in my state. I have poured sweats under the coordinating leadership of Tyrtle in the past and I’m pleased to share my skills and knowledge with the FSG community.
NINA AMAYA	Nina Amaya is a faerie-inspired witch and performing artist based in Baltimore, Maryland. She is a longtime teacher of dance, art, resilience, and witchcraft. She has performed and taught workshops at many festivals and conferences and schools. Nina is the founder of the Baltimore Faerie Faire and FaeryCon.com (2015-present). She directs the Aubergine Faerie Dance Troupe, and the Brinjal World Music band. She is a sought-after leader in the local Faerie community. In her day job as a stilt walker, she is a Giant in her field, and runs  .
Oak the Nameless	I am a practicing Norse Pagan /Heathen /Northern Tradition Pagan. There are multiple names for people who work with a similar combination of gods, and I’ve certainly cycled through them over the years. I work most closely with Loki, Odin, Angrboda, and Hel but there are a number of other deities that have helped me along my path. I was raised in Southern California, where sometimes things just catch on fire. There’s nothing like a full-scale city evacuation to drive home the idea that all things change, and that people can adapt to anything.My study of the runes began when I was 18 and was based in Unverified Personal Gnosis (UPG) right from the start. This means that I base a lot of my work on the personal experiences that I’ve had with the runes, rather than on historical evidence of their uses. While I did look up the common meanings of each rune, they were only guidelines for me. Reading runes isn’t an exact science, and each person can approach it differently. For me, it always felt like the rune set itself was just a tool that an external energy was working through. This drives my work with the runes into exploring that energy outside of divination as well. These days, I live in Maryland with my two cats, whom I love very much despite all the messes I’ve had to clean up. I practice with a local inclusive Heathen Kindred and sing with a pagan a Capella choir. I am surrounded by amazing friends and have an incredible family. Check out my website at OakNameless.com for more rune resources.
Peggy Brennan	Peggy Brennan has poured many sweats, and got official training from Mary “Tyrtle” Rooker. She has also deeply studied the worldwide practice known as sweat therapy, though mostly from books, travelers who converse, and shamanic journeys. This sweat ceremony is in the Irish tradition, with three rounds and a focus of the body’s integration of “Head Hands and Spirit”. Peggy is a semi-pro musician & shamanic practitioner & artist/activist, planning a tour with her musical trio. She’s playing a solo FSG concert lunchtime Friday, on the dining hall porch, but it can be heard throughout our natural amphitheater (audible at most cabins). Find her music & concerts at Peggy Brennan Music on Facebook, or email to be put on the mailing list.
Rev. Kyle Aaron Reese	Kyle Aaron Reese is a proud transgender man and the Associate President of The Troth, as well as on the planning committee for NET. He comes from an academic background with studies in anthropology, political science, gender studies, and a Master of Arts in Human Rights. He is also ordained through The Troth’s clergy program. In practice, he is a mead maker and craftsman working in wood, stone, and whatever else he can get his hands on!
Sam Hogan	Zenlizard is many things: a lizard, unlike you mammals, long-time board gamer, retired wildlife rehabilitator, Discordian, Pastafarian, and Fryer in the United Church of Bacon (yes, that’s a real thing)
Sarah Schrift	Sarah Schrift is a professional artist, singer/songwriter, tarot reader, reiki master, and magickal practitioner. She holds a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art and a MFA from Columbia University. Sarah shows her artwork in various venues across the US. Recurrent themes in her work are deity, plant and animal allyship, mediumship, ancestral veneration, myth, and folklore. Her albums The Sours and Ice Cream for Astronauts are available on all major streaming platforms. Her latest project is with partner Tony Steele, called Magickal Creatures. Magickal Creatures is a multi-faceted business engaging in music, art, and divination.
Sarah Schrift	Sarah Schrift (she/her) is a magickal practitioner and member of the Assembly of the Sacred Wheel by way of the Order of the World Tree in NYC. Sarah is a visual artist, a singer-songwriter, and co-owner of Magickal Creatures LLC, offering music, visual art, tarot readings, and horary astrology readings. She has shown her work and performed in various venues and galleries along the East Coast, the Midwest, and abroad. Sarah has released two albums, The Sours and Ice Cream for Astronauts. She is currently releasing singles with the group Magickal Creatures. Schrift received a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art in painting and an MFA from Columbia University in studio art. Across all mediums, Schrift’s work deals with divination, divinity, mediumship, religion, myth, folklore, interpersonal relationships, nature, nature spirits, and magick.
Shane Amerman	Silver member of the Gràrvölur Seidr Guild, and a long time volunteer and participant at FSG and part of the ritual team for THE Beltane. SIlver was a fixture at FSG in the early 2000’s and has come back into the fold since 2018.
Sundance Metelsky	Sundance Metelsky is a Jungian coach, dream explorer, and shamanic teacher. She has been walking the shamanic path since 1992 and has studied with numerous shamanic teachers over the years, including Rena Yount, Tom Cowan, Nan Moss, and David Corbin. She completed the Foundation for Shamanic Studies’ 3-Year Program of Advanced Initiations and Shamanic Healing, as well as a 3-Year Weather Shamanism Apprenticeship program with Nan Moss. She is the founder of the Weather Dancing Circle, a leader of the Celtic Study Circle, and a member of the Universal Temple of Spirits along with other circles. She leads a monthly shamanic journey circle online (and occasionally in person), and offers workshops on a regular basis. Her interests include Celtic shamanism, weather shamanism, working with the Spirits of the Land, dream and art explorations, deep diving in the psyche, research/study of various spirits/myths/stories/cultures, and tending to the Earth. https://www.sundanceheartsong.com/
Tiffany Lundin	Tiffany has been a member of the pagan community since 1994, spanning group practice, public ritual and personal exploration and community support.  Tiffany has served as a ritual facilitator for UUCY in York, Free Spirit Gathering, THE Beltane, and THE Fires of Venus events held at Camp Ramblewood in Maryland. Tiffany has been published under the pen-name of Mandrake Windwillow on both Witchvox.com and in the 2007 Wicca Almanac from Llewellyn publications.Tiffany has served both the UUCY and Free Spirit Alliance as an elected member of the board and as a volunteer serving in a variety of roles over the years.Tiffany describes herself as an eclectic practitioner of green granny magick.
Tyrtle	Tyrtle’s cosmology is North European shamanism. Answering the call to healing and wholeness, manifesting non-dualistic realities, and transcending gender roles are central to Tyrtle’s vision. Her spiritual beliefs inform her political activism, which dates from the 1970s and includes a range of freedom, justice, and ecology movements. She has worked sweats full-time within the Pagan community from 1995-2001 and since 2014; she has poured since 1996. She is a graduate of lengthy teacher training from Betsy Bergstrom and others. Having engaged in shamanism since the early 1990s, she has a shamanic healing and teaching practice in the D.C. area. Her Shamanic Healers’ School opened in 2007 and continues to offer training for healers, journeyers, and everyday life. She and Bruce Runk have started a new Healing Earth Relations “HER” Series. Visit http://www.shamanicspring.com/events.
Vivian Dickinson	I am a certified Body Temple Dance Facilitator, certified womb worker, plant charmer, somatic dance artist, oracle, ancestraless, and ritualistic mentor and spiritual guide. I am looking to teach body temple dance at this festival, host workshops for women and people with vulvas in need of womb work, as well as “charming classes” which is a class where I enjoy teaching people what serpent and plant charming are. Please let me know if you are interested. Thank you so much.