Panel/Workshop Presenters
(Committee member biographies can be found under the committee table on the Committee page.)
Alan Steinborn: Like many people, Alan STeinborn looked for JOY by trying all kinds of things. Then, in 1993, he discovered something that totally surprised him. He discovered a form of awareness that gave him unconditional JOY. Since then, Alan has been traveling around the world helping people experience JOY. You can read about Alan and the Joy Experience at www.speaknow.biz.
Bill: is a Celtic Shaman and Reiki master following a non-traditional path of worhip. He has been a Reiki Master for 5 years and a practicing healer for about 20 years. He assists his spouse, Durgama, in teaching, passing attunements and healing endeavors. His current focus of study is researching the origins and metamorphosis of Cernunnos.
David Alverson currently lives in Seattle with his wife, their dog, cat and 20+ snakes. While the product of a traditional Christian upbringing he has always held the belief that the acceptance of one faith does not negate the faith of another. This broad sense of spirituality led him to the Tarot. What started as a research project for a short story he was writing led him to many concepts from a wide range of backgrounds and traditions resulting in the discovery that working with the Tarot helped him articulate messages of a spiritual nature in a way he had never experienced before. This is David's third year with Magickal Winter Weekend sharing his ideas on learning the basic concepts of the Tarot, Tarot in sacred spaces and craft work and even photographing the Tarot deck.
David Chittenden: is a current student in the counselor education master's program at Portland State University and plans to graduate in June. He has been a Kiatsu hearler since 1984, a mystical warrior teacher since 1995 and trained from 1983 through 1994.
David Wilkins began his musical career learning the recorder in elementary school. After two years of college at UNLV he joined the US Navy as a trombonist. While in the Navy he learned arranging and composition, became an assistant band leader, and attained the rank of Chief Musician. He retired from the Navy in 1997 after twenty years of service. David then moved to McMinnville, OR and began playing in the band and orchestra at Linfield College. He earned his BA in music composition in 2001. David began his percussion studies after moving to Oregon, mostly through the Society for Creative Anachronism, and over the last few years in the greater Pagan community.
Durgama: is a Reiki Master and Ordained Pagan minister living here in Portland for over 7 years. She has been a practicing pagan for 16 years and is versed in many traditions including the Ancient Religions, Wicca, Healing techniques, Shamanism, Reiki, Eastern Philosophy, Eclectic Paganism, Fetish and Healing as a symbiotic relationship and Pagan Polyamory. As a teacher, she believes that it is important to show students numerous paths and opinions to allow them to find the path that best suits them. As a Reiki Master she is curretnly offering healings, teaching classes and passing attunements in the Portland area. She also teaches classes on energy theory, the Secret work and general Paganism.
Frank Jordon: from Boise, Idaho, is an active water, mineral, and missing persons dowser and Healer. He created the poplular line of Super-Sensor Dowsing and Diving tools which he markets world-wide on his Psi-Tronics website. Frank and his wife, Jane, have traveled extensively for 25 years as healers and lecturers doing workshops and teaching dowsing, physcial development and all levels of Metaphysics. His current workshop series involves understanding "How Things Work", or the physics of metaphysics and learning how to use the power of the mind to create a desirable reality. The current focus of his teachings is a series of quarterly workshops titled, "Clearing the Way To Enlightenment." Frank will demonstrate his tools at his booth and teach a dowsing and divining seminar during the Magickal Winter Weekend. Jane Jordan will display her collection of English Woodland Faeries and will help you tune into the wonderful, subtle realm of faeries and devas. The Jordans will begin a new workshop series in Beaverton immediately after the MWW where he will give an introductory talk.
Jennifer Robinson: Jennifer performs and teaches at various events throughout the country as time and family allow. She enjoys combining the variety of training that she has and her love of dance to bring her students and audiences fun and enjoyment. You can find more information at her website, floorplay.net Jennifer has recently started an herbal apothecary business.
Joseph Thiebes: is a Thelemic Priest and Initiator, current Master of Sekhet-Maat Lodge, Editor of the O.T.O. nation newsletter in the U.S. (Agape) and past Editor of the official Sekhet-Maat Lodge journal (Lion & Serpent). A practioner of magick for 18 years and Portland resident for 9, Joseph makes his home near the ducks of Laurelhurst in the burgeoning district of occult activity he likes to call "New Alamut." In his limited spare time, Joseph enjoys creating digital art to find expression for his visions.
Katherine: is a special education teacher, corporate trainer, and Reiki practioner. She has been working with the Tarot for over 20 years. Her favorite deck is the good ol' Rider-Waite, though Morgan's Tarot also appeals to her.
Lord Ansur: is a retired, 71 year old Environmental Engineer that writes for fun. He has been published in three magazines (Open Ways, Circle {Sanctuary}, and Pacific Pagan) as well as having several of his articles featured in various places on the Internet, including Witches' Vox. He has been a witch since the 70's (too far back to remember exactly) and is the main founder and current acting High Priest of the P.A.C.T. Coven. He also practices Chaos Magi and is a member of the Sorcerer's Guild. Lord Ansur is currently researching ways to unite science and spirituality, especially Advanced Physics with it's Quantum Wierdness and Magic.
Lord Wolf: was raised unknowingly in a pagan-type home where free thinking, being earth-friendly and in tune with nature was highly encouraged. After coming into adulthood, Lord Wolf attended a private Christian College and then joined the Chaplain Corp in the US Army from 1981 - 1985. Since that time he has studied continually in Stregia, Wicca, Shamanism and Celtic traditions. He is an ordained high priest and co-ran an ecclectic circle in Anchorage, Alaska for about five years. Lord Wolf is now teaching Year and a Day classes.
Lupa is the author of Fang and Fur, Blood and Bone: A Primal Guide to Animal Magic, A Field Guide to Otherkin, and DIY Totemism: Your Personal Guide to Animal Totems (forthcoming) and co-author (with Taylor Ellwood) of Kink Magic: Sex Magic Beyond Vanilla. she is also an artist and an editor for Megalithica Books. Check out her art at the Greenwolf vending table and to learn more about her, please visit The Greenwolf.
Mark Magill is an award winning playwright and poet, as well as a bardic student in the Order of Bards, Oviates, and Druids. As a certified professional Tarot reader for the last ten years, he has combined his love of writing and divination and has discovered how the Tarot can open the gateway to his own sacred ink well to produce devotional writings. Mark spends his time between Seattle and Port Townsend, Washington where he is a professional trainer and playwright.
Michael Agee:
Patricia Combs, DP: is a life-long hillbilly herbalist. Her family owns a small herb farm/wildcrafting business in The Dalles www.moonshinelavender.org They are pagan farmers continuing the tradition of producing natural, folk remedies. She will focus on local healing and sacred plants of the Columbia River Gorge and Portland. She is a member of the Ar nDraiocht Fein Golden Apple Grove, Local Harvest Community Supported Agriculture (www.localharvest.org/farms/M19026 ) and a life member of the Magicka School of Italy.
Rhiannon Louve: is in her final year of a Master's degree program in Applied Theology or, theology combined with pastoral care training. Her Master's thesis is entitled, "Paganism and the Social Fringes: A Thealogy/Theology of Inclusion." Rhiannon has been an eclectic solitary Pagan practitioner for nearly 15 years. Her chief religious influences include Wicca (several types), contemporary Shamanism, Taoism, Hinduism, Shinto, and a splash of Discordian humor and scepticism. She is a published freelance author in the role-playing game industry and is currently working to branch out into the world of religious academic writing.
Sienna Newcastle RC, HPS has been helping people straighten out their spiritual ideas for over 15 years. Daughter of the metaphysical author, "Nema", she writes the 'Open Ways' column "Ask the Priesthood" and hold a degree inpsychology from WSUV. Sienna is the current president of M.A.G.I.C. and Magick Director of the Spiral Rhythms Festival, as well as being a longstanding member of the 9 Houses of Gaia. She teaches workshops in basic magick, Tarot, and introductory Tantra, as well as mentoring individual students, doing professional psychic and tarot readings, and taking counseling clients in her Vancouver, WA office. www.spiralrhythms.org/magic
Sharon M. Blasing has been reading the Tarot for over thirty years and teaching for more than twenty. She is a Pisces who reads from a multitude of Tarot and Oracle decks to best meet the needs of those she serves. For Sharon, the cards are a focus point for viewing options, opportunities and events through the perspective of a different language. She has shared her craft throughout the United States and is now even offering her instruction internationally. Sharon resides in Salem, Oregon and is available for readings, classes and personal consultations.
Sue Aberle: is a relative newcomer to the Pagan community. She brings diverse talents to the weekend, which will be offered in three workshops. "Nutrition and Spirituality" come from Sue as a Registered Dietitian in private practice in Vancouver, Washington. She holds two degrees in nutrition, and has nearly 17 years of experience both in public health nutrition and private practice. She has recently developed an interest in the impact that our food choices may have on our spiritual well-being, in addition to our physical and mental health. Please visit her website, health.aberle.net for information about services she offers as well some healthy recipes. Another workshop, "Living the Path: Environmental Action" comes from a nearly lifelong dedication toward preserving the environment and saving both fuel and money. Sue is a sof-avowed "recycling junkie", considering reuse, recycling, and composting to be as personal right and the responsbility of each of us. Her third workshop, "Bardic Inspiration", arises from her most recent passion: creative writing and poetry. As a member of the Sacred Oak Grove, she is quickly learning the skills expected of a Bard of a Druidic order.
Taylor Ellwood is the author of Pop Culture Magick, Space/Time Magic, Inner Alchemy and Multi-Media Magic as well as the co-author (with Lupa) of Kink Magic: Sex Magic Beyond Vanilla. He's also the non-fiction managing editor of Megalithica Books. To find out more about him please visit www.thegreenwolf.com and www.imagineyourreality.com
Thuri Calafia: is a Wiccan High Preistess of many years standing. She is the creator of the Circles System; a four-level course of study in eclectic Wicca, and the author of "Dedicant: A Witch's Circle of Fire" which will be released by Llewellyn Worldwide in the autumn of 2008. She is currently offering various priestess services and teaching Dedicant level classes in the Portland metro area and is working on the second in the four-book series, "Initiate: A Witch's Circle of Water."