Teacher Biographies
This list is alphabetic by both Last name and Spiritual name.
Archonstone, see Bill Hegeman.
Balu (2008) Balu was raised in the Mormon Church and became an elder in 1969. He remained a member until 1973 when he was introduced to one of its offshoots. After converting to the new church, he was ordained as an Elder and given a ministerial license from the state of Missouri. Around 1983 he was introduced to Wicca when some friends invited him to join in a rite of passage ritual they were conducting for some friends who had died in a car accident. In 1986 he received his 1st degree from an Alexandrian high priestess. In 1994 he met his current high priestess (Seanara) who introduced him to Western Transformational Wicca. He currently is the High Priest of a small group who meet regularly In Virginia and Maryland. He has conducted the Cleansing Sacred Space portion of the opening ritual for Ecumenicon in many previous years.
Miriam Benson (Shulameet) (2008) is a 3rd degree priestess in the Protean tradition of the Gardnerian lineage, with over 25 years of magical experience. In addition to serving as Sweat Circle Coordinator at the Chesapeake Pagan Summer Gathering, she is a Discordian Adept. Nothing perks up one’s karma like a bit of mirth in one’s magic, now and zen.
Rev. Patricia Blanken (Lady Luna Rose) (2008) is a Sacristan (Minister of Sacred Environment) being Her interests lie in practical magic, taking ordinary things and making them sacred. She holds two Certificates of Interfaith Studies from Ecumenicon and is the first to have achieved that distinction). Lady Luna Rose is High Priestess of Crossroads Teaching Circle, a congregation of Ecumenicon Fellowship. She has been with the conference since 2000. (Portable Altars, Sand Sculptures). Email: childsight @ yahoo.com .
Rev. Charles Butler (Baba Charles or Tio Neto) (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008) is the off-site coordinator and co-founder of Ecumenicon Conference and serves as one of its Trustees. He was reared as a Pentecostal Minister and is trained in Christianity, Ifa, Wicca, and conversant in Judaism. He was trained in Christianity by house churches and study at Wesley Seminary (American University). He was trained in Wicca by Lady Ingrid Dennisson and Lord Thoth of Ravenwood, and in the Fellowship of Isis. His Ifan lineage is through Baba George Rawlings of the Temple of St Michael. He is creator of the Transformation Tarot, and is a singer with A Company of Strangers and songwriter. He is ordained with Ecumenicon Fellowship as an Interfaith Minister and is High Priest of Rising Sun Congregation. He received his B.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Michigan in 1975 with a minor in Brazilian Studies. He recently returned from Brazil and brings greetings from Terreiro De Seite Cruzados do Pai Tupiranga) (Terreiro of the 7 Crossroads of Pai Tupiranga), an Umbanda Terreiro dedicated to Oshun and Oggun. Email: chazzer3332000 @ yahoo.com. Mailing address: Charles Butler, c/o Frank Leonard, 3205 KIMBERLY RD, HYATTSVILLE MD 20782-3722
Georgia Butler Cobb (Grandmother Enyalie) (2005, 2006, 2007) is a student of nature currently working at the Art Institute of Atlanta. She is the creator of Nature Awareness Adventures, a series of self-study guides exploring the world. She explores sacred spaces, meditates with nature, and is considering study as a chaplain.
Anna-Sara Fire (2008) is a Master of Divinity candidate with Stockholm University, focused on Sami Studies, and a ministerial intern with Ecumenicon Fellowship. For the past 3 years she has been a student of Shamanism under Rev. Dr. Crow Swimsaway and Bekki Shiningheart of the Church of Earth Healing.
Rev. Rik Fire (2008) is an Ordained Interfaith Minister with Ecumenicon Fellowship. His primary spiritual pathways are Shamanism, Ifa, Gnosticism & Unitarian-Universalism. He is employed as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for a managed behavioral healthcare company. His eclectic private practice specializes in working with clients in areas related to spirituality, gender & sexuality & energy healing, as he is also a Reiki Master & shamanistic practitioner. Rik lives in Bucks County , Pennsylvania with his wife, Anna-Sara, child, Markus & their dog, Cherokee. Rik has been traveling & teaching at various venues for the past 10 years. Email: rfire @ magellanhealth.com .
Lois Fitzpatrick (2008) has been reading Tarot for more than 30 years, and has taught for much of that time as well. She is currently in charge of the East Kingdom Soothsayers Guild of the Society for Creative Anachronism, a medieval history re-creation group. She is an ordained minister through the Universal Life Church. Email: soothsyr @ optonline.net.
Sophia Heartsinger, see Rosanna Tufts.
William “Bill” Hegeman (Archonstone) (2008). Bill is experienced in paranormal and supernatural phenomena from the time of his childhood. Bill ran psychic workshops from his home in the late 80’s called the Wizard’s Workshop, encouraging people to follow their own paths. He teaches psychic development, energy work, chi gong, yogas, mind/body/emotion synergy, Defence against the Dark Arts, palm reading, energy with materials for magic and other topics. (Email: archonstone @ speakeasy.net .
Rev. Sharon Henderson. Sharon Henderson is a Magistra (Scholastic Priest) with Church of St. Bridget of the Gaels an Independent Catholic/Celtic Catholic priest available for Christian, New Age, or mixed Christian/Other wedding ceremonies, counseling, and so forth. She is trained in reform Druidism also, in a Welsh/English family tradition. Decidedly Pagan friendly.
Rev. Alexandra Honigsberg (2008) is an Adjunct Instructor (Theology & Religion; Philosophy)– St. John’s University (NY). She is a lecturer in cross-gender, and cross-cultural dialogue in the chaplaincy department at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center (NYC – alum ‘97), the NY Theosophical Society, The Council for Interfaith Dialogue (Jewish Theological Seminary, Union Theological Seminary, St. Joseph’s-Dunwoodie, St. Vladimir’s, General Theolgical Seminary), and adult education and interfaith conferences across the country. She is ordained as a priest with the Old Catholic Church.
Kirsten Houseknecht.
Alexei Kondratiev - (2008) teaches Irish language, Celtic mythology, and other aspects of Celtic history at the Irish Arts Center in Manhattan. He is the author of The Apple Branch: A Path to Celtic Ritual (Collins Press, Cork, 1998 and a member of the board of the Celtic Reconstructionist organization IMBAS, and a member of the Mythopoeic Society. He has presented at both academic and esoteric conferences for more than 20 years. He is partnered to Len Rosenberg, Black Lotus and will be running the Puja in his stead at this conference.
Jacqueline Lichtenberg (2008) has been teaching on Tarot and Astrology for more than 20 years and was one of our five Guests of Honor at Ecumenicon 1 in 1988. She returned in 2000 to teach her first Intensive in Astrology and this year returns to teach The Mystery of Time: Astrology, Tarot, and the Soul, a 6-part intensive spread over 3 days. Jacqueline’s first Volume is “Never Cross a Palm with Silver” an Orthodox view of divination and prophecy. She has completed Vol. 2, “The Magic Of The Wands” and is working on Vol. 3, “The Cups: Half Full or Half Empty?” with volumes on Swords and Pentacles being planned. Each of these 4 volumes, sub-titled “The Not So Minor Arcana,” show the student how to develop a personal interpretation of the cards using the Qabalistic Tree Of Life.
Tamar Lindsay (2008) is a member of Foundation, Inc. an ecumenical mystery school and is authorized by them to teach labyrinth mysteries. She has been meditating since 1970s. She is a Buddhist. She has taught at Ecumenicon, Convocation, Philcon, and Esotericon. She has taught basic sacred geometry for many years.
Cat McGowan (Firesong) Reverend Cathleen McGowan, M.Ed. (aka Cat, Firesong) (2008) has been working with the Spirits of the African Diaspora and leading creative rituals for 16 years. She is a Sanba, with a background in Vodoun. Cathleen conducts services with the Universal Temple of Spirits and pours sweat lodge. Her art can be viewed at www. purringbanshee. com. Email: ayiloda @ yahoo.com .
Lisa McSherry (2007) is the author of “Magical Connections: Creating a Lasting and Healthy Spiritual Group”, (New Page, March 2007) and “The Virtual Pagan”, (Red Wheel/Weiser, 2002). Lisa has been leading and writing about magickal groups for many years. Her work can be found on-line, in The Beltaine Papers, SageWoman and PanGaia. Lisa’s teaching focuses on providing practical applications and attitudes that allow for positive change in potentially negative circumstances. Lisa hails from Washington State. (B.A. Psychology).
Rev. Larry Obern (Spawn Supreme Being) (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008) is the onsite coordinator, security chief, and Emergency Medical Technician supervisor for this year’s conference. If you need a room setup changed, hotel hospitality needs, see Larry. He is ordained a Dragon Queen Priest with Ecumenicon Fellowship, and an Adept with Nomadic Chantry of the Grammarye. He also is affiliated with Temple of the Seven Stars.
Renee Rhodes - (2008) Hellenic Creation Mythology, Homeric Hymns).
Lady Luna Rose see Patricia Blanken.
Len Rosenberg (Black Lotus) (2001) Practising Shakta (Hindu Goddess worshipper). A devotee of Amritananda- Mayi Devi (Ammaci) of Kerala, South India, he teaches Mantra meditation, magical uses of incenses and gemstones, and astrology. In addition he is a Wiccan Priest in the Protean Tradition. His partner scholar Alexei Kondratiev will be leading the Puja as Black Lotus is recuperating.
Seanara Coyote (2008) taught herself to read Tarot in 1968, and has worked with the cards ever since. She was initiated into Promethean Wicca and Welsh Traditionalist Wicca in early 1978, receiving her third degree in both traditions by 1980. She later studied Peruvian-based core shamanic techniques with Irene R. Siegel, also learning directly from Ms. Siegel’s teacher, Alberto Villoldo. Through her Wiccan training and practice and her personal growth, Seanara evolved Western Transformational Wicca, an initiatory Path which centers around the journey from “wounded healer to healed healer” and whose main tenet is: “The primary purpose of magic is personal transformation.”
Noel Shelton (Dark Wolf) (2008) is a solitaire that has amassed skills and understanding of energy use in Neo-pagan and Pagan studies. He has ttachments to ULC (Universal Light Church), The Nomadic Chantry and Ecumenicon. He has an open philosophic view of culture, religion, and being. He has been a volunteer to the Ecumenicon for five (5) years, and is currently a Ministerial Intern with Ecumenicon Fellowship.
Shulameet see Miriam Benson.
Rev. Jane T. Sibley, Ph.D. (2008) is a Norse scholar and ordained spakone (wise woman) with both Ecumenicon Fellowship and Woodhenge. Her specialties include runes, Northern European folklore, mythology, and early religion. Her Ph.D. was accredited in the History of Comparative Religion from LaSalle University with her thesis an exposition of the Divine Thunderbolt. She has taught at all but two of every Ecumenicon Interfaith Conference since its founding, as well as at Twilight Covening, Rites of Spring, Feast of Lights, Sacred Space, Etheracon, Convocation, Free Spirit Gathering, Darkover, and a raft of other gatherings. Her book, Norse Mythology … According to Uncle Einar, and Hammer of the Gods are available at the teacher table A second novel, The Hammer of the Smith, is working its way down the slush pile at Tor.
<strong>Lady Sylvia (2008) is an advanced Stone Speaker with more than 10 years experience. She has been teaching this technique for two years. She is a member of Crossroads, working with Ray Taylor Jr, and Patricia Blanken. (Stone Speak) WillowDragon53840 @ aol.com.
Ray Taylor, Jr. (2008) holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology and has been a Construction Inspector for 18 yrs in the D.C. Metro area. Born May 20, 194 at Fort Bevier, VA. BS in Geology, Construction in Specter for 18 yrs in D.C. Metro area. 2 yrs of drafting of electronic equipment and mechanical things; 2yrs of computer tech on main frame systems; 1 yr of Basic R+D of Radon in DC Metro area; 5 yrs of Jewelry Making; 7 yrs of being a painter; 26 yrs of drawing; 29 yrs of computer programming/game designing; 37 yrs of candle making; 38 yrs of model making (wood, plastic, paper, metal and clay); 26 years of working magic (dream walking); 16 years of shield making and power grid; 3 yrs of formal training (Journeyman level by Rosemary and Kathleen); 12 yrs of making magical candles and other things; 10 yrs of leading part time magical circles (personal at home, gaming circles at Game Parlor in VA, and CrossRoads). Email: yarbitwo @ hotmail.com.
Virginia Taylor (Tchipakkan) (2008) is an artist, writer, healer, and eclectic pagan-heathen-rustic. She has a small farm in NH aimed at self sufficiency and sustainability, which she shares with 3 of her children, and a varying assortment of animals (sheep, goats, rabbits, chicken, ducks, geese, peafowl, and cats of course). Her family has been been openly pagan in our community for over 30 years. Author of Divine Cookies- a cookbook with tales about gods and magical cookie recipes, and the Rune article series in the Blessed Bee Pagan Family Magazine. She is currently interviewing Subtle Pagans a book on the “underwater part of the pagan iceberg”. She practices and teach RuneValdr and Reiki, huna healing, herbalism, healing seidhr, soothsaying with runes, palmistry, tarot, numerology, and other systems. Her special area of interests are early Anglo-Saxons life and pagan life.
Cantor Rosanna Tufts, (Sophia Heartsinger) (2008) M.A. Music History, Peabody Institute, Johns Hopkins University. Cantor Tufts is an accomplished musician working with the Baltimore City Opera, and co-director of A Company of Strangers, Ecumenicon’s threatrical ministry. She has more than 5 years experience in Vedic astrology and interpretation focusing on Devi offerings and changes of fortune, with teacher David Hawthorne (author of Astrology for Life). Rosanna Tufts was ordained as Ecumenicon’s first Cantor, focusing on music in worship in a variety of relgious traditions. She has worked in Christian churches, and has organized musical offerings in Wiccan, Ifan, and other traditions.
