Some of our Amazing Presenters & Performers
Primal Rhythm
|
Primal Rhythm - The Ensemble
Primal Rhythm was created by Sue Balaschak initially as a solo project for recording records and teaching hand drum workshops. Sue's first hand drum CD, "Primal Rhythm 1" received national publications and is featured in the Cleveland documentary "Return of the Cuyahoga" which aired on PBS. She decided to bring her solo records to life and create a kick ass all female drum ensemble. They first surfaced the festival circuit in 2011- 2013 and have returned once again in 2020. Two of the original members, Dawn Fritz Heartsong, on percussion and Michelle Clark, laying down the bottom on DunDuns, have returned to tribal rock your world. In addition, Primal Rhythm is happy to announce their newest member, Sarah Ann Riffle on djembe. |
Brian Henke
|
Brian Henke
IPMA Best Male Artist winner both in 2019 and again in 2020, Brian Henke composes and performs his music like a painter putting images on canvas, a kind of sonic shaman, drawing his inspiration from the world around him. His unique guitar style has been called everything from Folk to New Age to Neo-Classical to Pastoral or as Brian likes to call it “a big stewpot of everything, stirred up, simmered and served to taste.” |
David Wood
|
David Wood has the ability to have you dancing in a club all night or rocking out in your car. If you like the spooky atmosphere that Stevie Nicks creates with her music along with the vocal style of Alison Moyet, Erasure and Depeche Mode you will absolutely love David Wood.
David has also been compared to the vocal style of George Michael, Boy George and yes, even Tina Turner as well. He just keeps cranking out his own original music and however he wishes it to sound, he can more than pull it off vocally and musically. David Wood is a mainstream recording artist based in Columbus, Ohio. His music has been described by local media as the POP/Dance Alternative with a dash of Soul. Unabashed and often times unclothed, David has established a following in many different communities. From High Energy Dance music and Soulful ballads to the erotic and mystical, his music continues to appeal to a wide variety of audiences. |
Alaric Albertsson
|
Alaric embraced polytheism in the summer of 1971, and has never looked back! Over the past five decades his personal spiritual practice has developed as a synthesis of Anglo-Saxon tradition, country beliefs, herbal studies and rune lore. For Alaric, a reverence for the earth and respect for ancestral and indigenous spirits are fundamental defining qualities of Pagan religion.
During the 70's, living in the Ozark mountains, Alaric had the opportunity to talk with rural people with traditional customs - moon lore, weather lore, healing superstitions - passed on for generations. During this time he was also influenced by spiritist traditions. He eventually moved to Kansas City, where he served as Vice President and on the Board of Directors for the Heartland Spiritual Alliance during the 1990's. In 2001, on the day of the winter solstice, Alaric moved to Pennsylvania. It was there where he began to share his knowledge and experience on a wider scale, beginning with the publication of his book Travels Through Middle Earth: The Path of a Saxon Pagan. In 2011 he collaborated with artist Taren Martin to create the popular Martin Rune Deck. Alaric and his husband Scott have since returned to the Midwest and now reside in Dubuque, Iowa. |
Boden
|
Boden is a forensic accountant, eclectic pagan, and professional tarot reader. On the path since 1998, he is ordained in the state of Ohio and has taught many classes on ecstatic ritual practices, tarot reading, and various craft classes. He is the owner of Montra Tarot, an online and in-person tarot reading company. He is a board member of Green Faerie Grove and helps to put on the Between the Worlds spiritual gathering for men who love men. He is married and has two sons. He lives in Huber Heights, Ohio with his husband, youngest son, three dogs, and one cat.
|
Adam Davis
|
Adam is experienced with many ways of interacting with the natural world. He works with observational, ceremonial, service, conversational, artistic, meditative, scholarly, shamanic, energetic, and other kinds of techniques to explore and engage with nature entities and energies. He has taught earth and environmental sciences at multiple universities as well as in secondary schools, and he has done diverse kinds of environmental advocacy and service. Adam has been facilitating nature awareness and inspiration events for folks of diverse backgrounds since 1998 - see the Connecting with the Land Workshop Series website (www.landsolution.com/connectingwiththeland.html) for more information.
|
Donna Donovan
|
Rev Donna Donovan is the founder of Appalachian Pagan Ministry whose focus is on pagan prison ministry, and contributing author to "Steel Bars, Sacred Waters: Celtic Paganism for Prisoners", and founder of "Air n-Aithesc" a scholarly magazine for Celtic Reconstructionists.
Rev Donna is also a person in long-term recovery, beginning recovery of her meth addiction on Jan 8, 1989. As well to being a mother to a daughter who is also in long-term recovery, she lost her son to his battle with opiates on Nov 24, 2015. Rev Donna brings a perspective from all sides of the addiction issue and facilitates the Heilvegr (a Heathen recovery program) in various facilities nationally. www.appalachianpaganministry.com |
Chris Holmes
|
A call and response are subtle words to describe Christopher Holmes. Known for his wire wrapped jewelry and West African drumming, Holmes was fortunate to have the opportunity to learn African percussion and drum circle facilitation under the late Halim el Dabh (Kent State University). Music and art have always been foundations for Holmes -family, life experiences, nature, travel, and community are a few of his influences. Christopher has been creating and refining his jewelry for 11 years, exhibitions in galleries, art shows, and festivals. Chris’s goal is to inspire others to feel free to express themselves with drumming and creating jewelry.
|
Soolah Hoops
|
Soolah is a Hoop & Fire Dance Performer as well as a Hoop Dance Instructor and facilitates classes and hoop meditation workshops around the country. Hoolah hoops officially entered her life in 2007 with a beautiful group of friends as she shared Reiki by using a hoop as a healing tool. After putting the hoop down for a year she picked it back up in hopes of working with fire in 2008. She began fire dancing in 2009 and Soolah has performed at many festivals and events bringing the love and art of fire to the public. Soolah performs with a fire hoop, staff, "s" staff, poi, orb, swords and umbrella.
|
Infinity Forge
|
As demonstrating artists, they have been fabricating and welding metal crafts using modern methods since 1993. Demonstrating traditional coal-forge blacksmithing at renaissance fairs since 2004. Their interest in blacksmithing has evolved into an effort to pass knowledge of the craft onto others in order that the art does not die.
|
Heather Killen
|
Witch, Priestess, crafts woman, teacher and pirate. Heather is an ordained Wiccan Clergy Woman in the State of Ohio and actively practicing Witch. She has taught women's and warrior mysteries across Northern America for the last 25 years.
Heather is the founder and director of the Earth Warriors Festival which launched in 2008. Owner and Mistress of Mixology at Violet Flame Gifts. Opened in 2003, VFG is a hearth based Practitioner’s Shop specializing in all natural, hand blended body products, oils, supplies and custom work. Heather is a practical, down to earth witch who is frequently called an irrepressible force of nature. |
Mambo Elizabeth Ruth
|
Mambo Elizabeth Ruth (Soleil Levè Bon Mambo) is Haitian Vodou Mambo Sou Pwen, Witch, Rootworker and Diviner who trained with owners of the Brujo Brothers (formerly The Vodou Store for two years. She also initiated as a Mambo Sou Pwen in Haiti in 2018.
In 2015, she relocated to central Ohio after spending her adult life as a resident of Chicago. Her primary magical practice is Hoodoo (traditional African American Folk Magic) and her religion is Vodou/Voodoo. Mambo Liz also studies Traditional Witchcraft, and combines them both in her magical workings as appropriate. Mambo Liz opened her online store, Big Liz Conjure (https://biglizconjure.com) in 2013, and she opened her first brick and mortar store, Erzulie’s Conjure Garden, in Reynoldsburg 2019. In 2022, she went back to simply using Big Liz Conjure, and her new location in Columbus, Ohio is named as such. |
Astrea Taylor
|
After much magical practice, Astrea began blogging on Patheos in July 2017. In 2018, she wrote Intuitive Witchcraft—the result of decades of personal study and practice. It was published in 2020 and followed up with Air Magic, published in 2021.Inspiring creativity through magick and co-authoring Modern Witchcraft with the Greek gods with Jason Mankey.
"I believe in equality for all people, charity work, and donating time and money to charitable/non-profit organizations. My favorite groups match my ethos of anti-racism, religious freedom, pro-LGTBQIA+ issues, and charities that assist victims of violence. It’s my hope that we can lift each other up, respect our individualities, and be compassionate about our differences. " |
Joy Wedmedyk
|
Joy Wedmedyk (Iyaloricha Omi Lasa) has studied Mediumship, Divination, Symbolism, and Shamanism for over 35 years. Initiated in Regla de Ocha, Native American and African Shamanic traditions, she is an accomplished Medium, Spirit-Sensitive and Shamanic healing practitioner and is nationally recognized as a Spiritual teacher, Psychic, Medium, Drum maker, Shamanic practitioner and artist. Joy's ability to connect to the Ancestors opens the way for healing in this world and in the world of the spirits.
Joy co-authored with Lillith Three Feathers, Heart of the Elder: Good Elders and their Influence, (Megalithica Books, a division of Immanion Press 2018). This book shares astounding real-life experiences, magical blessings, and spiritual connections that confirms the importance of Elders in Paganism. Joy was a quoted source for the book Drawing Down the Spirits by Kenaz Filan and Raven Kaldera (Destiny Books 2009). She was also a contributing author for Walking the Path of the Ancient Ways (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (February 5, 2012)) and Calling to Our Ancestors (Asphodel Press, 2015). Visit her web site: joywedmedyk.weebly.com |