Speakers

Hail and Welcome these magical beings below. We are so excited to share space and community with them.

SJ Tucker

S. J. Tucker is the voice of lore at the campfire and the sharp laughter of modern myth, a whimsical wisdom keeper whose concert performances run the gamut from silly to sacred and back again. Witches & Pagans Magazine named her “the voice of neotribal Paganism”, and The Wild Hunt calls her work a surprise and a delight. Whether you found her through solid crowd favorites like “Hymn to Herne” or “Firebird’s Child”, or you’re encountering her fierce, welcoming spirit on stage for the first time this year, S. J. has a song for you. With deft guitar, skillful hand drums, and a siren’s compelling vocals, she wields an award-winning body of original music, both plugged and unplugged, known for changing lives and healing wounded hearts. S. J. (“Sooj” to fans & friends) is proud to contribute to the soundtrack of our emotional, spiritual, and magical (r)evolution. Listen for free & join the fan family: http://music.sjtucker.com Tour dates & blog: http://sjtucker.com Back Sooj on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/sjtuckermusic Instagram: sjtuckermusic Twitter: @s00j Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sjtuckermusic Music available on Spotify and all other major streaming apps.

Byron Ballard

H. Byron Ballard, BA, MFA, is a western NC native, teacher, folklorist and writer. She has served as a featured speaker and teacher at Sacred Space Conference, Pagan Spirit Gathering, Southeast Wise Women’s Herbal Conference, Glastonbury Goddess Conference, Heartland, Sirius Rising, Starwood, Scottish Pagan Federation Conference, Hexfest and other festivals and conferences. She serves as senior priestess and co-founder of Mother Grove Goddess Temple and the Coalition of Earth Religions/CERES, both in Asheville, NC. She podcasts about Appalachian folkways on “Wyrd Mountain Gals.” Her essays are featured in several anthologies and she writes a regular column for SageWoman Magazine. Her books include “Staubs and Ditchwater” (2012), the companion volume “Asfidity and Mad-Stones” (2015) “Embracing Willendorf” (2017), “Earth Works: Ceremonies in Tower Time” (2018),“Roots, Branches, and Spirits: the Folkways and Witchery of Appalachia” from Llewellyn (Feb. 2021) and “Seasons of a Magical Life: a Pagan Path of Living” (Weiser, August 2021). Upcoming: “The Ragged Wound: Tending the Soul of Appalachia” (Smith Bridge Press), “Porch Food: a cookbook from Wyrd Mountain” and a musical adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. www.myvillagewitch.com