CLASSES & WORKSHOPS 2024 – Tn Folk Magic Festival
This year’s teachers:
10:30 to 11:15 am – Tony Kail – Fieldwork with the Saints: An Ethnographic Journey into Santeria in the American South
Santería, an African religion derived from the spiritual traditions of the Yoruba people of Nigeria and transported to Cuba during the slave trade, has existed under a cloud of suspicion since its introduction. Early media reports of human sacrifice and black magic would link the religion to criminal activity. These rumors would follow the religion into the U.S., where a campaign of fear haunts devotees even today. In regions like the rural southern United States, Santería is one of many spiritual traditions that encounter resistance in a region known colloquially as the ‘Bible Belt’.
Anthropologist Tony Kail takes readers inside the religion of Santería to find the truth about this mysterious tradition. Guided by a Cuban elder in the religion, Kail is invited into ceremonies where members fight for the lives of innocent victims struck by sorcery. His fieldwork begins to reveal a world that exists where keepers of this tradition must navigate around the norms and outsiders in local society in order to survive. Several months later Kail boards a plane to Cuba where he would witness the Yoruba religion firsthand on the soil where it was preserved as the tradition of Santería. Fieldwork with the Saints: An Ethnographic Journey into Santería in the American South chronicles Kail’s journey into the challenges, daily life and stories of those who keep this ancient tradition alive in the American South.
Tony Kail is an ethnographer and writer. He holds a degree in cultural anthropology and has researched magico-religious cultures for more than twenty-five years. His work has taken him from Voodoo ceremonies in New Orleans to Haitian Botanicas in Harlem and Spiritual Churches in East Africa. Tony worked to create a Memphis Hoodoo Folklife Museum inside of the A. Schwab store on Beale Street. He is the author of:
11:45 am to 12:30 – Stephanie Pollock Reed – Appalachian Kitchen Witchery
Step into the enchanting world of Appalachian Kitchen Witchery, where primitive traditions and natural wisdom come alive. In this immersive workshop, we’ll briefly journey through the captivating history of the early settlers of Southern Appalachia and uncover the roots of their folk practices and the rich cultural tapestry woven by Cherokee influences.
We’ll discover how to craft healing salves from plants found right in your own backyard, learn the old-time art baking bread infused with a bit of “Appalachian charm,” and transform the modern pantry into a well-stocked apothecary brimming with remedies and secrets of old. Stephanie will even share a couple of samples of her own homemade elixirs.
You’ll leave with the knowledge and confidence to incorporate a little bit of Appalachian Kitchen Witchery into your own life, honoring timeless traditions of this unique and mysterious region.
1:00 pm to 1:45 pm – Heidi Holton – Spiritual Foot Washing
Foot washing is Christian-based tradition, which is representative of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples in John 13:1-17, as a symbol of love and humility. As a magical practice, foot washing is a simple, old school way to spiritually cleanse the receiver, remove curses, and change energy.
In the Hoodoo tradition, foot-track magic is a form of spell work in which a magical substance enters a person through their feet, causing a desired result. It is accomplished by laying down something for the intended subject to walk onto, over, or through. The feet are a powerful vehicle for magic and I want to empower you to walk through life with confidence that whatever evil you might step in, you can clean yourself up.
In this class, you will learn a sweet, traditional foot washing ritual that you can immediately put into practice. Variations will be given so you can adapt and customize your foot baths to meet the magical needs of yourself and your community.
Heidi Holton is a Hoodoo practitioner and Delta blues artist from Nashville, TN, who is passionate about empowering her clients to trust in themselves and take control of their own lives. She specializes in down-and-dirty rootwork, tarot and tea leaf readings, and documenting both historical and modern magical arts in her songs. You can find out more about her work at heidiholton.com
2:15 pm to 3:00 pm – Nikki Jean – Glamour Magic
We’ll explore all the enchanting possibilities of using glamour to transform and enhance your presence in everyday life. Glamour magic is a captivating art, and by learning to harness its power, you can elevate your confidence, allure, and personal magnetism.
From attraction to confidence-building, the essence of glamour is all around you and within you! We will show you the many ways to incorporate glamour magic into your daily routine, from beauty spells and enchanting rituals to the use of magical tools and accessories. You will discover the importance of intention and visualization, and how to infuse these elements into your makeup, wardrobe, and overall appearance.
In this class, you will also learn about the historical and cultural significance of glamour magic, exploring how different societies have used it to convey power, charm, and mystique. We will delve into the myths and legends surrounding glamour magic and uncover the timeless techniques used by famous enchantresses and mystics throughout history.
Nikki Jean is a natural intuitive, healer, and root worker. At an early age, she was able to sense and speak to spirits and energies, with her ability further developing throughout her life. She now shares her gifts with others from a perspective of healing and by way of her tarot and oracle card readings. Some of her studies include the Orishas and Egyptian magic. She is the manager at aromaG’s Botanica and reads for clients weekly in the store and by appointment in her private practice. Her website is www.msnikkijean.com
3:30 pm to 4:15 pm – Iajahnni – Everyday Spiritual Protection: How to create effective Psychic Shields for any Circumstance.
The world can be chaotic, and this is an issue for many Empaths, Highly Sensitive People, and Spiritual Practitioners. In his workshop, Iajahnni Von will guide you in techniques for creating multilayered, multifunctional psychic shields you can erect for daily use or various situations.
This workshop is a must—not only for Empaths, highly sensitive people, and practitioners but also for anyone on social media. Daily exposure to negative and chaotic energies has a very real, detrimental effect on our overall well-being, but developing a comprehensive cleansing practice will not only combat those ill effects but also allow you to move through your life with more grace and ease.
Iajahnni has been a part of the TN Folk Magic Fest since it began. Some of his previous classes include topics such as: how to read your own energy field; working with magical sugar jars; using lodestones and pyrite in the Hoodoo tradition; and how to absorb negativity and dark magic through the crafting of a ‘black jar.’ He is a Therapeutic yoga and meditation instructor, intuitive consultant, and energy healing practitioner. He lives in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
4:45 pm to 5:30 pm – Reverend Roy – Everyday Folk Magic: The Practices of Country Folk
Reverend Roy’s class, “Everyday Folk Magic,” offers a look into the ways that simple country folk have called upon magical practices to enhance their daily lives over the centuries, such as divining for water (water witching), prosperity magic for the crops and the home, and how they used a variety of protective charms, rituals, and spells to safeguard homes, loved ones, livestock, and themselves from harm and evil forces.
He will cover the roles of the wise man and the granny woman, who used their knowledge of herbs, remedies, and folk practices to serve the community with their healing and guidance, as well as stories and techniques from these community healers, demonstrating how their wisdom can still be applied in today’s world.
Reverend Roy is a tarot reader, rootworker, and healing arts practitioner. He has been in the metaphysical and healing arts for over 20 years now. The focus of everything he does comes from a place of healing, to help bring his clients to the place in their lives they want to be. His website is www.healingamulet.com
6:00 pm to 6:45 pm – Papa Gee – Doll Magic: Using Fetishes and Effigies
Discover the many ways to use dolls and effigies in your spiritual practice. Doll magic is an ancient art with the power to enhance your spells, rituals, and spiritual connections.
From healing to protection, the energy of dolls and effigies is deeply rooted in magical traditions. He will guide you through incorporating these powerful tools into your magic, from creating poppets for specific purposes to using effigies in complex rituals. You will learn how to craft your own magical dolls and infuse them with your intentions using different materials and methods.
We will cover the techniques used to create powerful and personalized magical dolls invoking spirits and deities, casting spells, healing, manifesting, and providing protection.
Papa Gee is a folklorist, tarot reader, artist, and folk magic practitioner. He is the author of over 14 books on the magical arts and crafting and is the creator of the Good Mojo Lenormand Oracle deck. Reverend Roy and Papa Gee are the owners of aromaG’s Botanica. His website is www.folkmagicstudio.com