2025 Presenters

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Mawiyah Kai El-Jamah Bomani is an award-winning writer, educator, and spirit woman born and raised in the most African City in the North America – New Orleans. Mawiyah is an eighth-generation Witch, Egun Medium, and Priestess of OYA in the Yoruba system of spirituality. Mawiyah’s writings have appeared in Thicker Than Water, The Crab Orchard Review, Beyond The Frontier, Family Portraits, African Voices, and Essence Magazine. Mawiyah hosts FishHeadsinRedGravy, a podcast dedicated to celebrating marginalized people of the esoteric/occult world. She is the recipient of the Southern Black Theatre Festival’s 2012-2013 Playwright of the Year award for her play, Spring Chickens. Mawiyah is also the author of the plays Crows Feet, Bourbon, Men of the AmonRa Society and Hair Anthem. Mawiyah is the Critical Mass 8 Literary Award Winner and a KAT Artist Residency recipient for her Poetry/Art/Ritual Installation Thick Air: Rituals of Resistance.

Mawiyah is the author of the newly released Conjuring the Calabash: Empowering Women with Hoodoo Spells and Magick, published by Llewellyn Worldwide. 

These days, Mawiyah may be working on her Middle-Grade series titled The Cool Beans Ghost Hunter Society, exploring the inclusiveness of special needs superhuman teens fighting against paranormal racists.

 Heather is the High Priestess of a Gardnerian & Alexandrian Wiccan coven in Ontario, Canada. She has been walking the path the Gods set out for her since her early teens and became active in the pagan community as a young adult while studying Anthropology. For the past 23 years she has organized a pagan networking group where she resides, focused on building and supporting that community. She has also acted as a regional and (Canadian) national Pagan Pride coordinator,  co-organized a local pagan temple, and has lead many rituals and workshops in a variety of settings. Heather is a Chartered Herbalist, an amateur potter, and an eternal student of Tarot (Builders of the Adytum). She can often be found in her library, sipping coffee, reading about all things occult. 

SassyCon is delighted to have High Priestess Heather perform one of our rituals for 2025 SassyCon!

     Debra   Lori is a 3rd Degree Alexandrian, High Priestess of her coven, The Phoenix   Rising, and was born and raised in Salem, Massachusetts. She is an Interfaith   Minister, an Elder in the New Wiccan Church, International, as well as a   full-time Psychic/Medium. As a gifted psychic medium and tarot reader, she   has been able to help others connect with the spiritual realm and gain deeper   insights into their lives. Outside of her spiritual work, Debra is a devoted   mother to her son and finds joy in cooking and baking whenever she has free   time. Her passion for creating delicious meals and treats adds a touch of   warmth and creativity to her busy life. Debra's unique blend of spiritual   expertise and personal interests makes her a cherished figure in both her professional   and personal circles.    

 Matthew Venus is an artist, folk magician, and traditional witch based in Salem, Massachusetts whose craft is centered around a deep heart of animism and a dedication to ancestral and land-based traditions. His practice is further enriched by his role as Tata Ndenge in a lineage of Kimbanda Angola, and his experiences as an Aborisha in the Lucumí Orisha tradition. Over the past two decades Matthew has been sharing his teachings with students around the world through classes and courses which explore a diversity of topics related to witchcraft and folk magical traditions.  Matthew is the owner and lead apothecary of Spiritus Arcanum (@spiritus_arcanum) an online and brick and mortar shop which specializes in handcrafted ritual incenses, oils, and talismanic art. Additionally, he is the co-founder of the Salem Witchcraft and Folklore Festival (@SalemWitchFest) which hosts both in person and online events centered around magical education, community building, and activism. 

 Meg Raphoon grew up gazing at the ocean and climbing trees on the north shore of Long Island. She currently resides in Detroit Michigan with her amazing son and the cats who have adopted them. She is on the Board of Directors for the Magical Education Council and one of the Convention Chairs for ConVocation 2025.   Meg's studies at the University of Michigan (phD -ABD), particularly her research on the patronage of alchemists, demonstrate her depth of knowledge in Renaissance and Medieval history. Her teaching experience in various topics, including Kunstkammern, Cartography, and Early British History, further solidify her academic credentials.   Meg's exploration of the intersections between religion, science, and magic signifies her interdisciplinary approach to understanding historical phenomena. This approach allows her to offer nuanced perspectives on complex subjects.  As a practitioner of alchemy, Meg not only engages with alchemical principles theoretically but also applies them in her spiritual practices, daily life, and even professional endeavors such as bartending. This practical experience adds a unique dimension to her understanding of alchemy and related subjects.  Meg's interest in the history of witchcraft and occultism in modern pop culture indicates her ability to connect historical concepts with contemporary trends, making her insights relevant and accessible to a wide audience. 

Seamus Black, the visionary behind Emporium Black’s Nightshade Truffles, combines over three decades of culinary expertise with a profound dedication to spiritual and cultural traditions. Launching his business in 2019, Seamus crafts gourmet truffles that embody the therapeutic qualities of sacred plants, drawn from his extensive experiences with Native American Church ceremonies, Paganism, Eastern philosophy, Occultism, and Vipassana meditation. His creations are not just confections; they are a bridge to self-discovery and a deeper connection with the natural world, blending ethically sourced European ancestral plants with the wisdom of indigenous botanical traditions. Seamus is committed to demystifying and normalizing the use of nightshades and other gentle entheogens, promoting a respectful and harmonious relationship between people and plants.

Miss Shannon is a vibrant soul who co-owns Sassy Magick, Sassy Magick Noir, Sassy Magick Boutique, and SassyCon. Residing in the city of New Orleans alongside her husband, teenage twins, and French bulldog Nola, she embraces the magic and mystique of the Crescent City. As a devoted voodoo initiate, Miss Shannon infuses her life with spiritual wisdom and a deep connection to spirit which guide her to make a number of the products offered at the Sassy shops. 

Miss Shannon is also a professional photographer and owner of Sassy Wilde Photography which specializes in helping everyone find their outer beauty and inner Sass!

Shiloh is a teenaged individual with a diverse spiritual background, encompassing Norse Pagan and Catholic practices. With a profound belief in the power of spirituality, Shiloh actively engages with deities such as Loki, Sigyn, and revered saints, St. Joan of Arc and St. Rita. This unique combination of faiths has shaped Shiloh's perspective, fostering a deep appreciation for the rich tapestry of religious traditions. 

Shiloh's commitment to her spiritual journey is evident in her unwavering dedication to these entities, by opening her own business dedicated to her practice called ‘Viking Enchantment’.  She is the youngest professional reader in New Orleans.