About the Authors

Chandra Alexandre is an initiated Tantrika and hereditary Witch. Since 1998, she has worked to create a vehicle for those seeking to embrace the ancient (yet living) embodied and goddess-centered spiritual traditions of India. This resulted in SHARANYA (www.sharanya.org), a goddess temple run by a community in San Francisco, and the Sha’can tradition, a syncretism based on Hindu Tantra and witchcraft. She holds a Ph.D. in philosophy and religion, a doctorate of ministry, and an MBA in sustainable management.

Barbara Ardinger, Ph.D., (www.barbaraardinger.com) is the author of Secret Lives, a novel about a circle of crones, mothers, and maidens, plus goddesses, a talking cat, and the Green Man. Her earlier books include Pagan Every Day, Goddess Meditations, Finding New Goddesses (a parody of goddess encyclopedias), and Quicksilver Moon (a realistic novel … except for the vampire). Her day job is freelance editing for people who have good ideas but don’t want to embarrass themselves in print. To date, she has edited more than 250 books, both fiction and nonfiction, on a wide range of topics. Barbara lives in Southern California with her two rescued Maine coon cats, Heisenberg and Schroedinger.

Blake Octavian Blair (Carrboro, N.C.) is an Eclectic IndoPagan Witch, psychic, tarot reader, freelance writer, energy worker, and a devotee of Lord Ganesha. He holds a degree in English and Religion from the University of Florida. Blake lives in the Piedmont Region of North Carolina with his beloved husband, an aquarium full of fish, and an indoor jungle of houseplants. Visit him at www.blakeoctavianblair.com or write to blake@blakeoctavianblair.com.

Deborah Blake is a Wiccan High Priestess who has been leading Blue Moon Circle for many years. She is the author of Circle, Coven and Grove, Everyday Witch A to Z, The Goddess is in the Details, and The Everyday Witch A to Z Spellbook, all from Llewellyn. She was a finalist in the Pagan Fiction Award Contest and her short story, “Dead and (Mostly) Gone,” is in The Pagan Anthology of Short Fiction. She is also working on a number of novels. When not writing, Deborah runs The Artisans’ Guild and works as a jewelry maker, a tarot reader, an ordained minister, and an Intuitive Energy Healer. She lives in a hundred-year-old farmhouse in rural upstate New York with five cats who supervise all her activities, both magickal and mundane.

Boudica is reviews editor and co-owner of The Wiccan/Pagan Times and owner of The Zodiac Bistro. A former New Yorker, she now resides with her husband and eight cats in Ohio.

Lisa Allen/Calantirniel has been published in many Llewellyn annuals and has practiced many forms of natural spirituality since the early 1990s. She currently lives in western Montana with her husband, teenage daughter, and three young cats, while her older son is in college. She is a professional astrologer, tarot card reader, dowser, flower essence creator and practitioner, a ULC Reverend, Usui Reiki II, and a certified Master Herbalist. She has an organic garden, crochets professionally, and is co-creating Tië eldaliéva, “the Elven Path,” a spiritual practice based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-Earth stories. www.myspace.com/aartiana.

Emily Carlin is an eclectic witch, mediator, and attorney, based in Seattle, Washington. She specializes in shadow work and defensive magick. Emily teaches extensively online at the Grey School, and at Pagan events around the Puget Sound area. Her book, Defense Against the Dark, a guide to all things that go bump in the night and what to do about them, is available online and at major retailers.

Andrea Chavez, a.k.a. Sapphire Soleil, started down the pagan path over twelve years ago. Her studies have allowed her to explore many areas of paganism and she calls herself “an eclectic pagan with kitchen witch tendencies.” Born and raised among the peas, lentils, and wheat of northern Idaho, this rural Pagan has two university degrees in telecommunications and journalism and is a proud graduate from the Grey School of Wizardry, where she is currently on faculty and associate Dean of Magickal Practices. You can reach her at sapphiresoleil@greyschool.com.

Dallas Jennifer Cobb lives a magical life. She conjures meaningful and flexible work, satisfying relationships and abundant gardens. She has manifested a balance of time and money which support her deepest desires: a loving family, time in nature, self-expression, and a healthy home. She lives in paradise, in a waterfront village in rural Ontario. jennifer.cobb@live.com.

Autumn Damiana is a writer, artist, crafter, and amateur photographer, and has been a mostly solitary eclectic Witch for fourteen years. She is passionate about eco-friendly living, and writes about this and her day-to-day walk on the Pagan path in her blog, “Sacred Survival in a Mundane World” at http://autumndamiana.blogspot.com/. When not writing or making art, you can find her outside enjoying nature or investigating local history in her hometown of San Jose, California. Contact her at autumndamiana@gmail.com.

Raven Digitalis (Montana) is the author of Planetary Spells & Rituals, Shadow Magick Compendium, and Goth Craft, all from Llewellyn. He is a Neopagan Priest, cofounder of the “disciplined eclectic” tradition and training coven Opus Aima Obscuræ, and is a DJ. Also trained in Georgian Witchcraft and Buddhist philosophy, Raven is a Witch, Priest, and Empath. He holds a degree in anthropology and is also an animal rights activist, photographic artist, Tarot reader, and the co-owner of Twigs & Brews Herbs. www.ravendigitalis.com, www.myspace.com/oakraven.

Ellen Dugan, the “Garden Witch,” is an award-winning author and psychic-clairvoyant. A practicing Witch for more than twenty-seven years, she is the author of many Llewellyn books; her newest are A Garden Witch’s Herbal and Book of Witchery. Ellen encourages folks to personalize their spellcraft, to go outside and get their hands dirty, so they can discover the wonder and magick of the natural world. Ellen and her family live in Missouri. www.ellendugan.com.

Emyme is a solitary practitioner who resides in a multigenerational, multicat household in southern New Jersey. Hobbies that renew her are: gardening, sewing and crafts, and home care and repair. Emyme has self-published a children’s book about mending families after divorce and remarriage. She is an avid diarist; dabbles in poetry; creates her own blessings, incantations, and spells; and is currently writing a series of fantasy fiction stories set in the twenty-fifth century. Her personal mantra is summed up in four words: Curiosity, Objectivity, Quality, Integrity. catsmeow24@verizon.net.

Sybil Fogg, also known as Sybil Wilen, has been a practicing Witch for more than twenty years. She chose to use her mother’s maiden name in Pagan circles to honor her grandparents. She’s also a wife, mother, writer, teacher, and belly dancer. She lives in Portland, Maine, with her husband and their plethora of children. www.sybilwilen.com.

Ember Grant is a poet and freelance writer and has been contributing to the Llewellyn Annuals for ten years. Her first book from Llewellyn, Magical Candle Crafting, was published in March 2011.

Magenta Griffith has been a Witch for more than thirty years and a High Priestess for more than twenty. She is a founding member of the coven Prodea, which has been celebrating rituals since 1980, as well as being a member of various Pagan organizations such as Covenant of the Goddess. She presents classes and workshops at a variety of events around the Midwest. She shares her home with a small black cat and a large collection of books.

James Kambos is a regular contributor to Llewellyn’s annuals. Born and raised in Appalachia, his magical traditions have been influenced by the folk magic ways of Appalachia and by his Greek heritage. When not writing, he enjoys painting and cooking. He currently lives in the beautiful hill country of southeastern Ohio.

Alan Lucia joined the human race in January of 1959. Born in Rockville, Connecticut, this avid student of world religions and global mysteries studied Christian theology and eventually became ordained as a Christian minister. Later, he set these credentials aside and took on the role of Priest and overseer for a home-based nonprofit Interfaith Temple for eight years. While completing degrees in sociology, music, and education (M.Ed.) through New York State University (Regents College) and Old Dominion University, Virginia, Alan served his country as an active-duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces. After retiring, Alan taught high school science and conducted private music lessons while publishing his first two books: Ufology: The New Religion, and the fictional work, Nomadic Wizards. Alan and his wife live in the United States, and have raised their three children to adulthood.

Lupa is a (neo)shaman, author, artist, and professional mental health counselor living in Portland, Oregon. She earned her master’s degree in counseling psychology, with an emphasis on ecopsychology, from Lewis and Clark College. She is the author of several books on neoshamanism and related topics, including New Paths to Animal Totems (Llewellyn, 2012). When she isn’t attacking the computer keyboard or making ritual tools out of dead things, she hikes, camps, runs, and occasionally sits down long enough to read. She may be found online at www.thegreenwolf.com, www.therioshamanism.com, and www.antlerrunes.com.

Mary Pat Lynch explores the realms of dreams, astrology, the Tarot and shamanic journeying, and loves writing about her explorations. Life is a magical story, lived across many dimensions, and wonderful to share.

Kristin Madden is the author of several books, including The Book of Shamanic Healing and the 2009 COVR Visionary Award finalist, Magick, Mystery, and Medicine. Raised in a shamanic home, Kristin has had ongoing experience with both Eastern and Western mystic paths since 1972. In her other life, she works as a wildlife biologist and wildlife rehabilitator.

Melanie Marquis is a full-time Witch and writer. She’s the founder of United Witches global coven, and she also organizes a Pagan group in Denver. She’s written for many New Age and Pagan publications. A nondenominational Witch, she specializes in practical spellwork, tarot, and spirit communication, teaching a personalized approach to the magickal arts. Her first book with Llewellyn, The Witch’s Bag of Tricks: Personalize your Magic & Kickstart Your Craft, was released in July 2011. injoyart@yahoo.com.

Lisa McSherry is a priestess and author living outside of Seattle with her husband, dog, and cats. She runs a review site (www.FacingNorth.net), a coven, and more of her work is on her website, cybercoven.org. Contact her at: lisa@cybercoven.org.

Mickie Mueller is an award-winning and critically acclaimed Pagan spiritual artist. She is Co-High Priestess of Coven of the Greenwood, an ordained Pagan Minister. She is also a Reiki healing master/teacher in the Usui Shiki Royoho tradition. Mickie is the illustrator of The Well Worn Path and The Hidden Path and the illustrator/writer of The Voice of the Trees: A Celtic Divination Oracle. She is a regular article contributor to Llewellyn’s publications, and her art is published internationally. www.mickiemuellerart.com.

Sharynne MacLeod NicMhacha is a Celtic shaman-priestess, writer, teacher, and bard of Scottish, Irish, and Welsh ancestry, and a direct descendant of “Fairy Clan” MacLeod. She trained in Celtic Studies through Harvard University and has taught Celtic myth and religion at the university level, at holistic centers and Pagan festivals. She is an award-winning singer and musicians (The Moors, Devandaurae) and a published author (Queen of the Night, Celtic Myth and Religion). Dun na Sidhe website: www.mobiusbandwidth.com/dns

Susan Pesznecker is a mother, writer, nurse, hearth Pagan, and Druid living in northwest Oregon. In her spare time, Sue is an organic gardener and herbalist and she loves to read, take long walks with her wonder poodle, camp, play with rocks, and look up at the stars. Sue teaches green magick and astronomy in the online Grey School (www.greyschool.com) and is the author of three books: Gargoyles (New Page, 2007), Crafting Magick with Pen and Ink (Llewellyn, 2009), and The Magickal Retreat: Making Time for Solitude, Intention, and Rejuvenation (Llewellyn, 2012). Contact Sue via Facebook or through her web page (www.susanpesznecker.com).

Marion Sipe is a New Orleanian at heart and a traveler by nature. She has been a writer for eleven years and a practicing Witch for seventeen. A devotee of Hekate, she’s served as a priestess, leading rituals with both private covens and public churches. She also teaches classes, writes about paganism for several publications, and publishes poetry and speculative fiction.

Charlynn Walls is an active member of the St. Louis Pagan Community. Driven toward community service, she works on the St. Louis Pagan Picnic and St. Louis Witches Ball Committees. She is a member of two covens and she has written articles for Witches and Pagans magazine and is pursuing other writing opportunities.

Tess Whitehurst is an advocate of self-love, self-expression, and personal freedom. She’s a Llewellyn author, columnist for newWitch magazine, intuitive counselor, and feng shui practitioner. Her website and e-newsletter Good Energy include simple rituals, meditations, and musings for everyday magical living. Tess lives in Venice Beach, California, with two magical cats, one musical boyfriend, and a constant stream of visiting hummingbirds. www.tesswhitehurst.com.