PUF 2024 VIPs
Jason Mankey
Jason Mankey is a third-degree Gardnerian High Priest and helps run two Witchcraft covens in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Ari. He is a popular speaker at Pagan and Witchcraft events across North America and Great Britain and has been recognized by his peers as an authority on the Horned God, Wiccan history, and occult influences in rock and roll. You can follow him on Instagram and Twitter @panmankey. Jason is the author of several books, including The Witch’s Book of Spellcraft, The Horned God of the Witches, and Transformative Witchcraft.
H Byron Ballard
H. Byron Ballard has called western North Carolina home since her birth. Her education includes a BA and MFA in theatre. She studies and practices Appalachian folk magic, a traditional folkway that she's dubbed "hillfolks' hoodoo." Her research in its origins has led her to fieldwork throughout the British Isles. Her books on the subject include "Staubs and Ditchwater: an Introduction to Hillfolks Hoodoo" (Silver Rings Press) and "Asfidity and Mad-Stones" (Smith Bridge Press). "Embracing Willendorf: a Witch's Way of Loving Your Body to Health and Fitness" (Smith Bridge Press) debuted in 2017. She has served as a featured speaker and teacher at festivals and conferences that include Sacred Space Conference, Pagan Spirit Gathering, Southeast Wise Women's Herbal Conference, Glastonbury Goddess Conference, the Scottish Pagan Federation Conference and Mystic South. A member of the Appalachian Studies Association, she recently presented the paper "The Ragged Wound", which has become the core of her current work-in-progress. Byron serves as senior priestess and co-founder of Mother Grove Goddess Temple in Asheville. She is also one of the founders of the Coalition of Earth Religions/CERES, a Pagan nonprofit, and she does interfaith work locally and regionally. She is a folklorist, a playwright, a gardener, and a tai chi student who blogs irregularly and talks about Tower Time far too often. You can find her at her website www.myvillagewitch.com and on Facebook and Twitter.
Belladonna LaVeau
Belladonna LaVeau is the Dean of Woolston-Steen Theological Seminary, as well as Matriarch and Archpriestess of the Aquarian Tabernacle ChurchBella's original college WISE Seminary was one of the webs first online magical schools and merged with WSTS when Pete Pathfinder appointed here Dean in 2007. Bella's in depth understanding of the Universe and it's energetic flow comes from over 30 years of study and magical education. Bella's first book, Awakening Spirit, has been used by our US Military to help chaplains minister to Wiccan troops, and is part of the Freshman core curriculum in the Seminary. A Navy Veteran, mother of three, and Spiritual Counselor, Bella is a 20+ year veteran of full-time Wiccan ministry. Her books include; Accelerated Wicca, The ABCs of Wicca, Between the Worlds, and Channeling Divinity.
Dusty Dionne
Dusty is the Archpriest of the Aquarian Tabernacle Church, Intl. Studying for 10 years at Pete Pathfinder’s knee, he has taken up Pete’s work as a civil rights champion and protector of religious rights, working with churches of all faiths all over the country, who find themselves hindered by their local law officials. Torn between stand-up comedian and a calling to serve Goddess, Dusty entertains us with humor and anecdotes, while revealing the mysteries of the path.
Belladonna & Dusty
Together they will present our morning rituals and our closing ritual on Sunday,