SassyCon 2026: Full Schedule

9:00am CDT

Friday May 8, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am CDT

Many traditions make use of rituals and the methods of the sacred sciences to gain guidance, to extrapolate the future, and to understand the deeper forces at work in creating what will be. Of course, differences of belief and culture will express as differences in how divination, prophecy, and oracular vision are used and viewed, but there are connecting threads that relate to the nature of these practices. Divination, prophecy, and oracular vision have qualitative and quantitative similarities and differences. This class will explore the spectrum of what we call divination, prophecy, and oracular vision.

Speakers

Ivo Dominguez, Jr.

Ivo Dominguez, Jr. has been a witch since 1978 and is one of the founders and Elders of the Assembly of the Sacred Wheel. He is the anchor author for the new twelve book Witch’s Sun Sign Series. Ivo is the author of The Four Elements of the Wise, Keys to Perception, Casting Sacred... Read More →

Friday May 8, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
Bourbon 300 Bourbon Street, The Royal Sonesta

Lecture

9:00am CDT

The Life and Legacy of Scott Cunningham

Friday May 8, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am CDT

Royal Conti

Join Christine Cunningham Ashworth for an intimate talk and Q&A about her brother, Scott Cunningham, inspired by her book Scott Cunningham - The Path Taken. Discover personal stories behind his beloved works (many of which are not in the book), and gain insight into the man who shaped modern Pagan literature.

Speakers

Christine Cunningham Ashworth

Presenting at Spirit Northwest 2026: The Life and Legacy of Scott Cunningham

Presenting at SassyCon 2026: The Life and Legacy of Scott Cunningham; So You Want to Write a Metaphysical Book; and Finding Courage in Troublesome Times

Friday May 8, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
Royal Conti 300 Bourbon Street, The Royal Sonesta

Lecture

9:00am CDT

Welcoming the Sacred Animal Self - meet your personal animal totem spirits and discuss the magical tradition of Modern Totemism

Friday May 8, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am CDT

Bacchus

Animal Totem magic is one of humanity’s oldest forms of spiritual connection — instinctive, ancestral, and rooted in our shared origins with the natural world. It is the birthright of humanity. Modern Totemism is a contemporary framework designed to help today’s seekers tap into that ancient bond, recognizing the animal forces that dwell within and shape who we are. In this workshop, join the co-creators of the Modern Totemism tradition for an exploration of animal totem energies and how they reflect the truth of your inner self. We’ll discuss the Nine Totem structure that lies at the heart of this path, how each totem represents a distinct facet of your being, and how to work with them for personal insight and spiritual growth. Including NEW totemic concepts and ideas NOT seen in previous workshops or the book! You’ll also be guided through a meditative practice to begin connecting with your own totems — and leave with tools to deepen that relationship in your magical life.

Speakers

Stehhanie Brown Scott Brown

Friday May 8, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
Bacchus 300 Bourbon Street, The Royal Sonesta

Lecture

10:45am CDT

Jewish Magic-Ancient into Modern

Friday May 8, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT

Bourbon

According to Abrahamic spiritual traditions, the relationship between words and magic goes back to the very creation of the world. In this class, Tamar will focus on Judaism, the earliest of these traditions, and the deep and ancient magic it and its language hold. These include spoken and written practices, communal and solitary practices, in Hebrew, and English (and some Aramaic!). We will also touch on modern magical practices that derive from this ancient magic. She will explain the magic of the Hebrew letters (the Aleph Beit) themselves, the messages and meaning they contain, the words and sentences they make, and the ancient Hebrew writings that have survived into modern times.

Speakers

Tamar Baskind

N/A

Born and raised in Jerusalem, Tamar has been steeped in the city’s magic and energy all her life. This ancient place has shaped her development, as both a person and a practitioner. Always drawn to the unseen forces around and within us, she began consciously practicing at the age... Read More →

Friday May 8, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT
Bourbon 300 Bourbon Street, The Royal Sonesta

Lecture

1:30pm CDT

Soul Healing and Psychic Surgery

Friday May 8, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm CDT

Royal Conti

We can experience many ailments of our energy bodies, consciousness, and souls, from difficulties in this life, and from past incarnations. Healing can occur when we flush the system with healing energy, remove blockages, and realign and readjust the energy bodies and soul complexes through energy techniques, shamanic healing, and spiritual intercession. Review the various forms of soul maladies, including soul loss, ghost walking, intrusion, and obsession as well as techniques for healing including methods of restoration and extraction.

Speakers

Christopher Penczak

Christopher Penczak is a modern Witch working in the Temple of Witchcraft tradition and community he helped co-found. His practice focuses on the intersection of Love, Will, and Wisdom as an ethos for today’s Witch, and focuses upon relationships with the plant realm, the patterns... Read More →

Friday May 8, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm CDT
Royal Conti 300 Bourbon Street, The Royal Sonesta

Lecture

1:30pm CDT

The Garden of Thanatos: Plants and Preparations for Working with the Dead

Friday May 8, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm CDT

Bourbon

The realm of the Greenwood is intimately tied to the cycles of life, death, and resurrection. In this class we will explore ways we may partner with botanical allies in necromantic magic and ancestral veneration. We will also unearth a treasury of folklore as we meet a diverse array of plants who might aid us in conjuring, fortifying, and the exorcism of spirits of the dead.

Speakers

Matthew Venus

Teacher, Author, Apothecary, Diviner, Spiritus Arcanum

Matthew Venus is a traditional witch, artist, and folk magician based in Salem, Massachusetts, whose craft is centered around a deep heart of animism and a dedication to ancestral and land-based traditions. Over the past two decades, Matthew has been sharing his teachings with students... Read More →

Friday May 8, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm CDT
Bourbon 300 Bourbon Street, The Royal Sonesta

Lecture

3:15pm CDT

Divine Embodiment

Friday May 8, 2026 3:15pm - 4:30pm CDT

Bourbon

Most magickal traditions use some form of divine embodiment in their rituals in which a priestess or a priest becomes for a time the vehicle for the presence of one of the Great Ones. When it works, it is awe-inspiring, and can act as a great catalyst for change. When it fails, and is no more than role playing or ritual theater, it can encourage cynicism, disillusionment, and diminished expectations of what is possible in ritual. The strengths and the weaknesses of assumption of god forms, drawing down, aspecting, and divine possession will be compared to each other.

Speakers

Ivo Dominguez, Jr.

Friday May 8, 2026 3:15pm - 4:30pm CDT
Bourbon 300 Bourbon Street, The Royal Sonesta

Lecture

3:15pm CDT

Invoking Buffy: Working with Pop Culture to Empower Your Magick

Friday May 8, 2026 3:15pm - 4:30pm CDT

Bacchus

Do you remember when your interest in the occult was first sparked? Was it watching Dark Willow shoot lightning from her fingertips in the midst of grief-induced rage? Maybe you fervently changed with Nancy as she uttered her spell over an ornate altar. Or perhaps, you were simply drawn to the mysterious allure of The Dark Crystal. Many of us were introduced to magick through the popular television, books, and movies of recent decades…but is there deeper power to be discovered behind these modern myths of our culture? Together, we will explore the energies behind these powerful characters and their stories…and learn to harness that energy for our own magick!

Speakers

Ashara Mayim

Ashara Mayim is an ordained High Priestess in the Temple of Witchcraft and a teaching assistant for the Witchcraft 1 Online Mystery School. She has been an educator by trade for 16 years and deeply enjoys using her educational background to further education, understanding, and acceptance... Read More →

Friday May 8, 2026 3:15pm - 4:30pm CDT
Bacchus 300 Bourbon Street, The Royal Sonesta

Lecture

9:00am CDT

So You Want To Write A Metaphysical Book...

Saturday May 9, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am CDT

Bourbon

Have you always wanted to write that book in your head, but don't know how to get started? Your vision matters! Christine Cunningham Ashworth is here to help you bring it to life. With over a decade of publishing experience in both fiction and non-fiction, Christine will guide you through the first steps of writing your book, finding your unique voice, and answering three essential questions every writer should consider before putting words on the page. A handout will be available; and there will be in-class exercises.

Speakers

Christine Cunningham Ashworth

Saturday May 9, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
Bourbon 300 Bourbon Street, The Royal Sonesta

Lecture

9:00am CDT

The Seven Keys of the Witch’s Sabbat

Saturday May 9, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am CDT

Royal Conti

Seek the mystery of the Witch in the eternal sabbat of the Mighty Dead. See the sabbat as a mandala, a teaching tool, a map of initiation to navigate relationships with the evolutionary streams of ancestors, fey, and angelic beings. Understand the dance of the Soul of the World through seven alchemical keys to the Sabbat: Procession, Gate, Pact, Sex, Feast, Battle, and Game. Each embodies its own mystery to build relationships with ourselves and our magickal ancestors and allies. Through it, seek the alchemical heart of the Earth. Use these seven steps on the Crooked Path to both deepen our magickal practice and our experience of life, joining the eternal dance of creation.

Speakers

Christopher Penczak

Saturday May 9, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
Royal Conti 300 Bourbon Street, The Royal Sonesta

Lecture

10:45am CDT

Cerridwen and the Cauldron of Inspiration

Saturday May 9, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT

Bourbon

Cerridwen, fierce and beloved Witch goddess brews the sacrament of awen in her holy cauldron. Living upon the mysterious island upon the lake, she is the mother of beautiful light, utter darkness, and the poetry of the bards. Explore the powers of the cauldron as a vessel of inspiration, abundance, healing, transformation and initiation. Look at the tale of Taliesin as the tale of the initiate moving through three darknesses towards rebirth. Explore the magick of shape shifting as an initiatory challenge, and the need to address the wrongs, often unintentional, of our past before moving onto our future. Seek her counsel and find the song within your own heart.

Speakers

Christopher Penczak

Saturday May 9, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT
Bourbon 300 Bourbon Street, The Royal Sonesta

Lecture

10:45am CDT

Herba Loci: How to Localize Your Plant Magic

Saturday May 9, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT

Bacchus

In this class we’ll learn how to work with your local environments in your herbal and plant magic. We’ll investigate how to identify nearby substitutions for plants prescribed in traditional Mediterranean and European grimoire and folk magical practices by combining basic tenants of naturalism with astrological and phenomenological attributions. We’ll also learn foundational techniques of relationship building and plant harvesting spells.

Speakers

Emily Schumacher

Emily Schumacher is an educator, writer, and ritualist. She is an initiate of multiple traditions and oversees curriculum at Académie Gnostique, a school of magic and esotericism in New Orleans. Emily is also an artist working in textile and paper mediums creating tarot, book bindings... Read More →

Saturday May 9, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT
Bacchus 300 Bourbon Street, The Royal Sonesta

Lecture

3:15pm CDT

In His Dark Garden: Plants of the Underworld

Saturday May 9, 2026 3:15pm - 4:30pm CDT

Royal Conti

When it comes to re-enchanting our modern world, myth and story contain instructions hiding in plain sight. Greek mythology is full of plants and animals, and these beings are important parts of the story — they not only have the power to enrich our magical and ritual practices, but they can also enhance our understanding of complex, multifaceted mythological figures like the gods. In this presentation, Jamie will introduce a surprising variety of plants associated with the Greek god Hades and his Underworld. She’ll share her methods for identifying and investigating the magical properties of these plants, while also discussing their usage and mythic origins. (Here’s a hint: it's way more than just that infamous pomegranate!)

Speakers

Jamie Waggoner

Priestess & Author

Jamie Waggoner is an author, Pagan priestess, and practicing witch for 25+ years. Jamie is the author of Hades: Myth, Magic and Modern Devotion, and contributor to Witchology Magazine, Haunted Magazine, The Rebis, and The Feminine Macabre, among others. Jamie is also a cofounder and... Read More →

In His Dark Garden Notes SassyCon 2026 pdf

In His Dark Garden Slides SassyCon 2026 pdf

Saturday May 9, 2026 3:15pm - 4:30pm CDT
Royal Conti 300 Bourbon Street, The Royal Sonesta

Lecture

9:00am CDT

Totems in Practical Magick: using your personal Animal Totems to unlock new (and better?) ways of invoking, casting, shielding, and grounding magickal energy

Sunday May 10, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am CDT

Royal Conti

You’ve heard it from us before— the path of the Animal Totem is the path of deep knowledge of the inner self. But . . . so what?? How does that help in a witch’s daily life??Your Nine animal totems are each connected to an aspect of your sacred self, but they are also your direct personal connection to the magickal energies of the universe: earth, air, fire, water, dark, light, and the masculine and feminine of the divine. In this workshop, we take a deep dive into the practical application of Totems in the practice of magick. Learn how you can use your totems to invoke and send energies, cast spells, cast a better and stronger circle, center and ground yourself, and shield and protect yourself and others. Use totemic knowledge as a tool to up your magickal game!

Speakers

Stehpanie Brown Scott Brown

Sunday May 10, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
Royal Conti 300 Bourbon Street, The Royal Sonesta

Lecture

9:00am CDT

Trauma Awareness in Modern Polytheism

Sunday May 10, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am CDT

Bourbon

Ninety percent of people will experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. It is likely that one-third of US adults have experienced religious trauma at some point in their lifetime. People seek out spiritual community for connection, safety, and support. Instead, many have traumatic experiences that have lasting impacts on their well-being. This presentation will examine the prevalence of trauma and the ways that it shows up in modern polytheist communities. It will include guidance for how to create trauma-conscious devotional practices, rituals, and community spaces. Ninety percent of people will experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. It is likely that one-third of US adults have experienced religious trauma at some point in their lifetime. People seek out spiritual community for connection, safety, and support. Instead, many have traumatic experiences that have lasting impacts on their well-being. This presentation will examine the prevalence of trauma and the ways that it shows up in modern polytheist communities. It will include guidance for how to create trauma-conscious devotional practices, rituals, and community spaces.

Speakers

Izzy Swanson

Izzy Swanson is a trauma-informed healer, mentor, and ritualist specializing in the intersection of addiction, trauma recovery, and spiritual practice. Their blended approach to healing work integrates evidence-based research methodologies with intuitive guidance and devotional polytheism... Read More →

Sunday May 10, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
Bourbon 300 Bourbon Street, The Royal Sonesta

Lecture

10:45am CDT

The Sorcerous Script: On the Crafting of Amulets, Talismans, and Sigils

Sunday May 10, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT

Royal Conti

In this class we invite you to explore the nature of sigil magic and personal symbolism and examine how they may be effectively employed in meaningful and powerfully effective ways in your craft. During the course of the class we will examine various examples of magical Sigils, Amulets, Talismans, and approaches towards their construction and use. And finally we will discuss methods for the crafting of uniquely personal symbol sets, sigils, and even magical scripts, ciphers, and alphabets which may serve to enrich your magical practice in new and innovative ways.

Speakers

Matthew Venus

Teacher, Author, Apothecary, Diviner, Spiritus Arcanum

Sunday May 10, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT
Royal Conti 300 Bourbon Street, The Royal Sonesta

Lecture

1:30pm CDT

Introduction to the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram

Sunday May 10, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm CDT

Bourbon

Dive into one of the most important and useful building blocks of ceremonial magick: the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (LBRP). This ritual offers practitioners a powerful tool to cleanse and fortify themselves spiritually. Your magick and spiritual hygiene can be taken to the next level with proper use of this ritual. In this workshop you will learn all about this classic ritual and practical advice on how to do it. Different versions of this ritual will be explored so that you can personalize this practice to fit into your individual beliefs. The LBRP can be practiced alone or combined with other types of magick or ritual. It is a highly customizable and adaptable tool. Additionally, as part of this workshop, you will receive handouts with the basic ritual and diagrams of the pentagrams.

Speakers

Erich Brown

Erich Brown, Frater Anubis, has been studying Ritual Magic since he was a teenager. He started self-training in the Golden Dawn tradition and was later initiated into the E.S.S.G. (The Order of the Gnostic Star) by its founder, Frater Barrabas, in his twenties. Erich currently coleads... Read More →

Sunday May 10, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm CDT
Bourbon 300 Bourbon Street, The Royal Sonesta

Lecture

9:00am CDT

9:00am CDT

9:00am CDT

10:45am CDT

1:30pm CDT

1:30pm CDT

3:15pm CDT

3:15pm CDT

9:00am CDT

9:00am CDT

10:45am CDT

10:45am CDT

3:15pm CDT

9:00am CDT

9:00am CDT

10:45am CDT

1:30pm CDT

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