SassyCon 2026

This presentation examines the history and the magical practices employed by the American "Powwow doctor” or “Hex."   The practice of Braucherei or Powwowing, known in the American South as “Using for Sympathy” was brought from Europe to America by people of Germanic origin who migrated from Switzerland and Germany during the colonial era. Powwowing manifested in rural areas wherever Germanic people settled.  We will explore various magical procedures and incantations employed for spirit work and healing along with their relations with more conventional religious traditions.   Famous Carolina and Pennsylvania Powwow doctors will be profiled, and excerpts from field transcripts will be presented to provide evidence and context to this unique and enduring folk magical/religious heritage.

Join author Sean Wilde as he reveals the techniques of advanced magick. Part of the teachings an order he belongs to, Sean discusses the concepts of metasurgery, it's uses and applications.Highlights: * Learn why metasurgery is critical for magickal advancement * Learn how to perform basic metasurgical techniques * Learn how heal and repair metasurgical disruptions The theory part of this class is suitable for any level of practitioner; the practice part is for intermediate and advanced practitioners. this class will complement your pre-existing path or tradition.

In this class Tamar will focus on daily practice of Jewish magic in modern times. While she will give an overview of the history, etc. The focus here will be on applying the magic and using it ourselves, now. Most of the application will be using Aleph Bet lots, for divination, meditation, and spell work. Tamar will have several sets for participants to use as they explore this magickal practice. Participants need not have prior experience or knowledge in order to participate in and enjoy this class.

Learn about energetic links we create between people, places and things. In this class author Sean Wilde explores links, cords and other ties that bind us together. Ethics of cord cutting will be discussed, and methods of removing links temporarily and permanently. Highlights: * Learn how to sense energetic link * Learn how to protect yourself from energetic links * Learn how to block energetic links * Learn how to remove energetic links

Shamanism is the spiritual path of direct revelation. It is a way magic, of animism, spiritualism, healing, service, and deep knowing. Core Shamanism (or neo-shamanism) is a modern approach that learns respectfully from the shared techniques and wisdom found in traditional shamanic cultures. It offers a universal method for connecting with the spirit world, free from specific cultural frameworks. We’ll begin with the “core” of shamanic belief: there is a spirit world, it is full beings of spirit who are our teachers and allies, and it can be accessed by the shaman with a meditative technique known as Journeying. In this workshop, we’ll explore these foundational ideas and introduce the practice of shamanic journeying. No prior experience or ritual tools are required. The ritual journey segment will take place in a softly darkened space, guided by a hand drum.

In challenging times, personal or collective, cultivating courage is essential. Christine Cunningham Ashworth will share empowering practices to help you develop inner strength and maintain calm in turbulent situations, and will share the herbal protection blend she prefers as a backup boost.

Today’s discourse about Artificial Intelligence focuses on marketing and automation, centering the impact of technology on capitalism, labor, and privacy. But if we look back at the last half-century of developments in the fields that gave us this technology, we see a number of cutting-edge thinkers offering new ways to understand the relationship between technology and consciousness. Transhumanism, Autopoiesis theory, and the artificial life movement are just a few examples of radical approaches to life and consciousness that emerged from highly scientific and technological fields, only to be sidelined. However, these “radical” views in transhumanism and neuroscience have surprising overlap with core elements of hermetic and esoteric philosophies. In this talk I will focus on two specific ideas that have emerged from scientific fields – “autopoiesis” in evolutionary biology and the “closest continuer view” (CCV) in transhumanist philosophy – and I will examine their relationship to creative visualization, energy work, and past life exploration. By looking at these examples, I hope to motivate further inquiry into the broad overlap between theoretical ideas in transhumanism and neurophilosophy and the exploration of personal magickal practice.

Curious about Hades, the Host of Many, Ruler of the Underworld? In this presentation, Jamie will share both well-known and obscure bits of Hades' mythos, introduce you to the magic and mysteries of the Underworld, and deconstruct some of the common misunderstandings about this enigmatic god from Greek mythology. We'll also discuss how to approach a working or devotional relationship with Hades, and engage in a guided trance journey to the Underworld. Your host on this adventure, Jamie, is a dedicated priestess of Hades, and author of Hades: Myth, Magic and Modern Devotion.