Free Spirit Gathering 2026 - 40th year: Full Schedule

Free Spirit Gathering 2026 - Unity in the storm

15:00 EDT

This is Fine: Self-Care and Building Resilience

Tuesday August 4, 2026 15:00 - 16:30 EDT

Explore practical and energetic tools for self-care, boundary setting, and resilience—grounded in nervous system awareness, personal cycles, and values-based living. This workshop invites participants to examine how they care for themselves while caring deeply about others, and how to build sustainable practices that prevent depletion rather than respond to crisis.
Drawing from mindfulness, embodied awareness, natural cycles, and ethical advocacy, this space supports reflection, discussion, and integration. Participants are encouraged to meet themselves where they are, honor their capacity, and leave with tools they can realistically carry into daily life.

Speakers

Lauren G. Koch

Keeper of the Old Ways

Keeper of the Old Ways is an itinerant, small-batch herbal apothecary and integrative well-being practice rooted in seasonal wisdom, creativity, and mindfulness.Founded by Lauren G. Koch — a full-time creative, spirit worker, pagan clergy member, and educator with over 20 years... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 15:00 - 16:30 EDT
Adult Space/Bat Barn

Workshop

global Y

13:00 EDT

The Queerness of Magic, the Magic of Queerness

Wednesday August 5, 2026 13:00 - 14:30 EDT

Adult Space/Bat Barn

Many pagan or magic-based paths are not LGBTQ+ focused and yet magic in and of itself has a queer nature. In this class we will discuss queer deities throughout history as well as the ancestors that can be drawn upon outside of bloodlines. We will explore queering and queered magics, from turning rituals that already exist into ones that center queer experience, to creating or embracing rituals and paths specifically for those of us who walk these paths. Let us acknowledge the power of being outside of, living between, or embracing multiple layers of orientation, identity, and experience. This class is open to anyone drawn to learn more about these topics, share their own personal experiences, be around peers, or become an ally through looking at the expansive nature of magic beyond boundaries.

Speakers

Lee Harrington

Lee Harrington (he/they) is a spiritual and erotic authenticity educator, gender explorer, eclectic artist, and award-winning author and editor on sacred and sexual experience. A spirit-worker and ritual facilitator dedicated to the goddess Mother Bear with a devotional relationship... Read More →

Wednesday August 5, 2026 13:00 - 14:30 EDT
Adult Space/Bat Barn

Workshop, Adults Only

global Y

15:00 EDT

Heathenry 101

Wednesday August 5, 2026 15:00 - 16:30 EDT

Adult Space/Bat Barn

Heathenry is more than standing around and yelling at the Gods first thing in the morning...despite what the FSG blot track might imply. Join Rev. Kyle and Erika Wren for a walk around the Web of Wyrd that makes up the whole of modern Heathen culture.

Speakers

Erika Palmer

Please check the Tyr blot submission

Rev. Kyle Aaron Reese

Bound By Gleipnir

Kyle Aaron Reese is a proud transgender man and the Associate President of The Troth, as well as on the planning committee for NET. He comes from an academic background with studies in anthropology, political science, gender studies, and a Master of Arts in Human Rights. He is also... Read More →

Wednesday August 5, 2026 15:00 - 16:30 EDT
Adult Space/Bat Barn

Workshop

global Y

09:30 EDT

Flower Magic

Thursday August 6, 2026 09:30 - 11:00 EDT

Adult Space/Bat Barn

This workshop will explore the use of flowers in rituals and spell work. It will begin with a discussion about femininity, perception, and expectations. Then it will highlight how flowers are often seen as a feminine aspect of plants, with their magical abilities frequently overlooked or disregarded. The workshop will then cover historic information, such as the use of flowers as a coded language, their role in herbal medicine, and their use as amulets and talismans. The last portion will cover various flowers and their applications in ritual and magic.

Speakers

Ashlie Hardman

Gnostic Apothecary Company

I’m a Rev. High Priestess with 27 years of experience in ritual and spell work. I teach classes monthly through my Wiccan Circle. I've been trained in High Magick and various occult practices, and I have a degree in religious studies.

Thursday August 6, 2026 09:30 - 11:00 EDT
Adult Space/Bat Barn

Workshop

global Y

13:00 EDT

Honoring Our Ancestors of Love

Thursday August 6, 2026 13:00 - 14:30 EDT

Adult Space/Bat Barn

For many people there is no emotional or energetic connection to their blood ancestors due to being adopted, kicked out of their home, made unwelcome, or other circumstances. All of us on the other hand have Ancestors of Love – the people who we learned our sexuality, romance, emotional bonding, and intimate information from, were inspired by, or who cleared the way for your love style to be possible. Who were your Ancestor of Love? Who are your trans-cestors, your heart-cestors, your polyam-cestors, your queer-cestors, and your love-cestors? We will explore our ancestors, examine some of the lessons we learned from them, then look at how we can honor them, remember them, cherish them, heal them, acknowledge the toxic things we learned from them, and call upon them in our times of need. As part of this class and discussion we will build a piece of sacred art in ritual together that will be available for others to add to, and then go up as a burnt offering in an evening fire.

Speakers

Lee Harrington

Thursday August 6, 2026 13:00 - 14:30 EDT
Adult Space/Bat Barn

Workshop, Adults Only

global Y

15:00 EDT

Creating Rituals for Body Acceptance

Thursday August 6, 2026 15:00 - 16:30 EDT

Adult Space/Bat Barn

Because of the very well-funded and promoted Body Shame Profit Complex, many of us struggle with feeling good about our bodies. This is especially true in the summer, where the hot sun makes us want to expose more skin, and there is intense pressure to have a beach body. Please join us for a discussion about how these images we are force fed by society have caused us to forget what wonderful creations our bodies are, followed by a group meditation, and suggestions for rituals to help you accept (and maybe even learn to love!) your meat suit again. This workshop is restricted to 18+ to allow for frank discussions of sexuality.

Speakers

Lory Starling

Lory Cosner (she/her) has been a practicing witch for over 20 years. She is on the board for the Frederick Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (FCUUPS), and the Sacred Space Conference. Though a city witch at heart, she also loves time out in the woods and in the water. Lory... Read More →

Thursday August 6, 2026 15:00 - 16:30 EDT
Adult Space/Bat Barn

Workshop, Adults Only

global Y

18:30 EDT

Paganism in the Military and advanced shielding concepts.

Thursday August 6, 2026 18:30 - 20:00 EDT

Adult Space/Bat Barn

Class covers the historical role of Paganism in the military, how it has evolved, and how it is currently represented in the military. Will expand on how the Pagan community at large can support military Pagans.

Speakers

Temper

Temper has been an adherent of the Kemetic Tradition and a magical practitioner for 20 years. He has worked with Sacred Wells and Circle Sanctuary to support the spiritual needs of the Armed Forces for 18 years as a Distinctive Religious Group Leader (DRGL) at home and abroad. His... Read More →

Thursday August 6, 2026 18:30 - 20:00 EDT
Adult Space/Bat Barn

Workshop

09:30 EDT

Drum making classs

Friday August 7, 2026 09:30 - 11:00 EDT

Adult Space/Bat Barn

Jeff, from Bohemian Brewing, will be offering a workshop to make your own 10 inch shamanic hand drum!
Always wanted your own hand drum for a drum circle? Want to add your own touch into reiki or sound work? Ever curious about how they are made? Then this is the workshop for you!
Come join us for an hour and a half and we will help you stretch and tie your own hand drum made from ceder wood and Buffalo or cow rawhide! Price for the workshop will be $110 for one 10 inch hand drum and that includes materials and our help to construct the drum.

*different size drums can be considered for additional cost, please reach out to us to discuss

Speakers

Jeffrey Jones

Bohemian Brewing

Hi, I'm Jeff. I love workinf with wood and leather and creating beautiful usable one of a kind pieces. I also love teaching people how to use their own energy to create things as well!

Friday August 7, 2026 09:30 - 11:00 EDT
Adult Space/Bat Barn

Workshop

global Y

13:00 EDT

Energy Works III – Sensual Energy

Friday August 7, 2026 13:00 - 14:30 EDT

Adult Space/Bat Barn

This is an *adults only* workshop designed for teaching techniques for using energy in a sensual/sexual manner. Because of the deeply intimate nature of this kind of energy use, it is recommended that you bring one (or more) intimate partner(s) if you wish to practice any of the techniques we will discuss and/or demonstrate during the workshop.

Speakers

Klytus

I (Klytus) am a solitary, eclectic, Pagan practitioner who has been teaching classes on “free form” (as in, not tied to any specific magical or spiritual traditions) energy work since 2016. In addition to being an energy worker and energy healer, I am also trained in Reiki III... Read More →

Friday August 7, 2026 13:00 - 14:30 EDT
Adult Space/Bat Barn

Workshop, Adults Only

global Y

15:00 EDT

Oracular Seidr Ritual presented by Gràrvölur Seidr Guild

Friday August 7, 2026 15:00 - 16:30 EDT

Adult Space/Bat Barn

Our Seidr (“sayth”) ritual is a modern reconstruction of a Norse Divinatory Rite known as Seidr or Spae (“spau”) in the lore. Like most pre-Christian religions, we’re missing a lot of information about the mechanics of how this ritual was performed. Modern Seidr is an amalgamation of historical information, lore, and seership techniques that come from contemporary sources. This Seidr ritual includes elements from Eric the Red’s Saga, The Eddas, The Saga of Hervor (“hairvore”) and Heidrek (“heydrick”), and more.
Before the Christian conversion, Seidr or Spae rituals were performed for a community by a traveling priestess known as a Volva and her assistants. These rites were an opportunity for people to gain information. People would seek information for their communities, like how to end a famine or plague, as well as for themselves, like when they would marry or have a child. In the contemporary version of this ritual, anyone, regardless of gender identity, can serve as a seer.

Speakers

Shane Amerman

Main Ritual Team

Silver member of the Gràrvölur Seidr Guild, and a long time volunteer and participant at FSG and part of the ritual team for THE Beltane. SIlver was a fixture at FSG in the early 2000's and has come back into the fold since 2018.

Friday August 7, 2026 15:00 - 16:30 EDT
Adult Space/Bat Barn

Ritual, Adults Only

global Y

09:30 EDT

Drum making classs

Saturday August 8, 2026 09:30 - 11:00 EDT

Adult Space/Bat Barn

Speakers

Jeffrey Jones

Bohemian Brewing

Hi, I'm Jeff. I love workinf with wood and leather and creating beautiful usable one of a kind pieces. I also love teaching people how to use their own energy to create things as well!

Saturday August 8, 2026 09:30 - 11:00 EDT
Adult Space/Bat Barn

Workshop

13:00 EDT

Trance 101

Saturday August 8, 2026 13:00 - 14:30 EDT

Adult Space/Bat Barn

Have you ever been curious about trance work or trance states but didn’t know where to start? This class is for you if you have ever been curious about different pathways and methods of induction into altered states of consciousness. In this class we will talk about the basics of trance work, various methods of induction into a trance state, and some safety considerations in trance work.

Speakers

Keiden Bren

Saturday August 8, 2026 13:00 - 14:30 EDT
Adult Space/Bat Barn

Workshop

global Y

15:00 EDT

Arcane D/s: Energetic Feeding and Conscious Inequality

Saturday August 8, 2026 15:00 - 16:30 EDT

Adult Space/Bat Barn

Whether you are kinky or not, conscious constructions of interpersonal dynamics that involve power imbalance and authority can be an intense tool for accessing life force and the dance of it between individuals or a group. We will look at types of conscious and unconscious power exchange dynamics, why people would want them for an evening or between lifetimes, and how to apply this technology to your own magical work, sex magick, ethical psychic vampirism, and life at large. This will also include awareness concerning astral connections, unintentional bonding, and destructive behaviors. Power is power, and inequality is not inequity, so let us look at this together with eyes wide open.

Speakers

Lee Harrington

Saturday August 8, 2026 15:00 - 16:30 EDT
Adult Space/Bat Barn

Workshop

global Y

15:00 EDT

13:00 EDT

15:00 EDT

09:30 EDT

13:00 EDT

15:00 EDT

18:30 EDT

09:30 EDT

13:00 EDT

15:00 EDT

09:30 EDT

13:00 EDT

15:00 EDT

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