Free Spirit Gathering 2026 - 40th year: Full Schedule

Free Spirit Gathering 2026 - Unity in the storm

13:00 EDT

Connecting with The Muses....a Workshop for Creatives

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

You can’t get yourself organized enough to make sense of the jumble in you mind. Maybe you are suffering from a creative block or being overwhelmed with creative ideas. These are all symptoms that someone is trying to connect with you…..The Muses! The only thing to do is to reconnect with the source and inspiration of all our creative endeavors. It’s time to Reconnect with The Muses and make them a part of your personal practice. We’ll share our real life experiences to Reconnect with The Muses and discuss how we have made The Muses part of our personal practices.

Speakers

James Welch

Wizards Tower

James Welch of WizardsTower James (Jim) Welch is one of the artisan-owners of WizardsTower, supplier of ritual garments and custom wands for mid-level and advanced magickal practitioners. He is a writer, teacher and community elder. In his personal practice, Jim combines elements of both the Celtic and Norse... Read More →

Wednesday August 5, 2026 13:00 - 14:30 EDT
Dining Hall Porch (Front)

Workshop

global Y

15:00 EDT

Your tarot autobiography

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

Dining Hall Porch (Front)

A facilitated seminar where participants bring tarot decks that have meaning for them and share their personal stories, insights and anything else they care to share.

Speakers

Giani Sirignano

Born and raised in Brooklyn. Never sent to Sunday school so I never lost a child's magical thinking. Influences: science fiction, opera, Shinto, Buddhism, Jung, punk music and Monty Python.

Wednesday August 5, 2026 15:00 - 16:30 EDT
Dining Hall Porch (Front)

Workshop

global Y

09:30 EDT

LILITH and the LOST CITY: An Introduction to Inclusive Dae Philosophy and Practice

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

Dining Hall Porch (Front)

LILITH and the LOST CITY: An Introduction to Inclusive Dae Philosophy and Practice

We live in a society based on the concept of “OR”, forced to deny the “imperfect” parts of ourselves according to the mainstream’s definitions. But what if there was another way? A different philosophy that could be applied to magickal practice and that would allow you to redefine your power, better accept yourself, and shake off the “OR” definitions of Angel vs. Daemon set up in our Western culture?Join Lilithian Daemonics Practitioner and veteran Pagan mentor Tava Baird, author of The Book of Samael, for an alternative view of life, the afterlife, and your own divinity as channeled from her Spirit Guide, Samael. Pull out the monsters from under the bed and understand humanity as Samael sees it…and walk away with an empowering and loving perspective to apply to your magick.

Speakers

Tava Baird

Owner, Darkflower LLC

Tava Baird is a Lilithian Dae Magick instructor, author, channel, and folk artist who has been a practicing Pagan mentor for over thirty years. She is the owner of Darkflower Books and Mystical Supply and the co-host of the podcast Metaphysical Musings, and speaks and teaches at... Read More →

Thursday August 6, 2026 09:30 - 11:00 EDT
Dining Hall Porch (Front)

Workshop, Adults Only

global Y

13:00 EDT

Introduction to The Restoration of All Things

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

Dining Hall Porch (Front)

In this ritual we find meaning by engaging with opposition and hardship to restore ourselves and the world to spiritual wholeness. The Restoration of all Things was a 19^th century Mormon vision for binding the past to the present to unite all people in justice, righteousness, and in harmony with the Earth. This is a principle from my Mormon origins that still serves me well in these difficult times.
This ritual includes stories, songs, and sharing of foods that are symbolic of the Mormon past. It is structured like a Jewish Passover seder that includes time for questions and discussion.
Mormonism in the 19^th century was a radical//liberal religious alternative to mainstream American Christianity. The principles taught and practiced in those times were rejected by mainstream America and the Mormons were forced to flee to the Great Basin in the West. Decades later Mormonism was forced to assimilate to American mainstream culture. Now is a good time to look at this alternative spiritual path not taken.

Speakers

Bruce Baker

Bruce Baker is the founder of Community Health and Empowerment through Education and Research. (CHEER) a community based nonprofit in Silver Spring and Takoma Park, Maryland. He has experience as a worship associate at two Unitarian Universalist congregations and is active in multiple... Read More →

Thursday August 6, 2026 13:00 - 14:30 EDT
Dining Hall Porch (Front)

Ritual

global Y

15:00 EDT

LILITH RISING: Banishing Negative Energy from Your Sacred Spaces

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

Dining Hall Porch (Front)

Got a house that seems to drain your energy whenever you’re in it? An Energy Vampire in your midst? A stack of items belonging to a dead relative that you can’t face? It’s time to invoke Lilith to change that energy and drive those forces OUT! In this Workshop we’ll cover a ten-step plan for raising your power and enacting positive change through ritual and process to allow you to reclaim your spaces from Unethical Daemonic Practitioners and give you the tools to step into your environments as a sovereign positive force. You’ll walk away fired up and ready to do battle for good and make change in your life!

Speakers

Tava Baird

Owner, Darkflower LLC

Thursday August 6, 2026 15:00 - 16:30 EDT
Dining Hall Porch (Front)

Workshop

global Y

19:00 EDT

Cookies and Cocktails (Vendors Only)

Thursday August 6, 2026 19:00 - 20:00 EDT

Dining Hall Porch (Front)

Thursday August 6, 2026 19:00 - 20:00 EDT
Dining Hall Porch (Front)

Meeting, Adults Only

09:30 EDT

Demystifying Meadmaking

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

Dining Hall Porch (Front)

Have you ever wanted to learn how to make your own mead? Here's your chance! We’ll talk about flavors, balance, dry vs sweet, as well as ingredient sourcing. Participants will learn the basics of meadmaking including safety and sterilization, materials, and ingredients as well as the history of mead. Throughout the class, we'll create a batch of mead together!

Speakers

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 →

Friday August 7, 2026 09:30 - 11:00 EDT
Dining Hall Porch (Front)

Workshop

global Y

13:00 EDT

Magickal Working Drawings on Acetate

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

Dining Hall Porch (Front)

Taking inspiration from Emily Carding’s Transparent Tarot Deck, we will be sketching first on paper and then drawing with permanent marker on acetate. Imagery will come from three separate card pulls from various oracle and tarot decks. Participants are encouraged to bring their favorite decks with them to class. Multiple oracle and tarot decks will also be on site for your use. Please come to class with a project or goal in mind. The drawings we create will act as talismans to propel your work into fruition. Sarah will lead how-to demonstrations on making the talismans and will encourage discourse around symbolism and interpretation. All art materials will be supplied. No experience with art or with tarot is necessary and all levels of experience are welcome.

Speakers

Sarah Schrift

Sarah Schrift is a professional artist, singer/songwriter, tarot reader, reiki master, and magickal practitioner. She holds a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art and a MFA from Columbia University. Sarah shows her artwork in various venues across the US. Recurrent themes... Read More →

Friday August 7, 2026 13:00 - 14:30 EDT
Dining Hall Porch (Front)

Workshop

global Y

15:00 EDT

Choosing and Connecting with Divination Decks

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

Dining Hall Porch (Front)

We are in a renaissance in the world of divination decks. Whether home-made or high-production, classical or reinterpreted, tarot and oracle decks can be used as divination and inspiration alike. How do you choose which is right for you? In this workshop we will explore these questions together while getting our hands literally on dozens of decks. From symbolism and art style to card size and quality, it's important for you to connect with the cards emotionally and energetically. Attendees will leave with inspirations and specific techniques to try with their first, current, potential, or future decks. Bring a deck or two of your own if you want to play along (though borrow decks are available) or bring decks folks might want to check out!

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 →

Friday August 7, 2026 15:00 - 16:30 EDT
Dining Hall Porch (Front)

Workshop

global Y

18:30 EDT

Bone-casting Meet-Up: For Casters and the Casting-Curious

Friday August 7, 2026 18:30 - 20:00 EDT

Dining Hall Porch (Front)

Join bone-casters Erika Wren and Tava Baird for this informal meet-up to share bone-casting knowledge and techniques. Bring your bone kit to cast and chat with us, or come along and participate in sharing sample readings with the group. Want to cast but don't know how? Tava has an assortment of mats and trinkets for you to borrow to learn! No two bone-0casters cast exactly alike, so you're sure to pick up some new knowledge, no matter your experience level!

Speakers

Tava Baird

Owner, Darkflower LLC

Friday August 7, 2026 18:30 - 20:00 EDT
Dining Hall Porch (Front)

Meeting

global Y

09:30 EDT

Using Symmetric Inkblot Prints for Divination

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

Dining Hall Porch (Front)

We will briefly discuss Rorschach prints, pareidolia, and symbolism in art history and pop culture but the majority of our workshop time will be spent on divination! All participants should come to this workshop with a question that they would like to be answered by their first reaction to a symmetric inkblot print that they create themselves with ink, water, brush, and paper. You will come away from this workshop with a method of divination to use that is cheap and easy to do. It can be used to inspire art projects, and it is a method of divination that is discreet as well as artistic. Sharing ideas and interpretations are highly encouraged so that everyone can learn together. No experience with divination or art is necessary and all levels of experience are welcome.

Speakers

Sarah Schrift

Saturday August 8, 2026 09:30 - 11:00 EDT
Dining Hall Porch (Front)

Workshop

global Y

13:00 EDT

Dae Divination: Bone-Casting and Cartomancy for Unity and Growth

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

Dining Hall Porch (Front)

What happens when we mix traditional bone-casting and cartomancy with Lilithian Philosophy to be able to read not just the energies moving around ourselves, but within our communities as well? This lively (and wickedly fun) class dives into an alternate view of reading bones and working with Oracle and Tarot cards to assist in guiding us and our chosen families towards places of balance, harmony, and acceptance. See the path forward for yourself and others and gather your tribe for an alternative viewpoint that will stretch your mind and help you use divination tools in a whole new way! You'll leave class with a Dae bone-casting kit and a set of Dae oracle cards so you can keep reading on your own!

Speakers

Tava Baird

Owner, Darkflower LLC

Saturday August 8, 2026 13:00 - 14:30 EDT
Dining Hall Porch (Front)

Workshop, Adults Only

global Y

15:00 EDT

So You Want To Be A Vendor

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

Dining Hall Porch (Front)

You have a great craft product or service to offer for sale to the community. Just as an artist or musician sell their art and creations, so can you! The big question for you, and many others, is….HOW? Being a successful vendor involves more than just the creation of your art/craft.

Join Jim, one of the owner/creators from WizardsTower, as he shares insights and strategies from his 20 years of vending experience. Discussions will also include choosing which events to sell at and types of setup. He will share some tips to help you minimize the mistakes he made when starting his journey.

Saturday August 8, 2026 15:00 - 16:30 EDT
Dining Hall Porch (Front)

Workshop

13:00 EDT

15:00 EDT

09:30 EDT

13:00 EDT

15:00 EDT

19:00 EDT

09:30 EDT

13:00 EDT

15:00 EDT

18:30 EDT

09:30 EDT

13:00 EDT

15:00 EDT

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