Check Out The Classes!

The Dark Market 2023

Lecture Schedule

Saturday 10/14/23

12pm Mark Williams

Mesopotamian Witchcraft with the Goddess Lilith by Mark H. Williams

This session will focus on a reconstructionist approach to Mesopotamian witchcraft, including practices, feast days, and rituals.  After two years of extensive study, Mark has taken the Sumerian Ladder of Lights mysteries with insights from Kabbalah, Gnosticism, and traditional witchcraft, to create a reconstruction of the ancient practices for today’s world.  The Assyrian goddess Lilitu (named Dim.Me.Gi in Sumer) goddess of wind, night, and sexuality will be the deity of focus.

Bio:

Mark H. Williams is consecrated as a Bishop in the Independent and Gnostic movement and holds a master’s in theology as well as a certificate in Transformative Coaching.  He has been a student of many religions and spiritual traditions.  He is the author of Embracing Lilith, Embodying Lilith, and the graphic novel, Shades and Shadows.

2pm Coby Michael 

Dark Herbalism: Drawing Occult Correspondences from Baneful Herbs 
Many baneful herbs like mandrake, blackthorn, elder and poppy have a long history and extensive folklore to draw magical inspiration from.  
However, baneful herbs aren't always as forthcoming with their individual uses in spellwork and spiritual practice.  In this class we will journey 
with some infamous baneful herbs as well as some still hiding in the shadows to gain insight into their magical nature.  By the end of this presentation
attendees will have a better understanding of the fluid nature of occult correspondences and how to better incorporate baneful, poisonous and taboo
plants and herbs into their own practices.
Coby Michael is a practitioner of the Poison Path of occult herbalism and a cultivator of entheogenic herbs. He contributes to the Pagan Archives at Valdosta University, writes regularly for The House of Twigs, and maintains a blog, Poisoner’s Apothecary, on Patheos Pagan. He teaches classes and online workshops on plant magic, baneful herbs, and traditional witchcraft.
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4pm Anthony Nelson

Goetia: Invocation & Evocation

Goetia - the art of conjuring spirits / demons. Keys of Solomon, the Lemegeton a grimoire compilation of five books from the 17th century and older. Seventy-two spirits of various influence and power. It was believed Solomon enslaved these spirits to do his bidding, other sorcerers over the ages have done the same. Now a new breed of magical adept has approached this ancient practice with a contrasting approach, not on enslavement but in partnership. This class will discuss the past practices of summoning and conjuring and how it was used and compare it to the current Goetic practices. This class will discuss the basics of
summoning but mostly who the 72 spirits are and how to work with them.
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Sunday 10/15/23

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1pm Amy Blackthorn

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Botanical Hexes: The Dark Side of Helping Spirits.
Herbs can help you clear your head, and calm your mind, but did you know they can also clear your plate of enemies? Join herbalist and author Amy Blackthorn to discover the dark side of these helping spirits, as they help you fight against nasty neighbors, fake friends and cheating partners. Stand up for yourself and these plants will stand with you.
Amy Blackthorn is the award-winning author of the best-sellers, ‘Blackthorn’s Botanical Magic,’ ‘Sacred Smoke,’ ‘Blackthorn’s Botanical Brews,’ ‘Blackthorn’s Protection Magic,’ and ‘Blackthorn’s Botanical Wellness.’  She has been described as an “arcane horticulturalist” for her lifelong work with magical plants and teaching. She incorporates her experiences in British Traditional Witchcraft with her horticulture studies. She has a certification in aromatherapy and is ordained through the Order of the Golden Gryphon. Amy’s company, Blackthorns Botanicals, creates tea based on magical associations. She has appeared on HuffPoLive, Netflix’s Top Ten Secrets and Mysteries in an episode about Supernatural Abilities & the AP Newswire.
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3pm Libby Bruce

 

Making the Darkness Conscious: Tarot for Shadow Work

"One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious." -Carl Jung

The shadow self is the unconscious mind, the psychological blind spot of both individuals and the collective. Everything we reject, hide from, project onto others, or fear resides in the shadow. Like a photo negative of our public self, shadow work illuminates what is hidden. 

Shadow work is a crucial element of spiritual development. Love and light is all well and good, but it is when we begin to explore the shadow that our true potential is unlocked. Here is where we break curses and forge new pathways. Here is where we discover skills and strengths. Here is where we become honest, blend light and shadow, heal trauma, and find balance. 

The tarot can be a crucial ally in your exploration of the shadow. This class will guide you gently into the realm of shadows, using the Tarot to light the way. Drawing on the wisdom of Jung, we will define the concepts of shadow and shadow work. Students will learn basic Tarot techniques for shadow work as we seek to deepen our understanding collectively. We will learn a shadow work tarot spread, and we will apply the concept of the shadow to the Tarot itself and the cosmos as a whole. Wherever you are on your shadow work journey, you will leave this class with a richer understanding of the shadow and new insights on exploring it through Tarot.