More About Our Beltane Authors and Guest Lecturers

Asherah and Apollonius are High Priestess and High Priest of the Isis Hathor Coven. They have extensively studied and practiced not only Traditional Wicca, but also Hermetic Magick as well.

Sarah Comrie has been telling stories in the Montreal community for the past five years. She has a background in theatre, performing around the world from 1996 to 2003 with a small repertory company.

Meri Fowler is a practicing Wiccan who belongs to a Celtic Shamanic Coven in Montreal. She has been Wiccan for 18 years and runs the Wiccan Sacred Circle Network and the Young Pagan's Circle.

Melanie Halpert: After years of trying to find solutions for personal health challenges within the medical system to no avail, Melanie turned to alternative medicine. Now, with almost ten years of experience in the field of natural health, she has finally found her niche practicing BodyTalk and continues to unravel the threads of her own healing while facilitating treatments for others.

Helmut: Blacksmith by trade for 39 years, Helmut has been making ritual tools and studying metal magic for over 25 years.

John David Hickey has been telling tales in schools and festivals across Canada for over 13 years. In 2005, he published collection of tales in a book/CD called You Don't Know Jack.

Judika Illes fell in love with the magical arts when she was a little girl and has been studying and practicing them ever since. She is the author the ' Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells', 'The Encyclopedia of Spirits', 'Element Compendium Of 1000 Spells', 'The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft', 'Pure Magic', and ' Magic When You Need It'.

T. Scarlet Jory is a 3rd Degree Wiccan High Priestess in the Black Forest tradition and coordinator of Crescent Moon School. She has devoted her university studies in anthropology and religion to further the academic studies of Wicca and to augment her own personal growth.

Valerie Laville has a background in Biology and Ecology, and completed these studies in Canada and South Africa. She is currently studying to become an osteopath. She has had strong interests for the world of the occult and its mysteries throughout her life.

Arin Murphy-Hiscock is a Montreal author and editor whose books include 'Power Spellcraft for Life', 'Solitary Wicca for Life', 'The Way of the Green Witch', and the forthcoming 'The Way of the Hedge Witch' (April 2009). She is currently editing an anthology of personal stories about coming out as Pagan titled 'Out of the Broom Closet' (September 2009).

Brendan Myers is the author of several well-respected philosophical books, including ' Mysteries of Druidry', 'The Other Side of Virtue' and 'A Pagan Testament'. He earned his Ph.D in philosophy from the National University of Ireland, and currently lectures at the University of Guelph.

Sian Reid holds a PhD in Sociology. She is the editor of 'Between the Worlds: Readings in Contemporary Paganism', and the co-author (as Meredith Macdonald) of 'An' Ye Harm None: Magical Morality and Modern Ethics'.

Greg Stroll is a 27 year old author from Montreal who only found his calling when schizophrenia helped him write his first book, 'In the Heart of Fear One Forgets One's Self' . He volunteers with Ami Quebec, giving talks about mental illness in front of school classes, as the need arises. He also dabbles in poetry and digital artwork.

Karyn Torrie is currently enrolled in the third level at Crescent Moon School. Learning a bit more each day, but knows enough to realize that we really only skim the surface of knowledge and understanding. By no means an expert, she tries to find truth in the simplest of places and things, and always tries to have a positive and sunny disposition, which rarely includes being too serious.