2023 Teachers

Alessandra Naccarato (she/her)

I was born in a circle of underground midwives, above the buried Garrison Creek, on land now often referred to as Toronto, from the Kanien’kéha word Tkaronto, often translated as “where the trees meet the water.” I am humbled to live here, on the traditional territories of many nations, including Anishinabek, Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and Mississaugas of the Credit. I strive to live and act in gratitude and responsibility to the communities, living lands and ecosystems here, as a white settler on these territories.

Just up the street from where I was born, and where I live now, coyotes and foxes have returned to the ravines and old water systems. They remind me to consider my place in the cycle of things, in the deep history between us, and the unknown possibilities of our future. This reminder guides me as a storyteller, witch, apprentice and teacher. I believe deeply in the power and vital importance of each person’s story, and I have been teaching poetry and performance across so-called Canada for the past fifteen years. As a poet and author, my work focuses on the interdependence of all species, ancestral lineage, and cultivating resilience in the face of imminent change. I am the granddaughter of Italian and Irish women, some of whom possessed the sight, and this lineage also carries me to Reclaiming, to the flame and forge and Brigid’s healing well. I look forward to gathering at the water’s edge, in song and story and solidarity.

Bridgid McGowan (she/her)

I am a cisgender Queer Femme living with disability whose ancestral roots are working-class Irish and Scottish. I grew up on unceded Peskotomuhkati land in colonially named New Brunswick, and am deeply grateful to live on the unceded and traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations in colonially named Vancouver. I have worked in the anti-violence movement as an activist and counsellor since the 1980’s, and currently work as a somatic psychotherapist.

My first Witch Camp was in 1987. Since then I have studied, priestessed, and taught LOTS of magic classes and workshops in community and at Witch Camps in Canada and the US. I am dedicated to Danu and devoted to Brigit, so am very excited about this year’s magic that we have already started. As a priestess, teacher, and musician I love creating and facilitating ritual/experiences that help folx go into the deep Mysterious realms to find their own healing and magical relationships and expression. I also bring humour, and as a Crone ‘in training’, a wicked cackle wherever I go.

Hilary Buffum (she/they)

I am a bay area witch based in Ramaytush Ohlone territory otherwise known as San Francisco. I am an artist, a teacher, and a story gatherer. My magical practices have grounding in herbalism and plant magic, dance and movement, and performance. I work to weave the deep, complex magic of relationship, with ourselves, community, the wider world, and the divine. I am committed to learning and making mistakes as I work to dismantle systems of oppression.

I had the great gift of being raised in Reclaiming community. I fell in love with community magic when I attended my first witchcamp, Witchlets in the Woods, at the age of 7. I have taught at Teen Earth Magic, Witchlets in the Woods, and Redwood Magic. I believe in the depth and power of intergenerational magic. I am a co-conspirator of little witches making rituals in streambeds and magic mud pies.

I am honored to be teaching and making magic with you at BCWC this year.

Irisanya Moon (she/they)

I am a Witch who lives on the lands of the Wappo and Graton Rancheria peoples known today as Santa Rosa, CA. I am a priestess, teacher, writer, ritualist, drummer, love spell, Sagittarius with Gemini Moon and Rising, and Reclaiming initiate who has been practicing magick for more than 20 years.

I first attended California Witchcamp in 2008, took the core classes in and have organized rituals for North Bay Reclaiming since 2009, started teaching classes in 2010, and began teaching at Witchcamps in 2013. My teaching has taken me around the world and I am honored to be in service to communities in North America, Europe, and Australia.

I am committed to fostering sacred connection and resilience in community through writing, trance, embodied practices, song, story, tears, and laughter. I am devoted to Aphrodite and work closely with Iris, Hecate, and the Norns. I also bring the offering of Heart Magick which seeks to travel the spaces of self-care/devotion, divine devotion (whatever that means to you), and community service, centered in the heart.

I am honored to return to BC Witchcamp. May our magick together be blessed with joy and fierceness and spill out into all the worlds.

WEBSITE: www.irisanyamoon.com
PATHEOS PAGAN BLOG: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/chargedbythegoddess/

Sharon Pink (she/her)

Hi there, I’m Sharon Pink, a queer femme witch, Tarot reader and priestess who has been part of Reclaiming community since 2012.

I have been teaching locally in Reclaiming since 2017 and am excited for my first witchcamp-teacher experience alongside an incredible gaggle of witches. In my communities, I organize, teach and priestess workshops, rituals and classes on Tarot, kink, magic and art.

I live my time on Squamish, Musqueam, Tsleil Waututh, Skowlitz and Leq’a:mel territory, and strive to be a respectful guest through reparations, listening, tending the earth and responding to calls to action.

I aspire to magic in ways that are anti-white supremacy, fat liberatory, gender affirming, leatherQueer celebratory, elder & crone honoring and sex worker positive.

My ancestral lineages from Portugal and Poland have been a portal for my close, yet quiet, connections with Wilgefortis and Marzanna. Both of these beings remind me of the importance of re-mything stories to account for a perspective different from what we are often shown.

I have 3 dogs (Chuck, Fern & Saga) and we’d love to hear about your dogs too.

www.sharonishere.com

Willow Firefly Kelly (she/they)

I can often be found with a cosmic headlamp beaming over my third eye pointed inward as I hunt for shadow treasures. Pluto in my first house clapped the lens of initiation over my life and relentlessly holds me to the underworldly art of transformation. I dance with despair, I entice hope, I enchant my world with music, rhythm and daring authenticity. I help to co-create containers in which transformation can unfold despite the messiness that is often part of the process. I embrace imperfection while striving to be a better accomplice to this gorgeous planet and all who share it.

I discovered Reclaiming in 1996 and felt like I came home. I was standing at one of those pivotal crossroads where my life radically changed. It was messy, imperfect, complicated, powerful, healing, and beautiful and 26 years later, it still is.

I have had profound and mystical experiences with Bridget over the years which blows my skeptical mind. Given Bridget’s fire at my first Elements of Magic class decades ago and given water from her well shortly after, I feel she has walked with me on this path and held the powerful transformations that ensued. She put her fire into my hands in 2006 in Vermont. Ask me about it sometime.

I look forward to exploring the mysteries of Bridget together within one of my favorite containers, BC Witchcamp!

Alessandra Naccarato

I was born in a circle of underground midwives, above the buried Garrison Creek, on land now often referred to as Toronto, from the Kanien’kéha word Tkaronto, often translated as “where the trees meet the water.” I am humbled to live here, on the traditional territories of many nations, including Anishinabek, Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and Mississaugas of the Credit. I strive to live and act in gratitude and responsibility to the communities, living lands and ecosystems here, as a white settler on these territories.

Just up the street from where I was born, and where I live now, coyotes and foxes have returned to the ravines and old water systems. They remind me to consider my place in the cycle of things, in the deep history between us, and the unknown possibilities of our future. This reminder guides me as a storyteller, witch, apprentice and teacher. I believe deeply in the power and vital importance of each person’s story, and I have been teaching poetry and performance across so-called Canada for the past fifteen years. As a poet and author, my work focuses on the interdependence of all species, ancestral lineage, and cultivating resilience in the face of imminent change. I am the granddaughter of Italian and Irish women, some of whom possessed the sight, and this lineage also carries me to Reclaiming, to the flame and forge and Brigid’s healing well. I look forward to gathering at the water’s edge, in song and story and solidarity.

COMMUNITY RESOURCE OFFERING

Raising Energy with Rhythm, Movement and Sound: Interactive Community Priestessing

We BC Witchcampers have worked hard to grow our drumming and energy skills as a community. It is a joy to continue this process. At this year’s camp we will have:

Teachings on energy-raising priestessing

Regular “everyone welcome” drum, dance and sound opportunities outside of ritual

Facilitated play dates with energy and rhythm during optional offerings

Ritual rhythm and soundscape experiments

Continued deepening of drum work within ritual

All are invited to bring instruments and drums, dancing feet and singing voices to join in the ecstatic flow. No experience required! Please jump in and let the magic lead you.

C o m m u n i t y   R e s o u r c e   T e a c h e r   L i n d a   B e e t

I am delighted to be continuing our community work of building energy-raising practices and interactive drum culture and skills at BCWC. When I received my magical name of Beet many years ago I had no idea how important drumming would become to my path. I think the Godds were being a little silly with that one.

My musical and magical work centres the ecstatic, mystical, healing and intuitive. I have been attending witchcamps for 17 years, teaching at camps and in community for 10 years. BCWC is my spiritual home base. I am pleased to be joining the teaching team and the campers this year to bring a fresh focus on energy raising skills to our gathering.

If you have the means to help the BC Witchcamp support the community, please consider donating. Thank you!