Style Tribe: The New York Witch Festival
Photo: Amy Lombard
If the seven tomes that created the world of Harry Potter made you believe in witchcraft, magic, and spells for at least one hot second in middle school, the very title of the New York Witch Festival, which took place in Long Island over the weekend, might bring up some thrilling preteen anticipation. But this convention wasn’t for any Hermione wannabes. On Saturday, troves of self-identifying, practicing witches (Wiccans, pagans, shamans, druids, and even a metaphysical Christian or two) gathered at the Upsky Long Island Hotel’s grand ballroom to properly kick off Samhain (a.k.a. Halloween). Psychics, mediums, tarot readers, “healers,” and a general audience casually interested in witchcraft convened for a day filled with workshops on runes, herbs, healing, and the afterlife, as well as music, vendors, and more. Click through the slideshow to see the scene and meet some of the witches.
Gabriella Landri Photo: Amy Lombard
"Born again Pagan" bumper sticker sold by “Fairy Rose,” also known as Rose Brennan.
Photo: Amy Lombard
Jo Jayson, artist, Expressions of the Goddess “With my paintings I channel the energy of different goddesses and feminine energies.”
Photo: Amy ...
Jo Jayson, artist, Expressions of the Goddess “With my paintings I channel the energy of different goddesses and feminine energies.”
Photo: Amy Lombard
Photo: Amy Lombard
Kathy Kohort So, you read past lives. How did that come about?
“It’s just a gift. I was adopted, and I later found out my family was from Romani...
Kathy Kohort So, you read past lives. How did that come about?
“It’s just a gift. I was adopted, and I later found out my family was from Romania. They were gypsyies. They’re so superstitious. I have Sicilian blood, Gypsy blood, and Shaman blood. I was a rotten kid, I really was. Then I found Wicca and Shamanism on Shelter Island. A shaman taught us the proper way to respect the earth, the dead, everything.”
What is the best way to deal with evil?
“Make a circle of salt and say the Lord’s Prayer. Or use graveyard dirt from someone you love. That will protect you. You can get graveyard dirt anywhere, but if it’s someone you know, it’s more potent. Draw a pentagram under your bed with salt and you’re safe.” Photo: Amy Lombard
A piece of artwork by Brian Bankuik.
Photo: Amy Lombard
Lady Arielle, owner of Lady Arielle Presents “I’m actually a professional dominatrix and I’m a performer. I’m a joke mistress. I do a lot of show...
Lady Arielle, owner of Lady Arielle Presents “I’m actually a professional dominatrix and I’m a performer. I’m a joke mistress. I do a lot of shows with humor. I made a few piece of jewelry and I sold a few at one of my shows, and I thought, maybe this is something I need to explore.”
What’s your favorite part about this festival?
"When people come up to my table excited and go, 'I love this! I don’t know which to buy!' I say I don’t sell my jewelry, I have the pieces adopted to good homes. I found one of my gifts is that I look at the person and I know what they would like. Sometimes it’s a blind reach. It’s not explainable. I’m a good witch! It’s all just a feeling, really.” Photo: Amy Lombard
"Witchy Woman" sweatshirts for sale at the New York Witch Festival.
Photo: Amy Lombard
Ann Demarco, psychic/medium “It’s a wonderful gift. I don’t feel I’m weird in any way shape or form. Some people think that we are, you know. Do ...
Ann Demarco, psychic/medium “It’s a wonderful gift. I don’t feel I’m weird in any way shape or form. Some people think that we are, you know. Do I go around telling people what I do? No. If someone goes ‘What do you do?’, I tell them I’m in communications.”
Photo: Amy Lombard
Book of Shadows sold by Maria Rivera, owner, Maiden Mother Crone Shoppe “It’s made out of leather, has the Witches' Eye, and 500 pages where you ...
Book of Shadows sold by Maria Rivera, owner, Maiden Mother Crone Shoppe “It’s made out of leather, has the Witches' Eye, and 500 pages where you can note your spells, recipes, dreams — it’s a witch's journal. They come in different sizes. The ones you see in the movies are typically this size. This one in particular took a year to make.” Photo: Amy Lombard
Maureen Fetterly, general witch and Halloween enthusiast “I’m totally into Halloween. I go to Salem every year. This is the first time the festiv...
Maureen Fetterly, general witch and Halloween enthusiast “I’m totally into Halloween. I go to Salem every year. This is the first time the festival is on Long Island and it reminds me of Salem, so I was [had] to check it out. I was a little worried if anyone was going to be dressed up here as well today, but I feel very comfortable.”
Photo: Amy Lombard
“Fairy Rose,” also known as Rose Brennan “Ever since I was a little girl i’ve always loved fairies and flowers. I’ve been a gardener, a florist, ...
“Fairy Rose,” also known as Rose Brennan “Ever since I was a little girl i’ve always loved fairies and flowers. I’ve been a gardener, a florist, an herbalist, I write about fairies. When I lost my job I decided to go full-time selling all of this.” Her friend, Kathy Kohart, added: “Every past life I’ve read for her, she’s been in a garden. A little kid in a garden, growing up in gardens, on a swing or in a tree… She’s always been in nature. She’s a green witch. I get all my herbs from her, they come out perfect.” Photo: Amy Lombard
Kathy Kohort and Susan Bivona meet at Fairy Rose's booth. They've never met before, but they discuss how after moments of speaking with each other the...
Kathy Kohort and Susan Bivona meet at Fairy Rose's booth. They've never met before, but they discuss how after moments of speaking with each other they "feel like they've known each other forever."
Photo: Amy Lombard
Patricia Hunt “I’m still in the learning stages of Wicca. It’s nice having all of these people in one place — just the energy of all of it. Here,...
Patricia Hunt “I’m still in the learning stages of Wicca. It’s nice having all of these people in one place — just the energy of all of it. Here, I feel less weird.”
Photo: Amy Lombard
Mark Rider demonstrates the use of a black pendulum mat "In order for it to work, you must have a good feeling about the pendulum you're usi...
Mark Rider demonstrates the use of a black pendulum mat "In order for it to work, you must have a good feeling about the pendulum you're using. Once you do, you concentrate very hard on a question and it will give you the answer you need."
Photo: Amy Lombard
Qumran Taj, practitioner of witchcraft and wizardry, psychic ability realized at the age of six years old “This gift is not always a blessing. Th...
Qumran Taj, practitioner of witchcraft and wizardry, psychic ability realized at the age of six years old “This gift is not always a blessing. There’s a certain downside to being sensitive to what people are feeling, thinking and doing. As far as a favorite part, it would really have to do with my ability to look beyond a person’s exterior appearance, their facade and be able to pick out things that can help that person.”
Photo: Amy Lombard
Goddesss Shakra Meditation Kit Cards by Jo Jayson.
Photo: Amy Lombard
Catherine Kane, wife of Sean Kane, psychic/medium “My husband is a Wiccan Neo-Pagan Shaman, i’m a metaphysical Christian — which means I am a Chr...
Catherine Kane, wife of Sean Kane, psychic/medium “My husband is a Wiccan Neo-Pagan Shaman, i’m a metaphysical Christian — which means I am a Christian but I also do things connected with magic and energy work. We’re like a sitcom waiting to happen.”
How does it feel being Christian at this event?
“There’s actually biblical authority for a lot of the things I do. First Corinthians, for example, talks about the gifts from God, including the gift of prophecy. I figure it’s a gift that God has given me. God made me short. God gave me a nice singing voice. God gave me a good sense of humor. And God gave me access to my psychic and energy working abilities.”
What’s your favorite part about what you do?
“I like helping people. I consider my life mission is basically to be a fairy god mother. Everything that is beautiful, juicy and fantastic is about helping people live their best lives and brightest dreams. What’s that if not a fairy god mother?” Photo: Amy Lombard
Love Incense for sale from Joy Lynch, owner of Something for Everyone. “It helps, basically, to attract the love interest. Everybody's results ma...
Love Incense for sale from Joy Lynch, owner of Something for Everyone. “It helps, basically, to attract the love interest. Everybody's results may differ but it helps to boost your self love and attract your perfect love. It’s also great to just give a whole peaceful effect.” Photo: Amy Lombard
Mark Rider “The cat represents Maat, Egyptian goddess that had originally been companion to Ra, the sun god. She was demoted to a goddess of fert...
Mark Rider “The cat represents Maat, Egyptian goddess that had originally been companion to Ra, the sun god. She was demoted to a goddess of fertility but she has always been my matron. I’ve just always been drawn to cats; at one point I had seven. The pentacle is the Wiccan symbol representing the four elements. The fifth point of that is the spirit, the thing that all of those tie together.”
Photo: Amy Lombard
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