Storytelling is spellcasting.
JAMIE MICHELLE WAGGONER is an author, witch, community leader and creative professional. She holds a BA Philosophy, Magna cum Laude, from the University of Idaho (Moscow, ID, 1999), as well as a post-graduate certificate in Electronic Art, Publishing and Website Design from the University of Missouri-St. Louis (2001).
Before becoming a full time freelancer in 2012, Jamie worked as an in-house copywriter, graphic designer and creative director in Atlanta, GA (2001-2011). Her expertise includes a variety of copywriting (including media releases, marketing communications, technical writing, and scriptwriting for television and radio commercials, informational videos, and podcasts), graphic design for both print and electronic mediums, website design, creative direction for photo and video shoots (on location and in studio), storyboarding, strategic project management and execution, and vendor management. Jamie’s ability to tell compelling visual and written stories has led to successful partnerships with such notable brands as the Hunter Douglas Group and Kraft Foods.
Jamie is also a longtime student of philosophy, mysticism, spirituality and the occult. As a Pagan high priestess and community leader, she creates transformative workshops, rituals, sacred circles and learning programs for people of many spiritual backgrounds (and skeptics, too). Her work as a priestess is highlighted in the documentary film Things We Don’t Talk About: Women’s Stories from the Red Tent (2012) and the Goddess on Earth Oracle (2021). Jamie’s background in philosophy, combined with her deep love of myth and story, recently led to completion of her full length nonfiction book, Hades: Myth, Magic and Modern Devotion (Llewellyn, 2024). As a creative nonfiction writer and ritual storyteller, Jamie combines research, experimentation, and innovation to develop fresh takes on ancient myths and magical practices. Her modern, feminist approach is inspired by the works of mythologists Drs. Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Sharon Blackie and Gwilym Morus-Baird, the tarot teachings of Rachel Pollack, the poetry of Mary Oliver and T.S. Eliot, and the paintings of Georgia O’Keeffe. Her writing has also been featured in the Llewellyn Journal, The Feminine Macabre: A Woman's Journal of All Things Strange and Unusual, and on rebellesociety.com.
Jamie's 25+ years in the creative industry, as well as her depth of skills and experience gained through community leadership roles, lends itself to a variety of exciting collaborations. In addition to her independent projects, Jamie is a co-founder and lead instructor for Way of the Weaver: a queer-centric, inclusive program of spiritual inquiry, social justice and community building.
Jamie is certified as a Level I Trainer in Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation by the Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth and Reconciliation in Selma, AL (2020). She endeavors to carry forward the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s leadership and nonviolent activism in her life, projects and relationships.
Selected Articles
“Cackling Optional: How to Clear, Ward, and Protect Spaces Like a Witch” in Haunted Magazine, September 2024
“Drinking with Khthonic Gods” in Witchology Magazine, Summer 2024
“Fig Spell to Embody Your Desire” in the Llewellyn Journal, February 5, 2024
“Four Easy Ways to Connect with Hades” Llewellyn Guest Blog Post, February 5, 2024
Film & Media Appearances
An Interview with Jamie Waggoner. WitchSpace podcast, hosted by Gemini and Scorpio (November 15, 2024)
Jamie Waggoner talks Hades, conferences, and her favorite midnight snack. 4 Quick Q’s podcast, hosted by Enfys Book (June 17, 2024)
Hades Priestess with Jamie Waggoner. Diaries of a Witch on YouTube, hosted by Angelica Cresci (June 12, 2024)
Jamie Waggoner. WitchLit podcast, hosted by Victoria Raschke (May 29, 2024)
Jamie Waggoner. Conversational Witchcraft podcast, hosted by Dawn Aurora Hunt (May 5, 2024)
Hades with Jamie Waggoner. Pagan’s Witchy Corner podcast, hosted by Brittany Pagan Adkins (April 22, 2024)
Jamie Waggoner. Circle Talk podcast, hosted by Circle Sanctuary (March 19, 2024)
Meeting Hades, with Jamie Waggoner. The Witching Hour podcast, hosted by Eron Mazza (February 15, 2024)
Jamie Waggoner on Amityville Apothecary Author Talks (February 2024)
Jamie Waggoner’s “Hades: Myth, Magic and Modern Devotion”. The Witching Hour on YouTube, hosted by Patti Negri (January 15, 2024)
Episode 13: Jamie Waggoner. Calling the Quarters podcast, hosted by Dean Jones (June 26, 2023)
Goddess on Earth Oracle Deck & Book by Lisa Levart (Goddess on Earth, 2021)
Episode 28: How to Die Well. Holistic Life Navigation podcast, hosted by Luis Mojica (Dec 25, 2020)
The Way of the Warrior Mama: The Guide to Protecting and Raising Strong Daughters by Sally Clark
(Morgan James Publishing, 2018)Episode 8: Why I Marched. Shaping Sapiens podcast, hosted by Amelia Isabel Torres (Jan 30, 2017)
Things We Don’t Talk About: Women’s Stories from the Red Tent directed by Isadora Leidenfrost (Soulful Media, 2012)
Bona Fides
Bewitching the Waters Symposium Presenter (2024)
Dragon Con Attending Professional (2024)
Paganicon Conference Presenter (2024)
Botanica Obscura Conference Presenter (2024)
Salem Witchcraft and Folklore Festival Presenter (2023, 2024)
Mystic South Conference Presenter (2023, 2024)
Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth & Reconciliation Certified Level I Trainer (2020—present)
Way of the Weaver Co-Founder and Lead Instructor (2019—present)
Land Sea Sky Polytheist Conference Series Presenter and Panelist (2018—2021)
Attuned Reiki III Healer
Level III with Izzy Swanson (2016)
Levels I and II with Francena Marie Hancock (2008)
Austin Red Tent Co-Founder and Facilitator (2013—2018)
Sisterhood of Avalon (2005—2018)
Facilitator for Austin/San Antonio Hearth Circle (2012—2018)
Board of Directors (2012—2015)
University of Missouri–St. Louis Post-Graduate Certificate in Electronic Art, Publishing & Website Design (2001)
University of Idaho B.A. Philosophy, Magna cum Laude (1999)
Honored Teachers & Recent Studies
Shadow Transformation Protocol with Christina Pratt (2022)
Kunsikeya Speaks with Beverly Little Thunder and Lushanya Echeverria (2020)
Embodied Activism with Nkem Ndefo and Rae Johnson (2020)
Sowing Post-Capitalist Seeds with Anuradha Kowtha and Moriah Helms (2020)
Kingian Nonviolence with Dr. Bernard Lafayette (co-founder of SNCC) and Friends (2020)
Mythic Imagination and Reclaiming the Witch with Dr. Sharon Blackie (2019, 2020)