Hi Folks! Well, Imbolc is in the rear view mirror, and we are racing along towards spring. Need a pick-me-up at the end of winter? Or just in general? There's a lot of community ahead for us in 2025. We can all weather storms better when we're together, aye?
FIRST UP: MARKETS
I just loaded up the events page with new markets and fun fantasy events for 2025. From the Undead of Winter Vampire Market Valentine's Weekend in PA with its attendant ball to Mermagicon in March with live swimming mermaids to the Witches' Pride in September in Fredericksburg(I'm teaching a class there this year!), there's a great escape from the world waiting for you. Check out the new stuff at https://www.tavabaird.com/calendar and come visit me and get a big ol' hug.
You'll also note that the calendar is loaded with classes and archaeology digs at the haunted Blue Ball Inn....
SECOND UP: ARCHAEOLOGY and CLASSES at BBI
I'm doing EIGHT benefit classes in the BBI this year, and we have loaded up bthe calendar with digs from April to Halloween as we break ground on a new site it the yard. Want to come dig with us or bring your home school group or scout group to dig? Write me! Want to go on a Paranormal Investigation? I can put you in touch with those people too. Want to spend an evening making poppets with me in the house and then use the poppets after dark to reach out towards the spirit realm? Here I am, baby! Check out the dig schedule on https://www.tavabaird.com/calendar and the classes at https://www.tavabaird.com/classes
THIRD UP: OTHER CLASSES
I am keeping my class schedule low this year in order to be able to focus on writing more...I anticipate releasing at least three more titles and just released another novel last week (see below!) But one class I will be doing is this:
Our Lady of Ravens and Wolves: Explorations Into the Sacred Dark of The Morrigan
The Morrigan embodies many concepts that our modern society warns us to turn away from, when in fact embracing her can make us much more whole. Join pagan author, artist, and poppet-maker Tava Baird as we discuss death, wildness, and appetite while creating and blessing a unique Morrigan-themed altar poppet for raising power and reaching goals. The instructor's personal experiences in reaching out towards the dead in the name of The Morrigan will also be discussed, as well as her relationship with her spirit guide, Samael, who instructs her in her work. Class will be held at Raven Conjure in March: click here for details! https://www.tavabaird.com/event-details/class-our-lady-of-ravens-and-wolves-explorations-into-the-sacred-dark-of-the-morrigan
FOURTH UP: RETREATS
Want to get away from it all? I will be co-hosting a workshop at the Fertile Ground Gathering's Beltane Celebration in May! Jennifer (who co-hosts the Mystical Musings podcast with me) and Keith Taylor and I have planned a three-hour experience for you in the woods! Here's the info:
The Power of Story: Creating Space for Divine
The Power of Story: Creating Space for Divine Guidance is an interactive experience interweaving sound healing, theatre, sacred dance, storytelling, guided meditation, and group altar building. The audience for this class will be invited to participate in a series of experiences that guide them to set down the stories they carry that no longer serve them and rewrite their connection to the divine.
Wanna come and journey with us? Details are HERE: https://www.fertilegroundgathering.com/
And then....in November, I am the special guest instructor at Hallowed Homecoming, A Samhain Retreat! Our theme is Journeying into Darkness, and I'll be teaching THREE workshops on the Sacred dark, as well as leading the main ritual Saturday night! Information shortly HERE: https://hallowedhomecoming.com/ and here: https://www.facebook.com/HallowedHomecomingSamhain
.....AAAAAAND BOOKS and PODCASTS!
The Angel and The Blackbird, the sequel to The Ballad of Birdie MacLeod, is now out on Kindle and in paperback and copies will be available at the Vampire Market! Continue your Spiral Pathways prequel journey here: https://www.amazon.com/Angel-Blackbird-Tale-Faerie-Between/dp/B0DVQQSBTW/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1H870M6S3ZSPJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.jTgI0d94paEsdn_e8REEKFOcS5Zc6uQyPKwhdLrTkinXToZhq7A8mE8BdOnoPFe0KzhIB2_pe6eEV-4g1nOas4Y4Z6Cons47y-hJAB8nq73jqYV4YorU0Kw8-A4_F9lL5oC45dR84JvwYZPY_2QJbGNsfVVce-pws9tTu-u_p_nbHM5gpciRbY1V27KfWAh9P5BYQjQ9JzZQChsUJmXoVg42nQSmLV2i6_whV4JzVwQ.4aVjzYXhzCFMDpFa_e-dtiwAih01vcqb6QSTds-e2Eg&dib_tag=se&keywords=angel+and+the+blackbird&qid=1738866518&s=books&sprefix=angel+and+the+blackbird%2Cstripbooks%2C96&sr=1-1
AND.....BIG NEWS! Wyldwood is being republished through Masterful Person Publishing with updates and a new cover and will be coming to a bookstore near you this spring! Wooohooo! And the rest of the series is now in its second edition with a new size (6" by 9"), available now on Amazon.
NEW PRINTS!
There's a SLEW of new paintings and prints coming out, and next month they will start to appear in a massive update to the etsy shop at https://darkflowerbooks.etsy.com along with handmade poppets! I'm starting to bring original paintings to events as well, so if something floats your boat you may be able to snag the original!
IN THE WORKS: The Book of High Places
I know, FINALLY! The Book of High Places, the sequel to Bonewytch and Book Six in The Spiral Pathways, has just sent its prologue and first chapter out to the test readers! Alexander Scott and Saorsa Stuart return along with Vika and the whole crowd to begin untangling the mysteries of The Violet Woman, Nyx, and The Magician. And guess who's at the heart of it all? The woman everyone seems to love to hate, Fia Grace. I'll be making a blog post in about a week with the prologue in it for anyone who wants to take a gander.
And then...PODCAST!
The Mystical Musings podcast is now coming out with new episodes every Friday featuring channeled music and messages from Samael and discussions on everything from Sacred Darkness to self-worth to surviving difficult times. We are adding GUESTS to our line-up in 2025, so you'll get to hear from some fantastic movers and shakers in the metaphysical field. Listen HERE https://mysticalmusings.buzzsprout.com or on your favorite platform. We are in the process of loading them onto Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@MysticalMusingsEnergy as well. We've got episodes on Angels! Metatron! the Blue Ball Inn! Play us in the car on your way to work and start your day off positive!
Thank you so much for all of your support this past year everyone...Darkflower is growing by leaps and bounds, and it's all because of you!
Sending you love and magick,
Tava