Past Presentations & Panels
Please see below a selection of Ben’s previous speaking engagements and topics of presentations. Some of these have been re-recorded and are available for purchase in the Courses section.
Medieval Monsters
Salem Witchfest: Spring Agora - March 24th, 2024 - 120 Minutes
The European Medieval world was populated with all manner of strange and fascinating creatures. from the wild men of the woods, to the cyclopes of deserted islands, to the Dogheads who lived just over the horizon, the medieval world was filled with wonders. But what were these creatures? What role did they play in Medieval European culture? And how do they still show up in our imaginations today? In this lecture we will invite these beings from the margins of illuminated manuscripts and explore their important role in folklore and legend.
Who Are You? Identity and Ancestral Veneration
LlewellynCon2023 - June 19th 2023 - 30 Minutes
Join author Ben Stimpson as he explores the concept of self-identity and ancestral veneration work. LlewellynCon is the annual online conference of Llewellyn authors sharing presentations on various topics related to their work.
Available to watch here: Who Are You? Identity and Ancestral Veneration
All Our Relations: Expanding the Concept of Ancestor Veneration
Ancestral Magic Summit - November 1st 2023 - 30 Minutes
In this brief presentation, Ben Stimpson (author of Ancestral Whispers: A Guide to Building Ancestral Veneration Practices) explores other forms of ancestor other than purely biological. Join Wendy Mata and her fellow presenters for the 2023 Ancestral Magic Summit, bringing together some of the best speakers in the area of ancestor work and magic.
Available to watch here: All our Relations: Expanding the Concept of Ancestor Veneration
Embedded in the Land: A Theoretical Approach to Relationship with Folklore & Magic
The Salem Witchcraft and Folklore Festival - August 4th 2023 - 120 Minutes
Folklore often encompasses rich bodies of knowledge and wisdom handed down within communities. Yet, it is all too easy to relate to folk tradition through the lenses of our modern society as being mere stories, practices divorced from their originating landscapes, or as mere regional manifestations of universal archetypes. In this presentation, we will explore folklore theory deeper and expand on understanding on it's mechanics, the importance of regional differences, and it's function. We will explore, with case examples, of how a magical practitioner might relate to their own landscape and the various denizens existing there.
Inner Journey: The Potential of Spirituality in Psychotherapy
The Queering Mental Health Conference - April 21st 2023 - 90 Minutes
Often the queer experience of religion and spirituality is religious trauma and ostracization, and this has frequently translated into a narrative in the helping professions that this is the only experience queer people could possibly have. In this workshop, we will challenge the view that spirituality must be an uncomfortable subject for the queer experience and explore how it can be utilized by helping professionals working with queer clients. We will challenge biases and myths about queer people and spirituality; explore various ways queer people have reclaimed religion and spiritual expression; and, how helping professionals can incorporate spirituality into their work with clients.
Psychospirituality Discussion Panel
Psychospirituality and Paganism Conference - August 21st 2021 - 90 Minutes
Organized by the Sisterhood of Avalon, the Psychospirituality & Paganism Conference sought to explore the connection points between Paganism and psychospirituality. This panel rounded off the afternoon and had panelists Tiffany Lazic, Ben Stimpson, Danielle Blackwood, and Jhenah Telyndru answer questions related to psychology and spirituality.
2010 - 2020
Psychology and the Occult: A History
Occulticon Conference - August 11th - 60 Minutes
Western psychology has had an intimate history with metaphysics and the occult, with many early founders being deeply interested in occultic arts and philosophy while also developing the early structures of modern psychology. Many important occult figures such as Aleister Crowley was likewise deeply interested in the emerging field of psychiatry. In this presentation, we explore that history and the intertwined roots of both systems.
The Hindu Pantheon
Four Winds Festival - June 24th, 2016 - 60 Minutes
In this hour long presentation, we explore the principal deities of various Hindu sects, including their principal sacred stories and relationships. Deities covered include: Shiva, Vishnu and Avataras, Brahma, Lakshmi, Sarasvati, Parvati/Durga/Kali, Ganesha, and the prinicpal other beings in the Hindu universe.
The Cosmology of Hinduism
Wic-Can Fest - June 10th 2016 - 60 Minutes
Hinduism is a set of religious traditions shared by over a billion people worldwide, but it is still widely misunderstood or unknown to the West. In this brief talk, we explore the cosmology of popular Hinduism, the deities, demons and important places of the Hindu Universe.
Panel: The Crone Archetype in World Traditions
Tribal Hearth’s Northern Lights Gathering - November 1st 2023 - 30 Minutes
In this panel discussion, several members of the TribalHearth community come together to have a discussion on the crone archetype as she appears or does not appear in world traditions. Practitioners grounded in Norse Heathenry, Irish Celtic Paganism, Hinduism, African Traditional religion, and Wicca come together to discuss the archetype, and the dangers of projecting western concepts onto non-western traditions.
Symbol and Magic in Hinduism
Durham Region Pagan Pride - August 14th 2016 - 45 Minutes
In this brief presentation, we explore the power of symbol in Hinduism, including comparable practices of western magic in Tantra and Brahmanical Hinduism. We explore the chief use of symbol in ritual and sacred story, iconography, yantras, mantras, and other ritual traditions.
The Magic of Amulets
Toronto Spring Psychic Fair - April 23rd 2016 - 45 Minutes
In this brief presentation, we will explore the magic of amulets and how amulet work can be applied to your own practice. We will outline the various types of amulets and amulet magic prevalent in the world today, including common amulets you see for sale in stores and in psychic fairs. We will briefly touch on amulet construction, dangers, and safeguards; as well as amulet working utilizing relationship with specific deities and spirits.
The Power of Symbols
Peterborough Fall Psychic Fair and Expo - November 7th 2016 - 45 Minutes
In this short presentation, we will go over the cognitive and metaphysical power inherant in symbols and thus also amulets, sigils, yantras, talismans, and other ritual objects and figures that utilize symbolism. We will explore deeper the cognitive reality of why symbol tends to be so powerful to human consciousness, and how it can be applied in our own lives.