Autumn Blackwood teaches bibliomancy at Mini CT Bookish Con in Torrington

August 1, 1–3pm | Torrington, CT | Tickets required

Autumn Blackwood, facilitator of the CT Witch Crawl, leads a hands-on workshop on bibliomancy at Market Street Creatives on August 1, part of the Mini CT Bookish Con. The two-hour session covers the practice of receiving intuitive guidance through the written word—opening a book at random, or turning to a specific line, and reading what shows up as a form of insight or answer.

Bibliomancy has a long, cross-cultural history, Blackwood says, Ancient practitioners consulted Homer and Virgil for guidance; the Bible has been used the same way for centuries; the I Ching operates on a related logic.

Blackwood's workshop walks through that history, along with the ethical considerations around treating any book—sacred or secular—as a source of guidance. Then she will teach how to actually work with a text this way, and how to decorate a bookmark to use in an ongoing practice. Participants can bring a book of their own to work with, or choose from a selection Blackwood brings.

Blackwood runs The Untamed Priestess, a consultation practice offering divination, Reiki, and coaching services. She writes regularly on tarot, ritual, and seasonal Pagan holidays—recent posts include a defense of tarot as a practice requiring commitment rather than just "vibes," and why you shouldn't drink essential oils.

She's an ordained Pagan minister, a Usui Reiki Master, and Vice President and Director of Community Care for the Connecticut Welcoming Pagan Network. She also founded the CT Witch Crawl, a month-long October event connecting Connecticut's metaphysical shops, artisans, and spiritual practitioners across the state through a passport-style scavenger hunt.

Her workshop is pitched as open to anyone curious about the practice—witches, writers, or simply people who find something resonant in margins and half-remembered lines.

Market Street Creatives, 100 Lawton St., Torrington, CT. Tickets at eventbrite.com.