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Whispers of the Mountain: Exploring Appalachian Folkways & Spirit Traditions w/ Byron Ballard
September 13 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
About the Workshop: Whispers of the Mountain – Exploring Appalachian Folkways & Spirit Traditions
Step into the heart of southern Appalachia and experience its rich, living traditions through the eyes of a native Appalachian magic practitioner and beloved storyteller Byron Ballard. Whispers of the Mountain is more than a class — it’s an invitation to wander deep into the old ways, where the land, the water, and the spirit world speak to those who listen.
Together, we’ll explore folk practices and traditions that have shaped generations, and dispel commonly held stereotypes about the people of Appalachia. We will also learn to craft traditional asfidity (protection bags) and poppets (dolls) from up-cycled fabric, tools that carry stories of protection and healing. As we ramble through the lore, you’ll meet the spirit folk and ghosts who linger in Appalachian memory, and discover the herbs long used for both magic and medicine.
Along the way, we’ll share the deeper history and peculiarities of Appalachian folkways — not just as curiosities, but as vital threads in the fabric of this region’s people and culture. At midday, we’ll gather around to break bread and enjoy a warming bowl of soup, nourishing body and spirit alike.
In this workshop, you will:
- Gain a richer understanding of Appalachian history and its people
- Learn the unique spirit traditions and folkways of the region
- Hear stories of ghosts and spirit folk passed down through generations
- Discover herbs used in Appalachian healing and magical practice
- Create your own asfidity bag and poppet to take home
Join us for this hands-on, heart-opening journey, and come away with new respect and connection to the deep places of this old world.
This class will be held indoors on Saturday, September 13th, 2025, from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm near Asheville, NC.
This class is suitable for all – from folklore & folkways enthusiasts to those new to these traditions! The minimum age is 10 with maturity level to understand the content. Participants under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
About the Instructor: Byron Ballard
H. Byron Ballard, BA, MFA, is a native of Western NC. She is a writer, amateur folklorist with a specialty in Appalachian folk magic & healing. She tours extensively in the US & Great Britain. Her books include four on mountain folk magic. The first was Staubs and Ditchwater, and the most recent (2025) is A Feral Church. She lives in Asheville.
Equitable Pricing Model $80 – $30
* Please click here to learn about your pricing options before you register for your first Perennial Workshop. The pricing options are the same for all events, so you only need to do it once!
In order to make our workshops more accessible, we offer two price options for each class, with an additional Equity Discount for qualifying individuals. Please consider these options and select your price at checkout.
- Sponsor Price $80: For those who have enough to share, thank you for being a Sponsor. This is an opportunity to contribute towards the cost of the class for someone else.
- Standard Price $55: The Standard reflects one person’s share of what it costs to produce the class and cover basic expenses.
- Equity Discount $30: We offer an additional Equity Discount for those from the following communities who support reparations and/or an equitable redistribution of wealth and would not have access to this workshop without this discount:
- Indigenous or Native American, Black, Latino/a/x
- Other peoples of the global majority, or racialized communities
- Ethnicities underrepresented in the Southeastern earthskills community
Thank you for helping transform the world into a culture of abundance, resilience, and opportunity for all.
Which Price Option is Right for You?*
*Please check your pricing options before you register for your first Perennial Workshop. The pricing options are the same for all events, so you only need to do it once!
