As a folkways educator, I enjoy skill and knowledge sharing in low-pressure, relaxed environments that empower my clients to connect with their creativity, their bodies, and the natural world. See a full list of my trainings & teachers under the about me section of my website.
I teach from a place rooted in abolishing cultural appropriation, capitalist & white supremacist behavior through making/finding your own ritual tools, learning about native and non native plants (and why we should care for both in their own way), learning ancestral practices from old europe from the time before we were “white” and had a relationship with land, and more. All my workshops are queer, femme, trans safe spaces and anti-racist.
I am always available for private lessons for groups of 4-10 interested friends. Any of my offered classes below are available for private class settings. Please email me if you have a small group that wants to learn together!
If you aren’t local to the Milwaukee area, check out my substack where I send monthly folk magic musings to paid subscribers!
Upcoming Events - 2024 season
-Spring Classes-
Make a Spring Cleaning Sweeper Workshop @ Cival Collective 4/15 & 4/22 + 4/27-28 SOLD OUT
In this two-part introductory broom-making class, Rachael Gonzalez of FAMILIAR will walk you through how to craft your very own sweeper style broom while discussing the history, lore and care of old-fashioned kitchen brooms. Come learn a new skill in a relaxed, fun craft circle. 2 days/ 2-4 hrs a day. Space is limited!
-Summer Classes-
Make a Handbroom Workshop @ Summer 2024 TBA
In this introductory broom-making class, Rachael Gonzalez of FAMILIAR will walk you through how to craft your very own hand broom in the style of your choice- while discussing the history, lore and care of old-fashioned hand / kitchen / altar brooms. Come learn a new skill in a relaxed, fun craft circle. 2 hrs. Space is limited!
-Fall Classes-
Make a Classic Witches Broom Workshop @ Fall 2024 TBA
In this introductory broom-making class, Rachael Gonzalez of FAMILIAR will walk you through how to craft your very own round broom while discussing the history, lore and care of witches brooms. Come learn a new skill in a relaxed, fun spooky craft circle! 2 days/ 2-4 hrs a day. Space is limited!
A Spell is a Prayer with Props: Apple Magic through Fire Cider @ Fall 2024 TBA
Join us for a fun and informative afternoon of crafting herbal remedies while learning about the apple magic of old europe and the root medicine of our ancestors. Participants will learn how to make fire cider as both a respiratory tonic and as a magical potion to carry us through the dark half of the year. 2-3 hrs. Space is limited!
-Winter Classes-
Sauna Animism and Sacred Bathing Rituals from the north @ Winter 2024 TBA
Join us in the bathhouse for an evening of magical lore as Rachael takes you through her years of experience sweat bathing across the US and the lands of her ancestors. We will discuss sauna history, etiquette, and rituals; as well as sauna herbalism, song, spells and spirits. Participants will leave with a thorough knowledge of sweat bathing from a Northern European / Nordic perspective, a take home zine of ideas to keep you going, and a new community of spiritual bathers! Each class takes place in partnership with a local sauna, so we can embody what we learned through bathing after class is through. 2-3 hrs. Space is limited.
Ringing Bells, Chimney Spells; the 12 days of Christmas in Northern Folk Tradition @ Winter 2024 TBA
Join us for an evening of storytelling, lore, personal practices and recipes to enrich and inform your Christmas season and seasonal practices to come.. Learn about the rich winter practices of old europe that inform the 12 days of Christmas as we know it today-
Part 1: Deck the Halls - meaningful decorations
Part 2: The Lost Women of Christmas- visiting spirits and their days
Part 3: Apple or Flame- rituals and divination
Part 4: The Christmas Table- food and drink traditions
things we will not cover: St Nick, Jesus, or Santa Claus
Participants will leave with a small herbal treat, a take home zine of ideas to get you started and notes from class, and fresh eyes on the winter season. 2-3 hrs. Space is limited.
Past Events
Make a Spring Cleaning Sweeper Workshop @ Cival Collective 4/15 & 4/22 + 4/27-28/2024
Sauna Animism & Sacred Bathing Rituals from the North @ Hot Spell Sauna in St Francis on 1/23/23
We Gave Year: New Work by Rachael M. Gonzalez @ Gallery Night Milwaukee Hosted by Cival Collective on January 19 2024 5-7PM
Ringing Bells, Chimney Spells; the 12 days of Christmas in Northern Folk Tradition @ FAMILIAR in Riverwest on KRAMPUSNACHT 12/5/23 6:30-8:30pm
Samhain Sauna Sessions; herbs, cupping and vihta with FAMILIAR October 26 2023 @ Hot Spell Sauna in St Francis Wi
Sauna Animism & Sacred Bathing Rituals from the North - October 13 2023 @ Hedgemeadow Apothecary
A Spell is a Prayer with Props: Apple Magic through Fire Cider @ Cival Collective - Sept 23 2023
Sauna Animism & Sacred Bathing Rituals from the North March 2023 at Motherlion in Bayview, Milwaukee
Fall into Magic: a weekend Samhain Retreat - hosted by Red Bird Reiki-registration with Introduction to Full size Broommaking with FAMILIAR- Scales Mound, IL October 22-24 2021
Introduction to full size broom making - Mabon- September 12 2020 Milwaukee, Wisc.
Introduction to full size broom making - Midsommar- June 20 2020 Lyndon Station, Wisc.
Class Inquiry Form
Didn’t find what you were looking for? Email me below to set something up!
Please note your class ticket is transferable to another person for the class it was purchased for, but it may NOT be used toward future classes or services. Please be mindful of class date and time, there will be no exceptions.
