Meet The Council
Devra Gregory AKA "Dev" is the founder, producer and High Priestess of The Sacred Flame Fire Tribe and Phoenix Rising. She is an extremely diverse individual having worked in the entertainment industry as a dancer and celebrity impersonator and producer of her award-winning one-woman show. Dev is an initiated Wiccan High Priestess, leads rituals for all occasions and a year-long priestess training program for women. As a holistically minded massage therapist, Dev is an advocate for clean living, wholesome food and wise choice awareness in all products for the health of Mother Earth. She mentors individuals who seek to better themselves through body/mind/spirit empowerment. Dev loves contributing to the emerging paradigm of awakening the Divine Feminine, the Goddess, back to the planet, and helping people awaken their magic. Learn more about Dev Devra Gregory
Magdalene Grace is a world traveler, spiritual enthusiast, and embodied artist. Having cultívated a sociological lense through her education at San Francisco State University, Magdalene looks to uplift humanity by enacting social change through movement, artistry, and self-discovery. It is her aim to inspire others to live an abundant life filled with radical self-love to bring about the betterment of the human collective. “Magda” studied ritual dance and theater with Jen (Satya) Peterson helping choreograph and produce performances to honor the Solstice and Equinox, which featured interactive ritual through yoga, art, and dance for the San Diego community. She is a culinary artist currently working at Chef Jojo Ruiz’s Serea Coastal Cuisine, located inside the Hotel Del Coronado. She has studied under Chef Liz Murphy, of Santosha Plant-Based Nutrition, and Chef Kujo Kumro, of Forage and Flame. Magda is the food coordinator and production manager for Phoenix Rising 2022 and a member of High Priestess Devra Gregory's San Diego coven. You can contact her via Instagram @magdalicious_kitchen.
Marisa Morataya, the Vendor Coordinator for Phoenix Rising, is an empathic healer, an avid reader of all things metaphysical & life coaching, and is a professional soap & candle alchemist. After retiring from a 22-year Naval career and seeing the world, she decided to get back to her roots of healing through traditional herbal medicine and plant-based skin care. Having deep Afro-Latino roots, she incorporates her ancestral knowledge of herbal remedies into her daily practice of soap and candle making, where others can transcend the simple act of a shower or bath and create a ritual of soulful cleansing and tangible pleasure. She holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Maryland in Public Health & Psychology, and has a passion for decreasing stigma and raising awareness about mental health in women and underserved minority communities. Through her life experiences and worldly education, she inspires others to transform their consciousness & spirituality and is a voice for the voiceless.
Penny Iloa Ciambelli, the registrar for Phoenix Rising is an individual on a mystical path to Self Mastery. Penny appreciates the simplicity of life, humbled by the BEingness and subtle stillness of the Eternal Present. Guided with unyielding Faith from Divine Source to be in service of Unconditional Love and spread Joy to Humanity and all of Earth's blessed Kingdoms.
"Phoenix fire burn through me, transmute all that is blind and bound to me. Take my woes and set me free. My grateful heart hears the call. I am uplifted with Love in The One, hence The All. "
Penny
Catherine Frei the affinity group coordinator and social media assistant has always been drawn to music, dance, art and all things in nature. It was only fitting that after a life altering event she began to explore magick and it's use to create beauty and calmness in her life. She was drawn to Phoenix Rising 2021 and at that event realized her true self had been held back by societal norms and expectations. Catherine knew she could reinvent herself and create a life that is connected and joyful. Her experience over that one long weekend started her true transformation and she is committed to assisting others to experience this alchemical shift. Catherine is a Ritual Arts Alchemy participant (Dev's 2022 program) and a professional nanny.
Sharon Liberty is an author, business owner and facilitator living in San Diego, California. Sharon has held leadership positions in various local communities such as leather, play parties, shamanic temples, LGBTQ and spiritual groups for over 40 years. She is an ordained high priestess in the pagan tradition and has been trained as a shaman. She is also the creator of Yoni Joy, yoni-themed jewelry and gifts. Sharon is dedicated to strengthening connections within our community and fostering the healthy exchange of positive energy. She strives to blend the spiritual with the physical while providing safe spaces to play and explore. Sharon has participated in rituals with Dev for many years and is proud to join the team as the workshop co-ordinator and technical support for Phoenix Rising.
L'Aura Fae is the Volunteer Coordinator for Phoenix Rising. She is a first degree Priestess of the Sacred Flame as well as an elementary school educator, Hellenistic astrologer, multi-lineage yoga instructor, grassroots activist, consent workshop facilitator and Gong Fu Cha tea server. Laura is passionate about social, economic, and environmental justice. She was a volunteer leader for Bernie 2016, 2020, and the Field Director for Shahid Buttar’s 2018 Congressional campaign in San Francisco. Laura is the Manager of Consent for Hyre Fire & Flow, a flow art festival and educational platform. She also teaches workshops for other festivals on these concepts, and has created a “Consent Bill of Rights.” Laura is also the founder of CommuniTea Space, a pop-up [Gong Fu Cha inspired] teahouse that provides a substance-free space for authentic connecting at gatherings where there otherwise may not be one truly substance-free space. She occasionally teaches Kundalini and Hatha yoga at South Park Yoga & Wellness as well. Laura credits her path to religion and spirituality to 2014, when she “quit her job and went to yoga school,” aka was accepted to the 200 hour Intensive YTT course at Yoga Garden SF. That was the first of many spiritual trainings, divination mediums, or magical happenings that would lead her to eventually finding High Priestess Dev!
“You can always find the sun within yourself if you will only search” - Maxwell Maltz
Laura can be found at @LauraFae_Astrology on Instagram.