Zehara Nachash, a fourth-generation Vedma (Russian Witch), was raised in Boston, where her early fascination with the occult led her to explore esoteric traditions. She has woven Gnosticism, Hermeticism, Ceremonial Magick, and Shamanism into her spiritual practice. By her teens, she had mastered scrying and tarot reading, skills that shaped her path. From 2001–2002, she studied Egyptian magick at Temple Harakhte with Rosemary Clark. In 2002, she joined the Temple of the Seekers under Balaam Ben Solomon, becoming an initiated member in 2004. Zehara has taught workshops nationwide on serpentine mythology, magickal intuition, and spirit communication. She also facilitates ecstatic dance and trance workshops, blending movement with spiritual exploration. A prophetic dream in 2012 led her to Voodoo, and she is currently studying under Mambo Samantha Corfield. A prolific writer, Zehara contributes to Witch Way Magazine and is the author of Grave Spirits, Snake & Bone’s Little Book of Magick, and Snake Charming. She has presented at WitchCon Online and is a recurring instructor at University Magickus.
Beyond her work in the mystical arts, Zehara is a celebrated belly dancer specializing in Egyptian and Turkish styles. Known since 2005 as “Boston’s Resident Snake Charmer,” she has captivated audiences with her enigmatic presence and dance. Her mastery of Egyptian Raqs Sharki and Turkish belly dance has evolved into a career of spellbinding performances and sold-out theatrical productions. She founded two student troupes, "Daughters of Eden" and "Alankara", and taught throughout New England. Her themed shows, such as "Elementals", "Dancing the Wheel", and "ANIMUS: A Shamanic Journey Through Dance", are known for blending creativity and spirituality. In 2013, she launched "PRIMAL", a dance class that merges West African, Middle Eastern, and ecstatic dance to create a spiritually immersive experience. A prophetic dream in 2005 led Zehara to embrace her role as a snake priestess. Over two decades, she has tirelessly performed and advocated for snakes, using her platform to challenge misconceptions. Trained by Bahijha of the Dancing Serpents and Serpentessa of New York, Zehara’s performances have been featured in music videos, commercials, and magazine ads, including an Absolut Vodka campaign and a House of Blues event. Her work transcends traditional snake charming, forming a spiritual bond between herself, her serpentine partners, and her audience. Rooted in her love for dance, witchcraft, and the occult, Zehara's performances inspire a deep sense of spiritual connection and magickal transformation.
Zehara's dedication to spiritual service is evident in her founding of the "Pagans Behind Bars Project", a ministry that provides Pagan and Wiccan inmates with much-needed resources.
She holds both a Bachelors and Masters degree from Keiser University in Tampa, FL, and currently resides in Richmond, VA, with her husband Travis, her beloved chihuahua Fox Mulder, her bunny Branwyn Grey Foot, cat Ember and her six ball pythons: Eros, Wadjet, Psyche, Veles, Pertho and Ophelia.