Opening to Divination

Circle round thrice As the witch’s pouch Is held tight.

The cauldron is filled With water and moonlight.

Gaze up towards Lady Moon And call forth your desire.

The herbs in the bag of art Throw now into the heat Of the blazing fire.

Gaze into that Which holds the key Reflecting back the Treasure of answer to me.

Herb and water Iron and flame The truth revealed The heart’s desire thusly named.

No Samhain celebration would be complete without some curiosity and action taken to peer into what “may be”. To that end, divination is the space of opening to being receptive enough to ask the query and receive the answer. Today’s post sets the stage for that work…

When we hear the word “Divination” it usually conjures up a picture of the gypsy fortune-teller who will predict your future love interest, dream job or soon to be received wind-fall. In reality, divination can take on that form, but it can also serve as a highly effective tool in extending and solidifying your energetic and psychic connection to the world around you. Lest, it be believed to be a less than a reputable source for information remember that kings, queens, politicians, warriors, dictators, businessmen, corporate giants and many others who would be considered “too rational” to believe in such “stuff” have routinely consulted with those having oracular abilities. The horoscope scrolls placed strategically at cash register’s end weave their magick and often engage even the most resolute of skeptics – if for no other reason than curiosity.

In ancient times those who practiced the art were called oracles, soothsayers, shamans, sorcerers, mages, fortune-tellers and more. The art, itself, in recent years has moved from that of being shrouded in mystery to the forefront of magickal workings with books, workshops and training in abundance. The internet is abuzz with “plug in your question and receive an instant reading” sites which are frequented daily by those needing “to know”. I use the word “art” because in its most pure, undiluted and non-commercialized form, divination remains a skill, that even with a natural predisposition towards natural ability still requires practice, hard work, a substantial knowledge base of magickal systems and years of study to elevate its effect beyond “parlor tricks”. So, what then are the mechanisms and guidelines for the serious student of Divination?

Expectations or Fate vs Free Will/Choice

Many who come to the diviner’s table accept whatever information is received as being the sealed deal. And, it is also those same who are often either disappointed when they do not meet the future lover with blonde hair and blue eyes or subconsciously manipulate their interactions and surroundings to fulfill the said prophecy. Neither scenario is good outcome, nor what the expectations should be. If we consider the information received as being simply that – “more information” this allows us greater option in how to exercise our free will and consequently how we will use that information. If approached in that manner, rather than allowing that information to narrow and limit our choice, giving excuse that Fate expects us to obey blindly, we open to the possibilities of making choice of a potential outcome based on the consequences of our will, not that of a diabolical Universal Plan. Take the information received in Divination and mull it over, meditate upon it and then act upon it in a way that is now fully informed by having pieces of a larger picture afforded you.

The Focus and Intent

We’ve talked of the importance of Intent upon any magickal working and the ultimate success or failure given the specificity of that intent. Divination uses this same important component to draw the information received into a concise form. In order to align yourself with energies that are able to align and resonate with the answers sought, the work of developing a state of focused and directed energy towards that goal is also required. Quieting oneself, visualizing that you are in alignment with the source of all knowledge and removing your conscious mind from the distractions around you opens the subconscious to retrieve what is needed. It is precisely this principle that accounts for those flashes of inspired though when least expected and when you are most relaxed and not actively trying.

A nice analogy is to use is the idea of your focus and intent as being the zip code that is added to that important bill payment. If left off, it will eventually be received at its destination, possibly late enough to incur a penalty for the lack of clarity. If added, that piece of mail will be promptly sorted and directed towards its destination on time and in support of future good credit when that all important purchase is made.

Developing the receptivity necessary for a clear stream of information can be cultivated through development of a regular meditation practice. This component, as stated in prior lessons, trains the mind to remain fixed, clear and precise in what its desires are. This is what also makes it an excellent tool to incorporate into your practice of learning to work with a divination tool. In the work of Divination a large portion of what is received will be filtered through your own understanding, so to minimize the internal interpretation (particularly if you are doing readings for others) you want to set aside a portion of your own consciousness and work from a state of consciousness that is receptive and open to pure communication devoid of internal commentary. Most importantly you also want to be able to actively turn off the extraneous noise and distractions that convolute the stream of flow and setting into a tangled mess of miscommunication.

Reading for Yourself

It is for this reason that doing a reading or Divinatory work for yourself can be a bit more challenging. You know what outcome you wish to occur (albeit often at a subconscious level, but it is there nonetheless). You know every weakness and strength that you overtly display. You already have more information about yourself than you would any client you are reading for. So, subjectivity in the reading and filtering the information will be colored with these known as well as those unknown biases. And, if you are anything like me I LOVE to play mind games with myself! So what to do?

Remember the act of focusing and getting the preconceptions of your mind out of the way? This is where dedicated practice (meditation) will help. And, having this pre-sorted information does play into the clearly formed query. Most importantly, rather than a detriment, the subconscious can be an ally, as long as the intent is clear and the focus strong. Remember, we carry within ourselves the solution and answer to every problem, query and situation and the storehouse of memories, past experiences including ways of coping that were both productive and negative are stored as well. We do already know the answer, ultimate the solution and the precise course of direction to be taken, that once received and processed through the Higher Self’s understanding is exactly what the action should be.

The process in reading for others is largely the same, with the exception that the focus and intent are directed towards connecting with their subconscious store-house or experiences through the information you are getting. As you relate to them the information received (it generally will make no sense to you and your work is not to restructure and interpret that information through your own understanding) it opens keys and connections within their own framework that can be processed and ultimately understood within their context of what is being asked.

*** As a side note. When I do tarot readings for others I do not ask what the question is. I have the client silently focus their intent and query into the energy of the deck I will be using and then begin the reading. My feeling is that I want to go into the reading in a state that is unprejudiced and unbiased to a specific answer as possible. Now, there have been times when I sensed that it was important for the client to state his/her query; largely because it enabled the person to open more fully. In those circumstances, the client would have shut down the energetic connection made and the information received would have been more consciously driven and manipulated to fit the situation. This is not necessarily the right approach for everyone, but I have found it to be most compatible with my way of receiving and processing the information received.

Some Common Tools of Divination

Below you will find a listing of the most commonly used tools for oracular work. Take some time to explore the various options and go with what feels right to you. Be aware that sometimes what you feel is absolutely the right option may lead you to something you have more interest and ultimately more engagement in and are better at using. I started with runes, moved to a brief stint with the Oghams and finally settled on the Tarot as my primary tool.

The irony is that at the very beginning of my search into the options, the Tarot was something I had the least interest in and just did not feel anything calling me to its use. With that being said, the experience of trial and error has however, offered opportunities to incorporate some of those tools in ritual or when the Tarot is just not the right source, I have other options I am familiar with that give the information I need in the form I need it. As with everything on this Path, you change, your spiritual nature changes and evolves and so do the tools, interests and those things that enhance and enrich your experience:

• Tarot
• Scrying
• Crystal Gazing
• Candle or Fire Gazing
• Water Scrying
• Mirror Gazing
• Pendulums
• Runes
• Palmistry
• I Ching
• Celtic Oghams

Read more about these Tools here:
The Tools for Divination

Tomorrow’s post: A Special Tarot Spread The Gift of My Ancestor

Revisit Divination in These 30-Days of Samhain 2021 Posts:

The Witch’s Year Tarot Spread

Divination for Samhain

Read more about Divination and Spell Work here:
Divination and Spell Work

The Ancestor’s Cauldron
A Pathworking of Communion

I would like to invite you to join me on a journey of seeking wisdom from the ancestors. The pathworking  may be used anytime to deepen your connection, but it is particularly useful as a tool at Samhain and during the time between that flows into the Winter Solstice.

You will want to find a comfortable space where you will not be disturbed for approx. 20-30 minutes. I would suggest that you have a small object that belonged to or represents your beloved ancestor to hold while experiencing the pathworking. This will set up the intention of reaching out. You may also light a candle if you wish.

When you are ready, you may either read through the transcript below or click on the link to access an audio recording. Blessings on your journey…

audio –The Ancestor’s Cauldron
(you will be redirected to Teachings on the Path at Bandcamp)

Transcript -The Ancestor’s Cauldron

Find a quiet space where you will not be disturbed and sit comfortably allowing your breath to establish an even and relaxed rhythm. Make note of any tension you may be holding in your body and as you exhale gently breathe that tension out; allowing it to drop around you like beads of water. Allow any thoughts that wish to have your attention to be acknowledged and then gently let go to pass as leaves in a gently flowing stream. Draw your consciousness up to rest in the space of your third eye and mid-forehead. See in this space a blank inner screen. You are sitting as observer and you take note of a small blue dot of energy that is central within that space. As you continue to breathe deeply and fully you see that the blue sphere is expanding and coming to fill the entirety of the space in front of you. You feel the energy of thousands of tiny blue dots comprising this veil of mist and you issue forth the intent of communing with your Ancestors and seeking their wisdom. You take a deep breath in. As you slowly and gently exhale you step through this mist and emerge to find that you are standing in the center of a moonlit forest clearing. You see the silhouette of tall shapely trees just ahead of you and can smell the fragrant burning of wood wafting through the air.

You offer up a call of invocation to those ancestors you wish to help with the opening of your intuitive sight on this journey. Before the last utterance of name and word is issued you see that an opening has appeared between two of the largest trees just ahead. You walk towards the opening in the trees, passing through a gossamer like veil of multicolored energy. The particles of this veiling are very refined and the sensation is one very much like that of a piece of the softest silk as it is gently drawn across your skin.

As you move forward you now see the flickering of light and the smell of wood burning growing stronger and brighter with each step you take towards this light. As you reach the edge of the trees you see that there is a small clearing centrally located and surrounded by another circle of smaller trees. There appear to be shadowy forms creating a circular shape. As you move closer, you can make out the shapes and forms seated near each of the trees and instinctively know that these are the ancestors you have called to aid you in your working.

A fire is crackling and hissing in the center and offers its light to this darkened space. You move towards the fire and see placed just in front of it a large cauldron sitting atop a very large and round tree stump. You move towards the cauldron and see that it has been filled with water that shimmers from the reflection of fire and candlelight. You look around, hoping to see more clearly the face of those observing, but they are cloaked in a veiling and you don’t have the clarity to see. You hesitate for a moment, unsure that you should be in this space and just as you are about to turn to walk away, you feel gentle yet firm hands on your shoulders. Words fill your mind, not spoken in audible manner but more of a telepathic knowing. You are told that you are welcome in this space and that they have been waiting for you to ask for assistance and guidance. You feel a bit more pressure and come to kneel in front of the cauldron.

You close your eyes and take a deep breath in and pull to the center of your consciousness the question that you have. This question has long been held in the deep recesses of your awareness. It is important now to your future growth and you are in safe space and supportive company that it may freely and have its own will rise to the surface. Holding firmly to the intent of this query, you take another deep breath in and as you exhale you breathe out and into the waters of the cauldron. A swirling of violet mist briefly surrounds you, the cauldron and the flames and just as quickly dissipates as images begin to form on the surface of the waters.

You feel excited and energized at what lie before you and breathe deeply to calm and steady your sight. As the images become clearer an inner dialogue begins of question and answer as to the nature of what you are seeing, how it may be applied and the relevance it has for you at this time. Spend some time gazing deeply, listening purposefully and taking in the sensations that are moving through you.

As the last image and words of explanation fade you feel the energy of what you have experienced rising up and moving through you informing all aspects of your being. It is as though you have drunk an elixir of warm liquid and you feel calm, centered and very much aware of all that is around you. You look into the cauldron once again and see that the waters are shimmering in reflection of the fire; their deeper mysteries cloaked until the next opening and parting of the veils. You rise up and feel more firmly anchored to the earth beneath and connected to the sky above. You turn away from the cauldron and look around at all that surrounds you.

One of the ancestors rises and approaches you. He takes a spark of flame from the hissing fire and holds it before you. He tells you that this is the spark of flame that is held within all living beings and that this flame is what fuels the desire to commune with him and other beings of his kind. It is this flame that opens you to the deeper mysteries you carry within and will warm and light your journey of introspection as the days grow darker and the winter chills the air. He bids you take a deep breath and pushes the glowing flame into the center of your being. There is no discomfort, just a rush of energy and the sense of acceptance and acknowledgment of like attracting like. Everything appears to glow more brightly now and as you look around at each of the faces of the ancestors you called to witness and guide this working, they come into crystal clarity. Take a moment to acknowledge each and offer up gratitude for their blessings and inspiration.

When you have completed this offering, you take a deep breath in and as you exhale the space around you fades. Each inhalation and exhalation dissipates more of the detail and energy of the space. You feel a lightness and exhilarated warmth moving through you and you know that this is a space you will revisit again at the next parting of the veils. You close your eyes and return to the space of being observer of the inner screen within your consciousness. You breathe deeply and think for a moment on your experience, recalling the images and words that were offered in answer. The last memories pass through and you sigh deeply into the next breaths. Each breath brings you back to the physicality of your being, the space in which you began this pathworking and the sounds of life around you.

May the blessings of this communion with your Ancestors carry you forward through the year to the birthing of new light and inspiration at Yule and beyond.

Preparing To Meet the Ancestors

Who Are the Ancestors?

Samhain is particularly ripe with talk of the ancestors and honoring the dead and often is an integral part of the celebration. The term “ancestor” is used in different ways depending on the intention and your personal perspective. Today’s post is about who the ancestors are.

Generically, the term ancestors has come to mean those of your lineage, either biologically or culturally, who were at one time incarnate human beings. These are those from whom we claim a legacy in some way and if familial in nature, share the common thread of family history as well. These souls would also be known as ghosts or spirits of the departed. For this writing, this is how I will use the term ancestor.

The practice of honoring our familial ancestors has been around for aeons in one form or another. Sometimes that honoring spread out to be inclusive of an entire tribe or clan, each and every individual considered to be a familial ancestor; so deeply embedded was the energy of collective community and shared experience.

Every culture has its own ways of celebrating the departed, such as Dia de Los Meurtos in Mexico or Central America, Ari Muyang in Malaysia, Chuseok in Korea; Pitru Paksha in India or Obun in Japan. In each the central theme is one of remembering the legacy left to the living and setting aside a special time from the mundane and routine tasks to gift their ancestors with blessings, food, gifts and more. Some are single day events, others last for days on end and many of these practices are part of the funerary rites and extend into the daily activities; seeing the departed as always present in spirit.

These celebrations are joyous and reverent events that not only celebrate the human life of the individual, but often incorporate the journey of the Soul in its non-corporeal form. Masks, lanterns to light the way for the ancestors and grave side feasts are all part of thinning the veils between the living and dead and demonstrating that the dead have not been forgotten and are ever important to family and friends who benefitted by their life.

For many in the pagan community, Samhain offers opportunity to reach across these veils and sit in the company of their ancestors. These are some components that you may wish to incorporate into your Samhain celebrations:

• Setting up an altar that contains pictures and things that were special to your beloveds in life. Perhaps a favorite cigar, candy, perfume, piece of jewelry, etc.

• Wearing something that belonged to your beloved, such as a piece of jewelry, favorite sweater, etc…

• Going to a special location that our loved one enjoyed such as a park, restaurant, museum, etc..

• Setting a plate for your loved one at the table and offering a toast to their joining you for your Samhain meal. A more elaborate version of this is the Dumb Supper. Our coven has had Samhain celebrations that incorporated the Dumb Supper in it. All brought tokens of their loved ones and a picture. The picture was placed where each individual was seated. Drink was offered up to each loved one and the food was blessed in their honor. The entire meal was eaten in silence, listening to the conversations and words of the dead as they graced us, and when finished all left in silence carrying the memory of the experience out into the mundane world with them. It was a very powerful ritual and one that can easily be done for a family or just yourself and your loved one.

• Dedicating a new experience or way of being to your loved one such as: being more mindful of your health in the coming year because that was a concern of your loved one for you or having a more positive attitude in honor of the beloved who always seemed to have a smile and kind word for you.

You may find that after trying some of these things during this season that you will want to keep a small (or larger) ancestor altar in your home in a special place. This becomes a place to interact with and routinely honor your ancestor year long. Whatever you choose to do, remember that we are who we are in part because of those who loved us (whether biological family or not). So don’t limit the thought of an ancestor only to those of biological heritage. That is only one piece of a more complex puzzle that is our human existence. And, at some point when that existence loosens its hold, we will become the most honored ancestor of those we love.

Check out the Bonus Post: Full Moon in Aries Ritual of Devotion for a complete ritual experience that may be used to honor your beloveds or to inspire to craft your own.

An excellent resource for learning more about the distinction between ghosts, Ancestors, the Mighty Dead and more:
Spirit Speak:Knowing and Understanding Spirit Guides, Ancestors, Ghosts, Angels, and the Divine by Ivo Dominguez, Jr.

Ancestor Altars

Pictures, Ideas and More

Today’s post follows yesterday’s about Samhain and ways to honor our beloved departed ancestors. As promised, I have pictures of various ancestor altars to inspire you. Begin by realizing that whatever you decide upon as the space of holding your ancestors near and dear will become sacred space dedicated to them. Whether this becomes a permanent fixture or an annual event the intention and simply the act of constructing a space of honoring is an act of devotion. The creation of sacred space and what I described as an act of devotion are all things we are familiar with in terms of our interactions with Deity or celebrating a Sabbat. The same is true, and in my opinion, even more so, because we are calling the memory of our deceased loved ones in a dynamic way of engagement that transcends the separation of planes of existence.

The pictures I’ve selected are a very few samples of what this sacred space could become. The picture below gives you a sampling of items that could be incorporated into how you set-up your altar.

Remember:

The important piece to creating a scared space in offering to your ancestor is intention. The size of the altar does not really matter. Making use of furniture surfaces can be a space saver…

For some, incorporating pictures placed on the wall and then adding to this is a nice way to have more than what could be accommodated simply on a table alone….You can also add to what is existing and permanent by including feast foods….

A temporary space will serve as well, such as a small end table that can be decorated in accord with the season, the beloved’s birthday, anniversary of death or any other time that you wish to do a little more….

Tip:

Simplicity does not mean lack of care. Some of the most meaningful ways I have honored my grandmother and mother have involved very little “stuff”, but were abundant in the love that moved through my memories and was returned in reciprocity by the nearness and reach of connection and gratitude I felt.

A mantle or a book shelf can be decorated and dedicated to your ancestor..

Tip:

It’s always a nice idea to add food as part of the celebration. Sitting and having your meal with the beloved’s place set affirms that they have not been forgotten, nor have the times when talking while enjoying a good meal were treasured times together…

And, always remember that the most precious of altars you dedicate to your ancestors is yourself. You carry all that is needed by them and yourself to honor them with every breath, step and action you take. Be mindful and grateful for those intangible, yet very palpable, gifts they have left as legacy to you. Call up the image of them often and surround that image with love, just as you may have done with a hug in physical life. Audibly say “thank you” when the seeds of inspiration or the solution to a problem seems to appear “out of thin air”. It may have been a beloved gently whispering encouragement.

All journeys lead back to the source of their origins. In this case, that source is all who came before you, just as you will become the source for those who follow..

The gorgeous image used for this post is a piece of sculpture by Italian sculptor, Antonio Corradini! If this is not otherworldly, I don’t know what is…

Samhain Incense and Oils

The “smells and bells” of Samhain enhance any working and celebration. Incense is a staple of this Sabbat and can be used in a variety of ways, from serving as a veiling for ancestor communion to calling to presence the Deities you wish to witness and bless your activities. For those who are sensitive to the smoke emitted from incense, oils can be used in their place, either heated over a small tea light or in a roller version and applied directly (fragrance or carrier enhanced only. NEVER apply an essential oil directly to the skin as these are potent and allergic reactions or skin sensitivities are likely) to the skin.

Check out this helpful article to get you started:

Incense 101: How to Make and Use Your Own Incense

Some Basic Ingredients:

For Remembrance: you can use Rosemary
For Purification: you can use Sage and Salt
For Protection: you can use Marigold, Pepper, Cinnamon, Wormwood
To Honor the Earth: Patchouli and Pine.
To Honor the Ancestors: Marigold and Mums
For Wisdom: Sage
To Honor the Final Harvest and Fall: Apple and Apple leaves
For Psychic Opening: Mugwort, Bay and Bay leaves

Recipes:
These are listed as “parts” meaning that you should begin by determining what increment of measurement will be. If you are making a small portion for personal use, I would suggest using 1/4 tsp. = 1 part. If you are making a larger batch for group work or to store for other use; 1/2 tsp. = 1 part.

From Scott Cunningham; The Complete Book of Incense, Oils and Brews:

Sandalwood: 2 parts
Orange Peel: 1 part
Mace: 1 part
Cinnamon: 1 pinch

From unknown source:

Frankincense: 1/2 part
Myrrh: 1/4 part
Bay: 1/2 part
Vervain: 1/4 part
Wormwood: 1/4 part
Patchouli: 1/4 part
Sandalwood: 1/22 part

From Unknown source:

Dittany: 1 part
Pine: 1/2 part
Sandalwood: 1 part
Patchouli: 1/4 part
Benzoin: 1/4 part
Pine Oil: a few drops

From Unknown source:

Dittany: 1 1/2 part
Benzoin: 1/2 part
Patchouli: 1 part

This is a recipe I like to make for my personal Samhain workings

1 part dried mugwort
2 parts frankincense resin
2 parts myrrh resin
2 bay leaves crumbled
1 part orange peel

As I add each ingredient into the pestle, I offer up thanks to the sacrifice of the herb or resin and call into presence the energy that I wish to have as part of the whole. Use the mortar to press and break apart the resins and herbs, combining each one at a time. When all is complete, I breathe (very) gently across the bowl infusing it with my own breath of creation and purpose. I usually burn a small portion then and there, offering it to my patrons and then place the remainder in storage for Samhain’s use.

*I usually make a slightly larger batch and use it as a base for future ancestor or psychic work, adding what is necessary for each. Store in an airtight, clamp lid or mason jar container in a dark place. This will preserve the integrity of the herbs and resins.

More Resources:

The Sacred Herbs of Samhain: Plants to Connect with the Spirits of the Dead by Ellen Evert Hopman

A Druid’s Herbal for the Sacred Earth Year by Ellen Evert Hopman

Samhain: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for Halloween (Llewellyn’s Sabbat Essentials Book 6) by Diana Rajchel

Using Oils:

Most of the ingredients in the recipes above are available as essential and/or fragrance oils. The benefits of purchasing an essential oil are that you will generally use less of it, it can be placed over a tealight for heating and you also have the raw ingredients for creating your recipes by combining the oils either in raw form for heating or with a carrier  such as almond, sesame or jojoba for body application.

Depending on the oil you select the essential oils should vary in price in accord with the rarity or value of the ingredient. For example, Frankincense and Myrrh are usually more pricey than Lemon or Bay. Be sure to get a quality essential oil that is labeled as 100% pure essential oil. I like this company’s oils, they are eco and cause conscious and are available through amazon:

Simply Earth

If you check out the Simply Earth site, they also have a download of a Cheat Sheet and 3-instructional videos for use. The sheet is very informative and offers a good base of do’s and cautions about using essential oils, their contraindications with certain medications, pregnancy, high blood pressure and more:

To view the videos and sign up for recipes and more:

Essential Oil Cheat Sheet

Fragrance oils are another way you can use an oil to enhance ritual workings and open yourself to specific energies. These are derived by combining or using a singular essential oil and placing a few drops of it/each in a carrier oil such as sesame, almond, jojoba or coconut. If you make your own you will want to use approx. 2-4 drops total of your oils and approx. 40z. of carrier. It is better to error on the side of too little essential oil than too much and cause a negative skin reaction. I wear oils in place of perfume routinely and have special ones I use only for ritual or personal practice. I make my oil 40z portion to use as a body massage oil or therapeutic for arthritis, etc… This is the company I like to purchase my small in purse roll on oils:

Kuumba Made

The Full Moon of Aries and the Maiden

October 20.2021
10.57am (EDT)
Full Moon in Aries

A Full Moon cues the tension held between the Sun and Moon, each in the sign of its opposing other. This moon in particular is carrying with it a crowning of fullness in the final hours of Aries’ energy just as the Sun is readying to move into the Solar mantle of Scorpio two days from now. We have just been released (Mercury stationed Direct on Oct. 18th) from the scrutiny of a Mercury Retrograde, so communication is a bit slow going as the deftness of Mercurian energy amps up to normalcy.

Other actor’s upon this stage include the retrograde intensity of Uranus and Neptune. Here, the supporting cast assures that our intuitive and watery nature will be actively and assertively (Moon in Aries) expressed, infused with a bolt of electrified stability and manifest-like quality (Uranus in Taurus). All is called to the depths and darkness of the abyss of compassion (Neptune in Pisces). And the ensuing stationing of the Sun in Scorpio gives preview of just how deeply we are able to go. The result holds the potential for allowing yourself the grace of choosing deliberately and wisely what you will nurture and tend to in this cycle of striving towards refined and purposeful expression of Will to action (Full Moon in Aries) strengthened by a rising of enthusiastic and boundless energy without limitation (Aries).

I talked of the Goddess, Hecate’s energy during this season and today’s post is the first of three dedicated to Hecate. Traditionally, I have aligned them with the New Moon (Maiden), Full Moon (Mother) and Dark Waning Quarter Moon (Crone). This year I would like us to explore a slightly different configuration and am beginning with the vibrant energy of the Maiden expressed as a Full Moon of fiery (Aries) potential. Aries is the first sign of the Astrological Wheel and as such is the catalyst that stimulates the flow of energy from one sign to the next. This Full Moon in Aries is a perfect time to call to the beginnings of catalyzing and deepening your connection and understanding of a prominent Samhain Goddess, Hecate. SHE who stands at the crossroads, our place of choice and guided selection. SHE who reminds us of our Divine nature only when we allow the perceived limitations of scope to fall away as we surrender to her wisdom, not in fear but in the cultivation of self-awareness….

Let’s begin our introductions….

I call to you at the
Newness of the Moon.

I wait at the crossroads
And, call out in longing
For you to ask of me what you will.

I stand clothed in the promise
Of guiding you as I light the way.

I wait and there is only the
Sound of my own longing to
Enliven and stir within you
The drive and will that sets
You upon your path.

I am cloaked in the darkness
But those who have the
Courage to call to me
See the truth of my hidden
Light that burns brightly
With the Divine spark of youth.

This post is the first of three dedicate to the Triple Goddess Hecate and her gifts expressed through the face of Maiden, Mother and Crone. Hecate is the Greek Goddess of the Underworld; Queen of Magick and daughter of the Titans Perses (God of Destruction) and Asteria (Oracular Goddess), from whom she was gifted with rulership of heaven and earth. She is most noted for her place of guide at the Crossroads carrying the flaming torches that light the way for gods and mortals. My intent is not to provide a full history of the Goddess (there is a plethora of information to be found), but rather to provide my personal experiences with her.

As a Triune Goddess, she has come to me at various points in my life, despite my not knowing or identifying her by name and she has shown me her varied faces as I have needed prodding or push in a specific direction. At this time of the year, I feel her presence more strongly and align with her transformative energies with that of the New, Full and Waning Moons throughout the season of Samhain.

My awareness of Hecate’s energy has been building within me these last few months and I suspect this is in answer to my need to reclaim some of the intensity and vibrancy that is held within her form of the Maiden. Life circumstances have placed me in a position of having to fully step into the roles of Mother and Crone and I am rebelling at the necessary structure that is being placed upon me. I find myself in the place of having to release my attachment to children who have grown into responsible and caring adults and the growing need to assume more responsibility and care for an aging parent. I long for the youthful strength and resilience I once had to support these changes. And, I long for the freedom that time brings when seen from a youthful perspective.

I have always felt vastly responsible for the people in my life and their well-being, often with the neglect of my own. When I took up the mantle of spiritual service, this responsibility widened to include all that I interacted with, feeling that I must model by example and leave a positive footprint. So, I turn to this Goddess of Magick and remaking and call out to her as the Maiden to inform and enliven my way as I sit in quiet meditation.

I hear echoed back to me her response calling me to stand at her crossroads, tell her my story of lost youth and ask of her what I will. Tonight the Moon is New in the astrological sign of Libra. Libra is Cardinal Air, the beginnings of inspired and innovative thought that aspires to achieve a state of balance through refinement. I have spent too long in trying to mentally problem solve and not allowed myself the space to feel too much. If I allow my emotions to weigh in sadness and self-indulgence will make me ineffective and weak. I feel the need for balance and I know that Hecate will not allow me to stay too long in a place of self-pity and complaints. And, so I see myself standing in the darkness of the night and feel the cold chill of wind moving around me and know this is the stirrings of my own anticipation at being in the presence and potency of her energy as Maiden.

I see Hecate’s form rising up in front of me and I make vow to heed her words as I have done so many times before. The outcomes have often been unexpected and quite different from what I had imagined the original plan had been; but this is of no concern, for in the wisdom of the Goddess she has always offered what was needed not what were my imagined wantings. Hecate stands before me and I bow in reverence. She has the appearance of youth, dressed in flowing white gowns and a deceptively gentle energy that hides the great power and trinity of her form. This is no Maiden who is ingénue in experience; rather she is the promise of providing fresh perspective and insight that will stimulate and catalyze. Hers is a raw power, ancient in time and purposeful in whatever it sets its intent upon. Before my words are uttered she knows what is held in my heart and smiles an all-knowing smile.

I stand at her crossroads and the power of her presence swirls about me. I hear the gentle whisper in my ear and a hand of force that say “run”. I feel rejuvenated and filled with this desire to run, to be free, to feel the air moving through my lungs and the joy in movement I felt as a young woman dancing, soaring, expressing. I choose one of the paths and move, breath coming in short bursts and the exhilaration of air and dust, darkness and wildness all about me. I run in release of these stressful past months and for this brief period of time Hecate, the power-filled Maiden weaves her healing magick as she moves in and through me. The binding and weariness of maturity and responsibility falls away as I move faster and faster; blood pulsing, heart pumping in pure delight.

There is no thought of time, or task to be completed or places that I need to be. There is only enlivened air and darkness, magick and Divinity surrounding me. I breathe deeply and my pace slows a bit. I want to savor this environment and the feeling of being suspended in the stillness of eternal time. I breathe deeper still and I am walking briskly upon an unlit path, the faint light of what appears to be a lantern ahead in the distance. I breathe even deeper and each step affirms the strength of my body and the renewed life spark flowing through me. Closer, closer still and I see that the light is that of a flaming and brightly lit torch held at the center of the crossroads by Hecate. I come once again to stand before Her, and I am reminded that she has been with me at the beginning of my earthly journey and it is into her arms I shall seek refuge at my end. I stand illuminated by the brilliance of her torch, flushed from the exertion of my energetic journey and renewed by the blessing of the Maiden’s power. I stand with lighter burden and hear the gentle whisper that “all will be well and as it should be”.

I offer up gratitude to Hecate and offer vow to her that I will seek out her wisdom at the turning of the Full Moon. I will come to her crossroads and call to Hecate, the Mother. Until then, I will remember my promise to her to find the place of balance in attending to my own needs so that I may better care for others. To seek out the newness in the places where I have been stagnant and stressful. I am reminded to call upon my past joys and successes as inspiration, as I go about the repetitive and tedious tasks that are needed and to seek the beauty in discordant as well as harmonious action.

I breathe into the space of my meditation and am no longer at the crossroads. I have come full circle back to the place of my sitting with a renewed sense of purpose. The air is fresher, my vision is clearer and I know I am not alone.

Blessed Be!

What About These Veils?

Introductory Thoughts Specific to 2021:

Over the past several years the Veils have been thinning earlier than would normally have been. Many things have played into this shifting and in particular for 2021 and the extent of loss and continued untimely deaths from COVID have swelled the ranks of the deceased. The insidious political unrest domestically and globally and subsequent related deaths and the general morale of many has dramatically fed into loss, pain and for those so inclined, the seeking of answers from their departed beloveds. In this second year of COVID and its mutations, politics and unrest, indeed the Veils have been opening steadily for some time. I cannot speak to how others sense this transition, so I will only share what I experience.

I begin to notice the thinning as the air seems to become denser and more “etherically” charged. I tend to feel it more palpably outside because there is generally more spaciousness when you are out in the open, but that density also crowds into my personal space as well. Often I will catch the glimpse of a shape or form in my peripheral vision, and when looking in that direction nothing concrete is there. This year, that density has been at times so thick I felt unable to breathe.

My interpretation of this is one of recognizing how many souls have prematurely passed because of this pall of death that has cloaked our world for an extended period of time. The ancestors and guides have been at the ready and at times have needed to be even closer at hand, especially for those separated from loved ones as they passed into the other realms, to usher them beyond the veils.

Samhain and its counterpart, Beltane, are the time of access to the wisdom of the natural world and the Ancestors. The energy that is called forth at Beltane and communion with the nature spirits and the Fae stands as the point of inception and quickening of what will move, expand and grow in its form and scope towards the next opportunity. When it comes half wheel cycle to Samhain this energy of communication with and greater access to what lay beyond our physical realms has matured and deepened as we call to the Ancestors to offer up their wisdom. It is this wisdom that will carry us through the darkening of the months, the turning within and the introspection that holds within its womb the spark of Light that will be birthed at the Winter Solstice.

I do a great deal of personal energetic work infusing some of the Eastern mystical practices with those of Western Magick. When drawing on this synthesis and applying it to the energies present at Beltane and Samhain we can use each to inform the other. Beltane’s fires are those of consummate union, celebrated with the union of God and Goddess, male and female. These are the qualities of the polarities held within each of us. Parting the veils at this time is an opening to our natural and instinctual self. The connection to the basic needs and desires that are the promise of continuation of species and cycle of growth and evolution. Energetically, as we enter Samhain’s parting of the veils and its energy we are now ready to open to the experience of our mature and wizened nature and the union of what we may access of the Higher Self informed by the wisdom of our Lower Self. The union of these integral parts of our spiritual and physical states of being enables the transformative reaching out and ultimate connection to the Ancestors who have helped to form who we are.

As we enter into the Dark Half of the year, the winter months and the Sabbats that are held within that space we bring with us the expectations of this growth. We have finished harvesting what had been nurtured from the time of the previous Winter Solstice forward and we hold expectation that the ripe fruits we have carefully selected from this harvest will sustain us through this time of fallow fields, frost and cold. We approach the opening of the veils with great expectations of coming face to face with what visions and mysteries are rooted in our core state of being and align ourselves with the energies of the Dark Goddess and the wisdom of the Crone. It is Her wisdom that takes us into the realms of the Ancestors and the blessings they wish to bestow. And. although we may feel that our intent is clear and purposeful, we often do not embrace every ounce of what lay hidden, largely from fear of what we will lay claim to. Moreover, we hesitate because we are afraid of what the answers that we so dearly seek may be.

For many there is lack of clarity about who and what the Ancestors are. And, this definition will be a variety of things depending on your own beliefs. The Ancestors may be of your own lineage, meaning departed family or those whom offered guidance during their living human existence. If you expand this further and consider that we are all interconnected as spiritual beings, regardless of blood lines, the Ancestors take on the form of all of the great souls who in their incarnation offered teachings, wisdom, and were examples of illuminated and evolved humans. These are those that exemplified the adage that we are Spiritual beings having a physical experience. Most often when you begin the intention of asking for information of the Ancestors, there is greater comfort in the specificity of inquiring of a departed family member or friend. The personal connection and feeling is what makes the difference between asking for help from a Patron or Deity you work with and an Ancestor.

The truth of the matter is that the Ancestors, our guides and guardians want us to succeed. They want us to step fully into the light of who and what we truly are. The Gods and Goddesses want us to become more fully aligned with facing our truths, because then we are better able to see the reality and beauty of their truths. In all of these instances the time of Samhain and the parting of the veils is the optimal time for reaching out and drawing to ourselves the reflected and refined image of understanding that holds everything we need to know.

One of the primary precepts in working with Ancestral wisdom is that of gratitude. Whenever we step into a place of gratitude for what has been received we are aligning ourselves with our Higher Self. Offerings to the Ancestors, altars of remembrance or simply holding a cherished memory in mind strengthen that energetic connection. Opening ourselves to offering up and the act of expressing that gratitude initiates a cycle of receipt and return. It is the universal law of magnetism in action. All that we send out, positive or negative seeks the energy of that which is compatible and similar. Gratitude calls to our place of Spirit within the eternal and the wisdom of those who reside within those realms.

If we are able to stand strong in our conviction and intent to seek the wisdom of our Ancestors as the thinning between the worlds occurs, the information gained becomes the foundation upon which we stand as we begin the process of turning within and integrating what has been received. Like the Hermit of the Tarot, we become the master of our own Will, seeking our truths and finding our way using the light of the lantern of truth.

The Witch’s Year Tarot Spread

Today’s post is an excerpt from one I crafted on my blog at Pagan Square. I’ve routinely been asked to repeat it, so here we go. Enjoy….

The season is upon us and the Witch’s New Year is soon at hand. I have gotten in the habit of doing a Tarot Reading at Samhain, aligned with the Sabbats throughout that upcoming year as well as one at the start of the calendar year, aligned astrologically (sharing that nearer to Yule). 

The intention and flavor of many of the celebrations surrounding the Sabbats is one of a continued theme or thread of connection of one to the other creating a whole that can be used for magick, growth and deeper insights. Regardless of the theme you follow, that of the god and goddess, the cycles of the seasons, the flow of solar energy, or other-this tarot spread can be modified to align with those intentions. 

This spread uses 10 cards- 8 for each of the Sabbats and one for you standing in the Light of your self and another as the polarized opposite of you as Shadow. These two cards indicate the strength and power you wield in both parts of your nature as light and shadow and can be used to infuse in whatever dynamic and dose you choose as the energy of the cards relating to each of the Sabbats is revealed.  Read more and find the spread here:

Womb of Light: The Witch’s Year Tarot Spread

Books of the Craft

Reading quality books on the Craft and a focus of continued learning extend beyond the 30-Days of Samhain experience. Last year I added book reviews as Bonus Posts for 30-Days and the response was emphatically-“yes”. So, in that Spirit (no pun intended-wink) this is a longer post with additional links for just a few books I revisit each Samhain season….

Psychic Witch: A Metaphysical Guide to Meditation, Magick and Manifestation by Mat Auryn

Psychic Witch: A Metaphysical Guide to Meditation, Magick & Manifestation by Mat Auryn sets the tone for its intention with a beautiful dedication and quote in memory of Raven Grimassi

… “ If the art of Witchcraft can be reduced to one aspect, it would be the achieving of altered states of consciousness…On a deeper level, we can add trance (induced by whatever means)

and psychic development. Such states of consciousness allow the Witch not only to perceive things behind their veneer but also to reshape reality in an experiential sense.”... Raven Grimassi, The Witch’s Craft: The Roots of Witchcraft & Magickal Transformation

The book is formatted into fifteen (15) Chapters, which may seem to be quite a lot, but the subject matter alone and the very thorough way in which Mat Auryn approaches the subject matter warrants the number. Each chapter methodically takes the reader through the process of beginning to adjust perception, break down the limitations we place on ourselves and provide concrete instruction. There is a wonderful balance between solid research and magickal studies that give the information the right amount of scientific credit and mystical wonderment.

Each chapter is chockfull of practical application exercises and illustrations to fuel the visual, kinesthetic and theoretical. All of this is offered through the very articulate and relatable style that Mat brings to what is a massive amount of information. The “Foreword” begins…

…Embracing your power and path as a psychic being can be the most rewarding experience a witch can have in their lifetime. When we finally suspend our disbelief long enough to hold close the simple truth that to be a witch is to be psychic incredible things start to happen…

In this very simple opening we have a sense that that we are part of the revealing of a truth that has been cloaked behind mystery for too long. And, that to acknowledge the validity of that statement also implies that there is work to be done.

Each of the exercises flow beautifully from chapter to chapter and each build upon the other, often using the simple ones given at the start as the basis for expanding upon. Exercise 23 in Chapter Four was one of my favorites, entitled: Spell to Awaken Psychic Abilities. This spell makes use of the moon’s energy, your personal receptivity, water as a conduit and breath and tuning in from previous exercises. I don’t want to give away the particulars, but the overlay of a runic spell coalesces and integrates the work being done with invitation to repeat monthly to “recharge” your battery.

Everything and anything you wish to know or have heard used regarding psychic abilities is to be found somewhere in Psychic Witch: A Metaphysical Guide to Meditation, Magick & Manifestation (no pun intended. LOL!) What makes this book unique however is that it is not simply an exercise in theoretical verbosity, leaving you as confused and unsatisfied as when you embarked on this journey. Mat has made the unusual, become usual business that can be accomplished by hard work and practice, but more importantly by understanding and clarity of the mechanics of psychic practice.

There are several chapters devoted to the understanding and alignment of the triune nature of the s(Selves), subtly bringing home the importance of the statement “Know Thyself”, especially in magickal practice. Taking the time to explore our nature(s) brings us closer to revealing the gifts inherent in all parts of our being in all of the worlds.

… It’s my firm belief that magick can be utilized at almost any time if performed through one’s psychic faculties and willpower, as long as one has a firm understanding of the elements necessary… (Ch. 15)

This statement that opens Chapter 15 sums up very nicely the intention of Psychic Witch: A Metaphysical Guide to Meditation, Magick & Manifestation. As a conclusion to a thorough read, the emphasis is that psychism, magick and the s(S)elf are not independent of one another. Rather, they are co-creators of a wholeness that is at the very heart of a witch’s practice, philosophies and work. If you do the work outlined in the book and if you embrace a power that is part of everyone’s ability (in varying degrees) you are well on your way to becoming not only a self-empowered with, but more wholly the person you are meant to be as a Divine Being having a manifest experience.

Would I Recommend?

Whole-heartedly, YES! Mat’s style is readable, accessible and encourages you to be your best self. The formatting of studies has clarity and offers time to digest through exercise and contemplative work. I would recommend this title to both the novice(as example of what can be achieved on the Path) as well as the adept and experienced Witch (reaffirming and offering a deeper perspective to enhance the steps already achieved). The Bibliography is filled with resources that will make any practitioner of magickal studies and workings better informed and diverse in newfound perspective.

About Mat Auryn (New England) is a witch, writer, psychic, and occult teacher. He is an initiate of Black Rose Witchcraft and a priest in the Sacred Fires Tradition of Witchcraft. He is also a devotee of the Covenant of Hekate founded by Sorita D’Este. Mat has been featured in various magazines, radio shows, books, and other periodicals, such as The Witch’s Almanac, DisInfo, The Wild Hunt, Raise the Horns podcast, and Magick magazine. He also writes a blog for Patheos Pagan called For Puck’s Sake. Matt can be found at: http://matauryn.com/

Anatomy of a Witch: A Map to the Magical Body by Laura Tempest Zakroff

The pagan community has a hunger right now for what is innovative and creative in its presentation. More importantly, we are in need of having voices that speak to the younger practitioners of the Craft and witches who will carry forward the groundwork laid by their Elders.

To that end we also need authors and teachers who are adept at not dumbing down the teachings, nor make it a temporary fix for the bored and uninspired who are chasing the perceived glamour and the “look” devoid of the actual work.

Fortunately, there are a new crop of authors who have the foundations firmly integrated into their understanding and practices and are able to weave the all important teachings into just the correct blending of valuable knowledge, practical application of experience and a modern approach that is attractive to this generation of seekers. Anatomy of a Witch: A Map to the Magical Body by Laura Tempest Zakroff fills all of the check boxes and more of what a marriage of quality and reader appeal looks like when applied to modern witchcraft.

PaganPagesOrg was fortunate to receive a special limited offer to reviewers from Llewellyn Books that included copy of the book, Anatomy of a Witch: A Map to the Magical Body as well as a limited edition Sigil stickers and information sheet and a candle and matchbook spell set, and copy of the Witch’s Ritual of Dedication found on pgs. 181-183. These were lovely additions to work with as I read through the book for reviewing.

Anatomy of a Witch: A Map to the Magical Body is separated into a lengthy Introduction which gives a complete and clear picture of how this book may be best used and how to more fully incorporate the “body” in all of its parts into your work. The nine (9) chapters that follow move organically aligned with Witch Lungs (breath) – the Witch Heart (pulse and rhythm) – the Serpent (our primal nature) – Witch Bones (strength and structure) and the Weaver (Witch mind) and then continues to build upon these in exploring practical application and cultivating a mindset that establishes the witch’s body as Temple, tools and mystery.

… The Witch’s body is
a constellation of stars,
eyes that pierce the darkness,
lips that speak in song and silence,
ears attuned to the voice of spirits,
lungs that breathe the liminal,
a heart of fire pulsing in ecstatic dance,
hips that weave the mysteries,
and feet that kiss the earth…. 1.

Use of the alchemical elements, the many five-fold correspondences to be found within the Craft and specific Tarot keys of the Major Arcana serve as entry points for deepening the focus of a particular chapter and finding the points of resonance and understanding already cultivated by the reader in these disciplines. Each chapter is filled with journal prompts, exercises, rituals and sigils (something that the author has become well noted for crafting) and a specific Tarot Key moving as an embodied journey beginning with Key 0, The Fool.

Everything conveyed in this book is constructed in such a way that the reader cannot help but be part of the process of stepping into the mantle of the Witch if that is what is truly desired. In a fitting conclusion to the work the reader has experienced and the anticipation of next steps, the final pages of Anatomy of a Witch: A Map to the Magical Body are reserved for A Witch’s Ritual of Dedication….

… There is a sense of validation that comes with having the title of “Witch” bestowed upon you through formal training and being recognized as such by other practitioners. But, as we have learned throughout this book, the only person who can truly make you a Witch is you… ^2.

Would I Recommend:

Anatomy of a Witch: A Map to the Magical Body by Laura Tempest Zakroff speaks to the reader at multiple levels. And, the beauty is that regardless of whether one chooses to take up the calling of the Witch, they will come away from this reading more fully integrated in who they are, both physically and magically. I find this to be a true gift, particularly in the current climate where so many are disconnected from themselves, physically-spiritually-psychologically, and as such are unable to connect to others in a meaningful way.

My recommendation would be to read Anatomy of a Witch: A Map to the Magical Body from cover to cover, engage in the exercises, meditate on the sigils and then return to it frequently as a reminder of who you truly are in all of your parts.

Spoiler alert… There is an Anatomy of a Witch Oracle slated for release in 2022.

Notes: 1. p.1 2. p.181

About the Author: Laura Tempest Zakroff is a professional artist, author, dancer, designer, and Modern Traditional Witch. She holds a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and her myth-inspired artwork has received awards and honors worldwide. Laura blogs for Patheos as “A Modern Traditional Witch,” for Witches & Pagans magazine as “Fine Art Witchery,” and contributes to The Witches’ Almanac. She is the author of several bestselling books, including Sigil Witchery and Weave the Liminal. She is also the creator of the bestselling Liminal Spirits Oracle. Laura lives in New England.

Besom, Stang & Sword: A Guide to Traditional Witchcraft, the Six-Fold Path & the Hidden Landscape by Christopher Orapello and Tara Love Maguire

There is a stirring within the community of those who identify as witches as what was old has been lovingly and carefully made new again by those who stand at the gates of modern witchcraft. Besom, Stang and Sword is a guide of practice that evolved from the reweaving of Traditional Witchcraft and adding just enough of the evolved form of that practice to create something unique, new and highly relevant to our times.

The authors have done due diligence in both the scholarly rationale and the grassroots approach to the practice of witchcraft and its newer derivative form of Wicca. What emerged was the creation of their own path called the Blacktree Tradition….. a modern, nonreligious form of traditional witchcraft that is rooted in each witch’s specific region. Instead of deities, it deals with the spirits of the land and the ancestors-no gods, many spirits…

Chapter 1 jumps right into the discussion of what Traditional Witchcraft is at its roots. As the authors state there are many types of practice that have presented themselves forged from the essential of a practice that is steeped in cultural practices such as Shamanism, Seidr and Hoodoo and magickal traditions, such as Victor and Cora Anderson Feri and Cultus Sabbati. All of the usual topics related to a pagan path and in particular, that of witchcraft are given attention and perspective that pulls together some of the more disjointed pieces of a puzzle that is complex, rich and deep. The Devil and the negative connotation that has come to be associated with those practitioners of the craft is addressed and the reality of this beings energy as being neither good nor evil, but a necessary component in the natural order of a practice rooted in the land. Blacktree calls to the Devil as the Witch Lord, the Lord of the Paths and is considered the embodiment of nature itself. This is a perspective that takes us beyond the semantics and associations accumulated around these that prevent us from seeing beyond and more broadly as to the deeper meanings.

You will find within each chapter the basics of teachings that form a solid foundation for stepping onto the path of the witch. Spell work, Divination, the Sabbats, Lunations, Hedgewitchery and more complete this instruction. Each chapter is rich with theory and magickal technique. For those who are familiar with a Wiccan or other path that is similar to the principals of witchcraft, you will see the variances in application and tools that are of prominence in traditional witchcraft that have often take a side place of importance more recently.

The title of the book, Besom, Stang and Sword give reference to these three tools being those closely related to the natural world. This is further evidenced in the premise of Traditional Witchcraft and its roots being tied to the earth and at a time when many of the manufactured ritual items that adorn our altars and work were not available. Use of the Besom and Stang takes us back to those cultural roots of witchcraft and making use of and empowering all that we were given from the land itself. We are also introduced to some lesser-known tools, their purpose and how they may be used or created.

The author’s statement in the introduction nicely sums up the treasures and value of this book..

..Our perspective anchors itself with one foot firmly planted in the lessons of the past and the other stepping into the boldest future, while staying focused on the natural evolution of the craft…

I would highly recommend this book as a required read for those new to the craft and more importantly those who consider themselves seasoned and working witches. My gratitude to Christopher and Tara for being able to in such an articulate and grounded way call forth the best of what was and the vision of a practice that evolves and grows in an organic and natural way that we have long forgotten the simplicity, complexity and beauty of.

About the Authors:

Christopher Orapello is an artist, witch, and animist with a background in Western occultism, ceremonial magick, and Freemasonry and has been on his journey for over 20 years. He cohosts the podcast Down at the Crossroads with his partner, Tara Maguire, and is a signature artist with Sacred Source, a leading producer and distributor of ancient deity images in North America. After a growing desire for a more locally based form of witchcraft, he and Tara founded the Blacktree Coven in 2014 and set out to forge a modern approach to traditional witchcraft for a new era of praxis.

Tara-Love Maguire has been a practicing witch for over 30 years. Her path has been crookedly influenced by Isobel Gowdie, Marie Laveau, and William S. Burroughs (among others). Growing up in and around the New Jersey Pine Barrens, she found witchcraft within the tales and shadows of that folkloric landscape. She cohosts the podcast Down at the Crossroads with Christopher Orapello and is one of the founders of the Blacktree Coven, which exists in the heart of southern New Jersey.

Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic and Power by Pam Grossman

Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic and Power by Pam Grossman has a decidedly different “feel” than most of the books currently on the market about Witches, Witchcraft and what it means to be a Witch in the 21st century. Her academic background of a degree in cultural anthropology with minors in art history, creative writing and comparative religion has served her well in crafting a book that is beautifully woven with very thorough research and on point references that are easily recognizable by anyone reading.

Waking the Witch begins with the traditional Introduction, is separated into eight (8) chapters and ends with the “Afterwyrd”, a purposeful play on words and apt ending to the journey laid out. Each of these offerings is rich in contemporary reference that evolves from well researched historical references that brought to light many nuances of the why’s, and where’s of identity of the Witch that I would venture to guess many are not aware of. The result is one of being able to engage both the seasoned practitioner and the seeker new to the path in ways that are relevant, thought-provoking and empowering. What Ms. Grossman finished in approximately a year and a half until completion is clearly a reflection of a lifetime of experience, reading, learning and research that has produced the clarity of intention and a distinctly palpable feeling in Waking the Witch.

I particularly appreciated the content of Chapter 1:The Good, the Bad and the Wicked,which sets the tone for what follows with a lengthy and very in-depth introduction to the archetype of the Witch that has pervaded much of our cultural bias and misunderstanding of what a Witch is. Ms. Grossman brings to light the impact that the book “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum and its concept of the “good” Witch and the “bad” Witch laid as the groundwork for an enduring and over simplified polarity of positive and negative. We learn that this classic tome was not only influential in its archetyping of the witch, but that the author himself had long been interested and (part) of spiritual practice and philosophies as a theosophist. Add to this Ms. Grossman’s introduction to the reader of the first threads of her alignment of the Feminist component of the Witch….

… It’s a spectacular story, not only as a parable about friendship and truth-seeking, but also due to its exceptional originality. The Emerald City, the Yellow Brick Road, magical slippers, a brave farm-girl protagonist, and of course, the good and bad witches are all now seemingly timeless icons from what some have called “the first American fairy tale.” But several of these ideas were not invented by Baum ….In fact, a great many of them can be traced to the influence of his mother-in-law, the suffragist and equal rights pioneer Matilda Joslyn Gage…(Chapter 1)

We go on to learn more about Gage and the overlapping of the efforts of the suffragists and abolitionists, theosophy’s philosophies and the far reaching effects of these on society’s concepts of power; specifically feminine empowerment.

Finishing this chapter, my curiosity was piqued. So, when the opportunity to speak at length with Ms. Grossman about this treasure of a book, saying yes meant looking behind the curtain to reveal the Witch who was in control and find out a bit more about her thoughts, hopes and intentions in writing Waking the Witch. These are some of the key points from our conversation.

Ms. Grossman’s book takes a deep look into the Feminist ideology and identification and how many of these are the same assignations given to the Witch as their individual underpinnings tread a similar path. I wanted to dive a little more deeply into her experience as a feminist and as a Witch.

RF: There are many different layers to the word “Feminist”.  What does being a Feminist mean to you?

            PG: I was raised to believe that the definition of a feminist is simply to believe that people of all genders should have equal worth and therefore should be treated equally. And, it really is that simple. Now, there are others who use the word “womanist” or “humanist”. I realized there are associations with the feminist movement, especially those who believed the second wave of the movement was for middle-class white straight women and so for some the word feminist is not their favorite word. 

RF: When we hear the word “Feminist” automatically a specific gender comes mind, versus the polarities offered. How does that fall into gender identity?

            PG: I think it is a word that has evolved. A third wave of feminists was what I grew up to know in the nineties. And, now we are allegedly experiencing the fourth wave which is more intersexual and driven by digital communities and dialogues. So, it is a word that is really important to me because just like the word “Witch” people have for so long tried to shame those of us who have chosen to describe ourselves as such. I am really glad that we have moved past the stereotypical image of a feminist and it is now more inclusive of all genders and preferences.

RF: How do you see this evolving?

            PG: I feel the big drive for Feminism and Witchcraft alike has to be about us being as compassionate and intersexual and interconnected as possible. And that means both honoring your individual experience and your background. This means not saying we are all the same, because we aren’t. We all have different amounts of privilege we are born with. We all have different amounts of pain we are born with. So, I don’t think it is correct to say that we are all the same, and therefore we should never talk about how we are different. I think what we need to do is listen to each other and honor one another’s differences while at the same time celebrating the larger values of humanity (as a whole) that I believe we all need to be fighting for together.

The humanities flow strongly through this book and are used as a vehicle for highlighting the influence culture has on our perceptions. This thought process is clearly evidenced in the subtleties of application of the product of these two worlds of overlap giving new meaning to the conceptualization of the archetype, the semantics and the deeper meanings of the Witch. Using this format, Ms. Grossman provides us with enough evidence that you can find the Witch in most anything whether transparent or in all of her power.  I was curious about the development of these sensibilities in Ms. Grossman’s own experience and her choice in using the arts so prominently in her book.

RF: When did the synthesis of these ideas emerge for you and take shape?

         PG: It has been a gradual evolution. But, the first group of artists who really opened my eyes to the fact that art could be magic, and vice-versa were the female surrealists. I fell in love with the work of Remedios Varo and Leonora Carrington when I was a teenager. Another major influence was the book, “Women Artists and the Surrealist Movement” by author Whitney Chadwick. I happened upon this book in the gift shop of the Metropolitan Museum at the age of fourteen and it just blew my mind. Through these images it was as though they (Varo and Carrington) were painting the stories of the fairy tales and myths that I loved, but adding their own personal details to them; making it almost autobiographical. This became the big key for me with the realization that you could make works of art and infuse them with magical intention and magical truths, and in doing so it would occupy this nether space between art and magic where the two overlapped.

In Chapter 6: The Dark Arts: Magic Makers and Craft Women, Ms. Grossman delves more deeply into the world of art and its influence in our perceptions of the Witch and her depiction. In what she calls the “magico-artistic” family tree she includes five women who exemplify the uniting of art and the craft. I wanted to know more about this alignment.

RF: You talk about the word craft and its deeper meaning to you as a synthesis of arts and magick. Could you speak more to that?

         PG: I love the fact that this word can be used when it comes to making art, but it is also part of “Witchcraft”, and some people say we are “crafting” our own lives. To me it means working with intention and focus and being actively in relationship with the work. So it is neither passive such as…”I am simply a receptacle for something”, but it is also not completely based in the ego, ie: “I am responsible for all of this”. I think craft implies that it is part of you and part of the divine or at least coming from an unconscious base and that you are actively working with it with intention and with the idea that it can grow and evolve as a living, fluid system.

Throughout Waking the Witch, Ms. Grossman really drives home the concept of the Witch as a truly Universal Archetype that can be found throughout many cultures and spiritual practices. Staying with that idea, I wanted to know more.

RF: How do you see or perceive some of the now popular Eastern practices aligning with what your definition of the Witch is?

            PG: I feel they are very relevant. In the book, I am writing about the Witch archetypally and sometimes that archetype is just a character in a film, or can be someone’s political stance as a feminist or it can have many other meanings. But, I am also a practitioner and it was important to represent that too. When I say I am a Witch, sometimes I mean that as a metaphor and sometimes I mean it literally. I cast spells. I am pagan. I have an altar. A lot of practices I have learned, certainly meditation, any type of body-work, such as yoga or any of the things popularized through the “New Age “ movement, I have incorporated into my own practice. I am certainly using more of the Western Witch (British Witch) as an archetype, because that portrayal is one that most people associate the Witch with.

As our conversation neared conclusion and my reading of the book felt like the first reading of what would become a frequently returned to favorite, I was intrigued about the origin of the title. Being “woke” has been used in a variety of ways and I didn’t have a sense that this was yet another derivation of that word’s intention. So, inquiring minds wanted to know.

RF: Why did you choose the title of “Waking the Witch” for this book?

            PG: “Waking the Witch” is a song by Kate Bush that I really love. So, it is a wink to her and that song. But, what she is really referencing is a really dark bit of witch history. During the witch craze in Europe and later in the New England colonies one of the ways to get confessions from accused witches was to torture them. And one of the forms of torture was sleep deprivation. You would wake them in the middle of the night and ask them all of your questions and if they were tired and weak enough they may confess to being a witch. So, it does have a really dark connotation. I love reclaiming dark things and making them sparkle but it really is more of a multi-layered meaning.

            I am also seeing more and more people in my life and in society waking up to their own power, and their potential. And, many of them are gravitating towards Witchcraft or some sort of magical expression, or an alternative spiritual practice. I don’t believe that everyone has to be a Witch, but I do believe that this waking up and raising of consciousness is a really crucial one for us all to become better citizens of this planet if we want a future of sustainability and the type of societies we desire to rebuild we need people to awaken spirituality. Love really is the answer. Loving our planet, the bodies we are in and the people who share this world. So, the title, “Waking the Witch”, really gives me a lot of hope and the idea that people are waking up to what I hope to be a new chapter of humanity.

My sense after hearing this explanation is that Ms. Grossman has offered an opportunity to the reader to uncover the bits and pieces of our memory of those deeper connections with the Witch and give a poke to what can be the evolution of that reclaiming of power within oneself and the writing of a new history and archetype. In keeping with her thoughts I wanted to know what she envisioned for us collectively.

RF: What do you feel we could do as a collective (community) to empower the feminine and awaken this power to change those beliefs and challenges that are failing us?

            PG: One thing that I find frustrating about those who purport to be spiritual or get involved in Witchcraft for a sense of self-empowerment. That’s great, but it won’t get you very far unless you take that empowerment and healing and make use of it to be in service to something greater than just yourself. I believe a lot of people are attracted to alternative spirituality because they need healing and to be told that they are valuable because our governments, religious structures and businesses don’t currently support the fact that people of all genders, backgrounds or sexual orientation are of equal worth. So I understand why Witchcraft is very attractive. But that is just step one and we need to then talk about what is next. To me the what’s next is connecting to other people and being of service to them, the planet and all that inhabits this space with us, seen and unseen.

To quote from the Afterwyrd (coming from the word “wryd” which means fate personified or the Anglo-Saxon view of personal destiny), Ms. Grossman offers up her vision of the destiny of the Witch…

The redemption of witches and the ascension of women will be forever interlinked. That both are happening at this moment in time is no coincidence. Each is a reflection of the other.

And, so my last question to her was a reflection of this.

RF: What would you say to someone picking up your book for the first time and unfamiliar with the Witch, the Feminist and the practice of Witchcraft?

            PG: Everything matters greatly and, that we shouldn’t take anything too seriously. That there is a sense of sacred reverence needed, and play that is equally holy too. There are those who get lost in the gate keeping of Witchcraft and the stance of the Witch and Witchcraft having to be very tightly structured and restrictive in the do’s and don’ts of what is acceptable and what makes you a “Real” Witch. There is no room or flexibility to enjoy the mysteries and the unknowable. I think that so much of life is standing in mystery and not knowing everything and being open to continuing to use our imaginations to keep remaking the world. And because of that we can have fun as Witches and practitioners of the craft and continue to grow and evolve into our place of power.

I thoroughly enjoyed speaking with Ms. Grossman about her book, Waking the Witch. The book is dense with information and insights and much has been left out of this review as it is a work to be experienced and savored in its complexity and breadth of reach. One comes away from the reading realizing this is both a cautionary tale and a text for those who choose to step up in a way that is very empowering but also very pragmatic and practical in its use in a modern and continually evolving world.

Our conversation ended with my request for what Ms. Grossman would like to share about the writing of her book…

            PG: Although I may not call myself Wiccan, I still owe such a debt of gratitude to all of the writers and amazing creative spirits who came before and the rich history they have preserved and created. I have learned so much from earlier writers and generations and I hope that this book honors them too. I hope this is a continuum of a conversation we have been having for a long time and I hope people who have grown up with a wiccan or pagan practice will feel honored and included too.

I believe this final statement sums up the overall hope and inspiration that flows throughout Waking the Witch. That being one of not simply a story about how the Witch came to be, but how intimately woven that word and all of its aligning descriptors are a model for the potential we have as humanity for change, resilience and growth once we allow ourselves to awaken to the possibilities.

About the Author:

Pam Grossman is the creator and host of The Witch Wave podcast and the author of What is a Witch. Her writing has appeared in such outlets as The New York Times, The Atlantic, Time, Ms., and her occulture blog, Phantasmaphile. She is cofounder of the Occult Humanities Conference at NYU, and her art exhibitions and magical projects have been featured in such publications as Artforum, Art in America, and The New Yorker. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and their feline familiar. You can find her at PamGrossman.com and @Phantasmaphile.

Links to other goodies from this author:

Visit the author’s web page at: https://www.pamgrossman.com

More Books to Check Out.

Click on the Links for Book Reviews

Encounters with Nature Spirits by R. Ogilvie Crombie

The Path of the Witch: Rituals & Practices for Discovering Which Witch You Are by Lidia Pradas

The Green Witch’s Grimoire by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

Protection Spells: Clear Negative Energy, Banish Unhealthy Influences, And Embrace Your Power by Arin Murphy-Hiscock