We continue with The Witch and The Writer.

It's been brought to my attention that we're not talking enough witchyness...or is that witchiness?

Which ever witch you prefer, we are and we will.

What's important for me in these opening conversations is to establish context, explore communication, and create shared meaning. Without these as foundational aspects, it's easy for the witch, magic, and mystery to return to assumptions and become projections. She, the witch, is experiential and this is my lived experience.

I mentioned in an earlier blog post that this isn't about flattering witchy outfits and costumes, mystical locations, sexy movements, or blending a particular elixir. It's about how I live, day to day, within the magic and mystery. How I bring the non ordinary into ordinary life. How I weave the mundane with the magical. How I unshackle the wylds within which have been shoved down into the dungeons of my psyche.

This dance with life is much more than appearances and woo. It's about practice and allowing life to woo me. 

In episode five we spoke about communication and the importance of shared meaning. In episode six, we continue with the barriers to shared meaning. Within this episode there's a glimpse as to how I flow with magic in my everyday.

The most important and certainly the most difficult practice is remaining open and, more importantly, receptive to the flow. I do fall short, often.

You may be wondering, what do I mean by "the flow"?

For me, it is living in alignment with the rhythms of nature, the wheel of the year, and the solar and lunar cycles. This isn't always easy in a world that pushes us to live by clocks, deadlines, calendars, productivity, and bombards us with distortions of how we should look, move, and have our being. 

While possibly the largest part, it certainly isn't the only part of being in "the flow".

Here is where the flow happened with episode six.

The night prior to the recording, I facilitated Luna Gathering. This gathering was about Monday's full moon in Capricorn. While the sun journeys through Cancer, this full moon is the apex of the Gemini lunation.

During our full moon gatherings I often share wisdom from The 13 Original Clan Mothers, by Jamie Sams. The sixth clan mother is Storyteller.  The Storyteller archetype is in alignment with the archetype of Gemini.

(a little synchronicity here is episode Six and the Sixth mother, just in case you missed it)

As we recorded episode six, I realized how perfect the teaching of the Storyteller was to our conversation. Storyteller teaches us to embody humility, cultivate faith, and remain playfully young at heart. She teaches us to speak our truth from our hearts while holding faith as we walk through, as Jamie Sams writes, "...the illusionary forests of our own confusion."

For me, that quote captures much of what creates barriers to shared meaning.

During Thursday's Luna Gathering we briefly spoke about how lies, distorted truths, betrayals, verbal attacks, and the projections of another's unaddressed wounding can shape us and ways of communication. It is difficult to not take such things personally. And, when occurring during our younger years, we form barriers, not just with others but with ourselves, creating deep wounds.

Each of these threads are a topic of greater conversation. They deserve time, compassion, and deeper exploration.

For now my point is simply this; I am continually fascinated in my dance with life. The weaving of mystery, synchronicity, insight, and enlightenment. How the ordinary threads with the non ordinary and the mundane with the magical.
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May I always be gobsmacked by the magic.

I'd love to hear from you.

How are you enjoying The Witch and The Writer so far? What questions do of you have? Mostly, are you allowing yourself the space to ponder?

The Witch and The Writer series is happening.

After recording three episodes I think we're beginning to settle into the conversations. While we have a topic, loose as it maybe, there is no script. We simply roll with it...raw, real, unfiltered.

After each one is complete and Eric has worked his editing magic, I find places where I misspoke, should have provided some clarification, or added context. To be clear, the editing isn't cutting out, altering content, or changing meaning. It's about cutting out a sneeze, a happy Jack tug, something blowing through the frame, or an unexpected interruption. Mostly, it's removing the extra repetitions which add length and no additional value. You see, we understand how precious your time is and the capacity of modern day attention spans. 

In Episode Three, the conversation turned to mentors and those who have influenced our journeys. This caught me by surprise and I want to provide some clarity about the women who have shaped and continue to inspire the work I offer. 

At the time of my accident, I began processing my experience through, what I lovingly call, 4 year old art. What I later learned, through the teachings of Connie Solera, is the arting I was doing, continue to do, and now facilitate, is intuitive art. For the past 4 years, I have been working with and mentored by Alexis Cohen, whose work has enriched my own personal practice and offerings.

When it comes to astrology and working with our natal blueprints, Lisa Michaels has been, and is, an important teacher and mentor. I've actually been working with Lisa's content long before working directly with her. It is her work presented and guided to me through the magic of Dionne Ruff-Sloan who mentored me as a 21st Century Priestess.

In the realm of Shamanic practices, the work of Pixie Lighthorse (not Lighthouse as I think I said) was my first tangible inspiration. Discovering her work some 15 years ago, opened a pathway for me to explore this sacred work through many cultural perspectives. Two years ago, I began working with Naylin Amanda, who is my current mentor in Shamanic studies and practices.

These women have been instrumental and inspirational in honing in my depth of intuitive art, the priestess path, astrology, and Shamanic practices. It's from these trainings, my own extensive studies, lived experiences, personal explorations, and returning back to myself time and time again that has shaped me and the work I now share.

And the Witch Within rises.

The witchiness didn't arrive through certifications, trainings, courses, or a title. She emerged through remembering, awakening, trauma, healing, curiosity, dedication, ritual...through all of this and more.  

She is not new or even anew.

I have always been her.

What is new is a willingness to face my vulnerability and summons my courage to openly share her.

May you enjoy the series. May you be inspired. Episode Three is posted here, down below.

You can find out about the brilliant women I reference here :: 
https://conniesolera.com/
https://www.alexiscohen.org/
https://www.lisa-michaels.com/
https://www.pixielighthorse.com/
​https://www.tiktok.com/@dteapriestess
https://naylinamanda.com/

Episode One

Oh, how I have dodged this word. Many words actually. Words that, in truth, hold some accuracy. None fully describe me, yet each is a part of who I am.
Episode One speaks what was/is needed. What I want to add here is just how real and raw this feels. 

There is vulnerability showing up this way. Truly seen. No polished edges. No AI'ing myself. No fancy, flattering clothes or costume. Heck, we filmed this first episode while out camping, for goodness sake.

There's more to this vulnerability and nervousness. A feeling of being dragged into the street accused and burned at the stake. Figuratively, perhaps. And also from the perspective of a past life, which is maybe not so figuratively.

Here I am, for myself, my clients, women like me, my children and grandchildren. For the generations who came before and those who will come after. For needed change and truth.

I am called to speak about her and embody her :: The Witch.

Not as a symbol. Not as a cool trend. Not as a rebellion.

But as a woman willing to be fully myself - aging, menopausal body changing, an amputee missing a third of my body. I am as real as it's gonna get. And, if I'm going to be real, truth is, I feel like I want to run and hide, tuck away in the cabin.

Still, I show up. The work is not easy. In fact, sometimes is down right arduous. But it is needed. So I will keep showing up, as myself, raw real honest, and trust that these conversations are finding the women and men they are meant to find.

For more inspiration and rawness please subscribe.  https://www.youtube.com/@TheWitchandtheWriter