Well, lets see. I am a rather eclectic witch who practises her own kind of magick drawing from the mystic world of the East but also from the beautiful traditions of Western magick. I live part time in Kernow, or Cornwall, where I was born and also in Herefordshire near Wales. I’m influenced by the wild ways of the Cornish and Welsh landscape along with all the beings and magickal energy these strikingly beautiful and atmospheric places hold. I feel most inspired when in Cornwall.
I adore walking on the moors and smelling the heather in the summer and equally slopping through the earthy mud in the wintertime, all wrapped up against the blustering gales!
Life is pretty rugged here on this end-of-the-land county, surrounded by sea. It is wild and unspoilt and therefore inspires the same kind of magick. Magick performed here seems to draw from the wildscape, the ancient granite and hills to create a unique potency of its own. I like it.
While this is my main inspiration for my witchery, I am also captured by the east and India and its reverence for the female divine. Indeed, I lived in north India for almost 2 years. I have a deity called Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu skilfully fashioned from a 500 year old sacred tree, who is both the God and Goddess in one.
My conviction is that there exists a God – both male and female; that the universe in all its vastness is created; that the Goddesses and Gods we worship are personalities, not just energies; that we are part and parcel of that great intelligence and personality; that the universe is operated by devas/angels/deities who all have their jobs to do to maintain it, just like we have jobs in this world; that we have our own will and can create what we want in our lives with that will.
I work from home as a writer.
i have a question…on Mabon me and my soon to be ex dicided to divorce. I have been struggling for several years with my true witch self in the sense of having to hide it from him, I feel just like the picture on your site. a woman rising from the ashes to her true life with the mask left in the flames to burn. can u give me any insight on this journey? and the possible symbolism of the date of our descision. i am sad but i feel more joy cause i feel free to soar with my Goddess. your page is wonderful
Dear Stafire Moon
Thank you for your comment and I’m glad you like my blog!
Sounds like you are going through a lot of changes especially in regards to your relationship and being open with your spiritual path.
It must be hard to hide your witchcraft practise and beliefs from your partner, like you don’t feel comfortable to share this in the relationship and you can therefore not be totally you, at least regarding your beliefs anyway. It seems like you’ve be holding back some personal truths for the sake of the relationship as you mention you feel like the woman “rising from the ashes to her true life.” At the same time as feeling sadness it seems like you’re experiencing release too.
To answer your question about insights on the journey, well, I guess it is different for everyone and the symbolism in the picture holds its own meaning according to our unique experiences. For me this picture is about power. By that I mean personal power – taking responsibility for everything we create in our lives, facing our deepest fears and connecting with our strength, trusting our voice inside which is telling what is best for us even though we sometimes don’t want to listen.
For me the mask left burning in the flames was old, weak, me scared of my own talents and capabilities, afraid to be alone and not in a relationship. Weak and giving my power away to my partner. Being like this wasn’t serving me to be the best I could be in my life. So, I made some changes by connecting with my strength and courage and became single for the first time in 13 years. Rising out of the ashes from my old, dependent life towards a new, stronger, independent me. My post about it is here.
So that’s the insights I have for the phoenix picture. Have a think about how this picture relates to you? What are you needing to let go of (the mask)? What do you need to be honest with yourself about? What isn’t supporting you to be the best you can be or to be happy in your life? These might not necessarily be people or circumstances outside of you, but patterns in yourself that aren’t helpful, like negative thoughts for example, or perhaps fears that hold you back. Live in these questions for a while and see what comes up.
As for the possible symbolism of deciding to part ways with your husband on the festival of Mabon – what comes to my mind is Mabon’s qualities of change. There’s a lot of letting go going on too in terms of saying “bye” to warm Summer months and “hello” to the darker, colder days of Autumn and Winter. Read my Mabon post here if you haven’t already. Think about how this season can help you with your onward journey. What do you need to let go of? How can you nurture yourself?
I hope this has helped and thank you for all your questions. I wish you the best of the Divine couple’s blessings to help you on your journey.
Hi!
I read your site and I think it’s really cool and you’re awesome! Keep it up!
I’m really new to witchcraft. I’ve been reading as many sites as I can. I know some things, but can you suggest anything for me to get or what else I should be doing? It means a lot! Thanks!
Hello Magnoliarose
Thank you for your comment and I’m glad you like my blog! I will indeed try to keep it up. I should really post more often.
As for my suggestions for you, well, I guess that depends on what your leanings are towards. For example, I am a natural healer, so recently I have been developing my intuition with stone healing and using pendulums. I am going to learn Reiki 1 and 2 soon. I also spend time with the Tarot and use it for personal development as well as giving others readings to give insights into problems and how best to take responsibility and deal with them.
I also ensure I get out into the wilds and connect with the energies of nature – in granite, hills, sacred places, trees and the like. So I definitely recommend this as it keeps you connected with natural power and reminds us of the earth we live upon, our source of nourishment. I also feel incredibly witchy when I’m out on the moors and the wind is blowing! Very connecting.
Do you have an altar? If not I recommend it. It’s a lovely place to hang out! It’s a place to focus your energy, do spell work or to simply in front of and be. You can remotely visit it too – so for example, if you’re having a particularly horrid day at work, take some time out and visit it by mind for a couple of minutes.
On your altar, make sure you have your coloured candles for the quarters, and represent the four elements and spirit. Remember that they are all personalities. I like to collect things on walks that represent the time of year or particular upcoming sabbat, like acorns and berries for Mabon for example.
Another lovely thing to get into is incense making
I LOVE to do this. Buy Scott Cunningham’s book “Incense, Oils and Brews” and a pestle and mortar and get mixing. Make blends for empowering a spell, for gifts (Yule is coming up) or just mess around and create a blend you like the smell of. Remember to always write down the quantities in a special incense recipe book so you can recreate it. Nothing worse than coming up with an amazing blend never to be able to make it again!
I think that’s about it for now. Let me know if I can help you further.
With best wishes
Real Life Witch
i read many techniques. I tried telepathy spell but it did not work. I like magic but i am unable to practice it effectively. Please help.
I really am new to magic. I already have a book of shadows ready it’s just that I don’t have any spells and each time I find a spell, I cannot cast it. I’m scared that I don’t have any magic inside of me. I really do hope I’m wrong. I have been trying to cast spells since my 12 birthday. I know I’m still young but I still think I’d be capable of casting spells. Please help;(. P.S I really love your website ; )
Hi Julissa
Thank you for your comment and question. It sounds like you’re frustrated and worried about this. Well, I’d like to reassure you that we all have magic inside us and the capability to cast spells and create the change we want. For me, magic is about using clear, focused intention to create what we desire, using ritual to make these changes. Our efforts by no means guarantee a result but they do create the best possibility. It’s very powerful to cast forth your intentions into the universe.
When you say you “don’t have any spells”, do you mean you have no books to help you? I remember when I was 13 years old, I had absolutely no direction and only one friend to share my spiritual calling with. But I knew I liked to write spells on paper and burn them and make garlands out of crow feathers!! I was obsessed with Tarot reading! I kind of found my own way and now write this blog centred around witchcraft and paganism and my approach to it all.
It will help you to read books like Kate West’s “Real Witches” series. Start with the “Real Witches’ Handbook”
Also, Scott Cunningham’s books are very inspiring and informative. I especially love his “Complete Book of Incense, Oils and Brews”.
The Craft is a wonderful way to get to know yourself better and soon you’ll be filling up that book of Shadows of yours in no time. It focuses on personal responsibility and it is very empowering.
I also want to add that there is of course a distinct difference between Hollywood magic (ie. what you see in movies) and magic we can wield in this world. One name for these skills are mystic siddhis. While it’s possible to have such skills, it takes lifetimes of practise.
Start of with a self dedication ritual. Kate West has this information in the Real Witches’ Handbook. Write down the results in your Book of Shadows.
If you have any other questions, please just ask and I will try to help. Let me know how you’re getting on!
With Blessings
Real Life Witch