Modern Witches: More Herbal Tea Than Flying Broomsticks: When some people hear the word witch, they picture pointy hats, bubbling cauldrons, black cats, and dramatic cackling under a full moon. While those images can be fun, the reality of modern witchcraft is often much gentler—and far more interesting. Today’s witches are less likely to be
Creatures of Samhain and Halloween As leaves turn golden, nights grow longer, and the veil between worlds is said to thin, certain creatures seem made for Samhain. Black cats slip through shadows, owls call from trees, bats flutter beneath the moon, and crows gather in fading light. These animals have long appeared in folklore, magic,
How Did One Become the Other There’s a fascinating connection, and it’s worth avoiding the overly simple claim that Halloween is simply Samhain renamed. The modern holiday is really a blend of older seasonal traditions, Christian observances, and later folk customs. Samhain and Halloween: The Story Behind the Spookiest Night of the Year If you
The Crone: More Than Just an Old Witch The word Crone can bring up some pretty stereotypical pictures: an ancient woman with wild grey hair, a crooked nose, a black cloak and maybe a bubbling cauldron nearby. But in modern witchcraft, the Crone is something much more meaningful than an old woman who has collected
Rose Hips & Witchcraft: A Little Wild Magic When the roses have finished blooming and their petals have fallen, they leave behind something rather magical: rose hips. These bright red or orange berries are nature’s little reminder that a rose’s story doesn’t end when the flowers disappear. Rose hips have long been valued as a
Moon Magic: Dancing with the Moon The Moon has been inspiring witches, storytellers, gardeners, and stargazers for thousands of years. It seems to pull at the tides, brighten the night, and change its face every few days – so it’s hardly surprising that witches have long worked with its cycles. Moon magic is really about
The Magic in the Kitchen and Garden For a kitchen witch or nature witch, magic doesn’t always require a fancy altar, unusual ingredients, or a mysterious potion bubbling away in a cauldron. Sometimes, the magic is already growing in the garden – or sitting in the kitchen cupboard. Herbs, flowers, fruits, vegetables, spices, and even
Magical Waters: A Witch’s Guide to Rain, Storms, Sun and More Water has a rather impressive résumé in witchcraft. It cleanses, carries, reflects, nourishes, transforms – and, depending on where you found it, it can take on a whole personality of its own. Modern witches often collect or create different kinds of magical water for
There’s More Than One Kind of Witch When someone hears the word witch, they might picture a pointy hat, a bubbling cauldron and a black cat looking mildly judgmental. Thankfully, modern witchcraft is considerably more interesting – and there’s no one-size-fits-all witch. Witchcraft is a wonderfully individual practice, and over time, witches have developed different
Are Witches Pagan? Well… It Depends! One of the questions witches get asked sooner or later is: “Are witches Pagan?” The short answer is: some are, and some aren’t. Paganism is a broad term covering many different spiritual and religious paths. Wicca, Druidry, Heathenry and various modern traditions inspired by ancient religions can all fall
Your Pet Isn’t Your Familiar One of the things people often think about witches is whether or not their pet is their familiar. And the short answer is: not necessarily! I love my animals dearly, but a familiar and a pet are two very different things. Traditionally, a familiar was believed to be a supernatural
