Some of you may know me by the blog of the same name, Witch of the Wands. While this newsletter will cover a lot of the things that I do talk about on my blog. The writings will come with a more personal angle. Thoughts I have had and things that are happening in my personal life. Things that I always want to share but my Blog isn’t quite right and Twitter doesn’t give me enough characters.
This month, I have delved into creative endeavors that are more than just my writing. Diving back into creating art through drawing and painting. Old hobbies that I long had stopped indulging after a death in my family. And it was this family member who I had in my mind while lit the creative fires and saw where they led me.
My Aunt died when she was 39 of cancer, I was only a Sophmore in High School at the time. But she was one of the people I was closest to. She was likely not only the first witch I knew but the first queer person that I knew in my life. Though at the time she could not be out, looking back on the details of her life and confirmation from other family members gave me that information. My love of monsters and magic came from her, the first time she handed me a vampire novel I read it all in one day.
The summer after she passed I spent it reading every Anne Rice novel in the Vampire Chronicles I could get my hands on. It was one of her favorite series. While I painted I emersed myself in every Vampire movie from Buffy to Queen of the Damned. Dramas like Bram Stokers Dracula and comedies like Once Bitten. And I could feel her presence, I could feel her spirit as if she was watching them with me. As I created a sigil for a memory box, I knew she was there to empower my magic.
I thought about her life, as a closeted queer woman. Living with her partners, but unable to be closer than ‘good friends’ in everyone’s eyes. I could feel how proud she was that I could be openly queer and open about my gender. How she felt happy about seeing me having my chosen family who loved me dearly and gave me the ability to have these good memories with me.
It was the first time I had felt the presence of an Ancestor and I took it as the knowledge that I am on the right path.
On Samhain night, I lit a candle and left her an offering, a thank you for her presence in my life. And for just a little while I rambled to my altar flame. Telling her about my life, my found family, and the things I had found since she had passed. I thanked her for the things she gave me and the things she inspired in me. And finally, I made a promise to her.
That I would continue to live my life, being open, outspoken, and full of joy. Two things she always pushed me to be. Because she knew that she couldn’t.
So that is what I am doing this year and beyond, living my life and finding my joys. Raising my voice to fight whatever might come in these next months. Being an ally to those voices who are shouted down and raising them higher. And continuing to be creative, not only in my writing but in my magic.
One of those ways is sharing that magic here with you. So you will find spells and tarot readings. And I close this first post out with a Samhain Reading for anyone with who the words resonate. These are all general readings and will not resonate with everyone, but I put my intentions out to find the messages that need to come forward the most at the time of writing.
Five Of Swords
Upright Themes: Conflict, disagreements, competition, defeat, winning at all costs
This card appears when a falling out or disagreement has occurred. Leaving you walking away with sadness or even loss. The heated words might have left you wishing you had not said something or a sting left from words said to you.
You may have recently lost a friendship or family member through this exchange. And giving the recent climate of the world it does not surprise me that this card comes up. But now is the time to pick up the pieces and put it behind you. Even if that might be difficult. But there is still a chance for seeing eye to eye, or perhaps even finding a compromise.
The advice here is to pick your battles wisely. It will lead to a more peaceful existence, but your interpersonal relationships are likely to come out stronger.
With that, I close this first post and take the first step here. I hope your Samhain was blessed and that your new year is doubly so.
-Meg
Photo by Ganapathy Kumar on Unsplash
Five of Swords from Wikipedia