Coyote

The archetype I was most interested in was the trickster. Coyote was certainly one of those – and I loved the few stories that I knew about him. Anyone who gave fire to humans was a friend of mine. It took me a while to realize this was not exactly true. 

Knowing Jack

There are reasons that stories travel from culture to culture, but Jack has always been something of an anomaly in how widespread and yet contiguous his stories are. He may be from Cornwall, Germany, or  North Carolina in a given story, but his character is recognizable and the story is more than likely the same.

Oak, Ash, and Thorn

When the answer came, it seemed obvious. I’d do what any good Witch would do. I’d call on the holy trees, trees that meant the world to me.

The Fear of God

Who do I find the gods that fill my life now so restful?They are terrifying. The kindest of them is streaked with blood and prone to fits of violence. Their characters are complicated and often petty, their stories filled with the sorts of vengeance that humans can only feint at. Which is why I trust them. At least they’re honest about it. 

Not a Witch

At the end of it, I know that the projects I do take on – be they jars of herbs or small rituals, necklaces made of certain stones or clothes woven just so – are few and far between. If I light a candle and say a few words, they are more likely to be a prayer than an incantation. Surely that’s not Witchcraft.