Burning Times & Fire Drills

Last updated on: December 11, 2016 at 4:24 pm By Laura Tempest Zakroff

The exhibition opened on Ash Wednesday. That wasn’t intentionally planned, but simply how the gallery schedule worked out. Regardless, it did seem fated, for as you entered the gallery, the hand-painted words “Flesh to ashes…ashes to flesh” stood out on the bare white wall. As you walked further into the space, you came face to face with small mixed media pieces. Diminutive in scale, they pulled you in to show you quotes and images of torture and related devices from centuries ago. They... Read more

Dissection: Is Witchcraft a Religion?

Last updated on: December 9, 2016 at 1:43 pm By Laura Tempest Zakroff

**Warning: If you rush to comment based off of a snap judgment of the title alone before actually reading the whole thing, your witch card will be instantly and metaphysically revoked.** Welcome to part 2 in a series of posts exploring the essence of being a Witch, from a Modern Tradition perspective. I’ll be tackling some sticky yet interwoven topics that create and define the Witch – including solo vs. group work, examining religion and spirituality, commerce, morals and ethics, etc. If you... Read more

Anatomy of a Witch

Last updated on: December 7, 2016 at 11:45 pm By Laura Tempest Zakroff

Welcome to the first part in a series of posts exploring the Witch, from a Modern Tradition perspective. In the near future, I’ll be tackling some sticky yet interwoven topics that create and define the Witch – including solo vs. group work, examining religion and spirituality, commerce, morals and ethics, etc. Books can’t tell you everything you need to know about living as a Witch. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a voracious reader, and always have been. There’s plenty of great information... Read more

What’s Mything in Your Life?

Last updated on: December 3, 2016 at 4:02 pm By Laura Tempest Zakroff

As much as one may be inclined to slag off on Catholicism (and really, we ALL could do without the negativity of slagging off on any path that works for its followers), Catholic school is where I really learned about myth. During 7th or 8th grade religion class, a priest (Father Vaughan) took the time to carefully explain the meaning of myth and metaphor in regards to holy texts and doctrines. He explained that the stories in the bible were not... Read more

The Dangers of Witchcraft

Last updated on: November 25, 2016 at 1:40 pm By Laura Tempest Zakroff

It’s been quite a fashionable topic to talk about how witchcraft is truly dangerous, and the reasons are wide and varied. Some are an emphasis on putting the “teeth” back into it, and others about venturing into and working with the realm of the Other. Working with blood, dirt, bones, urine, nails, poisonous herbs, flight, and thorns. The evening out of odds, a dark power tapped into, rings of oaths and seals, laws and deals. I get it, I really do. But... Read more

Perhaps the Answer Is In The Field of Dreams

Last updated on: November 16, 2016 at 2:57 pm By Laura Tempest Zakroff

It was the middle of the night and I was battling the onslaught of a nasty cold. The pain of a swollen throat and waves of fever and chills were overtaking most of my waking thoughts, which had been in deep contemplation about the future of the country. And at that moment, the strangest thought appeared in my head, as if from a voice out of nowhere. It said “The answer to all of this conflict is in The Field... Read more

A Power Sigil for Our Times

Last updated on: November 9, 2016 at 10:56 am By Laura Tempest Zakroff

This morning, as I put inked brush to paper, my hand trembled. I’ve been using brushes for over 35 years, and I can’t remember a time when my hand shook like this, from the emotions welling within. I could have probably used a Micron pen to offset it, but my gut said ink and brush. So much is at stake, at risk, and in danger – yet these are the times we were made for. I seek to exchange my tears... Read more

As Usual, I’m Late To The (Pop-Culture) Party

Last updated on: October 31, 2016 at 9:46 am By Laura Tempest Zakroff

I get out to the movies maybe 2 times a year. Actually, this year I think we managed to go 3 times, starting off the year seeing a special theater release of an episode of Sherlock with friends last January. At that showing, there was a preview for The Witch. After the trailer was finished, all four of us (3 graphic designers/artists + 1 musician who has been in relationships with at least two of those designers) whispered aloud in unison, “What’s up with... Read more

My Spider Butt Is Tired (a reflection on Samhain)

Last updated on: October 26, 2016 at 3:01 pm By Laura Tempest Zakroff

“You can only weave and repair the webs so much before you eventually run out of silk. Before you have to say, ‘Damn, my spider butt is tired!'” – These words came flowing out of my mouth the other day while in a discussion with one of my best friends about things. Technically, we were discussing another friend’s situation, but I definitely was relating as well. (And yes, I know the silk doesn’t exactly come out of the spider’s butt, I’m... Read more

Break, Shake, Rock, & Twist Your Path

Last updated on: October 19, 2016 at 12:25 pm By Laura Tempest Zakroff

My various worlds are often colliding in interesting ways. Sometimes they run parallel, sometime perpendicular, and sometimes they resemble overlapping EKG patterns. I just finished producing the 5th Waking Persephone Festival here in Seattle. It’s a bellydance event with the subtitle of “a different kind of dance experience” and features three dozen workshops over 3 days, 3 shows, vendors, and much more. There are a lot of things that make it different from the standard bellydance event, but one of the... Read more