Swedish Candle Magic Spell Kits by Needfire Wellness and Apothecary

May 17, 2020 By Julia Penelope

I recently had the opportunity to try out one of the new spell kits handcrafted by Swedish-American folk magician Minta Karlsson of Needfire Wellness and Apothecary. Each candle spell kit is assembled with intention by Karlsson, who studied Nordic folk magic with Kari Tauring and is a current student of Swedish folk magician Johannes Björn Gårdbäck. At the moment, four different types of candle kits are available: Love, Protection, Luck, and Unblock the Path. I tried out the spell kit... Read more

Defying Museum Fatigue: 6 Tips to Keep You Going

February 21, 2020 By Julia Penelope

Ever wondered why you feel so exhausted after visiting a museum? You’d think that as a Pagan and a Witch, I’d be able to conserve my energy and stay full of light, protected from outside influences, but, if you’re anything like me, after being inside a museum for an hour or so, my feet start to drag and I find myself questioning whether this was really the best use of my free time. Intellectually, I find art and history appreciation... Read more

what is remembered lives: grappling with loss in the midst of the white island tragedy

December 11, 2019 By Julia Penelope

As I write this, I am struggling to understand how my beautiful friend Hayden Marshall-Inman could have been taken from the world so soon. Hayden was one of the victims who was killed in the volcanic explosion on Whakaari/ White Island in New Zealand this past week. I knew Hayden for over ten years and was lucky enough to count him among my friends. I want the world to know what a special person he was so I’d like to... Read more

Life Update: The Wandering Witch

November 17, 2019 By Julia Penelope

As some of you may have noticed, I’ve taken a step back from writing and social media lately. I wanted to let you know why. For the past six months, I have been applying to graduate school! I almost finished with this grueling process but it has been exhausting and overwhelming. I applied to 6 schools and 2 fellowships. I will also be graduating (finally!!) with my undergrad degree this coming May. I am hoping to study in either Ireland... Read more

An American Witch in China

July 28, 2019 By Julia Penelope

Just this past week I arrived home from a two-week trip to China. The whole experience was challenging but extremely rewarding. I went as part of a 3-credit study abroad with my school through the Confucius Institute (yes- the one that has gotten all the heat recently). While I certainly have some issues with China, overall the trip was wonderful and I really enjoyed immersing myself in a culture that is so different from my own. While I was in... Read more

Of Down East: A Film About the Wandering Witch

May 10, 2019 By Julia Penelope

I was recently the subject of a film made for the Salt Institute’s Documentary Film Program by Adreanna Rodriguez . I met Adreanna through a friend and we immediately hit it off. She somehow thought I was interesting enough to be the subject of her final project! You can check it out below: Read more

An Ode to Notre-Dame de Paris

April 16, 2019 By Julia Penelope

I mourned yesterday, much like the rest of the world, for the damage done to Notre-Dame de Paris by a horrific fire. She has occupied a special place in my heart since I first saw her back in 2011. I sat along the banks of the Seine for hours, taking refuge from the heat in her great shadow. Since then, I can’t count how many times I’ve enjoyed her sanctuary. . My friend and I used to walk right up... Read more

7 More Reasons to Stop Using the Word “Shaman”

March 26, 2019 By Julia Penelope

Following the post “6 Reasons to Stop Using the Word Shaman,” I decided to clarify some of the more controversial points of contention and add some fuel to this fiery but important discussion. I would also like to reiterate that I am not referencing the use of the word by indigenous people who identify themselves as shamans. Rather, I am targeting its use within the new age/pagan/witchcraft and academic communities of the Western traditions. Additionally, I am well aware that... Read more

6 Reasons To Stop Using the Word “Shaman”

March 11, 2019 By Julia Penelope

One of my biggest pet peeves is when people use the word shaman out of context. I see it as a huge problem within the pagan, witchcraft, and New Age communities as well as within academia for many reasons. Here is a list of six general problems that I have with how it's used and why. Read more

Review: Witchbody by Sabrina Scott

March 4, 2019 By Julia Penelope

What do you call someone who shows you that you don’t have to look elsewhere for magic? You call them a witch. -Timothy Morton Witchbody by Sabrina Scott, published by Red Wheel Weiser, was released this week. I don’t really have the words to explain how this book made me feel. I’ve read it three times in the past 2 weeks since I picked up a copy at Pantheacon. Scott manages to capture on words thoughts that I’ve had, things... Read more