It is my pleasure to announce that my first book, Elemental Witchcraft: A Guide to Living A Magickal Life through the Elements is due to be released Dec. 8, 2021 through Llewellyn Publishing. This is planned as the first of three books in The Pentacle Path series, which introduces my applied system of Hermetic Witchcraft, mapped to the Wheel of the Year. The Pre-order listing on Amazon is included below.
This moment is long overdue, so thank you for your patience with me. I first announced that I’d signed a contract (for an entirely different subject) back on summer solstice of 2018. I look back at the innocence and expectation of that former self the way I see the opening scenes of The Fellowship of the Ring. You remember back then, when our intrepid Hobbits had no idea where that journey would ultimately take then, nor what sacrifices would be required to “save the shire.”
Crafting a book manuscript has been the most challenging task yet asked of me in this lifetime. That would be why I haven’t been posting as many blogs this year. Or, I could blame the distractions from existential freak-outs, wicked imposter syndrome resulting in obsessive research down deep rabbit holes of occult weirdness, and the hermitage that required. It’s been trippy meta, y’all. My acquisitions editor at Llewellyn, Heather Greene, has been a gracious, and compassionate midwife through this troublesome birthing process.
Witchcraft Author Goals
Authors I know advised me to write the book I wish I’d had when I started my own initiatory witchcraft journey. I started in the wayback times before the internet, when all I had were the books you could find at physical bookstores in town. In the American Bible Belt, those were limited. In a way, the writing process became a conversation with my younger self, as well as all the potential witches who may ever pick up an old copy of this book in the future. I feel like I’ve been time traveling, which is my clairvoyant specialty, after-all. By reaching out through the ether of imagination and time, the Word Document become a portal of connection. I tried to remain fully present, as though I’m riding shotgun with future seekers as they navigate their own Pentacle Path of Modern Witchcraft. Not the pilot, just a navigator presenting a map.
More than any other goal, I wanted to speak directly to these future witches in the same personal way I’d teach the seekers in my coven classroom over the last 11 years. I had to cover the “beginner” stuff, but then I wanted to dive deeply into the why and how of this practice, offering the Hermetic philosophy, Astrological mechanics and spell-casting applications of this magick.
I wanted my “author voice” to reinforce that we are all One within God/dess, perfectly whole and accepted in our kaleidoscope of individuality. All our experiences of enchantment are valid, no matter what meat-suit we’re wearing, how we love, where we originate, how divinity presents to us, or what new technologies the future world may employ. The message is that Divine Love of the God/dess is everything, and we are never forsaken. Once we remember this cosmic truth, we can live accordingly and enjoy a healthy life in balance and effectiveness.
This book, more than anything else, laid the cooperative tools of the Great God/dess upon the altar of the witchery, in hopes more of us will choose to use those ethical tools to better ourselves and the world. I have Wiccan author Timothy Roderick to thank for discovering those “widdershins” tools originally, and I’m thrilled that he’s agreed to write a forward to introduce my book.
The Crucible of Witchcraft Authorship
Writing an instruction manual for witchcraft is strange business. Using only the sigils of English letters, bound into words, conjured into incantations, sorted into tables and sketched in the margins. In this language cauldron we* boiled down the poison of the patriarchal, dominator society, until an antidote of witching cooperation coalesced. *Yes, we. Either I’ve gone lunatic, or it was actually Aphrodite, Hermes and my other guides with me in the ethers, sussing these mysteries out. It felt like a group collaboration, anyway.
To generate this magick, I had to experience each of the elemental paths again, fresh as a new babe, cast out into the dark wilds of this screwed up society. While I wrote, the world was burning, ravaged by illness, fear was rampant, mental health was crashing, conspiracy theories brainwashed our friends and even a few new age luminaries! The forces of fascism rose, and insurrections raged in the streets, at the capital… Meanwhile, I performed each elemental ritual, was guided through each meditative journey to realms of earth, air, fire and water to affirm my own connections there. I performed each spell anew as I wrote them. If not literally, always within the astral temple I’ve been building in welcome for future readers. This temple is conjured and awaiting, I tend the sacred fires to light your way there, should you choose to make the journey with me someday.
The magick of witchcraft authorship is a personal crucible, and I did not much enjoy it. Nope. Enjoy is not a word I’d use for this book-writing work. Edifying? Gratifying? Yes! But not fun. Forward escape was the only way for me to survive it! Through the forge fires of Spirit, my base form melted down to flow with raw emotion. My mind was blown by the divine bellows on the regular. Highest Divine Will had to deliver a few spankings to get me back onto the rails. As always, I am remolded into new form in the end. Such is the Great Work of Magick!
With any metaphysical book, I think it is fair to critically ask: Is this snake oil they’re selling? Or is this one author’s magickal greal? A potion of relative truths, offered honestly, hopefully, and left for the seeker of wisdom to stir on their own, and sip as they will? For my part, I put my whole squishy heart, and everything I think I know, and all my 20 years of witching experience into this brew. I admit it can be bitter, or salty, or spicy, but hopefully it is also balanced with sweetness, sustenance. On a good day, I hope it’s euphoric and intoxicating. May it be received with the same sincere love with which I offer it. The early reviews are encouraging!
Early reviews!
The Amazon listing gives this synopsis:
“Elemental Witchcraft shares a wholly unique esoteric approach to developing partnerships with elemental allies and deities and ultimately merging with the Divine Mind. Author Heron Michelle provides dozens of rituals, meditations, spells, and journal reflections as you explore the magick of the four classical elements―earth, air, fire, and water―as well as the principles of Hermeticism. On this journey, you will discover how the chakras and the magickal pentacle correspond to the five bodies: mental, emotional, will, physical, and spiritual. You will also explore how the astrological cycles and the wheel of the year relate to the elements and the witch’s tools as well as to the paths of power, truth, love, sovereignty, and completion. Opening the elemental gateways and developing relationship with the goddesses and gods can be profoundly transformative work―this book guides you through this subtle path as you learn to balance the magickal elements and construct your own astral temples at the crossroads of the Self.”
“Elemental Witchcraft goes way beyond the basics of ‘how to’ books on Witchcraft. It is an erudite book that provides for experienced practitioners new ideas and insights to deepen their practice and teaching and which for newcomers offers a vision of how contemporary witchcraft can provide a path to deep spiritual transformation.”
“‘The Pentacle Path of Elemental Witchcraft: Living a Magickal Life through the Elements’ is an incredible work dedicated to training new witches, but stands among those books who can deepen a spiritual practice for any practitioner regardless of their length of study. This examination of the full path of a witch is rooted in the rich history of our forebears, while being present in our current world. It presents the why associated with magical practices, and that is foundational for learning. Seeing the teachings as gender neutral is vital, and avoids the leaving anyone out. The information also expresses the need for modern tools. This year-long study can be repeated for years to come, creating a deeper connection with the God/dess and ourselves. Those longing for deeper experience than many 101 level books, will find it here. Heron’s background as a shop owner gives her an incredible gift of insight into the mind of the seeker and presents that information before the reader realizes they need it. Very intuitive. A gift of service to the community.”
Release date December 8, 2021. Pre-order now available!
Click the image below, or here, to see the listing on Amazon and pre-order your copy!
For those who’ve asked, I will figure out a way to offer signed copies directly through my own shop, The Sojourner, and announce when that is available. Until then, thanks for all your support over the years! Please share the links on your social media, and leave reviews on bookselling sites, as this helps authors to promote their work. Hopefully, we’ll be able to gather for book signings, conferences and festivals again in 2022 and I’d be happy to speak on this subject in person!
~Heron Michelle
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