WISE WOMAN WITCHERY

The leaves rattle in the wind... Fierce and loud, then slower and quiet until they find stillness for a heartbeat or a breath, only to awaken again. The air blowing past my face is fresh and cool. My hair dancing among the breezes, curling and tangling. The scent of dry sweet grasses fills my body with knowing.
This is the harvest. This is the lengthening of nights and the time when the desire to move inward grows strong.

Here amongst the gusts and the scents of autumn I circle with the women I have called my family for 16 years. Our intimacy is one that transcends that of typical friendships. For not only are our friendships long and the stories of our lives etched into that which lies between us, but our energies have been interwoven, time and time again. We have cast countless circles and called upon the elements and directions so many times that there is deep ease when we do it here in this moment.

It has been months since we have gathered without a screen and miles between us. Yet even here, in our distanced circle with cloth covering our faces as we ground ourselves and cast our circle, as our energies begin the familiar weaving that is the tapestry of us, I feel the power of a shared history of magic emerge.
I feel like I have come home.
Wise Women, this moment I write about brought me to tears. Tears of gratitude to see these amazing women, and to circle together. Tears of grief for the months we have been apart. And tears that came because of the profound love I have for each of these fabulous humans.

In my time in Circle I have learned so much from both the women who have come and gone and those that have arrived and stayed with steadfastness.

There is wisdom and power in community, and within community we are offered gifts not just from others but also from ourselves. In relationship we are asked to look more closely within and explore the bright and shadowy bits that come to the surface.

In Circle we are also asked to bring our magic to the center and allow it to connect and meld with the magic of others.

I want this for all of you!
Although we can not gather in person, we can use the tools of the internet to gather virtually and create community among the neuro-networks of what we once called the world wide web.

The Wise Woman Witchery Diving Deeper Community has launched! This is a space that will foster community, offer weekly live chats and sometimes interviews with other wise witchy women, Full and New Moon ceremonies and you will get access to all online conferences hosted by Wise Woman Witchery. This monthly membership is guaranteed to bring more magic into your day to day and add a few more pages to your Book of Shadows.

Ready to step into the Circle?
Join The Wise Woman Witchery Diving Deeper community today!

The world around me has been burning. Here in Northern California the land has come alive in flame and destruction. The lightning storm that was so full of energy last week ignited a series of wildfires across the state and here in my home county we have been surrounded by smoke. This is the third huge fire our county has experienced in the last four years and it has been both terrifying and humbling to endure.
In the midst of the fires the Mystical Creatures conference occurred during which Rosemary Lloyd Freeman gave a presentation on the medicine and power of the Phoenix. This was such poignant time to connect with this Mythical Fire Bird. The reminder that everything cycles, that even from the ash, growth is reborn. This of course applies to our life experiences as well as the literal cycle of the seasons, the moon, the tides, and even the fires.

At the time of this writing the fire closest to me is beginning to find some containment. When fires burn they usually do so exponentially at first, exploding in so many different directions driven by fuel or wind or both. But then without wind to drive them forward and most of the fuel eaten up, they burn around the perimeter inching forward until they have nothing left to consume. When the earth is left untended or prevented from her natural burn cycle, fuel sources grow and expand to unhealthy degrees, creating space for more intense destruction.
In my own magical practices I work often and deeply with all the elements. This week as I held fire in my heart I found myself discovering questions within the flames. I share these with you here, Wise Women, along with a simple fire ritual to invite you to explore the ways you might work with fire in your own life.

Journal Prompts-
What areas of your life are overgrown or out of balance?

What steps can you take to “thin” or balance these areas?

What in your life feels like it is burning down in this moment?

How do you tend to the “flames” that arise whether in relationships, foundations (like home or work), or in your emotional arousal?

Have you experienced a “burning down” or “falling apart” during your lifetime? If yes, how did things regrow?

What tools do you have to “slow the burn” when fires flare up in your life?

Fire is powerful, and when we work in tandem with it, it can be a tool for transformation.

Simple ritual- Create your intention by asking yourself the question “What in my life am I ready to transform?”
Create your sacred space in whatever way you do this.
Use a piece of paper that is natural (no dyes or metallics) and a pencil and write down what it is that you are ready to transform.

Holding this paper in your hand you can say something like “By the power of the mighty Fire I surrender this with the desire, that it will be transformed by flame, into ash to grow again.”
Using a fire safe dish (preferably outdoors), light the paper and let it burn down. When it is cool, add this ash as fertilizer for a potted plant or in your garden, completing the cycle of transformation.

If you find yourself curious about the Phoenix (and other mystical creatures), the complete conference can be found via replays in my school site under Mystical Creatures.

Emily Morrison MA, MFT

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