That Witch Life

What day is it…lunch? As your favorite Witches navigate loss, grief, and more social isolation, we are delighted to welcome Laura Tempest Zakroff, who shows us how to use sigils Magick, and how they can be especially helpful during the pandemic. She also introduces us to our new favorite catch-phrase, “Stop doing Magickal triage!” We answer listener questions (“What is an analytical Witch to do?” “Does an accurate psychic have religious bias?”) and discuss the cause we are supporting right now. Digressions include Rhode Island vampires, secret passageways, and century-old letters from a lovestruck girl named Velma.

Laura Tempest Zakroff is a professional artist, author, dancer, designer, and Modern Traditional Witch. She is the author of the best-selling books Weave the Liminal and Sigil Witchery, as well as The Witch’s Cauldron, and the co-author of The Witch’s Altar. Laura blogs for Patheos and Witches & Pagans, contributes to The Witches’ Almanac, Ltd, and edited The New Aradia: A Witch’s Handbook to Magical Resistance. Her first oracle deck, The Liminal Spirits Oracle, will be available in Spring 2020. Visit her at www.LauraTempestZakroff.com.

“A Modern Traditional Witch” Blog

You have your candles, your stones, Tarot cards and herbs…have you added a bit of scent to your spells as well? Carla Gaskins-Nathan joins us to talk about aromatherapy; what it is and how scent strengthens Magick. Meanwhile, we’re all still trying to stay calm as we social distance, and Carla gives us a peek into being a healer in the current pandemic epicenter. Digressions include Cadbury Creme Eggs, mermaid face masks, tiara shopping and what we’re NOT doing with our Witchcraft right now (but should be). Also, what should Kanani watch??? Tell us!

Carla Gaskins-Nathan is the founder and CEO of Zelah LLC and Rooted Bodywork, her private massage practice. Carla works as an individual and organizational wellness consultant, educator, and practitioner of healing arts. As a solo practitioner, Carla is working on remembering and reclaiming the practices of her ancestors, going where spirit takes them and embracing community where love is found. They believe that “through caring for ourselves we are able to fully engage with our life, work and communities.” Carla focuses her work on LGBTQ communities of color yet opens her practice to all that see the importance of holistic wellness. Carla is a lecturer and writer, and has been featured in various podcasts, conferences, and magazine articles. IG @rootedbodywork, www.Rootedbodywork.com, www.carlanathan.com.

Holistic Aromatherapy by Marc J Gian

Herbs, spells and stones–none of these prevent COVID-19, but Najah Lightfoot joins us to share ways to ground, center, and shield us from the heavy energy of this challenging time. We discuss the benefit of toning down our news intake, cleansing practices (especially for medical or other essential workers), television and movies we’ve been using to distract ourselves, including a widely-beloved movie that Kanani announces she hates. Hilary lists another cause to help support communities during this time. Are you a Witch who is also an artist, musician, or owns a small business? Let us know so we can promote your work!

Najah Lightfoot is an initiated member of La Source Ancienne Ounfo, a private Vodou society in New Orleans, Louisiana, a sister-priestess of the Divine Feminine, and an active member of the Denver Pagan Community. She keeps her magick strong through the practice of Kung Fu, the folk magick of Hoodoo, Pagan rituals and her belief in the Mysteries of the Universe. She finds inspiration in movies, music, and the blue skies of Colorado. Najah Lightfoot is also a regular contributing author to the Llewellyn Almanac series. Find her online at Twitter, Facebook and Instagram:@najahlightfoot.

Our first interview with Najah (September, 2019)

The Tiger King

Today, we discuss COPING. Your favorite Witches share how they are each getting through the shelter-in-place orders and the uncertainty of the moment. Special guest Mat Auryn returns to lead us in a discussion on living in the times of The Tower and the Star from the Tarot, and offers tips for meditating during this trying time. Also, will Britney Spears save us all??? Are you an artist or musician? Send us the links of where people can buy your stuff! What craft projects have you done since this whole thing began? Email us and tell us about it!

Mat Auryn is a witch, professional psychic, and occult teacher throughout the New

Metaphysical Stores taking online and/or phone orders:

Witchkin Artists, Artisans, and Online Shops

We’re social distancing! What is a Witch to do during quarantine? We’ve got a whole list of online courses, books, and other resources to keep you company while you hide out at home. Digressions include 90’s true crime, Hilary’s not-quite-panic-buying Magick supplies, Kanani being forced to home-school, and the time Courtney auditioned for reality tv.

Online Witchcraft Resources:

Books:

Happy Spring! This season offers incredible opportunities for new beginnings, including new prosperity! We are joined by Queen Mother Imakhu who helps us explore money Magick. We also explore the power of retrogrades, the importance of Ancestor work in Witchcraft…and how not all of your Ancestors belong on your altar. Kanani reviews The Good Witch and reflects on the Ostara myth. Other digressions include Leap Year babies and weddings, the irritating bygone age of pagers, and banishing remote evil spirits from the storage closet of a Baskin Robbins. Do you love us? Don’t forget to rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice!

Rev. Dr. Queen Mother Imakhu Mu Neferet is a cultural educator, scholar, motivational speaker, Khametic elder high priestess and queen mother, initiated water priestess, water priestess, storyteller, poet, writer, vocalist, musician, dancer, yogini, artist, arts administrator, filmmaker, and multimedia producer. Dedicated to cultural preservation, cultural reclamation, and creating uplifting, truthful media for Black & Brown people, she is founder/director of AKERU MultiMedia, and UHEMU Black & Brown Storytellers. Former columnist for FIRST WORLD NEWS African American Newspaper Newspaper. Host/producer of ASHE! radio and TV shows. Founder/director of The Zawadi Collective performance ensemble. Founder of AKERU NuAfrakan Network. She is also co-founder of Newark Latino Film Festival and Newark Latino Artist Collective. Queen Mother Imakhu is founder/director and chief instructor of SHENU Art & Yoga Sanctuary (Khametic Temple). Creator of the Drums of Compassion drumming and dance program, which she has taught throughout the U.S. to children and adults since the late 90’s. Queen Mother Imakhu has taught African Arts Education for Philadelphia’s Point Breeze Performing Arts Center, Boys & Girls Club of Trenton, The Garvey Charter School of Trenton, City of Trenton, NYC Department of Juvenile Justice on behalf of Afrikan Poetry Theatre of Queens, Newark’s Ironbound Community Corporation, Montclair State University, and Orange, NJ Board of Education. Queen Mother was recently Yoga instructor for City of Newark Recreation Department; executive director and co-founder of the Newark Latino Film Festival. Queen Mother’s most recent film project, “I’ve Got a Vision,” produced for fellow filmmaker Nancy Vazquez, was highlighted by director Ava DuVernay on February 2019’s special online edition of TIME Magazine. A respected poet and writer, Queen Mother Imakhu has emceed spoken word events in Philadelphia, PA and Newark, NJ. Queen Mother is founder of AKERU MultiMedia, and Uhemu Black & Brown Storytellers of NJ. Queen Mother Imakhu’s newest compilation downloadable music/spoken word CD,“The Very Best So Far,” was released on December 19, 2019. Her new documentary series, “The Wisdom Keepers,” begins production in 2020. Her new one woman stage show, “The Water Brought Me Here,” begins touring in 2020, and is booking for schools, theaters, and events. Spiritually, Queen Mother Imakhu was initiated as an ankh carrying high priestess and queen mother through the Shrine of Khpra in Brooklyn, NY. She is an ordained interfaith minister, and is a member of the Newark Interfaith Clergy Alliance. She was also active in NYC Auburn Seminary. She is immortalized as Queen of Cups in the Tarot of the Boroughs contemporary photographic deck. As a Khametic scholar, her research connecting European Elder Futhark Runes to Nile Valley origins, has been considered ground breaking. Her newest book, KHESU DUAU MENI: Khametic Daily Prayers & Rituals, was released in late November 2019. While teaching the importance of maintaining cultural traditions, Queen Mother Imakhu is constantly breaking new ground by redefining practical new applications for today’s world. Queen Mother Imakhu’s proud family lineage includes her maternal ancestor, Billy Artis, who fought in the Nat Turner Uprising, her father, the late Tommie J. Lloyd, first African American American accepted into the New Jersey Tool & Die Association, former South Carolinian Congressman George Washington Murray, former enslaved African who was the only African American Congressman serving during the 53rd and 54th congresses. Queen Mother Imakhu has been celebrating Kwanzaa since 1989. The Nguzo Saba helped to deepen the Black Consciousness she was raised in, and provided a strong framework to raise her children with. She stands by the foundations that have shaped her, and that she proudly shares with community. She has also recently formed the SHENU Harmonious Living Institute.

That Witch Life Etsy Store

Incense and smoke is more than ambiance. It actually makes Magick happen! Amy Blackthorn, author of the recently released Sacred Smoke talks with us about how to enhance your Magick through the use of smoke. Courtney and Hilary share the results of spells they recently cast (one for success, one to reveal enemies), and Kanani’s kids review a children’s show panned by conservative media (“Step aside, Cinderella!”).

Audio Transcript HERE.

In honor of Valentine’s Day, it’s our annual episode talking all about LOVE SPELLS! We talk about the transits for February, and what kind of love, friendship, or other relationship Magick you’ll want to do OR avoid. Love Magick expert and Youtuber Queen Auset-Heru joins us to share hilarious stories of love spells gone wrong…and right! She talks us through her process of casting a love spell, and explores the role of releasing, forgiveness, and blockage removal in successful love Magick. Plus, spell suggestions, the oracle card for February, Kanani’s review of “Bell Book and Candle,” Courtney’s complete unraveling, and Hilary’s vain attempt to hold the episode together.

It’s been a whole, glorious year talking Witchcraft with you all! This episode was recorded live at The Raven’s Wing metaphysical store in Portland, OR. Although we had a couple of technical issues (please excuse the glitch around the end of the first hour), we have so many wonderful things to share today. Special guest Iris Meredith Bell talks about the best ingredients to keep in your Witch’s cabinet, and gives us an exclusive look into the world of a Witch shop owner…including some of the stranger requests she’s received. We talk about the shift from Capricorn to Aquarius and the upcoming New Moon on January 24th and the best Magick to make with it (hint: Great for business, NOT great for love!). We also discuss ethical sourcing in Witchcraft and answer some excellent questions from listeners! Plus, Kanani reviews Bram Stoker’s Dracula and we pull the winner of our Instagram giveaway! To have your questions answered on a future episode, email us at [email protected]. Video (including ASL interpretation) can be found on our IG account, and our Facebook account (FB video does not include ASL).