My practise in brief

I am a witch. Over the years I’ve been in a few covens, but I have predominantly been an eclectic, solitary witch for most of my life. During my teens I explored Wicca. Nowadays I am heavily influenced by chaos magick and a spirituality of my own creation and flavour that I’m certain wouldn’t make much sense to anyone but me.

An atheopagan who works with deity?

There are a few terms which apply to me: pagan, witch, atheopagan and scientist. I draw inspiration from naturalistic paganism, pantheism and secular paganism. It might also surprise you that I actively work with deity (WTF, right?). I know this may seem contradictory, but I’m ok with that. If you really want to know more about this, buy me a coffee and let’s talk.

My craft involves working with Archetypes. My matron deities are a goddess of the night and a death goddess so, naturally, my aesthetic is influenced by the memento mori. The chaos paradigm means I don’t feel that the archetypes I convene with have to be a part of ancient pantheons. Indeed, I am also known to draw from popular culture as these characters have directly influenced who I am today. Examples include Buffy, Xena, Granny Weatherwax and Morticia Addams – The Four Queens of my craft: The Queen of Wands, Queen of Swords, Queen of Pentacles and Queen of Cups. As such they have representation on my altar.

Seeing as no existing terminology can truly define my practise, I refer to myself as a Weatherwax Witch, a term derived from the influence that Pratchett’s Granny Weatherwax has had on my craft.

How does tarot fit in?

Tarot is the epicentre of my spirituality, it permeates into almost every aspect of my craft. I use tarot in spellcraft, in ritual and as a means to commune with deity. I use tarot to explore my psyche and to receive the messages that I need (but may not necessarily want) to hear so that I can take action, manifest a fulfilling life and be a positive force in this world.

I am a tarot reader because I have observed the power of tarot first-hand and I am passionate about sharing the benefits of this amazing and powerful tool with other people.

What else is in my witch’s satchel?

In addition to tarot, other tools that I use in my craft include charm casting, scrying (most often with my black obsidian mirror, smoke, flames, water and clouds), servitors and sigil magick. I tend to explore the astral through dreams, pathworking, meditation and hedge witchery. Of course, spellcraft and ritual are essential to my practise, as well as observance of the solar and lunar cycles and celestial events.

A Laboratory Witch

As a pagan, I draw a most intense spirituality from Nature. A walk in a forest, a swim in a lake, a trip to the mountains, a reverence of the changing seasons, the creatures and critters of the earth, the sky, the stars and space… The Universe.

My deep respect of Nature inspires my career as a scientist, fuelling my natural curiosity and my desire to improve the lives of the people and creatures who inhabit this planet through knowledge.

My altar is special to me, but I’ll never feel witchier than when I’m in the laboratory… mixing “potions” and “enchanting” bacteria by cloning genes into their DNA so that they glow in ultraviolet light…

… Now that’s something!