Introductions
Hello everyone! I am so excited to launch my blog, where I can ramble on about all my magical musings. I wanted to begin with a little introduction to the person behind this page.
I am originally from the mountains of North Carolina and currently live in the “Oak City,” also known as Raleigh. I would describe my practice as a bit of a hodgepodge of all the things that have influenced my life. First and foremost, I consider myself a folk practitioner. Living in Appalachia for most of my life has shaped me in countless ways.
I grew up in a Christian family, as many people in Appalachia do. While I always knew mainstream Christianity was not fully the path for me, I have consistently felt connected to many of the spirits and figures within the Bible. My relationship with Mary has been especially important to me, though there are several saints I also work with regularly.
I also practice Appalachian folk magic, although my family would never call what they taught me “magic.” Much of what I learned came from my grandmother, who taught me and my cousins little practices to ward off sickness or would use different Psalms for various purposes. Plants and nature have always played a huge role in my practice as well. The mountains are, in my opinion, one of the most naturally beautiful places in the world. I often miss the sounds of nature since moving to Raleigh — the animals in the woods, streams and rivers rushing through the hollers, and the clear night skies that seem to stretch on forever.
When I moved away for college, I had the choice to stay in the mountains or seek something different. Wanting a change in scenery and culture, I decided to move away. During college, I began exploring magic and paganism and, like many others, first delved into Wicca. While I quickly realized it was not the right path for me, it opened the door to my interest in magical practice more broadly.
After several personal experiences with the goddess Freyja, I became interested in Norse and Germanic spirituality, though I have never liked boxing myself into a single label or path. I also work with many other spirits, including folk Catholic spirits, my ancestors, and spirits connected to my heritage. My family immigrated to the United States from Germany in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and I have recently been learning more about my great-grandparents’ lives and the places they came from.
I would also be remiss not to mention how growing up gay has impacted my practice. As I mentioned before, I grew up in an extremely Southern Baptist family, and my sexuality was always a point of struggle for me. I did not fully come out until I moved away for college. That struggle deeply shaped my spiritual path and my search for community, and the magical community has played a huge role in that journey. In many ways, I inherently find magic to be queer. I often work with my ancestors for healing in this regard and regularly honor LGBT+ ancestors — those who came before me and helped pave the way so I can live openly and authentically today.
To conclude this long, rambling, and slightly awkward introduction: there are many things that make up who I am and my practice today, and I am always continuing to learn, grow, and evolve. I am excited to share that journey here with all of you.
