My "craft" has changed dramatically over years of journeying on my own spiritual path and magickal life. Like my photography... my spirituality has become my own art. A place outside time and space where history, fantasy and reality collide.

PAGANISM PAST

1 9 8 5
Once upon a time I was a newbie to paganism. I had just discovered witchcraft (or what I now know to be Traditional Wicca) and began quite literally practicing by the book. I was new and naive, but was happily studying all this new found kindred information and making magick. I started working with divination (tarot, runes, scrying). I began studying the power of stones and herbs in detail. I even started making my own incense and bath salts. My beloved Boo was learning right along beside me.

1 9 8 6
This euphoria did not last. I started to find contradictions in the few books available of the time. I went on a quest to locate which was "correct" and learned there is no right or wrong, only opinions and traditions. I came to the realization even though several ways were a close match, they were still incomplete or conflicting with my beliefs in other areas. I respect the pagan elders that have come before me, but I had to find my own path. I branched out studying other pagan traditions, as well as various religions systems and cultures of the world. I researched a LOT, but I practiced very little. I began to incorporate what rang true for me from reading and reference - and discarded the rest.

1 9 8 7 - 1 9 9 6
I completely put down the books and began to experiment with various traditions and practices. I experimented with many different spells and rituals, trying different ways and worked extensively with various tools. I began meditating, trance dancing, and working with elementals and totems. For the most part, I was still solitary, but I did kitchen witch oriented spells and enchanted gardening with my close friend Dianne Agee (and I witnessed Di channeling on several occasions). I started making my own candles.

1 9 9 7 - 1 9 9 9
I began yoga and shielding, and exploring martial arts. I wrote and lead a Crossing ritual for my friend Richard Lim's father when he passed to The Summerland. I took classes and received a bachelor's degree of Wicca and Religious Science. I paid far too much money to learn someone's way, especially when I ended up largely disagreeing with the teachings. I participated in a series of small group holiday rituals. We affectionately referred to the group as the Coven of Seasons, as we met to celebrate (most of) the sabbats. These were written and lead by my close friend (who I consider to be my Priestess) Nicole Gilbert. During the first of these gatherings, I discovered I had switched the standard North-Earth for North-Air in my personal practice. I observed a few public group rituals and attended some pagan social functions.

1 9 9 9 - 2 0 0 1
We bought a house and I set up a dedicated temple space. I wrote and lead elaborate prosperity, protected pregnancy, healing and seasonal rituals for a small group of close friends. These were designed specifically for this specific group all newer to paganism, to teach them, but also to try different things. My close friend Alexandria Olivet lead one of my group rituals while I observed. I wrote (and shared with Dianne Agee) a five day elemental sabbatical, each day focusing on one of the five elements. I started researching all kinds of healing information and practices. It was around the end of this time my computer crashed. The ONLY backup that was corrupt was my entire body of pagan writing and works (hmmm, a sign?). I began to completely reevaluate my beliefs, quite literally from a blank slate, and decided to return to solitary practice.

2 0 0 2 - 2 0 0 4
I started using organic ritual supplies exclusively. I was mortified to discover MOST pagan owned and operated establishment's products were filled with synthetic ingredients (petroleum products in particular)! Out of frustration with the lack of organic ritual supplies and body products, Marsha Sorce and I co-founded Urbane Apothecary Shoppe, 100% Chemical and Cruelty Free! I spent much of this time formulating and experimenting with recipes and researching herbs, essential oils (and their toxic counterparts). I no longer "cleansed" items from nature: salt, water, etc. as they are of our Mother Earth and already pure. I lost my beloved Boo in 2003, and Ronin shared my magick.

2 0 0 4
I stepped down as partner of Urbane Apothecary Shoppe December 31, 2004 (to re-focus my energy back on my photography). I changed my four elemental altars, to four seasonal altars, which better reflected the largest part of my pagan practice. I observed the eight Celtic Holidays, but I celebrated four seasons with activities and elaborate decorations. I no longer called the corners or cast a circle, but the elements were still the foundation of my practice. I used masculine, feminine and elemental energies in balance. I used a whole system of 'tweens. Music was an integral part of my rites. Healing magick had become the second largest focus of my magick (four seasons being the first). I practiced conservation magick on a regular basis.