I was raised in a fundamentalist, Pentecostal denomination. I do not remember a time before I was taught about Hell and the Rapture. I was brought up in purity culture and taught that all the sin in the world was the fault of women. Terror lived in my body. I was a precocious kid who asked a ton of questions, especially at church. I was described as rebellious and told over and over again that rebellion is the sin of witchcraft. 

At 19, while at a private bible college, I was assaulted by a security guard, and I dared to do something about it - I was later asked (not so nicely) to leave.

At 32, I had two kids and realized I didn’t want them to endure the same trauma I did as a result of religion. I knew in my gut that there had to be a better way to raise my babies.

At 40, I went to seminary.

At 43, I was diagnosed with Complex PTSD and an autoimmune disease.

At 45, I became an ordained pastor in the ELCA. I was trying so hard to make it all work.

At 51, I bought my first tarot deck in East Tennessee at a witchy store that was part occult shop, part prepper store, and part tiki party supply, and secretly started calling myself a witch.

My entire life, I had been trying to find my place in this system, contorting myself to fit into a system that did not want to make room for me.

At 54, I finished my PhD.

Now, I'm bored with the old stories of skydaddies, Edenic myths, and certain apocalyptic futures.

If any of this sounds remotely familiar to you, even if you aren’t sure what you think about witchcraft or calling yourself a witch, THERE IS SPACE FOR YOU AROUND THIS CAULDRON!