Awakening the Wild Witch update

Hello my lovelies,

I have exciting news. I've just spoken with a prominent UK publisher who is very very interested in my new real magic book project, Awakening the Wild Witch. She even loves the cover! Nothing is set in stone yet, but I told her she'd better move fast if she wants to make an offer to be the publisher for this book as I'd been planning to publish it this year using my usual publication methods. If I sign a publishing deal for this book, it will likely take a bit longer, but I'll hopefully still be able to share parts of it with you, my wonderful supporters, along the way. The benefit of the extra time will be additional attention to detail, editing, design and hopefully even some illustrations...

I've said I wouldn't be happy for publication to take a year or more because can't wait that long to share this book with you all in its entirity, but if it can be done in under a year, I think it just might be worthwhile, especially in order to get the book into bookshops in a beautiful form that people can keep and hold "almost like a talisman" - those were the actual words of the publisher I spoke to which is how I know she's a splendid fit for the book!

In the meantime, I'm happy to share an early draft of the introduction. Let me know what you think.

Blessed be xx

Welcome

“The magic is in the wild, and it is also inside us. We are the wilds, and we are the hearth. Come along, won't you? All the world is waiting, and you are waiting too, and there is so much joy, and power, and there is so much work to be done. Let's get to work.”

― Alice Tarbuck, A Spell in the Wild: A Year (and Six Centuries) of Magic

“The doors to the world of the wild Self are few but precious. If you have a deep scar, that is a door, if you have an old, old story, that is a door. If you love the sky and the water so much you almost cannot bear it, that is a door. If you yearn for a deeper life, a full life, a sane life, that is a door.”

― Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Women Who Run With the Wolves

Welcome to a new step in your journey. I believe it’s no accident that you’ve picked up this invitation to go deeper into your own wild magic – to awaken to your own power. The reason I believe this is because I’ve always found books at the right time – just when I absolutely needed to read them, and my reason for writing this book is for it to find you in exactly the right time – to share what I’ve spent decades learning about in my own wild magic.

This book is for you if you’re ready for change, ready for a deeper perspective, ready to delve into your own alchemy and transform the inner and outer levels of your life. I’ve written this book with both the beginning seeker and the accomplished magical sage in mind.

If you’re like me, and have been seeking out magic and deeper understandings all your life, then my wish is that you find your own understanding reflected here, and open up to new depths within – because there are always new depths.

You may not always agree with me, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

My philosophy is to always question, because you never know how true something is, until you fully consider the possibility that it isn’t true at all. However, if you find aspects challenging, if they snag against you like twigs and branches on a winding forest path, then I do suggest you make the most out of the dissonant feeling. I’ve always found that if something is offending or challenging me emotionally, I will get far more from the situation if I delve deeply within to find the source of that emotion. Often there’s are hidden jewels for me to find, old emotions to release and new healing to experience beneath all the resistance.

If you’re at the beginning or early stages of your magical journey, this book is also written with you in mind. At times, stepping further along the path of magic can be daunting, and you may have doubts or fears about what lies ahead. These feelings are natural and that you are not alone in this journey.

As you turn these pages, you may find yourself drawn into a world where the veil between the seen and unseen grows thin, where the whispers of the ancestors mingle with the rustling of leaves in the wind. Like the ancient oak tree, with its roots reaching deep into the earth and its branches stretching towards the wide open sky, this book aims to help you bridge the realms of the mundane and the magical, to find the extraordinary in the ordinary.

If you're reading this book, chances are you've already had some inkling that there's more to reality than meets the eye. Maybe you've experienced synchronicities that seemed too perfect to be mere coincidence. Maybe you've had vivid dreams that later came true. Or maybe you've just always felt a little bit different, a little bit more attuned to the whispers of the universe. Quite possibly, you already know quite a lot about magic and have been studying it and practicing it for years.

Whether you’re a beginner setting out on your first magical quest, or an adept witch with loads of experience, this book is for you provided you come to the work with an openness.

Who isn’t this book for?

At the core of what I call “the magical worldview” is a deep sense of purpose that was absent from my own upbringing yet which I always craved and sought out for myself. It's the idea that we came here for a reason, that our lives mean something. If you're not on board with that, and you’re not interested in deep transformation this is not the book for you.

I’ve created this book for people who are interested in exploring and understanding magic as I understand it, based on my many years of learning and practice. Of course, this book will not be everyone’s cup of tea. I'm a very odd person in some ways, and I’m okay with that. My rather random magical and spiritual journey has always been my core driving force. It’s part of my "why" - my sense of purpose in life.

If you associate witchcraft with the satanic, I’m afraid I have some bad news for you: most witches do not in fact believe in Satan belongs to Abrahamic religions and is primarily a Christian deity. Therefore, it makes sense that most witches, being Pagan rather than Christian, and therefore being more interested in pre-Christian traditions, do not spare the Christian Devil, or devils in general, a second thought.

If this book doesn’t feel right for you right now in your life, feel free to put it down and find something that resonates better. You may find you come back to it in later years, or you may not, but either way, I wish you nothing but wonderful blessings on your path.

There is no one right way when it comes to magic and there is always more to learn.

My approach to magic is rooted in understanding it as deeply personal and intuitive practice, interconnected with nature, one that requires us to trust our inner wisdom and embrace our unique strengths and challenges. Throughout this book, I'll share the techniques and insights that have been most transformative in my own journey, while encouraging you to adapt them to your own needs and experiences.

I'm here to learn, to teach, to discover, and to transform through the many layers of experience. I'm here to deepen my wisdom and share it through my imagination. And there's nothing I love doing more than I love writing. If you’ve read my novels, you may have noticed that almost everything I've written has the same underlying theme beneath the fantastical adventures: to teach, to share, to go through a process of deep transformation myself and to share that process with others.

Becoming more fully yourself.

Being a witch is not about becoming someone else, it's about becoming more fully yourself. This journey of magical awakening is about becoming more deeply yourself It is not about escaping reality, but about embracing it fully. It’s about learning to see the world through eyes of wonder and enchantment. It's about realising more and more that we are all connected, that we are all part of the great web of life, and that every action we take, every thought we think, every word we speak, ripples out into the universe, creating change on both seen and unseen levels.

It is my understanding that connecting with our intuition and stepping deeper into our magic has wider effects which ripple out into the collective, creating a world that is more compassionate, just, and beautiful. As we each awaken to our own magic and begin to live in alignment with our deeper purpose, we contribute to the healing and transformation of society and the planet.

It is my understanding that almost all magic is happening by accident, that is: we are already wildly magical being, we just aren’t usually fully aware of this. For instance, when you read a book, your mind is imagining all kinds of things that didn’t previously exist, you're engaging your own unique perspective with the imagination of the author. Because of this, your experience of my books will be different from anyone else's. You'll relate to different things, laugh at different parts. Your experience in every moment is utterly unique.

Where does magic come from?

Many magical and spiritual traditions teach that we came from the divine spark of the universe, born into this realm of forgetting. When we come into this world as innocent babies, we forget everything we knew before. Why would we do this? This is part of the great mystery of life, however many sages teach that it is a part of the journey into deeper wisdom, so that we could have an experience of being separate, experience the paradox of this aching disconnection, and deepen our awareness in order to learn and eventually to remember who we truly are and reconnect with the divine.

The path of magic has not always been an easy one. Throughout history, those who dared to walk the edge between worlds, to challenge the status quo and tap into the power within, have often faced persecution. Yet, the flame of magic can never be extinguished, for it burns eternal in the hearts of those who are called towards the murky and beguiling depths of existence.

There will be times when you may feel lost, confused, or discouraged in your magical practice. But I promise you that the rewards of this journey are beyond measure. As you learn to trust your intuition, embrace your shadows, and step further into your power, wielding it with integrity and grace, you will discover a sense of purpose, joy, and connection that is truly magical.[IR3] 

In the pages that follow, you'll find a treasure trove of magical tools and techniques, including ritual and spellcasting techniques, working with the four elements, connecting deeply to your will and purpose, kitchen witchery, astrological wisdom, meditations and other exercises for bringing the light of your awareness into shadow work and much more. Each of these practices is designed to help you tap into your own inner wisdom and power, and to create a life that is filled with wonder, purpose, and enchantment.

people often have a misguided view of magic, reflected in dominant culture – the idea that magic is an outward action, a whispered Latin phrase, a chant, a wave of a wand, that creates an unlikely and miraculous reaction but in my understanding, it is the inner work that is where the true magic happens, and then is reflected in the outer world.

As you journey through this book, remember that magic is not just something you do, but something you are. It is your birth right, your natural state of being. Like a golden thread of light, it weaves through you, connecting you to the stars above and the earth below. All you need to do is remember, to awaken to the truth of who you are.

What does it mean to be magic? What does it mean to be a witch?

The definition of “witch” is as varied as there are people who choose to use the word. Though not all people who use magic are witches, but most people who are witches do use magic in one way or another. So what does that mean?

To me, magic is a weaving of the outer, the inner, the deeper, the transformative potential of ourselves as active participants in the world. We can shape our world with our will, our energy, our intentions and what we share and what we resonate with. The process of engaging with magic is often about how we direct our intention. We can use ritual and spell to do this, or we can do it purely internally.

There is no right way to practice magic, but there are many traps that people can fall into around what is good or bad, what is right or wrong, what should or should not happen. The best advice I can give you is not to believe in anything unless it resonates with you. Don't believe something just because you're afraid. For instance, if somebody tells you that you absolutely must or must not do something otherwise bad things will happen to you, that's rubbish. I don’t put stock in superstition, for instance, black cats are lovely (not bad luck at all) and chain letters that tell you everything is going to go wrong if you don’t follow their rules are ridiculous. I choose not to make that kind of superstition part of my reality, because I don't have any energy for that kind of thing.

Now, although I’ve already made it clear that there’s no one right way of being a witch or of living a magical life, I will tell you about my personal understanding of both. To be a witch is to consciously walk a magical path, to understand that we need not be afraid of the shadows of the unconscious. Just as the night time is not bad, there is much delight to be found in both light and darkness. You see, I do not believe in good and bad witches, per se. Of course there’s a very small minority of people who call themselves witches but are deeply traumatised and twisted and delusional, who either seek out only the light (as in toxic positivity) or only the darkness (as in power and revenge), but these approaches do not seem complete to me, or particularly effective.

When I speak of darkness or shadow, I’m taking about it in the Jungian sense – it incorporates the things that we do not always easily acknowledge, the challenging things in life, the things we are ashamed of both personally and collectively. If we can stand in our power and face the things we are afraid of, our perception can expand. Often, the darkness is not evil, even if we are afraid of it.

Being a witch is taking on the ability to weave together the light and the darkness, not just to shy away from the things that we fear, but to open up to the transformational potential of things.

Being a witch is about stepping into our power and connecting with the elements, connecting with nature, connecting with our deep self and soul and will, and being in the magic and mystery of life as it unfolds. Questioning is very important. As a witch, to be too much in the light and to deny the darkness is just as perilous. To be too attached to the darkness risks inflicting pain on people and ourselves. To be only love and light and fluffy bunnies, is what people call spiritual bypassing or toxics positivity. Both of these approaches are incomplete and get in the way of a deeper transformation, a deeper understanding, and deeper magic.

Being a witch is about connecting with nature, appreciating all of the sensations of life, opening up to the vastness and beautiful complexity of experience, and stepping into our power so that we can affect change and transformation both internally and externally in the world around us.

How did I become a witch?

“The first time I called myself a 'Witch' was the most magical moment of my life.”

― Margot Adler, Drawing Down the Moon

The first time I encountered the possibility that I could be a witch, my heart beat faster and my body tingled with recognition. For me, discovering witchcraft was a thrilling experience of homecoming. My experience went from one of feeling dissatisfied and painfully limited by the world, to one of opening up to a deeper and more magical existence that nourished my soul, supported my healing and fuelled my imagination.

You may know me through my witchy novels such as the Myrtlewood Mysteries, but my magical journey has been a long and winding one. As a child, I yearned for magic and my imagination ran wild in envisioning all kinds of possible worlds. Something within me always took offence at the apparent limitations of the material world, yet I was raised in an academically minded family with no apparent religion to cling onto.

I began delving into spirituality through my own imagination as a child, and then later dabbled in anything that came my way to see if it worked for me. I discovered witchcraft in my teens, after a brief encounter with charismatic Christianity in early adolescence. It just so happened that a new friend suggested we study witchcraft. We spent hours in the library learning about mythology and devouring any magical books we could get our hands on (which were few and far between at the time) and seeking out other information in online in the early days of the internet (Netscape navigator anyone?). With a few close friends, we formed a kind of coven and created rituals. Around this time, I also began practicing magic on my own.

Magic and spirituality became a lifeline to me. I had suffered with depression and anxiety since childhood, and applying what I learned about witchcraft, the psyche and the divine, in a practical way, has helped me immeasurably over the years.

In this journey, I was supported and aided by good friends and a few mentors and therapists. Most notably, in my teens I sought out a therapist who would understand my spiritual pursuits and found an amazing wise woman called Fiona who was experienced in Celtic shamanic practices, she guided me on many meditative journeys and first introduced me to the concept of “the shadow” which we will delve into many times in this book.

In my late teens and early twenties I became involved with the pagan community (a broad term for all kinds of magical folk). I started the pagan club at my university in order to meet other magically minded people, and organised weekly meetings focused on learning about different magical modalities. I also held rituals at my home and attended pagan festivals. In those years I lived and breathed witchcraft, but after becoming aware of some predatory personalities in the community, I began to put up boundaries and focus instead on my inner work which is what my intuition was calling me toward.

Over the years, I’ve studied many subjects formally and informally which have contributed to my knowledge, as well as personal exploration into magic, astrology and tarot, I’ve also studies social sciences at university and completed a PhD, I’ve completed a diploma in hypnotherapy because I was fascinated by the magic of our minds. I spent a year studying herbal medicine and I’ve also learned several other modalities in healing. I’m happy to say I’m a big geek when it comes to magic. Though I’ve taught workshops on many elements of magic over the years, I’ve never “formally” studied witchcraft or joined a particular traditional, preferring to be guided by my own intuition. There is a strong rebellious streak within me that would prefer to forge my own path than to be told what to do.

For years my path focused primarily on my inner work, which helped me to overcome significant internal and external challenges. I often describe myself as an intuitive witch as inner work is still my core magical practice, but in my thirties I also became involved in a local magical group which celebrates the full moons and a connected Druidry group.

Druidry, in the tradition of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, appealed to be because it is very open-minded – based on the notion that we are all walking our own magical paths. The main focus is a connection with nature, a celebration of creativity and valuing peace – all things I can get behind! In recent years I’ve enjoyed many seasonal celebrations with my druid grove, including helping to design and lead rituals myself.

As a novelist, I have wound many of my insights into fiction, but this is the first magical nonfiction book I’ve written to completion! In fact, I suspect I’ve been working on this book ever since I began my magical journey and its roots are reflected in my teenage journals.

Now, in my fortieth year, I’m finally ready to share what I’ve learned so far and what I continue to learn in my magical journey.

It is my intention that this book be inspiring and uplifting, as well as grounded and practical. It is my wish that this book is helpful for you in your daily life, helping you to go deeper into who you really are and live a more magical life. I believe that there is no one right way to do anything, and I don't prescribe any particular dogma or doctrine. What I present here are things that I find useful, things that have helped me, and ways of understanding the world that have deepened my experience over time.

If there's anything that doesn't sit right with you, then disregard it. I'm not here to tell you what to believe, or how to live, or how to practice magic in any particular way. I'm just offering you what has worked for me. Take it with a sprinkle of salt water and a blessing of sage or incense.

Allow the magic that has developed and moved in my life to do the same in yours, if you want it to. This is the book that I wish I had access to when I first started learning about spirituality, the mind, emotions, healing, and magic in my teens. At the time, I wanted magic to happen with sparks and colourful powders, and to be dramatic. But as I've aged and developed maturity, I've come to prefer a subtler kind of magic, a magic that's deeply intuitive and attuned to the cycles of nature. A magic that allows me to be truly in my power and has brought me more success than I ever would have dared to dream when I was younger; a magic that pulls me to go within, into the deep wells of the wisdom of the soul, and to emerge renewed time and time again.

So, my dearest ones, are you ready to embark on this journey of remembrance, of awakening, of coming home to yourself? Grab your cloak or a cosy blanket, snuggle up with your trusty familiar, and perhaps a steaming mug of your favourite enchanted brew. Take a deep breath, trust in the magic that lies within you, and let's begin.

I am honoured to walk with you on this journey.

With love and magic,

Blessed be.

Iris xx