Passing the magick on.

I was getting my apron on to begin some salve making today and my daughter promptly entered the apothecary and said, “mom, I need some spell books, I’m ready to cast a spell.” In my own amazement by this demand I said “ok!” And she replied, “I need to get my witch hat and my wand and I’ll be right back.”

So after she slipped back through the door to get her fixings I pulled out my most fun and loving spellbooks, and when she returned she read some pages, gathered some materials and I gave her a brief lesson on how to begin.

Then I stepped aside and watched her cast. Her loving, sweet energy, her whispers, and her hands raising up through the air motioning her intentions. I quickly took this image before she began.

Watching her do this made my spirit light up like the sun. What Magick is this? I thought. What wild fulfillment is this running through my veins? Quickly I realized, oh yes, this is what one wild medicine woman passing the light to the next wild medicine woman feels like.

Witnessing my daughter have the freedom, the space, and the support to work her magic and to express her wild creativity is like a dream for me. It is such a healing experience to witness her expand without hesitation, doubt, or worry of what anyone will think or say about her. She is still fully grasping that knowing of inner belonging that is so crucial to our spirits. I simply didn’t have that experience as a child, in fact, many women around me told me that witchery was something to fear and that even the word Witch was problematic in all kinds of ways. I suspect this fear based perspective was from religious upbringing weaved with experiences they themselves had of having to suppress their inner magic and authenticity. It was difficult for me to mask my authenticity and desires to learn more about spell work and magick. I think this also stifled some of my creativity and expressiveness which is probably why I went on to obtain a bachelors and masters degree in fine and studio arts. Although I had moments where I could work in my journals, sketchbooks, and typewriter (yes I had one of those!) there was a big part of me that was suppressed and unable to flex.

To be able to hold space for and watch your children experience things in childhood that were kept from you is the best and most magical thing about parenthood. Its something to cherish as you feel something inside you awaken that may have been long forgotten. Having a daughter is something I never expected to experience in this lifetime, and what I have realized in the eight years my baby has been earthside is that her journey triggers me at times and also heals me. Each time I come to a moment of trigger, it is an opportunity to step back and reprocess what I was not able to when I was her age. This re-processing heals layers of trauma and woundedness within me. At times it is challenging and uncomfortable, but moving through those sensations and coming to a new sense of place with it is the point.

So I moved quickly to capture this moment with my daughter as quickly as I could so that I could always come back to it. To remember that moment of pure practical magic witchery that my daughter created right in the apothecary on an ordinary day.

Do me and this great green earth a favor and whatever part of you that may have felt suppressed for others comforts and needs, please go to that place within and allow that wildness to come forth, to move freely, and to express as needed with zero apologies. Allow your magick to come into the world as it always should have, because it belongs right here, in this wild place.

Blessed be.