Witch Way Now

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting one of my favorite astrologers, Debra Silverman. If you follow my Facebook page then you've seen her astrology videos there since I share them regularly. She recently released her first book, The Missing Element and as a birthday treat for myself I went down to NYC for her book signing. Not familiar with her work? Neither was I until a few years ago when she released some videos on YouTube that she'd been hiding away for a while and they went viral. These weren't just run of the mill, ho-hum astrology videos. She performs the traits of each member of the zodiac with hilarious accuracy (to find the videos go to YouTube and search for her name along with your zodiac sign).

I'm a Taurus and she kicked me right in

the ass with this. In a funny, holy hell that's so true, kinda way.

There have been a few astrologers over the years that I've followed (don't worry, I'm not literally following anyone.... unless your name is Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson). Reading the monthly forecast, watching the videos, reading their books etc. But it wasn't until I came across Debra Silverman that I discovered an astrologer that talks how I talk (including dropping the f-bomb on occasion), explains things in a way that I get, is friendly, relatable and delivers brutal honesty with a smile. All this coupled with a trip back to my favorite NYC bookstore (Namaste Books, good luck leaving this place without a new tarot deck, 5 books and a sack of crystals) and some time with a best friend meant I was going.

The trip wasn't easy. First of all, the event was scheduled smack in the middle of Mercury retrograde (which Debra acknowledged with a joke "Who scheduled this? What astrologer does that?) I had to get up early which is incredibly difficult for me since I work nights. Then I drove an hour to the train station, parked a mile away, took a two and a half hour train ride to the city only to be smacked in the face with all things New York when I got there. I lived in NYC for almost 10 years and I moved out of state to the burbs in 2014. This was my first time back and it was overwhelming. The crowded streets and subway, people everywhere rushing around, my overpriced lunch at Whole Foods.... I had to find a bench and spend some time grounding. By the time I got to the bookstore I was spent. Then, Debra walked in, greeted the group of people in a room filled to capacity (folks were sitting on the floor) and she began to speak and I knew that battling to get there was worth it because I needed to hear what she had to say.

Truthfully, I didn't know much about her book and surprisingly it's not about astrology at all.

"Using personality types that are based on the four elements, she reveals that whatever pain you experience is specific to your personality and that your issues will repeat themselves again and again until you see yourself and others from the compassionate vantage point that unites all of us." - from the back cover of The Missing Element

At the beginning she had each of us fill out a questionnaire (it can be found on page 46 of her book). Using our answers she explained the elements and helped us discover what elements had a strong presence in our lives, what elements were lacking and broke down the traits, both good and bad, of each element. She described how our souls want to experience everything and our stupid egos get in the way. No one is normal, everyone is delightfully weird and falling in love with yourself is incredibly important.

"What did your soul sign up for?"

"Can you fall in love with you?"

"Normal is a setting on the dryer!"

"There's no one here that's not weird!"

"Your soul is a slut!! It wants to experience everything, the good and the not so good." - Debra Silverman

She spoke for over an hour and the quotes above don't do it justice. I left there thinking about how I can better understand the effect the elements have in my life. I left there knowing that I'm not even close to being in love with myself but wanting to discover that love and my purpose. I left there with the realization that my Earth element is a bit to strong and I need to find ways to reel it in and explore the other elements. The day in its entirety taught me the important lesson that nothing worth it is easy and even the smallest goal (like getting to a book signing during NYC rush hour) takes patience, perseverance and a SCREW YOU, I'M DOING THIS attitude. I left there with a new book signed by my favorite astrologer and some new crystals (I couldn't help it). She also confirmed that yes, I am a little extra crazy because so many planets were retrograde when I was born.

Me: (fangirling hard) So am I extra crazy because so many planets were retrograde when I was born? There's 5 or 6 that were retrograde.

Debra: Yes, absolutely. (Remember that honesty I mentioned earlier?)

I've just started reading her book and I haven't been able to put it down. Things have really exploded for her since she had the courage to hit the upload button on those zodiac videos. Her laid back approach to astrology makes a wildly complicated subject feel less daunting. And don't let her laid back, feisty, bigger than the room energy fool you, she knows what she's talking about. I can't wait to dig through the rest of The Missing Element and I'm sure this is the first of many books for this down to earth astrologer.

Debra Silverman and I

If you're looking for Debra you can find her on Facebook or visit her website.

Brightest Blessings,

~A

UPDATE: I just came across this video and had to add it. Wanna know what Sting thinks of Debra's new book The Missing Element?? Watch the video below. (I LOVE him)

Judika is one of my favorite authors and has been since I first began my foray into paganism and magick. An accomplished author, certified aromatherapist, tea and tarot reader: this woman knows her stuff and it shows in her classes, books and articles. She is an author and has written a number of books on topics ranging from the paranormal to witchcraft and magick.

When I began my magickal studies I was excited, scared and feeling a little lost. I found a group in NYC and began taking classes but still wanted a little more. My book collection was slowly growing (now it's taking over my apartment) and I was committed and studious. I purchased books like Raymond Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft and Wicca: The Complete Craft by D.J. Conway. I read one to three chapters in each book everyday and completed the exercises and questions at the end of the chapters. Plus I was carrying smaller books around with me, reading on the train or when I had time at work. If only I'd paid this much attention to my school work in my mundane life, I could be working at NASA by now!

I knew I needed to learn the fundamentals, the background and basics etc but what really peeked my interest and need for knowledge was magick. Growing up I was certain that there was magick in everything. The woodpecker that returned to my neighborhood every spring. The smell of my mothers' rose garden filling my bedroom. Forcing my father to place my bed under the window so I could sleep in moonlight. I knew there was magick in everything and I wanted to know more about it. I searched the internet for new books to add to the growing pile and I discovered The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells: The Ultimate Reference Book for the Magickal Arts by Judika Illes. I had to have this book.

In this photo: Encyclopedia of Mystics, Saints and Sages, Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells, Pure Magic, Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, and Encyclopedia of Spirits.

Apparently Nimitz, my familiar, likes Judika's books as well!

Aside from finding this book that, from the description had everything I was looking for, it was also an encyclopedia! I've had a love for large encyclopedia type books since I was a kid. Maybe it's because of the Taurus,Virgo action going on in my birth chart but a ton of information properly organized into one giant book is like heaven to me. So obviously I bought it.

The book arrived and it was everything I expected. There was information and spells for every topic under the sun: protection, fertility, love, money etc. Recipes for oils, inks and powders and information on magical tools. I was hooked. I read through the book, using the information, recipes and spells that I found inside. The first oil blend I ever made came from a recipe in this book. This book is well researched, organized and thoughtfully put together by a woman that clearly knows what she is talking about. I've used it so much some of the pages are falling out and post-it notes are stuck on pages that I refer to frequently. Judikas' down to earth approach makes magic seem tangible and accessible. So I went back to the internet and started investigating her other books of which I own almost all of them.

Fast forward a few years and I'm shopping in Namaste Books and I happened to see a flyer for a lecture and book signing with Judika Illes! After I stopped grinning from ear to ear I immediately called a friend and fellow Judika fan and we made plans to attend the lecture. The talk was about her latest book, Encyclopedia of Mystics, Saints and Sages. Judika gave a great lecture and at the end she was nice enough to sign books for everyone that attended. She is also doing tarot and tea leaf readings on saturdays at Namaste Books which, of course we signed up for ASAP.

A couple of weeks after my reading with Judika I saw an event posted on facebook that sounded to good to be true. Hosted by Order of the World Tree (a coven out of Ridgefield Park, NJ), Judika was going to be teaching a three hour Spell-casting workshop. Really!?@!#? Giving all those tourists directions on the subway must have really paid off because the universe has been sending some awesome things my way lately. In a span of two months, I'd met one of my favorite authors, had all of my books signed by her, received a tarot reading from her and now a spell-casting workshop! Obviously my friend and I went.

We got up early, took a train to New Jersey, borrowed my mothers car and arrived at the Hilton Garden Inn for the workshop. Yes, you read that right. A spell casting workshop in the middle of the day in a conference room at a nice hotel. I hadn't thought about that until Judika made the point during the workshop. The magickal/pagan community has come so far. Now, instead of meeting in secret and having someone look out for crazed villagers with pitchforks and torches, about 30 people met out in the open to discuss magick.

The workshop was great. Judika covered a variety of magical bases (I have 10 pages of notes to prove it), the people in attendance were wonderful and the Order of the World Tree did a great job putting this event together. Judika answered everyone's questions, covered a variety of topics, sold and signed books and took pictures with everyone that asked. What did I get out of this workshop?? That's a tough query to answer. Judika talked about so much: botanicals, candle magic, oils, the symbolism of using a mortar and pestle and much much more. But what really stayed with me is what she said about magick. Judika said that magick is everywhere. Its all around us, all of the time and spell casting is a means to communicate with that power. That statement took me back to when I was that little girl that needed to sleep in the moonlight. It made me realize that even in a hard and energetically overwhelming place like New York City magick was still everywhere. Before this workshop I was feeling bogged down and a bit spent in various areas of my life, magick being one of them. After this workshop I felt renewed and reassured as a witch. The magick isn't gone and it never will be, it's our choice to tap into the magick that is always around us. I just need to work harder at renewing and maintaining my connection with it.

Meeting Judika was a wonderful experience. The workshop was great, I met some wonderful magickal people and I immediately went home and cracked open my spell books. Judikas' books have helped me grow as a magickal being and for that I will always be grateful (plus her tarot reading gave me just the push I needed... or gentle kick in the ass!) Don't ignore the magick and never stop learning! Thank You Judika.