Welcome Friends & Wanderers...

 

...to a bewitching collection of art, illustration & gifts! Where the myth and reality, the romance and magick, the whimsy and whispers of witch and goddess spirits are embraced and celebrated!

 

About the artist and inspiration for this art!.....

I love the magical side of life, first ignited by children's literature & illustrations as a child myself, as well as reading to my own three children....especially tales of the much beleaguered and hag-ified "witch". While most were frightened of her, I was always curious about her! We had a so-called "witch" in every neighborhood I lived in growing up, and I always found her mysterious and facinating!

As I grew up, I realized "witch" had ties or an association with many interests I'd personally and quite naturally always been attracted to, whether as stereotypes or real ties....such as gardening, herb usages, natural remedies, soap & skin potion making, an affinity for all animals, seasonal Earth-honoring celebrations...a deep connection to the natural world. I didn't know these talents or persuasions were associated specifically with witches....I just knew I always felt most at-home outdoors, consider critters my best friends, am fascinated with how plants heal and help what many people lean on chemicals & drugs to do. Many of the best memories of my life and inspirations for my life's work have been outdoors, in a forest, one with nature. It's a very powerful pull, ...I'm not sure if everyone feels this!

Through these interests, I've crossed paths personally and as part of my businesses with witches, got to know who true witches are, embraced their gifts, knowledge, friendship, witches are also some of my best customers for soap and art I found that their religion can be a deeply spiritual path....NOT the crazy stereotypes so maligned and demonized by those with closed eyes, minds and hearts. I became accutely aware too, how "witch" is oft representative of the mysterious, and the misunderstood in our world. I could relate to that category of not necessarily fitting in with the mainstream majority, seeing things a bit differently, dancing to my own drummer.

So a usual question asked of me.... have I "turned witch"? To be honest, I'm not sure what you'd call/label me, if you require labels at all---a half breed witch perhaps? ::chuckles:: I'm a mishmash of many beliefs. I was raised Catholic and don't know that anyone sheds earliest beliefs indoctrinated into them, and I DO embrace the core tenets of the Catholic faith. But I'm simple, a non-beauracracy-type, more comfortable practicing spirituality by myself, in how I live my life, help others. I'm as apt to feel the presence & inspiration of a higher power while weeding in my garden, as I am in a cathedral. Truth is, I'd kind of hate to limit myself to any *one* spirituality, I see the inherent beauty and goodness in, and embrace the spirituality of all my friends' faiths - Jewish, Protesant, Islamic, Pagan, etc. So no, I don't label myself any one thing. Some percieve that as "non-committal"; I attempt to live it as, my heart & head are open to all. If your thoughts & actions are rooted in love, how can you go wrong in this life...whatever you or others call or label youself?

One thing I am not open to is the exclusivity many faiths teach/practice.....which would mean that if any one faith were "the one true faith", then people would be victims of where they happened to be born, who they were born to & who raised them, how they were indoctrinated into a faith often of a particular region, which would be completely out of their own control. Should anyone living a good life, loving to others but under the wrong supposed chosen faith label be excluded from the joys of love & acceptance, or reward of spiritual fulfillment? I don't believe a true and loving higher power would insist upon that; sounds more like a human condition for acceptance, than a godly one. Love is love. I choose an open and accepting vision of spiritual family. And that, my dear friends, is my belief system. Which invariably seems to come up in conversation or email inquiries, folks ask me, so I decided I may as well make a statement here, and there ya are! If there is any spirituality you have no tolerance for, I may be a bit of it! ;)

That declaration out on my sleeve.....you're here because of art. I'm inspired to paint and offer you "witch" and the female divine in some of her beautiful differences, possibilities, history, and magic. I challenge you to see and accept beyond and within stereotypes. True magic, true spirituality is simply love. I wish you that magic...and a fascination like me, with all things familiar and mysterious, odd and the same, which embraces & includes, ...rather than judges & excludes. "Witch" can bravely represent ALL who don't quite fit into any particular group, dare to own their beliefs that hurt no one...and simply do not wish to be labeled negatively, judged or persecuted for it. SEE the witch in your neighborhood with new eyes--see her/his beauty gifts.

I've found my own "little witch" and embraced her...have you?

~Carol Ochs

"My darling girl, when are you going to realize that being normal is not necessarily a virtue? It rather denotes a lack of courage!"

- Aunt Frances Owens character, Practical Magic, by Alice Hoffman