I HELP TROUBLED WITCHES ONLINE
Melanie Clowes, 46, from Endon, Staffordshire, has more than 866,000 followers on social media. Find her on Facebook @TheCelticWitch When I was growing up, my mum was spiritual and my father was a full-on pagan. While other kids were watching TV, I was in the woods with dad learning about trees like the oak and its magical connection to druids.
By 14, I was reading the tarot and three years later I was casting spells for protection and luck using salt, incense and essential oils. I heard about a coven through word-of-mouth and I was invited to join.
I was initiated in the woods when I was 23 and found it thrilling at first. But I soon discovered I didn’t like coven life – it was too hierarchical – so I started doing rituals on my own for myself and friends.
I’m still a solitary witch but I’m connected to hundreds of thousands of people around the globe through social media.
I joined Facebook in
2011, and Instagram in 2014, because there wasn’t a safe space for witches to meet online.
I wanted to provide an outlet for people to chat and share rituals without fear of ridicule. These days, I still post spells, chants and content about the moon, often with a Celtic theme.
But I never give advice on casting spells that interfere with another person’s free will, like bringing a partner back. Magic shouldn’t be used to
control other people, that’s the dark side.
For me it’s about empowering yourself through cleansing, healing and protection.
However, a big part of my time on social media is spent helping witches who are going through a tough time. People message me and I give them free counselling. I listen, offer support, and give them the magical tools to empower themselves.
I might suggest a self-love spell using a rose quartz crystal or cleansing their home using smudging (burning herbs) and salt to remove negative energy.
I worked as an NHS nurse and clinical support worker until I was 30, so I have the skills and experience to provide this counselling service. I’ve also suffered with anxiety and I don’t ever want another witch to feel alone and in a dark place.
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I give them counselling and the magical tools to empower themselves