From dusk ‘til dawn: Designer by day, witch by night!
I took an online Wicca course I’m a designer by day, witch by night! Laura Daligan, 38, from Glastonbury, Somerset
Putting the final touches to the website I was working on, I sat back and admired my handiwork. I’m a graphic designer, and spend my days designing eye-catching logos, websites and pet portraits. But at night, once I’ve switched off my computer, I put on my ceremonial robes, light my incense and begin my rituals.
You see, I’m a practising witch.
Wicca practitioner
I first discovered the craft 13 years ago after browsing in a bookshop and finding the book
Wicca by the Wiccan High Priestess, academic and author Vivianne Crowley.
As I turned the pages, utterly engrossed, the words I was reading really spoke to me. I knew at once that I’d found my calling. I bought the book and took it home to read. Wicca is a nature-based religion, and this well-known book taught me how to work with the Goddess, feminine energy, and the four elements of earth - air, fire and water. It was a brilliant introduction. I was brought up as a Christian, which is male-orientated, so to suddenly have access to this gentle, female-centred, Goddess-based religion was a game-changer for me. Working with feminine energies is vital if we’re to have balance and harmony in this world. I was inspired to take on online Wiccan course. This took six months and taught me about magical spells, the pagan sabbats and moon rituals. After passing the course, I was invited to join a coven in London.
Trudging into the woods at 7am on a bitterly chilly February morning for my first sabbat, I was shivering with nerves and cold.
Dawn sabbat
‘Welcome, Laura,’ a robed woman smiled at me. I immediately felt very welcome and my nerves began to subside. The long-established group was run by an experienced High Priest and Priestess, and made up of professionals from the NHS and education, amongst others.
The High Priestess cast the circle and we
made offerings of flowers to thank the Earth for the coming spring. After doing the online course and reading about the subject I knew what to expect, but I still felt excitement bubbling up inside me as we performed the ritual.
Afterwards, I was absolutely buzzing. Witchcraft felt totally natural to me.
I’d never kept my interest in paganism secret from my parents, but they were worried when I mentioned to them that I’d joined a coven.
‘Are you sure it’s not a cult?’ Mum asked me anxiously. ‘I promise you it’s nothing like that,’ I laughed.
Initiation
I gave Mum some books so she could read about Wicca and paganism – and she got it. She could see the attraction. These days, she even enjoys experimenting with the tarot cards herself.
After two years learning about the craft, I was initiated as a witch. The ceremony’s details are sacred but I can say that I agreed to abide by the rule of Wicca which is, ‘Do what thou wilt but harm none’.
As a pagan, I respect nature, animals and all living things.
I remained a member of a coven until I moved from London to Glastonbury three years ago. I’m a solitary witch now which means I cast spells alone.
However, sometimes I gather together with four witches in Glastonbury. We either meet in one another’s houses, or outside if it’s not too cold. We cast spells to celebrate the eight pagan sabbats throughout the year or to help people.
A few years ago, one of the witches, Sarah, then in her 30s, was trying for a baby but had been struggling to conceive. We did a simple ritual where she stood in the centre of a room and we joined hands and circled around her to build up the magical energy.
‘Under this full moon bright, bring fertility to Sarah this night,’ we chanted.
Three months later, Sarah gave us the good news that she was pregnant. She went on to have a beautiful, healthy baby.
In 2007, I found the flat of my dreams in Camden, North London. It was exactly what I’d been looking for, with a wonderful energy.
Worried that my offer of £128,000 would be gazumped, I did a simple spell where I rubbed bergamot oil on a candle and, as the wick burnt slowly down, I focused on the flat being mine.
Until then, there had been a lot of hold-ups in the chain but within a month of casting the spell, the flat was mine! I was absolutely thrilled.
Recently, I performed a ritual to boost my career. I wrote down what I wanted to manifest, which included more clients and more interesting commissions. I then lit a candle and put the paper in my ‘wish jar’ on my altar with my other requests to the Goddess.
Spell success
Within a few weeks of doing the spell, I noticed an increase in commissions. I’ve since been inundated with requests for pet portraits, book illustrations and designing logos – exactly what I asked for. As you can imagine, I was delighted.
It’s possible to work magic for all manner of things. However, there’s one type of spell I refuse to cast – and that’s a love spell.
I stay away from love spells because usually the people requesting these spells want me to enchant a particular person, which isn’t good magic. You should never take away someone’s free will.
Being a witch is about empowerment and respecting the Earth. Whatever you may have seen on TV or in films, it certainly isn’t about controlling other people or getting revenge through spells.
As every good witch knows, whatever you cast comes back to you threefold.
For me, modern witchcraft connects me with nature and helps me to see what’s important - which is to treat people and animals with respect, and to respect myself.
It’s a wonderful way to live.
To book on a workshop, tarot reading or commission artwork visit lauradaligan-art.com