The Beginning

My interest in the occult began when I was still in elementary school. My sisters and I had watched "The Craft" and later rounded up our friends to enact the "light as a feather, stiff as a board" scene.

The five of us headed out to the woods behind my house. Yes, you read that correctly. Four elementary-aged girls went out into the woods alone. This was the 90s, after all. We were, however, still within earshot of my mother.

We couldn't decide who was going to be the "test subject" so our friend, we'll call her Tina, volunteered. She laid down on the forest floor and the four of us gathered around her. Each of us placed both of our index and middle fingers under her body and began chanting.

Light as a feather, stiff as a board.
Light as a feather, stiff as a board.
Light as a feather, stiff as a board.

Slowly but surely, Tina began to rise off of the ground.

Technically, it worked—but not without a few sprained fingers. We slowly lowered Tina back to the ground and giggled uncontrollably at what had just happened.

We undoubtedly overexaggerated our abilities when discussing that day with others, but to be frank, it was pretty uneventful. Nobody levitated in the air. Even still, we were fascinated that we could lift one of our friends off of the ground using just our fingertips and that was enough to convince us of our "power."

That was only one of many "magical" workings that I participated in the years following. By the time I was thirteen, I had started writing my own spells.

My best friend at the time — we'll call her Salina — grew up in a household similar to mine. Her mother, like both of my parents, was a non-practicing Christian. Needless to say, the occult was somewhat of a "forbidden fruit" for Salina and me.

I know that I was the influence on Salina and not the other way around. I told her that we should read books about spell casting and she was down for it. Despite being shy, Salina and I weren't shy at all in our shared excitement for what we were about to discover. We were enamored with the possibilities.

By the time I was thirteen, I had started writing my own spells.

For weeks, Salina and I would visit the library and read spellbooks. We devoured every book that we could get our hands on, never daring to check them out as we knew it would leave a paper trail. One book — I, unfortunately, cannot recall the title — contained a spell to make one's self more attractive. It spoke of drawing a circle, lighting candles, lying in the candlelight, and then disrobing. Being middle schoolers, Salina and I found it hilarious.

"So, we're supposed to get naked in the candlelight?" I asked. Salina giggled uncontrollably. We put the book back and decided that there was no way we were going to cast that spell. That decision led to something pretty powerful because that was the moment that we decided to create our own spell.

Off we went to the local grocery store, only doors away from our beloved little library sanctuary. Our goal was to pick up several black tapestry candles — because, in our young, inexperienced minds, black was the only appropriate color to use when dealing with witchcraft. 🙄 As luck would have it, it was nearing Halloween so there were plenty of black pillar candles in supply.

We went in, purchased our candles, and double-wrapped them in grocery bags—we dared not be seen with black tapestry candles. That could only mean one thing, right? Again, 🙄.

We walked back to Salina's house and apparently threw caution to the wind because we sat right there on the sidewalk in the light of day, lit our candles with a lighter she had swiped from her kitchen, cast the spell that we had written, and well, we laughed. A lot. I'm sure we didn't look weird at all, sitting in the middle of suburbia on a sidewalk with black candles lit, laughing hysterically.

While I don't remember what spell we cast that day, I know it was a pivotal moment in my passion for the occult—or rather, for getting in touch with my "higher self."

By the age of fifteen, I had lost touch with Salina (I still miss her dearly) but had continued casting spells on my own. One of the most memorable was a "love spell" that I had cast on a boy I was involved with at the time. He treated me rather poorly and I wanted to change that. In hindsight, I wish I had simply moved on instead of interfering with his free will, but what's done is done.

In short, the spell worked. It was the very first spell that I had cast that led to results that couldn't be denied. I have not cast a love spell since and no, the boy and I did not end up together forever. Once I realized that he wasn't worth my time, I dismantled the box I had used for the spell and the "relationship" fizzled.

As I grew older, I began contemplating why I was so drawn to this path so I started exploring my memory. I recalled a time that my great-grandmother used what some might call "Appalachian Granny Magick" on my sister's wart. She plucked a piece of straw from a broomstick, circled it around my sister's wart while chanting something, and within a few days, the wart was gone. I'm assuming I have more "magical" ancestors up the line considering we come from the hills of Virginia and Tennessee, but I have had little success trying to locate more detailed information about them.

I'm an adult now and I've dabbled in "sorcery" on and off over the past fifteen years. People often ask me if I'm a witch. I suppose that by definition, I am. However, I try not to label myself, aside from using my name.

I'm Emily — I burn sage, Palo Santo, and Frankincense and Myrrh resin. I meditate. I make affirmations. I honor The Great Spirit. I use a pendulum. I cast protective circles. I ground myself. I indulge in nature. I attempt to take care of plants (I'm not that great at it, but I'm trying). I devour all the knowledge that I can get my hands on. I continue to read about ancient cultures and ancient practices. I manifest.

I'm fascinated by the "dark side"and I do read a great deal about it, but I do not really engage in the darker aspects of the craft. Aside from casting a love spell as a teen, I've never used magic in a way that affects someone's free will. I've never cursed anyone or used magic for any sinister purpose. And no, I do not believe in the triple-fold law — I simply avoid such practices from my own moral standpoint.

With that said, if dark magic, curses, love spells, etc. are some things that you partake in, that's perfectly fine. I am tolerant of all beliefs and all paths, both dark and light. I, however, will not actively participate or indulge in dark magic here on Style & Sorcery.

To wrap things up and end my rambling, I'm just a woman that believes in energies and frequencies. I believe in the manifestation of your own reality. I believe in honing these energies and operating on certain frequencies to help achieve your dreams.