Becoming Rishi

A coven of witches: the most nurturing sisterhood you’ll ever be a part of.

~Unknown

I barely remember a time in my life when I didn’t follow the path in some way. I’ve always felt much more comfortable out in nature talking to animals, enjoying the trees… in the kitchen learning the flavors and uses of herbs… collecting stones, rocks, crystals, and figurines that meant something to me…even if no one else understood.

My path began as a teenager. Somewhere around 1992, I was “honorarily accepted” into a Lakota Sioux tribe and the idea of worshipping the moon, nature, Earth, Sun, gods, and goddesses that weren’t the “standard norm”, became a way of life to me. I’ve gone to traditional Church before, then, and after but it was never a comfort to me the way that jut being in, following, and respecting nature is.

Anyway, over the last 2 decades I’ve been backwards and forwards, up and down, along the path. Then I come back to it and I’ve learned that even in my absence I was skipping along. I had discovered Draconic Wicca, and I told my husband and daughter the one day “I always felt like a bad witch because I never had an altar… but really, I always have,” as we all stared at my shelves of dragons and crystals and it’s always been growing throughout the years.

I feel like my I had guardians that knew that I needed guidance on the path, even when I wasn’t actively studying/participating. (From an old blog, 3/31/2018)

---

When I made that discovery above, in 2018, I decided to do my own year and a day and dedicate myself back to the craft. That’s when I wrote the top portion of this post. I studied and attempted so many paths, Gardnerian Wicca, Draconic Wicca, Dianic Wicca, Occultism, Naturalism, Irish, Greek, and Norse Paganism.. and I found that teeny bits of each suited me. Since then I have accepted myself as an Eclectic Witch, since I do a little of all of it.

In late 2022, I started a Facebook page & group, and started hosting online workshops. I did that for about 8-9 months and did enjoy it, but my heart wasn’t in the selling.. just the teaching and sharing. I joined so many related Facebook Groups at that time and eventually found a “Carolinas” one and in that group we started discussing what areas we were in… and I was messaged about joining a local coven.

Real local. Like IN MY TOWN.

During that conversation with the High Priestess Dahlia -to my surprise ~ I discovered that I had previously met her fellow Priestess and Partner, Nyssa. Consequently, they already held a notably favorable opinion of me. How lucky was I?!?!

We had a face to face meeting one Monday in July. First we went shopping and I met the 2 most awesome teeny witches in training (Dahlia’s granddaughters). Then we went back to her home to discuss my membership in the coven. We chatted away the whole day, had a charcuterie lunch, and at some point went, “Oh, hey. We should do the Coven Interview!”

I had a really rough life & mental health spell and tried to leave the coven about a month after joining and they smothered me in peace and light and .. well, pretty much made me stay LOL! Because of our forged bond and my overall knowledge, I was honored and friggin stunned that they wanted me to “fast-track” my initiation and also become a Priestess (in-Training) upon initiation into the coven. That is when I became Rishi. I also found a home for my witchy self.

That was only a few months ago, but I feel like I have known them all my life. The sisterhood they offer and the one we are building through our coven is truly remarkable. It’s amazing how quickly we’ve formed this deep connection and sense of unity. And while I am still in that role of training, I know that I’m staying and I’m in it for the long haul.

I’ll grow into an older and much wiser crone with this coven, and that wisdom & knowledge is what this blog is about – a repository (and online Book of Shadows) of notes, researched essays, my random thoughts, and more. Priestess-in-training Essays.. they’ll be here. Coven research topics.. they’ll be here, too. Random witchy shit that I think about and want to record.. yep, also here.

So, stay tuned for more while I come up with a posting schedule.