1) If you could take just one book on a deserted island; what would it be? and why?
I reread “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho once a year because it teaches me so much about the mysteries of the world, pay attention to my dreams and trust my intuition, so that’s the book I would take with me.
2)Have your reading tastes changed over the years?
God, yes…I used to read romantic “bodice rippers” when I was a teen-ager, tons of self-help books and any metaphysical book I could get my hands on.
3)What genre do you read now?
I love historical fiction, taking place in the Renaissance period, The Dark Ages in the British Isles, I tend to be more drawn to Taoist and Buddhist books for my spiritual needs and I also love archaeology, anthropology and native cultural history. I’ve also taken a huge interest in computer web-design learning CSS and HTML.
4) Whom are your favorite authors?
J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Paulo Coelho, Shakespeare, Sharon Kay Penman, Charles de Lint and Alice Hoffman.
5)Describe your ideal reading experience.
It’s pouring rain outside with thunder and lightening, a fire is going in my fireplace snapping and crackling and my two cats are sleeping soundly right by me. And a big stack of books I’ve been dying to get into.
6)Books or Television
Both are entertaining but I always will prefer a book to watching t.v. unless it’s “True Blood” that takes precedence!
7)If you could be a character from any book, who would it be and why?
Morgan Le Fay from “Mists of Avalon” by Marion Zimmer Bradley for her strength, wisdom, faith and connection with the faes.
Audio or E-books?
Neither, I tend to retain more with an actual book and I love the smell and texture of books.
9) If you had a chance to ask your favorite author one question; what would it be?
I’d ask Shakespeare whomever he/she was, what inspired him most and what character that he wrote was his favorite?
10) What’s your favorite fairy-tale?
When I was little it was “The Little Mermaid” the Hans Christian Anderson version for it’s beauty and sadness and now I like urban fairy tales, like Charles de Lint’s works which I couldn’t recommend highly enough.
11) How did you find Wicca/Paganism?
Although my mother wasn’t a formal witch she knew a lot about witchcraft, mythology and lots of magickal knowledge which basically I grew up with and have integrated.
12)Solitary or group practitioner?
I’ve never been into a formalized group for anything, so I would have to say solitary, although I do like meeting other kindred spirits to both learn and pass on my knowledge.
13)Do you have any patron Gods or Godesses?
When I was growing up and up until my early thirties it was Aphrodite and Herne, I knew she chose me. Now, I feel very connected to Bastet and Hermes.
14) Describe a time you felt closest to Mother Earth.
When I was in New Mexico traveling through the Southwest by myself for three weeks I was at Chaco Canyon and felt a remembrance of past times and felt absolutely peaceful and blissful. Also, whenever I attend a sweat-lodge ceremony.
15) What animals do you feel most connected to on a spiritual level?
I’ve always been closely connected to cats physically and spiritually, the wolf and the hawk.
16) What is you favorite pagan celebration/holiday and why?
Samhain, definitely! Love Autumn, the veil being open more to the ancestors and fascinated with the realm of the Underworld. The kid in me loves, candy, parties and costumes.
17) Do you use any form of divination?
I used to use the tarot and runes all the time. Now I look for animal omens and signs, a bit more shamanistic.
18) Have you ever performed a “spell” and if so what what type was it and what were the results?
I haven’t performed any formal spells since I was in my thirties. I did a lot of love spells, never for dark purposes or manipulation but I learned the lesson of going with the flow and non-attachment to the outcome which has been my mantra ever since.
19) Have you ever had any encounters with the supernatural?
I have encounters with the supernatural all the time. Not the type where I run into a spirit, but like many of us, I’m an empath and easily I can go to a historical site or a place where there’s been a lot of energy and almost instantly I can see and feel exactly what transpired there.
20) Is it always “love and light”?
Nope, nope and nope! I believe in both love and light but to deny the shadow of anyone or anything is dangerous and ignorant.
21) Which element do you feel most connected with?
I’d say a combo. of earth and air. I love the air being a Libra and like to come up with new ideas and am in constant motion either mentally or physically. I love “Earth” because I’m very aware of nature, the animals, sensitive to the essence of the Earth Goddess and I like to stay grounded so I’m not blown away by my air element.
22) Where are your favorite places?
New Mexico, Arizona (high desert), British Columbia, Ireland, Egypt and Marin County, California.
23) Hobbies and interests besides blogging?
I practice Yoga off/on and when I do practice life is just so much easier. Reading is a major passion of mine, hence “Witch Reviews”; I love seeing movies, going to them, etc…and playing with my cats. Not a crazy cat lady, I promise!
24)What is your favorite movie/movies?
“Lord of the Rings”, “Dangerous Beauty”, “Amelie,”, “Chocolat”, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, “Elizabeth” the list goes on and on…look at my bio on blogger to see the rest.
25)What does your astrological chart say about you?
I have my sun in Libra, which I touched on talking about my preference for “Air”, my earth and moon are in “Virgo” hence my attachment to Earth and my Venus and Mars are in Scorpio which gives me an dark edge…
26)What style of clothing do you prefer or wear most often?
I used to love silks, suede, all the really costly high-maintenance materials, now my motto is “If I can throw it in the washing machine, not have to iron it, and not have to take it to the dry-cleaners, I’ll probably wear it”. I still love nice quality clothes but I’m much more conscious of natural materials and how and where they were made.
27)Do you have any pets?
Two very indulged, beloved cats who own me, not the other way around. Bella and Sele.
28)Do you follow your head or listen to your heart?
I once read that we should “write with our heart and edit with our head” and I loved that so much so that’s been my guiding principle.
30) Why are you writing this blog?
I love books, movies, etc…and I was synchronistically lead to Lyn who was also thinking of having a “review” blog and we both thought it would be fun and entertaining to co-author this blog.