The Witch Behind the Website

Where do I start? I embarked upon this life 40 years ago, where I was raised as a wolf cub in Ohio. Well, the 40 and Ohio part are true. I was raised in a Catholic home, but my mother had pagan leanings that my father was unaware of. My maternal grandmother is an incredibly accurate astrologist and my great grandmother was known in her Russian village as the local witch. I am Sophia.

When I was a child I was always drawn to the mystical things in life. I think I played with my Grandmother’s tarot cards when I was 6 years old. Somehow, I think that may have been a small springboard toward my path. Grandma often used herbal remedies and taught me many of them as well as teaching me astrology.

I began to study witchcraft seriously when I was 15 years old. Often writing book reports on the Salem witch trial and how unjust they were, much to the dismay of my Catholic School teachers.

When I was 19, I came out of the broom closet to my family. My Mother confessed to me then, that she had been a practicing witch for some time, but due to the custodial issues, she never came out, for fear that my Father would cease visitation rights, and she would never see my brothers and myself again. After I told her that this was the path I had chosen, I found out more about the family lineage. My witch roots going back 4 generations that we know of, and all the witches named Sophia (A coincidence, perhaps).

I moved to Massachusetts in the late 80’s, with my then boyfriend, now ex husband. I attended the Massachusetts College of Art, where I studies Photography and Graphic Design. I also worked with a couple of witches there, and found that I enjoyed group work.

In ’92 I moved on to New Jersey. Digressing, after we first hit the Garden State,I remained a solitary witch for 2 years.

Then in 1995, a wonderful thing happened. I got hooked up to the internet. I could have networked at the local witch shops, that I frequented for ritual supplies, but I felt a little pushed, that I could not get to know people first. The internet gave me the opportunity to post a message seeking local witches. I DID get a few kooks answering my post, but when you plant grass seed, sometimes the weeds still come up. Finally I found those of a like mind to chat with.

We began e-mailing each other, and finally decided to meet as a group in a local diner. Originally there was 8 of us, and we seemed to get on well. Laughing, eating, talking about ritual. And what we all wanted to learn from each other. We began meeting bi-weekly as a circle and held rituals for the high Sabbats. Eventually, our circle, a little “c” word, became a big “C” word: A Coven.

I was named as co-founder of Coven of the Eclectic Quilt. A group of women from many traditions: Celtic, Dianic, Hereditary, Pictish, Gardnerian, and of course, the Eclectic variety.

Eventually witch wars broke out. There was malicious gossip and just plain negative energy flying around the group. I found that some members took it upon themselves to hurt another sister, and found it unforgivable, so I bowed out. Two weeks later, the coven disbanded, and there were a lot of hurt feelings for quite a while. After a healing time, covenmates became friends again, All but one, and she knows who she is, and what she did. This story could be much longer, but I am sure it would bore you. Perhaps I shall write a page on what NOT to do in a coven. Hahahahaha!

Mari, my best friend, and former covenmate from the quilt approached me one afternoon about starting a new coven. She and her Soulmate, the Handsome Doc, had worked in a Gardnerian coven and became disenchanted with some of the politics. We had children and most covens don’t allow kids to be part of the family tradition, if there is one. We wanted to form a coven that welcomed children. Teach them the craft, instead of hiding it from them, Children have such light, energy, and curiosity, that will enable us to learn from them, as well.

Thus, Tuatha de Almha was formed in light love and laughter. These people became family to my son William and myself. We love them very much, and always will, no matter how far apart we are. You Guys are my family!

Covenwork is not for everyone, but I find it most fulfilling. For me it involved sharing ideas, working in the community to prove to the world that witches are not evil, and sharing holidays together.

As there are a lot of nosy people who want to try and besmirch my character by casting stones in anger I will not be bestowing much more information. However, I have met the love of my life, moved back to the US from the UK and we are quite happy.