I met Krista at a work event, where we bonded over our knowledge of herbal teas and crystals. By day she does a different kind of magic in the local community, but by night, you can find her at her altar…
What are your beliefs and how did you come to this path?
“I am a Wiccan Hedgewitch - believing in and working with Goddess Hekate and the four elements - air, fire, earth and water. I am also a huge believer in the law of attraction - and manifesting is definitely one of my witchy strengths!
”I come from an Italian family of tea leaf and card reading heritage, having had an interest in the spirit world and bigger picture from a very young age. I spent 30 years being what I now call a “tourist” - visiting psychics, getting card readings, the usual… But I always had a feeling I had a gift of some description. When I hit 40, I had a reading and was told I don’t need to be there, that I could do this by myself. something that day sparked in me and I’ve never looked back.
"I’ve since spent a decade practicing and perfecting my craft - I’m a keen alchemist who mostly works with nature, herbs, candles, spell jars, ribbons, colours, crystals and the cauldron. You’ll always find me collecting my moon water and working with the moon cycles - although honestly, magic doesn’t have to be done on a specific day - my spirit guides always tells me when it’s time to get to work anyway.
"I work with white magic - good vibes over here only. I only work on myself and my immediate family too.
”I can’t see or hear spirits but I do get feelings and visions when I look at buildings or on random roads for example. I know instantly if the energy in that place is good or bad and avoid accordingly.”
Can you give any examples of everyday magic or what sort of things you use magic for?
“Mostly in my daily rituals, but maybe a couple of times a month in my altar-based or specific work too.
”I start my days with a coffee - the way I turn the spoon, clockwise to set my intentions that I would like to achieve that day, anti-clockwise to set intentions of things I’d like to release or reverse. In my shower, I wash off any lingering bad energies, and soap myself down with a crystal infused soap suiting my intentions for the day.
“As I drive to work each morning I listen and pray alongside the Four Directions Prayer. I can manifest parking spaces like a pro too - it’s something I’m known for affectionately among my friends - and if any bad energy comes at me, I can quickly deflect it and return it straight to its sender.
"On bigger bits of work, or maybe on those special moon cycle nights, I am excited all day to get going in those evenings. Like my writing, I find my magic work so calming and therapeutic, it’s almost like a release of pure joy when I get going.
"My home has crystals strategically placed around it, olive branches over my front door bring no dramas to my home and I blow cinnamon through my front door on the first of every month. I love the traditions that come with magic and being able to pass them onto my family. My book of shadows is my pride and joy - every spell, all the things I’ve learned, my memories and knowledge of everything witchy collected in one place.”
What’s your favourite wheel of the year celebration and why, can you describe how you celebrate it?
“Without a doubt, Litha (Summer Solstice) is my favourite celebration. I am June born, just a week before it, and it’s the time of year I feel the most alive. I feel like I get plugged into a charger and powered up for the year ahead! I love the longer days and lighter nights and it’s a time of year when my magic powers are super powerful.
"I always celebrate Litha wherever I am - but last year I went to Summer Solstice at Stonehenge for the first time and it was one of the best experiences of my life. Surrounded by people from all over the world, the energy levels there were absolutely real. I got to do some magic work before we left for the night and I knew it had worked within a few hours…
"Normally I would’ve had celebrated it eating with friends first, followed by some group gratitude and manifestation rituals and then some personal spell specific work by myself at home.”
Do you have to keep your practice quiet? What’s it like being an inner city witch in 2023?
"My immediate friends know that I’m a practising witch - a couple of them are quite spiritually gifted themselves. One has had bad experiences with Juju Black Magic, so I think she remains quite sceptical and detached even. I don’t really feel like I can talk openly about it to most of my close friends. I do have a social media account in my magic name but don’t actually use it. I enjoy the privacy my magic brings, it’s not a business venture for me - maybe because I have a lot on the go professionally, I enjoy the solitude and peace my witchy life brings me.
"I do often know when I meet another witch and what kind of witch they are too - I think you can just tell by the energy they carry. There’s been a few along my journey that have become great friends."