Salem Trip Update + Moon Ritual Reminder (for Monday)

What I did on my witchy vacation...

Dear Ones,

It’s the witching hour here in Salem and I just got back to my hotel, which has a reputation for being haunted.

Honestly, my favorite thing about the hotel is its fantastic water dispenser! It’s so delicious and crisp. I wish I had one at home. My bed also has lush, comfy pillows and there’s an air conditioner!

Thus has my trip to Salem been marked by a contrast between the haunted and the mundane.

I’m here for the Salem Witch Fest conference. I did my presentation and it was such a pleasure to be here with other witches, talking about how to orient ourselves towards enchantment, and the meaning of the elements and the directions.

Thanks so much to those of you who came out to visit, btw! Meeting you was a real treat!

I gave my lecture in the Library of the Hawthorne Hotel, where they filmed a couple episodes of Bewitched.

(This town is obsessed with Bewitched, they even have a statue dedicated to the character Samantha, and I guess the mayor dedicated a holiday to the tv show or something? I have mixed feelings about the commercial orientation Salem has to witchcraft, tbh, especially since it’s, uh… rooted in the murder of witches. But I also do love to be in a place where I can truly let my witch flag fly).

So far, I’ve attended a lecture on SciFi Cinema as witchy grimoire by Sasha Ravitch, a lecture on queer animism by Lex Ritchie, won a satanic tote bag in a raffle, met Kadmus an author of whom I am a major fan, and attended a glorious exultation of Titania ritual by my two extraordinary friends Nick (of @urbanwizard) and Rune (of Theyfriend Candle).

I’ve met so many brilliant, big hearted witches at the Witch Festival and there’s still more to come.

It’s all been a whirlwind, or – as I mentioned in my lecture – a sidhe gaoith (a Gaelic term for the wind raised by fairies as their host goes galloping by).

In any case, I’ll be back my magical studio in L.A. just in time for our…

… Full Moon in Aquarius Ritual on Monday evening at 6pm.

The energy of this moon will help us cultivate our creativity in order bring medicine to the world. And, to receive the medicine the world offers us to heal any wounds around our self-expression.

You’ll definitely want to attend this ritual if there are things within you that you haven’t been able to express, and/or if you feel like you have medicine to offer the world but aren’t sure how to do it.

Can’t wait to see you Monday evening at 6pm!

Love,

Amanda

P.S. Please enjoy my little slide show below of my summer (working) vacation. 🤣

A cemetery in central Salem. Extra points if you can spot the witch familiar visiting by the grave! (Hint: it’s a rabbit!)

Please enjoy the subtle, understated lighting at the Witch Museum.

Here’s me presenting on queer theory, phenomenology, and the powers of calling in the Four Directions in the haunted library of the Hawthorne Hotel.

Evidence that Hawthorne was haunted… just look at his children!

My most moving experience so far was visiting the place where Tituba lived with Nick, Rune, and some other lovely folks. I could feel TItuba’s anger and fear there, and her power. And I could feel the resentment and fear of the children (who knew her enslavement was wrong, and in their fear, punished her for it).

Marking a strong contrast to Tituba’s house and the murder of over 20 people in gruesome ways, comes this, umm, “Witch City” mall and shopping center. 🤔

A happy picture of me back at my hotel after a long, enchanting day of doing professional witchcraft. You know it’s legit profesh when you’re at a conference!