Just wanted to pop in and introduce myself. I do tend to read more than post, especially since I am relatively new to the path. I've been on the Pagan path for a year. I studied a great deal for a year prior to my initiation. I am a student of Sacred Mists. I would like to volunteer for the local hospice organizations (and where ever else needed) as a Pagan clergy and the credentials do help to lend some credibility when non-pagans are in the position of deciding whether you are a legitimate Pagan clergy or not.

I am really quite eclectic. My family has been practicing Appalachian Granny Magic to some degree at least since 1835, that we can be sure of. To this I add a great deal of Celtic Paganism and Native American (Cherokee) Spirituality. There is already quite a bit of Cherokee Spirituality in Granny Magic to begin with. I also work with, on a lesser degree, the Greek pantheon. While Danu and the Dagda are my Matron and Patron, I am also very close to Hekate.

This is a really great website and I visit the BOS, Encyclopedias, and other areas regularly. It will take me forever to work my way through the wealth of information on this site and I look forward to every minute!

Love and Light,
Sheridann (sdwillow)

Welcome to the castle sdwillow.  Granny magic?  I am not familiar with that term.  I'd love to hear a bit about that.

Now there's a term I ain't heard in ages! Hecate is my Matron so welcome to the castle Sister  

There's oodles and oodles here to peruse, so enjoy. Don't lay breadcrumbs to find your way round with, as our local tenants of critters do enjoy them!    

Feel free to share, or ask questions, someone eventually pops is to respond, lol, we are a scattered group of castle dwellers at the moment! ]

BTW Welcome!

Thank you for the warm welcome, Novia and Indigo_Faerie.  

Appalachian Granny Magic is a folk magic "tradition" that is a blending of Celtic folk magick/Paganism/wise woman healing with mostly Cherokee Native American spirituality that still flourishes in remote pockets of the Appalachian Mountains. Even though it is not as widespread as it was just a half century ago, most residents and most of those who are only a generation or two descended from Appalachian ancestors have heard of Appalachian Granny magic, Granny Witches, or Witch Doctors. Often they were the only health care available in the mountains. Hollywood's version of the mountain Witch is the old Witch in Pumpkin Head.   Most were more healers than anything, though. The craft was taught by mothers and grandmothers to their daughters and granddaughters.

While back in the day it would not have raised eyebrows if little Nancy announced that Mama was a witch in a church up in the mountains, once mountain folks were forced off their homelands and fled to the big cities to find work it could be rather catastrophic if she made such an announcement in the West Side Baptist Church on 46th Street, for example. My mom did get taught some of it, but she was not told what "it" was. My mom taught me, but mostly as stories of the "crazy sh$t" her mama and grandma used to do. (whisper) It was not until the past year that we discovered that "it" was, in fact, Appalachian Granny Magic.   hh)

Novia, are you from around them thar hills?? I'm from Louisville, Kentucky. Both sides of the family came through the mountains very early on in Kentucky history, some staying in the mountains longer than others before moving down to the counties at the base of the mountains.

Hmm, I might know a little then. �I'm not sure what I was already doing and what I picked up in my studies anymore. �But my mom was a mountain girl from Virginia and she does have a superstitous side, as well as some abilities that she hasn't really developed.

Evening Willow and Welcome to the Castle.

I hope you're getting settled in well. There's plenty to explore.  If you get lost or need help send a flare. Someone will respond. My Nene was always one to keep an Aloe plant in the house along with a little kitchen witch. I'm the residence oddball. I'm normally on at some point during the day so if you have a question feel free to let me know and I can at least try to point you in the right direction.

*hugs and a big cookie*

(Did I mention I'm the resident chef too?)

Bramble.

Oh Goody! I finally found the Dark Side - COOKIES!  

Thank you for the yummy welcome. Nice to meet ya, Bramble. Just point me toward the cookie jar and I'll be fine.  

indigo_faerie, I bet she could tell you about some Granny Witches she had heard of or maybe even knew up in the mountains. My grandmother always decanted bottles of alcohol into a big glass apothecary bottle that had something large and unidentifiable in it. We now suspect it was the placenta of a dog or cat. She swore by it for "rheumatiz," whatever it was. It had been floating in that glass bottle for about 20 years. She never would tell mama what it was. Probably because she knew if she did, Mama wouldn't let her use it on her. Then there was the piss-in-the-ear bit. Mama thought she must have had a nightmare about grandma putting pee in her ear when she had an earache ... until my mother-in-law tried to do it to my son and I told my mom about it.