July News from The Witch’s Therapist
Hello!
It's Santyna writing to you here this month.
It's amazing to think that I've already been with The Witch’s Therapist for two months! In this short time, I've learned so much and had the privilege of meeting incredible people who are integrating spiritual practices and rituals into their lives or seeking a therapist who respects and supports their spiritual and alternative beliefs. I'm thrilled that my caseload is growing rapidly, and I am deeply enjoying my work here. I look forward to continuing this journey together!
Book Recommendations
While searching for resources to supplement my practice as a spiritual therapist, resources to support and inspire those looking to incorporate more magick and ritual into their daily lives, I discovered several books that I have found helpful:
The Little Work: Magic to Transform Your Everyday Life by Durgadas Allon Duriel
This book offers practical advice on how to weave magic into everyday activities. Duriel provides exercises and rituals that can be seamlessly integrated into your daily routine, making spirituality a constant presence rather than an occasional event.
The Power of Ritual by Casper Ter Kuile
Casper Ter Kuile explores how we can transform everyday activities into rituals that bring meaning and connection to our lives. By looking at various traditions and practices, he offers a modern take on ritual that is both inclusive and adaptable to our contemporary lifestyles.
As you explore these books and others like them, you will find practical tools and strategies for integrating spiritual practices into your routines. Always take what resonates with you and feel free to modify spells and rituals to better align with your personal beliefs, circumstances and intentions. Each author brings their unique perspective and can be modified and made your own!
What Activism I’m Engaging in
Working with grassroots organizations led by Indigenous and Black North American Activist Leaders.
Sharing filters/sounds on Tiktok to raise money for families/causes I support when I inevitably was unable to provide more monetary funds directly.
Performing activist rituals while engaging in these activities (E.g., sigil and spell work), calling upon deities who support justice and providing them with their preferred offerings (see the image below for the new moon ritual I completed this past month).
What Inspired me This Month
Last week, I attended a close family member's wedding and it was a profoundly beautiful occasion, steeped in ancient rituals at every turn. To give you some background on my family: both my parents are from Punjab, India, with my father's family identifying as Sikh and my mother's family identifying as Hindu. For context, it was a member of my mother's side who got married.
For those unfamiliar, North Indian Hindu wedding ceremonies often span a week (or at least 4-5 days), each day with its own purpose and rich with rituals. For example, the Ladies Sangeet event is a time when mothers, sisters, aunts and cousins bond, singing time-honoured songs to bless the couple and support the bride. In our family, however, we welcome all who wish to participate, as we don't strictly adhere to traditional gender roles.
Another notable ceremony was the Choora ceremony. In this ritual, the bride dons 21 red and white bangles, or “chooras”, before the wedding. This ceremony, along with wearing the chooras during and shortly after the wedding, is believed to bring prosperity and fertility to the couple.
Throughout the week, rituals permeated every moment, from the couple walking around a sacred fire a specific number of times while a pandit read from ancient scriptures during the wedding ceremony, to family members applying a paste containing turmeric, rosewater, mustard oil and sandalwood to the couple’s skin to cleanse them prior to the wedding.
Many people may not know that Hinduism was never intended to be a religion; it was a way of life, with practices that individuals could choose to follow to varying degrees. Although I am an eclectic spiritual practitioner, this week allowed me to connect deeply with my ancestors and my recently deceased grandmother. It reminded me of the importance of my cultural heritage, even as I continue to adapt rituals to align with my own beliefs and values.
The application of mehndi (or "henna") holds deep symbolic significance. Traditionally, it would only be a member of the couple who would have it applied to their hands and feet, but in more modern times, many close members of the family/community, regardless of their sex or gender, have mehndi applied to their skin. There is usually an entire event dedicated to the application of mehndi and this ritual symbolizes a blissful married life, and embodies vibrancy, fertility, and the attraction of positivity.
Work Updates
For the moment, I still have a few more spots open to new clients and would be happy to offer you a free 15-minute consultation if you would like to explore how I might be able to support you and your mental health journey.
We are also joined by Megan Woods (who will be writing next month’s newsletter). She’s pretty rad - a psychotherapist, astrologer, and “proud Canadian half-breed (Métis lineage) who is now accepting new clients.
Lastly, Maggie’s client books are currently full but the above folks have her seal of approval. She’s busy running a Ketamine Healing Retreat, co-facilitating a Reclaiming Tradition core class called Elements of Magic and working towards building more robust magical communities.
If you are interested in any of these offerings, please reply to this email or reach out at connect@thewitchstherapist.com.
Spiritually-Aligned Events
Friday, July 5
New Moon in Cancer with Chris Corsini
A PWYC online event offering insight on how to work with and benefit from the new moon in cancer; an energy cleanse/grounding and mini meditation; more intel on the planetary transits impacting this cycle and tarot card reading.
Sunday, July 7
Disclosure: Demystifying the Matrix
Free online event
A discussion about spiritual deception and how to create a sovereign existence for ourselves and our families
Wednesday, July 10
Wildcrafting Herb Walk
Pinafore Park, St. Thomas
Rediscover your curiosity for nature with these immersive experiences into the natural areas of our local parks. Learn to identify, harvest, and incorporate wild local and native plants into daily cuisine and lifestyle.
Saturday, July 27
Morrigan Vision Quest
Online event
These Vision Quest workings serve to help awaken the Sight and Gifts in the Seeker, offering a number of opportunities to connect with various divine spirits and receive gnostic insight into your Fate, Path and practices, both within your mundane world as well as your Magic.
Monday, July 29
Elements of Magic
A core Reclaiming Tradition class being taught for 6 weeks. Each gathering focuses of our relationship with one of the five sacred elements: Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Spirit and teaches the art of co-creating rituals.
Red Tent Circle
Online, weekly on Mondays
Communal gather for radical unlearning for feminist mystics in ritual
As I become more aware of events, I will continue to post them on Instagram so please give us a follow.
And of course, we'd love to hear from you! So if you'd like to reply to this e-mail with thoughts on your favourite books and teas, the activism you're engaging in, or to let us know about an aligned spiritual event in Ontario, we would love that.
With love,
Maggie, Megan, & Santyna
