My heart remains loyal to Appalachia while my soul is nourished by the Pacific Northwest, where the mountains and sea meet.
Regardless of my whereabouts, I continue to be held by the landscape for which I find myself, fostering my animistic practice of connecting to my bioregion - the original home of the Cowlitz People.
Though my practice is rooted in the land for which I find myself, it is also influenced by the folk magic of my upbringing in Appalachia from the perspective of an animist and heretic (someone who does not belong to a structured religion). My ancestor work includes reconnecting to my ancestors’ of the Polish diaspora of the Midwest, and the Scottish and Irish diaspora of southern Appalachia. The matriarchs of my family have become spiritual mentors in this work.
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For my studies, I have participated in workshops and lectures provided by teachers such as Robin Wall Kimmerer, Cory Thomas Hutcheson, Ronald Hutton, and Joanna Tarnawska - just to name a few. Reading materials that have been influential in my practice by authors such as Rebecca Beyer, H. Byron Ballard, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Lyanda Lynn Haupt, Roger J Horne, Corinne Boyer, Gemma Gary, Juliet Diaz, Anthony Cavender, as well as historical documentation of Appalachia. This journey is ever-lasting, and my education is ongoing. My devotion is to embody the spirit of a student.
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My story begins at my birthplace of upstate South Carolina, followed by my family mingling in the Deep South to the Pacific Northwest for a few years that followed, until we eventually returned to familiar grounds of the Blue Ridge Mountains in western North Carolina, where I'd grow up for 20+ years of my life.
In my adolescence and young adult years, I grew a deep reverence for my hometown, battling with the internal desire to expand beyond in search of establishing new roots despite my ancestors long history along the southern Appalachian region.
Eventually, my husband and I found ourselves at a crossroads that led us to relocate to Washington of the Pacific Northwest in the summer of 2022 where we currently reside. I currently work full-time at a nonprofit organization that advocates for affordable housing in our local community.
In 2019, I found myself eager to connect with other practitioners of witchcraft and magic. I began sharing my practice under the account ‘The Redheaded Witch’ on TikTok, expanding to other social media platforms such as YouTube and Instagram in 2021. In 2024, I made the decision to deprioritize social media to dedicate my energy to writing, community engagement, herbal studies, and ongoing education of regional and ancestral folk practices. Therefore, subscribe to my Substack for updates.
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Additionally, I fell in love with the art of quilting and other needlework as the daughter of a quilter and seamstress. My mother owned a quilting store in Western North Carolina where I found myself assisting with various tasks and events. I made my first ever quilted project under the mentorship of my mother. My art reflects my adoration for historical quilts of the 19th and 20th century, folk art, and modern influence.
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When not writing or quilting, you can find me spending quality time with my husband and our two cats and dog, traveling, reading, gardening, and hiking.
