Remember I told ya’ll that I was going to stop separating myself into little boxes and wanted to start writing a bit more in depth about some integral aspects of Thorne’s World? Then I started that blog over at today.com, my Eclectic Witch blog? Well, for all that writing there turned out to be a bust, (I gave up all rights to my own writing there… bleeehhhh), I met some killer bloggers through my witch site and I want to introduce you to one of them, Carolina Gonzales at Blogging in Witchland. She is a gem. Not only is she my kinda witch, (read as lacking pretention and living a magickal life), she is also an absolute doll, and her photos are magnificent!! I’m going to beg her to teach me to take photos like this of my work. Will you look at this:
Shortly after I “met” Carolina, she posted this luscious image of her magickally hand made Kyphi incense along with a description of it. Now you might think I’m nuts, but I swear I could feel the power and energy in those beautiful little magickal eggs coming to me from the image! I honestly don’t remember the last time I had such a total and complete case of the “I wants” strike me. In fact, it felt more like an “I need”, than an “I want”. I commented at Carolina’s post about saving my pennies or some such and she said she would save some for me. But my need must have traveled the cyber ley lines to her because instead of saving me some, she offered me a lovely witchy trade and sent me some (along with some other witchy surprises! Thank you, my witchy sister!)
Can I just say, Heaven? Ambrosia? Magick and wonder and beauty carried to the Gods on smoldering scent? All that and more. The two varieties of Kyphi that Carolina sent me were Isis and Horus; the mother and the child. You may remember that I burnt them in offering for my Lil Pharaoh’s birthday.
Enough about me. Carolina was kind enough to answer a few questions for me for my first witchly interview here in Thorne’s World. As a witch, a crafter and business woman, I wholeheartedly and without reservation recommend shopping with Carolina. She is well versed in what she does, pleasant and friendly to deal with, reasonable in price and prompt in delivery! ‘Nuff said; on to the interview.
Thorne: When did you first receive your call to “The Old Gods” (Or The Goddess, as you Will)?
Carolina:
I was raised in an environment where information about occult matters was available – my mother was into the UFO “scene” of the 70′s so paranormal magazines and books were an everyday thing. I remember than when I was about seven, she was collecting a magazine called “The Unexplained” and I couldn’t wait for it to arrive and be the first to read it from cover to end – I still have that collection and it’s one of my most loved treasures.
I have to say though, that I don’t believe in “inherited” or “intuitive” powers or abilities, only in work, commitment and study – so, I’m not saying that I was “born” a Witch, only that children are more open to think in different ways than adults, thus for me it was very natural to accept the existence of ghosts, magick and such. I started reading Tarot when I was 13, and practicing magick at a more complex level in my late teens. It’s always been a part of my life and it has always felt natural to me to do what I do. As I was very young, I did not have the chance to build stupid prejudices against magick.
Dragon's Blood
Thorne: When did you “come out of the Broom Closet”, and how was that for you? Were family members and friends accepting?
Carolina:
I have always been out of the closet – of course that has brought discomfort between certain friends and family members. I have to say I am not tolerant with those attitudes just as I am not tolerant with racism, sexism and other “isms”, so that has brought tense situation sometimes – but I’m not one for being dramatic at this point. All of us are misunderstood or unaccepted in areas of our lives, and must learn to live with it!
To be honest, I have had more problems with other so-called Witches than with family or friends. Having a practical approach to Witchcraft that’s based in work and study has always been an obstacle among the “intuitive” Witches – which seem to be the majority. I am quite a character and a very opinionated person and I’m not afraid to speak my mind! There are many thieves and fakes in this business that play with their customer’s fears and hopes.
I don’t believe in being surrounded by “believers” either – that would be disconnecting from real life in my opinion. My best friends and closest relatives are atheists, catholics, agnostics, etc., and none of them is a Witch or Wizard. I love the refreshing of ideas that living with different people brings. Witches who only talk to Witches tend to develop a “guru complex” – and I’m not interested in becoming that. I don’t need to be among like-minded individuals to reassure my beliefs.
Thorne: Do you follow or are you a member of a particular tradition?
Carolina:
No. As an anarchist, I do not believe in hierarchy or organized groups. I think groups, by definition, tend to become stagnant and dogmatic, and games of power make me sick. I’m not saying it will never happen, but so far I haven’t found a group that I’d like to be a part of. I’m not good at following rules!
That does not mean that I don’t have a religious pantheon – I do. Long story short, I found the African diaspora religions (or was found by them) about six years ago, after a long pursuit of my “place” that went from Buddhism to Shamanism, from the Stregheria traditions to Psychoanalysis… I am a very inquisitive person that loves learning more than anything else. I found a beauty and truth in African magick that I had never found before and was hooked for life.
I have found that Hoodoo is what better defines what I do, because it is a very open term that is away from orthodoxy and dogmatism. While having a deep root in African religions, it can vary a lot from Hoodooist to Hoodooist, because there are no hierarchies or churches in Hoodoo. Hoodoo comes from the mix of African cults, European Witchcraft, Catholic folklore and Shamanism – that was the perfect formula for me, being a person with so many interests.
Book of Shadow Pages
Thorne: How would you describe “Living a Magickal Lifestyle”?
Carolina:
As a very practical lifestyle! Hoodoo is not an abstract and mystical religion, but a down-to-earth way to solve problems and achieve protection and success. It is based in the fact that, as long as it doesn’t hurt others, you are allowed to have anything you can dream of – and I believe in that with all my heart.
As a professional worker, I do not deal with fairies and unicorns; my customers/clients/patients have very real problems and concerns. Illness, unhappiness, unemployment…and of course sometimes curses and evil spells. I do my best, with the help of my patron Eleggua, to fight that situations and help others.
To me, being magickal is simply believing, seeing the clear presence of Divinity around us. Lack of faith, both in ourselves and in our Deities, is the biggest illness I see in the world today. My spells do not work because I have any powers (which I don’t), but because my faith in Eleggua is unbreakable.
Thorne: And finally, tell us a bit about The Hoodoo Shop and the types of work you do and custom magick/spell work you perform.
Carolina:
The Hoodoo Shop was born from the need to provide my own customers with the supplies I use myself to perform spells. There are many “celtic” or “fairy” types of occult shops online, but not so many good shops that are oriented to show the African diaspora religions openly to a general audience. My goal is not only to provide people with top quality products, but also to extend the word about Hoodoo, Voodoo, Santeria, Palo Mayombe, Umbanda, etc. These cults are very misunderstood and ignorance has spread an image of them that is completely wrong.
I do many different types of spells and services: besides reading Tarot, I make almost any kind of custom spell work, as long as the customers goes through a reading first and I can evaluate if the customer really needs the spell or not. You wouldn’t believe how many people think that they are cursed when they are only blaming someone else of their own problems! The fact that someone has the money to pay a spell does not mean that they will get it – I don’t work that way. I always set the example that, when you go to the doctor, it’s the doctor who makes the diagnosis, not the patient; that is my methodology too.
Of course, I don’t do curses or binding love spells; I believe in individual freedom above all and I would never interfere with a person’s free will. I have a very strong ethics about my work, and that has paid me back with loyal, aware customers that are away from superstition and manipulation, and that use magick to empower themselves.
Thorne: Thank you, Carlonia!!
Dear Constant Reader, I hope you have enjoyed this small peek into the mind of Carolina, Blogging in Witchland, half as much as I have. Do you see why I absolutely adore this woman? Please stop in at her blog and be sure to check out some of the absolutely magical bargains she has at her etsy stores, below.
Peace, out!
–
Carolina González
The Hoodoo Shop – Occult Shop
The Digital Rose – Collage Sheets, Ebooks And Business Design
Unique Jewelry And Accessories
I’ve been living the Magickal Life, or living a magickal lifestyle, (as I prefer to call it) for over 30 years now, so my purpose here is to simply share some bits of that with you all, not get into who did it first or best. Hell, I’ve probably forgotten more than I actually know, and I’d be hard pressed to tell you how I came by much of it; I am indeed an eclectic witch. 
