Village Witch

Regenerative Herbalism | Tarot Tales | Spiritual Ecology
Myth | Magic | Musings
​

Greetings Plant Lovers, Mystical Creatures and Friends,

Well this is a New Moon that has me in a reflective space.

Two days ago was the feast to Mary Magdalene, and I attended a beautiful gathering in Italy at a place called the Citta della Luce, it is a spiritual community in my region of Le Marche, where they focus a great deal of their practice on Reiki, Astrology and Family Constellations. I really wanted to connect with some new folks in Italy, so I went with a few girlfriends. The last three years or so I have been reading stories and historical works about Mary Magdalen, my favorites in historical fiction being The Madonna Secret by Sophie Strand, The Maeve Chronicles by Elizabeth Cunningham and the scholarly work The Woman with the Alabaster Jar by Margaret Starbird. I have also read the Gospel of Mary Magdalen and a few other academic works, but these above were the most inspirational and resonant to read. I was particularly enthralled by Margaret Starbird’s correspondence of the Tarot with the Magdalene heresy, as it is an interpretation of the cards I had not heard before nor considered in their layered imagery.

The gathering was sweet and very pretty. Everyone in white, with red veils, singing songs in a variety of languages with a candle and rose ritual and dancing. It got me thinking of our desire for indigenous spirituality and the reclaiming of paths lost. So many of us walk a mix mash of spirituality and devotion. Oftentimes unsure where to place ourselves. This comes from the uprooted nature of our being, the loss of our ancestral roots, our connection to space and place. This actually has a term, “syncretism”, the worship and devotion to many different deities, and spiritual paths.

On my own altar you will find Mother Mary, Artemis of Ephesus, Ganesha, The Deer, Sekmet, Venus of Willendorf, Pan, Melissa, and Quan Yin. Images and figurines of animals and fruits, literal seeds, whiskers, and locks of hair. Jewelry and feathers, stones and bones. I have no one path of spiritual devotion because I am not of one blood line or ancestral root. Being a person from the United States with mixed ethnic heritage can be quite confusing, especially when we are told to go back to where you came from. What does that even mean? Dismember me and send me back? So it only feels natural that my altar represents mixed gods. Because in my world, all lead to truth and all help me to understand my place in the world and universe better, all help me to pray, to love, to have compassion and to honor the Great Goddess.

I would love to hear from you. Who is on your altar and to whom and when do you pray. What are the roots of your people and where do they cross with mine?

---

astro musings:
Mercury in Leo retrograde
The Magician and Strength reversed
​

…“When the Magician and Strength are in a regenerative aspect to each other, we see great potential for creation, for connection, and for the development of leadership skills that are inherently collaborative and nurturing. What we need to be mindful of now is that the Magician and Leo are in Retrograde, meaning for me, in my interpretation of the Tarot is that they are under the influence of the Hanged Man. This Neptunian force that swings the cards into reverse, asks us to take a new view of our relationship with the energies of the cards in question. While that is the most standard explanation of the card reversal, we also need to take a look at the deeper meaning of the Hanged Man itself. Some Tarot scholars believe the Hanged Man represents the cardinal virtue of Prudence, leaning into making informed decisions, and taking actions that are neither rash nor overly analyzed. This card also represents betrayal, as in the context of cultural times of the creation of the Tarot, being hanged by one foot was the symbol for a traitor. So how do we interpret then the meaning of the Magician and Leo in Reverse?”…

Read the whole musing

---

the year ahead
herbalism 2026

Sacred Pharmakon
Regenerative Earth Traditions
🌿🇬🇷Crete, Greece, June 2026🇬🇷🌿

We are working through the details of an upcoming training in Greece for next June. Inspired by the elements and ancient Greek vitalist practices, we venture to the ancient lands to explore not only the plants and healing traditions but also to prepare herbalists for a future in both clinical and community practice. This is not a retreat, but a 125-hour immersion that will help you gain practical skills as an herbalist, while also connecting to the power of the elements in their foundational teachings for understanding the body systems, formulations, and relational dynamics.

Working as an herbalist is one of the more important career paths you can venture down. We are always needed, always ready and irreplaceable!

Teachings include:
• Anatomy and physiology
• Corresponding materia medica
• Herbal energetics and regenerative philosophy
• Herbal traditions of ancient lands
• Field trips to local herbalists and alchemists
• Plant walks with local herbalists
• Abundant hands-on medicine making
• The wild apothecary and plant spirit medicine
• Astro-herbalism
• Clinical herbalism practicals
• Community herbalism development
• And most importantly, how to practice ethically and effectively as a community and clinical herbalist

We’ll also be collaborating with local herbalists for plant identification and to honor the teachings and perspectives of those native to the land. We’re finalizing the details and will release full information by August 1.

🌿 If you’d like to be among the first to know and receive an extra discount off the tuition , please drop your email below!

Sacred Pharmakon Waitlist

​

Permaculture for the Herbalist’s Path:
💚🇬🇹Guatemala, November 2026🇬🇹💚

Heading back to a land so close to my heart, this session we will head to the Caribbean Coast, to experience the teachings of the marine ecosystems and the insights of the original peoples.

This intensive training is for those who want to jump start their herbalism practice, by learning clinical skills, medicine making techniques, apothecary development, and the foundations of regenerative philosophy. A holistic course that teaches the body systems as extensions of the ecosystem, rooted in soil, the forests and life waters of planet earth.

🌿 If you’d like to be among the first to know and receive an extra discount off the tuition , please drop your email below!

Permaculture for the Herbalists Path Waitlist

---

Who wants to get witchy with us in Portugal?

Herbalists & Alchemists Portugal, October 3 - 12
For witches, alchemists, herbalists
and all those interested in the magic of herbalism.

In this immersion, we practice the Alchemical proverb:

As Above, So Below.
As Within, So Without.
As the Universe, so the Soul.

To come back to the knowledge rooted deep within that transcends culture, borders and religions that place us above all other creatures. We are in practice with the plants to be in service to all life, to learn skills and nurture relationships. Through magic and science, ritual and community, we work to mend the pains of the world. Learn from medicine people who have dedicated their lives to being bridges between humans and the green world, as they share their knowledge and experience.

This course takes a deeper dive into medicine making beyond tinctures and teas. Learning about flower infusions making Agua Florida, working with alchemical extracts known as spygerics, sitting with the fire, stones and sweat in the Temezcal and making plant pigments for illuminating your medicine journal.

HERBALISTS & ALCHEMISTS INFO

​

---

Tarot Readings

I have space for readings these next weeks and months

Sharing the Tarot brings me so much joy, and I will toot my own horn and say I am really good at it! This is my magic and this is my craft.

BOOK A TAROT READING

---

I am grateful if you have made it this far. I am constantly thinking about the folks out there who this writing may touch. I feel you and I am open to you. It would be so great to hear from you. It isn’t my strongest quality in [fast] responses, but I read all your messages and they mean a lot to me. I would be particularly curious to hear if there are any themes you would like me to muse on.

As always, may the good green world hold you in her abundant arms, may she kiss you with gentle breezes and may her waters wash you clean and run clear.

blessed be

sarah marie

​