After 46 years on this Earth, I am still terrible at introductions, but I will do my best! My friends call me Steph, my kids (and all of their friends) call me mom, and my husband calls me all kinds of things (but Babe is probably the best of the bunch). I am 46, wife and caregiver to a veteran injured in Iraq in 2007, mom to 2 teenagers (15 and 17) of my own, 2 not quite teenagers that started out as my husband’s but are mine now (21 and 22), and basically anyone under the age of 25 that walks through my door. That being said, my door can be hard to find. I live in Michigan (which you have to go to on purpose, there is no reason to just be “passing through” unless you are fleeing the country), in between two small towns, hidden behind a retirement community (it was 300 acres of sunflowers when my parents built the house), hidden in the middle of about 30 acres of dense trees. Nobody comes here without knowing where they are going!
I was raised Catholic (spent 6 years in Catholic school with nuns telling me I was going to Hell every day because I wouldn’t stop talking about ghosts, spirits, past lives and knowing things before they happened), started consciously practicing witchcraft at about 17. Then, this whole adulting thing happened, and life got busy, and my husband got injured, and I was raising babies, and then toddlers, and then mini-me’s (anyone who knows me well will tell you that is a scary thought, one of me is enough!), and then we moved back to Michigan, and then my dad died and my mom moved in with us, and then my mom died a few years later, and now, while I have added “orphan” to my list of identifying titles, I have realized that I have totally lost my connection with the universe and the Earth. So, here I am, trying to regain that connection, but finally feeling totally free to do so.
Welcome @stephnie ! Glad you found your way to us! I’m from Minnesota. I’ve been practicing many different aspects of the craft for 35+ years. I currently work with chaos magick and voodoo.
The courses here are a great place to refresh and learn. I use them often to refresh things I haven’t used in awhile.
This coven has many different types of practitioners making it an fun and interesting group. Check out the other posts when you have time.
If you ever have questions on anything, don’t hesitate to ask. There is always someone who can help or point you in the right direction.
Thanks! I have been checking out some of the lessons and articles posted here and, so far, I am impressed with the information available. I am loving the guided meditations and how fast I am rebuilding all of my resources!
Hi, @stephnie! I’m Amethyst from Southern West Virginia. Welcome to the forum!
I’m glad you found us! We’re a great group that can help you find your path again. It sounds like you’ve been busy being a great Mom but now you can take time for yourself. That’s good thing.
You might be interested in the Self-Care November post that’s up. And there’s the Courses that will help you with information, both new and old.
If you have any questions, just ask and someone will be there to help. I look forward to getting to know you!
Welcome and Merry Meet @stephnie Steph,
So glad that you found us. I am Celine, I am from Portland Oregon. I have been practicing for magic since i was preteen but didn’t embrace my witchiness until about 12 years ago. There are so many great resources and people here at this coven.
We are so glad that you are here. Make yourself at home and let us know if you need any help.
I’m Georgia. At the moment, I’m living in New Mexico, but I was raised in Ft Wayne, Indiana. Hi Neighbor!
I always considered Michigan a beautiful place… Unless you’re snowed in. I enjoyed touring the lighthouses around the mitten, a brief visit to the UP via the Soo Locks and Native Pow Wows in Ann Arbor. Our fave was a couple visits to Marshall to tour historic buildings, unless we count a sunset cruise on the tall ship Malabar.
Hello and welcome @stephnie I’m Tracy from England, miles away from you but I too live in the back of beyond, as we say here. I practice Nordic, Traditional and Runic Witchcraft, and love to explore what’s out there.
This is a beautiful coven, make yourself at home, and enjoy. Bless and Skoll
@georgia Michigan is beautiful, even when we are snowed in. Although, the lower part of the state hasn’t gotten enough snow to snow anyone in in years (global warming is pretty obvious up here - we have had exactly 3 white Christmases in the last 12 years). We actually have a cottage up in the Soo, on Sugar Island. My kids, even still as teenagers, love going to the locks and watching the ships go through. We haven’t gotten up there over the last few years, but I do need to go (hopefully not while there are feet of snow to get through!).
@amanda6 We spent 3 years in Oklahoma while my husband was stationed at Fort Sill! Oklahoma and I have a love/hate relationship. I hated the droughts (I got desperate and planted cacti in my flower beds, and even they died!), but I loved the people and the food! I would give almost anything for a Smokehouse Cheddar Burger from Whataburger and a pint of Chocolate Peanut Butter frozen yogurt from Braums! However, honestly, all of the food was better there. Even the chain restaurants that you find anywhere had better food than they do up here.
My name is Kat. I practice green magick and am interested in tarot, runes, oracle, Lenormand, ogham, herbalism, and moon magic. I found the practice 30+ years ago but lost my way for a while. I was called back several years ago and continue to explore my path.
There is a wonderful search function that will help you dig for more information in the forums!
We’re glad to have you here. Make yourself comfortable, explore, and feel free to ask questions!
Lol my kids and I miss North Carolina and Washington state from when their father was active duty I’ll have to tell them we have better food We hate the heat here and somehow winters here are worse than in Washington
Now that’s a drought. They said that we could have soft, soaking rains for 3 years straight and not get our water table back up to normal. And we are in the high desert! We still have cacti and trees, though.
Just jumping on the welcome wagon to add in my voice and say welcome! I’m Bry, another one of the moderators and an Eclectic Witch. Thank you for sharing your introduction, it’s a pleasure to meet you
It sounds like things have aligned - I’m excited for you, Steph! May your magickal journey bring you a lot of peace and joy. If you ever have any questions with your studies, know that you’ve got the wisdom of the coven at your fingertips. The coven community here is a very friendly and supportive one
It’s nice to meet you! I’m Marsha, an eclectic solitary witch from Colorado.
I feel like I’m looking for myself, too! It was (and still is ) a strange feeling when my parents died! I’ve lost my connections! I feel all the extreme changes that have occurred and even the ones that are coming in the future. And, yes it’s become quite difficult to reconnect.
We are here for you, Stephnie, welcome to the family!
but I too live in the back of beyond, as we say here. I practice Nordic, Traditional and Runic Witchcraft, and love to explore what’s out there.
and welcome to the forum!
it’s nice to meet you!
I look forward to seeing you around the forum - please, feel free to make yourself at home!
and welcome home 
always,