Join us, for an intriguing conversation with Irisanya Moon! Irisanya is a Witch, Priestess, Author of several books, Poet and devotee of Aphrodite. She teaches classes and camps in the Reclaiming Witchcraft tradition around the world. Her latest book is: “HESTIA: Goddess of Hearth, Home and Community” She lives in Sonoma county California. *Stay tuned until the end where Irisanya gives us a short Hestia blessing for the home*

Originally from the Midwest; Irisanya moved to California and has been invested in the Reclaiming Witchcraft tradition since 2008. This is an Eco-Feminist tradition that seeks to unify spirit and politics and encompasses many viewpoints on deity. Irisanya began her spiritual journey by first attending a Witch Camp - a 7 day retreat and loved it. She found a mentor named Copper Persephone who mentored her on her Reclaiming Witchcraft path and was a good friend. Irisanya continued with priestess training and student teaching with Copper for several years before teaching on her own.

We chat about Hestia the Goddess of the hearth and community in all her Greek mythological complexity. Basically, Hestia is/was the flame that connects everyone- the flame that is essential for humankind. She was worshipped in the home but also in the civic/political communities of ancient Greece. Hestia elected to never marry and to remain an eternal Virgin Goddess, one owned by no man and forever tended to the hearth of Olympus. Hestia offered sanctuary from persecution to those who honored and respected Her and punished those who offended Her. She was worshipped and celebrated around the hearth that is central to family(births,deaths, marriages) etc.as well as community rites of passages and events. The Olympic torch was/is a symbol of the eternal flame of Hestia lit at Mt. Olympus in Her honor.

Irisanya talks to us about how Hestia has influenced her writing this book as a result of teaching at various in-person events, classes and Witchcamps after the Covid lockdown in 2023 and how she worked to bring community together and rebuild community after people have gone through so much. In a way Hestia collaborated with Irisanya while writing this book about her! Irisanya believes that community is essential now more than ever and Irisanya works hard to figure out group cohesion and how people can support each other as well as feel comfortable with giving and receiving around each other. It's about belonging and meeting people where they are at, which is not easy whether it is in a magical Pagan or Wiccan ritual or at work or any other type of community.

Irisanya’s book is full of invocations, meditations, prayers and other useful information so that anyone can connect with Goddess Hestia. And Hestia is there for us to honor and celebrate at home even if we don't have a community around us. We can always call on Her and ask for her wisdom, support, nourishment and blessings regardless of our spiritual background or where we live in the world.

We end the episode with Irisanya leading us in a lovely Hestia blessing for the home. Tune in and be enlightened! More about Irisanya: www.irisanyamoon.com

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Join us, for an enthralling conversation with Joey Morris! Joey Morris is a Celtic Hedge Witch, Priestess of the Morrigan, Author, and Creatrix behind Starry Eyed Supplies. She shares information on topics such as: Paganism and Celtic Hedge Witchcraft on her Starry Eyed Witch Youtube channel since 2012. Joey has been serving the Pagan community with videos, books, poetry and Witch items for over ten years. Trained as a Priestess of Morrigan, she has a unique perspective on integrating Celtic Paganism for a modern age. Her latest book is: “Celtic Hedge Witchery: A Modern Approach.” She lives in Plymouth, England. *Stay tuned until the end where Joey takes us on a powerful guided visualization to our own sacred grove*

Originally from Nottingham Shire, Joey always felt at home in forests and in nature and loved writing. She was doing Witchy things before she knew what the term Witch meant and she was obsessed with Nature as a kid but later in life she realized that she was a Celtic Witch.

Joey developed an interest in the Morrigan early and she says the Morrigan was always with her and Joey got to know her mythology and combined with her own personal gnosis she was self - initiated as a Priestess of the Morrigan. Joey deeply identified with Morrigan’s shapeshifting aspect. And being a Hedge Witch fit Joey as the label that she naturally gravitated towards. She believes that Hedge Witchery crosses the boundary between spirit working and green witchcraft/herbalism.

Joey was always fascinated by hedgerows and drawn to them growing up in rural England finding them to be very magical and liminal. Hedgerows are quintessentially British and seen mostly at the edges of farming fields and woodlands. They are half man made and half wild grown structures of trees and bushes that became living fences creating whole ecosystems and habitats within them. Joey tells us she believes hedgerows are more than a physical boundaries. There is folklore about Witches ”jumping the Hedge” which is a phrase meaning when we cross over into the Spirit world or go on astral travels. This means that Hedgerows aren't just a physical thing. They can be mysterious gateways to the Otherworlds. They are also about memory and the history of that land and the people, animals, plants and spirits that have dwelled there.

Joey believes that a Hedge Witch is a spirit worker first and foremost who is very connected to the Earth including trees, plants, animals in the physical world and also with the Spiritual Ecosystem-all the spirits that are interconnected. Hedge Witches have a deep love of working with and honoring the Land, Sea and Sky which is a Celtic perspective.(The three Celtic realms of existence). It's the belief of Animism that everything has a spirit and a Hedgewitch can connect into all of this.

We chat about creativity, inspiration and being led by the universal force of Awen. Joey’s book "Celtic Hedge Witchery: A Modern Approach” grew out of years of her Hedge Witchcraft practice and all the things she's been writing about in her blogs, poetry and creating videos around. It is a beautiful love letter to the spiritual path that Joey has been walking on and shaping.

How can we become Hedge Witches wherever we are in the world? Joey tells us that the memory of the destroyed physical eco systems of the Hedgerows live on in the spiritual world and that we can tap into those spirits wherever we are and create a connection to the divine even if we are not near

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Join us, for a lively conversation with Leilani Kahuna Birely! Leilani is a Native Hawaiian Kahuna and Dianic High Priestess who teaches ancient Hawaiian healing and Goddess wisdom. She is the founder/ritual director of Daughters of the Goddess Women’s Temple in the San Francisco Bay Area. Leilani has co-authored the book: “On Holy Ground: Commitment and Devotion to Sacred Lands” with Luisah Teish. *Stay tuned until the end when Leilani gives us a short Spring Goddess Invocation **

Leilani chats about her early magical beginnings in Hawaii and being influencedby her grandmother's stories about Pele who is the Goddess of volcanoes and fire. As early as she can remember there was a strong connection and respect for the indigenous deities of Hawaiian culture in her family despite her Catholic upbringing. And it was these stories that kept the Hawaiian spirit alive for Leilani. The “Mana” or spiritual energy of Hawaii is very strong and carries through Leiliani’s beliefs and teachings as a Dianic Priestess and Kahuna.

Leilani went back to get her masters degree and studied Women’s Spirituality in the SF Bay area and was taught by such legendary women as Luisah Teish and Vickie Noble. Leilani took a class in Priestessing that was taught by the legendary Z. Budapest - the founder of Dianic Wicca. This matrifocal Goddess focused spirituality felt very real to Leilani and she eventually became ordained by Z. Budapest as a Dianic Priestess. Leilani started Daughters of the Goddess in 1996.

Leilani is also an ordained Kahuna which is a Hawaiian spiritual teacher and she weaves the Hawaiian Goddesses in with her Dianic spirituality. Since she also has European ancestry, Leilani brings a multicultural energy of the Goddesses as well as Hawaiian chants, prayers, and Hula into ceremony with her Dianic circle: The Daughters of the Goddess. Leilani and Loiuisa Teish also co-wrote a book together about sacred travels, honoring the Earth, indigenous people and nature from the African and Hawaiian spiritual traditions.

Interestingly, Leilani’s and my paths crossed a few times over the years and it's such a special privilege to be able to share her magic, Aloha energy and unique spirituality on this show with my listeners! More about Leilani at:www.daughtersofthegoddess.com Tune in and be enlightened!

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