Moonshine 2020 Coven Up, Art Witches! In case you're new here, I'm Effy Wild, and I’m an artist, writ- er, and teacher. I’m the founder and faciliator of the year long collaborative e-course, Book Of Days, and I’ve been a practic- ing pagan since the late 1980’s. I’m best known for my ‘authenticity’, which I think might be code for ‘bed head and swearing’, but might also have some- thing to do with the way I feel compelled to share my lights and shadows honestly & vulnerably. I take this quote from a poem by Muriel Rukeyse very much to heart: “What would happen if one woman told the truth about her life? The world would split open” I’ve been art journaling since late 2009 after a terrible case of writer’s block led me to look for other forms of creative expression. Before that, I was extremely invested in self-inquiry, self-love, therapy for recovery from childhood abuse, writing as my primary mode of creative expression, exploring the things that make us human beans tick, and exploring the deepest depths and highest heights of living this one wild and pre- cious life. In the midst of all of this creative work, I have also been an avid student of traditional and alternative spiritual modalities. I have a Bardic Grade in The Order Of Bards, Ovates, and Druids, I’m a dedicant in an American tradition of Wicca (though I am no longer practicing), and a former student of Karina Blackheart of the Blackheart Feri Tradition, and Christopher Penczak of the Temple of Witchcraft. My spiritual influences include Starhawk, Rumi, Victor & Cora Anderson, Joseph Campbell, Carl Jung, St. Francis of Assisi, Leonard Cohen, Ram Dass, and Mary Oliver, combined with a library worth of books + decades worth of curiosity & practice. As you may have surmised by now, I resonate with a ‘magpie mystic’ approach to spirituality in that I pick and choose what works for me. My eclectic taste in spiritual practices includes lore, myth, and practices sourced from the British Isles, among other cultures. More on this later. I will be bringing my studies and experiences into this class by providing *gentle* and deep ways of devel- oping your own spiritual practices that include creativity – especially mixed media art + art journaling. In short, Moonshine is a witchcraft tradition with an emphasis on art as its primary spiritual activity. I cre- ated this tradition for *me* but I am thrilled to be sharing it *with you*. During our time together this year, we will focus on: Mixed media art & art journaling as way to raise and direct energy toward the attainment of our desires, and to connect with the divine as we understand it. 1 Working with the phases of the moon, moon lore, the Celtic Tree calendar, the Zodiac, and other lore to im- bue our work with meaning and power. Becoming familiar with and engaging with all of our parts in an effort to know ourselves, love ourselves, and meet ourselves on the page in a way that empowers us. The use of oracles of our choosing (tarot, runes, animal oracles, etc.) as portals into our creative practice. Participating in montly live activation gatherings with the intention of deepening our understanding of the content, and connecting as a coven. Monthly (optional) coven work designed to heal & empower ourselves, our coven, and the world beyond our coven. Engaging with a coven of art witches, both new & experienced, with the intention of supporting one another, and amplifying our collective energies towards the attainment of our desires. And so much more... A Bit More About How Moonshine Came To Be Moonshine began in 2013 and originally focused entirely on iconic portraits. After teaching it in a couple of different permutations, I took a break to figure out exactly what I wanted to do with what I thought could be a much more comprehensive program. In 2018, I expanded on the ‘art witch’ part of the program, and also shifted its focus to include whatever imagery feels most relevant to us based on our own journeys. How Moonshine Works Now In this present incarnation of the program, along with everything mentioned so far, I will be demonstrating working with art as a spiritual practice in two art-related lessons per month - one lesson, which will be time lapsed, is a new moon art journaling project and the other, a full moon mixed media painting that can be done either in the art journal (my favourite way to work) or on any other substrate (canvas, wood panel, loose watercolour paper, etc.) that you desire. We won’t do our first official piece of art until the first of January 2020, but you will find some preliminary projects you can undertake in this PDF & in your classroom that will get you ready to go on our start date. BUT FIRST... I want you to take a deep breath. You’re here. We’re here. Woosah! However new you might be, you belong here. However expert you might be, you belong here. Whatever you come into this with in terms of expec- tations or desires or questions or answers, you belong here. You’re going to find something in this to keep for yourself. That’s a promise. I’m pinky swearing. Take another breath. Grab a bevvie. Feel yourself in your own skin, right here, right now, willing to start where you are. Right here, Right now... 2 Start Where You Are - Journal Prompts Engage the following prompts in a written journal. Be gentle & honest with yourself as you explore these questions. Share whatever you wish to share in the coven. We are waiting to embrace you with open arms, so have no fear. Once you’re done, come back to this PDF for more on art witchery, woo woo, and how seriously we’re taking all of this ‘witch’ stuff. 1.) What questions are coming up for me as I read through this introduction? 2.) What am I feeling right now, in this moment? Excited? Afraid? Ready to dive in? Be specific. 3.) What am I most excited about? Most afraid about? 4.) If I could ask Effy anything right now, I’d ask her...(fill in the blank). 5.) What do I most want to get out of Moonshine 2020? 6.) What am I bringing to the table in terms of experience, skills, ways of being (supportive, gentle, witnessing, empathic). 7.) What skills do I hope to build over the course of the year? 8.) How do I feel about the words ‘witchery’, ‘witchcraft’, ‘witch’, ‘power’, ‘desire’, ‘creativity’, and ‘devotion’. 9.) What one thing do I want my coven to know about me before we begin? So, What Exactly *IS* Art Witchery? Art Witchery is the use of visual arts and art journaling as a way to change our consciousness in accordance with our will. Art Witches work with colour, shape, symbol, and our own effort as offering to raise energy, which we direct towards the attainment of the things we wish call in to our lives and the world. These things may be as simple as changing our habits (walk more, smoke less), or as complicated as working for justice. Whatever you bring to the table can be ‘art witched’ through creative practice, and I will teach you how, and support you while you learn and do. Art Witches also work to enchant the every day with small and large acts of ritual, spiritual attunement, and mindfulness that may or may not include the flinging of paint or the drawing of doodles. While our emphasis here in Moonshine will be on art as a spiritual practice, I will also be offering witchery of other types for you to explore. Take what serves you, leave the rest, and know that you are always welcome to tweak, discard, experiment, and make this path your own. How Seriously Are We Taking This 'Witch' Thing? Well, how seriously do you want to take it? You can absolutely take this class as an art journaling enthusiast, pick and choose whatever you find here that makes your soul sing, and never think about or use the word “Witch”. Alternatively, you can dive in to all the rabbit holes this class will lead you into. You can learn how to come into attunement with the land you live on, the sky above your head, your inner wisdom, and your 3 relationship with the divine as you understand it. You can ask yourself all the hard and soft questions and marry your creativity and spirituality into a practice that will nourish your soul. I’m coming at this topic as an agnostic (yes, you can be an agnostic witch!) who experiences the power of ritual, ceremony, poetry, and art from an almost strictly psychological perspective. I don’t believe in the su- pernatural. I believe that if it is happening, it is natural. I don’t know about the ‘actual existence’ of personal gods or goddesses who literally exist. I know that working with their stories empowers and emboldens me in making the most out of my life. I don’t know if ‘spells’ work. I know that when I work with magic, I’m priming my own power to create the life I want. I believe that being a witch is bigger than being a member of a particular ‘denomination’ or ‘spiritual modality’. I believe that when I use the word, I am alerting all my parts, especially the parts that are in cahoots with the universe, to the unshakable certainty that I have the power to shape my reality.