The Real Witches Coven:
TWPT
Talks to Kate West ©2002-2003TWPT
TWPT: What was it that first led you to personally explore Witchcraft/Wicca as a
spiritual path?
KW: There were many threads inmy
younger life which, I feel, drew together to bring me
to the Craft:
As a young child I was raised in close proximity
to someone who I only later realised was
obviously knowledgeable about the Craft, and although Wicca and Witchcraft were
never talked about, much of her influence remains
with me.
Also, despite being Christian my
parents, being a lot older than those of my
contemporaries, held and passed on to me
a lot of the old ways of healing and knowledge of the land and the cycles of
nature and the seasons. I now realise
that many of the things I find instinctive
were perhaps encouraged or enhanced by that exposure.
In my teens I was
encouraged to examine many
of the ‘orthodox’ belief systems but found
none which met my
spiritual needs. I actively sought the
balance of male and female
in the Divine, a closer relationship with nature and the cycle of the seasons,
and I believed in Magic because I knew that it worked. I followed the cycles of the seasons and the
moon in my
own way and with only the guidance of the old myths
and legends.
It was only later, on a visit to the Witchcraft Museum
at Boscastle, that I discovered that these beliefs were among
the foundation stones of the Craft, and that the term
‘Witch’ was not just that of myth and
fairytale.
TWPT:
Was your life such at the time that this
was a smooth transition onto this path or did it require some mental
adjustments to bring yourself in line with these new spiritual ideas?
KW: In some ways discovering the Craft was such a
smooth transition that it was as though I had
always been a Witch, but just needed to find the right ‘label’. I’ve found that this feeling of ‘coming
home’ is common
amongst Witches, indeed for many
I would say that it is more a question of remembering
than of discovering.
TWPT:
Did you have someone at the time
to answer questions and give guidance to you or did you have to find your way alone? What kinds of tools and books were available to you and were there any shops that
specialized in thesematerials that you were
able to seek out?
KW: My interests in nature, plants, herblore, wildlife and the
cycles of the Moon and the seasons were all aided by my
parents. But my
interest in the Goddess and the God, the festivals and magic
were definitely something I had to explore on my
own. A lot ofmy
information came
from books which treated the subject as
mythology,
history and/or anthropology, rather than a current spirituality. When I was young in the Craft there were few
non-fiction books around and those that were on sale were usually
sensationalist. There were virtually no
shops or stores which catered to our needs, and like many
Witches of the time I improvised
or made the few tools I did use.
TWPT: What kind of Craft community existed at that time and how
did you goabout making contact with it?
KW: It never really occurred to me to try to seek out a Coven in
the early years and I literally found my way by instinct: I was out in the car one day, took a side turn I had never noticed before
and discovered a shop which was not listed.
This led to my first knowing contact with other practising Witches. Subsequently I have discovered that during
most of my developing years there were Covens and other Witches really very close to me then,
even to the extent of being in the same place at the same time –but at the time I wasn’t consciously aware of them.
TWPT:
Tell me about the first several years that you spent
seriously practicing your new beliefs and what kind of growth you
experienced as you gained knowledge and put it to use.
KW: In the early days my Craft practise really focussed on some
of the things I wonder if we sometimes forget to go back to today.
I spent a lot of time simply observing and being part of the
cycles of the seasons, and in being in touch with the land. I followed the cycle of the Moon and made a point of relating her
phases with those both within and outside of myself. I read anything and everything I could about the tales and myths of the
Goddess and the God, and literally spoke with them about my life and asked them for guidance in my Craft. I studied and practiced meditation techniques
and learned through actually practising the Craft how those skills are so essential to the visualisation
which makes magic work. Although I
certainly worked magic, I never really thought in terms of spells and even less so
about rituals. For me, magic was just
something I did, not in any way the complex process that so many new Witches seem to expect
it to be. Of course I made mistakes, we
all do, but I learned from them, which is as the Goddess intends.
TWPT:
Was writing something that you had always wanted to do?
When was it that you decided that writing about The Craft was something
that youneeded to do?
KW: I never really set out to write, it just sort of happened to
me! At the time I started writing I was
working in an ‘occult’ shop and running a Coven comprised almost entirely of newcomers to
the Craft. I found myself answering the
same questions over and over again. As a
result I wrote a short pamphlet entitled “Religion, Ritual and Magic” to
summarise some of the answers to frequent questions from the public. In some respects I suppose that I hoped to
move the questions on to a more interesting level! I also found
myself providing printed sheets to many of my Coven members, and indeed to the
members of other Covens. Anyway the
pamphlet, and some of the notes, grew into a booklet and eventually, at the
suggestion of my current partner, into a
book. “Born in Albion
– the Re-birth of the Craft” was published in 1996.
TWPT:
Did you have any ideas as to what the books were going to
be about? Did you perceive some needs within the community for the
material that you eventually were to write?
KW: One of the first questions newcomers to the Craft ask is
invariably “Can you recommend any good books?”
At the time of ‘Albion’ there were few concise and
reader-friendly books on the market, so I endeavoured to try to fill that
gap. Subsequently I’ve been told that one of my strengths as a writer is that
I write in the same way as I talk, and that people can ‘hear’ my voicefrom the page.
Latterly I would say that there is still a need for straightforward
books on the Craft, too many are written as though the reader has nothing else to do in their life.
TWPT:
Give me a brief overview of the Pagan Federation and then
tell me about your involvement with them and how that came
about.
KW: The Pagan Federation is possibly the foremost Pagan
organisation in the world today. It was
founded in 1971 with the twin purposes of fighting defamation and educating the public,
via the media, about modern Paganism.
Although founded by Witches it has always sought to include other Pagan beliefs
within its remit, and I feel has served the Pagan community well.
I became active within the PF in the mid 90’s and, having
stood for election, became Media Officer.
Shortly after that I was nominated Vice President, and served my 3 year term of
office. However, it became progressively
more difficult to fulfil my obligations to the PF as my young son became more active and
demanding, so I did not stand for the office of President even though pressed to do so.
I still do occasional media work on behalf of the PF, but these days
most of my effort is directedtoward the Craft community and I work closely with The
Children of Artemis for the promotion of today’s Witchcraft andWicca.
TWPT:
When was it that you formed the Hearth of Hecate coven
and how has it grown and changed over the years? Is this something that you
areintimately involved with even now? Is the coven associated
with any ofthe major trads?
KW: The Hearth of Hecate was founded in the mid 1990’s when I
first moved to Cheshire to be with
my partner Steve. Prior to that Steve and a couple of other members had been travelling
to my previous Coven inDevon. In those days not everyone expected to find a Coven on their doorstep!
Although I was initiated in the Gardnerian tradition, I
guess that The Hearth would be better described as being Alexandrian/Traditional in its workings. In the time since it was established the
Hearth has grown to the point that we now have four Daughter Covens, and another ‘on the way’! Although we are now based in Norfolk,
the central Hearth still meets and works, sometimes joined by some of our Daughter
Covenors, and will I trust continue to do so.
We hope one day to hold a grand Coven gathering where all our Covenors will attend,
but co-ordinating a meeting of that many Witches takes some organisation!
TWPT:
What was your first book that was published and how did
that becomea reality?
KW: My first published book was “Born inAlbion
– The Re-Birth of the Craft” co-written with David Williams. As I said before itwas an expansion of the pamphlet
I’d produced to explain the
Craft.
One day whilst I was working in the shop in Devon
a couple of people came in, one of whom was Steve Paine. Steve was already an experienced Priest of the Craft, and a director
of the then Pagan Media Ltd. Steve soon
started attending our Rituals there and it was he who first suggested turning the,
by then somewhat substantial, “Religion, Ritual and Magic” pamphlet into a book. Since
that time Steve has become my husband, partner and High Priest. My first solo book “Handfasting – TheWiccan Wedding” (published by Mandrake Press) contained the
Ritual I had written for our Handfasting, as well as guidelines for writing and holding Handfasting rituals.
TWPT:
Were you pleased with the way it was received by your
readers and did you immediately set about writing your next one? Or at
least thinking about what you might like to tackle next.
KW: “Albion” and “Handfasting” both
received good reviews and many appreciative comments from readers and elders of
theCraft, which was (and still is) extremely encouraging, so I
followed up with “Wiccaning – the Naming of the Child” and “TheRites of Withdrawal – Saying farewell to a loved one”.
TWPT:
When did the idea for the Real Witches series of books
first occur to you?
KW: Coming to motherhood at the age of 40 has given me a real
sense of having been given a gift from the Goddess. And as such Ifeel it is an obligation (as well as my pleasure) to look
after my family. This means there is
less available time for the Craft. Whereas previously I could spend time looking for obscure
herbs, oils etc. or in writing complex and elaborate Rituals, I now had all my previous obligations and to care for a small
child as well. The RW series was started because I realised there was a need for books for people who wanted to practise the Craft
but who also had homes, jobs and families to consider, who couldn’t devote all their time to the Craft but who still
wanted to follow that path. At around
the same time I was approached by several parents who wanted to allow their youngsters to
read about and practise the Craft but who felt that many of thecurrent texts were too formalised or too devoted to
Ritual. So I tried to make The Real
Witches’ Handbook accessible to, but not directed at, younger readers as well. The whole point about The Real Witches’ books
is not that they purport to be the ‘one true Witchcraft’ but that they are written for real
people, who live in the real world, with real (and busy) lives.
TWPT:
What makes your series of books stand out from the rest
of the titles that purport to be complete introductions to Wicca
and the Craft?
KW: I try to write in the same way that I would speak; I endeavour to make my books easy to
understand, and informal, humorous even. I try to
include practical information so that the reader can really make things work
and safety information so that theydon’t set their hair, house or cat afire! I put in real life examples from myself and
my Coven to show that mistakes can be made and lessons learned.
I try to ensure that any ingredients are accessible so they don’t have
to spend weeks seeking hair of bat or hen’s teeth.
In short I assume that the reader has other things to do rather than
having to analyse my writing to work out my meaning. I really
don’t think I can or should comment on other writers as I’m sure that they too
have their own intent when writing.
TWPT:
Who would benefit from The Real Witches Handbook?
KW: TRW Handbook is for anyone who wants to practise the Craft
in a way sympathetic to those around them; be that theirparents, children, partner or flatmates and whether because
those people just aren’t of the Craft, or would be actively againstit. Not everyone has
the luxury, or for that matter the inclination, of being able to shift all the
furniture, burn copious quantities of asafoetida and bang a drum at midnight! But it is also for anyone who wants to follow
the Craft without a lot ofparaphernalia and Ritual, or in a style closer to the
traditional Witch.
TWPT:
You mention in the Real Witches Handbook that seekers
might be misled by some of the dubious texts that abound, is there
anything youcan offer these seekers that might help them avoid these
pitfalls?
KW: There’s some smashing examples of dubious books around, one
which has recently resurfaced gives a precise text so that the (presumably lazy) reader will be able to recite the Lord’s
prayer backwards!! But that’s an obvious
example. Probably the things that most need to be borne in mind are that the Craft
comes in many forms and not all of those are right for everyone. A
reader should retain their common sense when reading any
book, and if something does not feel right to them then it probably is not right for them.
Whilst I agree that we should treat books with respect (that’s the
message I’m trying to instil in my 5 year old anyway!), you do not have to finish reading, let alone
treasure, something you feel is wrong for you.
It is not as though these days there is any shortage of available material from
which to choose. If you’re not sure
about a particular book, order it from your local library, read it and then decide if you want
to buy. Finding a good book is not a
great deal different from finding a good car mechanic; you could just pick the nearest
or easiest to find, but if you want a good one, then get a recommendation from someone you trust. Oh, and when you have read a good book, take
a look to see if the author recommends any others.
Whilst we’re sort of on the subject I’d just like to mention
another thing: I know that books are expensive but, as a lender of books
could I just ask your readers to do other lenders a favour and remember to promptly return anything they borrow, preferably in
the condition it was loaned!
TWPT:
How prevalent are the predators and the charlatans
within the realm of Witchcraft and Paganism? Is there anything that the true
followers of the way can do to give the seeker a safer environment?
KW: There’s no way of telling how many people try to misuse the
Craft for their own ends, whether to extract money, for sexual purposes, or just as a ‘power trip’, but there is also no
doubt that there are some who do so.
However many there are, it’s still too many.
There are several things we can do to make the Craft a safer
place: We need to provide safe forums for communication and the
exchange of ideas, in particular for the young.
It is no use just telling a 16 yr old to wait, we all know that two years is
forever when you are in your teens.
Besides, how many of us can honestly say we were over 18 when we started? We have to provide safe places for
communication and even meeting. If we,
the reputable Witches won’t, then guess who will! In the UK the Children of Artemis do this
through their website and Gatherings.
We must inform and educate all newcomers, about money, sex
and control. Everyone approaching the
Craft should be aware that, whilst Covens and individuals do need to cover their
expenses, we do not charge huge sums of money for teaching theCraft, or working magic.
They should be aware that, whilst skyclad and The Great Rite Actual do
happen, no-one should everbe forced to do something which they are not prepared for,
or to which they have not consented.
They should also be aware that true Witchcraft is not about
exercising power over others, or having it exercised over you. It is about self control , development and personal
responsibility.
We need to police ourselves.
Where someone is discovered to be using the Craft for their own ends we
should communicate amongst ourselves and ensure that word gets out. In the days when the Craft was smaller it was
common for a High Priestess to contact others of her acquaintance to let them know that
‘X’ was power-hungry, or even just a
liability! I’m not suggestingthat we produce a formal blacklist, but being able to say “I
really wouldn’t recommend X”, then most people should get the idea.
As this subject has come up more than once recently, I shall
be holding a workshop at Witchfest in Croydon in November ’03,on the subject of avoiding just these sorts of people and
problems.
TWPT:
As I have been up to your website I am sure that you are
aware ofthe importance of being visible on the web but what role has
the web played in the resurgence of Witchcraft in the recent
years?
KW: I feel certain that email and the web are major contributory
factors in the rise of would-be Witches.
Whereas previously many people were interested there was nowhere they could go to
find out the facts, few books to read, and any meetings would only known to a few. Now
there is an abundance of information and communication, and it is possible to
reach people around the globe at the touch of a button (at least for those who don’t
have my computer there is!). This, of
course, brings its own problems but on the whole I feel that it’s a good thing so long as
people take sensible precautions.
The web brings the Craft other advantages too; we can share
our Craft with many others of like mind, we can call uponWitches around the world to help with specific acts of
magic, we can share our joys as well as our troubles.
TWPT:
Is it anymore likely that you will run into those
dubious characterson on the web as you would in real life?
KW: Definitely. It is so
easy for someone to appear to be something they are not when all you have is
their words on screen. The so-called sixth sense we all use when we meet someone new is
all but completely useless on the internet.
Worse than that, if and when you do meet someone with whom you have exchanged
emails, you have a somewhat distorted preconceived idea of them from their words, and the mental image you have given
them, to overcome before your instincts can even start to operate. It’s all too
easy to forget that someone you have never met before is a stranger – even if
you’ve been corresponding for 10 years, they’re still a stranger!
It is well known that paedophiles in particular do use the
web as a way of contacting minors, and young would-be Witches are as vulnerable, if not more so, than others. These would-be Witches are aware that there
is secrecy surrounding the Craft and so are not surprised that contacts are secretive. They are frequently unwilling or unable to
tell their parents who, where and why they are meeting and hence can easily put themselves at
risk.
I’d like to remind everyone of just some of the key ‘rules’ when
meeting someone they do not know well:
Make it a public place, with other people around, preferably
in daylight.
Make it somewhere you know well.
Take a friend, even if they have to keep an eye on you from
a distance.
Make sure you can get home under your own steam.
Never go anywhere with a stranger. If they need to show you something in their
car (or wherever), they can go and fetch it – you stay safe.
Make sure you do not give information that enables you to be
located whether at home, work, school or college.
Trust your instincts!
TWPT:
Tell me about the Real Witches Kitchen and why you
decided to writethis book?
KW: I must confess that I really wanted to call this book
“Kitchen Witchery” because that’s what I call it when I show Covenors how to do these sorts of things, but the publishers really
didn’t like that title!
The archetypal image of a Witch frequently shows her
stirring a bubbling cauldron over an open fire, and in some respects this is a factually accurate, if out of date, picture. Much of the work of the Witch takes place, or
at least starts, in the kitchen. It’s no use having knowledge of the healing powers of herbs and
plants if you have no way of getting them into your unsuspecting family’s mouths, or onto their bodies! So the making of soups and teas, lotions and
ointments is really quite important. Now
my ancient forebears may have trekked out into the woods,
clutching their cauldron and bucket of well water, but me, I prefer good lighting, sensible height work surfaces and an absence
of curious cat in the mix! Not only
that but there are other things that the industrious Witch can make in the kitchen; candles,
incense, soaps, bath oils, and herbal preparations of all kinds.
Additionally, there’s the thorny subject of foods to
celebrate the Sabbats. I feel quite
strongly that the Sabbat feast should reflect both the season and the locale. In other words, nice as it is to have say
Spanish oranges in February, it’s not in keeping with Imbolg in East Anglia!
Not to mention that there really is more to Oestara than chocolate. There is, honest! TWR Kitchen also includes ways of extending the Sabbat
celebrations to include family and friends, even if they’re not Pagan in anyway. I like to share
my joy in the seasons with all my near and dear, without in any way wanting to
force my beliefs on them.
TWPT:
Do you feel the same relationship as a teacher would
about those whoread and study your books? How does this affect the way that
you write if at all?
KW: I certainly feel much the same way about my readers as I do
about my Covenors, although often with less exasperation for lateness, absence and the like! In fact much of what I write has already
formed part of Coven life, long before the books are even thought of. I
certainly feel the same responsibilities towards them, especially in terms of
their safety, both physical andotherwise, hence all the harping on about being careful with
candles and the like! I think this does influence
the way I write, making me more careful to speak plainly and to consider any
potential mis-interpretations, although I can’t avoid them all.
I do try to respond to all those who contact me, although
between life, computer problems and deadlines etc. I’m frequently not as prompt as I would like to be.
TWPT:
I have seen on your website where you are hard at work
on a new title in the Real Witches series that will be out in 2003.
Tell me aboutwhat we can expect from The Real Witches Coven and some of
the concepts that it will be covering.
KW: The Real Witches’ Coven is due out in the UK on Feb 17th ,
and is intended to guide the would-be High Priestess and/or HighPriest through the whole challenging process of starting and
running a Coven. I like to think that it
will also hold some new ideas for those with experience too. TRW Coven covers setting up a Coven from
finding and selecting members, through training and initiations, rules and discipline, Rituals for
Esbats and Sabbats, the problems you might encounter day to day and ways of avoiding them, right through to the ways a Coven
might divide or even close. It even
includes a piece on how to be agood Covenor, as it just isn’t possible to run a Coven
without the co-operation of the members!
The idea is to try and help people avoid at least some of the pitfalls and hopefully to
give them a chance to enjoy having a Coven, rather than spending all their time picking up the pieces!
As an aside, when I first thought about this project (it was
going to be called The Coven Handbook at that time) all the other HPS’s and HP’s I spoke to came up with the same idea; 200
pages filled with “Don’t do it!” in large type!
TWPT:
Even before that we can expect a new book from you
called A Spell inYour pocket around December of 2002. The title makes it
fairly obvious but give me a run down on what will be included in this book
and why a book of spells?
KW: A Spell in Your Pocket is not actually a book of spells per
se, but is a pocket sized introduction to the Craft which includes some spells, and herb lore.
It’s more of a gift book than part of the Real Witches’ series.
Having said that I’ve just completed writing The Real
Witches’ Book of Spells and Rituals, which should be published later this year (2003). This
really is a book of spells and rituals and came about because of the large
number of enquiries I have received from practising Witches who want instruction on
what sort of magic to perform, and how to do it, to achieve their intent. As the title
suggests it also includes many Rituals and information on how to write and put
together your own. A lot of people are still concerned that there are definitive ‘right’
ways to approach the Goddess and the God and I’m hoping to encourage the idea that, if your intent is pure, you can be
really quite flexible about how you meet with your Gods.
TWPT:
I hear you’ve had a frightful time with your computer
over the last few months, has this had any spillover into when readers can expect to see the books that you were working on at the
time?
KW: Computers?
Aaarghhh!! Firstly, I must
apologise to your readers if they were expecting to read this a bit
sooner.
I’ve always been a bit of a technophobe but this last year
takes the biscuit! If I was just a
little bit more paranoid I’d be convinced that it’s all a plot designed to prevent me from
completing a book on time. And yes,
research has indicated that it originated from a stronghold of Christian evangelism!!
Anyway, by dint of staying up until the small wee hours, and
farming out my poor child to anyone who’d look after him, I got the book (TRW Spells and Rituals) in on my second extension
deadline, and if the Old Gods are smiling on me it should be out towards the end of the year.
However, as my piece on the Harper Collins website hints at,
if I find out who designed the viruses that started the problem, I won’t be needing Witchcraft when I take them for a short
walk through the garden of enlightenment!!
BTW many thanks to those out there who have sent me anti-virus spells.
TWPT:
Do you ever
venture out on the road doing personal appearances/teachings and what kinds of memorable
experiences have youhad out among the Pagan folk?
KW: Yes, I’m a frequent speaker at Craft events, Pagan
conferences, and other groups, not to mention bookshop talks and signings etc.. So far for this
coming year
I’ve got a number of things already lined up including Witchfests
in Dublin, Glasgow and Croydon, Witchcamp in the summer and many others. Then I’m doing a Handfasting course in Feb,
and have offers for a number of other events and meetings, which I’ve yet to
cross-match against the school holiday timetable!
I find it’s great to get out and meet the people who are
part of the Craft today, as well as those who are going to be taking it from here into the future.
Not only that, but I get to make new friends and catch up with existing
ones. My poor partner Steve, rarely gets to enjoy the conferences in the same way
as he’s usually practising his speciality, directing sound and lighting on whatever stage(s) are being used.
Of all the events we’ve been to over the years Pantheo Con in
San Jose has got to be the most memorable:
From being told that we looked too straight to be Witches (despite the
temporary pentagram tattoos on our foreheads!), to the hotel shared between a couple of hundred Witches and a somewhat
nervous-looking 4th Army Airbourne Division, it was quite the most stunning and entertaining conference we’d attended, then or
since.
At one point I was running late
doing Q & A after my talk when the ‘wall’ was rolled back to reveal a row of very
unhappy looking soldierly types who weren’t going to cross the invisible line between ‘them’ and ‘us’. I don’t suppose my comment that “they don’t
look much like Witches to me” helped them to feel any more relaxed as one scurried off to find
someone in charge to move us along!
As
the only ‘limey’s’ in attendance, our insistence on going for a walk had the hotel
staff speechless, and it took us days to work out that what sounded to our uninitiated ears like “eighth-army” turned
out to be a strong southern accent saying “Athame”. In the UK attendees at such events usually get out their long dresses
and Wiccan jewellery, in the US it’s no holds barred, one of our team found herself in the lift with a chap wearing nothing but
a leather apron who wanted to talk about methods of self-flagellation.
Even the afore-mentioned 4th Army Airbourne wore more ‘scrambled egg’
than most UK Witches wear silver!
TWPT:
You seem to be very busy at the moment, is there
anything else thatyou would like to share with our readers around the world
about what is in store for Kate West over the next few years? Any final
thoughts orbits of wisdom that you might like to share with
everyone?
KW: Well as I’ve indicated; TRW Coven is due out in Feb., and
TRW Spells and Rituals towards the end of the year. I’m currently working on The Real Witches’ Garden, which is scheduled for
publication in March 2004. TRW Garden is
not a ‘how togarden’ book, but rather how to use the Craft to help your
garden and your garden to help your Craft.
As I’ve tended gardens of all shapes and sizes, from window sill to extensive
wilderness, and in all kinds of condition from gravelled over to ex-builders rubble heap, I intend to try to bring a little bit of earth
magic into every environment and to focus on what is possible, rather than what would be ideal.
After that? Well
we’re looking at an idea for The Real Witch’s Diary which, if it’s accepted,
will be a somewhat lighter work combining information on the Craft with real Diary
entries. A cross between my Book of
Shadows and my personal journal (only without any child-care entries!). There are other ideas in the offing, but I’m
keeping those under wraps for present, no sense in tempting the fates too much!
I’ve already listed some of my forward appearances above and
details usually appear on The Children of Artemis website.
They don’t go on mine as only Steve can update it and he can
sometimes be ‘on the road’ for weeks at a time.
Having said that, we are in the process of catch-up at present. Other info can be found on Harper Collins
site together with my “thoughtfor the season” which comes out for most Sabbats.
And finally, I can’t claim authorship but I do like it:
“Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy
and taste good with ketchup!”
In Mirth and Reverence..... Blessings
Kate
TWPT:
Thanks for taking the time to talk to us Kate
and I do hope that you have seen the worst of your computer
problems for quite some time to come. Blessings upon
your journey and your writings.
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