TWLEpisode45Sun, 8/9 7:17PM • 1:10:21

SUMMARY KEYWORDSknitting, people, yarn, dandelions, witch, plants, cross stitch, magical, blanket, witchy, courtney, keen, find, witchcraft, literally, spirit, work, nani, taught, zucchini

SPEAKERSNani, Kanani, Intro music, Courtney , Hilary, Courtney and Hilary, (Exit Music)

Intro music 00:0320 years ago, three young friends realized they were witches. They scattered to different parts of the world, following magic and spirit. Now, they're back in their hometown to share what they've learned. Welcome to That Witch Life Podcast. Your home for living as a witch in today's world

Kanani 00:48Welcome everybody. And thanks for joining us for another episode of That Witch Life Podcast. I am Kanani and I am going to be the host today and I am joined by my friend Fellow co hosts, Courtney and Hillary.

Courtney and Hilary 01:03Hello.

Kanani 01:04And today we have a bunch of fun stuff to talk about. And Hillary is going to discuss the use of dandelions in your magical practice as well as we have a fabulous guest today, Nani Romanoff, who is going to be talking to us about making magic with yarn and yarn crafts. And I, being the crafty one of the bunch, threw down the gauntlet and said I was willing to fight anybody who thought that they were going to host an episode about crafts over me. And luckily, they were both bored and couldn't hear me and so I got to do it.

Courtney 01:40I think it was more like, you brought out your seven year old not getting her way cuz it was. If You think you get to do it and I don't. I'm craftier than you do. And Hillary and I were like, ok

Hilary 01:54Oh, yeah, like I'm like, Well, I don't think it was a boredom thing. It was just like, whatever. Cool. Sounds good. Like, like, this isn't the hill I'm gonna die on. You're the Crafty one. But it was she was like, I'm doing this one. It's like, okay, you're doing this one

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Courtney 02:10well it's understandable because this this is this artist's work is phenomenal. So I'm not surprised that there was a bit of a fight there

Hilary 02:19An also you are the craftiest of the bunch. So that's fair.

Kanani 02:24It's my jam.This is my jam.

Hilary 02:27It is your jam.

Kanani 02:29So what have you guys all been up to?

Courtney 02:33well for me not sleeping, two nights of insomnia in a row. And so by the end episode, I'm either going to be laughing crying or leaving my body in an astral projection. I don't know it's early, anything could happen during this hour and change. Also, friends, I am the one who edits this. So if it ends up being chopped and gobbly and strange, it's because I haven't slept in two nights. And it's Konami's fault, which made me stay out too late last night. And then I was too excited when I came home and I couldn't go to sleep. So yeah

Kanani 03:07we actually had a really good night last night, Courtney and I joined a group of witches that got together at the Portland protests last night, to just kind of be there in solidarity and show support for the Black Lives movement. And it was, I haven't been downtown in quite some time. And so it was cool to be able to go and take pictures of some of the art that the protesters have created. And there was a absolutely beautiful Memorial that had been created by the fountain near the waterfront of people whose who've lost their lives to police violence. And it was just, it was a really great seeing so many different religions represented there and it was kind of a group of clergy

Courtney 03:59Yeah. We had a lot of Christians there. Quite a few people from the Jewish community and then the witches. And we were loud and we were embraced. They were everyone was glad to have us there. So lovely woman rabbi who was blowing the Shofar, and then we marched with everybody. We marched up to the memorial that has been created right there outside the Justice Center, and had a second ritual. And it just I actually I really love doing magic with interfaith people. And I've just found that over the years, especially in these justice and movement spaces, there's a lot of embrace for magic in the goddess a lot among a lot of different religions. And I know that there are many places where, you know, the Abrahamic faiths can can shut out or abuse people that are in witchcraft. So I want to make that very clear, but I think where I have found the best bridges being built are in these spaces of movement and justice. There's just a real warm embrace, and they're glad to see people show up.

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Right. And it was, it was just good to be out. It's been. It's been hard for me to watch the things happen in Portland and not be getting involved. But just because I had some health stuff going on, I couldn't risk being near tear gas. And also my nine to five is supporting activists. So there was a lot of work that I needed to be present to do. Right, that would have precluded me from getting into the streets out there in a way that is a huge part of me, the young, you know, street blocking radical's still in there somewhere and she was having a fit, that I wasn't there for this one. So it was it was it was it was good to be out and I liked being out with Kanani touche, you're actually a very good person to, to march with because you stay calm, you stay grounded. I don't have to worry that you're going to go run off somewhere and I'm not able to find you and I had the keys to your car. So you did run off....

Kanani 05:58I'm also loud and that helps people always like having me in a crowd. You can pick me out of a crowd fairly simply.

Courtney 06:06At this point, yeah, because everyone knows our voices. Like.

Hilary 06:12Yeah, I'm super bummed that I couldn't be there with you guys. But iI was definitely there in spirit. I think that these things are so important to get involved in. So like, so happy that you guys got to go down. And I know Courtney, you have an Instagram photo to share with us that we'll put up.

Courtney 06:31Do I do it was the best protest photo I've ever taken. It was a little boy holding up his fist in solidarity right next to the older woman rabbi who was blowing the shofar and it's so beautiful, so it will be on our Instagram. Joe, check that out because I got all excited. And even Kanani said nice things when she saw it so you know that that's a big deal.

Kanani 06:55It was a perfect picture. It was so good.

Hilary 06:59You know? It's good if Konami is telling you it's good.

Kanani 07:01Exactly like like so good. I'm probably gonna like print it and frame it and put it with next to my other protest picture that I have that I love. I have a really a picture I bought back in like 2005 and I love it. It's from the RNC convention that came to town. I'd have to look at the back because I can't quite remember what year it was. It was early 2000

Courtney 07:26it was 2003 we think it was 2003 I've always thought the only reason you really bought that picture is because you liked her Hello Kitty purse.

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Kanani 07:282003 that sounds right. And there was the riot police had come out and they were blocking the streets. And so there's these people in full riot gear behind the behind the blockades. And then there's just this beautiful young woman with her Hello Kitty purse. standing there in front of the riot police and then this photographer captured this like perfect moment of like the dichotomy of both sides and i just i i purchased it right there at a street fair and I had it on framed up ever since. And I just love it. And so, Courtney, your picture is going to be able to go next to that picture. That's how good this picture is. That was a big part that had a significant percentage. But I just I the imagery to me was just so profound. And even when people see it, they just kind of stop and just kind of it just makes you think for a second because it just is so imbalanced. And so that's one of the things I love about it is it kind of makes you just kind of pause and go, Well, that doesn't look right. So no, it was it was a good evening and then afterwards, I took you out. We went out to eat something because we've neither one of us for whatever reason we're smart enough to eat dinner before we went. And Courtney found that she was going to be able to get chicken wings, which she was super excited about because that's our favorite thing that she hasn't been able to eat anymore because she can't have gluten.

Courtney 09:03Yeah.

Kanani 09:05And what was it you loved about the chicken wings?

Courtney 09:07They were gluten free. But was gonna say something like Kanani is to blizzards as Courtney is to chicken wings. And they were out and I was so upset. I think I pounded the table with my fists like a child.

Hilary 09:22Oh my god that's so sad

Kanani 09:24But she was bunched. I should feel bad for saying this, but I don't. She was so bunched it kind of made me giggle a little bit. It was. This is my like horrible sense of humor because she was so excited. She was so excited. She was like, as soon as the girl came to take our order. She's like, I was chicken wings. The girls like, oh, we're out and just the look on her face was like

Courtney 09:49why did the gods hate me? I've been marching for justice all night.

Kanani 09:54My first was to felt really bad but then it was funny.

Hilary 10:01You're the worst.

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Kanani 10:03I really am

Courtney 10:04 well she didn't stab me when I reached for her tots either so I guess that was kind of

Kanani 10:08I shared my tots with you

Courtney 10:09sort of you will you were cold and done with them and you didn't slap me so that's that's the only way Kananinsharing your thoughts when she's done with that doesn't slap you for taking

Kanani 10:20them and they've gotten cold. You can have my tots

Courtney 10:23Oh my god.

Hilary 10:24Oh my god, you're the worst.

Courtney 10:30You're like me, the opposite of all the little friendship anecdotes that are written on mugs in a hallmark store

Kanani 10:38Oh hundred percent.

Courtney 10:41Friends lift you up. Kanani tears you down

Kanani 10:44That's why all the memes where people say horrible things. People giggle and think about me because I would say those things. I think those thoughts

Courtney 10:52It was like on our Facebook page this week. When you posted that one of Wednesday Addams. It says something like it's not that I don't like you. I'm just saying I'd unplug your life support plug in my coffeemaker and somebody was saying I can hear Kanani's voice saying that

Kanani 11:09EXACTLY because I would not I would say that he won't do that.

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Courtney 11:12I think you have said that.

Kanani 11:15Well, I wouldn't I would be shocked if I hadn't.

Hilary 11:18Oh my god.

Kanani 11:20But how does what I bring to the table maybe horrible horrible sarcasm and indifference that is that's my offering.

Courtney 11:28You mean that mean it you're like knows literally I would.

Hilary 11:31I mean, I didn't get to go to the protests. But at least I didn't have to endure Kanani sometimes find a win even in the saddest circumstance

Courtney 11:46Hilay's out there facing tear gas and rubber bullets but if Kanani is there she's like too much going home.

Hilary 11:53Yeah, sorry. Can't can't do that's that's the real reason. No, it's not the real reason. I know. And what have I been doing? I didn't get to do I didn't get to be down there like I wanted to, but I have been I started a new job. So I'm now in finishing week two of new job, so it's going really well. And it's like, it was a weird shift to like having not worked for a couple months due to COVID and then suddenly, like (tire squeal noise), What was it like Hillary? like a 180 like, you know, like, you're peeling out. And so you guys are asshoels. so yeah, I mean, it's it was a little bit of a shock to the system, but it also feels good. I like to keep busy so it feels good to be back in the swing of things. And then yeah, been my vegetable gardens going fucking crazy. Like I like

Courtney 12:56the zucchini, Moon some we somebody agreement really should rename the sturgeon moon to the zucchini moon.

Hilary 13:03Yeah, dude legit, like, I had no concept really of how much zucchini would happen. And there's already like five or six that are ready to be picked or close to be being picked and then like another 10 I'm just like, oh my god, what I'm gonna have to get creative with zucchini. But I am excited for that. And yeah,

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so I've just been like working in the garden and I'm reorganizing my office space, which is exciting and obnoxious at the same time. And yeah, that's, that's been me a whole lot of nothing exciting.

Courtney 13:37I mean, my neighbor brought over a zucchini that is probably the size of a newborn. It is huge. And I'm going to make the shit out of some zucchini bread with chocolate chips with a thing.. gluten free. My husband is picking up Yeah, he is picking up the gluten free baking powder and bringing it home and so kanani there may be some still available again when we go camping, but I'm not Not going to guarantee it

Kanani 14:00there is one form in which I eat zucchini. And that is when they are diced up into like pickle chips and deep fried. That's, that's that's how you might say

Hilary 14:12what is wrong with you vegetables are important and deep frying them...I

14:17I said... I love them.

Hilary 14:21It takes away all of the nutrients.

Kanani 14:24I'm good with that it makes them delicious.

Hilary 14:27Oh my God,

Kanani 14:28deep fried zucchini chips are phenomenal.

Courtney 14:30Oh my God Kanani that reminds me of the kababs when you're at my house and you didn't eat any of the vegetables and you put them in a pile on your plate and it was really funny. But it also reminds me that I was at the Albertsons the other day and the meat counter guy was there again and he had cornered the dairy guy and he could the dairy guy could not bear it. The dairy guy was like loading the cartons of milk into the case. And there was the meat counter guy that was like standing there micromanaging him and I was like dairy guy, no.

Kanani 15:02Talk with the dairy guy. He has usually like the coffee creamers and stuff too. Like he's an important part

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Courtney 15:08He's the one who's already putting out pumpkin spice coffee mate. This is what I'm saying.

Kanani 15:15Let the man work this guy is too much

Courtney 15:18this guy is lethal to the business of Albertsons. I may never go there I go, I'm probably gonna go there again just to see just to see what happens thanks to him there. But yeah, he cornered the dairy guy. I was like, Kanani, Oh my god, I almost felt it but then that would have been creepy. So I did it.

Kanani 15:32I was gonna say something horrible. And then I stopped myself.

Hilary 15:35Oh my god.

Kanani 15:38Every once in a while, I know that that is just like six steps too far. We don't go there

Hilary 15:43I was like, that's the first time ever that you stopped saying something.

Kanani 15:46I know. That's how that's that's how far off the bridge it went. We just ...we're just gonna stop that.

Courtney 15:54I kind of want to know but I probably don't need to. So I think we're good

Kanani 15:57you're a better person not knowing. You'll Like me more not knowing that sometimes these are the thoughts I have.

Courtney 16:03Okay. We'll see how that goes.

Kanani 16:06Exactly. I actually had an amazing weekend prior to you and I went out Monday, but then over the weekend, I went camping, and did was actually out camping during Lunansa, which is awesome because to me so many of the festivals, I mean, I live in a condo like a lot of people so I don't have a backyard and I get so bummed A lot of times when I can't spend the holidays you know, outside and I'm just too lazy to like find an outside to go to so if it's not readily available in our backyard, it just doesn't happen. So I happen to be outside camping during the during the event and it was so much fun. And we were there with two amazing people. They're actually the people who are behind the witches

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resistance here in Portland. Yeah, and they have They had an amazing s'mores ritual that we did with the kids which was super fun. Where I'm going to try and see if I remember this right? The graham crackers are Earth, the marshmallows are air. The chocolate is water. And then clearly the the stick that you put the marshmallow on over the fire is fire.

Courtney 17:23Oh my god, that is the cutest thing I've ever heard.

Kanani 17:27So it was so much fun and and my daughter ended up getting gifted, a pearly everlasting plant and she is now like totally had her interests piqued in gardening. And I've promised her that you know, someday when we buy a house with a backyard that she can have her own little garden which she's like over the moon about and so we got our little planter box for the back patio, because she wants to start learning how to grow herbs and So it's a lot of this the witchy stuff that that we do and that I do. She is interested in it but it kind of hasn't really captured her attention and so I've kind of been waiting for something to kind of spark her interest. And the it's the fact that she takes the herbs and makes like apothecary things with them. So like we had homemade bug spray, and she makes lip balms and all these other tinctures that my daughter was just like she was just over the moon about it. So now she's I started giving her some of my green witchcraft books to look through, and actually was suggested the book. Hold on.

Courtney 18:43This is the same little girl who was absolutely not into digging in the mud this past spring when you guys planted my flower garden.

Kanani 18:50Oh no, she wasn't. Oh, okay. So I asked I said what book what or book Do I need to give her to have her start looking through things and she said that For decades now her go to book is called The Herb Book: The Most Complete Catalog of Herbs Ever Published by John Lust. And it is not a magical book per se it is strictly a herbs, what is their Latin name, everything has a picture as well which she really likes. And like a small description of like where it grows, how how you know how to care for it, things like that. And she has said that for decades that has been her go to planting herb book. So I'm ordering that for my daughter as well. And so it was just kind of fun to one be outside and kind of have this celebration we did the little s'mores ritual, which I think I posted on Facebook. And we'll definitely post the link on the website and also get the recommendation for this book and to see my daughter kind of get really excited about it. Kind of something which was really fun for me to see. So it was a great weekend. I had a good time.

Courtney 20:05Yeah, I think that even things, quote unquote non magical books are actually the ones I think can be most helpful. Because for me learning about a plant's magical capabilities all stems from knowing about it's, um, it's like, it's experiences in wildlife, like, the fact that walnut is one of the most aggressive plants toward others means that it can be very good for protection magic, right?

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Hilary 20:34Yep

Courtney 20:34Yeah. So I think a book like that, even though it's not quote unquote, a magical book can be a really invaluable tool for a witch

Kanani 20:41I agree. 100% I think that to me, they just they go hand in hand, which is why I wasn't surprised. I was not surprised that you know, someone who, like I said, has so many apothecary items, who's been a practicing witch for decades. Who's a you know, a founder of you know, part of the witches Resistance. And her go to book isn't necessarily, you know, a quote unquote, you know, Wiccan magical book, it's, it's, it's the down and dirty you know, these are the herbs. These are how you grow them, you know, this is their Latin name. And she just was really talking about how for her getting into it, really just getting to know the nature and the natural element of these things helped her to then build kind of into like you said, once you know certain things about it, all of a sudden, magical elements start kind of making sense and coming to fruition. And so then when you read about things like that, it's like, yep, get that. Yep, get that. And so, yeah, I thought I thought it was really cool. I'm excited to see the book and my daughter was excited that you know, each one comes with its own little pictures so you can kind of see it in your head as you're kind of learning about it and studying it.

Hilary 21:54That's so awesome.

Courtney 21:56I love that.

Kanani 21:57So speaking of you know, gardens and throwing things and whatnot. Hillary, I know that you wanted to kind of talk about dandelion, and how you can use that in your magical practice. Yes.

Hilary 22:07So I'm in line with what Courtney said, first of all, dandelion is a very multi useful herb. I mean, there's so many uses for it, and so many different things you can do with it. Um, and, and also being in line with how the, the plant I mean, I guess not herbs, but plants grows in the garden. They're incredibly, incredibly resilient plants, right? You can like mow them over in your I mean, I know like literally every week I'm like, Oh my god, I just mowed and like the grass isn't growing again and like nothing else is running again. But those dandelions are popping up out of nowhere, with no water, no rain recently. So they're an incredibly resilient herb, which means that they're really good at bringing in resilience as one of their purposes. So if you are Working a spell that's trying to break through, break a habit. Get over an obstacle, move something out of your way persevere through something difficult dandelions a great herb to use in those spells. Because again, if it's resilience in the wild, it's resilient in it's magic. We all know you know, as children with dandelion, you know, when they're sprouting up and all the little seeds are there we blow them as like wishes and so that came from folk magic or folk history of the plant.

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And, and so they're really good at bringing in luck or wishes. So if you're putting together a spell jar, or a spell that is involving luck, or or, you know, there's something you're wishing or hoping for dandelions good to integrate into that and even using it just like we did as kids, and in blowing the seeds of the dandelion out, there's a couple couple things you can do. You can either when you blow it, send a wish out and again, it's sending it out into the atmosphere into the universe. But also when you're looking at clearing up or breaking up blockages or breaking through something, you're you're blowing on that and you're seeing it dissipate. So again, when you're trying to break through something, you could blow on that as a very simple way to use it's magic. They also bring in a lot of joy and happiness, we see that in their color, their bright yellow, they're really pretty, they make you feel good. So you can bring them in and use them on an altar to bring in just kind of playful, light, happiness and joy. And so placing them on your altar is a great way to two things one bringing into in for yourself but if you play some on your ancestor altar, also bringing in you know, joy or Happiness or gratitude towards your ancestors. And then they're also really good in dream divination. So you can place them. I've used them before putting parts of the dandelion under, under my pillow, or next to the bed. You can also sleep them like a tee and put that next to the bed. Again, I don't. I don't want to tell people to drink plants that they're not familiar with. But you can you could make a tea and place it next to the bed or you could put it put them in little dried bits of it in a kind of sachet underneath the underneath your pillow to bring in good and clear divination into your dreams. So like, that's literally a fraction of the things you could use for dandelions and they're everywhere. So they're really easy. If you are on our Patreon I gave you a tour of the of my garden and in there you'll in that video, you'll see that I have bundles of them gathered and I just like went out and Cut them before I mow the lawn I went and cut all the flowers and brought them in and dried them so that I can use them in for a number of different purposes.

Courtney 26:09Hmm, I just I love that I have so many dandelions out right now and I'm kind of trying to leave them because they're so good for the bees. Yeah, there's a part of this like, I am the yard that has all the dandelions in it, but we have such a stigma about them. I don't know what that is,

Hilary 26:23you know, I think that like we have this, this thing where we're like, beautifully groomed yards it should be short, it shouldn't be wild and you know, and, and you know, if you want to, if you want to create a nice room, yard space, you can even leave a section, an area, a corner of the yard that you don't use that often. And let them kind of grow and do their thing there because I get it like you want to be able to sit out and not have them poking up your butt while you're sitting on the ground. I get it, but like maybe leave it around the perimeter of the yard or a section of it. The bees love dandelions. And again, like I went through before I mowed my lawn and cut Cut them all I left like some on the perimeter and then I cut everything else down or like big not everything but big sections of it down and and then save them and dry them. Some of them I left you know left out as flowers but something then I dried the rest to use for magical work and again like that resilience side of it. We know i mean like you can cut them down and they'll pop back up so fast, they're hard to get rid of in a yard. So just as we've talked about lemon balm being very difficult to get rid of, you know, and being incredibly resilient. Same with dandelions. So yeah, if you're finding that you're struggling to break through something or you're just or you feel like you need a little bit of resilience behind you, or fortitude behind you, I mean, like, that's what that are. I mean, that's what that are, that's what that plant is that's what that plant is in the wild. So comes down

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to what Courtney was saying about when you learn about the natural properties and the natural occurrences of plants in the wild, you also learn a lot about their magic properties

Kanani 28:00definitely. And for our listeners on who are also a part of our Patreon, Hillary was awesome enough to actually post a video of her garden on our pace and our Patreon page.

Courtney 28:14Hillary it looks phenomenal By the way, that's the first time I've seen it. Because hashtag COVID I have not been to your house in a while and you have done incredible work.

Hilary 28:24It's been you know, it's like it's like I was like, I have nothing to do. So now I'm going to do this and so yeah, the edible garden is huge. And my herb garden I did have some herbs get aphids, or some of them got it like some weird fungus. So I had to report some that I got new starts for But yeah, I mean, it's it's been it's been a kind of enjoyable thing. I feel like there's something really grounding in working with plants. And also, for those of you that listen to a previous episode with Christopher Penczak if there's like a really cool relationship you build With plants, so it's like they become my little friends when I literally have very few people to interact with.

Courtney 29:05Oh,

Kanani 29:07that's very cool. Yeah, well, I think we are at the point where we are ready for a sponsorship break.

Hilary 29:13Yeah,

Kanani 29:14We want to thank Keen for sponsoring this episode. Sometimes, Courtney pretends to be busy and won’t read my Tarot. But luckily, I’ve got Keen. Keen provides access to vetted psychics and spiritual advisors who provide guidance and insight on life’s challenges, clarity in love, relationships, career and more. As a mom, I never know when I will have any time to myself so I love that Keen advisors are available 24/7. There’s always someone online so you can also easily schedule a call with an advisor. My advisor was Anastasia Christine, who gave me an incredible reading that was very helpful and personal. I felt like she immediately connected with my energy. When you find the right advisor, developing an ongoing relationship leads to a number of benefits: monthly intention setting, gaining clarity on the significance of synchronicities, chakra clearing, and getting perspective from someone who you know can offer clear and direct guidance. Another plus side Keen is the most affordable way to meet new advisors. Each week, Keen sends its users discounts on readings, making Keen one of the most affordable ways to receive multiple psychic readings. If you’re a current Keen user, check your email to see this week’s discounts because who doesn’t love a discount? As a new Keen customer and a listener of our crazy-pants podcast, you can try your first 10 minutes for only $1.99. Pricing then

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depends on which advisor you choose, and the services are backed with a satisfaction guarantee. So if you want to try your first 10 minutes for only $1.99: go to trykeen dot com forward slash thatwitchlife. Keen. Because you deserve answers. Thanks again to Keen for sponsoring this episode! We have an amazing guest joining us today. Their name is Nani Romanoff. They are a black and Native Hawaiian fiber artist in Witch. Their cultural traditions are the backbone of both their art and their magical practice. Noni is a grave witch, for them this means that much of their magical practice is centered around interacting with ancestors spirits and the dead. They embrace magic that is often written off as dark or spooky, and are very firmly pro hex. They spend a lot of time knitting in graveyards. Their art can be found in their shop at casting craft.etsy.com.

Hilary 31:41You're fabulous

Kanani 31:43first of all, Nani wins for the best which bio of all time.

Hilary 31:51I'm like, Oh man, I need to rewrite my bio.

Kanani 31:55You had me You had me at dark and spooky

Courtney 31:58And you had me at knitting and graveyard Unlike Yes, yes why we show and this is why we do witchcraft because there are people out there knitting in graveyards, and I want to hang out with them.

Nani 32:10No, no, I spend a lot of time on mostly not relatives graves, but sometimes like a graves of like people that I don't know. Just kind of knitting and vibing and chatting with the spirits.

Courtney 32:22That's so fabulous.

Kanani 32:23That's exactly that's the perfect phrase. Exactly. That's just fabulous. That just sounds like that almost makes me want to knit. So close that could almost get me I've actually tried.

Hilary 32:36I'm like that would be effort though.

Kanani 32:38I know exactly. I've actually tried because I love I'm just I love knitted items. And I am a crafty person. Mostly I do like papercrafts Um, and I have tried like knitting and crochet and stuff like that. I just do not have the patience. I just I just don't and I'm so jealous of the people who do because they can make

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like the most beautiful, incredible items and I'm always Yeah, I was I was drooling all over your Etsy shop and some of your Instagram pics and I was just like

(Exit Music) 33:13oh my goodness that's so cool.

Courtney 33:15Yeah, I know the messenger bag is absolutely gorgeous that's what I keep that's what I keep thinking about when I'm like ooh, where am I going to get that money because I love that bag. That's beautiful Hillary Have you seen this Etsy shop yet?

Kanani 33:26I have I Well first of all, I used to work for Etsy so like I'm already a big fan of Etsy and and i every time we have a guest that has a Etsy shop I'm like that's the first thing I do I'm like check out the shop and I like to spend money in appropriately so there's that too it's not a bad combination if you're gonna spend money appropriately do it at Etsy.

Hilary 33:51I'm a double Taurus, All right, we like to buy things I like comfort items.

Kanani 33:55So Noni one of the first questions that we like to ask our guests is when or how did you know that you were a witch or a magical person?

Nani 34:04Okay, um, so that questions like a little bit complicated for me because I was definitely like, dead ass doing a lot of witchcraft way before I like knew what that was. And um, it's funny because how I got into witchcraft is actually almost the exact same way I got into yarn. When I was like really small. My grandma, whom I lived with at the time was just like teaching me things until like, I'm like three and I'm like, Hey, I'm bored. And so she's like, okay, like for some yarn and then started teaching me like how to do yarn. And like, she did a lot of witchy things. But she never called it that like she is like, up to her neck in hoodoo constantly being like, Oh, do you have a headache? Say this psalm and like this candle and rub this on your forehead. It'll be fine. And like, which is definitely witchcraft, but like, if you were like, hey, do you do witchcraft? She'd be like "in my good Christian home? No, never." And she She at the same time also vehemently insists that she doesn't knit and she doesn't crochet but like every knitted item that I didn't made like came from her. So both things were just kind of like things that like, I grew up around like doing. But like I didn't really have like language for until like, I went to high school and then like, I met another witch and I was like, oh, other people do this shit too and apparently, there's words for that.

Hilary 35:25I love that, that I feel like that's a common theme that we hear from people where they're like, Yeah, I was like, completely doing spell work and magic work. I just wasn't calling it that. I just didn't know what to call it.

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Nani 35:37Right.

Courtney 35:38 Yeah. And the power when you finally get a name for it, like, Oh, I always knew I was weird. And I always knew I was into this and then that power and that relief of okay. It all makes sense now. Yeah, no, definitely. So would you say that when you kind of started getting into it, would you say that immediately. Your yarn work was kind of a part of it or did you You kind of end up melding the two as you learn more about both.

Nani 36:03I don't really know when I actively woke up one day and was like, hey, the yarn work I'm doing is like also witchcraft. But like, I'm, like, I'm Hawaiian. And we do have like a strong tradition of like weaving and like knot work and things like that. And so like, because a lot of my craft is rooted, rooted in like, my spirituality, there was always like, a lot of like, my teacher was always teaching me like, if you're going to make something out of yarn, it's basically just tying a lot of knots and you want to make sure that all the knots are only holding good intentions. So you can only have good things in your heart and your knitting. So if you're mad, you like have to stop. And like, that's definitely like a more witchy way to look at fiber craft that I was definitely taught like, super young, but I don't think I realized until college like hey, I'm just doing witchcraft when I'm just vibing my way into having a scarf or whatever, you know.

Kanani 36:52And now we know why it never worked for me.

Courtney 36:55Exactly.

Hilary 36:57Fact,

Courtney 36:57you're better with stamps

Kanani 37:01never mind for me, because it's like no, you are too pissy for this. This is not work for you, you step away.

Courtney 37:08But I was wondering, do you find that it's? Does it help? Does it help process anger? Does it help process grief and things when working with a yarn worker? Is that something that you've got to consciously set aside before you get into it?

Nani 37:22

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Um, I mean, like, I'm just kind of at a point in my life where there's just yarn in my hands at all times, like, I am literally working on a blanket right now. And so I do use yarn a lot as a coping tool. And as I'm something I do, like when I'm stressed to help, like calm me down, because for me, it is kind of a meditative exercise. Like when other people talked about like meditation and like clearing your mind and like, letting the thoughts go quiet. I never had any idea what they were talking about until I realized that like, a lot of times when it's quiet, and I'm knitting, like, that's all that's happening, like I am just in this moment, just like vibing with my yarn and like making a thing And so like I think it is really good for me when I'm like stressed to like kind of center myself, but unless I like really hate the person and I'm like no, I want these bad thoughts to like stick to you I'm not like upset making darn things for like other people.

Kanani 38:17That's one of the things that I think really drew me to liking the whole concept of of knitting is that it's very methodical and that it is very meditative. Like I can totally see that because it's just so repetitive that it allows you to just kind of sink into it and just kind of lose your thoughts into it and it just becomes very rhythmic. So I can absolutely see how how you could do something like that kind of as a form of meditation. Is there, kind of of Is there a way that you've intentionally brought your witchcraft into it or is it just kind of a natural because you're a witch it just kind of is naturally a part of it or Do you ever just kind of be like, I'm a witch. So I'm gonna make things like this.

Nani 39:04So like, it's a little bit of both, like a lot of times, like, I'm just making things and like, I mean, keeping good intentions in my heart and I'm making things for other people to me is witchcraft. But I also like I don't just knit, I also spend, I also know how to clean wool. So like, I have taken stuff literally, like from fresh off of sheep, like through the entire process of becoming a garment. And so with that, like I made a hat. And it was my good luck hat all through college if I was going to be me. And if I was like going to a test and I just needed the good vibes on me, I had this hat. And with that one, I literally like had gotten this yarn as well. Like I have gotten it as raw wool I cleaned that I like corded it, I dyed it, I spun it and then like eventually became a hat. And throughout that entire process, I'm like, soaking it in the water and I'm like chanting, cleansing things over and like when I'm pinning it on, I'm spinning, like, clockwise to like invite things in and like, counterclockwise to be like bad luck Get away from me. And then like when I was knitting it, you know, I have like certain intentions for it to draw things like to me like the entire time I was creating it. So like, start to finish that hat was like a very witchy project. That was just like, please bring me good luck and it was really effective. I still have it. It's still like my good look at

Courtney 40:25Wow.

Hilary 40:26I love that. I love that.

Courtney 40:29I'm so jealous of the ability but also that you got to like, hang out with a sheep.

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Hilary 40:34Yeah, that also we're big fans of barnyard animals here.

Courtney 40:39Now, I mean, I didn't shear the sheep. I used to know a guy that like kept sheep and he did the shearing like I have no capacity actually shear it. But I did get the pet the sheep.

Hilary 40:48I mean, that's all anyone would need. I mean, like I will let someone else do the work to share it. But man, I love cuddling sheep. They're so cute.

Courtney 40:55Yeah, there seems to be a real legacy there though with the kind of the meditations and like I was saying is like the kind of affirmations that you're putting into the wall and things I keep thinking about this author knowing that yes she is problematic Marion Zimmer Bradley wrote in mists of Avalon how the main character often went into trance when the women were spinning. And that was a big part of the book is that whenever she sat down even near whether she was at the loom or near the loom, she would start getting really powerful messages and symbols because the sound of the of the spinning wheel and the spinning of it and that and, and just that that same kind of action. So, you know, I think that there's, there's, there's, there's a real legacy there, you know, probably a cross culturally where this is this is a reality about this kind of work. Yeah, no, I really think so. Especially because, like, I mean, it's such just a repetitive action that just just get you into like a certain headspace like, I know like definitely like my ancestors and my gods definitely do be communicating to me like while I'm spinning or like while I'm knitting because it's like, I'm just In the headspace to heal from them, because my mind is quiet enough that like the message can get through. I'm not like too busy brushing off whatever's going on like spiritually so that I can like, think about what I'm making dinner if that makes sense.

Kanani 42:13Do you have something that's like your favorite thing to make? Or does that kind of vary?

Courtney 42:18Um, it does vary sometimes, but like, like I was on like a beanie kick for like two years where like, I was just constantly making beanies. And so like, I just have like a drawer that's full of almost nothing but beanies, but my favorite things to make are lace, like just lace in general, like lace anything. And then I also really enjoy making sweaters. So you know, you mentioned something about like, you talk about how you're very pro hacks and then you mentioned something about like, knitting to stick something to it. Have you used knitting in that capacity and doing hex work? Yes, absolutely. Not is something that like I've given to the person, but like, um, you know, you don't necessarily need to give your knot work to somebody. To be like working magic through that and because knitting is such like a very meditative like act for me that just gets me in the headspace to like do the witchy shit like um it's kind of the same concept is like when I was taking that hat start to finish but like reading just good vibes on to whatever process where like um with that one on that was I was living with my birth mom for a really long time and she was like abusive and like a terrible person so like I definitely did a lot of like, hexing at her that was kind of like protective work. There was a lot of like, please take your negative energy and like go

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away and also like, please reap what you sell. And just like reading that like into like every stitch that I was making when I was like crafting, like especially in her presence. So it's just like holding that anger in my heart. Why was knitting near her? Right? Right. Well, you know what, sometimes you got to do what you got to do if especially if it's a situation where you're you know, you need protection. I mean, to me that seems that seems like that's so that's so old school witch too, because so many of the things when people talk about the kind of they talk about how the work was was secretive, and so they might like turn a spoon into a wand or something. I don't know how true that all that really is. Because I'm not sure that all witches use wands right? But I think it may have been happening and people didn't even realize it. Right? And that's, and it also kind of reminds me of the work of the Rosary. It's that kind of with the, you know, working with the fingers and getting into the meditation, there's got to be some kind of some kind of biological if not just in spiritual connection there. My grandma always used to say that, like, when the hands are busy, the mind is quiet and so like, I think with like, we just have like this innate thing as humans where like, sometimes in order to get the brain shut off, we have to occupy a part of ourselves like doing something. And I think that's why like, there is like, people pray the rosary are people like knitting, do witchcraft or like, you know, people do a lot of moving around their hands when they're spell casting, but it's not Like, sometimes you just have to be doing something to be quiet enough to actually be effective. Yes, exactly. I think I'm gonna try knitting tonight so I can get some sleep.

Kanani 45:10Well, Courtney, you actually used to do cross stitch if I remember right,

Courtney 45:14I did for a very long time.

Kanani 45:15You were very good at it

Courtney 45:15Yeah, for a very long time. It's something I have a piece of the piece that scares my family, because it's a sorceress with her hand up over this giant Saturn. And I've been working off and on on it for 15 years. Some cross stitch pieces I just shoot out in six months, and some take me two decades. And I was actually thinking about that, as I come with it, and it does. It does put you into a mindset because you have to, at least with cross stitch, you have to follow a pattern, and you have to follow it precisely or you end up getting screwed up and you have to rip everything out and redo it and I'm not a knitter, I'm assuming there's probably something to this, something similar to that. And so you don't have a lot of space to be angry. When you're too busy. Like counting you're counting your stitches and making sure everything lines up and making sure you have all the right threads. And then in my case, keeping them away from the cats, because the cats like to steal the thread and batted around the room. So it's a whole thing. But yeah, I do have a piece that I'm working on for a really long time. But um, some of my family members get really nervous with it. So much, I have to finish it at some point.

Nani 46:20

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I mean, I also do a bit of embroidery and a bit of cross stitch and I just finished a piece that I started when I was first learning to sew. So when I was like, four, I literally just finished it during this pandemic. And um, part of that was it got lost for a bit and so I didn't know where it was for a decade and then when I was sorting through my floss on, I found it and I was just like, Oh, hey, this is actually looking really nice on so I ended up finishing that but cross stitch and like knitting on like that kind of level or like, very similar in the fact that you kind of do have to be mindful of your pattern and you do have to like, you know, if you're working with more multiple colors know where all your strings are. And I also have to keep my stuff away from my cat who wants to eat it. So there really isn't a lot of space to be like frustrated with it because if you get too frustrated then you're just creating mistakes and like creating problems for yourself and then there's more you have to rip out

Courtney 47:17but there is like I just the the very feeling of the pulling the thread through the fabric has always been very soothing. I think I learned to do it. My grandmother taught me how to cross stitch I mean all the women in my family were doing cross stitch at certain point they bought, they all quit and I'm the only one that still doesn't I haven't done in years, but it was my Nana that taught me how and I remember she would go to the grocery store like she taught me how to do it and would show me each line like okay, now you need to do these many stitches and she was so patient. My mom kept being like stop pestering your Nana Stop pestering her Nana, and she would so patiently sit down and show me how to do it again. And then I will never forget she went to the grocery store. And she was gone for like two hours and I remember it was killing me like waiting for her to come home to show me what to do next on the cross stitch I think I was waiting there in the kitchen just staring you know when she came into like pounce on her and say show me what to do next. And so there was so much joy when I actually created a piece just for her after my grandfather died. I made a nice with using like with a line from prayer footsteps in the sand. And I gave it to her as a Christmas present and she'd forgotten she taught me how to do it. And I said you taught me this. Right? So I it was just so it was a real gift to be able to give that back to her. Nani is your grandmother is still still alive? Yeah, um, she is still alive and with us on and still insisting that she doesn't knit or crochet or sew or any of these things that she absolutely does. No, she's just the funniest lady because like, if you ask her questions about any of the thing she does, whether it's like the hoodoo that she's definitely doing or like the like Hawaiian based like witchcraft she's definitely doing or any of the yarn work anything she does. She's like, why I'm not, you know, doing witchcraft or knitting or crocheting. She's like, that's just what you do. You just take this and then you just do this. And that's just how it's done. They're their life skills at that point. They're not even crafts. They're just things that are done. Yeah. And well, she didn't really teach me how to sew like to be a hobby or to be a craft. It was just like, I was tiny. And she was like, I distinctively remember her, like holding up a sewing needle and looking at me and being like, Hey, kid, and I was like, Yes. And she's like, you know, you're old enough to know that this needle doesn't go in your eye, right? I was like, Yes. And she's like, cool. And then she was literally just teaching me like how to patch my own pants, or like how to fix my own frayed hem on my skirt, because she was like, if you're going to break your clothes, you need to know how to fix them. And so it was meant to be like a really practical thing. And then I learned all the decorative stuff later.

Kanani 49:53

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I wish we all had those kind of skills. I feel like that's some of those are some of the skills that have kind of fallen out without of our modern conveniences. I know I certainly don't have certainly don't have sewing skills. It's just not something that I ever kind of was taught. I can do very basic basic sewing. But you know, those are the kind of skills that I think are just so special and important and valuable when they get kind of passed generationally like that.

Courtney 50:25Yeah it's definitely been helpful, especially because like, I remember my first job that I ever had, that was like a real job where I was like, working somewhere. Part of our work uniforms, these t shirts, and my first year of working there, the T shirts on the company that they had gotten them from had just like him the entire batch, like just sewn all the seams like very, very badly. And so like, three weeks into that season, the shirts just kind of started falling apart. And like when I first got my shirt, I like saw it and I was like, wow, these are bad seams, these are gonna fall apart. So I actually had completely taken away My entire shirt and just sewed it back together but properly. And nobody else that I worked with at the time really knew how to do that. So it just turned into this lunchroom thing where everybody was bringing me one because we each had like two shirts. And so everybody was just bringing me the shirt they weren't wearing to, like literally take apart and put that together in the break room like every day. And, um, that a lot of people were expressing that they wish that they had been taught those skills to be able to do that because that was just like a practical thing that they needed to know how to do and just did it. And so like I was always really grateful that she taught me so I had a question about like some of the, the magical intention with the yarn work. Do colors play a role in the work that you do? Do you associate different colors with different magical energies that you do? Does that factor into your yarn work as well?

Nani 51:52Um, sometimes, um, because it's like fibers though, I actually pay a lot more attention to what the texture The yarn is then what color it is, like, if I'm doing something that's supposed to be like, you know, comforting and bringing good vibes I'm definitely going to pick a fiber that's a lot less scratchy that's a lot softer that's like a lot gentler, then something that's like, you know, like an alpaca which is just kind of like scratchy no matter what you do it whereas like, you know if I'm doing like protective work, or if I'm doing work that supposed to keep people like away from me or like, if I'm hexing somebody I'm definitely going to go for like the scratches like roughest thing that I can like fine because that's just more like suited to it. And sometimes color plays a factor in there. Like, I made a pouch to help one of my co workers get a boyfriend recently. And like that thing that I made for him was like red because like to him that symbolizes like love and like romance. Yes, sometimes it's a factor. But for me, the bigger factor was that like, you know, love should be both likes. soft and gentle, but also like strong enough to weather things. So I had to go on a quest to find like a very, like soft, but also very sturdy fiber to make that out of which you don't find soft and sturdy so it took me a minute, but I did find one.

Hilary 53:15That's amazing.

Courtney 53:16

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Oh my god, I love this so much. Because I see we are so quick like me like, Well, yeah, red means love. And Green means money. So I'm sure you're making those associations that would never have occurred to me that the texture is going to have such a role and the magical the magical intent, that's so brilliant

Hilary 53:34That is brilliant. Like I would that wouldn't have occurred to me either. I would have just been like, yeah, the color just like I do with a candle or whatever, you know. So I think that that's such an amazing thing to consider if you're if you're working with fiber because yeah, if it's strong, but if it's really uncomfortable, would it then mean that that interaction was uncomfortable, you know, so it's like it's it's deep on so many levels.

Courtney 54:00Yeah, no, there's just a lot of things like that, like I consider or like, even just like on the actual pattern that I'm using to create this thing. Like, I'm right now like the blanket that I'm literally working on what we're talking on. It's a granny stitch blanket. So it's got a lot of gaps in it, like, like for just like aesthetic purposes. And like, that's not something that's not a stitch that I would use if I was doing like love work. Because you, you want the love to be able to hold you, you don't want to be able to fall through those cracks. So like when I'm doing work like that, I tend to use stitches, the robot more close together where there's not a lot of gaps, but there's not like things like that feel like they're missing. Or like with this it's kind of blues and I'm kind of just vibing with like, the idea of water and like things being able to pass through and things be able to like flow through and out of you. So like having a more open work stitch works for that. Oh, I love that and it's also such a profound thought about love as well. As you're saying, it's hard to find a fabric that's both soft and sturdy, but that's what you need for love. I think that's what we're all seeking for. And those relationships don't come very often as something that's both soft and sturdy. There's just a lot of I'm getting all the chills here as we're going into a lot of depth both about magic but also about the human experience.

Kanani 55:20I looked at your Etsy shop, do you also do and you talked about like some of the other things you've made? Do you also like do orders for like blankets and you said you like making sweaters and things like that.

Courtney 55:35Um so I will take custom orders for sweaters. I actually used to have a couple sweaters on listed on my Etsy but then I got married and I was working on my wedding dress. So like I had to take some of the bigger items off to work on that. And then the pandemic happened. So it's just been like one thing after another but um, I don't very often do blankets because it's really hard to get people to I understand just how much work actually goes into a blanket and just how much yarn goes into a blanket. And so a lot of times, they don't realize, like, just on base cost of materials, like how much that actually costs, because they're saying like a knit blanket at Walmart and go, Well, that's like 25 bucks. So why is this not 25 bucks? You know?

Kanani 56:22

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It's like, well, it had $70 worth of yarn in it for starters.

Courtney 56:26Well, I'm like, that's one of the things I've run into with like on that messenger bag that you that you all have mentioned seeing on my shop and like liking, where a lot of people don't quite understand why that's a $200 bag, but like that $200 mostly just covers like, the 20 some odd different yarns that are in it, a lot of which were like specialty yarns that are a little bit more expensive. And then just like how much time it took me to make that bag, you know, um, and then like, you know, blankets often go for like so much more than like $200 if you're actually factoring in like the cost of making that and it's a little harder to sell them so I don't do it a lot. But sometimes like if I'm working with somebody that like understands that I will do blankets, I do baby blankets a lot more than I do like adult sized blankets.

Kanani 57:12I just I'm envisioning like, all of the energy and and just everything you put into or perhaps a onesie could you make a onesie?

Nani 57:22I probably could. I haven't actually made a onesie before but like I've made like baby sweaters and things like that and it's not like that far from like making other things like that

Courtney 57:31OH, I'm thinking for me. I'm thinking like a grown person covered head to toe. I could just come over and you could just rat me with yarn, we wouldn't even need to knit it. You can just wrap me like like a mummy with yarn. I would be good for that too. I have separately made pants and then also made sweaters so like making a full body knit suit is not that far off of just like making it as a singular garment instead of separate pieces.

Hilary 57:55Also, I would pay you extra to wrap her mouth shut too

Kanani 58:01That's a lot of yarn. Take that deal that's a lot of yarn.

Hilary 58:05That's a big investment and worth it... no i'm just kidding

Courtney 58:08it's going to need to be very sturdy though.

Kanani 58:11It won't help. that's the whole point of making that's the whole point of being able to make your own stuff is you can literally like make whatever you want. Like that's fantastic.

Courtney 58:22

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Yeah, no definitely and like I mean also for me like part of like me enjoying making my own stuff is also like I'm just like a larger person. And I'm so being like firmly within the plus size range, it's really hard to find like knitwear that's like my aesthetic, and like will go on my body because like, for some reason, designers think like sores thing, but like you get over a certain size and you just want to look like your grandmother.

Hilary 58:45YES

Nani 58:45Yeah, only work laurels and only wear things that are just kind of ugly and very, very bad. And I'm just like, I am only in my 20s like, I am still very fashionable. And so um yeah. It really is nice to Be able to be like, I'm just gonna, like, make whatever. Or like even like, I made my wedding dress. I don't know if y'all saw that on my Instagram, but there's pictures.

Courtney 59:08I want to see I want to see I want to see ya know, if you go to my Instagram on I have pictures of the wedding dress on I had made and like part of that was like in my head. I could see the wedding dress that I wanted, like I exactly, but like lace wedding dresses are very expensive. And also, I knew that there was going to be issues with like finding one that would like fit me. And then like I'm also that I could like afford and then even then it probably wasn't going to be exactly what I had in my head. And my spouse at the time or my now spouse, my then fiance was like, well, you make things all the time. Why don't you just make your wedding dress and I was like, oh, heck I can. And it took the better part of a year. But um, it was exactly like how I imagined it. It's short! I love short wedding dresses. It's so pretty clear.

Hilary 1:00:03Yes. Beautiful. It is so beautiful.

Nani 1:00:06Thank you.

Courtney 1:00:07Oh my goodness.

Kanani 1:00:08I think that's very cool, too, that you kind of you had a vision of it, and then were able to kind of manifest that and create your vision of what you wanted. I think that's awesome. Yeah.

Courtney 1:00:18Yeah, like, I could see like, in my mind's eye exactly what that dress was going to look like. And I had a really hard time explaining to other people like what I was envisioning, but like, I knew the whole time that like it was going to end up looking like that. And then, um, a year later, that's what I had. Now. I'm just looking at your wedding photos they are so sweet. Yeah, we got married at the amazing pizza

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machine here in town because, like, the best place to get married and we were like the arcade and delighted because we weren't their first ever wedding. Like ever.

Hilary 1:00:51Really?

Nani 1:00:52Yes.

Hilary 1:00:53Other people are crazy for not doing that

Courtney 1:00:56Right and like they were so good and like on wasn't like insanely expensive and like we didn't have to cater because they have a buffet. And then we just like, had the laser tag in the arcade and like we had such a great time. Oh my god, that is the sweetest thing I've ever seen. Right. And now we have like a great excuse that we'll never have like a great excuse every year to like, go back to the arcade on our anniversary. You can wear your wedding dress.

Nani 1:01:21Yeah.

Courtney 1:01:23That is so great, yes. Awesome.

Kanani 1:01:27I think that's I just I don't know, I think it's cool how you've found something that you love to do and, you know, kind of just incorporated into your life the way that you have. I think that that's especially at a time right now when the world is so crazy. I think it's nice to be able to find something like you said that you can just kind of pick up and let your mind kind of find some center and grounding. I think that that's just really awesome.

Courtney 1:01:55Yeah, no, it's been it's been really helpful, especially since like, you know, I've been home since March. Because of the pandemic, and like, having all of the fiber crafts to do, like, both, it's a meditative exercise. And also just like, you know, it's like stress relief is great, because then I get to take like all of like, the anxiety and the uncertainty about like, what's going on, and like, do something about it. And then like, at the end of that, I'm like, oh, and now I have a really good sweater or like, now I have a blanket like, I have like a thing that I did. Where other ways of like coping just like feel less productive to me. So they don't work very well to me. But I'm like that. I like that. Like, I have something to show for my effort of like trying to calm down at the end of it.

Kanani 1:02:41

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We actually have a listener question that we were hoping that you could maybe help us with answering. The listener question was, I have recently started looking for answers as to why I can feel people's energy and feel their emotions. I've been seeing people who are aren't really there. So I found my way to your podcast. How do I know if these are spirits? And how do I know if this is witchcraft or just my mind playing tricks? My mother told me that our family has a history of witches and casters. I do have spiritual beliefs, but I just don't know where to start.

Courtney 1:03:21Yeah, so, I mean, as somebody that can also kind of sense and feel other people's emotions. When you first start noticing that and noticing that I understand how that can be like super disconcerting. And like, I'm also like, I do occasionally like see the spirit. So I also understand how when that happens, how that can be super disconcerting. And it can be hard sometimes to be like, Is this just a brain thing? like is this just like mental illness manifesting or is this like a witch thing? And I'm I with my mental illness and like, because like sleep deprivation, some other stuff I have had like actual hallucinations that weren't spiritual, it was just my brain doing things. But your brain processes it very differently. I think when it's like a spiritual thing versus when it's not like it just feels different. Like when I hallucinated the moose in the road, I firmly believe that that's just the way life was and that sometimes there's just like a spirit moose just being in the road. And when I first started seeing, like my ancestors and like spirits and things like that, I had the presence of mind to be like, Hey, this is weird, like, is this real into like, ask questions about it. And I think sometimes, like having questions about it and being disconcerted about it, and also, when your family has a history of also being about that work is more of an indication that it's probably like a spiritual thing, especially if you don't have a history of seeing stuff outside of that.

Kanani 1:04:51I think it's important what you mentioned, too, that sometimes it might be a spirit, and then other times it might not be right like this isn't an all or Nothing thing. It's not. If you're seeing something, it's it's there and it's real. And that's what it is. Or it's, you know, or no, it's your mind playing tricks. Sometimes it's either sometimes you could be having you could be seeing a spirit or sensing energy. And another time, you could see something in the corner of your eye and it was a car going by, you know what I mean? Like it's both can be true.

Hilary 1:05:24I also try to look at like, the patterns of these things, right? So like, is there similarities in the in the visits from or the things that you're experiencing? Like for me, there are certain spirits that will come to me in a very specific way, right? A very specific set of circumstances or a very specific smell or a specific feeling. So I think to noticing those patterns, like your mind is unlikely to fabricate an exact scenario over and over and over again, right? It's so I tend to look for patterns in a What I'm experiencing, you know if or to really stop and gauge what I'm feeling. I mean, I've definitely had a thing where it was like, What was that? Oh, the corner of my eye? Was it a ghost? You know, was it a spirit? And then I'm like, No, I like tap into what I'm feeling internally like, do I feel anything? Or did I maybe just, you know, catch catch a fly in my side you know, in my peripheral vision, you know, there's lots of so I think to like taking the time to tap into what you feel emotionally, like, certain when I interact with certain ancestors or certain spirits. There's like consistent feelings around both of them. Like I have a specific feeling

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when my grandmother's around. Like it's a very, it's a very specific feeling that I don't feel when I necessarily have interactions in other ways. Or like if it's my mom is often a hummingbird is one of the calling cards from my mom, or again, it's a specific smell or a specific like feeling of touch. Even though there's nothing there. So again, I think paying attention to those patterns can be helpful.

Courtney 1:07:03Yeah, no, absolutely. Like, I always tell my friends and like, you know, witches locally that I talked to like when they're like, Hey, is this like a brain thing? Or is this like a spirit thing? Like, if weird shits happening and you're not sure what it is, that just means that you need to start paying attention. Because like, if it's a brain thing, there's gonna be other signs pointing at brain things. If it's a spirit thing, there's gonna be other signs pointing at spirit things you just have to start like keeping track of what's happening and like, paying attention, but I also tell people to like, try to rule out the mundane shit first before you just go assuming everything in the universe is some kind is wanting to talk to because yeah, for many times, it's not.

Kanani 1:07:39Noni I have to thank you so much for joining us because I thought this was some of the things you talked about I just thought were so cool and and just offered a different level of you know, kind of fiber crafts and witchcraft and and your practice and it was just so interesting and and I think you've gave so much good information to our listeners. Can you let us know what would be the best way for our listeners to be able to keep in touch with you or find you on?

Nani 1:08:10Okay well I am Nani Romanoff on basically everywhere. So you can look me up on Twitter @naniromanoff or on Instagram. I'm technically on tik tok but I don't use it so maybe Don't look for me they're on I'm also on Facebook. My shop again is castingcraft.etsy.com Yeah, if you look up Nani Romanoff pretty much anywhere you will find me so there's that

Courtney 1:08:35I know I'm definitely taking this the the piece about texture with this. This has been really helpful for me and adding a deeper dimension to the work that I do magically is thinking about texture when selecting ingredients for a spell.

Hilary 1:08:51Yeah, I was thinking the same thing

Kanani 1:08:52Well, thank you all so much for listening to another episode. If you want to support the show. The best way is Subscribe rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform. We are now on Patreon. If you don't want to commit to a monthly subscription, you can buy us a Ko-fi or you can purchase handmade that which life merchandise on our Etsy store. We are on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. So be sure to follow and keep in touch for shownotes audio transcript or to ask us a question to answer on future episodes. You can go to that which life.com Until then, keep moting that shit and we'll talk to you next week.

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Courtney 1:09:31So mote that shit.

Hilary 1:09:33So mote it!

(Exit Music) 1:09:34Find us at thatwitchlife.com for archived episodes or to ask your burning questions for us to answer in a future podcast. So mote it be.

Courtney 1:09:46I've seen you when you said that I'm seeing you in the bunny outfit from Oh God, what's that movie A Christmas Story?

Hilary 1:09:54story that Oh my God, please make her that.

Kanani 1:09:57I would I would rock that happily.

Courtney 1:10:00I'm going to have to try making something like that.

Kanani 1:10:02I would absolutely love it. Actually, if you could make me a giraffe that would be better. I'm very down for elephants and giraffes... bunnies, not so much.

Courtney 1:10:15Leopard print onesie.

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