Imagine... it's 2020, you're in COVID lockdown, and there's a lot of soul searching and thinking you've done about your life to this point. 

You decide one day this fascination you've had with witchcraft and the occult for most of your life should become something more than simply reading books or scouring the Internet for blog posts and the like. 

You feel you've learned quite a bit from simply doing that, but you've never been, say, "brave" enough to take the step and actually form a magickal practice. Over the years, you've collected books, candles, incense, crystals... all the makings you might need to make that Fool leap over the cliff into the unknown. 

But... you're afraid you won't do it RIGHT. 

You were raised in a Catholic household, completed all the necessary Catholic rites, but this faith, this spirituality, has never felt like YOURS. Despite this, all those things you learned in Wednesday night religion classes have done a number on your perceptions. You think if you screw up with a spell, you'll summon a demon and they'll take your soul. Bit catastrophizing, yes, but if you know, you know. 

Caught up on this road block of RIGHT and CORRECT, you think you would do well with some sort of structured learning program, some method to match your need for academia and scholarship, some way you'll at least learn the basics of the Craft. So, you open up Chrome, and you google "online witch schools." The first hit you get is for a virtual Wiccan school. You sigh, already thinking this may be a fruitless search. You have nothing against Wicca whatsoever, but the formality and detailed ritual are just not for you. So, you give it another shot, and continue to scroll. That's when you see it. 

The Magickal Path. 

You click on this link, already intrigued and feeling something pushing you forward, a little soft voice at the back of your mind encouraging you toward this option. 

Once you make that click, you don't realize just how much your life will change, and you won't realize until a year has passed. 

Enter Fiona Duncan and The Magickal Path school.

In case you haven't realized it, this was the beginning of my journey towards this path.

I took painstaking care to look over every detail I could find on the website. I read and reread all Fiona had to offer a hesitant witch like me. As if I had conjured this myself, there was an offering for a 101 witchcraft course that didn't have a particular leaning, in one direction or another, just the basics of what you need to get started. I had only one concern, and a quick email to Fiona assuaged the worry. I was about to begin an online Master's degree in History, and wanted to know whether I would be able to juggle a full time job, my Master's, and the 101 course. Fiona's response came quickly.

Immediately, the vibe I felt, despite the virtual barrier, was positive and welcoming. I instantly felt this was it. This was the right choice. I think what sold me fully was the simple fact Fiona offered 1:1 coaching throughout your entire journey, promising to be there every step of the way as you come into your power and your sovereignty.

Right from the introductory call, you are drawn into Fiona's vibrant enthusiasm to do the work she was called to do. A teacher by trade, Fiona is a natural mentor and guide, and uses her skills to structure the curricula of her courses in a way that makes complete sense and is truly effective. I instantly felt a deep connection to her, like we were kindred spirits that had found each other again. Within ten minutes of that first call, I knew this was where I was meant to be. 

And so, I signed up for Way of the Witch 101.

The 101 course is a year and a day of pure enlightenment and so much tingly, magickal goodness. You learn everything you figured you would, and then some. But most importantly, you learn there isn't a WRONG way to do this work. There are the basics, a little bit of ethics, and then there is YOU. You are the key ingredient here. You are the thing that will limit you or you become the thing that will free you. WAY OF THE WITCH: Witchcraft 101 is structured just enough to deliver a wealth of information in a way that feels like a story. It was also enough to trick me into thinking I was doing the RIGHT things, but at the same time, it encouraged independence and stretching your own creativity.

I'm not going to say this work is easy. I hit a few stumbling blocks of my own throughout the year, some shadows that needed to be worked through and overcome. But not once did Fiona ever discourage me. On the contrary, our monthly coaching calls often turned into pep talks, the kind that rivaled the speeches coaches give in locker rooms when you're losing and you know if you don't get it together, this'll be the end. But I made it through! Even though Fiona had to drag me across the finish line, I completed the 101, and immediately registered for the 201! 

There are not enough words in the English language to describe just how much I have valued my time with The Magickal Path and with Fiona. I am more confident in developing my own spells, and I am more confident in the actual casting of spells. I've learned much about myself, and I feel I've embraced and allowed my authentic self to shine. I also know I haven't just gained a teacher, but I've also made a life long friend in Fiona. I eagerly await to see the future of The Magickal Path unfold, especially what classes Fiona has in store for us next! 

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT FEATURE STORY...
~Jennifer G.

aka J.R. Lesperance, Author, Cardinal Virtue