Meet Cairelle...

My personal path to witchiness began in New Orleans in 1967, when I was born as the oldest daughter into quite an esoteric female line. Due to various circumstances, I lived with my grandmother for many years as a child, and during that time she introduced me to the moon, gardening, astrology, reading cards, and all manner of spells, rituals, hexes, and curses intended to keep me safe, keep me healthy, get me a man, keep the money rolling in, and to kick some cosmic ass when needed. She's gone now and I miss her terribly, but she has continued to guide me in spirit form since her death in 2001. For this guidance I am very grateful.

Since my childhood, I've expanded the ol' crooked path in a manner that suits ME and what I like to do. Seeing as I grew up in New Orleans, naturally I was particularly influenced by our unique spiritual customs. My family was and to some extent remains Catholic - a very mainstream religion - but when it is combined with various elements of hoodoo, as was done by the women in my family, the definitions and rules change and it becomes a Traditional Witchcraft with a unique New Orleans flair. This craft is purely goal-oriented - there is no religion, rules, priests or priestesses - you just work to get what you want. Period. To this day, and despite my craft wanderings, I tend to incorporate some aspect of hoodoo into my workings and rituals, although I am not a professional rootworker by any means. My upbringing in this style of craft has led me to believe that it is necessary to embrace both light and dark. How can one be balanced if only a single side is utilized? One cannot - therefore an exploration into both sides is essential to fully grow as a practitioner. To clarify, I am a witch but I am NOT Wiccan. I do not follow a three-fold law, the Rede, or anything else that says I have to be a certain person or act a certain way. I do have Wiccan friends and respect their path - but it is not mine.

My deity "worship" could be construed as somewhat peculiar - I feel that divinity lies within and is accessed by each of us on an individual basis. I work with ancestors and energy, and personify such with the attributes of various gods and goddesses as I see fit. I am also an informal student of the Feri Witchcraft path - it seems to fit my eclectic nature very well. Basically, I'm just my own kind of witch. Plain and simple. No frills, no fuss. For me, being a "Sorciere' de la Nouvelle Orleans" is not a religion - but rather is a manner of being, a craft, and a way of life here. It's not good, it's not evil, it just IS.

I've been an RN for 17 years now, and so I approach witchcraft, and life in general, in a totally holistic fashion - thanks to my years of experience with Western medicine and with the most critically ill of patients, combined with my love and knowledge of alternative medicine. I have a knack for talking to people, and so over the years have counseled witches of all paths about the difficulties we face and how to overcome them. I am a very protective sort and will not hesitate to do whatever needs to be done to ensure that those I care about stay healthy, happy, and safe from harm - in other words, I've never been the sort to back off from giving someone a good ol' Mississippi parking lot ass whipping! However, I'm older and a bit wiser these days and I find it's much easier to work a little magick at my personal altar - and I do such on a regular basis for friends, family, and those in need who ask it of me.

In talking with people from different beliefs and paths, and in the meantime ultimately finding my way to where I am now on my own path, I have come to realize that a lot of folks out there want the benefits that living a witchy life can bring; they just don't know how to get them. Since witchcraft is just that - a craft - witchy living is a way of life that is open to all people, be they Pagan, Christian, Jewish, Athiest, or any of the many religions and belief systems that are out there. Every person, from every path, can live their lives with that witchy spark - every day - and I strive to support those who desire to do so.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and "meet" me!