The Altar Within
Thoughts on a book that’s been revolutionary to my spiritual development.
Since 2021, I’ve exclusively been reading books that directly contribute to my spiritual development. Don’t misunderstand, I love all sorts of books and have read very, very widely. I used to run a literary book group for queer women that had over 1,000 members, and I have an undergrad degree in English literature. I’m not one of those people who’s going to say that reading fiction is a waste of time, or that books from the canon should be given special consideration…nothing like that.
As I’ve said often, “one size fits all is a gotdam hurtful lie.” I’ve written a lot about my struggles and about my spiritual evolution. For over 30 years, I’ve proudly claimed the title of “witch” as a signifier of a spiritual practice that is fierce and old and originates within the earth and the sky and the very molecules of being.
For me, being a witch is also about life as a sort of protest against the status quo. It means standing up for and with the disenfranchised and fighting the powers that be, especially when they’re not aligned with the good of the earth and its inhabitants. It means honoring the memories of all who were ever persecuted, who were ever burned, for daring to stand up for themselves.
