When was the first time you called yourself a witch?

The gratitude I have for my ancestor, Alice Molland and the story she helped me conjure is tremendous. When I discovered this village of Molland in Devon, it was one more magical sign that her story needed to be told, and by me.

New Views of Saturn Produced by Space Telescopes Help Researchers Understand the Planet's Clouds Hubble helps see more subtle variations in color across the world, while Webb's infrared view allows operators to image the deep clouds below the stormy atmosphere.

“Several of the pointed edges of Saturn’s iconic hexagon-shaped jet stream at its north pole, discovered by the Voyager spacecraft in 1981, are also faintly visible in both images. It remains one of the Solar System’s most intriguing weather patterns.”

This story unfolds in bravery, virtue, and self-discovery.

This week’s book recommendation is DAUGHTER OF FORTUNE by Isabel Allende. Eliza Sommers is an orphan raised in the British colony of Valparaíso, Chile. When the gold rush explodes up north, Chileans migrate to California in hopes of finding fortune. Eliza follows the man she fell in love with.

Rosemary has been adored for centuries, adored as a sacred plant by ancient Egyptians. This aromatic and generous plant has many uses you may not know about. Next time you forget to brush your teeth, grab a rosemary stem and suck on it.

Winifred in her cat castle. I love finding her in different places all over the house.

“I am passionate about everything in my life--first and foremost, passionate about ideas. And that's a dangerous person to be in this society, not just because I'm a woman, but because it's such a fundamentally anti-intellectual, anti-critical thinking society.”

― bell hooks

The Killing Moon Provided to YouTube by PIAS The Killing Moon · Nouvelle Vague · Mélanie Pain Bande à Part ℗ Kwaidan Records under exclusive licence to [PIAS] Released on: 2006-06-26 Mixing Engineer: Marc…

I just discovered this cover of THE KILLING MOON by Nouvelle Vague and Mélanie Pain (original by Echo and the Bunnymen, 1984). What an enchanting version of a beloved song.

The Making of a Witch: A Novel A Novel

Pre-order THE MAKING OF A WITCH here: bookshop.org/p/books/the-...

As a reader, it’s exciting to learn as I read novels, and as a writer, I intend to teach readers what I have learned. Our ancestors are rich in knowledge about how we work in agreement with nature to find healing and nourishment.

Have you ever tickled a trout while fishing?

Have you seen this film? BELL, BOOK, AND CANDLE directed by Richard Quine in 1958, is my witch movie pick this week. I fell in love with this movie as a teenager, and I still love it today. What witch/supernatural films do you recommend?

What does an 8-year-old do after winning a Grammy? Fractions Aura V is the youngest-ever individually named Grammy winner. But the 8-year-old still struggles with division and would appreciate extra time on the playground at recess.

Well, this young lady is an adorable inspiration. Aura V and her father Fyütch, won a Grammy for best children’s music album this year, and what a sweet story about a girl and her father bringing harmony into the world through their music. @NPR

Apocalypse no: how almost everything we thought we knew about the Maya is wrong For many years the prevailing debate about the Maya centred upon why their civilisation collapsed. Now, many scholars are asking: how did the Maya survive?

This article in THE GUARDIAN is fascinating. It was written by Marcus Haraldsson and features leading Maya archaeologist, Francisco Estrada-Belli. If you’re interested in the ceremonies and histories as they continue to unfold, and the culture of the Maya that still thrives today, I recommend:

If you dwell with a cat, you are aware of their need to cuddle, and mingle their scent with all items that smell like their human.

Queen Winifred is in a basket in the mudroom. If you live in Montana, you know that a mudroom is essential in every home. This basket contains gloves, hats, and scarves ready for winter weather.

Hannah Levy of The Rebis, on The Devil & Tarot as a Creative Practice — MODERN WITCHES Hannah Levy, editor-in-chief of The Rebis talks about The Devil Issue of their tarot literary journal and using tarot as a creative practice.

“The Devil from Tarot's Major Arcana is one of the more magnetic, complex and shadowy archetypes from the deck, and Hannah Levy thinks it is high time we tune into their compelling frequency.” I enjoyed this recent episode of the MODERN WITCHES podcast:

This week’s book recommendation is THE FAMILIARS By @staceyhallsauthor. A gripping novel based on the trials of the Pendle Witches in the county of Lancashire in 1612.

I’m excited to introduce you to my characters in my forthcoming novel, THE MAKING OF A WITCH. Here’s a little excerpt. You can pre-order, and support any indie bookstore you choose by following this link:

I’ve always loved backpacking and in 2022, Joe and I hiked along the gorgeous Selway River in Idaho. I miss him greatly. I’m grateful to have these photos of my joyous, adventurous life partner. It was a beautiful trip.

Grief is a part of life, and this statement resonates with the unbearable feeling of loss. Where do you put the love you had? Settling in allows the love to be transformed into a new relationship with that person, beyond their physical existence.

“The day after the full moon, a Wednesday, Alice sat on the sheep-bitten grass and watched Matthew work with Thunder and Whipster, the two sheepdogs, to round up the last of the ewes and bring them into the sheep pen.”
—THE MAKING OF A WITCH, by Judy Molland

Please share with your friends!

Cover reveal! I couldn’t be more delighted to share this striking cover. Pre-order my novel, THE MAKING OF A WITCH, inspired by my ancestor, Alice Molland, the last woman accused of witchcraft and sentenced to death in England, in 1685, at this link: bookshop.org/p/books/the-...

What a beauty.

Yes to acknowledging our emotions!

Coffee and tea are life. Love this.

It’s the eve of the cover unveiling! Cover reveal for upcoming novel, THE MAKING OF A WITCH (She Writes Press, June, 2026), plus pre-orders, are out tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Some of my favorite quotes from the movie, WICKED. Is there a quote from the film that has stayed with you?