Heron Michelle ~Modern Witch~
Author, Priestess, Shopkeeper
Heron Michelle
Biography
Heron Michelle (Greenville, NC) is a mom, shopkeeper, modern witch, and priestess. Originally from South Carolina, she is an alumna of the Fine Arts Center High School with focus in Creative Writing, and holds a BS from East Carolina University. Heron is the owner of The Sojourner Whole Earth Provisions, a metaphysical shop in Uptown Greenville. She is also a Reiki master, tarot card diviner, and clairvoyant specializing in past life retrieval. Since 2010, she's taught a unique training program in modern witchcraft through the shop. From that classroom emerged The Sojo Circle, a coven of independent witches for whom she served as co-founding High Priestess. She writes the blog 'Witch on Fire' at Patheos Pagan, and regularly lectures at local universities, festivals, and conferences.
New Book Release
"Elemental Witchcraft: A Guide to Living a Magickal Life through the Elements" is due for release through Llewellyn Worldwide on December 8, 2021. This work is the first of three parts in The Pentacle Path Series.
Elemental Witchcraft shares a wholly unique esoteric approach to developing partnerships with elemental allies and deities and ultimately merging with the Divine Mind. Author Heron Michelle provides dozens of rituals, meditations, spells, and journal reflections as you explore the magick of the four classical elements—earth, air, fire, and water—as well as the principles of Hermeticism. On this journey, you will discover how the chakras and magickal pentacle correspond to the five bodies: mental, emotional, will, physical, and spiritual. Explore how the astrological cycles and the wheel of the year relates to the elements, the witch's tools, and to the paths of sovereignty, truth, power, love, and completion. Opening the elemental gateways, and developing relationship with the goddesses and gods, can be profoundly transformative work—this book guides you through this subtle path as you learn to balance the magickal elements and construct your own astral temple at the crossroads of the Self.
Excerpt from the Forward to Elemental Witchcraft
"[Heron Michelle is] announcing from the mountain her clear-eyed vision of witchcraft’s future—that it does not get stuck in the concrete of traditional forms and practices. It reaches far into the vast unknown and helps you conjure up your authentic self. It evokes the deepest resources of the mind, the body and the spirit and helps you to know that every action you take has meaning. She gives permission to find spirit in the ordinary. And when we go looking for it right here under own own feet, we discover like Dorothy who eventually finds she’s been on the farm all along: there’s no place like home."
--Timothy Roderick, June 2021, Los Angeles
Author of Wicca: A Year and a Day
Amazon Review: "An in-depth, refreshingly modern, insightful system of witchcraft I love how detailed this book is--it goes deep into several of the historical foundations of witchcraft with a modern take that is quite refreshing. I've learned a lot from those early chapters. Heron writes with a sense of humor that's refreshing, which breaks up the intellectual parts. She presents an innovative structure/system which was built upon the foundations laid by others. This book includes what many older systematic witchcraft books omit--inclusive feminist philosophy, archaeology, and perspective, all of which advocate for both cooperation and the transcendence of dualities."
- Astrea Taylor, Author of Air Magick and Intuitive Witchcraft
Reviews of Elemental Witchcraft
"Elemental Witchcraft goes way beyond the basics of 'how to' books on Witchcraft. It is an erudite book that provides for experienced practitioners new ideas and insights to deepen their practice and teaching and which for newcomers offers a vision of how contemporary witchcraft can provide a path to deep spiritual transformation."—Dr. Vivianne Crowley, author of Wicca: The Old Religion for the New Millennium
"Heron Michelle pulls back the veil and shows us the soul of a witch in her book, The Pentacle Path of Elemental Witchcraft. There is strength and kindness in her words as she conveys a summary of her journey through magick and her interlocking insights to present a whole and holistic view of a path of witchcraft. The path presented in this book stands on its own while its roots and branches intertwine with others in the forest of witchcraft Traditions. The blend of theoretical and practical knowledge, as well as stories about community building and magick in action, is well balanced. The Pentacle Path of Elemental Witchcraft is perhaps the best effort I’ve ever seen to condense the fullness of a vibrant Tradition into one volume. If you do the work the book asks you to do, you will find a new way into the heart of witchcraft." --Ivo Dominguez, Jr. author of The Four Elements of the Wise and Practical Astrology for Witches and Pagans.
"Occult Hermeticism is at the heart of my witchcraft practice and spirituality. Yet, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to find a book that combines both in a fresh new way suitable for the modern witch. In Heron Michelle’s brilliant book, she lays a fantastic overview of the foundational elements of this path, combining the ancient wisdom of the past with modern revelation and innovation. Ancient wisdom should be the foundational kindling we draw upon to fuel our fire of contemporary praxis as a living and evolving spirit, not idealizing and dogmatizing the ashes of what has come before. As tricky a balance as this is to strike, Elemental Witchcraft: A Guide to Living a Magickal Life Through the Elements does a beautiful job of doing just that in a highly approachable and digestible way."
- Mat Auryn
Author of Psychic Witch: A Metaphysical Guide to Meditation, Magick & Manifestation
"In Elemental Witchcraft, Heron Michelle shares her personal practice in an inclusive volume that is part reference text, part study guide, and part road map. Practitioners new and old will find the expansive text rich in well-researched information. As a beautiful bridge between witchcraft's history, and present-day application, "Elemental Witchcraft" could very well become the twenty-first century's version of Buckland's "Big Blue". A must-have!"
--Raina Starr Host and Producer of Desperate House Witches Podcast
"Heron Michelle writes with sass and style and shares a powerful vision of Witchcraft that's firmly rooted in the past, yet very much a part of the progressive present. There's something for every Witch in this book, no matter their level of experience." --Jason Mankey, author of Transformative Witchcraft: The Greater Mysteries.
"Elemental Witchcraft is an incredible work dedicated to training new witches, but stands among those books who can deepen a spiritual practice for any practitioner regardless of their length of study. This examination of the full path of a witch is rooted in the rich history of our forebears, while being present in our current world. It presents the why associated with magical practices, and that is foundational for learning. Seeing the teachings as gender neutral is vital, and avoids leaving anyone out. The information also expresses the need for modern tools. This year-long study can be repeated for years to come, creating a deeper connection with the God/dess and ourselves."—Amy Blackthorn, author of Blackthorn's Botanical Magic and owner of Blackthorn's Botanicals
“Heron Michelle's Pentacle Path to Elemental Witchcraft is a magnificent work, an analysis of the Old Religion following the path of the Elements. Unlike other witchcraft books I've seen, the author doesn't homogenize or whitewash the information, nor does she talk down to the reader. She speaks to the reader as an equal and a friend. There's a wealth of information here, presented with the author's wit, charm, and attention to detail. This is not a book to skim through in one afternoon. You'll want to read each chapter, more than once, roll up your sleeves and join the author on a journey through the history, philosophy, mythology and cosmology of the elements. This is a book you'll be going back to again and again.”-- Miles Batty, author of Teaching WitchCraft
"Heron Michelle’s work is an insightful integration of Hermetics and Witchcraft into a distinctive path of witchery. With the elements as both foundation and framework, The Pentacle Path reveals a tradition writ whole. Heron Michelle presents a structured set of tools for personal and coven magick with an emphasis on well balanced human development. It’s clear how integrity informs her writing and her craft, from practical notes about establishing boundaries when necessary in exploring magickal work with groups to her exhortation to practitioners to explore how spirit must move us, as it did her, to seek our best selves and change the world for the better." - Canu Nodiad, Faery Seer, Georgian Wicca Elder, and community witch.
Witch on Fire Blog
This 'Witch on Fire' has been casting a wyrd light on modern witchcraft thru her Patheos Pagan Blog since 2015, sharing articles, rituals, poetry, and recipes. She teaches Modern Witchcraft through the stories of her personal experiences finding magick in everything.
YouTube Channel
For the occasional video discussing Modern Witchcraft, with demonstrations and inside peeks into Heron's personal practices, subscribe to her Witch on Fire YouTube Channel.