A bad witch's blog: Authors On Their Own Writing: Katie Ness

I've interviewed hedgewitch Katie Ness about which of her own books she most liked and why, continuing the popular interview series with pagan authors. Katie talks about her personal tragedy and loss, her love of travel, and how those things have influenced her work.

Q: Of the books you’ve written which is your favourite?

A: I'm early in my career as an author. As a practising yogini and yoga teacher I started out back in 2014 being a contributing writer for wellness sites and magazines. In 2020 I was published with Kindred Spirit magazine, since then I’ve published with them more, which inspired me to cross into paganism and folklore, which is where my heart is as a hedgewitch. Over the past few years I’ve gone on to be published in Witches Magazine, Femme Occulte, The Feminine Macabre Journal, Occulture Magazine, Haunted magazine, Girl God Books and more.

A week before Christmas 2020 I survived an ectopic pregnancy. It was during this raw time suffering with shock, grief and slow physical recovery that I began to write poetry again (I often wrote poetry as a kid). I was unable to move around much so I couldn’t practice yoga, dance or sit upright to paint. I was bed ridden with my laptop. Poems poured out of me. They were published in anthologies, journals and literary sites and turned into two collections with Undressed Society Press and Dark30Poetry Publishing. These two collections were my first books and I love them dearly but they’re mainly passion projects. They were a therapeutic outlet during a traumatic time in my life and I like it that they’ll act as a legacy when I’m gone, that my descendants can connect with my musings when they read my poetry after my death. Wth that respect, these two books are from my heart to my ancestors and descendants. If people fancy reading them, they’re available on Amazon, but if not, no worries.

Therefore, my favourite book I’ve written to date has to be my first non-fiction title that is being published with Moon Books this October, 2025. It’s called Word Witchery: Walking the Path of the Poetry Priestess.

The first inklings of this book started brewing during my recovery from the ectopic pregnancy and that inner calling to write this manuscript became stronger after a trip to Menerva’s shrine in Cheshire. It felt like the muses were speaking to me and I went down so many rabbit holes excavating research for the book until the early hours of the morning over many months, it definitely felt like I had been taken over by spirit or I was a bridge of some kind between worlds.

Q: What’s it about?

A: Here's the description of Word Witchery: The Path of the Poetry Priestess:

"Abundant with archeological finds, historical research, practical rituals and spells, this book sheds fresh light on ancient magical word craft and unearths the fragmented lives and voices of women mystical poets, writers, chantresses, and bards; many almost lost to obscurity.
"From Petroglyphic stone magic traversing caves and desert gorges, incantation bowls found in the ancient Near East, votive tablets to goddesses across the Mediterranean, notation blessing knives of renaissance Europe and more, Word Witchery explores our intrinsic desire to commune with the divine and supernatural forces via poetry and magical writing.
"Includes practical writing ritual and spell prompts for the modern Word Witch and Poetry Priestess to connect with feminine divinity, to conjure their own poetry magic and weave their worlds with words."

As I was writing devotional poetry during a time of recovery I began to consider how old poetry is. What’s the oldest poetic incantation? How did the ancients view words, language and writings? Were there more women like Sappho and Enheduanna performing and chanting devotional or mystical hymns to the gods but who are now almost lost to obscurity because the patriarchy controlled the pen and the history records? That is how this book was born. The first half is an excavation of historical and archeological finds associated with the concept of words as spells from prehistory to the early 20th century–from the power of utterance of syllables, poetic incantations to deities and mystical writings throughout time with a focus on women’s voices and the energies of the goddess. There’s so many history books and history channels that discuss very patriarchal themes and I wanted this book to focus mainly on the feminine, as a woman myself who has struggled her whole life to find her voice and be heard.

The second half of the book is the temple space and it’s full of practical rituals and spells that encourage the use of poetry, journaling, chanting, and writing into a reader’s personal magical practice or as healing activities if they wish.

Q: Why is it your favourite?

A: It’s my first professional book with an established and well known publisher of pagan topics. It was a special moment receiving that email on my birthday being told I was wanted as a contracted author, it’s a dream come true. It was also a huge, exciting challenge for myself to commit to. It’s one thing writing poetry from an emotional, creative expression that pours out of you like water and another thing to consistently tap into your mental agility to produce a well researched, flowing and interesting non-fiction manuscript. I’m naturally a methodical person with a strong work ethic, I’m like an Ox, I slowly power through with a lot of patient stamina but even writing this book challenged my abilities, there were days like anyone would and has felt, where I felt like my brain was crashing, I had mental fatigue, and imposter syndrome, but it was a nourishing experience to go through the ups and downs because it was healing for my self-worth. I got to dedicate it to my grandmother and aunt Carol, which was important to me, for they were women in my lineage who had their wings clipped and voices stolen. This book is my voice setting them free and healing a part of my ancestry.

Q: Tell me a bit more about yourself.

A: Variety is the spice of life! As the saying goes, that pretty much sums me up. I live by three things: Creativity, Travel and Spirituality– I can not live without these three things.

Creativity: At my core I am an artist and even did a BA Hons Fine Art and Photography at university. You’ll always catch me making something whether that’s a poem, a painting, corn dollies, wreaths, botanical illustration, videography and video editing, dream catchers, handfasting cords and so on. I’m currently learning to play ancient melodies on the lyre harp and willow weaving! I seem to have a natural talent for the arts and it doesn't take me long to master a new skill to a proficient level. I revel in creative expression. I’m always open to learning new creative skills to advance my overall artistic practice. I quite fancy trying embroidery at some point and I adore folk art and traditional craft.

Travel: I’ve been traveling since I was 7 and my first destination was Borovets, Bulgaria. My mother instilled in me a love of traveling and although mostly introverted by nature, traveling brings out a more carefree extroverted streak in me. I’m lucky I have friends all over the world and I love immersing myself (when invited) into other cultures. I’m not a resort—sit by the pool every day—tourist, I’m a backpacking-homestay explorer. I’ve travelled to 25 countries so far. I’ve temporarily lived in Cyprus, Bali and Australia and backpacked around Morocco, Nepal, Vietnam and Croatia. Favourite destinations are: Cyprus, Sardinia and Bali. Travel opens me up to dive deeper into and honour someone else’s culture, language, history, folklore and customs. I’m a culture and history nerd. I go to museums, sacred sites, archeological sites and botanical gardens. Somehow I end up making friends and invited to have traditional food with their families or find hidden gems. I’ve met Saddhus and Tibetan monks in Nepal, a high priestess of a waterfall temple in Bali and Berber bedouins of the Sahara desert! It's all so magical to me!

Spirituality: I grew up Catholic, had the holy communion and confirmation and I genuinely loved it as a kid, also loved religious studies. Drew angels in art class, I was always that devout-mystical-day dreamy kid. But there was something missing. Throughout my childhood, I’d say from the age of 5 (earliest memories) I’ve been a lucid dreamer and questioned the meaning of life, could intuit spirit and so on, although seemingly ‘day dreamy’, I was a serious, thoughtful child. At 13 I began to lean towards paganism, learning tarot, palm reading, Hindu philosophy on the chakras, meditation and reincarnation, dream symbolism, animal spirits– you name it. Throughout my 20s and early 30s I became devoted to yoga and its philosophies as well as Reiki. In 2017 I became initiated as a Magdalene priestess which grounded my path with the goddess. Over time I became a Reiki master, Cacao ceremonialist, Womb keeper and Myrrhophore.

If I had to use a label I’d say I’m a hedgewitch who works with folk magic, shadow work, dreams, the threshold and talismans. I’m also a Bhakti Yogini, meaning I chant and sing devotional mantras, sanskrit and kirtan predominantly to the energies of shakti– I guess I’m basically a yoga witch. As a pagan priestess I bring my witchcraft and yogic practices together to offer services to my community in the form of circle sharings, ceremonies, rituals, workshops and one-to-one healing, but also as a woman in service to the goddess or sacred feminine, however she wishes to manifest. Some days she’s Radha in my Bhakti practice, other days she’s Rhiannon in my witchcraft. Outside my own practice, I love learning about ancient spiritual beliefs from across the globe. In a past life I may have been a priestess chanting devotional poetry in a mystery temple or a nun scribbling away mystical musings in the peace and quiet of a convent library. My spirituality informs my core principles, my truth and keeps me centred, particularly practicing the Yamas and Niyamas of Yoga.

My new career direction bridges all the above as a writer, a wellbeing and yoga teacher specialising Ayurvedic Hatha yoga, Nidra and Philosophy, and I’m preparing for my Masters to qualify as an occult historian and folklorist. I am also a Libra Sun, Scorpio Rising and Virgo Moon. My favourite snacks are olives, rocket lettuce and raw carrot with hummus….I also love chocolate eclairs and reading a good book during a rainstorm or picnics with strawberries and cream by a body of water, under a willow tree on a warm summer's day.

Q: Relating to your writing, what plans do you have for the future?

A: I am currently working on a third poetry book which is a collaboration between a friend and I and I’m researching and writing two sample manuscript proposals for Moon Books. One is a sister book to Word Witchery and the other is about a deity and that’s all I’m going to say. There is a potential fourth idea revolving around British folklore. Outside Moon Books I dream of publishing a travel memoir, a short story collection of magical realist tales and potentially a children’s book in honour of a much loved and missed friend who sadly passed away in June 2024.

You can find Katie on IG as @katie_wild_witch and her facebook page is Kalyaani Temple. She has an author page at Collective Ink/Moon books.

Word Witchery: Walking the Path of the Poetry Priestess can be viewed on Amazon.

[Please note I earn commission from some links.]

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Thursday, 7 August 2025

Authors On Their Own Writing: Katie Ness

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