Welcome to the Grae Side

Here we have our first Interview With A Witch with Lady Grae. Where we discuss how she got into the craft and what Summer Solstice means to her. She may even have some advice for the "new brooms". Lady Grae is not only Grey Witch, she is an author as well! Check out her gratitude book - Daily Devotions of a Wild Soul on her website https://4sacredsouls.com/ or on Amazon!

Interviewer: What brought you to the craft?

Lady Grae: Honestly, I feel like the craft has been calling me since I was a child — long before I had the language for it. I’ve always been drawn to energy, sensation, and the unseen rhythms of the world around me. Before chaos and trauma entered my life, I was this little wildling — barefoot in the grass, feeling the heat of summer pavement under my feet, dancing under thunderstorms.

I didn’t know it then, but I was already connecting with the earth, the elements, and something much deeper. Growing up, I tried to follow the religion my family practiced because that’s what I was told would lead me to truth and belonging. But no matter how much I tried, it never quite touched my core. There was something missing — something I couldn’t name at the time.

Then in high school, a friend introduced me to tarot and opened the door to a different kind of spirituality. The moment I touched the cards, it was like a remembering. I felt something awaken in me, like, "Oh… this is what I’ve been looking for. This is home." Over the years, I’ve gone back and forth, sometimes trying to make organized religion fit again — but I always find myself back on this path.

The craft is where I feel most aligned, most alive, most me. It allows me to embrace all of who I am — light and shadow, soft and fierce. It’s not about perfection or rules. It’s about connection. And so, here I remain, because this is the path where I get to be my true, authentic self.

Interviewer: Sometimes witches follow a specific culture or path. What path do you follow?

Lady Grae: Walking the grey path has been deeply empowering for me — it’s the middle ground where light and shadow meet, yin and yang, creation and destruction. I was initially drawn to the more "love and light" teachings, and while there is a lot of beauty and healing in that space, I found myself constantly questioning whether I was allowed to be assertive, to say no, or to protect myself energetically without guilt.

Grey witchcraft gave me permission to honor both my softness and my strength. It helped me see that setting boundaries — even spiritually — isn't negative or unkind. It’s necessary. When I felt like my boundaries weren’t being honored, I no longer just tried to "forgive and let go." Instead, I learned how to ask the universe to return that energy to where it came from, with the intention that the lesson be delivered, not out of harm but out of balance.

Interviewer: Why do you follow this particular path?

Lady Grae: Grey witchcraft taught me that protection, justice, and shadow work are sacred too. I now feel more confident using magic to stand up for myself. Whether it's a mirror spell, an energy spell meditation, or simply lighting a candle and speaking an intention for energetic return — it reminds me that my energy is mine to protect. And that doesn't make me dark or negative.

It makes me whole. Walking an in-between path helps me find the balance I need to tune in to my gifts, remain grounded, and also keep my energy safe. What I do comes from a place of sacred balance. I don’t wish harm. I don’t hex without cause. But I do believe in cause and effect. If someone crosses a line, I trust the universe to help restore equilibrium. We forget that the Earth, nature, even the moon — all live in cycles.

There is light, and there is darkness. Both are needed. My magic reflects that. And when done with intention and integrity, it becomes a form of self-respect and spiritual maturity.

Interviewer: How do you celebrate the Summer Solstice?

Lady Grae: Living in Alaska is great for the Summer Solstice celebration. In the land of the midnight sun, celebrating the longest day of the year around a bonfire with friends is my favorite activity. Some of the people I spend Summer Solstice with also practice the craft so there is that mutual feeling of connecting with the energies around us.

Interviewer: What does this time period mean to you?

Lady Grae: Even though I am fair skinned, I love the sunlight. I think when some people think of witches, they think of people practicing their craft solely with the moon cycles. This is an important practice, but there are also witches like myself who feel their spirit connected and charged with the sunlight. I feel a lot of masculine energy within me and it resonates with my astrology sign and I think the sun helps with my recharge and direction.

Interviewer: What are your focal witchcrafts topics?

Lady Grae: My craft centers around shadow work and energy channeling, especially through magical meditation and movement. For me, dance is more than expression — it's ritual. Tarot is something I’m still learning — I haven’t memorized all the cards yet, but I honestly think that’s okay. My deck and I have a deep bond. Even if I don’t always know the textbook meaning, I read intuitively — I sit with the imagery, feel into the emotion, and let my guides speak through the cards.

Interviewer: Why do you tend to focus on these topics than others?

Lady Grae: It’s how I transmute energy, release stuck emotions, and sometimes even receive messages. My body becomes the altar to my temple within. Shadow work is a core part of what I do. I believe that healing isn’t just about chasing the light — it’s about turning toward the uncomfortable parts of ourselves and asking, "What are you here to teach me?" My magic isn’t always neat or aesthetic, but it’s raw, real, and personal.

In tarot, every time I’ve reached out for guidance, the messages have been spot-on, often in ways I didn’t even expect. I don’t pressure myself to be perfect at it. I trust the connection I’ve built and let it deepen at its own pace. For me, tarot is less about “fortune-telling” and more about creating sacred conversation with the universe.

Interviewer: What is your advice to "new brooms"?

Lady Grae: Be curious. Allow yourself to branch out. Don’t allow fear to get in your way of seeking knowledge. Never limit yourself. Grow and expand and make that an active goal. Research different paths to determine what you find yourself drawn to. Paths with other practitioners have similarities but also have their differences in what works best for them and their unique journey.

It is completely okay to buy generic brand grocery store spices and herbs. Money is tough as it is, the last thing you should do is stress about trying to finance premium quality spell items, and yes, if you need to use it for cooking, don’t buy the same herb or spice for different purposes (unless you really want to and money isn’t a challenge). As you get more into your craft, you may want to buy higher quality specific items that you use and connect with often, but it is up to you.

You can find many options for bottles, jars, candles, fake florals and more for your altar space and use in your spell at your local art supply stores like Michaels, or even at dollar stores. You may be drawn to one specific path and make that your entire spiritual focus. If at any point you want to try something else out, remove a practice, add a practice… do it.

You don’t have to be part of a coven in order to be a ‘real witch’.

You don’t need to stock a shelf full of books on the craft in order to look and feel like a real witch. I honestly found myself overwhelmed the more material I had because chunks in many books that I didn’t pay much attention to.

It is not against the rules to buy your own tarot deck. If you would like someone to do that, that is an option. If you want to find the perfect deck for you, explore the hundreds of beautiful decks online and purchase one that you find yourself really drawn to.

You can change your path and direction at any time.

Interviewer: What does transformation mean to you?

Lady Grae: Transformation makes me think of phoenixes and lotuses. The cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Not just with our physical aging, but with this cycle in our spirituality, our life paths, and our egos. The transformation cycles of ourselves will never happen just once.

When you feel like everything is going wrong, but you are taking the steps you need to get out of that rut, there are going to be times where you may feel desperate for relief and that is when I find in my life when positive change is going to come even though it is not as fast as I may want it.

Interviewer: What does Vitality mean to you?

Lady Grae: Vitality in spiritual practices is the life force that flows through my connection to the sacred. It’s the spark that makes my rituals feel alive rather than routine. It’s the energy of presence, authenticity, and intention — the pulse behind every word I speak, every candle I light, every breath I take during meditation or movement.

Spiritually, vitality shows up when I’m not just going through the motions, but fully engaging my mind, body, and spirit in what I’m doing. Whether it’s dancing to a spiritual playlist, pulling tarot, chanting affirmations, or sitting in stillness — vitality is what makes the moment electric, sacred, and transformative.