Welcome Friends & Wanderers...

 

...to an enchanted & growing collection of bewitching art,

illustration & gifts! Where the myth and reality, the romance

and magick, the whimsy and whispers of witch and goddess

spirits are embraced and celebrated!

 

I love the magical side of life, first ignited by children's literature & illustrations as a child....especially those of the much beleaguered and hag-ified "witch". While most were frightened of her, I was curious about her and her confidence in being "different". We had a so-called "witch" in every neighborhood I lived in growing up, and I always found her mysterious and facinating! I was incredibly curious to know her...the real her!

As I grew up, I realized "witch" began to represent an association with many interests (perhaps stereotypes) I'd personally and quite naturally felt or developed over the years, such as gardening, herbal plant usages, natural remedies, soap & skin potion making, seasonal Earth-honoring celebrations...a deep tie to Earth. At the time, I didn't even know these interests & skills were associated with "witchcraft"....I just thought I was fascinated with how plants can heal and help what many people lean on chemicals and drugs to do. Through my inherent interests and studies, I would eventually cross paths personally and as part of my businesses, and get to know who true witches are, learn and embrace their gifts, knowledge, friendship ...and find that it is also a religous path. "Witch", for me, is oft representative of misfits, the mysterious, and the misunderstood in our world, and challenges us to look further, deeper...to understand & respect, remember the roots of our own religious pasts.

So (a usual question asked of me) have I turned into a witch? It may surprise some to know that I was raised Catholic, and possess a growing interest and appreciation for Earth-based spiritualities of Old. Truth is, I'd kind of hate to limit myself to any *one* spirituality or way of looking at things, ...the same way I embrace my friends of Jewish, Protesant, Islamic, etc. faiths. I don't label myself any one thing. Some judge that as being "non-committal"; I see it as, my heart & head are open to all.

You're here because of art, and I'm inspired to paint and offer you "witch" in some of the beautiful differences, possibilities, history, and magic, and challenge you to see and accept beyond and within stereotypes. True magic is simply love. I wish you magic...and a fascination, like me, with all things beautiful and mysterious and which embraces & includes, ...rather than judges & excludes..... I've found my "little witch" and embraced her...have you yet?

Sincerely,

~Carol Ochs

(Who readily admits to and celebrates "not being normal"! *wink*)

"My darling girl, when are you going to realize that being normal is not necessarily a virtue? It rather denotes a lack of courage!"

- Aunt Frances Owens character, Practical Magic, by Alice Hoffman