The Enchanted Book Coven: Elemental Witchcraft (pg 133-148)
Hello my enchanted ones!
Welcome back to our wonderful witchy book club… Book Coven (yes, it’s officially rebranded. We’re a little fancier now, a little spookier, a little more… coven.)
We’re continuing our journey through Elemental Witchcraft by Heron Michelle, and this gathering covers pages 133–148. If you’re following along on Kindle (where page numbers can be chaos, if they’re even there) this section begins at “Meditation: 3”and ends at “The Fivefold Self.”
I have a brief overview of our meeting here, though there are way mote details in the video. I feel like this was a juicy one. I shared a lot of my disagreements with her, shared lots of my experiences, and we had lots to talk about, lots to reflect on, and then lots to expand on in the future.
As always: if you couldn’t make it for the live, no worries at all, you can watch the replay anytime. (This coven door doesn’t lock. We’re not like that.) If you’d like to get reminders for upcoming meetings, subscribe to my channel and hit that bell button. And for even better reminders, you can link my events calendar with your google calendar.
~ Lines that Lingered ~
As always, I start with a quote. This one especially grabbed me by the soul-collar and refused to let go.
“When we are open, balanced, and flowing freely through all worlds, this allows us to respond to any challenges effectively rather than remaining slaves to our reactions.” (pg 141, after Figure 16)
This is such a wonderful reminder! Don’t fully focus on the “end” of your spiritual journey (if there even is one?) because you have so much still to learn and experience along your path. Side quests are definitely a thing!
I really love this because yes, being “open, balanced, and flowing freely” is the goal… Though it’s way easier to understand this, than to put it into practice. Much harder to actually stay balanced when life is doing life things. But we should always make time for grounding ourselves. When we’re regulated and connected, we respond with clarity, not just impulse. (and hopefully make wiser decisions) Shadow work is essential, if you’re unsure how to start, send me a message.
If you had a favorite quote or moment from this section, tell me in the comments. I would love to know what resonates with you.
A gentle reminder. If you’re participating or thinking about it, there’s no rush and no pressure. Move at your own rhythm, catch replays when it suits you, and join the chat whenever you’re called. You don’t even need to read the book! Just bring your curiosity and cozy up. We have lots of magickal fun here.
~ Core Concepts & Magickal Musings ~
Grounding Meditation
At the start of our reading section, the author offers a fully written guided meditation, designed to help you access your roots, breathe through the elements, and connect more deeper. I’ll be honest: I didn’t do this meditation.
Not because it’s bad, I just very rarely follow guided meditations written by someone else. I tend to use the ones I’ve written myself. It’s a boundary for me, and I’m not totally sure why. I’ve learned to trust what feels right in my practice, and I’m going with that.
That said: if guided meditations work for you, I’m genuinely happy they do. If you did try this one, please tell me how it went, what you felt, what you noticed, and if something shifted. Your experiences help others decide if they want give it a try.Heron describes a multiform cosmos where spiritual, mental, and physical planes run concurrently. Similar to threads in one tapestry. I love how this reframes our everyday life: nothing is “just” mundane; everything is nested, mirrored, and humming with meaning.
Energy, body, balance, and dis-ease
This section opens up a conversation that I think is huge. Though first, let me delight! she gives us figures and charts like a textbook! This makes it feel like a formal academic course. A Spiritual Studies 101. I love it.
The Author describes how she started her studies in modern witchcraft, trained in Reiki, and how she came to believe our anatomy extends far beyond the skin. “we’re not just a spirit driving a meat suit.” I agree. The body matters, the body is sacred, but the totality of self is more than what can be perceived in the mundane reality. Our consciousness, spirit, intuition, and energy extend outward. Our visible body is never the full story.
She brings up her holistic approach to wholeness, and she defines wholeness as the interconnection between consciousness and the body. I want to add another layer here that I feel is important. Not only consciousness, but also subconscious, shadow, and our unconscious patterns matter too.
One of the most important ideas in this section is how she describes the layers of self: When those layers are in harmony, we feel at ease. When there’s disruption, we feel dis-ease. Ongoing stress, frustration, anger, worry, anxiety, etc, shouldn’t be ignored. Not because illness is spiritual (it’s not), but because it acknowledges how unresolved emotional weight can echo through us. Mentally, emotionally, and eventually physically.
What it means to be a witch
She states that a major part of witchcraft is conquering our fear of lack of love, and knowing ourselves within and without. I think the “knowing ourselves within and without” part is absolutely true. But I just don’t think that’s enough…
For me, witchcraft also includes something learning how your energy interacts with the is-ness of reality. The current. The weave. The universe. Your guides. Your deities, Your intuition. The way you pull on that connection and shape the currents of your life. Her interpretation is a strong start, but it only skims the surface.
Driving our Meat Suit
There’s a part I genuinely laughed at: “When we’re born, first things first, we have to figure out how to drive the meat suit…” It’s funny, but also true. We learn the physical world first.
This ties into something I’ve noticed (and I know many of you have too). Children often seem more sensitive to the “other.” Then puberty hits, social approval becomes a survival instinct, and suddenly anything unusual gets labeled “weird,”.
I shared a personal example during the live: I’ve always had lucid dreams, so nightmares were rarely a “trap” for me, because I could just… change the channel. When I mentioned that as a child, people looked at me like I had three heads.
Those kind of reactions is exactly how many of us learn to keep our experiences private. Moments like that teach you to shrink your experiences. To stop talking. To stop sharing. And that’s one of the ways our senses get dulled.
“Just Relax.” (Okay, thanks, but how?)
There’s a section where she basically says: You have to relax. Stress and anxiety are the clenched opposite. It’s the major issue of modern life we all must overcome. (wow, I never knew, thanks! I’m cured! 😅) So yes, I agree. But also… we all know it isn’t that simple.
She follows up with a gorgeous passage about how guarding ourselves too tightly blocks the very things that could heal us, and gives this incredible imagery about stripping off the identities we cling to and “skinny dipping in the boundless sea of divine love.” It’s dramatic. It’s poetic. It’s something all of us can relate to.
A tool for my fellow overthinkers
This part of the live turned into a whole moment when I shared my advice for brains that never stop. Because I overthink. Constantly. It’s basically a hobby.
So if you’re also someone who overthinks constantly (hello, ADHD and neurospicy friends), and you can’t stop your brain from spinning, then at least make sure you also overthink the positive outcomes as much as you overthink the negative ones. I realized I was always mentally preparing for worst-case scenarios, but I wasn’t preparing myself for good outcomes. And that meant my brain was basically trained to expect disappointment.
So now, when I spiral, I try to deliberately spiral in both directions. You’d think it’ll make the headspace even more overwhelming, but weirdly, it softens the intensity instead. It slows the train before it derails. Highly recommend you try if your thoughts are spicy and loud.
The Five Locks
This section introduces the idea of “locks” within ourselves.
Mental lock
Lock of will
Emotional lock
Physical lock
Spiritual lock
I like the concept, but I’ll be honest her interpretations felt a little thin. I wanted a deeper “how” not just the “what.” also don’t love how she turned them into “steps”. I think treating these as isolated milestones (“this month I unlock emotional, next month I unlock spiritual”), won’t result in consistent and expanded growth. Our beings are too interconnected for us to separate core pieces within ourselves.
I believe the better approach is taking little consistent bites across all layers, over time. Small, steady, sustainable. Not a short burst of motivation that collapses after two weeks and leaves you feeling guilty. (It’s those dammed dopamine demons)
Small Rituals, Big Impacts
I Shared a few examples during our live, and one was about my morning and evening reflection practice and how it touches multiple locks at once:
Mental: how you’re thinking, what’s present
Will: what you intend, what you’re aiming toward
Emotional: processing your inner world
Physical: slowing down, noticing your body
Spiritual: bringing awareness to your whole self
Small rituals. Big impact. The key is consistency without perfection.
I shared another personal moment of my realizations and learning consistency. All based off my Duolingo streak of 264+ days! (sponsorship opportunity? lol) This forced me to see that I am capable of consistency. I just needed the right structure and a little grace.
Which is exactly why I’m introducing a monthly reflection ritual this year here on my website, and I would love if you participate as well.
Auras, chakras, and Energy Organs
The author starts on the topic of chakras, and I love how she bridges the concept of life-force energy across various cultures. It reminds us that these practices aren’t random or new. Humans have always been sensing the current. Different languages, different frameworks, different parts of the world, but still the same underlying connections.
She describes chakras as existing within a layer of the auric field close to our skin and calls them energy organs. I love the phrase “energy organs.” It makes it practical. Real. Functional. Not just a concept. I appreciate that she mentions there are more than seven chakras, but focuses on the main seven for the sake of structure.
I shared another one of my personal experiences. It was about the first time I ever went into a metaphysical shop (properly, on my own, freshly stepping out of the broom closet). They had chakra panels hanging across the ceiling, and I asked what they were. The shopkeeper pointed them out… and then she identified the one above me as the throat chakra. Then she said that almost everyone asks about them when they’re standing under the throat chakra section.
Which is such a perfect “the universe has jokes” moment. The throat chakra is tied to our voice, self expression, and speaking up. This example shows that even if someone doesn’t recognize the symbols, their energies do. Their being still responds to the “is-ness” that’s all around us.
Before you go…
If you’re reading along, tell me how you’re feeling about the book so far. What are some things that stood out most to you? And if you’re not reading along, just hanging out, tell me what resonated. Something you want to explore? Maybe a thought you hadn’t considered? A piece that made you go “oh… wow.”
You never need to be caught up to join our Book Coven.
Everyone is welcome to join and be part of my little corner on the internet.
Links to Our Books
(USA)
Elemental Witchcraft
Paperback https://amzn.to/47cdj9W
Kindle https://amzn.to/4lEHmKL
The Great Work
Paperback https://amzn.to/3UJ5WiI
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3VdLG98
(DE / EU)
Elemental Witchcraft
Paperback https://amzn.to/3UJeeqR
Kindle https://amzn.to/4lEHmKL
The Great Work
Paperback https://amzn.to/4lFOfeU
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3VdLG98
~ More Enchantment Awaits! ~
For our next gathering, we’re reading pages 149–163 (the next 15 pages) For Kindle readers: this begins after “The Fivefold Self” and goes and stops right before “Tools of Elemental Fire”.
I love learning with you. I love hearing your experiences. And I’m looking forward of what else we will explore at our next gathering.
With many blessings, love and a little magical mayhem,
Elena Enchanted 💜
