On the eve of Halloween I received the most enchanting letter in the mail! An unexpected, but totally holiday appropriate package of zines from a fellow writer that I have connected with online named Dayna Moth. Inside there were two zines, a little flyer with inspirational information, and a handwritten letter from the author herself. Today I am going to focus on one of those zines, called "Hag Witch".
There is a lot to love about this zine; the personal stories, the advice for spell jars, and reflections about reading the tarot from someone who has been reading for around two decades. But, what I love the most is the concept of the HAG Witch that Dayna lays out in the first few pages and expands upon in the rest of the booklet.
A hag is a figure of mythology and often elderly witches are referred to as hags in a not-so-nice way. To Dayna, however, HAG is actually an acronym for the type of witchcraft she practices. She isn't a wiccan, doesn't practice ceremonial magic, rather her witchy activities center around the Home And Garden >> she is a HAG Witch, you see?
After the introduction the zine goes on to discuss some practical aspects of gardening, which I love. In the section titled "Gardening on a Dime" Dayna explains "it can sometimes feel like a rich man's hobby, reserved only for those people with the money to 'do it right' [...] Let me tell you: Gardening is for everyone." And then goes on to list a few pages of suggestions on affordable gardening projects for just about any situation.
Just like me, her gardening endeavors produce some food but mostly herbs for medicine and crafting spells, with mostly practical goals. There is a page with ideas for spell bottles to reverse negative energy, bring in calming vibes, and preserve memories of a successful adventure.
This quote in particular really sums it up:
"I like to think of spells as metaphors made physical, tangible [...] A symbol you can hold in the palm of your hand. Capturing the essence of a moment to carry with you."
I think most people consider zines to be a sloppy version of books. They are indeed home made and consist of very few straight lines. This zine in particular holds a very punk aesthetic but, I assure you, it is far from sloppy. Each and every page is full of Dayna's own experience distilled and formulated into sage advice. These are the kind of booklets that have really guided my own spiritual practice, much more than trendy spiritual books.
I am going to savor this zine, reading, and re-reading before bed and to get into the mood for practicing at my altar. And, to leave you with a bit of inspiration I will end this review with the most inspiring quote from the zine.
But first; if these images and quotes inspire you, I think you would really enjoy ordering your own copy of this zine which can be found on Cat Moth Crow's Etsy Shop.
Under the same name of Cat Moth Crow, Dayna also runs a YouTube channel full of interesting videos about making zines and zine reviews too. I like all her videos and want to recommend this one in particular:
"On top of the shelf where I keep my record collection is a jumble of items: an ornate aluminum box full of bottles and jars, bouquets of sage blossoms and mint leaves, a box of matches, a big chunk of rose quartz .... This is my altar. I like to think of it as a central hub for my spell work and magic crafting. [...] Keeping an alter is a way to give witchcraft a visual presence in your life; magic in sight, in mind"
I couldn't have said it better myself!
