Interview with Ann Moura
Interview with Ann Moura
Following up on a book review of her Green Witchcraft series I had the chance to ask none other than Ann Moura her points of view of witchcraft today, past life to spiritual genetics and what one is to expect upon the journey of the Greenpath. Complied with historical searching of the inner self through crafting of Green Witchcraft Moura explains the aspects into what makes this journey special to the minds of those who keep this nature based religion something sacred just like the mysteries of the elements themselves. Knowledgeable and thought provoking Ann summaries this earth belief that so many individuals have adapted to, for myself speaking have found this soul awakening growth carrying me to the next level of personal spiritual evolution. Moura sets it to me in her own words these shared aspects of the craft and her personal observations of what the true meaning of what it means to be Green. In a green witchy sense that is.
Aislinn Unne: How would you describe the way to the Green Path or someone like yourself follows?
Ann Moura: The Green Path is an herbal, natural approach to the Craft in which the individual is connected to Nature, the Elementals, and the Divine in daily spiritual awareness and communion. The relationship between Practitioner and the Divine can be as deep as the person is willing to let it. This path may be followed as folk arts under the umbrella of a mainstream religion, as personal magics, or as religion depending on what kind of commitment a person is willing to make.
Aislinn Unne: What prompted you in the creation of the Greenwitch series?
Ann Moura: I was pushed into the writing of my family tradition when my mother passed over. I realized then that the knowledge moving from one generation to the next was getting slimmer simply because the need to use it had not arisen. My grandmother was a known herbalist in her area, yet she passed to my mother information as matters came up rather than as a formal education. My mother taught me in the same way. It is my penchant for organization that has prompted me to collate what I have grown up with and what I have discovered on my own to present a fuller view of the Green Path.
Aislinn Unne: Upon reviewing the 3 main books of the Greenwitch craft line I had to say that the books on reference to my review really blew me away for they were not only informative, concise but one can tell the level of personal heart/spirit that was put into them, is this something that comes natural when gathering the concept for the material that is going to be written?
Ann Moura: I would say it did come naturally simply because what I was writing about came from personal experience. The biggest hurdle for me was getting it all organized! Of course I had my own Book of Rituals and Book of Spells to augment the information, but as I was bringing it altogether, I realized there was quite a lot of material covering quite a lot of territory. Once I decided on an outline, however, the rest seemed to fall into place. Even so, I keep finding more that could have been said based upon questions I occasionally get from readers. I do try to answer mail, but the easiest way to contact me is to email me at Ann Moura.
Aislinn Unne: Do you think that being a Greenlady and a writer come hand in hand because not only the two are different by what is conveyed comes from the passion of the soul that goes into words, much like a spell or a beginning chapter?
Ann Moura: There is something to be said of that comparison! You do gain a knack for the rhythm of words from spells, chants, rituals, and meditations. Also, I try to write so that people understand by seeing examples. Theory is fine, but until you can relate it to the experience, it may be difficult to absorb. I discuss in most of the Green Witchcraft books things that I have experienced on my own personal path so others can learn from this. This does not mean that others should experience the same things–only that this is a guideline to the possibilities.
Aislinn Unne: Some label Greenwitch craft to be a branch of the Kitchen/Hedge tradition; do find these two combinations to be similar in practice of the green path?
Ann Moura: Absolutely! The tools can be right from the kitchen, the herbs from the spice rack or the family garden, and the magic simply home oriented–protection, prosperity, good health, happiness for the home and family. But the practice can also be extended for the benefit of others, so there is a bit of Hedge Witch in there as well. This is informal magical workings, casual Witchcraft with a sensation of natural activities for the ordinary desires of life. Wind chimes to move the magic through Elemental Air and attract the Fairies, rosemary or hen & chicks planted for protection, crystal ball or Witchball hung to reflect the light and scatter negativity, garlic or onion braid in the house to absorb negativity, garlic cloves in the entries to the house to filter out negativity–all of these are typical Kitchen Witchery.
Aislinn Unne: Do you think there is a benefit of being a solitary witch instead of practicing with a coven? (To me the practice of being solitary seems more personal and has a more closeness and connection to the Divine).
Ann Moura: I agree with your observation. I have done Coven work and find that there are indeed rewards from this, as well as loads of positive energy, but I still prefer the depth of spiritual connection I get in Solitary rituals, meditations, and magical workings. With the Solitary practice, the union is indeed more personal and thus immensely fulfilling.
Aislinn Unne: With your past releases with the Greenwitch craft series there was some good reviews upon the release of Tarot for the Greenwitch was this tarot endeavor book project something that you had in mind in relation with the series line?
Ann Moura: I had talked about Tarot in the Green Witchcraft books, but had not really gone in depth with the subject, so I decided that since my take on reading cards seemed a little different from what I had seen in other books, I should set that down in writing as well. The Tarot for the Green Witch shows how I do readings, and is meant to provide readers with some alternative ideas on how to approach this practice. I love the Tarot–it is my favorite form of divination and counseling–but I have been amazed at how negative some views of the cards can be. I have done up a power point presentation on reading the tarot that is based on the book and also the history of the cards so comparisons can be made and tracked up to the present time. The cards are not negative in the sense of DOOM but instead, they show how energies are lined up at the time of the reading so you can use that information to make adjustments in what you are proposing to do. You can make good use of the energies that surround an issue, work around the energies, or make some changes that will enhance them. Nothing is set in stone with the cards–they are a tool.
Aislinn Unne: What do you think of the modern age type of learning via the Internet with some offering courses to the craft?
Ann Moura: I think the Internet offers some promising ways to expand knowledge of the Craft to those who are Seekers. I have never taken an on-line course of any kind, but I have been asked to put my Year And A Day: A Course in Green Witchcraft into an on-line course of instruction. Doing the classes once a month for 13 months has required a tremendous amount of commitment from my students, and certainly ties up our schedules to get through the material. I am letting a company work up a proposal for me to see about doing this course on-line, but at the moment I am not sure I will have time for that in the coming year. The course I am teaching now will end in January, but I have a number of projects coming up for 2005 that will keep me pretty busy. If I do take the course on-line, there will be a notice in the Activities/Events section of my website: Ann Mouras Website by March or April, so people can check for it.
Aislinn Unne: Do you feel with sharing your knowledge (not only to your extended family) but to others, do you feel that you are in a way passing down your spiritual tradition to others that might feel the call to this journey?
Ann Moura: Oh yes! This has been an amazing experience for me in which I have gained a wonderfully large international family!! I am so delighted when someone writes or e-mails me about how they have taken the path and made it their own. I feel very blessed and honored that my family path has been adopted by people all over the world.
Aislinn Unne: Do you think that we lose some of the essence to what was taught in the past that we learn now in the present as far as learning of the practices that we utilize in our path of exploring the craft?
Ann Moura: I am sure that much has been lost, but now we are holding onto what has remained, and building upon that. One of the best things about the Craft is that communication with the Goddess and the God is on going. They will answer your questions, offer you guidance, and stand by you, so that what was lost may be found simply by asking. The essence, however, is always inherently with us as a sensation that is felt within the heart. It is what gives us joy in our rituals, meditations, and magical practice.
Aislinn Unne: Was there anything that you regret doing or finding out via spell, divination or else wise that changed you in someway spiritually?
Ann Moura: The answer of course is that there are always things that we could have done differently and that fortunately must of us do learn from our mistakes. One important lesson for me as a teenager was to learn to trust the spirit guides and ask how to use given information when I needed help with that. It was not enough that my mother always said, The spirits are good. I had to accept this on a personal level in order to work with them fully and responsibly. When I did not know how to relay information in a way that someone could have received it, I simply needed to ask the spirits for guidance. The love is always there.
Aislinn Unne: Do you think the use of the Internet has certain benefits and qualities that enable one to seek various information for self-exploration to a way to ones spirituality/or way to the craft? Is it a bonus?
Ann Moura: The Internet has so much information on it that it can become quite a challenge to find what you are looking for. There may be a lot of mis-direction and false starts, but a person should be able to discern over time just what is workable and what is not. I recommend trusting your intuition-sometimes opinions are presented as fact, sometimes agendas are hidden, sometimes there are ulterior motives, but you become aware of this as you check out other sites. In the long run, I think the Internet is highly useful for people who look for information on Paganism with an open mind.
Aislinn Unne: Do you find that the current witches movement is paving a way for others to seek guidance into the craft practice? (What I mean by that is through my own observation there seems to be more practitioners coming out of the broom work more than ever).
Ann Moura: Paganism, and Wicca/Witchcraft, are growing rapidly all over the world. The fact that we are fortunate to have such vocal, in the public eye people like Selena Fox of Circle Sanctuary, Starhawk, and others helps raise awareness that our spiritual paths are deserving of respect and recognition. A spiritual void has opened for many people, and returning to our spiritual roots has been the answer to that problem.
Aislinn Unne: I so had to include this here; do you think that past life influence can in some way lead one to self-discovery of seeking a pagan path now in the lifetime? If so is there any direct correlation that this can be stemmed by the trace of the family past, going down a bloodline of sorts, more or less the essence is within the bloodline or in some way genetically coded? (Why I had to ask this, this is what I am experiencing and it is more so powerful now knowing more of my past heritage, it almost seems magical yet not far fetched)
Ann Moura: There are those who say the Craft travels in the bloodline (Bloodline Witches), and there may be something to that in the sense of passing along a genetic makeup that is receptive to psychic abilities, for example. However, I also believe that everyone has psychic capabilities, but not everyone is comfortable developing these. Whether you know your roots or not, however, it is the now that matters. Past lives can refer to the heritage of your physical form, or it can refer to your personal spiritual journey. The genetics of the first come through the ancestors of the body. But the development of the second is the journey of your soul through many lives, as different sex, culture, or race from what you are in this life. That is why some people have knowledge of or an affinity to a lifestyle or culture other than that which they inherited. It is the journey of our own Self that takes us across the limitations of physical genetics.
Aislinn Unne: Any new projects within the works or any other side ones brewing within Ann Moura’s creative cauldron?
Ann Moura: My interests run in many directions, so I have been making ritual dresses/robes, necklaces with amber & jet or with gemstone beads, and other handicrafts to sell on my website: http://www.annmourasgarden.com – plus I am working on a number of Craft oriented manuscripts that are in various stages of completion, as well as a couple of fiction books that are meant for entertainment.
Aislinn Unne: Favorite witchy pastimes?
Ann Moura: I enjoy working with my plants, although since the 4 hurricanes ripped through Central Florida I have been rather neglectful of the garden, and hope to get the herbs back in shape pretty soon. Rosemary is threatening to take over the garden, but anise is holding her own, while marjoram skulks beneath these giants and spreads out in all directions. Thyme is indignant about the cramping quarters, but oregano snickers from the security of his personal potting vat. Gentian is so hardy, the pots are not big enough and the yard has become a new frontier for settlement. (Sigh) Herbs can be soooo demanding, LOL! Also, the handicrafts are a fun experience for me, and blending oils for new scents. Here is an Esbat oil blend I created that is yummy:
1 part patchouli,
1 part sweet
orange, and 1 part amber.
Aislinn Unne: Any advice for the ones seeking the way down the green path?
Ann Moura: The path is a natural one, easy to walk and comfortable. Simply open yourself to the Lady and the Lord, the Elementals, the Fairies, the Earth energies around you, and see the path unfold as you journey. My books are only guideposts on the road, but the journey is what you create. Trust your intuition, and listen to your inner, subconscious voice–the softest words are often the most powerful.
Aislinn Unne: Current news to report for us Moura fans?
Ann Moura: I will be doing Tarot readings at Avalon in Orlando, FL for the Winterfest Sale and Psychic Faire on Dec. 4th, and I will be at the Yule Ritual and picnic with Church of The Old Path in Sylvan Lake Park, Sanford, FL on Dec. 18th participating and vending. Otherwise, I plan to let the rest of the year pass in joyous celebration of the changing of the seasons and the coming Hogmanay Eve with family and friends.
Aislinn Unne: Thank you Ann for taking the time out for this interview, blessed be to you in all that you do. Last but not least thank you for inspiring me to inspire;)
Ann Moura: My pleasure! Thank YOU for asking and for putting together all these questions and for being so patient while I got through projects and gatherings before sitting down and answering them all. Brightest Blessings as you follow your path!
Mystic Witch wishes to extend our gratitude for granting the interview with Aislinn Unne