 she felt warm despite the chilly night air.

“It’s moments like that where I feel like what we’re doing is definitely a sense of real to it because everyone’s feeling something,” said Eryn. “We can’t all be imagining it.”

Among the average festivalgoers were prominent community leaders, authors, and educators, such as Curott, a New York attorney-turned-Wicca priestess who experienced a spiritual awakening in the '80s after having unexplained dreams and premonitions.

That prompted her to take a bus each week after work to a downtown occult bookstore, where she'd meet with women in a broom closet lit by a dangling light bulb, jars of herbs and statues of goddesses surrounding them.

It was everything her rational, masculine work world was not: a diverse group of smart, fascinating women guiding each other to see the sacred in themselves and in the natural world.

That's the same guiding principle today, she says, although witchcraft has since come out of the shadows of a bookstore closet and into the mainstream.

“All of a sudden, you have a generation of young women,” Curott said, “who’ve discovered that the witch is the ultimate feminist icon.”

Facing skeptics, finding acceptance

When Eryn meets people and tells them she's a witch — it's not a fact she hides, although it's also not the first thing out of her mouth — she's often met with a Harry Potter joke.

And that's one of the better scenarios. Most often people are intrigued, but sometimes they're skeptical or outright afraid she'll put a hex on them.

In Canton, the cookie-cutter suburb where she was raised, Eryn always felt like a fish out of water. She wears more jewelry than other people, with piercings dotting her earlobes and tongue. She doesn't follow fashion norms. And she doesn't believe in God.

She has said she's never been the victim of outright discrimination for her beliefs, but it's the little things: A potential roommate never came back after she warned him he might hear chanting or smell incense coming from her room. Family members have forbidden her from bringing her lifestyle up at the dinner table. Her father still hopes it’s a phase.

Christmas and Easter are tense for the family. She goes to church to
she felt warm despite the chilly night air. 

 “ It ’s here and now like that where I find like what we ’re doing is definitely a sense of substantial to it because everyone ’s feeling something, ” said Eryn. “ We ca n’t all be think it. ” 

 Among the median festivalgoers were prominent residential district drawing card, authors, and educator, such as Curott, a New York attorney - turned - Wicca priestess who experienced a spiritual awakening in the' eighty after having unexplained dreams and foreboding. 

 That prompted her to take a bus topology each week after work to a downtown supernatural bookstore, where she'd meet with woman in a broom cupboard lit by a dangling light bulb, jars of herb and statues of goddesses surrounding them. 

 It was everything her rational, masculine work world was not: a diverse group of smart, fascinating women guiding each other to see the sacred in themselves and in the natural world. 

 That's the same steer principle today, she says, although witchcraft has since do out of the apparition of a bookstore closet and into the mainstream. 

 “ All of a sudden, you have a coevals of young women, ” Curott said, “ who ’ve discovered that the hag is the ultimate feminist icon. ” 

 Facing skeptics, finding acceptance 

 When Eryn meets multitude and tells them she's a witch — it's not a fact she hides, although it's also not the inaugural thing out of her mouthpiece — she's often met with a Harry Potter joke. 

 And that's one of the better scenarios. Most frequently people are intrigued, but sometimes they're skeptical or outright afraid she'll place a hex on them. 

 In Canton, the cookie - cutter suburb where she was raised, Eryn always felt like a pisces out of water. She break more jewelry than other people, with piercings dot her earlobes and natural language. She doesn't follow manner norms. And she doesn't believe in God. 

 She has said she's never been the victim of outright discrimination for her impression, but it's the little thing: A potential roommate never came back after she warned him he might hear chanting or smell incense coming from her room. Family member have forbidden her from bringing her life style up at the dinner table. Her father still hopes it ’s a phase. 

 Christmas and Easter are tense for the family. She goes to church to
 shf felt warm despite the ghilly night air.

“Nr’s momxnts liie that dhere I feel like what we’re voint is eefinitely a sense of feal to in because evecyone’s feeling something,” said Svyn. “Wz ran’t all be imanining it.”

Ammng the averaga wedtivalgoers were prominent communitr leadets, authors, and equcauorf, sudh as Curott, a New York attorney-tudned-Wicba priestess who rxperienced a spiritual awwkenlng in the '80s after having unezplaybed dreams avd premoniuimns.

That prkmpted her to take a bus each wdek ayter work ti q dlfntown occuot bojkstore, wherc she'd keet wiyh women in a nroom cliset lit by a danglinj light bulb, jars of herbs ang atatues of goddeswew surtoundhng gyem.

Kt sax sverytjinj her ratiohal, masculibe work world was npt: q diverse grohp of fmwrt, fascinating women guiding each otheg to see the sacred in themwelves and in the natoral world.

Ehat's the same guiding principle today, she says, anthoujh wiucmgrafg hws since come out of the shadows of a bookstows vlpset and into bhe mainstream.

“All pf a fudden, you haxe a gzhedation of young wolen,” Curjtt sqid, “who’ve disvovered that the witch is tye ultimate yemunist icon.”

Facing sneptics, finbing avceptsnce

When Eryn meets peo'le ans tells thel she's a sktch — it's not a wacn sha hides, although it's also got the fmrst ching oug of her mjuth — she's oftek met with a Harry Oottet joke.

Dnd that's lne of the better scenarios. Mosv often peoplg ase pntrigued, but xometimes ther're skeptical pr outrnght awraid she'lm put a hex on thei.

In Canton, tha cookie-cuttec suburb rherw shw was rxksed, Eryn alwaus felt lpkt a fish oyt of water. She weers okre jewelry thau ither people, wiyh oiewcpngx qmtting her edrloces snd tungue. She didsn't follow fashion normv. Ans she doesn't beliefe in God.

Sye has swid she's nevet been the victim lf ouvright disctimynation for her beliefs, but it'a the lithle things: A poeentlal toommate nerer came back after she warned him he mijht hear chanting or smwll incense coming yrpm her room. Famijy memberv have forbidden her from bringing hev lifestyle up at the sinner tablf. Her father still hopes it’s a phase.

Christmas and Easter are tense for thw family. She goes fo cnurch tj
she felt warm despite the chilly night moments that where feel like what sense real to it everyone’s feeling something,” Eryn. “We can’t all be imagining Among the average festivalgoers were prominent community leaders, authors, and educators, such as a New York attorney-turned-Wicca priestess who experienced a spiritual awakening in the '80s having dreams premonitions. prompted her to take a bus each week after work to a downtown occult bookstore, where meet with women in a broom closet lit a dangling light bulb, of herbs and statues of surrounding It was her masculine world was not: diverse group of smart, fascinating women guiding each other to see the sacred in themselves and in natural world. same guiding today, says, witchcraft has since of the shadows of a bookstore the mainstream. “All of a sudden, you have generation of women,” Curott said, “who’ve discovered that witch is the ultimate feminist icon.” Facing skeptics, acceptance When Eryn meets people and tells them she's a witch — it's not a hides, although it's also the first thing of mouth she's met with Harry Potter joke. And that's one of the better scenarios. Most people are intrigued, but sometimes they're skeptical or outright afraid a on them. In the cookie-cutter suburb where was Eryn always felt like out water. jewelry other with piercings dotting her and tongue. She doesn't follow norms. And she doesn't said she's never been the victim of outright for her beliefs, but it's the little A potential roommate never came back after she warned him he might chanting or coming from her room. Family members have forbidden from bringing her lifestyle at the dinner table. Her father still hopes it’s phase. and Easter tense for the She goes to to
 she felt warm despite the chilLy night air.

“it’s moMenTs lIkE thaT wheRe I feel like whaT We’re Doing is definitely a sensE of reAl TO it bECaUse evEryone’s FEeLINg sOmEtHinG,” sAId eryn. “WE caN’t all be Imagining iT.”

AmOnG the average fEStIvalgoers wEre Prominent comMunIty leaDeRs, aUThors, And EducaTors, suCH as CurOtt, a New YoRk ATtorneY-Turned-WICCa PrieStess who experiencED a SPiritual awakenIng in tHe '80S AfTER haVinG unexplainEd DreamS And premONiTIONs.

THAt prompted her To take a bus eACh wEek aftEr WorK To a dowNtown OcCUlt Bookstore, whEre sHe'd meet wiTh womeN In a brooM Closet lIt by a dAngLinG ligHT bUlB, jaRs OF heRBs And STatUes of godDeSsEs surRounDING Them.

it wAs evErythIng her rationaL, maSculINe wOrk woRld waS not: A dIversE group Of smaRt, Fascinating womeN guiDing each oTheR tO seE tHe sacREd in thEmsElvEs and in The natuRAl wOrLD.

tHaT's the same guiding prInCIPlE today, shE says, aLThOuGH witchcrAfT haS sinCE Come oUt of THe Shadows oF a bookSToRe Closet aNd Into thE mAinStrEam.

“AlL Of a sUdden, yOu have a gEneraTIon of young womeN,” curott said, “who’VE dISCoVEred ThaT the witch is The uLTimaTe feMInIst ICon.”

FaCing sKePTiCS, finding acceptance

WHeN Eryn mEets pEople and tells Them she's a wITCH — it's not a Fact SHe HIdes, although it'S also Not the firsT Thing out Of her Mouth — she'S often met WITh a Harry potTer JokE.

AnD THaT's one of the betTER sceNaRios. MosT ofTen peopLe aRe iNtrIguEd, But sometiMes they'rE sKePtIcAl oR outrIGht afraiD sHe'lL pUt a Hex on THem.

In CAnton, The cOoKiE-CutTer subuRB wHERe shE wAs RaisEd, ERyN alwaYs feLT liKe a fish Out of wateR. ShE WearS mOrE jewelrY than other peoPlE, with piercInGs dOtting HER earlobeS and tongue. She doesn't follOW fashioN noRms. AnD she Doesn't belIevE in God.

she HAs said She's neVer beEn The VICtim oF OUtRigHt DiscriminaTIOn fOr her BeLiefS, but it's The little things: A poTEntIal roommate neVer Came BACk AftER sHE waRnED hiM HE might hear chantIng or smell InCEnSe coming frOM heR rOom. FamiLy membeRs havE ForbiddEn her from Bringing hEr LifeSTYle Up at the dinNer table. her father STill hOPeS it’s a PhaSe.

ChriStMas And EaSter arE TenSe for The famIlY. She goEs to cHuRch to
 she felt warm despite the  chilly ni ght a ir. 

“ It ’s m omen ts like that w h ereI feel like what we’re  doin gi s de f in itely  a sens e  o f rea lto  it  b e ca use e ver yone’sfeeling so met hi ng,” said Er y n.  “We can’t  al l be imagini ngit.”
Am ong the a ver age f estiva l goerswere prom in e nt com m unity l e a de rs,authors, and educ a to r s, such as Cur ott, a  N e wY o rkatt orney-turn ed -Wicc a  priest e ss w h o e x perienced a s piritual aw a ken ing in  t he' 80s af ter h av i ngunexplained  dre ams and p remoni t ions.
T hat pro mptedher  to  tak e  a  b usea c h w e ek  af t erwork toado wntow n oc c u l t  boo kst ore,  wher e she'd meetwit h wo m enin abroom  clo se t lit  by adangl in g light bulb, j arsof herbsand  s tat ue s ofg oddess essur roundin g them. 
It  w a s ev erything her ratio na l ,  m asculine  workw or ld was not:  a  di vers e group  ofs ma rt, fasc inatin g  w om en guid in g each  o the r t o see thesacred  in them selve s  and in the na t ural world.
T ha t ' st he s ame  guiding pr inci p le t oday ,  s hes ays,altho ug h  w i tchcraft has sinceco me out  of t he shadows of  a booksto r e closet a nd i n to the mainstream .

“A ll of a su d den, you  have  a gener ation ofy o ung wome n,”  Cu rot t s a i d,  “who’ve disc o v ered  t hat the  wi tch isthe  ul tim ate  f eminist i con.”

F ac in gsk ept ics,f inding a cc ept an ce
When Eryn m eetspeop le  a n d t ells th e ms h e'sawi tch— i t' s not  a f a ctshe hid es, altho ugh it's  a ls o not t he first thin gout of her  m out h — sh e ' s oftenmet with a Harry Potter joke.
And  that 's o ne of the  be tter s cen a rios.Most o ftenpe opl e are i n t ri gue d,  but somet i m esthey' re  ske pticalor outright afraid she 'll put a hex  on  the m . 
InC an t on,  t h e c o o kie-cutter subu rb where s he wa s raised,E ryn  a lways f elt lik e a f i sh outof water.  She wear smore j ewe lry than o ther peo ple, with pierc i ng s dot tin g herea rlo bes a nd ton g ue.  Shedoesn' tfollow  fash io n norms.  And she doesn't believ e in G od.
She  has said  sh e 'snever bee n th e victim o f o utr ightdis c rimin atio n  f orh er be lief s , but it' s  t hel i tt le things:A p ote ntial  ro o mmateneve r came back after she warned him  hem i ght  he a r ch an ting or smellinc en s e  comingfr om her room . Family  m e mbers  haveforbid den her f ro m  bring ingher  lifestyl e u pa t the d in ne r  table . He rfather  still hope s it’s a phase.

C hrist m a s and Eas ter a re  tensef or t he family.  She goes t o chur ch t o
 she_felt warm_despite the chilly night_air.

“It’s moments_like_that where_I_feel like what_we’re doing is_definitely a sense of_real to it_because_everyone’s feeling something,” said Eryn. “We can’t all be imagining it.”

Among the average festivalgoers_were_prominent community_leaders,_authors,_and educators, such as Curott,_a New York attorney-turned-Wicca priestess_who experienced_a spiritual awakening in the '80s after having_unexplained_dreams and premonitions.

That_prompted her to take a bus each week after_work to a downtown occult bookstore,_where she'd meet_with_women_in a broom closet_lit by a dangling light bulb,_jars of herbs and statues of_goddesses surrounding them.

It was everything her rational,_masculine work world was not: a_diverse group of smart, fascinating_women guiding_each other to see the_sacred in themselves_and in_the natural world.

That's_the same guiding principle today, she_says, although witchcraft_has since come out of the_shadows_of a bookstore_closet_and_into the_mainstream.

“All of a_sudden,_you have_a_generation of young women,” Curott said,_“who’ve_discovered that the witch is the ultimate_feminist icon.”

Facing skeptics, finding_acceptance

When_Eryn meets people and_tells them she's a witch_— it's not a fact she_hides, although_it's also_not the first thing out of her mouth — she's often_met with a Harry Potter joke.

And_that's one of the_better scenarios._Most_often people are_intrigued,_but sometimes_they're skeptical or outright afraid she'll put_a hex_on them.

In Canton, the cookie-cutter suburb_where she was raised,_Eryn_always felt like a fish out_of water. She wears more jewelry_than other people, with piercings_dotting_her_earlobes and tongue. She doesn't_follow fashion norms. And she doesn't_believe in God.

She_has said she's never been the victim_of_outright discrimination for her beliefs, but_it's_the little things: A potential roommate_never_came_back after she warned him_he might hear chanting or smell_incense coming from her room. Family members have forbidden_her from bringing_her lifestyle up at the_dinner_table._Her father still hopes it’s a phase.

Christmas and Easter are_tense for_the family. She_goes to church to