Meet: Monica Dijanic Asher
Just to prove we witches are everywhere, Monica was sitting behind me when I went to my one and only hockey game in May. It was the playoffs and our team was loosing. By the end of the night we agreed we should organize Witches for Wolf Pack. We have a mutual friend who is a Wolf Pack fan, so we only need nine more. Surely there were nine in the arena. I learned Monica is 48 and lives in the woods when she’s not caring for animals or cheering on her team. She loves crystals, yoga, reading, music, wine, and chocolate. Dragonflies seem to be spirit guides. Her answers to these questions will let you get to know a bit about her.
1. Do you have a magical name you’re willing to share?
Shadow Cat
2. In what state do you reside?
Connecticut
3. How do you make your living?
I am a small animal veterinarian and co-own a clinic with my husband. I also have a crafting business called Cat and Moon Designs and I primarily make beaded spiders and Deco mesh wreaths.
4. Are you out of the closet? / Have you felt threatened?
I do not hide that I am Wiccan and if some one asks, nine times out of ten I will answer honestly unless I get an uncomfortable feeling – then my answer is usually “spiritual.” Yes I have felt threatened – in college when I had a lot of pagan/Wiccan bumper stickers on my car, I did have it keyed a few times.
5. When did you first know you were a witch? How long have you been practicing?
I have always had the Sight and been sensitive to energies. I grew up Catholic with a strong connection to Mary, and when I read “The Spiral Dance” at 16 I knew I found my path.
6. How do you define your practice? Do you follow a specific tradition?
I am an eclectic solitary witch, but I refer to myself as a kitchen witch usually. I pull from many traditions, but mostly follow the Celtic path.
7. What one object must be on your altar for it to be an altar?
My athame
8. Do you have a daily practice?
At my core I am a healer. For me, laying my hands on pets and healing them is my daily practice.
9. How do you respond when someone asks, “Are you a good witch or a bad witch?”
Depends. If it is asked mockingly, they will probably get my bad witch side and a lecture on religious freedom. If it is asked from a fellow practitioner, I am primarily a “good witch.” I do not hex and I do follow the Path of Light, but I am very in touch with my shadow side and fully embrace balance.
10. Do you have a familiar?
Yes. My first familiar was my Shadow Cat who passed away in 2009. I do think he was reborn as my current familiar, Aries.
11. What was your most magical experience?
I had a loose coven/sisterhood and we were gathered for my nephew’s pagan blessing that was taking place the next day. We had just picked up our third sister from the airport who had recently returned from a Peace Corps stint in Africa and she had brought these amazing drumming CDs with her. The music just moved through us and the energy that we raised is just hard to describe. But later that night as we were decompressing on the woody hill top some Fae folk decided to join us. It was a magical night.
12. What gifts, skills, or powers do you share?
Huh. I have a touch of the sight mostly in the form of dreams. I am very sensitive and empathic. As a witch and an ordained minister, I have been asked to do a fair amount of cleansings.
13. What is your favorite:
Sabbat: Samhain
Element: Fire and Water
God/Goddess: Cernunnos / Ceridwen
Tool: Athame
Gemstone: Tourmaline
Ritual garb: Whatever I am wearing
Music/Performer: Non witchy: Tori Amos / Pagan: Lorena McKennit and Faun
Fictional witch: Cassie Nightingale and Sally Owners
Spell or ritual: Mostly kitchen spells; I make a great healing soup.
Piece of wisdom: Follow your own path wherever it may take you. Do not let people tell you how to practice your Craft or spirituality.