Wicca and Eclectic Shamanism
A Personal Path
Wicca is a nature based religion and philosophy, and for me it is a way of life that allows me to live with integrity, compassion, faith and creativity. Witchcraft stems from Northern European Shamanism, and if I have to choose a single phrase to describe my belief system It would be ‘Eclectic Shamanism’, as that term seems the least limiting in structure, content and practice.
I was a sensitive child, what would have been called ”Fey”, and could ‘feel’ the energies of places and things from a young age, often refusing to enter places which we later found had experienced reports of hauntings.
I have always been a vivid dreamer, and at the age of 5 or 6 had a dream of ‘infinity’ which rather shook me, as I saw it as a vast expanse of continuum, like folds of fabric reaching into an endless horizon. Soon after, I decided that this life I was living was a dream, and that when I grew up, and completed this life I would not so much die, as wake up into my “big’ life, where I would move through my ‘day’ and then at bedtime, I would fall into another ‘dream’ which would be another life like this one. Much later I learned that this idea has much in common with Buddhist belief.
My Father Robin Skelton was a a poet and a University Professor, as well as an artist and healer, and a fairly well known eccentric here in Victoria . He embraced the wiccan tradition fairly late in his life, although he had always been a mystic and a spellcaster of sorts. He wrote a few books on the witchcraft, spells, and talismanic magic, and once, as an act of protest, went to Ottawa to ‘cast a spell’ to banish the GST on books.
I found my path, however quite independently, never having heard him refer to himself as a witch, and began studying at the Age of 17 with a local witch and psychic, Jean Kozokari. My instruction began as a class on Tarot, and evolved into a lengthy mentorship which continued till 1990.
My first Power animal presented itself to me one night while I was sitting with a friend on a ledge overlooking the ocean. It has been with me ever since, and has been most loyal. Now it has been joined by a variety of other guides, healing spirits and helpers who work with me in my shamanic practice.
Part of my education included going along with Jean to investigate haunted houses. Eventually my Father and Jean started working together on some of the trickier ones, and subsequently collaborated on a book called “A gathering of Ghosts”.
Jean tutored me in many other metaphysical subjects such as past life regression, mediumship, and working with Goddess archetypes. I will always be grateful for all that she gave me, for her generosity of spirit, and for her friendship. It was an honor to have had the opportunity to learn the craft in this way, and it laid the foundation for who I am today.
I have been practicing divination, spiritual healing, trance work, practical magic and energy work, within the context of Wicca and European Shamanism since 1977, as well as performing regular seasonal and personal rituals, spell casting and exploring the world of Spirit.
In 1984 I was initiated by my father as a Priestess of the craft, and in 1993, along with eight other Wiccan Priestesses, I co-founded the Thirteenth House Mystery School Tradition.
When my father died in 1997 I inherited most of his magical tools and objects, as well as an extensive reference library.
I am still very active within the Thirteenth House tradition as a ritual designer and facilitator, teacher, consultant and mentor. I periodically teach special seminar classes on tarot, and other subjects, and occasionally work with groups and individuals who wish to become initiated into the tradition.
I am also called upon from time to time to perform rituals for handfasting, memorial services, and other rites of passage, and to clear ghosts and negative energies from homes.
I realize now, looking back, that I had extraordinary good fortune in terms of the support I have had on my path, and if I have been able to give even a little of that back to my community, then I am richer for the experience.
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