An Interview with Sheena Cundy: Crafty Crone
I was lucky enough to catch up with an incredibly creative and talented witch this month, Sheena Cundy. Sheena is a well-known healer and the creator of The Magic of Nature Oracle, a vibrant divination deck based on the flora and fauna of Britain. She is also the songstress of the band Morrigan’s Path. In between all this she teaches tarot and horse riding. Sheena took a break from all this to answer some of my questions for you lovely readers here at Pagan Pages.
Mabh Savage: So, first of all, what is a crafty crone?
Sheena Cundy: She is a Witch of menopausal age, shrewd and creative with wisdom to pass on to others. Crafty Crones was a name my sister Tania and I created when we first started working together about five years ago. As young Crones and sisters of the Craft it seemed to fit and I find myself growing more into the role as time goes on…It is a magical path of continually stepping into the transformative energy of the Crone, embracing her power and integrating it into one’s own personality. She can be a hard task master, but if the Witch wants to grow and learn, there is no better teacher.
MS: And you also use the term Chapel Witch to describe yourself. Where does this come from?
SC: I am very fortunate to live near a 6th century Celtic chapel on a wild and rugged part of the Essex coastline. I head down the beach most days with my dog and spend a lot of time in the chapel, my spiritual home. It’s a humble and incredibly sacred space – pulsating with energy – and I sing, pray and work magic within its walls.
It feeds my soul.
MS: Tell us a bit about your upcoming novel, The Madness and the Magic.
SC: Minerva is a modern day Witch battling with the hormonal horrors of the menopause, while her teenage daughter Rhiannon faces the trials of an unplanned pregnancy. The tale weaves around Minerva’s ridiculous antics to snare the local guitar-playing vicar – involving tarot cards, crazy spells and lots of brandy – and Ronnie’s turmoil and a sorry horse tale. It’s quite mad in places and yet strangely magical in others. I loved writing it… it cheered me up no end and kept me out of prison while going through the ‘murderous tendencies’ phase of the menopause. If it can cheer other people up too, that’s a bonus.
MS: Does the story have any real life influence? Is there any of you in Minerva?
SC: Indeed there is, and especially now I’ve written the book, there seems to be a lot of Minerva in me. It can be confusing and I have many stories for the continuing saga of Minerva running through my mind constantly… if it’s going to happen to me, I will make sure it happens to Minerva. It’s the best way I’ve found, to keep a balanced (and half-sane) perspective on life. If you can laugh at yourself, nothing is too hard to handle.
Also, I can enjoy and indulge through Minerva the intoxicating effects of brandy, her favourite tipple. As I’ve been teetotal for three years now it’s the healthiest (and safest) way of reliving my drinking days!
MS: Is this your first foray into writing fiction? Did it come easily to you? What challenges did you find?
SC: I’ve written a number of short stories, but never anything of this length. Fifty thousand words seemed a huge mountain to climb when I decided to write a novel in a month as part of NaNoWriMo: an online challenge. The truth is, I thrive on doing what I love; there’s nothing like creative writing, and I do like a challenge. This opportunity ticked all the boxes and I had to have a go. I wanted to see if I could do it; if I could discipline myself to finish a first draft in thirty days. It was an act of magic, I can tell you. I found out more about myself in thirty days than I could ever imagine. I loved it. I am in my element when I’m writing. It’s something I need to do to be happy.
MS: I understand a sequel is already in the wings. Will this follow the same characters?
SC: Mainly, yes. I have one or two new characters germinating but there is so much more to tell about the old ones! I feel a definite urge to delve deeper into their characters and discover more about them through another story and I’m almost ready to make a start, but not quite yet. Magic happens when its good and ready…it’s all about timing.
MS: Moving away from fiction, you’re going to be writing about psychic development; what does this mean to you?
SC: Good question! My whole life has been about psychic development of some kind and I think that applies to us all whether we realise it or not. We are all souls on a spiritual journey and it is through our psychic development that we learn and grow. To be writing about this excites me and scares the hell out of me at the same time. You could say it’s my next mountain, stretching me to greater heights! I know I can do it, but it will be hard work.
It’s different to writing fiction; although still creative, I feel there is more pressure to ‘get it right’. However, the right balance is fundamental and to produce work that is authentic requires us to be ourselves is what I keep telling myself. I would get far too bored writing anything too serious and that is one of the reasons why I want to do this. To write a book on psychic development which is light hearted enough to entertain, and yet sincere enough to be taken seriously will give me great pleasure.
MS: Do you think being a Pagan gives one a very different perspective for psychic development?
SC: Another good question… and one I am pondering over at the moment as this is the aim of my new book, Your Magical Nature – Psychic Development from a Pagan Perspective. I think a Pagan’s outlook is a far more natural one and certainly more magical. Combining those two aspects and a bit of fun (Pagans are good at that) is enough to inspire the dullest of minds, surely? Watch this space!
MS: How long have you been a Pagan and how did you find your path?
SC: I have been a Pagan all this life but only fully aware of it for the last twelve years since officially dedicating myself to the Craft.
From childhood, I have always loved nature and the great outdoors, animals, people and music. All have featured strongly and still do, except now I have the perfect spiritual expression, through the Craft, to be my true self. The spirit of the Witch, I believe, is carried over from many lives and cannot be ignored or denied. We answer the call in our own time, when we are ready.
MS: As the season turns autumnal, what (and how) will you be celebrating?
SC: Mabon was spent with my coven sisters. Every turning of the wheel, we work in ritual together, strengthening our connection with the earth and each other.
I also celebrate down on the beach with my dog Lola, the land, sea and sky and in the home by decorating my altar with seasonal delights. Foraging in the fields is always a joy this time of year… the hedgerows are still dripping with blackberries and you can never make enough crumbles!
MS: And later, as we move into winter? What are the highlights of the darker season for a Pagan writer and musician?
SC: I love all the seasons, but winter has to be the best for writing. The Crone’s influence is closer than ever and I plug into Her as my source of inspiration… my muse. Musically, any time is good for song writing but winter is a good time to record and that’s what we’re doing at the moment.
MS: You sing and write for Morrigan’s Path. How long have the band been together, and how did you all meet?
SC: Morrigan’s Path are two years old, still growing and evolving. The band grew out of a duo Ian (husband) and I had together and through other musical connections and synchronicity. We are all good friends who love creating original music and have the best fun doing it.
MS: You use a mix of modern and traditional instruments in your band. Is it important to keep the use of traditional and folk instruments alive?
SC: What’s important to us is the live energy we create and yes, I think that comes through better with acoustic instruments. Plus, if we need to play in the middle of a field with no electricity, we can! We tend to veer away from the mechanical and sometimes over-produced sound and more towards a raw and earthy feel. Strip everything back and you’re left with something far more natural and magical.
MS: Do you think music is, or can be, a form of magic?
SC: I think music is one of the most powerful forms of magic there is. It has the power to influence our thoughts and feelings in a multitude of ways, consciously or not. It can and does change lives.
That’s magic.
MS: What gigs or events does the band have coming up?
SC: We are playing locally at a spiritual gathering next week (Oct 25th) in Maldon, Essex. I have been asked to talk more about the Morrígan and how She inspires the music, so I’m excited about that. It’s always lovely to go into more depth with an audience that’s open to it!
[Note from Mabh- sorry we couldn’t get this to press before the event, dear readers!]
…and we are playing at my book launch party for The Madness & the Magic (Dec 12th) again in Maldon – at The Blue Boar hotel. It’s in a beautiful (Georgian) function room with loads of atmosphere, just the place for a celebration!
Free entry at both gigs and everybody is welcome!
MS: Tell us a bit about your Magic of Nature Oracle.
SC: My sister Tania (artist) and I created this card deck based on the seasons, trees, animals and birds of British wildlife. The oracle is a simple but effective way of connecting to the natural wisdom and healing of the earth for guidance. Three years in the making, self-publishing is hard work on many levels, but the feedback so far has made it a worthwhile labour of love!
MS: How does the oracle differ from tarot?
SC: Thirty nine cards instead of seventy eight make it easier for a start! We wanted to move away from the complex symbolism of the tarot, which not everyone resonates with, and use nature as a theme. Most people can relate to a fox or an Oak tree! Each card’s energy relates to a soul lesson, recognised as an experience and a gift and concludes with a magical mantra as a way of reaffirming the guidance. However, like any oracle, the cards are essentially a mirror reflecting back to us where we are in our lives.
MS: Do you think anyone can learn to do readings with cards and oracles?
SC: Anyone who is attracted to them and willing to learn, yes. It is that pull we feel towards something which calls us to move in a certain direction. With tools of divination, it is always a call to discover more about the self and make sense of the world, and those who are naturally gifted – with the right people skills – will extend that to others.
MS: When you’re not writing and creating, how do you like to relax?
SC: I do find it hard to switch off totally. Even when I’m out with the dog, I’m hatching something! Spending time with Ian and our two boys, having a laugh, watching a good film, reading and yoga are pretty much top of the list… as is socialising and singing with my band. Anything that grounds me to the good earth and makes my life magical will free me up.
MS: And finally, what goal would you like to have achieved by Samhain next year?
SC: Staying healthy is the ultimate goal, so I can keep writing, producing and enjoying the magic. Our health is our wealth…
I would love to see The Madness and the Magic as a TV comedy drama. I think it has the potential but I need to find the right way of getting it there… where there’s a Witch there’s always a way. I’m working on it.
I also intend to have the sequel to my novel and Your Magical Nature written and submitted for publishing. The next Morrigan’s Path album will be out (we’re seven songs in at the moment) and I would love to be out playing more and reaching a wider audience.
Work aside (!), we are planning to breed from Lola next year, so Springer Spaniel puppies will be featuring prominently in a rather smelly, bouncing up and down kind of way. Variety is the magic of life and definitely keeps the creative juices flowing!
Find out more about the fascinating work of Sheena Cundy at the following links: