September’s Print / Moon Witch Breakdown

Hello! September’s print is the Moon Witch from my folklore series made for the MYTHOS show earlier this year. It headed out to patrons earlier this month who paid between August 2 and September 1! 

This print shows the moment in the deep woods when the old Moon Witch meets you at the crossroads in front of her temple home. She sees your past, and your present, just as you see hers, and she asks you for your truth. What would you say to someone who knows everything, who can see through you? What kind of answer does she request of you? 

If you answer wisely, and most importantly, truthfully, then she’ll escort you through the woods and back onto the right path. Her younger selves, or previous paths, might follow along with the demon owls not far behind them. A little parade of guardians will help you find your way, and leave you with some tinctures and salves to help you with your cuts (because you were very lost, and moving through the thorny woods much too quickly). She’ll give you a little hint of where to head towards, and then vanish in the misty morning, just as the sun starts to peak over the mountains. 

The Moon Witch is a story I’ve written inspired by Hecate, a three headed or sided greek goddess who is a guardian of entrances and typically found at the crossroads between mortal and divine spheres. She’s typically seen with a torch, escorting Persephone through the underworld, with restless souls or demons that accompany her. She’s the protector of travel, and helps the individual pass through the dangerous liminal spaces between realms outside the world of the living. 

This story is also inspired by good ole’ ‘Granny Magic,’ which is folk magic in the Appalachias, and kind of a combination of scotch-irish and Native American traditional healing practices. Their ancestral knowledge is passed down within their communities from oral traditions, and while witch is in the name, their practices aren’t evil or anti-christian. They’re considered miracle workers who work hard to take care of all living things. They also tend to be Animists, who believe that spirits are ever present in the world- in all things. The trees, rocks, and creeks have spirits, and so they should be cared for and honored. 

Although her Root work is pagan-like visually, in Southern Appalachia where Christian values rule the land, her work is “the work of the Lord” and she requires no thanking for her services. She claims that in the end, her work depends on the strength of someone’s faith. Whatever faith that is, and whoever’s Lord to whom they speak, is no one else’s business but their own. 

I wanted to channel this spirit of generational knowledge of healing and witchcraft with Hecate’s three heads, all facing in different directions. They are the past, present, and future, with all the wisdom of their eras combined. One is playful but serious in their craft, and one reminds you of death as she displays youthful beauty. All three of them will share what they’ve learned, and have different perspectives on which path you should choose. Below are potions and medicine, made from their earthly ingredients, with a dash of the divine. Some potions might lead you into the otherworld, while others may help give you better clarity in this one. 

Here, Hecate draws a line in the dirt with her moon-shaped staff. She asks about your truth, and where you’re headed, both spiritually and physically. She’ll know if you’re lying, or have ill intent. She’ll also protect you if you need escorting through the dark woods, and her job is keeping bad spirits at bay, while keeping earthly spirits honest. She might help you find someone in the otherworld, or help you care for the ones who are ready to pass. 

Around her are the demon owls, and creatures who have been mistreated by other goddesses in the otherworld, and so she cares for them here, as her own. 

Thank you for reading my little research story on Hecate and Granny Witches! Below is the Riso Breakdown and some sketches for this piece!

<3 xoxo natalie