Kitchen Hedgewitch- Tansy Firedragon Voices on the Path

Voices on the Path-

A Collection of Interviews

Kitchen Hedgewitch

Tansy Firedragon

Our school website is www.kitchenwitchhearth.com
Our blog is www.kitchenwitchuk.blogspot.co.uk
Our facebook page is www.facebook.com/kitchenwitchuk
Email: kitchenwitchhearth@yahoo.com

First can you briefly tell us about yourself? What is your profession? Any special hobbies?

My name is Rachel Patterson, my craft name is Tansy Firedragon. I am happily married with two beautiful children. I live in the South East of England. My profession is as a Personal Assistant but I have the luxury of working from home. I love to read and to cook. 

When did you begin your path? What inspired you to walk this journey?

Being born on Samhain I probably should have realized I was on the path then! I have always loved stories about witches, the fae and dragons but it was about 13 years ago that I first started on the path of Witchcraft. I picked up a book on the History of Witchcraft in a second hand shop, once I had read it I felt like I had found my place in life. 

Can you tell us a little about your path? How would you describe yourself?

I started by reading all the books I could get hold of and researching on the internet, I then did my first degree online with the Correllian Tradition. After that I joined another online school, Sacred Mists and over seven and a half years worked through my first, second and third degrees with them. Last year after joining the Dorset Grove, I was made a High Priestess. I have also studied with Janet Farrar & Gavin Bone on their Progressive Magick course and studied various divination systems and worked a lot with Hoodoo. I have also studied druidry with OBOD. Although a lot of my training has been Wiccan, I think of myself as a Kitchen/Hedge witch.

Does the path you've chosen affect your profession? If so, how?

I don’t think my path affects my profession as such, possibly the other way round, as I spend a lot of time on the computer and have typing and organizational skills it affects the craft in that I keep a lot of my BOS on the computer and I research via the internet.

Is community important to you, or do you prefer to express your beliefs as a solitary?

When I first started out I only wanted to be a solitary, but as I gained confidence and knowledge I ventured out into the outside world. I am a member of the Dorset Grove and attend outside rituals when I can with them and a couple of other groups I have had the pleasure to meet. A couple of years ago I also started my own forum which has grown into an online school, from Sacred Mists and from my own school I met several witches that have now become very close friends who I meet outside for rituals and crafting and who are always there when I need them. So I guess the answer to your question is I like a bit of both – support from community and working as a solitary too.

Are you associated with any organizations, volunteer work, or groups that support your spiritual beliefs?

I am a leadership team member of the online Kitchen Witch School of Natural Witchery, a member of OBOD and a member of the Dorset Grove of Druids.

Would you say your path has been an easy or difficult journey? Any advice for someone new to this path?

I have been very blessed that my husband, family and friends have all accepted who and what I am, and are all supportive of how I choose to live my life. Any spiritual journey has it’s ups and downs, some of it has been hard work but ultimately all worthwhile.


Finally, what three books would you say most influenced your path.

The books that I love and that I tend to recommend to those starting on this path are those written by Rae Beth, Elen Hawke, Christopher Penczak and Ellen Dugan.