The pandemic in 2020 flipped everything upside down, and it feels like we're still holding our breath, waiting for things to go back to "normal"—if they ever do. One major shift has been in how we gather. In-person events aren't the same, and when they do happen, it's usually me standing at the front, delivering a lecture or keynote, rather than the more interactive experiences we once knew. I think something about having to do so many online events when we couldn’t gather in person has a lot of us stuck in “let me share this powerpoint with you” mode.
I recently wrapped up a mini tour with my husband through New England, leading up to Templefest, the annual gathering hosted by The Temple of Witchcraft. One of the highlights was teaching "The Witch’s Dream" at Pentagram in Salem which is easily one of the finest witchcraft shops in the city. We also had a great time discussing familiar spirits at Spiritus Arcanum, our longtime friend Matthew Venus' shop in Peabody, right outside of Salem. (Sidenote - Don’t miss his upcoming book!) But the classes that truly left a lasting impression were the ones at The Robin’s Nest and, of course, Templefest itself.
The class at The Robin’s Nest stood out because we taught the White Flame and offered attunements to anyone who wanted it. The energy was so strong that everyone in the room could feel it, some even saw it, and I definitely did the whole time. Afterward, one attendee came up and asked if it was normal to feel like he was still on shrooms from the experience, despite our check in with everyone. I laughed and told him it was, but only because he wasn’t grounding. I guided him through a grounding exercise, and the intensity faded for him.
What I loved most about this was the chance to raise and channel energy with the group, letting them directly experience it, especially those who had practiced witchcraft for years but had never felt or seen energy raised like that. For me, moments like these kept me dedicated to my own path. Years ago, when I taught aura exercises from my first book Psychic Witch, my favorite part was always seeing that "oh wow" moment on people’s faces when they could finally see auras with their own eyes. This is what this workshop reminded me of.
My second favorite class was one of two I taught solo at Templefest, both based on my new book The Psychic Art of Tarot. The one I really enjoyed was the workshop on scrying into the tarot cards, a technique I cover in the book. Everyone was able to do it and gained valuable insight into the cards. What’s crucial in workshops like this is giving people space to share their experiences. Hearing others talk about what they felt or saw often helps participants realize they had similar experiences, even if they were unsure at first, and it also deepens their understanding of the technique.
One participant saw powerlines exploding and sparking while scrying into the card. She said she felt it might mean a power outage was coming. I validated her experience, as I always do, and emphasized the importance of separating what we perceive from how we interpret it. I suggested some possible metaphorical interpretations, explaining that it could be symbolic or literal. It's like the Death card in tarot—it almost never signals actual death in a reading, except for those times when it does. What we receive when we do the exercises correctly is rarely wrong, but it's often our interpretations that miss the mark.
What was really cool—and I love when this happens—is that near the end of the class, the same participant raised her hand to share that she had just received a text saying the power in her town went out. Moments like this are my favorite because they not only show that these techniques work but also that people can make them work for themselves in powerful ways. It’s validating as both a writer and teacher, as this kind of experience ties into a big part of my mission: helping others tap into their own abilities and trust them. But most of all, to know, not just believe, that magick and psychic ability is real for themselves from first-hand experience.
This is why I’m so excited for The Psychic Witch Retreat at Omega at the end of this month. It’s a chance to dive deep into these techniques in a focused, immersive setting, where people can fully experience their own psychic abilities and energy work, and magick without distractions. Being in a group is crucial for this kind of learning. There's something powerful about practicing alongside others, sharing experiences, and seeing how energy manifests differently for each person. It helps people feel less isolated in their practice, and it’s comforting to know others are on similar paths. The retreat also builds a sense of community, giving folks the chance to make new friends who share their interests. These connections often last well beyond the retreat, creating a supportive network that’s invaluable for personal and spiritual growth.
“Awaken your full psychic potential and elevate your magickal skills in a comprehensive and immersive retreat experience with Mat Auryn.
Discover your hidden psychic and magickal skills at The Psychic Witch Retreat. Here, you focus on sharpening your psychic senses and mastering various forms of magick and energy work. You discover how to awaken all your clair-senses and find balance between your higher, lower, and middle self while lighting up your inner witch fire. You also practice spellcasting and ritual techniques, both with and without the use of tools.
You explore various ways to create sacred spaces, collaborate with spirit allies, and implement powerful protection methods. You learn to perceive auras, access the Inner Planes, exercise mental magick, tap into various energy sources, and so much more to level up your magick and make tangible changes in your life.
Whether you are new to the craft or an experienced practitioner, this retreat offers specialized training to elevate your abilities.”
Other News & Updates
🦉 The Psychic Art of Tarot is now released into the world! You can preorder it directly from Llewellyn, through Amazon, Audible or preorder signed copies directly from me.
🦉 I was recently interviewed about my books being plagiarized by AI writing programs and sold on Amazon for the CBC. Check it out here.
🦉 I wrote an article on traditional vs intuitive vs psychic tarot readings for my publisher Llewellyn. You can read it here.
🦉 Tarot author Nancy Hendrickson gave some love to the Psychic Art of Tarot on her substack! You can read it here.
🦉 The Tarot Association of Britain and International Members wrote an in-depth review of The Psychic Art of Tarot. You can read it here.
🦉 Practical Occult - One of my favorite occult jewelers, gave a glowing review in their spotlight of Psychic Witch. You can read it here.
🦉 Amethyst Ascension Tarot & Astrology’s YouTube Channel shared a really thoughtful review of Pisces Witch. You can watch it here.