We recently connected with Erin Kelley and have shared our conversation below.

Erin, appreciate you joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

As far as how my spiritual practice and mysticism developed, it resulted from my experience of growing up in a conservative household and never feeling at home in organized religion. I’ve always been spiritual and talked to what I perceived as God as a child. I felt most connected to the Divine when I was outdoors and felt a special communion with animals and trees. Trial and error was a big part of finding my way to what would eventually become my spiritual practice and mysticism.

As I got older, I read about spiritual traditions worldwide. I took up yoga and meditation and began teaching it. I traveled around by myself, taking classes and going on retreats. Sometime around 2016, I read an article about white folks loving yoga so much because they were separated from their own ancestral earth traditions that really resonated with me. I began to explore the folk and pagan traditions of my Irish, Saxon, and Slavic ancestors.

Eventually, I traveled to some of those areas in Europe and connected with others on a similar path, leading me to new teachers, texts, and experiences. I read a lot about women’s spirituality and feminism and took classes on subjects that interested me.

My spiritual practice evolves as I do and as Spirit calls me, but prayer, communion with the natural world, meditation, and making some type of offering seem constant components of my practice. I have a Spiritual mentor as well. She was a big part of my final leap from working for someone else to working for myself.

Astrology-wise, I had my first astrology reading right after my divorce. It was so accurate and eye-opening that I couldn’t wait to learn more. So, I started by studying my own chart and having it read by professionals. That worked well until I knew I needed to take an actual course because I struggled with more in-depth interpretations, like planetary aspects. I didn’t have any intent on becoming a consulting astrologer at that time. I was hungry to understand myself. And astrology gave me a new perspective. Much like my college psychology studies at school, I could better understand myself by learning about it and reflecting on my experiences. For the first time, I saw myself as whole, not broken, but made to be this way.

Astrology provided me with a new lens to view my life and make meaning out of the really challenging parts of my life, such as illness, abandonment, divorce, grief, and loss. It gave me a new language to express the more liminal parts of myself. It gave life to C.G. Jung’s famous quote, “One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.”

I was very lucky because Portland, Oregon, where I live, was home to one of the largest astrology schools in the country during the time I was enrolled. Unfortunately, the Portland School of Astrology (PSA) has since closed. However, the relationships I developed with my teachers and classmates have endured. When I started giving practice readings to fellow students and community members, that experience reawakened the counselor archetype within me, and I realized that I enjoyed sharing astrology with others.

Also, the Pacific Northwest is home to the Northwest Astrological Conference, or NORWAC. It is now in its 40th year, so there is a lot of astrology talent in this area and many opportunities to continue learning.

And I continue my studies today, with other teachers online.

And sometime during my time at PSA my astrological studies began to overlap with my spiritual practice. I began to align my nature-based rituals to the current astrology, natal charts, and desired outcomes for folks interested in having an embodied relational experience. My experiences from organically bringing these things together blew my mind and continued to affirm my path. My astrological studies enabled a deeper understanding of symbols, myth, and magick, allowing a deeper understanding and connection to the more-than-human world.

The exploration of this alignment between astrology and my mysticism continues today. I have a daily practice of connecting with myself and the more-than-human world. These interactions are what continue to guide me. I regularly reflect on my experiences, write about them, and continue my studies wherever they lead.

It is important to preface that my great work and website’s name, Slow Magick, is not about speed at all. Slowing down to experience kairos and connect with entities of deep time is what I am after at this point. But to answer the question about what would have accelerated my process, attending more esoteric classes and activities and traveling at a much earlier age would have helped with that. And if I had lived in a major metropolitan area with access to various people from different backgrounds. I grew up in a bubble and didn’t know much about the rest of the world, its people, and its beliefs until I left home.

I loved to read and spent much time at the library ‘pre-search engine.’ If I had to do it over with the same limitations, I may have selected theurgy, theology or philosophy as a college major or have traveled the world during that time. I did not take my first trip out of the country as an adult until I was 34.

I also identify as neurodivergent, but I did not know that until recently. Had I received support and accommodations for my differences in processing information, I might have had a better experience in school and learned more, giving me a better idea of what I wanted to do. I’ll never forget taking a career aptitude test in seventh grade, and the teacher couldn’t match me with anything. The closest option they found was a furrier. I didn’t want to go to university, but I went because I got to live away from home for the first time. It took me about seven years in and out of college to finish my undergraduate degree in psychology with a minor in art.

I am an artist, but my canvas is my life. There wasn’t a well-known path for people like me. And likely, even if there was, given the small bubble I lived in, I didn’t know the right questions to ask, and the adults in my life had a pre-defined path of what success was, and I was not to stray from that.

All the energy I spent trying to be something I was not, I could have put into finding my own path. But I didn’t have anyone in my life who could show me that it was possible to be different and be a success. And then, I got married about a year after graduating, delaying me again. We divorced after eight years, and the divorce was the pivot I needed. After that, I floundered a bit more but ultimately began expressing myself more freely.

The first time I visited Stonehenge was in 2017; it changed me. I remember feeling like I didn’t fit in when I was younger; I felt something was wrong with me. Now, I knew there was another path for me, one far more ancient.

Being curious was essential to finding my way. And the fact that I liked to read. I had no trouble spending hours alone in my room as a child. If something became a special interest, it was all I thought about, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. One of my astrology mentors recently said, “Research is a form of seduction,” and I agree. I also really enjoy thinking, and ideas excite me.

The other thing that helped was not taking myself too seriously and knowing that the book of knowledge is never truly written. My life improved greatly when I took my personal gnosis seriously. And that was tough at first. It took a lot of practice to unlearn overculture conditioning and trust myself and my own experience. But I got the hang of it by creating a record of my practice. I learned how to look for a gift or lesson when life gets challenging. I have grit. I can find a connection between almost anything and everything. I’ve been through a lot and have several lived experiences which help me understand my fellow human beings.

My biggest obstacle to becoming who I am now was the fear of rejection. I desperately wanted to fit in for most of my life, and I tried everything from church groups to a yoga cult and even a sorority in college. There is nothing wrong with those things in their healthy expressions; they exist because they provide an avenue for most. But I needed to be someone else to belong in those groups. And this led me further and further away from myself over time. And sometimes, I got taken advantage of because I was so eager for acceptance. My path was one I needed to carve out on my own, and it took me a long time to accept that.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am an astrologer and practitioner of the mystic arts based in Portland, Oregon. I offer bespoke astrology readings and personalized ritual design based on your natal chart and desired outcome. I am especially adept at helping dreamers and cycle breakers use astrology and ritual to build new beliefs, experience more satisfaction, and create space to thrive.

While astrology, mysticism, and ceremonial magick exist, these aren’t always accessible or practical for the everyday person. It can be very individual. Even I fell into it by accident. It was all very organic. But I think it is a needed alternative in today’s world as people search for connection, and I help others find their own path. I am the person I needed when I was younger.

One day, I had an astrology client who wanted to ‘know what to do’ about a personal astrological milestone that was approaching. So, I put together a living almanac of their astrological transits and outlined a series of rituals, reflections, and activities they could do to have a relational and embodied experience of these astrological transits over a six-month period leading up to the big milestone. In other words, it allowed them to be active in their life unfolding with the support of the unseen world rather than ‘life’ just happening to them.

It was so well received, and they reacted so positively, and this wasn’t taken from one book, a course, or anything. It was a work of art, combining my knowledge, lived experiences, and personal gnosis. It truly came through me, like painting on a canvas or composing a piece of music.

It made me realize folks were hungry for an embodied mystical experience that was accessible and available directly. And I officially began to offer ritual design as a service.

At the present time, I offer many different experiences at different price points, and folks work with me to receive wisdom, guidance, and perspective through astrological analysis and ritual. My services are designed to help my clients learn more about themselves, clarify what they want, and move toward their desires easily and gracefully. I tailor each reading to their specific needs and create a welcoming environment for self-expression and exploration.

My Sacred Signatures service is my flagship offering, and the one most people book at the present time if they’ve never had an astrology reading before. Sacred Signatures guides folks through discovering the inherent magic embedded in their personal astrology. The reading examines various components that form their unique Sacred Signatures.

These Sacred Signatures represent your natural abilities and strengths ingrained in you since birth. By exploring them, folks connect with their true self and uncover hidden talents and potential they might not even know existed.

Additionally, I provide recommendations on how to enhance and develop these abilities further. This will help them continue to explore and reveal their natural self. The reading can be an eye-opening experience, providing clarity and insight into your life’s path and assisting you in making decisions that align with your authentic self. Astrology is a tool that can help you explore this realm, and a Sacred Signatures astrological reading is a positive step toward personal growth and development.

In addition to astrology readings, I also offer bespoke ritual consultation, design, and mentorship. I work with clients online across many time zones. I offer a free subscription to my Substack, The Nature of Invisible Things. And I have a podcast with the same name coming in 2024.

Folks usually seek out astrology in a few main areas: a deeper understanding of self, what they need or have to offer in intimate relationships, career changes, or wanting a deeper connection with the world and their purpose in it. Using ritual in conjunction with astrology grounds this wisdom in a very real and embodied way. Creating a unique experience of the spirit and energy which are uniquely their own.

People like to work with me for a variety of reasons. One I hear most often is the warm, compassionate, and empathetic space I create and the level of insight I provide. I recognize what an honor it is to hold space for others.

I want people to know that you don’t need astrology or ritual to ‘do’ life right, but it definitely makes life more interesting and meaningful. Especially if you feel like an outsider or like you aren’t meant for this world.

And I am most proud of learning to trust myself, and my spiritual and astrological practices helped me to achieve that.

What do you find most rewarding about being creative?

It is a constant adventure and exploration. The world’s response, both seen and unseen, continually amazed me. I don’t know what will happen, and I love that. Being creative, I consider my life art, allowing me to deepen my experience of being myself. And it turns out that was what I was hungry for all along. It was my own love and adoration I’d been searching for, and my creative work, my life really, allows me to remain in this devoted place each day.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I have a couple. Both led me to have capstone-like experiences that have given me a depth of knowledge regarding the sacredness of life.

The first was in 2016 when I was laid off from work unexpectedly. The agency I worked for had a dip in their finances, and I was let go. It was the first time this had ever happened to me, and I admit, at first, I panicked. However, I leaned into teaching more yoga and meditation classes and trained to become a full-spectrum birthworker, sometimes referred to as a birth doula. I deepened my knowledge of how to hold space for folks in difficult situations. I witnessed people in some of the most intimate moments of their life. I held the hands of people experiencing physical, mental, and emotional anguish and pain. Eventually, I returned to the agency full-time, but that time of my life was one of the most fulfilling.

The second was in 2021. I lost three family members in a six-week period in addition to a beloved pet of 20 years. I wanted time off, and we couldn’t reach an agreement that worked for both the agency and myself. So I quit. When I looked for employment again, I worked for a direct-to-consumer end-of-life services company. It was such a healing experience for me. Everyone who worked there had been touched by death in a significant way. And it was normal to talk about loss and the people we missed in our lives. I had the opportunity to see death up cloase, and learn about the death industry and how the majority of people react to it. Again, I could practice empathic listening and non-judgemental space-holding. Something that again proved valuable time spent considering what I do now.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://slowmagick.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slow.magick/
• Other: Substack: https://thenatureofinvisiblethings.substack.com/

Image Credits
Katy Weaver Photography