The Witch is In...
Opportunity knocks, but crisis throws a brick through your window. Sick of stepping on the shards? Read on and reach out!
Welcome to The Magic Circle Hut
.jpg/:/cr=t:0%25,l:16.09%25,w:75%25,h:100%25/rs=w:1209,h:1209,cg:true)
Crisis as Possibility Space
Mischa, my soulmate, and Max' dad, had a stroke. He survived, but our old life was suspended over night. "Navigating uncertainty is the hardest thing there is," I said to Max (9), during that first acute week. "We don't know what's going to happen," Max added. "That's right," I agreed, "so why should we assume the worst?" "We shouldn't!" said Max. "But what should we do?" he wondered. I've dealt with uncertainty before. It's been the whole reason I became a coach besides my academic career. So, I had an answer. This is what I said:
"What we do is, we get really present with what is and open ourselves up to the magic that appears in the cracks between the old and the new. If we let ourselves be really present, open and connected, we can become the shapers of this new future, instead of letting it happen to us."
If you want to find the magic in the cracks as well, and shape what happens next, I'm here to partner with you and put all my witchy powers in your service, dear one!
What's the deal with magic circles & all this witchy talk?
A "Magic Circle" describes a liminal space - an in-between space in which we transition from something familiar to something new. Like crisis, it is a possibility space.
Unlike crisis, though, which brings out limiting fear and stress reactions, a magic circle is a safe space in which we can co-create what we are transitioning into and who we become in the process. We need a sense of safety to play, and we need playfulness the most when we feel we can afford it the least: e.g. when we are navigating crisis.
"Play" as a neuro-biological state (not an activity!) is the key ingredient to magic - the flow of energy within our bodies and between other beings, that resolves blockades, enables connection, and allows innovative solutions to emerge.
The archetype of the witch is fraught with ideas of danger and maleficence. That's because witches are seen as powerful and the patriarchy can't stand that. Witches are feared because they are successful deviants, independent, strong in their integrity, holding their own counsel. They live between the village and the forest, one eye towards the community, the other towards that which is greater - nature and its encompassing energy web. They do what must be done, see things as they are and clear on their stand, dignity, and purpose, even under great pressure. Witches, dear ones, are total badasses.
If you don't vibe with the concept of the witch, though, that's totally cool. We don't need to talk about witches to work together - but it sure helps ;)
.jpg/:/rs=w:1209,h:1209,cg:true,m/cr=w:1209,h:1209)
#PowerWith: Ways to do Magic Together
So, life threw a brick through your window, too, hm? You're trying your best to get up every day and do what must be done, even though you're not always sure what that actually is. Some days, you may just not want to get up at all. Waves of anger and sadness and hope take turns, leaving you exhausted and confused. You're short on patience and might snap at people who don't deserve it. You're not sure if you can trust yourself anymore. You wonder: is this YOU, now? This frazzled, stressed, worried, frozen, anxious, angry, being? What happened to the rest of you - the part that can be playful and at peace, that makes good decisions sees possibilities? And how can you get this part of you back without circumstances changing first?
Dear one, I get it. You never bought that ticket to hell, but here you are. Good news is that it's not one way. I've taken that trip a few times. First time was when I made my way back from a 12 year, abusive relationship. It ground me down to my very bones. But I'm one of those stubborn witches who refuse to burn. I got my soul back. You can, too.
I offer a range of services from one-on-one coaching (60min) to special topic workshops, events and groups (online and IRL). I also coach functional fitness - yep, that's actual physical work outs! - as part of the whole "navigating crisis" coaching. I am a CF LVL2 certified trainer, somatic coach and adaptive and inclusive trainer (so, I can coach people with physical impairments). Sometimes, I co-create rituals with people. Sometimes, I design games for or with them.
I do not do party appearances and I have no crystal ball. If I read your palm, all I'll be able to tell you is if you should use hand lotion. Tea leaves are great compost. Apart from that, I'm here to partner with you, to do some real magic together and rekindle your life force, energy and joy.
Breaking the Spell
Do you ever wish you had responded to a situation differently? Do you feel that there is some programming kicking in that determines how you behave under pressure, even though you know better? Do you have the same thoughts, fears and worries over and over, no matter how much you try to outthink them?
Well, that's because their truly IS an underlying programming that runs the show. We all live by some hidden story, informed by unconscious values and beliefs we inherited from others. They become the rules that govern our perceptions of life as well as the steps we are likely to take. Even our bodies - our muscles and fibers – become shaped through our experiences, because we adapt to ensure a sense of safety, dignity, love and belonging. This physical shape, too, impacts greatly what options are available to us and which aren't. To increase our options and skillfully act upon them, we first need to break the spell of our stories and shaping. We do so through discovering them together. What we can clearly see, holds less power over us. Then, we can start to branch out.
.jpg/:/cr=t:21.8%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:56.39%25/rs=w:1209,h:909,cg:true)
Practice
Witches are never lost. They may be unsure about where anything else is, but they are clear on where and who THEY are. This is key when navigating crisis. If there's no True North out there to orient by, we must cultivate the one inside of us. Anchoring True North in our very being, though, takes more than insight and understanding. It takes practice. Magic happens when we learn how to wield our energy and we do that through our bodies. Any kind of movement practice can serve this purpose and I will work with you regardless of physical ability. If you have a body, we're good to go. I apologize to the immaterial ghosts and spirits. I am working on my inclusivity.
My Background
I have many hats. One of them is the red top hat my love, Mischa, gave me when I was promoted to full Professor in Game Design at Uppsala University. It’s heavy and mostly sits on a shelf in my office. As founder and custodian of the Magic Circle Hut, I wear a hat of thunder, lightning, sky and stardust. It is a big hat, encompassing somatic coaching / physical training, play research, storytelling and system design to create customized, transformative experiences for people and organizations. And then, there’s the witch’s hat. The hat of hats. Invisible, but always there, lending magic to the other hats.
The Witch's Way
When we moved to Gotland from Downtown Chicago, a story found me; a story connected to this island, its unique magic, and the process of transformation. I was supposed to write a book about Games of the Soul with my colleague Andy Phelps, but I just couldn't. This story - what came to be chapter 1 of The Witch's Way - demanded to be written and I was its servant. Andy was patient, bless him. He waited until chapter 1 was done. He then helped me create it as an interactive text adventure, did the coding and the art. The game is free. If you read this far, you might like it. Give it a shot.
Contact Us
I'd love to see / talk to you!
The Hut appears to those who seek it, but only by appointment ;) Drop me a line, so I can get the tea ready for you. My physical coaching space is in Vibble, 62260 Visby.
