In addition to music and history, one thing I’ve taken a great interest in is folk healing and natural remedies, so when the opportunity arose to interview Kim Aaronricks of World of Magick I was more than happy to jump at the chance.

Read on about what fueled her to begin her business inspired by the ways of the ancients. And definitely check out her store and give her a follow on social media!

TA: First, for those learning of you for the first time, tell us a little about yourself and
the World of Magick!

KA: I’m Kim, an artist, marketer and green witch from Essex, England. I love drawing,
painting, spending time in nature and exploring witchcraft and magick.
World of Magick came to life on the morning of New Years’ Day 2019, while I was
sitting in my pyjamas sketching herbs and flowers, waiting for my daughters to wake
up. I didn’t realise it at the time, but the little doodles and notes I was illustrating were
the beginning of my Book of Shadows, starting with the different types of witches and
a compilation of information on the uses of magickal herbs.
I shared my pages on Instagram over the following days and was soon overwhelmed
by the number of wonderful messages and comments on my posts, asking if this was
a book that was available to buy. It was the incredible support from my followers that
lead me to build the World of Magick website, and shortly after I created the
Magickal Herb Journal.
Based on historical folklore, tradition and legend, the journal was designed as a
notebook to help the reader discover the magickal and healing properties of 28
herbs, trees, fruits and flowers. It also includes 120 dot grid pages with space to
make notes, write down recipes and draw sketches or to stick in herbs and pictures.
Since then I have also created the Magickal Crystal Journal, and have shared many
other pages from my Book of Shadows on Instagram, covering a range of topics,
including Gods and Goddess and Tarot cards.

TA: Folklore, folk healing, and the ways of the ancients seem to be what inspires you.
How did you come to take an interest in this?
KA: I find mythology fascinating! The human race has been around for so long – there’s
so much we can learn from our ancestors and I strongly believe that there is a wealth
of lost knowledge in our history, not just our human past, but also the history of the
planet. Ancient monuments such as the Egyptian pyramids, druid temples and
standing stones prove that there is so much more to discover!
I didn’t have a huge interest in folklore and the ancients as a child, but the inspiration
came after my sister bought me a book called ‘Wicca’ by Harmony Nice from my
Amazon wish list as a Christmas present, and I began to explore witchcraft in more
depth.
As I mentioned before I live in Essex, England, which is infamous for the horrors that
took place during the Essex Witch Trials and Matthew Hopkins, the Witchfinder
General, who launched his witch-hunting campaign in Essex and Suffolk in 1644.
I am extremely fortunate to have access to the rich history of my local area at the
Chelmsford Museum, where I can see excavated bones of the Woolly Mammoths that once roamed my neighbourhood, explore the ancient remains of sacrificial
horses’ heads from pagan Celtic rituals and visualise what life was like hundreds of
years ago through historical paintings. The museum also provides details of the first
execution of a witch in England, which was recorded in Chelmsford in 1566 and saw
Agnes Waterhouse hanged.
I believe the energy of a place is often deep-rooted in its history, and that energy is
infused in all the life that lives in that area. Exploring and learning about my local
area has connected me to the earth and helps me better understand what it has
been through. What footsteps have walked on it, the experiences and emotions of
the people who have lived on the land, the local flora, fauna and other forms of life
that have, and still occupy it, as well as how they are influenced by the elements, the
power of the sun and the draw of the moon. Herbs which grow in my local area,
touching the same earth and drinking the same water as me, are going to be much
more potent to use or consume than ones which have been dug up and exported
across the world.
This way of looking at plant life can then be used to understand the wider
environment. A sunflower growing in a preschool playground is going to have a very
different energy to forget-me-nots growing in a cemetery.
Once I understood how energy is influenced by history, my interest in folk healing
soared. I now use herbs and flowers to improve and maintain both my physical and
mental health every day.
Modern medicine is an incredible accomplishment, and I am in awe of the number of
lives that have been saved because of it. However, I don’t think that means the art of
healing using traditional practices, herbal remedies and the power of suggestion
should be forgotten. For example, I grow echinacea in my garden and harvest it for
making tea because it is a cure-all, a herb with powerful healing properties, and it is
especially good for protection against, and soothing the symptoms of the common
cold. I love echinacea tea and can’t remember the last time I suffered from a cold, or
even a runny nose – therefore I don’t need to rely on modern medicine to cure such
an ailment. Prevention is better than cure as my mum would say!

TA: Are there any tales, fables or ancient lore that particularly had an impact on you
while growing up?
KA: I grew up reading and loving Enid Blyton books such as The Magic Faraway Tree
and The Adventures of the Wishing Chair, as well as classics like The Elves and the
Shoemaker, and Rumpelstiltskin. To this day I still love tales of magickal forests,
brownies, pixies, fairies and gnomes!
Obviously these are children’s stories, but it’s the concept of existence beyond the
realms of what we can physically experience that sparks my interest in the magickal
world. How can we say there isn’t another, or many other dimensions that we can’t
see. Just because our senses can’t experience it, it doesn’t mean it’s not real!

TA: I particularly love your blog post about how you came from hating the winter
months to actually appreciating it for what it is. Would you mind elaborating on how
much we actually do need winter and the role that the four seasons play in the circle
of life?
KA: Thank you! I’ve always hated winter, I really don’t like being cold and having to slop
around under a constantly dull grey sky, in the rain and wind, makes me miserable. I
do love snow, but it’s rare to have a decent amount settle here in Essex. I never
thought I’d grow to welcome the winter months, and dare I say it even be thankful for
them!
I still don’t like the cold weather, but I do appreciate that Winter is so important in the
cycle of life because it marks a time of rest and relaxation. I don’t know about you,
but I am much more energetic when the sun is shining. Spring and Summer are a
time of growth and increase. The longer days give me more time to get my work
done, to complete my chores, nurture my garden and enjoy time with my family. I just
love the vibe of summer. The earth is in a phase of growth and everything around us
is active and intense, from the power of the sun to the flowers blooming and the bees
collecting their nectar.
Autumn is a time of harvest and again I’m busy finishing all the jobs I started in
Spring, tying up any loose ends, and reaping the rewards of all my hard work
through the summer months. The earth is fruiting and pushing out its final crops.
Animals are busy gathering food and bedding in preparation for the upcoming colder
months. Everything in existence is busy and working hard for three quarters of the
year – if we didn’t wind down in Winter we’d be constantly on the go, never taking
time to reflect on what we’ve achieved or taking a break to relax. Can you imagine
going for a run in the morning and never stopping? Or picture a tree that never
stopped growing? It’s sounds ridiculous doesn’t it, and goes to show that everything
has to stop for a time.
Everything has a cycle, and every cycle includes a time of relaxation and quiet. A
day on earth is made up of morning, afternoon, evening and night, night being
equivalent to winter when we sleep and recharge. The moon’s cycle includes
waxing, full, waning and new phases, the new moon being the equivalent to the
darkness of winter.
Winter is the end of the cycle. Without an end there can be no new beginning.
I learnt to love winter because I finally gave myself permission to slow down during
those months, and I stopped feeling guilty for not being busy all the time. In the
darker months, I allow myself to lay in bed a little bit longer in the morning. I spend
my Sunday’s watching films and eating a few more snacks than I should – because I
can. It’s ok to do nothing for a while. It’s ok to not feel motivated. You can leave that
pile of washing for another day. Use this time to think about what you want to do in
the future, what are your goals and dreams? What do you want to achieve in the
upcoming year? This is a great time to plan for the months ahead, ready for when
the new-born Sun brings a fresh start.

TA: For someone new to your store, what item or product would you suggest that a
person begin with?
KA: The Magickal Herb Journal is the first book I created for my amazing followers, so I
would definitely recommend starting there! It’s a great tool to get you connecting with
the earth – the illustrated pages will give you information on the properties of some of
the more commonly found herbs, flowers and trees, as well as how to incorporate
them into your day, and the blank pages encourage you to start scribbling down
details of all the plant life you find in your surroundings.

TA: What do you guys have coming up in the future?
KA: There will be lots more journals coming soon, including Gods and Goddesses, Tarot,
Astrology, Runes, Fragrances, and Spells and Rituals. I’m going to be making some
unique new products for the shop too – so watch this space!

TA: Where can we find and follow you?
KA: You can find me at www.worldofmagick.com and follow me on Instagram
@world_of_magick and Facebook @worldofmagick