Titiana Hardie

Titania, you've come from a family who's history is rich in the art of witchcraft.

Can you tell us about your growing up years?

My childhood was normal Sydney sunshine and beaches peppered with an interesting view of the world from my "Nanna" - the English White Witch.

Her herb garden was extensive well before the current renewed interest in them, and apart from the pretty things like lavender and apothecary's rose, there was lovely stuff like mugwort and lady's mantle. She used them medicinally of course: but also, most importantly, psychologically. She believed that the right mind-approach could resolve virtually anything, and that herbs are our friends from whom we can borrow the right focus for that approach. She understood scent and chemical release for the brain long before aromatherapists got interested. She also taught me one vital thing that I've NEVER forgotten - "Never think negatively, or dwell on gloomy thoughts, for they damage your optimism and thus what you attract in your own destiny." I really think its excellent advice!

In addition to a childhood of being raised by two white witches, you have also done a lot of formal training in the Craft. Can you tell us about this?

I was "spotted" by a friend of my mum who was a first-rate clairvoyant in Sydney, and in my university holidays she taught me to be a clairvoyant - basically, to encourage my messages to get louder. She then turned me loose on some of her clients for practice, and eventually my psychic muscle grew very strong.

Always being intellectually curious, however, I looked into astrology with some very bright minds - two men who were at the head of the Sydney Astrological research Society - who taught me about astrology. Their interest, like mine, was "psychological astrology" - fascinating. It is a very interesting concept - that planets don't make us what we are, but that they make a fascinating symbolic language which explains many facets of our inner nature which are otherwise difficult to articulate.

Here in the Uk, I have learned for 15 or more years from some quiet country witches, who have shared their schools of thought with me. In the end, we all do things so similarly, its extraordinary. We are, in essence, a band of women who are preserving a very strong matriarchal thread of herb-lore and magic; it goes back many generations, whatever the experts say. And as only the best things have been preserved, I think it embodies centuries of empirical research and information. It has been very well tried and tested.

Despite the fact that Witchcraft is becoming more popular and accepted in the 21st Century, you must still encounter resistance. How do you deal with this?

Some attitudes are hard to change: its not even so long ago that people believed it would adversely affect women's brains if they studied, or even read too much! - Well, that was one way of keeping male control!! When anyone is really fair-minded, and examines the persecution of witches, they will quickly realize that it was prompted by both fear and the wish to stamp out any other way of thinking. In fact, many people now understand that it was also taboo because it allowed such a strong voice for women - and of course, a male dominated Church and Society didn't like that one bit! - so witches have suffered more from misunderstanding than any other thing I think.

I try to deal with the issue with great patience - sometimes that's hard. A lot of people don't really want to hear what anyone has to say if it differs from them! But for most people, once they realize I'm not green-skinned and don't have fangs or two inch fingernails (and that maybe even I'm quite nice really!), they relax a little and listen. - Much resistance is also from the skeptics - they stoutly refuse to believe anything that can't be scientifically nailed down, because science is THEIR religion. And that's fine. In time, maybe subtle enough tests will emerge to tell us just how the mind, body and spirit work conjointly to influence our lives. Even with attested medicines, no one ever got well again if they were depressed and unhappy. On the other hand, people who have been seriously ill have recovered with determined and positive minds. So, the debate goes on...

You have published more than 12 books on the subject of Witchcraft, Astrology, etc. How did you come to the decision to bring your work into the public eye? What has the public response been to your books?

My decision was absolutely based on the misconceptions people had about the subject - even the beautiful suede-bound volumes were thought out to help get over the "thorny" reputation witchcraft had, and make people more comfortable with it. It is something precious, and should be preserved and lodged right in the heart of the home!

The response has been fantastic: women, especially, feel so at-home with the intuitive, magical stream of things. They understand the art of "bewitchment." It is very female: remember how Anne Boleyn was accused of being a witch because Henry VIII fell in lust with her seductive beauty and style - these alluring "arts" must have been witchcraft, apparently! So, too, I think we do have powers to boost our charm and confidence to attract just about anything we really want! I think, in a world where women no longer have to apologize for their brains and ability, that this chimes very well.

If you could offer some advice to young practicing Wiccans, what would that be.

Don't rush, young Wiccans!!! Take time - its a wonderful, long and rewarding journey. Read at leisure, learn from many sources, and take up what feels right to you in your heart. Nothing is written in stone: we are all individual, and must find a path through life that works with us, not trying to mould us into being someone we are just not!!! But also, no matter what the provocation, do always be kind-hearted (yes, even to bigots!) in your magical life, stay away from those who are determined to taunt you, and as Polonius told Laertes in Hamlet, "to thine own self be true." Never work bad magic - it WILL bounce back!! And a last piece of advice about the subject is to keep your sense of humour along with a reasonably thick skin - sometimes you'll need it!