What does it mean to Be Witch?

It is an identity, a lifestyle, a spiritual practice, a political ethos and an esthetic. In this series, let’s look at important concepts, strengths, limitations, ethics and social considerations for being a modern witch.

Some may think that this series is going to be talking about fluffy black cats, pointy hats and spooky things in general. What is different about this perspective on being a witch in the modern world is that Sarah will address issues of power dynamics, cultural context, binaries, intersectionality, political values, social justice, anticapitalism and anarchy.

As a modern witch we have a big responsibility to hold true to the value of personal and communal empowerment as folks who identify with a decentralized and growing spiritual path. Sarah opens up the notion that being witch is only for female identified and calls listeners to have an acute awareness of cultural appreciation and appropriation. Bringing in her lovely sister, Leah Wu, who raises her children as witch, listeners get some insight to what is means to also raise children on this path.

Episode are 15 – 35 minutes each, 5 hours in total

Sarah Wu is a passionate educational curator, facilitator and mentor dedicated to adult learners of all backgrounds. A representative for Mother Nature as a writer and teacher of Deep Ecology, Therapeutic Spiritual Ecology and Whole Systems Design shared through the lens of Herbalism and Permaculture.

Sarah Wu has 24 years studying and practicing the science, art and craft of Regenerative Herbal Medicine. Her foundation is in eclectic energetic and Western Wise Woman Traditions, actively practicing clinical herbalism in the Neo-Tropics for 15 years. With 30 and counting, 75+hour Permaculture Design Courses (PDC) in her portfolio, which encompasses earth sciences, regenerative strategies for human settlement design, community development and alternative social structuring. She teaches all aspects of herbal medicine from Materia Medica, ethnobotany, medicine making, formulation and anatomy/physiology. Sarah teaches workshops to young women, 10 - 16 years old about their physical and spiritual bodies in correspondence with lunar and planetary rhythms. Sarah attended the Tyler School of Art, where she immersed herself in the Fine Arts and Art History, Mythology, Symbolism and Philosophy. She is well versed, teaching archetypal symbolism and storytelling for personal reflection via Tarot and Modern Astrology.

A producer at heart, Sarah loves curating courses, workshops and events tailored to community, deep ecology, regenerative design and holistic health that highlight diverse and dynamic facilitators. Sarah is the friendly Village Witch, co-founder and producer of Envision Festival, a 10,000 person arts and culture event in Costa Rica (2011-present), where she curates the educational offerings spanning six stages and 300 hours. An international facilitator, Sarah has brought her teachings to the United States, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, Italy, Portugal, France and Germany.

Sarah lives with her husband, animals, plants and community off-the-grid half the year at their 2500 square meter homestead of the broader Tacotal Colectivo in the low mountains of Costa Rica, and the other half of the year in the coastal mountains of the La Marche region of Italy on a 1 hectare permaculture farm, in both locations they tend the land, teach, make medicine and host events.