Hello wonderful Souls!!

It’s our weekly feature, where we share with you, Witches We Love! This week we have the joyful opportunity of introducing our friend Josh McWilliams @jmcwilliams_bones on IG. Trace spent some time with Josh, discussing life, path and all the bit in between. A self-proclaimed bone hoarding, death walker, paranormal investigator, and podcast host of awesome proportions, please make our amazing friend welcome!

Josh please could you share a little about how you found and stepped into your personal practice?

Well, from a young age I’ve always been fascinated and interested in witchcraft and the occult. Despite being raised in a Christian household that said it was evil and off-limits, it always called to me. After a long journey of reflection and abandoning all of Christianity, which never fit or felt real deep down, I became basically an agnostic.

I joke that I was almost fully an atheist but for me, I wanted to believe in more than was just tangible. Funny enough, of course, it was a “ghost” that led me to it and Hekate. While living in a rental, I started having lots of issues with paranormal activity. It never bothered me so much until it started messing with the dog. I don’t think it was ever malicious but it sure scared the hell out of her!

My journey on how to do “ghost removal” is what “led” me to Hekate. I say led but I believe She and the path had been calling for a very long time. For some reason, one of the first google hits for ghost removal contained or mentioned Her. That may not seem out of place now, but 10+ years ago it was. All the ways to go about it, all the viewpoints and opinions on it, and here I was faced with a “Greek” goddess’ name that felt so familiar.

I was intrigued. So I didn’t settle on just smoke cleansing the area (it worked by the way). I was thinking I’m going to call out to this “being” that I don’t really believe exists right? Right?! No way! So, I leave the sage bundle and some other things that felt right out for Her and think this is ludicrous and nothing will happen.

Well happen it did and the rest is history. I won’t get into the whole experience here but even then I didn’t jump into witchcraft as I was still in awe that something answered back. In the end, I suppose no one is really surprised I ended up here. Always questing for knowledge, the strange, and the unknown. To me, the world of spirits, aliens, cryptids, and magic that I wanted to be real so badly, suddenly became my reality. I mention aliens and cryptids alongside that because to me, like witchcraft and the path, are the search and understanding of the mysteries that surround us.

Josh, you own, run and manage two really fantastic podcasts Cursed Podcast, and Hex Files Podcast. What drew you to podcasts as an outlet for your magick?

I’ve loved podcasts for so long now but it wasn’t until I started listening to some great pagan, occult, and witchcraft ones that really drew me in to them (of course podcasts like Lore and Last Podcast on the Left did as well). It was presented as an opportunity and it was like a path from Hekate or the universe opened up.

It took a lot of planning and work but there were always signs and synchronicities to show me I was doing what I should be. It originally became a creative outlet to live, discuss, and work on my practice. To help others, connect with, and maybe build an extension of the community. To show others they weren’t alone because maybe their practice didn’t align with most books out there or that they’re experiencing things from doing the work that just doesn’t get shared enough outside of small groups.

The goal has and continues to be, that Cursed Podcast tries to touch on the things that aren’t as commonly widespread or talked about. Not just ‘101-how to be a witch’ things. Those are great and very helpful. But there are so many. I just try to bring something different/new to the discussion when I can.

I’m not really doing anything that isn’t also being done or addressed elsewhere of course (besides the personal aspects) but with so many podcasts out there focused on the occult, witchcraft, ghosts, and cryptids I think it’s easy to hear the same things repeated. It’s the personal stories and the adventures of exploration into these (from magick to going and looking for ghosts or Bigfoot) that maybe set them apart for me.

So, podcasting as an outlet for me, not only allows me to talk about the things I already do and am passionate about, but also helps motivate me to grow personally and explore. To really do and give myself the “permission” to just do the things I’ve always wanted to do

Can you please share a little about the most fun podcast you've ever worked on?

The most fun podcast I’ve worked on has to be Hex-Files. Not ignoring Cursed of course, but it’s just different for me.

Hex-Files Podcast doesn’t have to be informative...well we try I promise. Sure, they both align and overlap themes and experiences but the life Hex-Files took on felt like it really needed to be its own thing to do it justice.

Why limit it to articles and tales and why not go look for Bigfoot!? That’s something that is a passion and fun but it doesn’t fit what Cursed Podcast wants to be and should be (ghosts and demons-yes always yes). I think Cursed is and will be better for it (don’t worry I’m still going to be talking about aliens on both).

Cursed can now head into its second year and explore even more I think. Really tackling theory, practice, activism, and discussion and leave cryptids and those types of explorations to Hex-Files.

But honestly, there are going to be lots of overlap where the paranormal is concerned. As much as I’m a witch through and through, what I’ve been for even longer, is just a student of the unknown. Watching x-files and unsolved mysteries, reading about monsters, exploring the woods in search of them, always looking up for ufos, listening for ghosts in the night.

Hex-Files lets me keep that child-like wonder and excitement when I talk about these things. It’s different sides of the same coin but is still connected and have similar feelings. So they’re both good times but one appeals to my scholarly wonder and call as a witch and the other is just a lot of damn fun!

And if I misunderstood this question I’ll throw in the most fun I’ve had on a podcast-and that would have to be seeing the Brown Mountain lights. I had been before and seen them before. But nothing could have prepared us for what we experienced that night. Nothing. I can barely believe it even happened. I can’t imagine anything could top that, but I’m very determined to search for something that does!

If you had to define it, how would you define your practice?

Is it cliche to say eclectic? No, I really have come a long way on this and how I define myself.

In the beginning, it was important to describe me as pagan or “basically” Wiccan because those words were more comfortable to others. Living in the south of the US, which is a very religious area, you’re already assumed to be a Christian of some kind unless you state otherwise - to very confused and angry looks.

At some point you realize, wtf am I doing catering to these ideas and labels just because they may feel easier for others to handle. In the end, the results are usually the same. You’re anathema to them no matter what you call yourself.

So then it became eclectic or traditional. As I grew in my practice by learning and experiencing things I found myself dropping and not concerning myself with many labels to that point. Not like at the beginning where I felt they were so necessary. I think they can be helpful in understanding others at times but these days I simply call myself a witch.

I don’t even use the term pagan anymore. While I do fit under that umbrella it just doesn’t suit me. I don’t celebrate, but about 2 sabbats regularly. Not because I don’t enjoy them all or think they matter, but to me they just aren’t a part of my practice. Why force something that doesn’t excite or interest you?

And to be honest, the more time that goes on the more that the term Animist just seems to fit me more. Beyond just witch, I do call myself a Hekatean. My practice has always revolved around a close relationship with Hekate. In the beginning more of a student and devotee of course. And yes I’m still that, but I’ve fully released my feelings of the classic religious ideas of being servants to deity.

I don’t believe that’s what they want or expect. I think it’s about the work they assist you with and you assist them with theirs. I mean maybe they’re aliens? You don’t know?!...fight me!

But one thing I tell others and remind myself of - it doesn’t always matter what you call yourself, the practice and work are yours and they will always be yours and no one else’s. Labels can help organize one with others but in the end what you do and experience are so personal that they will first and foremost carry the label of “yours”.

Where do you feel most at peace or connected to your practice?

I’ve said this many times before and I really just can’t think of a better place for me than the Blue Ridge Mountains or Western North Carolina. The feelings, the peace, the beauty, the electricity in the air. It’s a magickal place in every sense of the word.

It’s as if every turn could reveal another mystery. What spirits are there to meet or welcome you back? Is there a Sasquatch in that valley? What are the Brown Mountain Lights and why were we able to communicate with them mentally and physically? What bones and stones will I find as I camp or hike? It feels like home and always has, since a child. It’s a large classroom where there are many teachers, it’s a playground of wonder, peaks, and valleys of mystery and intrigue, rich culture and lore. I could go on and you want to go now, don’t you?

What is the most valuable lesson that 2020 has taught you?

Pass?

Okay, fine!

2020 has taught me so much and it’s not even over yet. It’s taught me hard choices and difficult endeavors are worth it over settling for unhappiness.

Changing jobs, a divorce, selling a house, moving, etc. it’s hard and scary work but it’s work that needed to be done for me to grow.

I’ve had amazing love and support through it all. I’ve also learned to trust my instincts more than ever. To use my voice more than ever and not just for myself but for others.

To not settle for just okay, or to just maintain. That would have to be the overarching lesson and theme. And that’s just me personally. There’s so much as a collective we’re learning and pushing back on and fighting for change.

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If you’d like to reach out and connect with Josh, you can find him on his IG: @jmcwilliams_bones, or over on Cursed Podcast IG: @cursedcast or Hex-Files Podcast IG: @hexfilespod.