Hello my Feral Friend! I'm Panthera!
Welcome to my little corner of the internet where I ramble and go on about ALL the things that bring me joy and nourish my love for life….mainly witchcraft, cosplay/costuming, nature, caring for animals, and (because when you have ADHD one hobby isn’t nearly enough) whatever else I’m currently hyper-fixating on!
My Witchcraft Practice
My current practice involves working with many plants and animals, whether they be living, spirits, or simply archetypes. I tend to use a lot of physical items in my craft, including crystals, bones, oils, candles, and other tools; and most of my spellwork could be considered pretty mundane. I’m working on expanding the Spirit Work side of my craft including dabbling with Deities & Ancestor Work. Right now I consider myself to be an Eclectic Animist Green Witch.
Fun Facts About Me
- I’m certified in Animal Nutrition for Dogs, Cats, Small Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, and Fishes!
- I was in Drumline in High School and can play many instruments!
- I’ve lived in Virginia, South Carolina, and Ohio
- I have an *unmentionable* number of hours logged into my video games
- One of my favorite hobbies is horseback riding!
- I was a vegetarian for 5 years
My Story
Growing up in the Appalachian foothills of Virginia, I was practically raised by the forest. Well, not literally raised… though, sometimes I did feel more at home there than with people…. but I spent so much time roaming the woods, searching for critters, that I started to think I was part woodland creature myself! My childhood was filled with adventures that usually ended with me either covered in mud or spending hours trying to talk to the squirrels like I was Eliza Thornberry. I was obsessed with Animal Planet and nature documentaries, I just couldn’t get enough information about our planet, I needed to CONSUME IT ALL.
As I became further captivated by the mysteries of the natural world, my imagination didn’t just wander…. it leaped into new realms. I found myself drawn to stories where gods shaped the world with their whims, and mythical beasts roamed in the hidden corners of reality. The idea of ancient deities meddling with human affairs intrigued me, as did the notion that magic and mystery were woven into the very fabric of existence. These stories didn’t just stay on the page; they began to feel real, like there was a world just beyond my reach, full of untapped power and wonder. At one point, around first grade, I became completely obsessed with werewolves. I spent an entire month reading every werewolf book I could find, even taking notes and collecting ingredients from the rituals that supposedly lead to becoming a furred monster yourself. Spoiler alter: it didn’t work, but the hope still lingers.
As I grew older, my fascination with the mystical only deepened, but so did my experiences. In high school, things started to take a turn I wasn’t quite prepared for. While the magic I’d once imagined so vividly still lingered in my mind, I began to experience things that were far more unsettling. I started hearing voices, whispers that seemed to come from nowhere, murmuring just beyond my hearing, and sometimes even calling my name when no one was around. On top of that, I had recurring nightmares that felt too real, too heavy to ignore. These weren’t your run-of-the-mill dreams; they were vivid and terrifying, leaving me shaken when I woke up and every night I was forced to return to the same place.
Looking back, I realize now that my spiritual senses were starting to develop, but at the time, I had no idea how to protect myself from it. I wasn’t prepared for what was happening, and the lack of guidance only made everything more confusing. At the same time, I was deeply immersed in science, and struggling to reconcile what I was experiencing with the worldview I had built. Everyone around me seemed so sure of their faith, but I just couldn’t connect with the religion they were all following. As I got older, I turned hard into Atheism, and convinced myself that I was just imagining things. After all, I hadn’t heard anything that was real, right? There couldn’t be another explanation… could there?
After high school, I headed off to college with a clear goal: pursue a degree in Biology and work towards becoming a Zoologist. I was passionate about animals and wanted to understand them on a deeper level. But life being life, I didn’t just stop there. I also started getting into cosplay, which became my creative outlet. I loved how it blended my nerdy interests with my artistic abilities, allowing me to dive into the worlds of fantasy and sci-fi while making something cool with my hands. It was an escape, a way to immerse myself in creativity, and it reignited that childhood spark of magic that I hadn’t quite realized was still there. For a while, it was a good balance of both education and passion.
But everything started to unravel from there. I was offered a full-time job, and in a moment of uncertainty, I made the decision to leave school. I was already struggling with my studies, not realizing at the time that my then un-diagnosed ADHD was making it nearly impossible to focus or stay on top of things. Dropping out seemed like the only option, but in hindsight, it was a turning point. Life became monotonous, and as if the universe was kicking me while I was down, I ended up in a relationship that I couldn’t see for what it truly was…. emotionally abusive and toxic. Looking back, I realize that this person had been grooming me since high school, slowly eroding my confidence and distorting my sense of self. He distanced me from everything I loved. My hobbies, my friends, my family. Until I was just a shadow of the person I used to be.
In the depths of my depression, I found myself searching for something… anything to spark a little joy and reconnect with life. One of the first things that brought me comfort was my little apartment balcony. I spent a lot of time (and money, let’s be honest) transforming that tiny outdoor space into a cozy little retreat. It became my sanctuary, a place to breathe, to unwind, and to just be for a while. As I researched what plants could thrive out there, I stumbled upon gardening. There was something incredibly grounding about getting my hands covered in soil, especially in the middle of the city, where I had felt so disconnected from nature for so long. It was like a switch had been flipped within me. That feeling of reconnecting with the earth, combined with my ADHD hyper-focus, had me diving headfirst into researching anything I could get my hands on about gardening, farming, and homesteading. The more I learned, the deeper I fell in love. Working with the earth, toiling in the soil, raising animals…. it felt like a missing puzzle piece finally clicked into place.
It was also during this time that I was still keeping up with cosplaying and content creation, as a little side hobby to keep me grounded. I had started researching streaming on Twitch and quickly became hooked on the interaction of livestreaming. It was there, in the depths of the internet, that I met my amazing friend, heyshadylady (definitely check her out at heyshadylady.com!). One day, I was hanging out in her stream, just looking for a bit of guidance, when she offered me a tarot reading. Let me tell you, I was BLOWN AWAY. Astounded. Aghast. Speechless. Here was this random stranger, who I had never met in person, absolutely reading me to filth on her stream. The cards knew EVERYTHING. I was in shock. What was this? How did this even work? My skeptical brain kicked into high gear, running a mile a minute, and just like that, my next hyper-fixation was locked in. And thus began my deep dive into witchcraft.
Right off the bat, I was so excited about how actionable everything was. Want to test tarot for yourself? Simple: Ask a question, pull some cards, and see what happens. Want to test out if witchcraft actually works? Make an intention, cast a spell, and wait for the results. I loved how easily I could apply my scientific background to my new witchcraft studies—experimenting and testing, just like I had done with biology and ecology. And to my utter disbelief, I started seeing results that were impossible to ignore. It was a wild mix of wonder and proof, and it wasn’t long before I fully embraced this path.
And here we are today. After years of exploring, stumbling, and getting a little lost along the way (because let’s face it, that’s how most journeys go), I’ve finally found a path that feels right for me. From witchcraft to gardening to re-connecting with nature, it’s been a wild ride of discovery, and I’m still learning and growing every day. Life’s a bit of a magical mess, but that’s how I like it and I’m embracing it all… one spell at a time.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into some tips, tricks, and helpful guides, you’ve come to the right spot. Whether you’re curious about witchcraft, want to work with the moon, looking for ways to improve your garden, or need some advice on animal care, you can find it all! Take a look around and check out the resources available for you to explore.
Let’s connect, learn, and create some magick together!
