Inside the ‘wild’ world of Byron Bay witch Sequoia Glastonbury

She may not ride a broomstick or boil frogs but Byron’s ‘wild witch’ throws blood on her garden, crafts roo skin drums and hosts “immersive wilderness retreats” – all to help women unlock their “inner magick”.

Byron Shire witch Sequoia Glastonbury.

She may not ride a broomstick or boil frogs in a cauldron but Byron’s ‘wild witch’ fertilises her garden with blood, crafts drums out of roo skins and hosts “immersive wilderness retreats” – all to help women unlock their “inner magick”.

Sequoia Glastonbury – a self-proclaimed witch from the Byron Shire hinterland – is a teacher at the international School of Shamanic Womancraft – which hosts a 12-month ‘Four Seasons Journey’ course in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

The 47-year-old, who has a background as a doula or birthing support person, said her witchcraft practice shepherds women through their “blood rites of passage”: first period, pregnancy, childbirth and menopause.

And while she admits she is in possession of several broomsticks, she does not pilot them. Her work is less hocus pocus and more “helping women rebirth themselves to rid any past traumas”.

Glastonbury admits her job is no freaky fad – it is a warts and all full-time career.

“People think witch and they jump straight to Wiccan, which is entirely separate to what I do and somewhat quasi-religious,” she told this publication.

Glastonbury’s mission is to help women heal past traumas.

Glastonbury has identified as a witch since she was a teenage.

“For me, being a witch is about my personal relationship to the cycles of nature, the cycles of the moon and my own physical cycle.

“It’s all about connecting with those cycles and living seasonally on this earth – and connecting with the goddess – whether that be internal or external.

On the whole witch stereotype, Glastonbury said: “Most days I look like a regular soccer mum. I take my kids to school and walk the dogs.”

“I do own broomsticks and have a few cauldrons, but I don’t boil frogs in them. If I see a frog on the bathroom floor I’ll rescue it and put it back in nature. Everyone stays alive,” she laughs.

Glastonbury, who lives a peaceful life “in the serenity of the Byron Bay hinterland” and who has amassed thousands of followers on social media, is a “teacher and practitioner of women’s mysteries”.

Glastonbury’s witchcraft workshops, part of a worldwide school, have taken her across the globe.

“We want to create a safe and nourishing space where women can have a good experience, to help them shed any negative experiences which may be attached to their blood rites of passage.

“The majority of women have a negative experience around their first period, childbirth or menopause and all deserve to have a chance to transform that experience into something positive.”

On the school’s 12-month course, Glastonbury said the highlight is a ten-day “immersive wilderness retreat”.

“Up to 65 women will go out bush, and essentially build an entire village,” she said.

“We build structures and dig toilets and as part of the retreat, women will go off solo into the wilderness for three days to try and unpack past traumas.

“Obviously it isn’t like the TV shows Survivor or Alone, we do have walkie talkies and can assist the women with whatever they need. There’s no competition involved.

“But no phones, no books and nothing that will obstruct the women from tapping into their own divine feminine. It’s a beautiful and intimate thing and sometimes we have mums bring their babies along.”

Byron Shire witch Sequoia Glastonbury.

Costs for the course are about $9900 and “all inclusive”, Glastonbury said.

On hurling menstrual blood over her garden, she said: “Blood in itself is really nourishing. It’s really good for the plants.”

“It’s is a pretty magical substance. I really try to break down the stigma around it and encourage women that it’s actually awesome. I call PMS the Patriarchal Mind Set. It’s time we did away with that shame.”

Next year, Glastonbury is embarking on a workshop tour of Canada and Mexico, where along with other witches, she is planning a foray into the North and South American markets outside of Australia and Europe, where the school already has roots.

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Originally published as Inside the ‘wild’ world of Byron Bay witch Sequoia Glastonbury