Most people don’t know this about me, but I usually start my day with a Pagan ritual. If the weather is nice enough—which it often is here in Southern Illinois—I’ll head out to my backyard first thing in the morning. Since I live in a townhouse, the yard is not huge. However, it is a lovely, somewhat secluded space, filled with plenty of plants, trees, and flowers. There’s also a nice view of sprawling Fieldstone Park over the hedges in the rear.

If it happens to be too cold or rainy—or if the neighbors are out and about—I might go to my altar room (aka the spare bedroom) instead. It has a big window overlooking the backyard, and my black cat, Josie, likes to hang out in there.

My daily rituals aren’t overly ceremonial or formal. Sometimes I’ll cast a protective circle and invoke the elements, but not always. Sometimes I’ll simply light a candle or gaze at the sky, until I’ve entered a dreamy, meditative state. Then I’ll say a prayer of sorts. It varies depending on what I’m feeling. I might give thanks to the Goddess or seek help for a problem. Sometimes I’ll recite a short spell simply to ground myself in the present moment.

I usually write my own spells, and they often rhyme—all the better to remember the words.

To keep your spells at top of mind,
Nothing beats a lovely rhyme.

(Or near rhyme!) And humor is a definite plus. 🙂

Fortunately, when it comes to Wicca, there really aren’t any strict rules. Sure, there are guiding principles and, for most, some basic ethics. But there is no dogma. Wicca is a spiritual practice that honors nature, celebrates the wheel of the year, and recognizes the Divine in everyone and everything.

After greeting the day, I’ll head to the kitchen for a simple vegan breakfast. Then, on weekends, I’ll usually hang out with my boyfriend, Wes, or my fun-loving friend, Farrah—neither of whom are Wiccan. But they’re both open-minded in their own ways.

On weekdays, I’ll go into the office, where I fulfill my career as a family law attorney. I don’t flaunt my Wiccan beliefs at work, but there’s no denying it’s a part of who I am. And I can’t help but see magic and mystery wherever I go.

Of course, sometimes the mysteries I encounter aren’t exactly magical. They’re more of the criminal variety. Somehow I seem to have developed a talent for stumbling into some scary situations. During these times, I’m thankful for all the witchy tools I have at my disposal, not to mention the support of my closest friends.

In particular, my friend Mila, a Wiccan High Priestess and the owner of Moonstone Treasures, is always a source of comfort and good advice. I often stop by her shop as much for the tea and conversation, as for the potions, charms, and spells.

But one day recently, as I was browsing the crystals, herbs, and stones, I noticed a stranger in the shop. I’m not usually one for premonitions or psychic flashes (unfortunately!), but I usually have a keen sense of intuition. I’ll never know why it didn’t kick in on that morning. Why didn’t it ring the alarm bells? It should have crawled up my spine and whispered in my ear: Watch out.

On the other hand, maybe I was meant to meet that stranger. Maybe he was led to me. Maybe it was our destiny to meet. . . and my destiny to become hopelessly entangled in a May Day Murder.

You can read more about Keli in May Day Murder, the fifth book in the “Wiccan Wheel” cozy mystery series, coming March 26, 2019.

Spring is in the air, but for Edindale, Illinois, attorney Keli Milanni, murder is the only thing blooming . . .

Keli’s looking forward to Beltane, the time-honored Wiccan holiday that celebrates life with feasting, ceremonial dancing, and ancient Celtic rituals. But since recently leaving her law firm and opening her own practice, Keli has more on her plate than simple abundance. Still, she always has time for a friend. Erik, a Druid from a neighboring town, has had a run of bad luck he blames on a curse cast by his ex-girlfriend Denise, a practicing witch whose expertise in the dark arts can’t save her from her own deadly end.

When Keli finds herself a person of interest in the investigation, she begins to wonder if she herself might be cursed. With a little help from her friends, including her devoted boyfriend Wes, Keli aims to find out who poisoned Denise. What she uncovers is a witch’s brew of spells, hexes, and black magic that raises questions about her own Wiccan worldview. As the community gathers for the May Day festivities, it’s up to Keli to stop a killer from springing ahead to another murder . . .

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Meet the author
Jennifer David Hesse is the author of the Wiccan Wheel Mysteries, a cozy mystery series published by Kensington Books. Born and raised in Central Illinois, Jennifer earned her undergraduate degree as an English major from Eastern Illinois University and her law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. After an eight-year stint in New York, she now makes her home in Chicago with her husband and daughter. When she’s not writing, or working her day job as an environmental lawyer, Jennifer enjoys yoga, hiking, and movie night with her family.

Connect with Jennifer online at: jenniferdavidhesse.com or Facebook.

All comments are welcomed.