With the winter solstice falling on Saturday December 21st, it feels an appropriate time to share a glimmer of light in winter’s darkness, an opportunity for reflection and connection… a new Tending the Hedge feature!
When I began the series in 2020, it was as much for my own personal wants as it was for my HWB followers— I craved a greater sense of community, a space in which creativity, activism, intention, and mutual aid were celebrated. As the series has grown and evolved, I have been surprised and inspired, discovering new praxes, finding new ways in which we can engage and tend the hedge of our own communities.
Today’s magic-maker is a prime example of the spirit of the series— an individual who bravely shares her magic with the world, and I am so honored to feature Lachrista Greco, MA, MLIS today. (Having followed her work for some time, I definitely had a fan-girl moment when she agreed to participate in the series!) A writer, educator, librarian, and all-around-inspiring strega, her forthcoming book, The Guerrilla Feminist: A Search For Belonging Online & Offline, is to be released by Iskra Books in March 2025.
What are your pronouns and what is your sign?
My pronouns are she/her and I’m a Sagittarius stellium (my big 3 are: Sag sun, Cap moon, Cancer rising).
Are you a witch? If so, what does that word mean to you?
YES, although I identify as a “strega,” which is the Italian word for “witch.” I (loosely) practice stregoneria, which is Italian folk magic/Italian witchcraft, which helps me connect with/to my ancestors. My practice is personal and private and I don’t share much about it publicly. For me, being a strega is about being connected to everything outside of myself. In winter, I do a lot of what I call “Snow Magic,” in which I tend to my relationship with winter, cold, water, and darkness.
What drew you to your work? Why is it important?
I’m a Marxist feminist abolitionist writer, librarian, and educator. As someone chronically online since 2011, I have created communities, shared resources and skills, and wrote blogs, newsletters, and posts to educate and inform the masses. I love searching for information and belonging. My upcoming book, The Guerrilla Feminist: A Search For Belonging Online & Offline is about precisely this.
How can others engage with this work and tend the hedge in their own communities?
I believe we all have unique skills to share with our community— online and off— and we should be tending to these skills so they can expand and bloom. People can engage with library work by helping out their local libraries (using the library, but also getting on the library board, etc). To build communities online, you can go almost anywhere, although, I would caution against creating one on any social media platform as that is more of an “audience” and “performer” relationship.
Did you enjoy this feature? Check out other magic-makers in the Tending the Hedge series!
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