Semra Haksever’s book Everyday Magic: Rituals, Spells & Potions to Live Your Best Life has been a best-seller in our South Kensington wellbeing shop. So we’re looking forward to welcoming Semra, who’s also the founder of Mama Moon Candles, to Gazelli House on Tuesday 12 November for a Spells & Potions Workshop. Semra describes herself as an ‘intuitive eclectic witch’ – “no longer the stuff of broomsticks, black cats and cauldrons,” she says, “witchcraft is all about self-care in a modern and often confusing world.” We immediately wanted to find out more so we caught up with Semra to delve deeper and discover how she looks after her work and wellbeing…
What inspired you to create Mama Moon?
I had a vision on top of a volcano in Bali! I wanted to be able to share magic and create an accessible tool that could assist people with their own magic, manifestations and moon rituals. I’ve been obsessed by the moon for my entire life and I’m a strong believer in the power of magic through scent, so when the idea popped into my head to combine all these wonderful magical things I was filled with a giddy euphoria that I had to dive right in to.
How do you choose which ingredients to use in a Mama Moon candle?
All my candles and potions started their life as spells I was making for myself or for others. Once I know what the intention of the spell is, I can start working out which scent and which combinations will carry the most power for the spell’s intention. Each herb, oil, resin, wood and flower contains its own magical and unique properties that will contribute to the blend I eventually choose.
What candle are you burning at the moment and why?
My Healing and Meditation candle is having its moment now as it has been a mega busy time with work for me, with lots of exciting stuff in the pipeline. The Healing and Meditation candle is a blend of cinnamon and lavender that instantly calms me down and chills me out – it also makes me feel cosy and warm, which is very much what I need as winter is creeping in.
What can we expect from next month’s Spells & Potions Workshop at Gazelli House?
You can expect to learn about the power of herbs, resins, woods and flowers… they all have their own role in magic spells and when working with them alongside your intentions and the energy of the moon, amazingly powerful magical things can happen in your life. Everyone who comes will get to make their own incense spell to take home… and I also have a bag of other magical ingredients and some manifesting tips that I’m looking forward to sharing.
How do you look after your own wellbeing and de-stress?
I love to cook, it is my ultimate de-stresser – I like to go shopping at my favourite fruit and veg shop, come home, put some music on and cook.
Tell us about your typical day before 9am.
If possible, I like to take it pretty slow in the mornings. I do Transcendental Meditation for 20 minutes before I start anything else, and this totally sets me up for the day. I then have a big mug of warm water with a lemon squeezed into it, then I have a gossip with my boyfriend and then head to my workshop.
What mantra do you live by?
I always find a really good one is: “Everything always works out for me.” It’s great when you are unsure of things, or facing life’s challenges, and it works as a lovely reminder that whatever you are going through at that particular time, everything will always work out.
You can find out more about the Spells & Potions Workshop here. We have a limited number of copies of Everyday Magic available to order here and you can discover Mama Moon’s beautiful candles here.
