{"id":15316,"date":"2019-12-16T16:28:17","date_gmt":"2019-12-16T21:28:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/themagicalbuffet.com\/blog1\/?p=15316"},"modified":"2019-12-16T16:28:17","modified_gmt":"2019-12-16T21:28:17","slug":"10-questions-with-natasha-helvin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themagicalbuffet.com\/blog1\/?p=15316","title":{"rendered":"10 Questions with Natasha Helvin"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today we’re talking with the fascinating author of “Slavic Witchcraft” and “Russian Black Magic”, Natasha Helvin.<\/em><\/p>\n

1. From what I understand, you lived in Russia until you were 18 years-old. What brought you to the United States?<\/strong>
\nI was born in Czech Republic and was raised in what\u2019s today called Ukraine, but for almost 15 years I lived on a beautiful Greek island, before I came to the States. What brought me here, is what everyone else, yourself included, unless you are 100% Native American than you are immigrant. Maybe not your generation, but your mother or grandmother or great grandmother, came for the same reason we all do: freedom, opportunities and to live \u201cTHE American dream\u201d lol. <\/p>\n

2. How did your upbringing inform your magical work?<\/strong>
\nNot sure if this is the right question\u2026 It doesn\u2019t really express me\u2026You see, for me magical work has no separation from my life. It\u2019s the way of living. Not certain\/ part time conjuring or on my free time. My magic starts from the second I wake up, to the second I fell asleep. My upbringing exactly, is the way I was raised, and being raised by family of witches meaning you don\u2019t do magic work you live by magic. In my radio podcasts I explain a little more about that. Superstition some call it, other call it magic, I call it life, I don\u2019t know any different. Is what we say witchcraft is my nature and nurture.<\/p>\n

$\"\"$ 3. How do you think Russian witchcraft differs from other culture\u2019s versions of witchcraft?<\/strong>
\nI don\u2019t think is different. I don\u2019t believe witchcraft has nationality. It\u2019s funny\u2026 My books are called so for commercial purpose and based on my background, but I really really like to believe that witchcraft has no nationality or race. Folk magic, this is how we call conjure\/witchcraft act. To set an example, and I mention that before on my podcasts, when I was child my mother taught me to use human skin (dry skin from wife foot), to make wife calm down her violent and \u201cgo around\u201d husband. There is a specific recipe for it. So, 30 years later, I saw with my own eyes lady doing same recipe in Haiti! My mother didn\u2019t do voodoo, she has no idea what that is, and she never see African men in her life, as well as we didn\u2019t have TV until I was 11! So folk magic. Has no identity, no race, no nationality. <\/p>\n

4. Do you find people have misconceptions about Russia\u2019s magical practices?<\/strong>
\nThere are people have misconception about anything and everything, it\u2019s fine, totally natural for human race. Sapienti sat!<\/p>\n

$\"\"$ 5. You had two books release in 2019, \u201cSlavic Witchcraft: Old World Conjuring Spells & Folklore\u201d and \u201cRussian Black Magic: The Beliefs and Practices of Heretics and Blasphemers\u201d. How do the books differ?<\/strong>
\nIn my first book, I would say it more spells -handbook, I\u2019m focusing more on historical part and folklore\/beliefs, my second book is more about dark side of folk magic, opposite-Christianity practices. I explain how people reacted to violent Christian baptism of (Russia\/Ukraine) and how they converted paganism into so called satanic\/demonic worshipping.. But! Not be confused with Christian Satanism. And this is I explain in my second book. <\/p>\n

6. You\u2019re also a priestess in the Haitian Vodou tradition. How did that come about?<\/strong>
\nI explore many religions, traditions and beliefs. Haitian Vodou was closest to my nature, ancestor wise, and working with the dead. I do not agree with some of the dogmas but practical part and foundation is I would say about 95% same to my own beliefs and tradition. <\/p>\n

7. Have you experienced any push back for being a Caucasian American woman practicing Haitian Vodou?<\/strong>
\nAs I mention before, people have all kind of problems with other people, or things, it\u2019s a human nature. But what else I’m proud of is that my family raised me the way I am! I don\u2019t really care what someone thinks of me. And by that I mean I don\u2019t care at all. If I was, I wouldn\u2019t be where I am today, and be assured, witchcraft\/ occult are not for people who listening and suffer from other people\u2019s opinions, crying at home and trying to be liked by everyone. You should NOT \u201cfit in any box.\u201d You need to be strong, you need to be master of your Spirit, otherwise you are in the wrong place. <\/p>\n

8. With so many witchcraft traditions, what advice would you give to someone trying to find a path to follow?<\/strong>
\nEveryone listen to their inner self. What they called by.. Everyone has their own path, but we all stand on our ancestor\u2019s shoulders. We wouldn\u2019t be here if it wasn\u2019t for them. They fought for us, they died at wars and battles to protect us, they suffer hunger and humiliation, to make sure we are here today, do not forget that every time you look in the mirror. Always honor your ancestors. <\/p>\n

9. What\u2019s next? Do you have any upcoming projects to share with my readers?<\/strong>
\nYes, I\u2019m working on my next book\u2026it\u2019s going to be more of a \u201cbiography\u201d kind of book, called \u201cAncestral Witch: Being born into family of witches.\u201d<\/p>\n

10. Parting shot! Ask us here at The Magical Buffet any one question?<\/strong>
\nThank you! – Natasha Helvin <\/p>\n

$\"\"$ About Natasha Helvin:<\/strong>
\nBorn in the Soviet Union, Natasha Helvin is an occultist, hereditary witch, and priestess in the Haitian Vodou tradition, as well as an avid scholar of other magical traditions. She learned the ancient Slavic secrets of magic and healing from her family and, as a child, often saw her grandmother and mother use magic in their everyday lives to help neighbors and friends. A professional rootworker, spiritual coach, and author of \u201cSlavic Witchcraft\u201d and \u201cRussian Black Magic\u201d she lives in the Pacific Northwest. https:\/\/www.worldofconjuring.com\/<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Shop your local indie bookstore! Buy Russian Black Magic here!<\/a><\/p>\n

Shop your local indie bookstore. Buy Slavic Witchcraft here!<\/a><\/p>\n

These are affiliate links to IndieBound, which supports independent bookstores throughout the United States. If you use this link to purchase the book, I will make a small commission at no additional cost to you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"