Naturally nervous around the occult, I was surprised to find Columbus’ favorite local witch, Psyche North Torok, quite friendly and unassuming. I met her at the Fly by Night “Magical Resource Center” in Clintonville, which she has owned for more than 16 years. For the last three years, she has hosted the Witches Ball, an autumn get-together for area pagans.

After hearing that some of her greatest magic had involved summoning a thunderstorm during an Ohio drought (with a little help from her friends), I kicked off our interview with a vaguely accusatory question.

“Devil worship has nothing to do with it,” she laughed. “Wicca is a nature-oriented way of life that’s based very loosely on some of the pre-Christian nature religions of Europe. It’s basically about observing the cycles of the moon and the seasons of the year, and aligning oneself with those cycles for personal harmony and personal and spiritual growth.”

Hmm … my Baptist upbringing seems a bit under-equipped to deal with the terrifying realities of today, such as a crippled economy and endless war. But what sets Wicca apart from the more mainstream religions? Torok said she knows several practicing Christians who are also devotees of the nature religion, which focuses on individuality and personal will.

“There’s a concept of deity that’s usually thought of as both male and female, typically referred to as ‘God and Goddess,’ and there’s a belief in a universal energy that can be harnessed to work magic,” she explained. “And of course there’s the reverence for nature, which is not unique to Wicca, but is very important.”

Torok called magic the “art of causing change to occur on the material plane, using non-material means.”

“It’s harnessing that universal force and directing it to a certain end. It’s similar to prayer in that, for all intents and purposes, I think it’s tapping into that same universal force. With prayer, however, we’re asking for guidance or help or whatever, and with magic, it’s more like we are applying our own energy, and willing something to happen … it’s not like asking so much as doing.”

On October 28th, the fourth-ever Witches Ball will host around 150 of the area’s 2,000-plus Wiccans for a party laden with rituals associated with the pagan holiday of Samhain (pronounced “SAU-wayne”), which is October 31st.

“Samhain is the holiday where we are remembering and reconnecting with deceased loved ones, so we will have a fairly solemn ritual where we are remembering the ones we have lost,” she said. “That will segue into a party atmosphere where we will be celebrating with music and food and dance,” she said, adding that costumes are encouraged, and prizes would be awarded for best outfits in several categories.

“It would be a good time for people to become familiar with Wicca as a spiritual practice, as well as a good time to meet people in the community,” Torok said, pausing for a moment to sell a deck of tarot cards. “But it probably won’t be quite as wild as some parties,” she laughed.

The Fourth Annual Witches Ball
October 28th
Tickets: $10
First Unitarian Universalist Church
93 W Weisheimer Rd.