A witch who lives in a cemetery with human corpses has revealed how she leads a paranormal, supernatural lifestyle.
Wren Harris is a qualified Clinical Aromatherapist, Massage Therapist and Reiki Practitioner, and she’s been a witch for 26 years. The 41-year-old, who’s from Leicestershire, explains how she’s always felt more at home in ‘supernatural settings’, which is why she lives in a three-bedroom house in a cemetery.
Wren shares her home with husband Justin, 50, and their children, and explains that she never turns away any visitor who is in need of help to locate the grave of a loved one buried near her home. To share her experiences with the supernatural, Wren runs an Instagram account under the name of ‘@the_cemetety_witch’ and has over 36,000 followers.
“When we first moved in I felt the presence of a man in our bedroom near the fireplace and moving towards the window, almost like a piece of video playing out,” Wren said. “He was not aware of me and seemed to be going about his business. I have also felt a presence near my bed on several occasions, like someone was standing there.
“We also had some activity in the lounge when we first moved in, some loud noises and bangs that had no source. All the activity seemed to stop once we settled. Recently our youngest daughter has experienced something. She couldn’t put it into words but refused to sleep in the bedroom for about six months. Otherwise, our house has a sense of deep peace and things have largely settled now that we have been here a while.
“I was drawn to the space next to our house and initially thought it might be a small area for us to use, but it turns out that it’s where babies are buried. Often they were buried without headstones in Victorian England because they were expensive and deaths amongst children were extremely common. I’ve had several miscarriages myself and feel protective over this part of the cemetery and wonder if that’s why I was drawn to it.”
Although this would be alarming to most, Wren refuses to allow trolls who spread “fear and hatred” to affect her and is instead focused on making witchcraft accessible and challenging dangerous and outdated beliefs. “There are always those people who go out of their way to locate Witchcraft accounts and leave negative comments. Usually these people have closed, private accounts and don’t leave themselves open in the way that I do,” said Wren.
“Sadly, most of these people are ardent Christians who have a warped view of Witchcraft. Under a picture of a late friend who was prominent in the Druid community, someone on Instagram left the comment that he was, ‘now burning in hell.’ The irony was not lost on me that this person who was claiming that their way is the only way and that they are morally superior, was the person spreading fear and hatred. They left a number of aggressive comments across my account denouncing me as all kinds of evil. But I don’t let these comments get to me.”
Wren’s journey with witchcraft began when she found a book on the occult when she was only twelve years old. She says that she immediately felt a sense of familiarity like she had returned “home”. It has also allowed her to “love and accept” herself and “strive to do better” and her parents were supportive of her newfound practice.
She explained: “When I was about 12, I found a book in my parents’ loft called Cult and Occult by Francis King. It had been put aside to sell at a car boot sale. It covered topics such as sacred geometry, palmistry and dowsing. There was a section on British Witchcraft and I was mesmerised by the photographs; there was something about them that seemed incredibly familiar as if I’d gone ‘home’. Not long after this experience, I went on a trip to Avebury Stone Circle and West Kennet Long Barrow with my school, leaving me enchanted further.
“Between these two experiences a whole new world had opened up to me. At about age 14 or 15 my mum paid for a subscription to a magazine called “Mind, Body & Spirit”. It was a ring binder collection where you received a new candle or crystal or tarot card each week, and that opened my eyes further.
“As soon as I turned 18 I joined the Pagan Federation and the Children of Artemis – two organisations which helped me step onto my path properly and led me to start meeting other like-minded folk. In recent years I have written for Witchcraft magazines and websites, reviewing books in Witchcraft, and been involved in the Pagan community both online and in person.”
Wren tries to incorporate Witchcraft into her daily routine. She explains: “Our house is extremely cold so I currently start the day with a cup of something hot, stirring in good vibes and setting my intentions for the day. I usually light some incense and a candle and set about the tasks of the day. Often we’ll get a knock on the door for cemetery business, delivery men trying to find our address or people trying to locate graves. When my husband comes home we have a cup of tea together and make dinner, which again involves a bit of magic in its preparation. Many of my daily rituals and tasks involve some form of Witchcraft. Each waking moment is a chance for intention setting and opportunity. Each waking moment is a chance for joy and celebration.”
She says that it gives her life more meaning and allows her to be completely authentic. “Witchcraft is a lifestyle for me,” Wren said. “It is my beliefs, my attitudes, my practices. It is an opportunity for me to stand in my authentic self. It is an opportunity to embrace the turn of the Wheel and celebrate the deep meaning of the seasons as we navigate our way through the year, deepening our connection to nature.
“These celebrations add context and meaning to life and the passing of time. This path has helped me love and accept myself as an individual, made me strive to do better, and truly embrace the important things in life.”
Wren is also extremely passionate about helping other Witches on their spiritual journeys and challenging negative perceptions of Witchcraft.”I’m passionate about Witchcraft and would love to team this with the enthusiasm of others starting out on their path,” she said.
“I’d really like to help and inspire new witches by sharing what I’ve learned by releasing my own personal Grimoire and mentoring in some way. I feel I have stepped into the Crone aspect of my life and Witchcraft journey, and it is now time to widen the circle by sharing my experience and knowledge.
“I am passionate about educating others on the topic of Witchcraft, making it accessible and dispelling myths. And I feel sorry for people who are driven to spend their time judging others. I truly wish the best for them and hope they can find a kinder way in their treatment of others moving forward. I think that we are very lucky in the UK in that we are more likely to be laughed at for calling ourselves witches, rather than being persecuted, which is absolutely brilliant, but I do think there is some element of not being taken seriously.”
Wren also offered some advice for those who are interested in Witchcraft or leading a more spiritual life. “What drives many Pagans is a deep love for nature and the desire for self-development,” she said. “We’re also a very friendly bunch that love a good celebration. Buy some books on the subject, maybe approach some experienced witches for advice, and get reading and practising. Embrace who you are and don’t compare you or your journey to others. The truth is that the learning on this path never stops – that’s the beauty of it.
“The word “witch” is just a label that doesn’t need to be adopted if it doesn’t feel right. Some people lead magical lives without even realising it. That there are magical acts embedded in our everyday lives such as blowing out candles on a birthday cake and making a wish, drawing images in the air with a sparkler, or lighting a candle in church with loving intention.
“We all celebrate similar things, for example, the celebration of light in winter, which is celebrated by festivals spanning various religions. That those who follow this path are just like you and me.”
