Seekers, Naked in the Woods (And Other Sacred Mysteries)

There are moments in life when you realise your therapist might not be enough. Maybe it’s the third time you’ve saged your apartment and your ex’s energy still lingers like a bad Spotify algorithm. Or maybe you’ve just had it with the algorithm altogether. Either way, you’re not alone. There’s a growing tribe of seekers — yes, actual seekers — who are less interested in manifesting a Tesla and more into finding meaning, mystery, and maybe a moonlit ritual or two.

Enter Josh, a third-degree Gardnerian Wiccan priest with a beard that could cast its own circle and a voice that makes you want to quit your job and move to the woods. He joined host Philipp Kobald on HolisticCircle’s “Spiritual Conversation” podcast for a chat that was part fireside story, part spiritual masterclass, and part gentle nudge to reconsider everything you thought you knew about magic.

Spoiler: it’s not about pulling rabbits out of hats. It’s about pulling yourself out of the chaos.

The Seeker’s Dilemma: Where Do You Even Start?

If you’ve ever Googled “how to become a witch” and ended up on a Pinterest board full of moon water and aesthetic broomsticks, Josh gets you. He’s been there. But unlike the internet’s glitter-drenched version of witchcraft, Josh’s path is rooted in something older, deeper, and refreshingly uncommercial.

Gardnerian Wicca, he explains, isn’t a trend. It’s a tradition. One that traces its lineage through whispered rituals, sacred oaths, and yes, the occasional nudity under the stars. But before you start stripping down in your local park, know this: initiation isn’t a costume party. It’s a calling.

And seekers? They’re not customers. They’re pilgrims. People who’ve tried the apps, the books, the yoga retreats — and still feel like something’s missing.

Initiation: Not Just a Fancy Word for “Join the Club”

Josh’s own initiation story is the kind of thing that would make a Netflix producer salivate. One minute he’s visiting a friend, the next he’s blindfolded, disrobed, and handed a knife. (Relax — it’s symbolic. Mostly.) What follows is a ritual that’s part theatre, part therapy, and entirely transformative.

Initiation, he says, is about being seen. Not in the Instagram sense, but in the soul sense. It’s about stepping into a circle — literally and metaphorically — and saying, “I’m ready.” Ready to learn, to serve, to grow. Ready to stop pretending you’ve got it all figured out.

And for healers, empaths, and spiritual practitioners who spend their lives holding space for others, that kind of sacred witnessing can be revolutionary.

Magic Isn’t a Mood Board

One of the podcast’s most refreshing takeaways is Josh’s no-nonsense approach to magic. Forget the aesthetic. Forget the props. Forget the idea that you need a velvet robe and a chalice blessed by a moon priestess in Glastonbury.

“You can do it with sticks and rocks,” he says. And he means it.

Magic, in the Gardnerian tradition, is about intention, relationship, and responsibility. It’s not about controlling the universe — it’s about collaborating with it. And sometimes, that collaboration looks like asking for a new car in a way that doesn’t involve your rich uncle mysteriously dying.

Yes, really.

The Gods Are Not Amazon Prime

Here’s where things get deliciously philosophical. When you ask the gods for something, Josh explains, you’d better be specific. Not because they’re petty, but because they’re powerful. Ask vaguely, and you might get your wish in a way you didn’t expect. Ask wisely, and you might just get what you need.

It’s a reminder that prayer, like marketing, is all about clarity. What are you really asking for? What are you willing to give in return? And are you sure you want that Ferrari, or are you just trying to outrun your own shadow?

For healers, this is gold. Because if you’ve ever tried to “call in abundance” and ended up with three new clients and a tax audit, you know the universe has a sense of humour.

Skyclad and Sensible

Let’s talk about the nudity. Yes, Gardnerians often practice “skyclad” — a poetic way of saying “naked.” But before you clutch your crystals, understand the why. It’s not about shock value. It’s about equality, vulnerability, and stripping away the masks we wear in the mundane world.

In the circle, everyone is equal. There are no designer robes, no status symbols, no curated personas. Just humans, standing in sacred space, asking big questions and listening for real answers.

It’s radical. It’s ancient. And it’s probably not happening at your local yoga studio.

The Forest Is the Temple

Josh’s coven meets in the woods behind his house. No cathedral. No incense budget. Just trees, stars, and the occasional curious raccoon.

And yet, the magic is palpable. Because when you step into nature with reverence, the forest becomes a temple. The wind becomes a hymn. The earth becomes an altar.

For healers who spend their days in Zoom rooms and therapy chairs, this kind of grounded, embodied spirituality is a balm. It’s a reminder that healing doesn’t always require a certification. Sometimes, it just requires a circle.

Crystal and Cosmic Chemistry

While Josh spoke passionately about his love for nature and the sacred simplicity of sticks and stones, Philipp was quietly watering his crystal — yes, that’s a thing — and nodding like a man who’s just found a long-lost brother in the woods. The chemistry between them was unmistakable. Not the awkward, overproduced kind, but the kind that happens when two people genuinely get each other’s spirituality. It wasn’t about doctrine. It was about life. And love. And the kind of laughter that only happens when you’re talking about naked rituals and actually mean it.

Not a Cult, Just a Coven

Let’s be clear: this isn’t about recruiting. Josh isn’t selling anything. In fact, he’s refreshingly uninterested in being anyone’s guru. What he offers is something rarer: honesty, humility, and a path that’s open to those who are truly ready.

Gardnerian Wicca isn’t for everyone. It’s not meant to be. But for those who feel the call — for those who’ve been seeking something real, something rooted, something sacred — it might just be the homecoming they didn’t know they needed.

And if you’re curious? If something in your bones says yes? You know where to find the rest of the story.

(Hint: it involves a podcast, a forest, and a man named Josh who might just change your life.)

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#HolisticCircle #PhilippKobald #WiccaWisdom #SpiritualInitiation #ModernMystics #NatureSpirituality #SacredRituals #HealersJourney #GardnerianTradition

By Philipp Kobald in cooperation with AI
www.HolisticCircle.org
@2025 HolisticCircle by Philipp Kobald