The Witchy One | Community Engagement | Interviews

Witchy Interviews Rebecca Romanelli on Jungle Hitchhiking, Ouija Board Spookiness, and a Magical “Figel” Prophecy

How to live a magical life

Note from Liberty:

Hello, and Happy Sunday!

As you may (or may not) know, our little blue witch friend is conducting interviews of our beloved Pub Family members. Today, Witchy shares her interview with Rebecca Romanelli, who, aside from being a gifted writer, is also an incredibly wise woman and a high-spirited adventurer!

Enjoy learning more about this kind and lovely member of our Pub Family!

As Witchy doesn’t have her own Medium account, she is using mine.

What do you love about writing?

Rebecca: What I love most about writing is journeying into the Zone. Words start swirling through tapping fingers and I step aside for the flow. My face and hands heat up. Writing becomes a channeling of Self…A wrinkle in time shrinks three passing hours into one. Muse has walked in the door with a dose of good medicine.

Joy and its cousins — Appreciation and Gratitude, are essential for my well being. The crafting of words can bring those feelings bubbling up to the surface. With certain pieces writing is a spiritual connection as well as word working.

I learn a lot about myself when writing. Which topic moves me to write and why? It’s a powerful introspective tool.

Witchy: My goodness, you actually go somewhere else to write? That is so interesting! Is the Zone far away? Can you walk there? Ride a bike? Fly your broom? What does it look like? Is it pretty? Do they have snacks? I love snacks.

It is very busy at the Zone when you write! You have words swirling all over the place — do they fly right out of your fingers?? Do they fly around the room? Are they pretty colours? I would love to see that. I bet the air gets really full of them! Oh, I just thought of something. Does that make it hard to breathe? Can you breathe in words you just swirled out? Do they make you choke? Or sneeze if they get stuck in your nose?

And with all of that going on, somebody called Muse shows up, and so does Joy and its cousins, Appreciation and Gratitude, and who knows who else? Do you have to make dinner for all of them? I would be in trouble if I had to do that. If my cauldron, Enchantra, didn’t do the cooking, it would probably mean another, um, kind of frantic visit from the Fire Department. The kind where they bring long hoses and a lot of water. Oops. 🙄

What is the wildest ride you’ve ever been on?

Rebecca: The wildest ride I’ve ever been on was a two-month journey down the Amazon River in 1977, We were two travel-seasoned, women Explorers in our mid-20’s. We went completely Troppo, meaning Gone Wild.

Our version of ‘adapting’ to the jungle began with a night visit to the cemetery in Ambato, Ecuador. This should’ve been a clue to our endeavor right there.

Nope, it seemed normal. That’s the definition of Troppo. A cactus arm was involved, with its permission naturally. A brew consumed and a San Pedro vision produced on a hike into the Andes Mountains. An East-West rainbow omen as a grand finale. Head East to the Amazon.

We were clueless we would soon be starring in a Grade B, Spaghetti Western titled: “Anything Goes Under the Southern Cross.”

We started by hitchhiking out of Quitos, Ecuador and miraculously caught a ride over the Andes Mountains and down into the jungle with a family in a double cab truck. They pulled over and re-arranged their load in the back of the truck to make a comfortable seat for us. Facing backward and ticking off the miles, we couldn’t believe our good fortune in having the same destination.

We traveled with them for 14 hours, passing through two precariously shifting landslides, as we followed the oil line down, down, down. This would be the end of our road until we reached Belem, Brazil in the mouth of the Amazon River — two months later.

Our adventure took one dog bite on my friend’s leg, an Ecuadorian Navy speedboat, a canoe, three river boats, and one hitchhiked, Peruvian Military, plane ride.

I’d do it all again. Still Troppo.

Witchy: 😳 Oh, my! I hid under my bed for a while after reading that but I am back now. I hope Troppo is not contagious. How do you get it? Can I catch it from you on the internet? Oh, no! What if I get it somewhere else? I am so scared! 😳

Why do you not get scared? Do you have magic powers? I wish I still had my magic powers. Then I would not be afraid to catch Troppo.

You are so brave. Wow. I started reading your answer and soon had to do it with both eyes squeezed shut! Guess what? That does not work very well.

If you joined a circus, what would your job be?

Rebecca: This question is easy. No doubt about it. I would be a Tarot Reader, Fortune Teller, Psychic — whatever you choose to call someone who spent a good chunk of her adolescence studying Tarot archetypes and packing her Ouija Board to every slumber party. If I told you some of the happenings in our pre-teen and early-teen late night encounters with Ouija, only a witch would believe it.

Wait a minute. You are a witch, I’ll give you one example.

One dark and stormy night, everyone was asking for the names of future boyfriends and who they would marry. So boring, but I was talked into it anyway. Well, Ms. Planchet lost control of herself and started spelling out names fast and furious.

One of my friends grabbed a pen and paper and wrote them down. Geesh, there were more than a few names on that list and many were foreign. We couldn’t make any sense of them. My bestie looked at me, shook her head and said, “One thing for sure is you’re going to be a little slut who likes foreigners.” Can you believe that!

Here’s the non-ordinary part, Witchy. I kept that list until it decided to vanish right before my 30th birthday. Those names were real and I ended up meeting the people on it. I would never rely on an Ouija Board hotline, but the collective strength of our lusty group must’ve created some kind of portal or a warp in the field. I still haven’t figured it out. If you have a clue from all your centuries through life, please share. I would only mention this whole affair to another witch, so zipped lips all the way, okay?

Witchy: 😳 🔮 🌟 🤐

What options would you make for right-clicking on people?

Rebecca: The option I would choose — and one would be enough if we could master it — would be Emotional Intelligence. This is an umbrella term for understanding Body Language. All of us have Tells, a give-away or sign of what we’re thinking and feeling. We’re not tuned into this because it’s rarely taught.

Or we note it but we don’t know what to do with the information. We expect others to read our minds and know why we’re doing something or how we’re feeling.

It’s our job to communicate effectively. That means honing your radar by closely observing a person’s posture, facial expressions and the environment. This skill often allows us much more information than the words being spoken. I had a lot of practice developing it on the road. I had to rely on it because I often couldn’t speak the language. I’m glad for that, as it continues to expand my awareness.

Witchy: Oh, boy. I’ve had enough trouble learning English since leaving the Transylvania Forest. I did not know I have to learn how to read bodies, too. 😳 How does that even work? How does my posture say something? I never hear my body saying anything.

And my environment. I mean, I hear the woods talking to me. I hear plants and animals and bugs and birds talking all the time. Doesn’t everyone? So what else do you mean? The air? My furniture? The walls in my cottage?

I do not understand. Are you sure this is even a thing?

And Rebecca! You said people know what we are thinking. Oh, no! 😳 Do you mean they can read my mind? I can’t even read my mind! How does that work? I am scared. I am going to hide under my bed. 💨

What cartoon character would you love to be, and why?

Rebecca: I’d make up a new cartoon character and definitely want to be featured in Marvel Comics. Mine would be called PEACE KEEPER. She would have the magical ability to gently tap your skull and wake you up to the fact you are living on a planet with many other people and forms of sentient life.

Her wand would open your consciousness and download necessary character traits like compassion, empathy, respect and a belief in equality for all. War could not even enter into your thoughts. It would be too low a vibration.

World hunger would disappear because we cared about each other and realized our connection. Climate change would not be an issue. We would automatically help our planet thrive. It’s a pipe dream I still keep lighting.

Witchy: Oh, boy, that is a wonderful idea for a cartoon character! I wish my magic wasn’t broken. I could have turned you into PEACE KEEPER before my “secret trauma” forced me to become vegan. Without eye of newt and bat wings and all those other things, my spells went wonky and many bad things happened. I am sorry I cannot turn you into PEACE KEEPER. Maybe more people will light the same pipe dream as you and all those good things will happen someday.

If you were a pair of shoes, what kind would you be?

Rebecca: Another easy one Witchy! I would be my own red boots. They’re enchanted! I’ve had them for 13 years and they still look new. They’re ergonomically designed by smart Canadians, are lined just the right amount inside. They have a zipper, although they looked laced. I can also run in them if necessary. I don’t buy shoes I can’t run in. Another survival training lesson in nomadic years.

They’re also a hot topic for conversation since women, men and children seem to notice and comment on them. A baby dripped her goo on them the other day. It made them nice and shiny. They’re indestructible! I’m including a photo of them since you’ll probably want them too.

Witchy: 😮 Oh, yes! I want to have boots like yours! They are so pretty! I think they are magical boots. I am certain of it! Wow. You are so lucky. I wish I could whip up a pair of those but…that wonky-spell situation.

With my luck, I would probably just get one big boot in a place where I do not want it. 🤪

Do you ever wish you were a penguin?

Rebecca: I never want to be a penguin. They swim in freezing water and have to tolerate a harsh climate. I do however appreciate their jumps off high cliffs and body surfing awesomeness. I’m glad the girls are doing this, while the boys protect the eggs. This gender turn-around could alter humanity in a flash.

A dolphin is a different story. I would morph into one if possible. They’re smarter than we are and their echolocation gifts are stunning. Their perception is run through holograms. They are so tuned into the sensitivities and ailments of humans, they are being pulled back from working with us. Sick people can sicken them if they are constantly exposed.

One of the greatest gifts Nature sent my way was a wild dolphin ride when I lived for two months in the bush of Kenya. We had a coral lagoon surrounding our isolated beach. It created the best natural swimming pool in the world. No Indian Ocean current to deal with and no White Sharks waiting for a nibble of your butt. Our dolphin entered the lagoon but was disoriented and became stranded on the beach.

My bush buddy and I saved her. As a reward, she spun figure eight circles around us as we stood in the water. Then she glided slowly by our side and offered her fin. We had thrown off our wraps and took turns having skin to skin rides. Lunging below the surface and coming back for air in perfect timing. We’d let go and she came back. We finally managed to steer her to the gap in the coral and watched her swim away. Very magical and exhilarating!

Witchy: Wow, you know a lot about penguins! 🐧 I did not know of that! Well, except that they are freezing and swimming in icy water. I think they are cute. I like the way they waddle. I did not know people make them sick. That is sad. Poor penguins. I wish I could give them hugs.😢

You lived for two months in the bush of Kenya? There is only one bush there? In all of Kenya? It must be a big one if you lived in it. Did you have a bush house? I mean, like a tree house, only in a bush?

What did you eat in the bush? I do not know what you would find in it. Leaves? Birds? Lions? Wow, you are so brave!

Oh, boy, how exciting that you saved a dolphin! I’ll bet she was very happy.

That was a ✨ magical meeting,✨ indeed.

If you had to be an inanimate object for a year, what would you be?

Rebecca: I would be a compass for Explorers. That way I could continue to travel and guide them along their way while getting my ya ya’s out at the same time. I haven’t thought of this question before and now I’m getting a bit excited just contemplating it.

Witchy: Um…I am kind of afraid to ask this but…well…what are your ya yas? Are you sure they are something you should be “getting out” and not keeping hidden? 👀

As for being a compass…I would be so scared to guide an exploring expedition! What if I made everyone get lost? I mean, look what happened when my spells went wonky and I crashed my broom into a tree. 😳

Plus…being stuffed in a dark, scary pocket. Heaven knows what else might be in there. Pointy keys? Old sandwiches? Used handkerchiefs? 🤢

And I do not think I would like having them shove their hands in their pockets and grab me all of a sudden! I would be so scared! I might faint. And that would make them get lost! Oh, dear. I do not want to be a compass. You are very brave!

What is the very worst job you can imagine having to do?

Rebecca: The worst job I can imagine is cleaning Donald Trump’s toilet. The one he continuously clogged by jamming Top Secret papers into it after taking his McDonald Cheeseburger crap. Although I have detective-wanna-be moments, even I could not summon enough curiosity to reach into his toilet. Enough said.

Witchy: 😳 🤢 🤐

While Edgar the Eagle was swooping over a pond one day in search of lunch, he spied Frances the Fish leaping and diving in the water, splashing and playing happily by herself.

He was shocked to discover that instead of wanting to eat her, he fell in love with her. And she fancied him, too! Now what?? Can they make this work? What is their conversation? Do they give up? Does Edgar become vegetarian?

Rebecca: Gosh Witchy, you must not have read the Youth Primer titled “The Figle Story of Creation.” Here’s a small excerpt to enhance your understanding of Edgar and Fran’s behavior.

Edgar Eagle was crunching the thermals one very fine day until he realized how hungry he was after showing off for all the other birds. With his superior Eagle vision he spied a scintillating beauty of a fish below.

“What a great lunch waiting for me! Here I go, zooming down with my usual spectacular dive. Please hold the applause until it’s over. Wait a minute, put the brakes on, dude. Something fishy’s going on down there.”

Frances was immensely pleased by the day’s offerings too and was splashing playfully around in her pond.

“Tra la la! 🎵 Zippity doo dah, zippity yay! 🎵 The water’s never felt better! What a golden paradise I live in!

“What is that strange commotion in the heavens?

“Oh, My Fish! The prophecy is coming true! Edgar the Eagle has finally come to mate with me so we can start the Figle race and bring the world back in balance! I knew this day was special. Oh my, what a marvelous 7-foot wing spread Ed!”

Ed started puffing his feathers and losing his cool with Fran’s ardent praise.

“You’re so right, Fran. You couldn’t do this without me and I’m the one who spotted you first. Let’s not forget that.”

Fran had been around the pond longer than Edgar and could see he was due for an education — pronto. She rolled her patient fishy eyes and plowed on. A prophecy must be fulfilled.

“Rein it in, Eddie. There’s no place for ego brouhaha in our new Figle World Order. Our race will be an evolved one. It’s not going to happen with an attitude like that!”

“You’re right, Fran. My mistake and I humbly admit it. Maybe I damaged my brain flying too close to the Sun. I’m reforming here and now. Let’s get to work on those Figles. I hope they inherit your spectacular sheen.”

And so it began. Figles rose to prominence through natural selection and put the humans to work. They were wonderful employers and always made sure humans were happy with their duties and lived in comfort.

All was well on planet Earth. Her reputation as a marvelous get-away reached many races in the Cosmos. Within five years, Gaia received a ten-star rating on the ‘Galactic Report’ for hot spots to visit.

Witchy: Wow. Figles! I love this story! I wonder what they look like! They sound like good bosses. I hope they like witches as much as they like humans. Do you think they swim or fly? Or swim and fly? Ooo, that would be fun! Unless they crash into trees. That is not fun. I tried it. Not on purpose. 😖

What’s the greatest thing you hope to achieve in your life?

Rebecca: The greatest thing I hope to see happen in life is both simple and complex. This dream and aspiration has been with me as long as I remember. HUMAN EQUALITY

Is it really so difficult to imagine every single person has their own mission and purpose in life? Apparently it is, since we’re flunking and repeating grades in that department. Slow learners, I guess, who forget to harvest their past mistakes.

Some of us are kindergarteners and can’t see past our stuffed up noses. This group is wildly insecure about their lack of Earth training and prone to lurking about fetid swamplands in search of the Dino tribe.

Others are aware of concepts like co-operation and have spent years in Wisdom schools mastering basic human concepts with great success.

I’m not petitioning for miracles here. Merely asking for a willingness to treat both ourselves and others respectfully. Personal integrity will get you to your version of heaven faster than any prayer.

Witchy: That is so beautiful, Rebecca. 😍 If you could see me right now, I have blue tears sqeezing themselves out of my eyeballs. I do not know why some people have a hard time being nice to each other, or to themselves. And some of them are just plain mean, like the witches who laughed me out of the forest when my spells went wonky. They had been my friends for centuries. It hurt a lot.

You are right. It should not be hard for people to be nice to each other — and themselves. If anyone can make it happen, it is you because you are wise. And magical!

Thank you for being my guest today. I am glad I got to know you better. Your wonderful answers show a bit of how fascinating and powerful you are!

You can read Rebecca’s beautiful words here:

And here are more of Witchy’s interviews:

Tagging our beloved Pub Family so you can get to know another one of our splendiferous members!

Dr Andrea Polzer Kris Bedenian Rodney Brazier Patti Murray Voncannon Carrie Kolar Croix Sather Deb Fiore Dina Alexander DL Nemeril Donnette Anglin Loren Lieberthal Jimmy Misner Jr. Judy Millar Julie Gaeta Pene Hodge Karen Schwartz James Knight Laura Izquierdo Dr. Preeti Singh Radhika Iyer Sam Branstner Sharon Sayler, Author Umme Salma Tamil T Mann Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles Lion~ Wendy S. Bradfield Yana Bostongirl Jo An Fox-Wright Maddox Suma Narayan Penny Walsh Shameem Anwar Irene Fassler Sandy Peckinpah Trista Signe Ainsworth Slow train A.H. Mehr Alex Frederickson Ashley Nicole B.R. Shenoy Carolyn Hastings Christina Christine Vann, MSc. Ellie Jacobson ✍🏻 The Soulful Scribbler Isabel Young Kaz Rochford Nia Simone McLeod Nicole Hilbig Patricia Wright Pam Winter Rachella Angel Page Jodian Marie Thomas, MS, Bsc, Asc L Burton Muhammad Abdullah Kate Aries Danielle Hestand Sahil Patel Jessica Rabel Sharing Words Malky McEwan Belinda Castle Barbara Cook Tyra Jaide Megan Llorente Eko BP Drashti Shroff Evergreen Eden Bernie Pullen Hamsalekha Rhea Anglesey CARMEN F MICSA Robin Oakman Mary Vraa Libby Shively McAvoy Kristina God Niall Leah Debbra Lupien, Voice of the Akashic Records Toya Qualls-Barnette June Kirri Dawn :) Divya Goswami BichoDoMato Evon Carole Olsen Cosmin Firta Jennifer Dunne Kylie van Gelder Neha Sonney, Author Christina Sponias Ian Hanson Ira Robinson JF Danskin Patrick OConnell Mary V Elvie Lins❤️ Carmellita Roopleen Esther Friolo- Guirao Gauri Sirur Kristie Leong M.D. IJaveria Ansari Asim Nori Dipo Adebayo Andreia Damian Berthran Benaiah Jenine Bsharah Baines Jodi Marie Ximena Paz Paredes Mahein Kazi Gary L Ellis Mario López-Goicoechea Raine Lore Vishal Mehta Aarti Tailor A Rustic Mind (Manali Desai) Mona S Gable Jay Krasnow Sarah Firmie Ouangre Anne Emerick Andra Forbes