photo by Kiki Robinson
My name is Ylva Mara Radziszewski, I worship at the altar of Nature. I am a gender non-binary, trans femme, chronically ill witch living in colonized Duwamish & Coast Salish territory. I identify as a white person of Slavic & Polish ancestry and am also of Balkan Romani descent. I was born on occupied Tequesta, Ais, and Jeaga land, now named Florida. I'm a traditional witch, teacher, writer, herbalist, and licensed acupuncturist. I was raised by an incredibly hard working and devoted mother who could whisper the most wild horse into an embrace, and a reluctantly psychic grandmother who could literally smell a lie. Among everything else, I learned from them resilience, the importance of living with purpose & devotion in relationship to Spirit and Nature. My father was from Poland, loved music and for a time played in a Monkees cover band; though he wasn't present as I grew up, I am grateful for his gift of my name.
Our destiny is guided by our name, as is often said in spiritual teachings. My name is Ylvadroma Marzanna Radziszewski. Ylvadroma means "noble she-wolf who knows/speaks the way" and Marzanna means "sovereign of winter, the river of death and rebirth; mother of lost children." In my name, Radziszewski, the prefix translates as "advisor" and my surname as a whole means "who comes from the land of peace." I am committed to work that brings good counsel and peace to those I work with.
About me and my approach. As someone who was raised outside of my Roma culture due to colonialism, genocide, diaspora, and white supremacy and as someone who benefits from white privilege, my work focuses on magic as reparation, service, and radical resistance. What this means is actively evolving with each circle I teach. In essence I teach from a perspective that seeks to actively examine and account for my whiteness, decolonize my mind and magic, and center a gender non-binary cosmology of Witch.
Reflections on My Professional Background. In 2010 I earned my MS in acupuncture from Bastyr University in Kenmore, WA; and a bachelor's degree in Social Work from Florida State University in 2004. My work in social service focused on familial reunification & mediation, mental health advocacy, substance recovery support, case management, anti-poverty & anti-racist activism, and LGBTQ rights. Still a part of my healing craft, I work to advocate and make ceremony for Earth and the remembrance of the divine within my clients, students and community. Having completed an extensive course in the facilitation of Compassionate Depossession, I have been certified by Betsy Bergstrom to teach this amazing practice to others. Additionally, I want to express gratitude for the opportunity to have completed 7 years of cross cultural shamanic study through the Sundust Oracle Institute; including four years as a Teaching Assistant and Mentoring Intern. Above all I thank my first teacher, Jackie McCloskey, who helped me to lay a compassionate healing foundation in the study of soul, energy, stones, love and devotion.
My Gratitude for my teachers. As a healer, writer, teacher and witch I am dedicated to the preservation and sustained practice of the traditional magic & medicine teachings I have been gifted. I believe we learn best in collective, each relationship a unique catalyst in the growth of soul. We each lend our magic to the world and to one another, may we celebrate and learn from the challenges as much as the blessings.
In 2016 my very first teacher, Jackie McCloskey, passed away. I will forever be grateful for her love and guidance... and patience! I am forever changed by the 19 years I spent as her apprentice. For the wisdom and blessing of the Healing Craft, I first thank my teacher Jackie McCloskey, Crow Song is my gift to her in honor of her teachings.
I will always be grateful for the teachings shared to me by Cynthia Dove, Forest Jones & Joe Butera , Jan Tucker-Pettway, Char Sundust, Araceli Domínguez, Steve Dahmus, Betsy Bergstrom, Deborah Frances Dancing Crow, Matilda Laughing Waters and most importantly my Grandmother Jewel for the gift of our Ancestral Way, and my Grandmother Angelika for the gift of our Whisper.
My deepest and most humble gratitudes I offer to my students and clients, from whom I learn so much. You support me in more ways then you can know. Finally, all of my love to my dear Cunning Crow Apothecary family for the amazing nest we have created for this work, and all our communities, to grow.
Our destiny is guided by our name, as is often said in spiritual teachings. My name is Ylvadroma Marzanna Radziszewski. Ylvadroma means "noble she-wolf who knows/speaks the way" and Marzanna means "sovereign of winter, the river of death and rebirth; mother of lost children." In my name, Radziszewski, the prefix translates as "advisor" and my surname as a whole means "who comes from the land of peace." I am committed to work that brings good counsel and peace to those I work with.
About me and my approach. As someone who was raised outside of my Roma culture due to colonialism, genocide, diaspora, and white supremacy and as someone who benefits from white privilege, my work focuses on magic as reparation, service, and radical resistance. What this means is actively evolving with each circle I teach. In essence I teach from a perspective that seeks to actively examine and account for my whiteness, decolonize my mind and magic, and center a gender non-binary cosmology of Witch.
Reflections on My Professional Background. In 2010 I earned my MS in acupuncture from Bastyr University in Kenmore, WA; and a bachelor's degree in Social Work from Florida State University in 2004. My work in social service focused on familial reunification & mediation, mental health advocacy, substance recovery support, case management, anti-poverty & anti-racist activism, and LGBTQ rights. Still a part of my healing craft, I work to advocate and make ceremony for Earth and the remembrance of the divine within my clients, students and community. Having completed an extensive course in the facilitation of Compassionate Depossession, I have been certified by Betsy Bergstrom to teach this amazing practice to others. Additionally, I want to express gratitude for the opportunity to have completed 7 years of cross cultural shamanic study through the Sundust Oracle Institute; including four years as a Teaching Assistant and Mentoring Intern. Above all I thank my first teacher, Jackie McCloskey, who helped me to lay a compassionate healing foundation in the study of soul, energy, stones, love and devotion.
My Gratitude for my teachers. As a healer, writer, teacher and witch I am dedicated to the preservation and sustained practice of the traditional magic & medicine teachings I have been gifted. I believe we learn best in collective, each relationship a unique catalyst in the growth of soul. We each lend our magic to the world and to one another, may we celebrate and learn from the challenges as much as the blessings.
In 2016 my very first teacher, Jackie McCloskey, passed away. I will forever be grateful for her love and guidance... and patience! I am forever changed by the 19 years I spent as her apprentice. For the wisdom and blessing of the Healing Craft, I first thank my teacher Jackie McCloskey, Crow Song is my gift to her in honor of her teachings.
I will always be grateful for the teachings shared to me by Cynthia Dove, Forest Jones & Joe Butera , Jan Tucker-Pettway, Char Sundust, Araceli Domínguez, Steve Dahmus, Betsy Bergstrom, Deborah Frances Dancing Crow, Matilda Laughing Waters and most importantly my Grandmother Jewel for the gift of our Ancestral Way, and my Grandmother Angelika for the gift of our Whisper.
My deepest and most humble gratitudes I offer to my students and clients, from whom I learn so much. You support me in more ways then you can know. Finally, all of my love to my dear Cunning Crow Apothecary family for the amazing nest we have created for this work, and all our communities, to grow.
